Patent ID: 12196054

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.

Referring toFIG.1, a backup10is illustrated. The backup10comprises an anchor portion12, having a thickness of material from a centerline14of the anchor portion12toward an outside surface16of the anchor portion12that is equal to a thickness of material from the centerline14of the anchor portion12to an inside surface18of the anchor portion12, the centerline14having a first end point20at a base22of the anchor portion12and a second end point24at a tip26of the anchor portion12.

Backup10further comprises an operable portion28extending from the tip26of the anchor portion12. The operable portion28is broken into two sections for clarity of discussion and elucidation of particular structure of the backup. One section is a wedge section30, with a wedge tail31, and the other section is an S section32, the wedge tail31extending in a direction opposite a direction of extension of the wedge section30relative to a point of intersection of the S section32and the wedge section30. The wedge section30has a thickness of material from a centerline34thereof to an outside surface36that is equal to a thickness of material from the centerline34to an inside surface38of the wedge section30. The centerline34has a first end point40at a tip42of the wedge section30and a second end point44at a base46of the wedge section30. The end points24and44are then used to form the ends of a curvilinear line48that runs through the S section32.

The line48tracks a curve of an inside surface50of the S section32and maintains substantially the same spacing therefrom such that a thickness of material of the S section32is substantially constant between the inside surface50and the curvilinear line48. Conversely, a thickness of material from the curvilinear line48toward an outside surface52of the S section32is substantially nonconstant and thicker than the substantially constant thickness. This is important to the function of the backup10. The thickness of the S section between the line48and outside surface52is very different than standard prior art backup rings. For known backup rings, the thickness of material at either side of a line similar to the lines defined in this specification would be the same or would be thicker toward the inside surface rather than toward the outside surface as is the case with the disclosed backup10. Because of the positioning of what might be termed “extra material” i.e. toward the outside surface52, two functional attributes are achieved. First, greater strength is obtained in an area of the backup that will contact a gauge ring (discussed further later) and second, the added thickness allows for a deeper concavity (again discussed further hereunder) to form a hinge. These attributes cause lower resistance to setting initially and higher resistance to deformity after setting. The result is a backup that is easy to set and yet will attain higher load ratings in testing.

Thickness of the S section32at interface surface64gives a substantial amount of strength and also the deep concavity66that may be radiused in some embodiments, make for an excellent hinge that improves deformation during setting.

In a system, the backup10is paired with a gauge ring60. The gauge ring60is similar to prior art gauge rings but includes a contact surface62that has a back angle a (seeFIG.2) that is less than 90 degrees from perpendicular to a longitudinal extent of the gauge ring60and greater than 0 degrees to the longitudinal extent of the gauge ring60. The back angle serves two functions. First is to support the backup10when it contacts interface64of S section32during setting and second to create a force on the gauge ring60that tends to prevent the ring60from opening up at the threads on the anchor portion.

Referring toFIGS.3and4, a seal system70includes a mandrel72, an element74, a backup10, a gauge ring60and optionally a spacer ring76. The unset condition is illustrated inFIG.3while the set condition is illustrated inFIG.4. It will be appreciated by one or skill in the art to which the disclosure pertains that energy is imparted to the element74in a number of ways such as set down weight for example. The element will be squeezed between structures on its ends (only one end shown but a mirror image may be on the other end of the element). During squeezing, the element will move radially outwardly from the mandrel72and into contact with a tubular wall78, while at the same time deforming backup10into the shape illustrated inFIG.4. It will be appreciated from this view ofFIG.4that the backup10is in a position to both contain the element74to prevent extrusion and at the same time using the energy in the backup10to force the gauge ring contact surface62toward the mandrel72, thereby reducing the possibility that the gauge ring60might deform away from the mandrel72and lose securement of the backup10.

Referring toFIG.5, a borehole system80is illustrated. The system80comprises a borehole82in a subsurface formation84. A string86is disposed within the borehole82. A backup10as disclosed herein or a system70as disclosed herein is disposed within or as a part of the string86.

Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:

Embodiment 1: A backup including an anchor portion, having a thickness of material from a centerline of the anchor portion toward an outside surface of the anchor portion that is equal to a thickness of material from the centerline of the anchor portion to an inside surface of the anchor portion, the centerline having a first end point at a base of the anchor portion and a second end point at a tip of the anchor portion, an operable portion extending from the tip of the anchor portion, the operable portion including a wedge section, the wedge section having a thickness of material from a centerline of the wedge section toward an outside surface of the wedge section that is equal to a thickness of material from the centerline of the wedge section to an inside surface of the wedge section, the centerline having a first end point at a tip of the wedge section and a second end point at a base of the wedge section, and an S section defined by a thickness of material that is substantially constant from a curvilinear line beginning at the second end point of the tip of the anchor portion and extending to the first end point of the base of the wedge section toward an inside surface of the S section and a thickness of material from the curvilinear line toward an outside surface of the S section that is substantially nonconstant and thicker than the substantially constant thickness.

Embodiment 2: The backup as in any prior embodiment, wherein the outside surface of the S section includes a concavity therein.

Embodiment 3: The backup as in any prior embodiment, wherein the concavity is radiused.

Embodiment 4: The backup as in any prior embodiment, wherein the concavity forms a hinge of the backup.

Embodiment 5: The backup as in any prior embodiment, wherein the outside surface of the S section includes a support surface having an angle that complements an angle of a gauge ring when the backup is set.

Embodiment 6: A backup system including a backup as in any prior embodiment, a gauge ring engageable with the anchor portion, the gauge ring including a contact surface configured to engage the S section when the backup is set, the contact surface having back angle.

Embodiment 7: The system as in any prior embodiment, wherein the back angle is less than 90 degrees to a longitudinal extent of the gauge ring.

Embodiment 8: The system as in any prior embodiment, wherein the backup angle is more than 0 degrees from the longitudinal extent of the gauge ring.

Embodiment 9: A seal system including a mandrel, a backup, as in any prior embodiment, disposed on the mandrel, a gauge ring disposed on the mandrel and configured to interact with the backup; and a seal element disposed on the mandrel.

Embodiment 10: The system as in any prior embodiment further including a spacer ring between the seal element and the backup.

Embodiment 11: A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and a backup as in any prior embodiment disposed within or as a part of the string.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The terms “about”, “substantially” and “generally” are intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” and/or “substantially” and/or “generally” includes a range of ±8% of a given value.

The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, a borehole, and/or equipment in the borehole, such as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof. Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited.