Bridge plug with bi-directional high strength high expansion retrievable anchor
An anchor can include an inner mandrel, a slip configured to grip a well surface, and a link arm with pivots at respective opposite ends and the link arm being configured to rotate relative to the slip about a pivot, and the other pivot being configured to displace radially outward relative to the inner mandrel when the anchor is set in the well. A method can include deploying an anchor into a wellbore, and setting the anchor in the wellbore, the setting including displacing a slip radially outward into gripping engagement with a well surface, the displacing including rotating a link arm until a surface of a wedge engages a surface of the link arm and another surface of the link arm engages a surface of the slip.
1 . An anchor for use with a subterranean well, the anchor comprising:
an inner mandrel;
a slip configured to grip a well surface; and
a link arm with first and second pivots at respective opposite ends of the link arm, the link arm being configured to rotate relative to the slip about the first pivot, and the second pivot being configured to displace radially outward relative to the inner mandrel when the anchor is set in the well, in which the second pivot connects the link arm to a flexible collet configured to permit radial displacement of the second pivot.
2 . The anchor of claim 1 , further comprising a first wedge configured to deflect the link arm radially outward.
3 . The anchor of claim 2 , in which a first surface of the first wedge is configured to engage a second surface of the link arm when the first wedge deflects the link arm radially outward.
4 . The anchor of claim 3 , in which a third surface of the link arm is configured to engage a fourth surface of the slip when the first wedge deflects the link arm radially outward.
5 . The anchor of claim 4 , in which the third surface of the link arm is further configured to limit rotation of the link arm relative to the slip.
6 . The anchor of claim 2 , in which the collet is configured to flex radially through a slot formed in the first wedge.
7 . The anchor of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first ratchet that permits displacement of the first wedge in a first axial direction relative to the inner mandrel but prevents displacement of the first wedge in a second axial direction relative to the inner mandrel, the second axial direction being opposite to the first axial direction; and
a second ratchet that permits displacement of a second wedge in the second axial direction relative to the inner mandrel but prevents displacement of the second wedge in the first axial direction relative to the inner mandrel.
8 . A method for use with a subterranean well, the method comprising:
deploying an anchor into a wellbore; and
setting the anchor in the wellbore, the setting comprising displacing a slip radially outward into gripping engagement with a well surface, the displacing comprising rotating a link arm until a first surface of a first wedge engages a second surface of the link arm and a third surface of the link arm engages a fourth surface of the slip.
9 . The method of claim 8 , in which the engagement between the first and second surfaces limits rotation of the link arm relative to the first wedge, and the engagement between the third and fourth surfaces limits rotation of the link arm relative to the slip.
10 . The method of claim 8 , in which the first surface is inclined so that relative axial displacement between the first and second surfaces deflects the link arm radially outward.
11 . The method of claim 8 , in which the link arm is pivotably connected to a flexible collet, and the displacing further comprises radially outwardly displacing a pivot between the link arm and the collet.
12 . The method of claim 11 , in which the pivot displacing comprises flexing the collet in a slot formed in the first wedge.
13 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
configuring a first ratchet to permit displacement of the first wedge in a first axial direction relative to an inner mandrel of the anchor but prevent displacement of the first wedge in a second axial direction relative to the inner mandrel, the second axial direction being opposite to the first axial direction; and
configuring a second ratchet to permit displacement of the second wedge in the second axial direction relative to the inner mandrel but prevent displacement of the second wedge in the first axial direction relative to the inner mandrel.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
connecting a packer to the anchor, the packer including an annular seal element;
a first net piston area biasing the seal element in the first axial direction in response to a pressure differential in the first axial direction across the seal element; and
configuring a second net piston area to bias the seal element in the second axial direction in response to a pressure differential in the second axial direction across the seal element.