Seal Pressure Relaxation Device Prior to Release of Retrievable Packer
First Claim
1. A retrievable packer or plug assembly, comprising:
- an outer assembly mounted to a mandrel, said outer assembly comprising a sealing assembly and a slip assembly, said outer assembly selectively movable between a retracted run in position and a set position where said sealing and slip assemblies engage a surrounding tubular;
said sealing assembly releasable from said set position before said slip assembly, responsive to mandrel movement which allows at least one locking member that transmits bearing force therethrough from said sealing assembly to said slip assembly in said set position being allowed to move into a space created between said locking member and said mandrel by movement of a part of said outer assembly with said mandrel.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A retrievable packer has its sealing system unloaded before the slip system is relaxed by separation of slip cones from slips that flank the seal assembly. The mandrel is cut so that the portion above the cut can be raised to take a cone up and away from collet heads which previously were trapped by the cone. The collet heads are disposed between opposed sloping surfaces so that the retraction of the cone from under the heads allows the residual rubber pressure to force the heads toward the mandrel into the space created by relative movement of the mandrel that took the wedge cone uphole. The heads are at ends of fingers having a radially inward bias to further assist retraction of the heads toward the mandrel. With the heads retracted the sealing element stretches out before slip cones are moved relative to the slips.
13 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A retrievable packer or plug assembly, comprising:
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an outer assembly mounted to a mandrel, said outer assembly comprising a sealing assembly and a slip assembly, said outer assembly selectively movable between a retracted run in position and a set position where said sealing and slip assemblies engage a surrounding tubular; said sealing assembly releasable from said set position before said slip assembly, responsive to mandrel movement which allows at least one locking member that transmits bearing force therethrough from said sealing assembly to said slip assembly in said set position being allowed to move into a space created between said locking member and said mandrel by movement of a part of said outer assembly with said mandrel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification