Patent · US Expired

Downhole tool apparatus with non-metallic components and methods of drilling thereof

US5224540A · kind A · utility

242Cited by
15References
41Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 12, 1992
Grant dateJul 6, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 12, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B33/1294
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A downhole tool apparatus and methods of drilling the apparatus. The apparatus may include, but is not limited to, packers and bridge plugs utilizing non-metallic slip components. The non-metallic material may include engineering grade plastics. In one embodiment, the slips are separate and held in place in an initial position around the slip wedge by a retainer ring. In another embodiment, the slips are integrally formed with a ring portion which holds the slips in the initial position around the wedge; in this embodiment, the ring portion is made of a fracturable non-metallic material which fractures during a setting operation to separate the slips. Methods of drilling out the apparatus without significant variations in the drilling speed and weight applied to the drill bit may be employed. Alternative drill bit types, such as polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bits may also be used.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.