Downhole tool with remotely actuated drag blocks and methods

A packer assembly for use in an oil and gas well having a well bore, the packer assembly comprising:

• a tubular mandrel having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end being disposed up-hole of said lower end in the well bore when the packer assembly is disposed therein;
• a central bore extending at least through said mandrel from the upper end to the lower end thereof;
• a plurality of drag blocks associated with said mandrel, each said drag block being mounted in a corresponding drag block housing, each said drag block being configured to be movable radially outwardly relative to said mandrel from a retracted position to an extended position, each said drag block in said retracted position being disposed proximate to said associated drag block housing and spaced away from the well bore wall when the packer assembly is disposed therein, and each said drag block in said extended position being disposed radially outwardly of said associated drag block housing and engageable with the well bore wall when the packer assembly is disposed therein, said drag blocks being held in said retracted position when the packer assembly is inserted into the well bore;
• at least one selectively-actuated retention sleeve disposed between said mandrel and said drag blocks;
• a plurality of retainers, at least one said retainer connecting each said drag block in said retracted position to said retention sleeve and configured to disconnect from at least one among said associated drag block and/or said retention sleeve and allow said associated drag block to move from said retracted position to said extended position upon actuation of said retention sleeve when the packer assembly is positioned at a desired location in the well bore;
• and
• at least one retraction sleeve engageable over said drag blocks and selectively axially movable relative thereto from an open position to a closed position, said retraction sleeve having a plurality of windows formed therein and being configured in said open position to allow said drag blocks in said extended position to extend through said windows, said retraction sleeve in said closed position being configured to retain said drag blocks in said retracted position.

A packer assembly for use in an oil and gas well having a well bore, the packer assembly comprising:

• a tubular mandrel having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end being disposed up-hole of said lower end in the well bore when the packer assembly is disposed therein;
• a central bore extending at least through said mandrel from the upper end to the lower end thereof;
• a plurality of drag blocks associated with said mandrel, each said drag block being mounted in a corresponding drag block housing, each said drag block being configured to be movable radially inwardly relative to said mandrel from an extended position to a retracted position, each said drag block in said extended position being disposed radially outwardly of said associated drag block housing and engageable with the well bore wall when the packer assembly is disposed therein, and each said drag block in said retracted position being disposed proximate to said associated drag block housing and spaced away from the well bore wall when the packer assembly is disposed therein;
• and
• at least one retraction sleeve engageable over said drag blocks and selectively axially movable relative thereto from an open position to a closed position, said retraction sleeve having a plurality of windows formed therein and being configured in said open position to allow said drag blocks in said extended position to extend through said windows, said retraction sleeve in said closed position being configured to retain said drag blocks in said retracted position,
• wherein as said retraction sleeve moves from said open to said closed positions, said retraction sleeve is configured to bias said drag blocks from said extended position into said retracted position when the packer assembly is disposed within the well bore.

A downhole tool for use in an oil and gas well having a well bore, the downhole tool comprising:

• a tubular mandrel having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end being disposed up-hole of said lower end in the well bore when the downhole tool is disposed therein;
• a central bore extending at least through said mandrel from the upper end to the lower end thereof;
• a plurality of drag blocks associated with said mandrel, each said drag block being mounted in a corresponding drag block housing, each said drag block being configured to be movable radially relative to said mandrel between a retracted position and an extended position, each said drag block in said retracted position being disposed proximate to said associated drag block housing and spaced away from the well bore wall when the downhole tool is disposed therein, and each said drag block in said extended position being disposed radially outwardly of said associated drag block housing and engageable with the well bore wall when the downhole tool is disposed therein, said drag blocks being held in said retracted position when the downhole tool is inserted into the well bore;
• a selectively-actuated retention sleeve disposed between said mandrel and said drag blocks;
• a plurality of retainers, at least one said retainer connecting each said drag block in said retracted position to said retention sleeve and configured to disconnect from at least one among said associated drag block and said retention sleeve and allow said associated drag block to move from said retracted position to said extended position upon actuation of said retention sleeve when the downhole tool is positioned at a desired location in the well bore;
• and
• a retraction sleeve engageable over said drag blocks and selectively axially movable relative thereto from an open position to a closed position, said retraction sleeve having a plurality of windows formed therein and being configured in said open position to allow said drag blocks in said extended position to extend through said windows, said retraction sleeve in said closed position being configured to retain said drag blocks in said retracted position.

A method of remotely actuating the drag blocks of a downhole tool in the well bore of an oil and gas well, the downhole tool having a central bore, each drag block being mounted in a respective drag block housing and being spring-biased radially outwardly by at least one biasing member, the method comprising:

• at least one retainer connecting each drag block to at least one selectively axially movable retention sleeve;
• the at least one retainer holding the drag block associated therewith in a retracted position, the drag block in the retracted position being disposed proximate the drag block housing associated therewith and spaced away from the well bore wall when the downhole tool is disposed therein;
• deploying the downhole tool to a desired location in the well bore;
• moving the at least one retention sleeve axially relative to the drag blocks and retainers;
• the at least one retention sleeve disengaging each retainer from at least one among the drag block associated therewith and the at least one retention sleeve;
• allowing the at least one biasing member associated with each drag block to expand radially outwardly and bias the drag block into an extended position in contact with the well bore wall;
• temporarily blocking fluid flow in the central bore of the downhole tool downhole of the drag blocks;
• pressurizing the central bore;
• allowing fluid in the central bore to enter and pressurize a first pressure chamber that fluidly communicates with the central bore;
• and
• fluid pressure in the pressure chamber causing the at least one retention sleeve to move axially relative to the drag blocks, causing each retainer to disengage from at least one among its associated drag block and the at least one retention sleeve.

A method of remotely actuating the drag blocks of a downhole tool in the well bore of an oil and gas well, the downhole tool having a central bore, each drag block being mounted in a respective drag block housing and being spring-biased radially outwardly by at least one biasing member, the method comprising:

• at least one retainer connecting each drag block to at least one selectively axially movable retention sleeve;
• the at least one retainer holding it's associated the drag block associated therewith in a retracted position, the drag block in the retracted position being disposed proximate to its associated the drag block housing associated therewith and spaced away from the well bore wall when the downhole tool is disposed therein;
• deploying the downhole tool to a desired location in the well bore;
• moving the at least one retention sleeve axially relative to the drag blocks and retainers;
• the at least one retention sleeve disengaging each retainer from at least one among its associated the drag block associated therewith and the at least one retention sleeve;
• allowing the at least one biasing member associated with each drag block to expand radially outwardly and bias the drag block into an extended position in contact with the well bore wall;
• providing at least one selectively axially movable retraction sleeve on the downhole tool over the drag blocks, the at least one retraction sleeve having a plurality of windows formed therein;
• the at least one retraction sleeve allowing the drag blocks in their extended position to extend through the windows;
• when it is desired to disengage the drag blocks from the well bore wall, selectively moving the at least one retraction sleeve axially relative to the drag blocks;
• the at least one retraction sleeve urging the drag blocks radially inwardly into a retracted position, compressing the biasing members associated therewith;
• and
• the at least one retraction sleeve holding the drag blocks in the retracted position.

A method of remotely actuating the drag blocks of a downhole tool in the well bore of an oil and gas well, the downhole tool having a central bore, each drag block being mounted in a respective drag block housing and being spring-biased radially outwardly by at least one biasing member, the method comprising:

• providing at least one selectively axially movable retraction sleeve on the downhole tool over the drag blocks, the at least one retraction sleeve having a plurality of windows formed therein;
• the at least one retraction sleeve allowing the drag blocks to extend through the windows and engage the well bore wall;
• when it is desired to disengage the drag blocks from the well bore wall, selectively moving the at least one retraction sleeve axially relative to the drag blocks;
• the at least one retraction sleeve urging the drag blocks radially inwardly into a retracted position, compressing the biasing members associated therewith;
• and
• the at least one retraction sleeve holding the drag blocks in the retracted position.