Isolation device with inner mandrel removed after setting
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorDonald Ray Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An isolation device can include a packer element that is actuated via a slip system to engage with an inner diameter of a tubing string to set the plug. The isolation device can be a frac plug. Top and bottom slip props of the slip system can be shaped such that the packer element is inhibited or prevented from engaging with an inner mandrel after the plug has been set within a wellbore. The slip props can be self-supporting; thus, the inner mandrel can be removed from the isolation device after setting and can be reused in other downhole tools. The isolation device can be used for zonal isolation to treat a zone of interest within a subterranean formation. The treatment can be a fracturing operation.
Claims20
A zonal isolation device comprising:
- a top slip;
- a top slip prop in engagement with the top slip, wherein the top slip prop comprises a first terminal end and a second internal end, and wherein the first terminal end of the top slip prop comprises a ball seat;
- a bottom slip;
- a bottom slip prop in engagement with the bottom slip, wherein the bottom slip prop comprises a first terminal end and a second internal end;
- a packer element positioned between the second internal end of the top slip prop and the second internal end of the bottom slip prop, wherein movement of the top slip prop and the bottom slip prop towards each other causes the packer element to expand into engagement with an inner diameter of a tubing string;
- an inner mandrel, wherein the inner mandrel is removable from the zonal isolation device after engagement of the packer element with the inner diameter of the tubing string;
- and
- a ball, wherein the ball is seated onto the ball seat of the first terminal end of the top slip prop.
A method of isolating a zone of a subterranean formation comprising:
- setting an isolation device within a tubing string at a desired location comprising:
- mechanically actuating a top slip and a bottom slip into engagement with an inner diameter of the tubing string;
- and
- causing movement of a top slip prop and a bottom slip prop towards each other, wherein the movement causes a packer element located between a second internal end of the top slip prop and a second internal end of the bottom slip prop to become engaged with the inner diameter of the tubing string;
- removing an inner mandrel of the isolation device after setting the isolation device within the tubing string at the desired location;
- and
- causing a ball to seat onto a ball seat located on a first terminal end of the top slip prop.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.