Self-set bridge plug

In a well tool for use to seal a well casing, said well tool having a mandrel, a collar, a seal element, slips, a conical element and a sleeve, with said collar and said sleeve mounted to said mandrel, and said seal element, said slips and said conical element mounted to said mandrel between said collar and said sleeve, wherein a distance between said collar and said sleeve is reduced to compress said seal element, said slips and said conical clement, urging said slips to engage said conical element and anchor said well tool in the well casing, and squeezing said seal element between said mandrel and said well casing to seal there-between, the improvement comprising:

• a central bore extending into a central portion of said mandrel, said central bore defining a flow path in which a pressure is selectively applied, said central bore having an effective diameter which is not substantially larger than forty percent (40%) of an effective exterior diameter of said central portion of said mandrel;
• a flow port extending from said central bore to an exterior of said central portion of said mandrel;
• a piston body extending beneath said flow port, said piston body having a first part which extends outward of said exterior of said central portion of said mandrel, and a second part which extends from said first portion on an opposite side of said central portion, wherein said second pan of said piston body and said central portion of said mandrel have substantially equal cross-sectional areas;
• said sleeve defining a cylinder which extends around said central portion of said mandrel, said sleeve having an upper end which slidably engages said exterior of said central portion of said mandrel and a lower portion which is spaced apart from said central portion of said mandrel and slidably engages said first part of said piston body to define a first chamber disposed between said central portion of said mandrel and said sleeve, and extending between said first part of said piston body and said upper end of said sleeve;
• a seal ring disposed on said sleeve and slidably engaging said second part of said piston body to define a second chamber disposed between said piston body and sleeve, extending between said seal ring and said first part of said piston body;
• wherein said first chamber is disposed adjacent to said flow port for receiving said pressure from said central bore, such that said sleeve moves on said central portion of said mandrel and said piston body toward said collar to set said well tool when said pressure is applied within said central bore;
• and
• wherein said power charge burns for at least 30 seconds when ignited.

A well tool for use to seal a well easing, said well tool comprising;

• a mandrel having a central portion;
• a collar disposed to extend around an exterior of said mandrel;
• a seal element extending around said central portion of said mandrel;
• a conical element disposed to extend around said central portion of said mandrel;
• slips extending adjacent to said conical element and slidably moveable over said conical element;
• a sleeve disposed to extend around said mandrel, spaced apart from said collar with said seal element, said slips and said conical element disposed between said sleeve and said collar, wherein said sleeve is slidably moveable on said mandrel to reduce a distance between said collar and said sleeve to compress said seal element, said slips and said conical element there-between;
• a central bore extending into a central portion of said mandrel, said central bore defining a flow path in which a pressure is selectively applied;
• a flow port extending from said central bore to an exterior of said central portion of said mandrel;
• a piston body extending beneath said flow port, said piston body having a first part which extends outward of said exterior of said central portion of said mandrel, and a second part which extends from said first portion on an opposite side of said central portion, wherein said second part of said piston body and said ventral portion of said mandrel have substantially equal cross-sectional areas;
• said sleeve defining a cylinder which extends around said central portion of said mandrel, said sleeve having an upper end which slidably engages said exterior of said central portion of said mandrel and a lower portion which is spaced apart from said central portion of said mandrel and slidably engages said first part of said piston body to define a first chamber which is annular-shaped and which continuously extends between said central portion of said mandrel and said sleeve, and extending between said first part of said piston body and said upper end of said sleeve;
• a seal ring disposed on said sleeve and slidably engaging said second part of said piston body to define a second chamber which is annular-shaped and which continuously extends between said piston body and sleeve, extending between said seal ring and said first part of said piston body;
• wherein said first chamber is disposed adjacent to said flow port for receiving said pressure from said central bore, such that said sleeve moves on said central portion of said mandrel and said piston body toward said collar to set said well tool when said pressure is applied within said central bore;
• wherein an upper portion of said mandrel which is disposed adjacent to said cellar is annular shaped and of reduced cross-sectional area as compared to adjacent portions of said mandrel to define a weak point which separates an upper adapter mounted to a tool string to which said mandrel is secured for running into said well casing;
• wherein said central bore extending in said central portion of said mandrel defines a power charge chamber within which is disposed a power charge which is ignited to combust and generate a gas pressure which passes through said flow port to urge said sleeve to move upwards over said central portion of said mandrel;
• and
• wherein an effective power charge diameter is not substantially smaller than seventy-five percent of said effective diameter of said central bore defining said power charge chamber.

A well tool for use to seal a well casing, said well tool comprising:

• a mandrel having a central portion;
• a collar disposed to extend around an exterior of said mandrel;
• a seal element extending around said central portion of said mandrel;
• a conical element disposed to extend around said central portion of said mandrel;
• slips extending adjacent to said conical element and slidably moveable over said conical element;
• a sleeve disposed to extend around said mandrel, spaced apart from said collar with said seal element, said slips and said conical element disposed between said sleeve and said collar, wherein said sleeve is slidably moveable on said mandrel to reduce a distance between said collar and said sleeve to compress said seal element, said slips and said conical element there-between;
• a central bore extending into a central portion of said mandrel, said central bore defining a flow path in which a pressure is selectively applied;
• a flow port extending from said central bore to an exterior of said central portion of said mandrel;
• a piston body extending beneath said flow port, said piston body having a first part which extends outward of said exterior of said central portion of said mandrel, and a second part which extends from said first portion on an opposite side of said central portion, wherein said second part of said piston body and said central portion of said mandrel have substantially equal cross-sectional areas;
• said sleeve defining a cylinder which extends around said central portion of said mandrel, said sleeve having an upper end which slidably engages said exterior of said central portion of said mandrel and a lower portion which is spaced apart from said central portion of said mandrel and slidably engages said first part of said piston body to define a first chamber which is annular-shaped and which continuously extends between said central portion of said mandrel and said sleeve, and extending between said first part of said piston body and said upper end of said sleeve;
• a seal ring disposed on said sleeve and slidably engaging said second part of said piston body to define a second chamber which is annular-shaped and which continuously extends between said piston body and sleeve, extending between said seal ring and said first part of said piston body;
• wherein said first chamber is disposed adjacent to said flow port for receiving said pressure from said central bore, such that said sleeve moves on said central portion of said mandrel and said piston body toward said collar to set said well tool when said pressure is applied within said central bore;
• wherein an upper portion of said mandrel which is disposed adjacent to said collar is annular shaped and of reduced cross-sectional area as compared to adjacent portions of said mandrel to define a weak point which separates an upper adapter mounted to a tool string to which said mandrel is secured for running into said well casing;
• wherein said central bore extending in said central portion of said mandrel defines a power charge chamber within which is disposed a power charge which is ignited to combust and generate a gas pressure which passes through said flow port to urge said sleeve to move upwards over said central portion of said mandrel;
• and
• wherein said power charge burns for at least 30 seconds when ignited.

A well tool for use to seal a well casing, said well tool comprising:

• a mandrel having a central portion;
• a collar disposed to extend around an exterior of said mandrel;
• a seal element extending around said central portion of said mandrel;
• a conical element disposed to extend around said central portion of said mandrel;
• slips extending adjacent to said conical element and slidably moveable over said conical element;
• a sleeve disposed to extend around said mandrel, spaced apart from said collar with said seal element, said slips and said conical element disposed between said sleeve and said collar, wherein said sleeve is slidably moveable on said mandrel to reduce a distance between said collar and said sleeve to compress said seal element, said slips and said conical element there-between;
• a power charge chamber extending into a central portion of said mandrel, said power charge chamber defining a flow path in which a pressure is selectively applied, and having an effective diameter which is not substantially larger than forty percent (40%) of an effective exterior diameter of said central portion of said mandrel, wherein a power charge is disposed within said power charge chamber and ignited to combust and generate a gas pressure;
• a flow port extending from said central bore to an exterior of said central portion of said mandrel for passing said gas pressure from said power charge chamber to said exterior of said central portion of said mandrel;
• an upper portion of said mandrel which is disposed adjacent to said collar having an annular shaped of reduced cross-sectional area as compared to adjacent portions of said mandrel to define a weak point which separates an upper adapter mounted to a tool string to which said mandrel is secured for running into said well casing;
• a piston body integrally formed as part of said mandrel and extending beneath said flow port, said piston body having a first part which extends outward of said exterior of said central portion of said mandrel, and a second part which extends from said first portion on an opposite side of said central portion, wherein said second part of said piston body and said central portion of said mandrel have substantially equal cross-sectional areas;
• said sleeve defining a cylinder which extends around said central portion of said mandrel, said sleeve having an upper end which slidably engages said exterior of said central portion of said mandrel and a lower portion which is spaced apart from said central portion of said mandrel and slidably engages said first part of said piston body to define a first chamber which is annular-shaped and which continuously extends between said central portion of said mandrel and said sleeve, and extending between said first part of said piston body and said upper end of said sleeve;
• a seal ring disposed on said sleeve and slidably engaging said second part of said piston body to define a second chamber which is annular-shaped and which continuously extends between said piston body and sleeve, extending between said seal ring and said first part of said piston body;
• wherein said first chamber is disposed adjacent to said flow port for receiving said pressure from said central bore, such that said sleeve moves on said central portion of said mandrel and said piston body toward said collar to set said well tool when said pressure is applied within said central bore;
• and
• wherein an effective power charge diameter is not substantially smaller than seventy-five percent of said effective diameter of said central bore defining said power charge chamber.