# US 2019/0376360 A1 · Sub-surface release plug system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0376360 A1 - Document ID: US20190376360A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/455,475 - Filed: 2019-06-27 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-08 - Assignees: Weatherford Netherlands, B.V. - Applicants: Weatherford Netherlands, B.V. - Inventors: Marcel BUDDE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190376360A1 ## CPC - E21B 33/165: {Cementing plugs specially adapted for being released down-hole (cementing heads E21B33/05)} - E21B 33/12: Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16) - E21B 34/063: {Valve or closure with destructible element, e.g. frangible disc (E21B34/103 takes precedence)} - E21B 34/10: operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole - E21B 43/10: Setting of casings, screens, liners {or the like} in wells - E21B 2200/06: Sleeve valves - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A subsurface release plug system includes a plug mandrel body and a plug. The plug mandrel body includes a bore, a flow port fluidly connected to the bore, and a sleeve adjustable from a first position to a second position. The sleeve prevents fluid flow through the flow port when in the first position and allows fluid flow through the flow port when in the second position. The plug is releasably connected to the plug mandrel body, wherein the plug is configured to be released from the plug mandrel body by fluid flowing through the flow port. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A plug, comprising: a plug body having a body bore; and a collar located within the body bore, the collar including a collar bore and a protrusion extending into the collar bore, the protrusion configured to engage a longitudinal channel of an insert, wherein the insert is configured to be at least partially disposed in the body bore. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The plug of claim 1, wherein the collar further includes a lock collar. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The plug of claim 1, wherein the collar includes a seal disposed in a seal channel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The plug of claim 3, wherein the seal channel is a c-shaped channel having a first end and a second end, the first end spaced from the second end by the protrusion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The plug of claim 1, wherein the plug has a protruding end and a recessed end, the recessed end having an inverted profile matching the protruding end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The plug of claim 1, wherein the collar includes a recessed portion, wherein the plug is configured to be releasably connected to a plug mandrel body via a retractable spring component engaged with the recessed portion. ### Claim 7 A plug mandrel subassembly comprising: a plug mandrel body including: a bore; a flow port fluidly connected to the bore; an adjustable sleeve positionable to prevent fluid from flowing through the flow port; a first portion of a channel; an insert releasably connected to the plug mandrel body and having a second portion of the channel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The plug mandrel subassembly of claim 7, wherein the adjustable sleeve includes a dart receiver attached to an interior surface of the plug mandrel body defining the bore. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The plug mandrel subassembly of claim 8, wherein the dart receiver is attached to the interior surface by at least one shear pin. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The plug mandrel subassembly of claim 8, wherein the dart receiver is positionable between a first position and a second position, the dart receiver preventing fluid flow through the flow port when in the first position and allowing fluid flow through the flow port when in the second position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The plug mandrel subassembly of claim 7, wherein the insert is releasably connected to the plug mandrel body using at least one shear pin. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The plug mandrel subassembly of claim 7, wherein the insert comprises a first detachable insert and a second detachable insert, the first detachable insert releasably connected to the plug mandrel body using a first shear pin and the second detachable insert releasably connected to the first detachable insert using a second shear pin. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The plug mandrel subassembly of claim 7, wherein the insert further comprises a channel stop. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The plug mandrel subassembly of claim 7, further comprising a plug positioned about the plug mandrel body and movable from a first position to a second position, wherein the plug is spaced apart from the insert in the first position, and wherein the plug is in contact with the insert when the plug is in the second position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The plug mandrel subassembly of claim 7, wherein the plug mandrel body further includes a retractable spring component, the retractable spring component biased radially outward from the plug mandrel body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The plug mandrel subassembly of claim 15, where the retractable spring component includes an angled profile configured to move the retractable spring component radially inward in response to a shearing force. ### Claim 17 (depends on 7) The plug mandrel subassembly of claim 7, wherein the plug mandrel body further includes a ball catcher, the ball catcher configured to a catch a ball flowing downstream within the bore while enabling fluid to continue to flow through the bore. ### Claim 18 (depends on 7) The plug mandrel subassembly of claim 7, wherein the plug mandrel body further includes a ball seat, the ball seat releasably attached to an interior surface of the plug mandrel body defining the bore, the ball seat configured to receive a ball flowing downstream within the bore to block fluid flow through the bore. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The plug mandrel subassembly of claim 18, wherein the ball seat is releasably attached to the interior surface by at least one shear pin and the plug mandrel body further includes a bypass valve portion downstream of the ball seat, the bypass valve portion configured to receive the ball seat after the ball seat has been released from the interior surface. ### Claim 20 A method of operating a subsurface release plug system, comprising: releasing a first plug from a plug mandrel body having a first longitudinal channel, wherein the first plug includes a first protrusion disposed in the first longitudinal channel; displacing the first plug relative to the plug mandrel body, wherein the first protrusion travels within the first longitudinal channel; and connecting the first plug with a first insert releasably coupled to the plug mandrel body, wherein the first protrusion is disposed in a second longitudinal channel of the first insert. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising decoupling the first insert from the plug mandrel body. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising: releasing a second plug from the plug mandrel body, wherein the second plug includes a second protrusion disposed in the first longitudinal channel; displacing the second plug relative to the plug mandrel body, wherein the second protrusion travels within the first longitudinal channel; connecting the second plug with a second insert releasably coupled to the plug mandrel body, wherein the second protrusion is disposed in a third longitudinal channel of the second insert; and decoupling the second insert from the plug mandrel body. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, further comprising: releasing a third plug from the plug mandrel body, wherein the third plug includes a third protrusion disposed in the first longitudinal channel; displacing the third plug relative to the plug mandrel body, wherein the third protrusion travels within the first longitudinal channel; connecting the third plug with a third insert releasably coupled to the plug mandrel body, wherein the third protrusion is disposed in a fourth longitudinal channel of the third insert; and decoupling the third insert from the plug mandrel body. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising: landing the first plug on a float assembly; rupturing a rupture membrane of the first insert. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein prior to connecting the first plug with the first insert, the first plug travels past a second insert having a third longitudinal channel and a third insert having a fourth longitudinal channel, wherein the first protrusion slides within the third and fourth longitudinal channels.