Patent ID: 11879303
Assignee: SOLGIX, INC
Field: Civil engineering (Other fields)
Classification: CPC E | IPC E

Claim 0:
1. A method comprising:
deploying a plug assembly into a tubing string containing well fluid, the plug assembly including:
a continuous sealing portion and a gripping portion,
a locking ring,
wherein the continuous sealing portion and the gripping portion include a flared inner surface,
wherein the locking ring includes a flared outer surface,
wherein the flared outer surface of the locking ring is suited to contact the flared inner surfaces of the continuous sealing portion and of the gripping portion,
wherein the plug assembly includes an inner surface of revolution suited to be in continuous contact with an untethered object;

expanding the continuous sealing portion and the gripping portion over the flared outer surface of the locking ring,
whereby the continuous sealing portion is expanded radially a first time and reaches a first average outside diameter, concurrently when the gripping portion contacts at least one point of an internal surface of the tubing string;

releasing the untethered object inside the well fluid of the tubing string, after the continuous sealing portion has reached its first average outside diameter;
contacting the untethered object with the inner surface of revolution of the plug assembly, after the untethered object has been released inside the well fluid of the tubing string;
applying a pressure on the untethered object, in contact with the surface of revolution of the plug assembly, using the well fluid, whereby the pressure induces a force on the plug assembly to cause:
a further radial expansion of the continuous sealing portion, whereby the further radial expansion of the continuous sealing portion allows the continuous sealing portion to reach a second average outside diameter, which is larger than the first average outside diameter reached at the first radial expansion,
the contact of the internal surface of the tubing string with the continuous sealing portion.