Abstract: A well plug for use in a subterranean well can include a generally tubular mandrel, a seal element positioned on the mandrel, and a setting rod releasably secured relative to the mandrel by an annular shaped shear ring or a bonded sleeve. The setting rod is releasable for longitudinal displacement relative to the mandrel in response to a predetermined shear force applied to the shear ring or bonded sleeve. A method of setting a well plug in a subterranean well can include displacing a generally tubular mandrel with a setting rod relative to an outer housing of the well plug, outwardly extending a seal element of the well plug in response to the displacing, and shearing a releasable attachment securing the setting rod relative to the mandrel, the releasable attachment comprising an annular shaped shear ring, or a bond between a sleeve and a surface.

Abstract: A downhole tool for engaging a downhole tubular includes a slip assembly. The slip assembly may include a slip body; a slip insert disposed in the slip body, the slip insert comprising a dissolvable metal alloy; and a plurality of gripping elements coupled to the slip insert, the gripping element configured to engage the downhole tubular.

Abstract: A downhole tool with a radially expandable sealing element, such as a packer or plug. The sealing element employs metallic support rings disposed on the sealing element outer surface for preventing extrusion during run-in and for clamping the sealing element to the tool.

Abstract: A downhole tool, such as a fracture plug used during a fracture operation, installs in a downhole tubular, such as casing. The tool has a mandrel with a sealing element disposed thereon between uphole and downhole ends. Slip assemblies on the mandrel can be moved to engage the downhole tubular. The slip assemblies have inserts. The inserts have a body defining an internal cavity at least partially therein. The body is composed of a ceramic material having a first density of about 3 g/cc to about 6 g/cc. A volume of the insert can be about 0.4 cc to about 0.6 cc, and a mass of the insert can be about 1.2 g to about 3.6 g. In one example, the ceramic material is silicon nitride. The cavity can be filled with a low density filler material.

Abstract: A downhole tool with a radially expandable sealing element, such as a packer or plug. The sealing element employs metallic support rings disposed on the sealing element outer surface for preventing extrusion during run-in and for clamping the sealing element to the tool.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a well plug setting tool having a retrievable dog assembly, which replaces a mule shoe structure used in a state-of-the-art setting tool. The well plug setting tool according to the present disclosure reduces the amount of drillable or dissolvable material used for setting well plugs.

Abstract: A setting tool can include a hydraulic setting mechanism that actuates in response to a level of a pressure differential between a central flow passage and an exterior of the setting tool, and a check valve assembly that permits flow between sections of the central flow passage in one direction but prevents flow in an opposite direction. One of the sections is in fluid communication with an exterior of the setting tool. A method of setting a well tool can include deploying the well tool and a setting tool into a well, and applying a pressure differential across a check valve assembly of the setting tool, thereby setting the well tool. In the deploying step, the setting tool includes the check valve assembly.

Abstract: A downhole tool for engaging a downhole tubular includes a slip assembly. The slip assembly may include a slip body; a slip insert disposed in the slip body, the slip insert comprising a dissolvable metal alloy; and a plurality of gripping elements coupled to the slip insert, the gripping element configured to engage the downhole tubular.

Abstract: A downhole tool, such as a fracture plug used during a fracture operation, installs in a downhole tubular, such as casing. The tool has a mandrel with a sealing element disposed thereon between uphole and downhole ends. Slip assemblies on the mandrel can be moved to engage the downhole tubular. The slip assemblies have inserts. The inserts have a body defining an internal cavity at least partially therein. The body is composed of a ceramic material having a first density of about 3 g/cc to about 6 g/cc. A volume of the insert can be about 0.4 cc to about 0.6 cc, and a mass of the insert can be about 1.2 g to about 3.6 g. In one example, the ceramic material is silicon nitride. The cavity can be filled with a low density filler material.

Abstract: A downhole apparatus for use in a tubular include a mandrel, a first slip, a cone, and a seal element. The mandrel, which can be permanent or temporary, has a first end shoulder. The first slip is disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first end shoulder, and the cone is disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first slip. The cone is movable relative to the first end shoulder to engage the first slip toward the tubular. The seal element is disposed on the mandrel adjacent the cone. At least a portion of the seal element is composed of a dissolvable metallic material and is expandable outward from the mandrel. The expanded portion of the seal element forms a metal seal against the tubular and seals off fluid communication in the annular space between the seal element and the tubular.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for wet shoe applications in cementing tubing in a wellbore. A wet shoe tool has a seat and an insert in a flow bore of the tool. A first wiper plug is deployed down the tubing at least behind the cement and seats on the insert, which can then be moved in the flow bore to a bypass position allowing for fluid flow through the tool to produce a wet shoe track. A second plug is deployed down the tubing behind the second plug and seats on the seat in the flow bore of the tool. The seated second plug isolates applied pressure from passing downhole end of the tool so the integrity of the tubing can be tested. The second plug is self-removable (e.g., dissolvable) in the tool to reestablish fluid communication through the flow bore of the tool.

Abstract: A component of a slip assembly is formed by rolling sheet molding compound into a rolled charge. The rolled charge is positioned in a compression molding press and compressed to produce a molded element. The molded element is removed from the compression molding press and can be machined for use as the component of the slip assembly. The component can be a slip segment or can be a cylindrical body for the slip segment. The compound layers in the molded component can be oriented in a number of different orientations in the component and can increase the overall strength of the component.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for wet shoe applications in cementing tubing in a wellbore. A wet shoe tool has a seat and an insert in a flow bore of the tool. A first wiper plug is deployed down the tubing at least behind the cement and seats on the insert, which can then be moved in the flow bore to a bypass position allowing for fluid flow through the tool to produce a wet shoe track. A second plug is deployed down the tubing behind the second plug and seats on the seat in the flow bore of the tool. The seated second plug isolates applied pressure from passing downhole end of the tool so the integrity of the tubing can be tested. The second plug is self-removable (e.g., dissolvable) in the tool to reestablish fluid communication through the flow bore of the tool.

Abstract: A downhole apparatus for use in a tubular can include: a mandrel having a first end shoulder; a first slip disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first end shoulder and abutting against a mule shoe; a cone disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first slip and movable relative to the first end shoulder to engage the first slip toward the tubular; a seal element disposed on the mandrel adjacent the cone and being expandable outward from the mandrel; and wherein at least one component selected from the group consisting of the mandrel, the first slip, the cone, the seal element, and the mule shoe is a filler-doped degradable component that comprise a degradable material and a filler.

Abstract: A downhole apparatus for use in a tubular can include: a mandrel having a first end shoulder; a first slip disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first end shoulder and abutting against a mule shoe; a cone disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first slip and movable relative to the first end shoulder to engage the first slip toward the tubular; a seal element disposed on the mandrel adjacent the cone and being expandable outward from the mandrel; and wherein at least one component selected from the group consisting of the mandrel, the first slip, the cone, the seal element, and the mule shoe is a filler-doped degradable component that comprise a degradable material and a filler.

Abstract: A downhole tool, such as a fracture plug used during a fracture operation, installs in a downhole tubular, such as casing. The tool has a mandrel with a sealing element disposed thereon between uphole and downhole ends. Slip assemblies on the mandrel can be moved to engage the downhole tubular. When the tool is used as a bridge plug, the uphole assembly supports the sealing element compressed, and the downhole assembly supports fluid pressure downhole of the tool. The slip assemblies have inserts composed of at least two materials that are different from one another and are geometrically separate from one another. In addition or as an alternative, the slip assemblies can be composed of at least two different materials that are geometrically separate from one another.

Abstract: A packer is used for setting downhole in tubing subject to downhole flow at a high flow rate. The packer includes a setting element, a slip element, and a packing element. The setting element is disposed on the packer toward an uphole end and is activated hydraulically to move in a downhole direction toward a downhole end of the packer. The slip element is disposed toward the downhole end and is moveable outward toward the tubing in a first stage in response to the movement of the setting element. The packing element is disposed on the other elements and is at least partially carried by the setting element. The packing element is compressible outward toward the tubing in a second stage, after the first stage, in response to the movement of the setting element. Additionally, a choke ring or other element disposed on the packer at least downhole of the packing element can move outward toward the tubing in response to the setting movement to restrict the downhole flow in the annulus to a lower flow rate.

Abstract: A well plug for use in a subterranean well can include a generally tubular mandrel, a seal element positioned on the mandrel, and a setting rod releasably secured relative to the mandrel by an annular shaped shear ring or a bonded sleeve. The setting rod is releasable for longitudinal displacement relative to the mandrel in response to a predetermined shear force applied to the shear ring or bonded sleeve. A method of setting a well plug in a subterranean well can include displacing a generally tubular mandrel with a setting rod relative to an outer housing of the well plug, outwardly extending a seal element of the well plug in response to the displacing, and shearing a releasable attachment securing the setting rod relative to the mandrel, the releasable attachment comprising an annular shaped shear ring, or a bond between a sleeve and a surface.

Abstract: A device and method control the radial expansion of a compressible sealing element on a downhole tool. The tool is deployed adjacent a surrounding surface downhole. The tool has a sealing element with inner and outer members separated by spacers. Inside ends of the outer members overlap extension or lips on the spacers, and fold back rings toward the outer ends of the outer members at least partially limit expansion. To radially expand the sealing element on the downhole tool to seal against the surrounding surface, longitudinally compressions is applied against the sealing element. The fold back rings are expanded initially in this process by using the extensions of the spacers overlapped by the outer members of the sealing element. This allows the fold back rings to square/pack off fully against the surrounding surface during setting and can prevent extrusion of the sealing element over the ends of the fold back rings.

Abstract: A component of a slip assembly is formed by rolling sheet molding compound into a rolled charge. The rolled charge is positioned in a compression molding press and compressed to produce a molded element. The molded element is removed from the compression molding press and can be machined for use as the component of the slip assembly. The component can be a slip segment or can be a cylindrical body for the slip segment. The compound layers in the molded component can be oriented in a number of different orientations in the component and can increase the overall strength of the component.