Backup shoe for well packer
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsBryon D. Mullen, James D. Hendrickson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A backup shoe for a well packer provides high pressure sealing capability without requiring a large setting force or setting stroke of the packer. In a preferred embodiment, a backup shoe has an inner portion with a relatively thin cross-section and an outer portion with a relatively thick cross-section. Additionally, the inner portion has a pivot point between its ends. In a preferred embodiment of a packer utilizing the backup shoe, an element retainer axially contacts the inner portion adjacent its pivot point, and a seal element axially contacts an inner sloping surface formed on the outer portion.
Claims9
A downhole tool, comprising:
- an axially extending mandrel;
- at least two axially spaced apart element retainers, the element retainers having opposing surfaces formed thereon, and at least one of the element retainers being axially slidingly disposed relative to the mandrel to thereby axially displace at least one of the opposing surfaces relative to the other opposing surface;
- at least one seal element disposed axially between the opposing surfaces;
- and
- a backup shoe, the backup shoe including:
- first inner annular portion having a cross-section extending radially outward, the first portion being axially slidingly disposed circumferentially about the mandrel axially between one of the opposing surfaces and the seal element, the first portion directly contacting the one of the opposing surfaces, and the first portion directly contacting the seal element when the one of the opposing surfaces is displaced relative to the other opposing surface;
- a second intermediate annular portion having a cross-section extending axially slopingly outward from the first portion, the second portion being integrally formed with the first portion, and the second portion extending axially slopingly away from the one of the opposing surfaces;
- and
- a third outer annular portion integrally formed with the second portion, the third portion extending axially away from the one of the opposing surfaces.
A well tool, comprising:
- first and second members, at least one of the members being axially displaceable relative to the other member;
- at least one seal element positioned axially between the members, the seal element being axially compressed between the members when at least one of the members is axially displaced relative to the other member;
- and
- a backup shoe including first and second annular portions, the first portion having a generally constant cross-sectional thickness between opposite ends thereof, and the first portion further having at least one pivot point between its opposite ends, the second portion being attached to the first portion at one of the opposite ends and having a cross-sectional thickness generally greater than that of the first portion, an inclined inner side surface of the second portion directly contacting the seal element.
A well tool, comprising:
- first and second members, at least one of the members being axially displaceable relative to the other member;
- at least one seal element positioned axially between the members, the seal element being axially compressed between the members when at least one of the members is axially displaced relative to the other member;
- and
- a backup shoe directly contacting the seal element and one of the members, the backup shoe including first and second annular portions, the first portion having a generally constant cross-sectional thickness between opposite ends thereof, and the first portion further having at least one pivot point between its opposite ends, the second portion being attached to the first portion at one of the opposite ends and having a cross-sectional thickness generally greater than that of the first portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.