Apparatus and methods for preventing axial movement of downhole tool assemblies
AssigneeExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
InventorsMark C. Gentry, Timothy J. Hall, Kevin H. Searles, William A. Sorem, Scott R. Clingman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A slip assembly apparatus is adapted (i) to be deployed into a wellbore via deployment means; (ii) to prevent axial movement of a downhole tool assembly in the wellbore when the slip assembly apparatus is actuated and external forces are imposed on the downhole tool assembly; (ii) to allow fluid flow past the slip assembly apparatus within the wellbore when the slip assembly apparatus is actuated or non-actuated; and (iii) to allow release of the slip assembly apparatus by use of a release load that is less than the axial capacity of the deployment means.
Claims21
A slip assembly apparatus adapted to prevent axial movement of a downhole tool assembly in a wellbore when actuated, said downhole tool assembly comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, and said slip assembly apparatus adapted to be deployed into said wellbore via deployment means and comprising:
- a) a tubular mandrel having a lower end adapted to be connected to said lower portion of said downhole tool assembly and an upper end;
- b) a cone having an upper end adapted to be connected to said upper portion of said downhole tool assembly and a lower end adapted to be connected to said upper end of said tubular mandrel wherein said cone tapers outwardly from said tubular mandrel at a predefined angle;
- c) a tubular sleeve having an upper end and a lower end and surrounding at least a portion of said tubular mandrel;
- d) a slip surrounding at least a portion of said tubular mandrel, said slip having an upper end comprising two or more dogs, each dog being disposed to slide over said cone when said slip assembly is actuated, and a lower end comprising a fixture adapted to be connected to said upper end of said tubular sleeve;
- and
- e) a reaction spring assembly surrounding at least a portion of said tubular mandrel, said reaction spring assembly having two or more reaction springs, each said reaction spring attached at an upper end to an upper reaction spring fixture and attached at a lower end to a lower reaction spring fixture, wherein said upper reaction spring fixture is adapted to be connected to said lower end of said tubular sleeve;
- all such that said slip assembly apparatus is adapted (i) to prevent axial movement of said downhole tool assembly in said wellbore when said slip assembly apparatus is actuated and external forces are imposed on said downhole tool assembly;
- (ii) to allow fluid flow past said slip assembly within said wellbore when said slip assembly apparatus is actuated or non-actuated;
- and (iii) to allow release of said slip assembly apparatus by use of a release load that is less than the axial capacity of said deployment means.
A method of preventing axial movement of a downhole tool assembly in a wellbore during pumping of a treating fluid into a portion of a subterranean formation intersected by said wellbore, said method comprising:
- a) deploying a downhole tool assembly within said wellbore via deployment means, said downhole tool assembly comprising a sealing mechanism and a slip assembly, said slip assembly comprising a tubular mandrel, a cone that tapers outwardly from said tubular mandrel at a predefined angle, a tubular sleeve, a slip, and a reaction spring assembly;
- b) actuating said sealing mechanism so as to establish a hydraulic seal in said wellbore below said portion of said subterranean formation;
- c) setting said slip assembly so as to provide axial resistance for the sealing mechanism against axial loads created by said pumping of treating fluid;
- and
- d) pumping said treating fluid through said wellbore and into said subterranean formation;
- all such that said slip assembly apparatus (i) prevents axial movement of said downhole tool assembly in said wellbore when said slip assembly is actuated and external forces are imposed on said downhole tool assembly;
- (ii) allows fluid flow past said slip assembly within said wellbore both when said slip assembly is actuated and non-actuated;
- and (iii) allows release of said slip assembly apparatus by use of a release load that is less than the axial capacity of said deployment means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.