Patent ID: 7308935

Claim:
A stabilizer for stabilizing a well tool within a subterranean casing, the well tool being suspended from a production tubing and having a longitudinal bore for containing pressurized well fluid therein, the stabilizer comprising: a tubular body having a cylindrical wall and a longitudinal bore extending therethrough, the tubular body positioned within the casing between the well tool and the production tubing, the bore of the tubular body in communication with the longitudinal bore of the production tubing; a releasable stabilizing means disposed on the tubular body, the stabilizing means being actuatable to extend radially outward for contacting the casing, the stabilizing means comprising; a recessed pocket formed in the wall, the pocket having an uphole portion forming at least one radially outwardly extending ramp, and a downhole portion; a radially outwardly extendable sliding dog disposed within the uphole portion, the sliding dog having a first position wherein the sliding dog is retracted within the pocket and a second position wherein the sliding dog is radially outwardly extended; a downhole retraction stop positioned between the sliding dog and the actuating means, the downhole retraction stop limiting the downhole movement of the sliding dog; and actuating means positioned within the downhole portion and operatively connected to the sliding dog, the actuating means in fluid communication with the longitudinal bore of the tubular body whereby the fluid pressure causes the actuating means to advance uphole, driving the sliding dog longitudinally along the at least one ramp to move the sliding dog from the first position to the second position to contact the casing and stabilize the well tool, the force of contact being substantially proportional to the fluid pressure, and at least two circumferentially spaced-apart feet extending radially outward from the tubular body, an angle between the stabilizing means and each of the feet adjacent to the stabilizing means being greater than 90 degrees, wherein the feet and the stabilizing means contact the casing when the stabilizing means is actuated.