# US 2018/0023366 A1 · Slotted Backup Ring Assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0023366 A1 - Document ID: US20180023366A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/649,363 - Filed: 2017-07-13 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-06 - Assignees: Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, LLC - Applicants: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC - Inventors: Guijun Deng; John K. Wakefield; Adam Patterson; Alexander M. Kendall - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023366A1 ## CPC - E21B 33/1216: {Anti-extrusion means, e.g. means to prevent cold flow of rubber packing} - E21B 33/128: with a member expanded radially by axial pressure (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence) - E21B 43/14: Obtaining from a multiple-zone well - E21B 43/26: by forming crevices or fractures - F16J 15/028: {the packing being mechanically expanded against the sealing surface} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS ## Abstract A unique backup ring against ends of a sealing element features axial slots extending part way along a cylindrical segment of the backup ring. The slots end in rounded openings to relieve stress and a part of the cylindrical shape of the backup ring is solid. The slotted end of the cylindrical portion is tapered in section toward the end overlapping the sealing element. The face of the backup ring away from the sealing element is tapered and rides on an adjacent tapered surface away from the mandrel during the setting. The tapered seal end of the backup ring bends to reach the surrounding tubular before the balance of the cylindrical portion reaches the surrounding tubular. Extrusion along the mandrel is stopped by a mandrel seal on an adjacent wedge ring. The mandrel end of the backup ring has a peripheral stiffener to lend rigidity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An extrusion barrier assembly for a mandrel mounted sealing element assembly of a borehole isolation device, comprising: at least one extrusion barrier ring surrounding the mandrel and initially abutting and radially overlapping at least one end of the sealing element assembly, said extrusion barrier ring comprising a cylindrically shaped segment which initially overlaps the sealing element assembly and features at least one axially oriented slot. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein: said at least one slot is shorter than an axial length of said cylindrically shaped segment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2, wherein: said at least one slot extends for less than half the axial length of said cylindrically shaped segment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2, wherein: said at least one slot extends to an end of said cylindrically shaped segment. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The assembly of claim 4, wherein: said cylindrically shaped segment narrows in section toward said end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2, wherein: said cylindrically shaped segment tapers in section for an axial length coincident with said at least one slot. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2, wherein: said at least one slot comprises a plurality of axially extending slots from an end of said cylindrically shaped segment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The assembly of claim 7, wherein: said slots are evenly spaced and end in said cylindrically shaped segment with a rounded end. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The assembly of claim 5, wherein: said end makes initial contact with the borehole before the balance of said cylindrically shaped segment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein: said ring comprising a tapered segment extending from said cylindrically shaped segment and toward said mandrel where said tapered segment ends in a thicker portion for stiffness. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The assembly of claim 10, wherein: said tapered segment selectively movable axially to contact a wedge ring as an intermediate ring between said tapered segment and said wedge ring is forced out radially away from the mandrel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein: said wedge ring having opposed tapered sides to a peak spaced apart from the mandrel, said thicker portion of said tapered segment moving away from the mandrel along one of said opposed tapered sides as said cylindrically shaped segment makes contact with the borehole. ### Claim 13 An extrusion barrier assembly for a mandrel mounted sealing element assembly of a borehole isolation device, comprising: at least one extrusion barrier ring surrounding the mandrel and initially abutting and radially overlapping at least one end of the sealing element assembly, said extrusion barrier ring comprising a cylindrically shaped segment which initially overlaps the sealing element assembly and features a tapered cross-section that narrows in a direction toward said end. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13, wherein: said end makes initial contact with the borehole before the balance of said cylindrically shaped segment. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The assembly of claim 14, wherein: said ring comprising a tapered segment extending from said cylindrically shaped segment and toward said mandrel where said tapered segment ends in a thicker portion for stiffness. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The assembly of claim 15, wherein: said tapered segment selectively movable axially to contact a wedge ring as an intermediate ring between said tapered segment and said wedge ring is forced out radially away from the mandrel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The assembly of claim 16, wherein: said wedge ring having opposed tapered sides to a peak spaced apart from the mandrel, said thicker portion of said tapered segment moving away from the mandrel along one of said opposed tapered sides as said cylindrically shaped segment makes contact with the borehole. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The assembly of claim 15, further comprising: at least one slot is shorter than an axial length of said cylindrically shaped segment. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The assembly of claim 18, wherein: said at least one slot extends for less than half the axial length of said cylindrically shaped segment. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The assembly of claim 19, wherein: said at least one slot extends to an end of said cylindrically shaped segment. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The assembly of claim 20, wherein: said at least one slot comprises a plurality of axially extending slots from an end of said cylindrically shaped segment. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The assembly of claim 21, wherein: said slots are evenly spaced and end in said cylindrically shaped segment with a rounded end. ### Claim 23 A treatment method using borehole isolation device comprising an extrusion barrier assembly for a mandrel mounted sealing element assembly, comprising: providing at least one extrusion barrier ring surrounding the mandrel and initially abutting and radially overlapping at least one end of the sealing element assembly, said extrusion barrier ring comprising a cylindrically shaped segment which initially overlaps the sealing element assembly and features at least one axially oriented slot; performing a treatment against said sealing element assembly into at least one formation adjacent the borehole. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, comprising: making said at least one slot shorter than an axial length of said cylindrically shaped segment. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, comprising: extending said at least one slot for less than half the axial length of said cylindrically shaped segment. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, comprising: extending said at least one slot to an end of said cylindrically shaped segment. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, comprising: narrowing said cylindrically shaped segment in section toward said end. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, comprising: tapering said cylindrically shaped segment in section for an axial length coincident with said at least one slot. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, comprising: providing as said at least one slot a plurality of axially extending slots from an end of said cylindrically shaped segment. ### Claim 30 A treatment method using borehole isolation device comprising an extrusion barrier assembly for a mandrel mounted sealing element assembly, comprising: providing at least one extrusion barrier ring surrounding the mandrel and initially abutting and radially overlapping at least one end of the sealing element assembly, said extrusion barrier ring comprising a cylindrically shaped segment which initially overlaps the sealing element assembly and features a tapered cross-section that narrows in a direction toward said end; performing a treatment against said sealing element assembly into at least one formation adjacent the borehole. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein: making initial contact with said end to the borehole before the balance of said cylindrically shaped segment. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, wherein: providing a tapered segment on said ring extending from said cylindrically shaped segment and toward said mandrel where said tapered segment ends in a thicker portion for stiffness. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein: configuring said tapered segment to be selectively movable axially to contact a wedge ring as an intermediate ring between said tapered segment and said wedge ring is forced out radially away from the mandrel. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, wherein: providing opposed tapered sides on said wedge ring to a peak spaced apart from the mandrel, said thicker portion of said tapered segment moving away from the mandrel along one of said opposed tapered sides as said cylindrically shaped segment makes contact with the borehole. ### Claim 35 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein: performing fracturing as said treatment. ### Claim 36 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein: performing fracturing as said treatment.