Baker Hughes Corporation

Baker Hughes, a Ge Compnay, LLC

Robert J Taylor

James C Doane

James G King

Jason M Harper

Gary L Anderson

Bennett M Richard

Peter J Fay

Frank J Maenza

David B Ruddock

Nicholas S Conner

Rafael Ramirez

Christopher J Limb

Erwin D Hernaez

Scott D Collins

An articulated debris barrier folds on itself to extend radially to span a surrounding annular gap when the tool associated with it is set. The debris barrier can be used with a packer or bridge plug. The set position of the packer or plug is locked and another lock holds the extended position of the debris barrier. The debris barrier lock can be a snap ring that extends into a groove brought into alignment with it during the setting. Alternatively the lock for the debris barrier can be a body lock ring. In either case, release and retrieval of the packer or plug involves undermining of the locking feature for the debris barrier so that the debris barrier can extend while retracting from the borehole wall so that the barrier and the associated packer or plug can be removed together.

Releasably locked debris barrier for a subterranean tool

The frack plug has a sealing element that reforms when set to hold differential pressure. The element is granular with adhesive to hold the granular particles together but allow the shape to reform under setting force. The adhesive can be broken down with a chemical agent or in other ways to allow the seal to reform to the sealing position at the desired depth. As a result the structural components can disintegrate and the seal assembly can fragment into small pieces that can be circulated out of the well or allowed to drop to the hole bottom. The seal can have particles of controlled electrolytic materials (CEM), natural or synthetic sand, swelling or non-swelling rubber. The assembly can contain pellets that selectively release to initiate the breakdown of the structural components of the frack plug.

Disintegrating agglomerated sand frack plug

A fully disintegrating plug has a passage therethrough and a ball seat at an upper end. The seal material that comprises plastic nuggets, sand and a grease binder is initially disposed behind a protective sleeve. A wireline setting tool creates relative movement between a plunger and a mandrel body that has a ramp surface adjacent the outlet of the protective sleeve. The sleeve outlet is closed for running in but plunger movement pushes the seal material so as to displace the closure at the sleeve outlet with the seal material that is forced up the mandrel ramp surface and against the surrounding tubular. After an object is landed on the mandrel seat and the treating is concluded, the plug components are caused to disintegrate or otherwise fail for complete removal. Multiple plugs are contemplated for fracturing or other treating applications.

Removable treating plug with run in protected agglomerated granular sealing element

A packer system including a packer and a setting mechanism. The setting mechanism has a setting piston that is actuatable in response to a fluid pressure in order to set the packer with the setting piston. The setting mechanism prevents actuation of the setting piston until the pressure is decreased below a threshold pressure from a value greater than the threshold pressure. A method of setting a packer is also included.

Packer setting mechanism

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Robert J Taylor