# US 12,760,609 B1 · Downhole tools and methods, and improved slip assemblies and profiled slip elements therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,760,609 B1 - Document ID: US12760609B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 19/285,119 - Filed: 2025-07-30 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2025-07-30 - Assignees: Target Completions LLC - Applicants: Target Completions LLC - Inventors: Joseph Clark; Michael Thomas Sommers - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12760609B1 ## CPC - E21B 23/01: for anchoring the tools or the like (E21B23/02 - E21B23/06 take precedence; anchoring of drives in the borehole E21B4/18) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The double grip downhole tool assembly of claim 1 further comprising the bores being perpendicular to the outer face. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The double grip downhole tool assembly of claim 1 further comprising the contacting insert being a carbide insert. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The double grip downhole tool assembly of claim 1 further comprising the swept back angle of the forwardly facing surface being in a range of from 158° to 165° and the reverse swept back angle of the rearwardly facing surface being in a range of from 138° to 142°. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The double grip downhole tool assembly of claim 4 further comprising the swept back angle of the forwardly facing surface being about 160°. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The double grip downhole tool assembly of claim 4 further comprising the reverse swept back angle of the rearwardly facing surface being about 140°. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The double grip downhole tool assembly of claim 1 further comprising one or more releasing slips also held in the upper slip assembly. ### Claim 8 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The double grip downhole tool assembly of claim 8 further comprising the bores being perpendicular to the outer face. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The double grip downhole tool assembly of claim 8 further comprising the contacting insert being a carbide insert. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The double grip downhole tool assembly of claim 8 further comprising the swept back angle of the forwardly facing surface being in a range of from 158° to 165° and the reverse swept back angle of the rearwardly facing surface being in a range of from 138° to 142°. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The double grip downhole tool assembly of claim 11 further comprising the swept back angle of the forwardly facing surface being about 160°. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The double grip downhole tool assembly of claim 11 further comprising the reverse swept back angle of the rearwardly facing surface being about 140°. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The double grip downhole tool assembly of claim 8 further comprising one or more releasing slips also held in the upper slip assembly.