Granted Patent B2

US 8,869,904 · App. 13/183,014 · Granted Oct 28, 2014

Abstract

Claims (41)

1. A retrievable stimulation frac (RSF) plug for a well casing, comprising:

an elongate mandrel having a fluid flow bore;

a one-way check valve mandrel seal comprising a flapper, moveable between an open position and a closed position for selectively sealing the fluid flow bore, the flapper comprising an extended lip adapted to urge the flapper into the open position upon engagement with a retrieving tool;

a sealing mechanism for sealing between the mandrel and the casing; and

a locking mechanism for axially locking the retrievable stimulation frac plug in the casing.

2. The retrievable stimulation frac plug of claim 1 , the flapper biased toward the closed position.

3. The retrievable stimulation frac plug of claim 1 , the extended lip adapted to be operable by the retrieving tool, in order to retain the flapper in the open position.

4. A retrievable stimulation frac (RSF) plug for a well casing, comprising:

an elongate mandrel having a fluid flow bore;

a one-way check valve mandrel seal moveable between an open position and a closed position for selectively sealing the fluid flow bore;

a sealing mechanism for sealing between the mandrel and the casing;

a locking mechanism for axially locking the retrievable stimulation frac plug in the casing; and

a setting tool, the setting tool comprising a shear rod extending through the fluid flow bore, retaining the mandrel seal in the open position, and a shear pin connecting the shear rod and a lower cone of the retrievable stimulation frac plug.

5. A method of stimulating a well having casing, comprising:

providing a retrievable stimulation frac plug having an elongate mandrel with a fluid flow bore, the fluid flow bore sealable with a one-way check valve mandrel seal comprising a flapper, moveable between an open position and a closed position for selectively sealing the fluid flow bore and biased to the closed position, the flapper comprising an extended lip adapted to urge the flapper into the open position upon engagement with a retrieving tool;

selectively moving the check valve into the open position;

deploying the retrievable stimulation frac plug into the casing; and

conducting a well operation.

6. The method of claim 5 , the well operation comprising producing fluids from below the retrievable stimulation frac plug through the fluid flow bore, the check valve forced at least partially from the closed position by the fluids.

7. The method of claim 5 , the well operation comprising frac-stimulation of the well above the retrievable stimulation frac plug, the check valve retained in the closed position by the frac-stimulation.

8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising retrieving the retrievable stimulation frac plug after conducting the well operation.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising circulating fluids proximate an upper end of the retrievable stimulation frac plug prior to retrieving the retrievable stimulation frac plug.

10. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

providing a second retrievable stimulation frac plug having a second elongate mandrel with a second fluid flow bore, the second fluid flow bore sealable with a second one-way check valve mandrel seal comprising a second flapper, moveable between an open position and a closed position for selectively sealing the second fluid flow bore and biased to the closed position, the second flapper comprising an extended lip adapted to urge the second flapper into the open position upon engagement with a retrieving tool;

providing a retrieving tool, attached below the second retrievable stimulation frac plug;

selectively moving the second one-way check valve into the open position;

deploying the second retrievable stimulation frac plug into the casing, above the retrievable stimulation frac plug; and

conducting a second well operation.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

providing a retrieving tool on a work string;

deploying the retrieving tool into the well to latch onto the second retrievable stimulation frac plug;

releasing the second retrievable stimulation frac plug from the casing;

further deploying the retrieving tool into the well, with second retrievable stimulation frac plug and second retrieving tool attached to latch onto the retrievable stimulation frac plug;

releasing the retrievable stimulation frac plug from the casing; and

pulling the work string from the well, with the second retrievable stimulation frac plug and the retrievable stimulation frac plug attached, in a single run.

12. A method of stimulating a well having casing, comprising:

providing a retrievable stimulation frac plug having an elongate mandrel with a fluid flow bore, the fluid flow bore sealable with a one-way check valve mandrel seal moveable between an open position and a closed position for selectively sealing the fluid flow bore; and biased to the closed position, the flapper comprising an extended lip adapted to urge the flapper into the open position upon engagement with a retrieving tool, the retrievable stimulation frac plug further comprising a setting tool, the setting tool comprising a shear rod extending through the fluid flow bore, retaining the mandrel seal in the open position, and a shear pin connecting the shear rod and a lower cone of the retrievable stimulation frac plug;

selectively moving the check valve into the open position;

deploying the retrievable stimulation frac plug into the casing;

pulling the setting tool from the retrievable stimulation frac plug; and

conducting a well operation to stimulate the well.

Assignments (13)