Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Cnpc USA Corporation

China National Petroleum Corporation

Beijing Huamei Inc.

Schlumberger Technology Corporation

Min Mark Yuan

Lonnie Carl Helms

Rajesh Parameshwaraiah

Frank Vinicio Acosta

Mayur Narain Ahuja

Stephen Allen Yeldell

Ishwar Dilip Patil

Kevin Wendell Ardoin

Byong Jun Kim

Peng Cheng

Jianpeng Yue

Handoko Tirto Santoso

Matthew Patsy

Clayton Reed Bonn

Yu Liu

Terje Moen

Robert Krush

Avinash Gopal Dharne

Saul Emmanuel Vazquez Niebla

Tor Sigve Saetre

Huailiang Liu

Kwami Roberts

Benny E Dawsey

Arnold Gene Marsh

The frac plug device is a wedge type or ramp type frac plug that can seal at a setting position in a large diameter portion of the borehole. The thickness, taper angle, and dimensions of components for passing through the narrowest portion of the borehole during deployment no longer limit the radial expansion. The frac plug device includes a core cone, a segmented cone, a slip device, a segmented cap member, and a core cap member. A simplified setting action sets the high expansion of the slip device by the core cone and the segmented cone. The segmented cone and the segmented cap member increase expansion of the slip device, and the segmented cap member and the core cap member lock the slip device around the core cone in the final expansion configuration at the maximum radial expansion for large diameter portions of the borehole.

Frac plug device for high expansion at the setting position

A ramp type frac plug device of the present invention is a simplified, short and compact frac plug device to both maintain seal to the borehole wall and prevent premature release from the borehole. The frac plug device includes a cone, an anchor assembly, a cap member, a slip device, and a sealing member. In a set configuration, the frac plug device has both the friction fit engagement of the cone and the slip device and a single direction rachet locked engagement of an anchor ring with a threaded ring portion and an anchor mandrel with an exterior threaded mandrel portion of the anchor assembly. The ratchet lock engagement between the anchor ring and the anchor mandrel prevents backward movement of the cone away from the anchor mandrel so that the cap member engaged with the anchor mandrel locks the slip device in position on the cone.

Frac plug device with an anchor mandrel assembly for a locked set configuration

A downhole apparatus includes a casing string with a fluid barrier connected therein defining a lower end of a buoyancy chamber. A rupture disk is spaced from the fluid barrier and defines an upper end of the buoyancy chamber. A degradable plug is connected in the casing string above the rupture disk. The degradable plug defines a flow path to permit flow therethrough to the rupture disk, and is movable from a first to a second position in the casing string.

Buoyancy assist tool with degradable nose

Valve systems for inserting into casings used in downhole environments are provided. The valve system includes a mandrel, a check valve assembly, and a setting system. The setting system includes a sealing element, a pair of wedges, and a pair of slips, each located on an outer surface of the mandrel. The wedges are separated from each other by the sealing element. Each wedge includes an inner surface configured to slide along the outer surface of the mandrel and an angled surface having a first set of ratchet teeth. The slips are separated from each other by the pair of wedges. Each slip includes an inner surface having a second set of ratchet teeth configured to engage the first set of ratchet teeth. Also, each slip includes an outer surface having gripping elements configured to grip an inner surface of the casing.

Downhole check valve assembly with a ratchet mechanism

A buoyancy assist tool and a fluid barrier in a casing string define a buoyancy chamber therebetween. The buoyancy assist tool has a housing connected in the casing string with a retaining sleeve detachably connected in the housing. The retaining sleeve is movable from a first to a second position in the housing. A flapper disk is positioned in the housing and covers an upper end of the retaining sleeve in the first position of the retaining sleeve. In the second position of the retaining sleeve the flapper disk is in a retracted position out of the flow path through the housing.

Flapper disk for buoyancy assisted casing equipment

A downhole apparatus includes an outer case connectable at upper and lower ends thereof in a casing string. A degradable plug is fixed in an interior of the outer case. A rupture disc is mounted in a port in the wall of the outer case. The port is positioned to communicate a degrading fluid to an axial flow passage defined in a wall of the outer case and the axial flow passage is configured to communicate the degrading fluid back into the interior of the outer case and into the degradable plug.

Downhole apparatus with degradable plugs

Valve systems and methods for inserting into a casing in a downhole environment are provided. A valve system includes a tool mandrel, a check valve assembly, and a setting system. The setting system includes a sealing element, wedges, slips, and a set nut. Each of the wedges and slips includes an inner surface slidable along the outer surface of the tool mandrel. Each wedge includes a primary angled surface and a secondary angled surface. The wedges are located between the slips and the secondary angled surface of one wedge is in contact to the secondary angled surface of the other wedge. Each of the slips includes an outer surface including gripping elements configured to grip an inner surface of the casing. Also, each of the slips includes an angled side surface configured to engage with the primary angled surface of the wedge.

Downhole check valve assembly with a locking mechanism

A valve housing has a first flapper moveable from an open position in the housing in which two-way flow is allowed to a closed position in which only one-way flow is permitted. A first collet sleeve is moveable from a first position to a second position in the valve housing. The first collet sleeve in the first position retains the flapper valve in the open position. The collet sleeve is moveable from a first position to a second position which allows the flapper to move to a closed position.

Differential fill valve with collet sleeve

A plug assembly for use in oil and gas wells includes a sleeve having a debris barrier. The plug assembly may have a top sub, a bottom sub, and a middle sub arranged between the top sub and the bottom sub. The middle sub has an interior bore, a valve and a fluid flow channel such that the valve, when opened, allows fluid to flow from an interior bore of the middle sub into the fluid flow channel. The sleeve having the debris barrier is disposed on the middle sub. Fluid flowing in the fluid flow channel moves the sleeve, which moves the debris barrier so that the debris barrier is withdrawn from the fluid flow path through the interior bores of the top sub and the middle sub.

Plug piston barrier

A downhole apparatus comprises a casing string with a frangible disk positioned therein. A flow barrier is connected in the casing string and spaced downwardly from the frangible disk. The frangible disk and the flow barrier define a buoyancy chamber. The sliding sleeve will impact and shatter the frangible disk into a plurality of pieces that will pass downwardly in the casing after the casing has been lowered to a desired depth.

Downhole apparatus

Valve systems and methods for inserting into a casing used in a downhole environment are provided. The valve system includes a tool mandrel, a check valve assembly, and a setting system. The setting system includes inner and outer setting mandrels and a slip collar. The inner setting mandrel is located around at least a portion of the tool mandrel and includes a frustoconical outer surface. The outer setting mandrel is located around at least a portion of the inner setting mandrel and includes a frustoconical inner surface. The slip collar is located around at least a portion of the outer setting mandrel and includes a plurality of tabs and each tab includes gripping elements.

Downhole check valve assembly with a frustoconical mandrel

A buoyancy assist tool has an outer case and a rupture disk connected in the outer case. A sleeve is disposed in the outer case and movable from first to second position in the outer case. A rupture disk membrane of a rupture disk prevents the sleeve from moving to the second position prior to the rupture disk membrane rupturing. The outer case is configured to be connected in a well casing. A lock ring holds the sleeve in the first position.

Buoyancy assist tool

A buoyancy assist tool has an outer case and a sleeve disposed in the outer case. The sleeve is movable from first to second positions in the outer case. A permeable membrane is attached to the movable sleeve at a lower end thereof. A rupture disk is mounted in the outer case. Fluid flow through the permeable membrane detaches the sleeve from the outer case and moves the sleeve from the first to the second position. In the second position, the sleeve creates an open bore for the passage of downhole tools therethrough.

A downhole tool includes a casing string with a fluid barrier connected therein defining a lower end of a buoyancy chamber. A plug assembly connected in the casing string defines an upper end of the buoyancy chamber. The plug assembly has an outer case with a rupture disc positioned therein configured to block flow and to burst at a predetermined pressure. The rupture disk is removable from a flow path through the outer case upon the flow of fluid therethrough.

Downhole apparatus with removable plugs

A packer assembly and valve assembly without special or custom threads are used to provide a threadless float assembly. A packer assembly with inserts disposed in slip wedges is set by applying compressive forces using a setting tool. A valve assembly may be positioned during setting of the packer assembly between a holder and a setting tool insert end or may be positioned abutting a spacer after setting of the packer assembly. A setting tool and a plunger along with a pump are used to apply compressive forces on the packer assembly to set the packer assembly without requiring that the packer assembly or the valve assembly have special threading as the inserts, holder and spacer maintain the components in a stationary position.

Growing community of inventors

Katy, TX, United States of America

Min Mark Yuan