Downhole anchoring mechanism

1 . An anchoring mechanism including an anchoring tool and an actuator tool, wherein:

the anchoring tool is coupled to the actuator tool such that the actuator tool is axially displaceable relative to the anchoring tool;

the actuator tool includes a respective actuator tool mandrel that defines an actuator tool flow passage, wherein the actuator tool is configured for coupling to a flow conductor, that is emplaceable within a wellbore that is lined with a wellbore string, wherein the coupling is with effect that the actuator tool flow passage is disposed in flow communication with a flow conductor passage of the flow conductor;

the anchoring mechanism is configurable in an anchoring-effective state for effectuating anchoring of the flow conductor to the wellbore string;

the anchoring tool including a respective anchoring tool mandrel, a first anchor, and a second anchor, wherein the first anchor is emplaced on an opposite side of the anchoring tool mandrel relative to a side of the anchoring tool mandrel to which the second anchor is emplaced;

the first anchor is displaceable, relative to the anchoring tool mandrel, that is respective to the anchoring tool, to a respective extended position;

the second anchor is displaceable, relative to the anchoring tool mandrel, to a respective extended position;

the first anchor, the second anchor, and the actuator tool are co-operatively configured such that, while the actuator tool is coupled to a flow conductor that is disposed within the wellbore that is lined with a wellbore string, and the actuator tool is being pulled in the uphole direction, the actuator tool is displaced relative to the anchoring tool, with effect that:

the actuator tool displaces the first anchor to its respective extended position, such that the first anchor becomes displaced outwardly relative to the central longitudinal axis of the flow conductor, with effect that the first anchor becomes anchored to the wellbore string; and

the actuator tool displaces the second anchor to its respective extended position, such that the second anchor becomes displaced outwardly relative to the central longitudinal axis of the flow conductor, with effect that the second anchor becomes anchored to the wellbore string;

such that the anchoring mechanism becomes disposed in an anchoring effective state;

and

a ratio of the outwardly displacement of the first anchor to the outwardly displacement of the second anchor is at least 2.5.

2 . The anchoring mechanism as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein:

an establishment, of the anchoring effective state, is with effect that eccentric disposition of the flow conductor, relative to the central longitudinal axis of the wellbore, is established.

3 . The anchoring mechanism as claimed in claim 2 :

wherein:

the eccentric disposition of the flow conductor relative to the central longitudinal axis of the wellbore is such that a ratio of a minimum distance “D1”, by which the central longitudinal axis of the flow conductor is spaced apart from the wellbore string, to a minimum distance “D2”, by which the central longitudinal axis of the wellbore is spaced apart from the wellbore string, is less than 0.2.

4 . The anchoring mechanism as claimed in claim 3 ;

wherein:

the anchoring mechanism is co-operable with the wellbore string such that, while: (i) the anchoring mechanism is coupled to the flow conductor that is disposed within the wellbore that is lined with the wellbore string, and (ii) the anchoring mechanism is disposed in the anchoring-effective state such that the flow conductor is anchored by the anchoring mechanism to the wellbore string, the first and second anchors are spaced apart by a minimum distance of at least 0.5 inches.

5 . The anchoring mechanism as claimed in claim 4 ;

wherein:

the first anchor and the second anchor are circumferentially spaced-apart relative to one another.

6 . The anchoring mechanism as claimed in claim 4 ;

wherein:

each one of the first anchor and the second anchor, independently, defines an engagement surface, defined by a mechanical slip, for engaging the wellbore string for establishing anchoring, of the anchor, to the wellbore string.

7 . The anchoring mechanism as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein:

in the anchoring effective state, a ratio of a minimum distance “D1”, by which the central longitudinal axis of the flow conductor is spaced apart from the wellbore string, to a minimum distance “D2”, by which the central longitudinal axis of the wellbore is spaced apart from the wellbore string, is less than 0.2.

8 . The anchoring mechanism as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein:

the anchoring mechanism is co-operable with the wellbore string such that, while: (i) the anchoring mechanism is coupled to the flow conductor that is disposed within the wellbore that is lined with the wellbore string, and (ii) the anchoring mechanism is disposed in the anchoring-effective state such that the flow conductor is anchored by the anchoring mechanism to the wellbore string, the first anchor and the second anchor are spaced apart by a minimum distance of at least 0.5 inches.

9 . The anchoring mechanism as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein:

the first anchor and the second anchor are circumferentially spaced-apart relative to one another.

10 . The anchoring mechanism as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein:

each one of the first anchor and the second anchors, independently, defines an engagement surface, defined by a mechanical slip, for engaging the wellbore string for establishing anchoring, of the anchor, to the wellbore string.

11 . The anchoring mechanism as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein:

the actuator tool extends through the anchoring tool.

12 . The anchoring mechanism as claimed in claim 11 ;

wherein:

in the anchoring effective state, a ratio of a minimum distance “D1”, by which the central longitudinal axis of the flow conductor is spaced apart from the wellbore string, to a minimum distance “D2”, by which the central longitudinal axis of the wellbore is spaced apart from the wellbore string, is less than 0.2.

13 . The anchoring mechanism as claimed in claim 12 ;

wherein:

the anchoring mechanism is co-operable with the wellbore string such that, while: (i) the anchoring mechanism is coupled to the flow conductor that is disposed within the wellbore that is lined with the wellbore string, and (ii) the anchoring mechanism is disposed in the anchoring-effective state such that the flow conductor is anchored by the anchoring mechanism to the wellbore string, the first and second anchors are spaced apart by a minimum distance of at least 0.5 inches.

14 . The anchoring mechanism as claimed in claim 13 ;

wherein:

the first anchor and the second anchor are circumferentially spaced-apart relative to one another.

15 . The anchoring mechanism as claimed in claim 13 ;

wherein:

each one of the first anchor and the second anchor, independently, defines an engagement surface, defined by a mechanical slip, for engaging the wellbore string for establishing anchoring, of the anchor, to the wellbore string.

16 . The anchoring mechanism as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein: the actuator tool extends through the anchoring tool mandrel of the anchoring tool.

17 . An anchoring mechanism including an anchoring tool and an actuator tool, wherein the anchoring tool is coupled to the actuator tool such that the actuator tool is axially displaceable relative to the anchoring tool;

wherein:

the actuator fool defines an actuator tool flow passage, wherein the actuator tool is configured for coupling to a flow conductor, that is emplaceable within a wellbore that is lined with a wellbore string, wherein the coupling is with effect that the actuator tool flow passage is disposed in flow communication with a flow conductor passage of the flow conductor;

the anchoring mechanism is configurable in an anchoring-effective state for effectuating anchoring of the flow conductor to the wellbore string;

the anchoring tool including an anchoring tool mandrel, a first anchor, and a second anchor, wherein:

the anchoring tool mandrel defines a wellbore string communicator

the first anchor is emplaced on an opposite side of the anchoring tool mandrel relative to a side of the anchoring tool mandrel to which the second anchor is emplaced;

the first anchor is displaceable, relative to the anchoring tool mandrel, from a respective retracted position to a respective extended position; and

the second anchor is displaceable, relative to the anchoring tool mandrel, from a respective retracted position to a respective extended position, wherein, in the extended position, that is respective to the second anchor, the second anchor projects outwardly through the wellbore string communicator;

the actuator tool extends through the anchoring tool mandrel of the anchoring tool;

the first anchor, the second anchor, and the actuator tool are co-operatively configured such that, while the actuator tool is coupled to a flow conductor that is disposed within the wellbore that is lined with the wellbore string, and the actuator tool is being pulled in the uphole direction, the actuator tool is displaced relative to the anchoring tool, with effect that:

the actuator tool displaces the first anchor to the extended position, that is respective to the first anchor, such that the first anchor becomes displaced outwardly relative to the central longitudinal axis of the flow conductor, with effect that the first anchor becomes anchored to the wellbore string; and

the actuator tool displaces the second anchor to the extended position, that is respective to the second anchor, such that the second anchor becomes displaced outwardly, relative to the central longitudinal axis of the flow conductor, with effect that the second anchor becomes anchored to the wellbore string, such that the anchoring mechanism becomes disposed in an anchoring effective state;

the emplacement of the first anchor, relative to the anchoring tool mandrel, is such that the first anchor is coupled to the anchoring tool mandrel for rotation relative to the anchoring tool mandrel, such that the displacement, of the first anchor, to the extended position, that is respective to the first anchor, is effectuated by the rotation of the first anchor;

the actuator tool and the anchoring tool co-operate to define a retainer configuration for retaining the second anchor, relative to the actuator tool, such that the emplacement of the second anchor, relative to the anchoring tool mandrel, is such that the second anchor is retained relative to the anchoring tool mandrel by the retainer configuration.

18 . The anchoring mechanism as claimed in claim 17 ;

wherein the retention, by the retainer configuration, is based on an abutting engagement between the retainer and the second anchor.

19 . The anchoring mechanism as claimed in claim 17 ;

wherein:

the mounting, of the first anchor to the anchoring tool mandrel, is such that the first anchor is biased towards a retracted position.

20 . The anchoring mechanism as claimed in claim 17 ;

wherein:

each one of the first anchor and the second anchor, independently, defines an engagement surface, defined by a mechanical slip, for engaging the wellbore string for establishing anchoring, of the anchor, to the wellbore string.