Degradable plug with friction ring anchors
View Patent ↗A disintegrating plug features anchoring with friction rings that are expanded during the setting to contact the tubular. The design is modular and can integrate as many friction rings as needed to fixate the plug against the anticipated treating pressures from above when a ball is landed on the seat of the plug. The friction rings can be standalone or integrated with an adjacent ramp for the next friction ring. The friction rings are made from a disintegrating material along with other parts of the plug so that when the treating procedure is completed the plugs will substantially disappear to facilitate subsequent production. A fracking application is contemplated.
1. A subterranean plug assembly for treating formations in a borehole defined by a tubular, comprising:
an expandable seal having a passage therethrough in direct contact with a seal expander comprising a tapered outer surface thereon, said seal expander initially disposed at least in part within said expandable seal;
said seal expander wedging said expandable seal radially by an axial relative movement with respect to the length of said expandable seal, by moving further within said expandable seal;
at least one friction ring assembly adjacent said expandable seal;
said expandable seal and friction ring assembly selectively plastically deformed into contact with the tubular in response to relative movement of said seal expander;
said friction ring assembly supporting said seal when said seal is set and pressure differential is applied to the plug with said passage selectively obstructed;
said seal, expander and friction ring assembly are made of a disintegrating material for selective removal from the tubular.
2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
said seal expands said friction ring assembly.
3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
said at least one friction ring assembly comprises a plurality of friction ring assemblies.
4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein:
said friction ring assemblies are spaced apart.
5. The assembly of claim 4 , further comprising:
cone expanders between at least two spaced friction ring assemblies.
6. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein:
at least one friction ring assembly is built in one piece with a ramp surface for expanding a contacting friction ring assembly.
7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
said friction ring assembly has exterior surface roughness.
8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
said disintegrating material comprises a controlled electrolytic material.
9. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a running tool mandrel selectively secured in said passage and further comprising an actuation sleeve in movable contact with said seal expander;
whereupon relative movement between said mandrel and said actuation sleeve, said friction ring assembly and said seal are radially deformed and said mandrel is released for removal from said passage.
10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
said seal expander further comprises a seat to accept an object to selectively block said passage.
11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
said friction ring assembly comprises a closed ring shape.
12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein:
said ring shape further comprises scores to facilitate expansion thereof.
13. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
said friction ring assembly comprises a plurality of segments initially defining a closed ring shape and separating on expansion toward the tubular.
14. A subterranean plug assembly for treating formations in a borehole defined by a tubular, comprising:
an expandable seal having a passage therethrough adjacent a seal expander comprising a tapered outer surface thereon;
said seal expander wedging said expandable seal radially by an axial relative movement with respect to the length of said expandable seal;
at least one friction ring assembly adjacent said expandable seal;
said expandable seal and friction ring assembly selectively plastically deformed into contact with the tubular in response to relative movement of said seal expander;
said friction ring assembly supporting said seal when said seal is set and pressure differential is applied to the plug with said passage selectively obstructed;
said seal, expander and friction ring assembly are made of a disintegrating material for selective removal from the tubular;
said seal has an end taper for direct expansion of said friction ring assembly.
15. A subterranean plug assembly for treating formations in a borehole defined by a tubular, comprising:
an expandable seal having a passage therethrough adjacent a seal expander comprising a tapered outer surface thereon;
said seal expander wedging said expandable seal radially by an axial relative movement with respect to the length of said expandable seal;
at least one friction ring assembly adjacent said expandable seal;
said expandable seal and friction ring assembly selectively plastically deformed into contact with the tubular in response to relative movement of said seal expander;
said friction ring assembly supporting said seal when said seal is set and pressure differential is applied to the plug with said passage selectively obstructed;
said seal, expander and friction ring assembly are made of a disintegrating material for selective removal from the tubular;
said seal, seal expander and at least one friction ring assembly directly define said passage structurally.
16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein:
said seal has an end taper for direct expansion of said friction ring assembly.
17. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein:
said at least one friction ring assembly comprises a plurality of friction ring assemblies.
18. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein:
said friction ring assemblies are spaced apart.
19. The assembly of claim 18 , further comprising:
cone expanders between at least two spaced friction ring assemblies.
20. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein:
at least one friction ring assembly is built in one piece with a ramp surface for expanding a contacting friction ring assembly.
21. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein:
said seal, expander and friction ring assembly disintegrate from exposure to existing well fluids or thermal input from said existing well fluids.