Downhole tools and methods, and improved slip assemblies and profiled slip elements therefor
AssigneeTarget Completions LLC
InventorsJoseph Clark, Michael Thomas Sommers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A slip, a profiled slip insert, and an upper slip assembly for a downhole tool which are effective for running the downhole tool into a well with minimal biting or frictional resistance and are additionally effective for firmly gripping the I.D. of the well casing while also reducing the pulling force required for releasing the slips from the casing.
Claims14
A double grip downhole tool assembly for use in a well casing, the double grip downhole tool assembly comprising an upper slip assembly, a lower slip assembly, and a packing element assembly positioned between the upper slip assembly and the lower slip assembly, the upper slip assembly comprising a plurality of gripping slips held in the upper slip assembly that each comprise:
- an outer face;
- a plurality of bores provided in the outer face;
- and
- each of the bores having a contacting insert therein comprising
- a cylindrical body which is received in the bore, the cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis and an outer end, and
- an outer gripping profile on the outer end of the cylindrical body which projects outwardly from the bore, the outer gripping profile comprising
- an outer gripping ridge which is spaced longitudinally outward from a lateral plane at the outer end of the cylindrical body, the lateral plane being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis,
- a rearwardly sloped, forwardly facing surface which extends rearwardly and outwardly to the outer gripping ridge at a swept back angle in a range of from 155° to 170° with respect to a downhole direction of travel of the double grip downhole tool assembly in the well casing, and
- a forwardly sloped, rearwardly facing surface which extends forwardly and outwardly to the outer gripping ridge at a reverse swept back angle in a range of from 135° to 155° with respect to an uphole pulling direction of travel of the double grip downhole tool assembly in the well casing wherein, in a bull plugged condition with an applied pressure of 8000 psi below the packing element assembly, the double grip downhole tool assembly will pull free, without destroying the double grip downhole tool assembly, by applying a straight pulling force to the double grip downhole tool assembly.
A double grip downhole tool assembly for use in a well casing, the double grip downhole tool assembly comprising an upper slip assembly, a lower slip assembly, and a packing element assembly positioned between the upper slip assembly and the lower slip assembly, the upper slip assembly comprising a plurality of gripping slips held in the upper slip assembly that each comprise:
- an outer face;
- a plurality of bores provided in the outer face;
- and
- each of the bores having a contacting insert therein comprising an outer gripping profile which projects outwardly from the bore, the outer gripping profile comprising
- an outer gripping ridge,
- a rearwardly sloped, forwardly facing surface which extends rearwardly and outwardly to the outer gripping ridge at a swept back angle in a range of from 155° to 170° with respect to a downhole direction of travel of the double grip downhole tool assembly in the well casing, and
- a forwardly sloped, rearwardly facing surface which extends forwardly and outwardly to the outer gripping ridge at a reverse swept back angle in a range of from 135° to 155° with respect to an uphole pulling direction of travel of the double grip downhole tool assembly in the well casing wherein, in a bull plugged condition with an applied pressure of 8000 psi below the packing element assembly, the double grip downhole tool assembly will pull free, without destroying the double grip downhole tool assembly, by applying a straight pulling force to the double grip downhole tool assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.