Unlimited stage completion system
AssigneePackers Plus Energy Service, Inc.
InventorsMitchell Mueller, Andrew Cayson, Javier Bolivar, Matthew Skinner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device such as a smart dart is configured to reversibly engage and disengage with a seat in a tubing string. In an engaged configuration, pressure applied above the device forces a first seat component to engage a second seat component. The interaction of the first seat component and the second seat component under pressure produces an inwardly radial circumferential force that grips the device within the seat and may also form a seal between the device and the seat.
Claims7
An apparatus for reversibly plugging a wellbore tubular including a wellbore tool and a complementary plugging device configured to reversibly mate with and release from the wellbore tool, comprising:
- a first well plug component comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical lower seat member including a first annular bevel extending around an upper end thereof;
- a substantially cylindrical upper seat member having a first inner diameter at an upper end extending toward a shoulder and a second, smaller inner diameter extending from the shoulder toward a lower end, the upper seat member lower end including a second annular bevel configured to mate against the first annular bevel of the lower seat member, wherein the upper seat member is configured to receive an axial force against the shoulder directed toward the lower seat member;
- wherein the first annular bevel and the second annular bevel are configured to transmit at least a portion of the axial force into a radial force directed circumferentially toward a central axis of the upper seat member;
- and
- a second well plug component comprising:
- a first substantially cylindrical body having a first outer diameter at a lower end, a second outer diameter at an upper end, and a shoulder therebetween, the second outer diameter being smaller than the first outer diameter;
- a second substantially cylindrical body positioned around the upper end of the first substantially cylindrical body in substantially surrounding relation, the second cylindrical body including a frustoconical lower end;
- an annular member positioned around at least a lower portion of the frustoconical lower end of the second substantially cylindrical body in physical contact therewith, the annular member configured to have an adjustable diameter;
- wherein the second substantially cylindrical body is axially translatable towards and away from the shoulder;
- and
- wherein the outer diameter of the annular member is configured to increase when the second substantially cylindrical body is translated toward the shoulder, and to decrease when the second substantially cylindrical body is translated away from the shoulder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.