Packer with non-extrusion ring
View Patent ↗Embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide a packer for use within a conduit, such as casing, having a non-extrusion ring. The non-extrusion ring is comprised of hard segments and an elastic matrix.
1. A packer for sealing a casing with an inner diameter, the packer comprising:
a mandrel having an outer diameter;
a plurality of slips securing the mandrel to the casing;
at least one forcing cone slidable along the mandrel, the forcing cone having an inclined face;
a non-extrusion ring abutting the forcing cone, the non-extrusion ring having an upper surface and a lower surface and being comprised of:
a plurality of segments arranged in a vertically overlapping manner, each segment having an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper surface and slanted end surfaces, the outer surfaces of the segments having a curvature that approximates the inner diameter of the casing; and
a flexible matrix surrounding the segments and maintaining the segments in the vertically overlapping manner while in a relaxed state, but allowing the segments to move radially when force is exerted on the non-extrusion ring;
a support ring abutting the lower surface of the non-extrusion ring, the support ring having an inner diameter and an outer diameter;
an inner ring having an inner diameter, an outer diameter, a thickness and a height, the outer diameter of the inner ring being approximately the same as the inner diameter of the support ring such that the inner ring may slide within the support ring;
a principal element abutting the support ring.
2. The packer of claim 1 wherein:
the forcing cone may move axially along the mandrel towards the non-extrusion ring such that the inclined face of the forcing cone engages the upper surface of the non-extrusion ring and pushes the non-extrusion ring radially.
3. The packer of claim 2 wherein:
the segments of the non-extrusion ring align with each other and engage the inner diameter of the casing.
4. The packer of claim 3 wherein:
the inner ring slides into a space behind the non-extrusion ring as the non-extrusion ring expands radially.
5. The packer of claim 2 wherein:
the support ring and the inner ring are metal.
6. The packer of claim 1 wherein:
the upper surfaces of the segments are slanted to mate with the forcing cone.
7. The packer of claim 1 wherein:
the upper surfaces are slanted; and
the flexible matrix is vulcanized rubber.
8. The packer of claim 1 wherein:
the segments move radially under force to form a ring of segments against the inner diameter of the casing.
9. The packer of claim 1 wherein:
the segments are metal.
10. The packer of claim 9 wherein:
the metal is steel, aluminum, bronze, copper, cast iron, or brass.
11. The packer of claim 1 wherein:
the segments are made of rigid plastic.
12. The packer of claim 1 wherein:
the slanted ends are cut such that a first end of one segment overlaps on a second end of an adjacent segment.