Segmented seat assembly
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorGregoire Jacob
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus that is usable with a well includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a first plurality of segments, and the second portion includes a second plurality of segments. The apparatus is deployable in a tubing string that is installed in the well, and the second plurality of segments is adapted to engage the tubing string and exert a force on the first plurality of segments. The first plurality of segments is adapted to expand to form a seat in the tubing string to receive an untethered object in response to the force, and the second plurality of segments is adapted to be released from the first plurality of segments downhole in the well.
Claims26
An apparatus usable with a well, comprising:
- a first portion comprising a first plurality of segments;
- and
- a second portion comprising a second plurality of segments, wherein:
- the apparatus is deployable in a tubing string installed in the well,
- the second plurality of segments is adapted to engage the tubing string and exert a force on the first plurality of segments,
- the first plurality of segments is adapted to expand to form a seat in the tubing string to receive an untethered object in response to the force, and
- the second plurality of segments is adapted to be released from the first plurality of segments downhole in the well.
A method comprising:
- deploying a seat assembly downhole, wherein the seat assembly comprises a top portion having a first plurality of segments and a bottom portion having a second plurality of segments;
- setting the seat assembly so that the top portion of the seat assembly forms an annular seat;
- landing an untethered object on the annular seat;
- and
- releasing a bottom portion of the seat assembly while the untethered object is landed on the annular seat.
A system comprising:
- a segmented seat assembly deployable downhole having a top set of segments and a bottom set of segments, wherein the bottom set of segments aid in radial expansion of the seat assembly and the top set of segments form a ring shaped seat upon full radial expansion;
- and
- an untethered object deployable downhole, wherein the untethered object is catchable by the ring shaped seat,
- wherein further the bottom set of segments dissolve at a rate higher than that of the top set of segments.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.