IP Library › Granted Patent US 12692759
Granted Patent B2
US 12692759 · App. 18/960,899 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Adjustable element energy retention mechanism

Inventors: Aihua Liang (Carrollton, TX); Wesley P. Dietz (Carrollton, TX); Alireza Yazdanshenas (Carrollton, TX)
Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
E21B23/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12692759
App. No.
18/960,899
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided, in one aspect, is an anchoring subassembly, a well system, and a method. The anchoring subassembly, in one aspect, includes a mandrel, and an isolation element positioned about the mandrel, the isolation element configured to move between a radially retracted state, a fully radially expanded state, and a relaxed radially expanded state. The anchoring subassembly, in one aspect, further includes a ratch latch body coupled to the isolation element, the ratch latch body configured to hold the isolation element in the fully radially expanded state, and a relief feature coupled to the ratch latch body, the relief feature configured to shear to release stored energy in the isolation element and thereby allow the isolation element to move from the fully radially expanded state to the relaxed radially expanded state.

Claims (50)

1 . An anchoring subassembly, comprising:

a mandrel;

an isolation element positioned about the mandrel, the isolation element configured to move between a radially retracted non-sealing state, a fully radially expanded sealing state, and a relaxed radially expanded sealing state;

a ratch latch body coupled to the isolation element, the ratch latch body configured to hold the isolation element in the fully radially expanded sealing state; and

a relief feature coupled to the ratch latch body, the relief feature configured to shear to release stored energy in the isolation element and thereby allow the isolation element to move from the fully radially expanded sealing state to the relaxed radially expanded sealing state wherein it may be held in sealing engagement with a tubular until such time the isolation element is allowed to retreat toward its radially retracted non-sealing state.

2 . The anchoring subassembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the relief feature is a primary holding shear feature coupled to the ratch latch body, and further including a secondary holding shear feature coupled to the ratch latch body, the secondary holding shear feature configured to hold the isolation element in a relaxed radially expanded sealing state upon the primary holding shear feature shearing.

3 . The anchoring subassembly as recited in claim 2 , wherein the primary holding shear feature has a primary shear strength less than or equal to a secondary shear strength of the secondary holding shear feature.

4 . The anchoring subassembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein the primary holding shear feature has a primary shear strength less than a secondary shear strength of the secondary holding shear feature.

5 . The anchoring subassembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein the primary holding shear feature is located uphole of the secondary holding shear feature.

6 . The anchoring subassembly as recited in 5 , wherein the secondary holding shear feature is located in a gapped profile in the mandrel, the secondary holding shear feature including a first relaxation gap located on a first side of the secondary holding shear feature when the isolation element is in the fully radially expanded sealing state and a second relaxed gap located on a second side of the secondary holding shear feature when the isolation element is in the relaxed radially expanded sealing state.

7 . The anchoring subassembly as recited in claim 6 , wherein the first relaxation gap is located uphole of the second relaxed gap.

8 . The anchoring subassembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein the primary holding shear feature is located downhole of the secondary holding shear feature.

9 . The anchoring subassembly as recited in claim 8 , further including a relaxation gap located between the secondary holding shear feature and the ratch latch body when the isolation element is in fully radially expanded sealing state, the relaxation gap configured to close upon the primary holding shear feature shearing, thereby allowing the isolation element to move to the relaxed radially expanded sealing state.

10 . The anchoring subassembly as recited in claim 9 , further including a replaceable spacer feature located within the relaxation gap, the replaceable spacer feature configured to adjust an amount of movement of the isolation element upon the primary holding feature shearing.

11 . A well system, comprising:

a main wellbore located in a subterranean formation;

a lateral wellbore extending from the main wellbore; and

a whipstock assembly including an anchoring subassembly positioned proximate an intersection between the main wellbore and the lateral wellbore, the anchoring subassembly including:

a mandrel;

an isolation element positioned about the mandrel, the isolation element configured to move between a radially retracted non-sealing state, a fully radially expanded sealing state, and a relaxed radially expanded sealing state;

a ratch latch body coupled to the isolation element, the ratch latch body configured to hold the isolation element in the fully radially expanded sealing state; and

a relief feature coupled to the ratch latch body, the relief feature configured to shear to release stored energy in the isolation element and thereby allow the isolation element to move from the fully radially expanded sealing state to the relaxed radially expanded sealing state wherein it may be held in sealing engagement with a tubular until such time the isolation element is allowed to retreat toward its radially retracted non-sealing state.

12 . The well system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the relief feature is a primary holding shear feature coupled to the ratch latch body, and further including a secondary holding shear feature coupled to the ratch latch body, the secondary holding shear feature configured to hold the isolation element in a relaxed radially expanded sealing state upon the primary holding shear feature shearing.

13 . The well system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the primary holding shear feature has a primary shear strength less than or equal to a secondary shear strength of the secondary holding shear feature.

14 . The well system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the primary holding shear feature has a primary shear strength less than a secondary shear strength of the secondary holding shear feature.

15 . The well system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the primary holding shear feature is located uphole of the secondary holding shear feature.

16 . The well system as recited in 15 , wherein the secondary holding shear feature is located in a gapped profile in the mandrel, the secondary holding shear feature including a first relaxation gap located on a first side of the secondary holding shear feature when the isolation element is in the fully radially expanded sealing state and a second relaxed gap located on a second side of the secondary holding shear feature when the isolation element is in the relaxed radially expanded sealing state.

17 . The well system as recited in claim 16 , wherein the first relaxation gap is located uphole of the second relaxed gap.

18 . The well system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the primary holding shear feature is located downhole of the secondary holding shear feature.

19 . The well system as recited in claim 18 , further including a relaxation gap located between the secondary holding shear feature and the ratch latch body when the isolation element is in the fully radially expanded sealing state, the relaxation gap configured to close upon the primary holding shear feature shearing, thereby allowing the isolation element to move to the relaxed radially expanded sealing state.

20 . The well system as recited in claim 19 , further including a replaceable spacer feature located within the relaxation gap, the replaceable spacer feature configured to adjust an amount of movement of the isolation element upon the primary holding feature shearing.

21 . The well system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the whipstock assembly further includes a whipstock element section position uphole of the sealing element while the isolation element is in the fully radially expanded sealing state or the relaxed radially expanded sealing state.

22 . A method, comprising:

positioning a whipstock assembly including an anchoring subassembly proximate an intersection between a main wellbore and a lateral wellbore, the anchoring subassembly including:

a mandrel;

an isolation element positioned about the mandrel, the isolation element configured to move between a radially retracted non-sealing state, a fully radially expanded sealing state, and a relaxed radially expanded sealing state;

a ratch latch body coupled to the isolation element, the ratch latch body configured to hold the isolation element in the fully radially expanded sealing state; and

a relief feature coupled to the ratch latch body, the relief feature configured to shear to release stored energy in the isolation element and thereby allow the isolation element to move from the fully radially expanded sealing state to the relaxed radially expanded sealing state, wherein the isolation element is in the fully radially expanded sealing state wherein it may be held in sealing engagement with a tubular until such time the isolation element is allowed to retreat toward its radially retracted non-sealing state.

23 . The method as recited in claim 22 , further including shearing the relief feature coupled to the ratch latch body while the isolation element is in the fully radially expanded sealing state, the shearing allowing the isolation element to move to the relaxed radially expanded sealing state.

24 . The method as recited in claim 23 , further including applying pressure to the whipstock assembly to move the isolation element from the relaxed radially expanded sealing state to the radially retracted non-sealing state, and then pulling the whipstock assembly uphole.

25 . The method as recited in claim 23 , further including washing over the isolation element in the relaxed radially expanded sealing state, and then pulling the whipstock assembly uphole.

26 . The method as recited in claim 22 , wherein the relief feature is a primary holding shear feature coupled to the ratch latch body, and further including a secondary holding shear feature coupled to the ratch latch body, the secondary holding shear feature configured to hold the isolation element in a relaxed radially expanded sealing state upon the primary holding shear feature shearing.

27 . The method as recited in claim 26 , wherein the primary holding shear feature has a primary shear strength less than or equal to a secondary shear strength of the secondary holding shear feature.

28 . The well system as recited in claim 27 , wherein the primary holding shear feature is located downhole of the secondary holding shear feature.

29 . The method as recited in claim 28 , further including a relaxation gap located between the secondary holding shear feature and the ratch latch body when the isolation element is in the fully radially expanded sealing state, the relaxation gap configured to close upon the primary holding shear feature shearing, thereby allowing the isolation element to move to the relaxed radially expanded sealing state.

30 . The method as recited in claim 29 , further including a replaceable spacer feature located within the relaxation gap, the replaceable spacer feature configured to adjust an amount of movement of the isolation element upon the primary holding feature shearing.

31 . The method as recited in claim 26 , wherein the primary holding shear feature has a primary shear strength less than a secondary shear strength of the secondary holding shear feature.

32 . The method as recited in claim 26 , wherein the primary holding shear feature is located uphole of the secondary holding shear feature.

33 . The method as recited in claim 32 , wherein the secondary holding shear feature is located in a gapped profile in the mandrel, the secondary holding shear feature including a first relaxation gap located on a first side of the secondary holding shear feature when the isolation element is in the fully radially expanded sealing state and a second relaxed gap located on a second side of the secondary holding shear feature when the isolation element is in the relaxed radially expanded sealing state.

34 . The method as recited in claim 33 , wherein the first relaxation gap is located uphole of the second relaxed gap.