Insert units for non-metallic slips oriented normal to cone face
A slip assembly for a downhole tool, such as a bridge plug, has a slip body and at least one insert unit with a base and one or more inserts. The slip body has an incline at one end that interfaces with an inclined surface of a cone. As this occurs, the slip body is pushed away from the tool's mandrel against a surrounding casing wall. The insert unit is disposed in the slip body with the base oriented at an angle relative to the incline, and with the one or more inerts extending from the base. In particular, the base can be disposed at or parallel to the incline, and the one or more inserts with less surface area than the base can extend perpendicular to the inline for the insert's distal ends to engage a surrounding wall of casing or the like.
1. A downhole apparatus for use adjacent a downhole surface, the apparatus comprising:
a slip body having first and second surfaces and having first and second ends, a portion of the first surface at the first end having an incline relative to a centerline of the slip body, the slip body movable toward the downhole surface through interaction of the incline; and
at least one insert unit disposed on the slip body, the at least one insert unit having a base and having one or more first inserts extending from the base, the one or more first inserts each extending a side axis oriented oblique to the centerline of the slip body, a first distal end of the one or more first inserts exposed at the second surface of the slip body and engageable with a load against the downhole surface, a first proximal end of the one or more first inserts disposed adjacent the base and defining a first surface area, the base disposed on the slip body at a base angle relative to the centerline and defining a second surface area, wherein the base angle is disposed parallel to the incline of the slip body, whereby the base transmits the supported load orthogonal to the incline, and the second surface area being greater than the first surface area and supporting the load of the one or more first inserts.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base of the at least one insert unit comprises a bottom surface exposed at the incline of the first surface, whereby the base transmits the supported load directly to the incline.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the slip body comprises:
one or more independent segments of a slip assembly;
one or more integrated segments of the slip assembly; or
one or more integrated segments of the slip assembly separated from one another by divisions.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first inserts are integrally formed with the base.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base of the at least one insert unit is composed of a different material than the one or more first inserts.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first inserts comprises a proximal end disposed adjacent a top surface of the base.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first inserts comprises at least two first inserts disposed side-by-side on the base and extending along axes parallel to one another.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first inserts comprises at least two first inserts disposed side-by-side on the base and extending along axes diverging from one another.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the side axis of at least one of the one or more first inserts is substantially normal to the incline.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first distal end of the one or more first inserts defines a lead face toward the first end of the slip body, the lead face defining a lead angle relative to the centerline of the slip body.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first distal end defines a tail face toward the second end of the slip body, the tail face defining a tail angle relative to the centerline of the slip body.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base of the at least one insert unit comprises a first side disposed across the first end of the slip body; and wherein the one or more first inserts comprise at least two first inserts disposed side-by-side along the first side of the base.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base of the at least one insert unit comprises a first side disposed lengthwise on the slip body from the first end toward the second end; and wherein the one or more first inserts comprises at least two first inserts disposed side-by-side along the first side of the base.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one second insert disposed on the slip body and having a second distal end exposed in the second surface of the slip body.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one second insert defines an axis being oriented oblique to the centerline of the slip body.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an element disposed adjacent the first end of the slip body and having an inclined surface for interacting with the incline.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a tool body having an inclined surface for interacting with the incline of the slip body.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the inclined surface comprises a cone disposed on the tool body.
19. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a mandrel having the first surface of the slip body disposed adjacent thereto; and
a cone disposed on the mandrel, the cone having an inclined surface for interacting with the incline and moving the slip body away from the mandrel.
20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a plug, a packer, a liner hanger, an anchoring device, or a downhole tool.
21. A downhole apparatus for use adjacent a downhole surface, the apparatus comprising:
a slip body having first and second surfaces and having first and second ends, a portion of the first surface at the first end having an incline relative to a centerline of the slip body, the slip body movable toward the downhole surface through interaction of the incline;
at least one insert unit disposed on the slip body, the at least one insert unit having a base and having one or more first inserts extending from the base, a first distal end of the one or more first inserts exposed at the second surface of the slip body and engageable with a load against the downhole surface, a first proximal end of the one or more first inserts disposed adjacent the base and defining a first surface area, the base disposed on the slip body at a base angle parallel to the incline of the slip body and defining a second surface area, the second surface area being greater than the first surface area and supporting the load of the one or more first inserts,
wherein the base of the at least one insert unit comprises a bottom surface exposed at the incline of the first surface, whereby the base transmits the supported load directly and orthogonal to the incline.
22. A downhole apparatus for use adjacent a downhole surface, the apparatus comprising:
a slip body having first and second surfaces and having first and second ends, a portion of the first surface at the first end having an incline relative to a centerline of the slip body, the slip body movable toward the downhole surface through interaction of the incline; and
at least one insert unit disposed on the slip body, the at least one insert unit having a base and having one or more first inserts extending from the base, a first distal end of the one or more first inserts exposed at the second surface of the slip body and engageable with a load against the downhole surface, a first proximal end of the one or more first inserts disposed adjacent the base and defining a first surface area, the base disposed on the slip body at a base angle relative to the centerline and defining a second surface area, the second surface area being greater than the first surface area and supporting the load of the one or more first inserts,
wherein the one or more first inserts comprises at least two first inserts disposed side-by-side on the base and extending along axes parallel to one another or diverging from one another.
23. A downhole apparatus for use adjacent a downhole surface, the apparatus comprising:
a slip body having first and second surfaces and having first and second ends, a portion of the first surface at the first end having an incline relative to a centerline of the slip body, the slip body movable toward the downhole surface through interaction of the incline; and
at least one insert unit disposed on the slip body, the at least one insert unit having a base and having one or more first inserts extending from the base, a first distal end of the one or more first inserts exposed at the second surface of the slip body and engageable with a load against the downhole surface, a first proximal end of the one or more first inserts disposed adjacent the base and defining a first surface area, the base disposed on the slip body at a base angle relative to the centerline and defining a second surface area, the second surface area being greater than the first surface area and supporting the load of the one or more first inserts,
wherein the base of the at least one insert unit comprises a first side disposed across the first end of the slip body or disposed lengthwise on the slip body from the first end toward the second end; and
wherein the one or more first inserts comprise at least two first inserts disposed side-by-side along the first side of the base.