Abstract: The present invention relates to subterranean cementing operations, and more particularly to an apparatus useful in loading cementing plugs and darts into tubulars, and methods of using such apparatus in subterranean cementing operations. An example of a method of the present invention is a method of placing a compressible object having a cross-section within a tubular, including the steps of: reducing the cross-section of the compressible object; placing the compressible object with the reduced cross-section in a tubular; and releasing the compressible object within the tubular. Another example of a method of the present invention is a method of reducing the radial cross-section of a compressible object. Other examples of apparatus of the present invention include apparatus for placing a compressible object into a tubular.

Abstract: A retrievable bridge plug assembly having an internal “pump through” bypass passage and a wedge assembly, slips and seals disposed thereon. A retrieving tool is provided for running, setting, releasing and retrieving the bridge plug assembly. A tubing sensor is included to prevent setting of the bridge plug assembly in improper size tubing. When the bridge plug is properly located, the wedge assembly can actuated by manipulation of the retrieving tool to force the slips radially outward into gripping engagement with the well tubular and to force the seals into sealing engagement with the well tubular. A ball valve on the bridge plug assembly is movable to selectively open and close the bypass passage. The retrieving tool can maintain the valve and passageway open to facilitate circulation during run in and setting and also open during retrieving for pressure equalization. A service packer can be connected to and run with the bridge plug assembly.

Abstract: A retrievable bridge plug assembly having an internal “pump through” bypass passage and a wedge assembly, slips and seals disposed thereon. A retrieving tool is provided for running, setting, releasing and retrieving the bridge plug assembly. A tubing sensor is included to prevent setting of the bridge plug assembly in improper size tubing. When the bridge plug is properly located, the wedge assembly can actuated by manipulation of the retrieving tool to force the slips radially outward into gripping engagement with the well tubular and to force the seals into sealing engagement with the well tubular. A ball valve on the bridge plug assembly is movable to selectively open and close the bypass passage. The retrieving tool can maintain the valve and passageway open to facilitate circulation during run in and setting and also open during retrieving for pressure equalization. A service packer can be connected to and run with the bridge plug assembly.

Abstract: A downhole tool for sealing a wellbore. The downhole tool includes a packer with a ball seat defined therein. A sealing ball is carried with the packer into the well. The movement of the sealing ball away from the ball seat is limited by a ball cage which is attached to the upper end of the packer. The ball cage has a plurality of ports therethrough for allowing flow into the ball cage and through the packer at certain flow rates. A spring is disposed in a longitudinal opening of the packer and engages the sealing ball to prevent the sealing ball from engaging the ball seat until a predetermined flow rate is reached. When the packer is set in the hole, flow through the frac plug below a predetermined flow rate is permitted. Once a predetermined flow rate in the well is reached, a spring force of the spring will be overcome and the sealing ball will engage the ball seat so that no flow through the frac plug is permitted.

Abstract: A downhole tool for sealing a wellbore. The downhole tool includes a packer with a ball seat defined therein. A sealing ball is carried with the packer into the well. The movement of the sealing ball away from the ball seat is limited by a ball cage which is attached to the upper end of the packer. The ball cage has a plurality of ports therethrough for allowing flow into the ball cage and through the packer at certain flow rates. A spring is disposed in a longitudinal opening of the packer and engages the sealing ball to prevent the sealing ball from engaging the ball seat until a predetermined flow rate is reached. When the packer is set in the hole, flow through the frac plug below a predetermined flow rate is permitted. Once a predetermined flow rate in the well is reached, a spring force of the spring will be overcome and the sealing ball will engage the ball seat so that no flow through the frac plug is permitted.

Abstract: A downhole tool for sealing a wellbore. The downhole tool includes a packer with a ball seat defined therein. A sealing ball is carried with the packer into the well. The movement of the sealing ball away from the ball seat is limited by a ball cage which is attached to the upper end of the packer. The ball cage has a plurality of ports therethrough for allowing flow into the ball cage and through the packer at certain flow rates. A spring is disposed in a longitudinal opening of the packer and engages the sealing ball to prevent the sealing ball from engaging the ball seat until a predetermined flow rate is reached. When the packer is set in the hole, flow through the frac plug below a predetermined flow rate is permitted. Once a predetermined flow rate in the well is reached, a spring force of the spring will be overcome and the sealing ball will engage the ball seat so that no flow through the frac plug is permitted.

Abstract: A low pressure, high temperature composite bridge plug. The bridge plug comprises a mandrel with a plurality of slips disposed therearound. A wedge is initially attached to said mandrel and in planar contact with the slips for forcing the slips radially outwardly into gripping engagement with a wellbore. An elastomeric sealing element is disposed on the mandrel and compressed between the wedge and a shoulder on the mandrel to expand the packing element radially outward into sealing engagement with the wellbore. A plurality of ratchets retained in a ratchet body grippingly engage the mandrel to prevent the plug from unsetting. The mandrel, slips, wedge and ratchet body are preferably made of non-metallic, composite materials for easy drilling.

Abstract: A slip element installable about a downhole tool apparatus for use in anchoring a downhole tool in a wellbore. The slip element has at least one slip button made of a metallic-ceramic composite material comprising an effective percentage by weight of a preselected titanium compound. The composite makes the slip button resistant to chipping upon setting but has favorable drillability characteristics upon drilling the downhole tool from a wellbore. The slip element may include at least one slip element made of a non-metallic material such as a laminated nonmetallic composite material. Preferably at least one slip button is made of a metallic-ceramic composite material comprising less than about 75 percent by weight of titanium carbide having a density ranging between about 5 to 7 grams per cubic centimeter. Preferably, the slip button is cylindrically shaped and is installed in at least one slip element at a preselected angle and extends outwardly at a preselected distance from a face of the slip element.

Abstract: Method and apparatus particularly suitable for tools having a center mandrel, a plurality of slip segments disposed in an initial position around the mandrel and requiring a retaining means for holding the slip segments in an initial position prior to setting the tool downhole. The subject retaining system is characterized by at least one frangible retaining band extending at least partially around the slips and at least one elastic O-ring extending at least partially around the slips. Preferably the retaining band is non-metallic and both the retaining band and the elastic O-ring reside in a common groove formed in the outer face of each slip. The groove further preferably has an L-shape due to an under cut in the groove to form a lip extending over the retaining band. Hardened inserts may be molded into the slips. The inserts may be metallic, such as hardened steel, or non-metallic, such as a ceramic material.

Abstract: A method of stimulating a well subsequent to the formation of perforations whereby, subsequent to the perforating, pressure is suddenly applied to the perforations at a pressure above the fracturing pressure to extend created fractures in the formation. A bridging means is utilized to isolate the upper portion of the casing from a lower portion having perforations. The casing above the bridging means is charged with a stimulation fluid. At a predetermined pressure the bridging means releases the stimulation fluid into contact with the perforations to substantially simultaneously create or initiate a fracture into the formation from each perforation.

Abstract: An improved downhole tool apparatus including, but not limited to, packers and bridge plugs which more fully utilize highly stressed non-metallic components, including slips, slip wedges, and packer element retaining shoes than prior tools. The non-metallic packer element retaining shoes of the present invention are preferably made of separate shoe segments initially held in place by at least one retaining band. Such non-metallic packer element shoes do away with troublesome prior art metallic shoes and backups which tended to spin upon each other or about the mandrel while milling or drilling the tool out of a wellbore. Therefore, the subject invention increases the ability to drill or mill downhole tools out of a well bore in less time than it would take with using conventional or non-conventional drilling or milling techniques or equipment.

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 components. The non-metallic components may include but are not limited to the center mandrel having an unmachined, molded central opening therethrough. In a preferred embodiment, a sliding valve is disposed on an outer surface of the center mandrel for opening and closing a valve port. An overshot is used to selectively actuate the sliding valve. Methods of installation and drilling out of the apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of anchoring a work string to a packer set in a wellbore and releasing therefrom. The apparatus includes a stinger, a collet slidably disposed on the stinger and having a plurality of collet fingers adapted for engaging the packer, a shear ring member shearably attached to the stringer and adapted for holding the collet fingers into engagement with the packer. The packer may be normally released by applying torque to the work string such that the collet fingers are unthreaded from the packer. Torque is applied from the stinger to the collet fingers by a load ring attached to the stinger and having splines extending between the collet fingers so that torque may be applied to the collet without applying torque to the shear ring member.

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 components. The material may include engineering grade plastics. The nonmetallic components may include but are not limited to the center mandrel, slips, slip wedges, slip supports and housings, spacer rings, valve housings and valve components. 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.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of anchoring into a packer with a stinger assembly is disclosed. Further, an apparatus and method of releasing from a packer is also disclosed. The apparatus includes an elongated stinger member, a plurality of collet finger members slidably attached to the stinger, a shear ring member with a chamfered shoulder containing a plurality of splined extensions, with a plurality of shear pins contained through the shear ring member. Further, the apparatus includes a load ring attached to the elongated stinger for transferring the load of the downhole tool from the collet finger members to the load ring.