# US 2014/0196908 A1 · Internal lockdown snubbing plug

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- Number: US 2014/0196908 A1
- Document ID: US20140196908A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/216,465
- Filed: 2014-03-17
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2008-03-25
- Assignees: Cameron International Corporation
- Applicants: Cameron International Corporation
- Inventors: Dennis P. Nguyen; Stephen C. Muse
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196908A1

## 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 33/03: Well heads; Setting-up thereof
- E21B 33/12: Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16)
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

A system, including a plug, including one or more fluid pathways extending between upstream and downstream sides of the plug, and an internal lock positionable in an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the internal lock is resiliently biased to the locked position upon release from the unlocked position, wherein the locked position is configured to internally secure the plug within a wellhead component.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system, comprising:
a plug, comprising:
one or more fluid pathways extending between upstream and downstream sides of the plug; and
an internal lock positionable in an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the internal lock is resiliently biased to the locked position upon release from the unlocked position, wherein the locked position is configured to internally secure the plug within a wellhead component.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the internal lock comprises a locking ring.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the locking ring is configured to automatically expand outward in a radial direction in response to retraction of a running tool.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the unlocked position has the internal lock held in compression by a catch, and the catch is configured to release the internal lock to enable the internal lock to automatically expand from the unlocked position to the locked position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the catch is controlled by a running tool.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, comprising a valve configured to open and close the one or more pathways through the plug, wherein the fluid pathways comprise one or more first bores through a body of the plug and one or more second bores through a piston disposed within the body, and the fluid pathways are open when the first bores are in fluid communication with the second bores.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the valve comprises a load ring configured to limit axial movement of the valve relative to the plug and the piston, and the valve is configured to open and close the fluid pathways via axial movement of the piston with respect to the body.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the plug is a snubbing plug.

### Claim 9

A system, comprising:
a mineral extraction system, comprising;
a tubular; and
a plug disposed in the tubular, wherein the plug comprises a lock positionable in an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the lock is resiliently biased to the locked position upon release from the unlocked position, and the lock is configured to secure the plug inside the tubular.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the plug is a snubbing plug.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the lock comprises a first portion that rests within a groove on an exterior surface of the plug.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the lock comprises a second portion that extends away from the exterior surface of the plug.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the second portion is configured to expand into a locking recess in the tubular.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the lock comprises a third portion that couples the first portion to the second portion.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the third portion is angled with respect to an outer surface of the plug.

### Claim 16

A method, comprising:
inserting a plug into a component of a mineral extraction system; and
releasing an internal lock on a plug, wherein the internal lock is resiliently biased to a locked position upon release from an unlocked position, and wherein the internal lock secures the plug to the mineral extraction system.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, comprising closing at least one fluid pathway in the plug with a valve to isolate pressure upstream of the plug.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, comprising opening the at least one fluid pathway in the plug with the valve to equalize pressure upstream and downstream of the plug before removing the plug from the component.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein opening and closing the valve comprises rotating a tool coupled to the valve.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, comprising compressing a portion of the internal lock to unlock the plug from the mineral extraction system.