IP Library Granted Patent US 10,400,535
Granted Patent B1
US 10,400,535 · App. 15/898,067 · Granted Sep 3, 2019

Retrievable downhole tool

Inventor: Donald Roy Greenlee (Murchison, TX)
Assignee: Nine Downhole Technologies, LLC
E21B23/06E21B23/00E21B33/129
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,400,535
App. No.
15/898,067
Granted
Sep 3, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

A retrievable downhole tool has a mandrel, an upper radially expandable slip carried by the mandrel, a lower radially expandable slip carried by the mandrel, a rubber element disposed between the upper radially expandable slip and the lower radially expandable slip, an upper backup disposed between the upper radially expandable slip and the rubber element, and a lower backup disposed between the rubber element and the lower radially expandable slip. At least one of the upper radially expandable slip, the lower radially expandable slip, the upper backup, and the lower backup comprises a soluble material.

Claims (42)

1. A hydrocarbon production system, comprising:

a first downhole tool disposed in a well bore, the first downhole tool being an uppermost retrievable tool, the first downhole tool comprising:

a first mandrel;

a first upper slip carried by the first mandrel, the first upper slip being radially expandable;

a first lower slip carried by the first mandrel, the first lower slip being radially expandable;

a first rubber element disposed between the first upper slip and the first lower slip;

a first upper backup disposed between the first upper slip and the first rubber element; and

a first lower backup disposed between the first rubber element and the first lower slip;

a second downhole tool disposed in the well bore below the first downhole tool, the second downhole tool being a lowest retrievable tool, the second downhole tool further comprising:

a second mandrel;

a second upper slip carried by the second mandrel, the second upper slip being radially expandable;

a second lower slip carried by the second mandrel, the second lower slip being radially expandable;

a second rubber element disposed between the second upper slip and the second lower slip;

a second upper backup disposed between the second upper slip and the second rubber element; and

a second lower backup disposed between the second rubber element and the second lower slip;

wherein the first upper backup and the first lower backup comprise a first soluble material;

wherein at least one of the first upper slip, the first lower slip, the second upper slip, the second lower slip, the second upper backup, and the second lower backup comprise a second soluble material, the hydrocarbon production system further comprising:

a pig disposed in the well bore below the second downhole tool,

wherein the first soluble material is different from the second soluble material.

2. The hydrocarbon production system of claim 1 , wherein the first downhole tool comprises an integrated retrieval tool.

3. The hydrocarbon production system of claim 2 , wherein the integrated retrieval tool is configured for coupling to the second downhole tool.

4. A method of operating a hydrocarbon production system, the method comprising:

disposing a downhole tool in a well bore, the downhole tool being retrievable and further comprising:

a mandrel;

an upper slip carried by the mandrel, the upper slip being radially expandable;

a lower slip carried by the mandrel, the lower slip being radially expandable;

a rubber element disposed between the upper slip and the lower slip;

an upper backup disposed between the upper slip and the rubber element; and

a lower backup disposed between the rubber element and the lower slip; and

disposing a pig in the well bore downhole relative to the retrievable downhole tool, wherein the upper backup and the lower backup comprise a soluble material; and

wherein at least one of the upper slip and the lower slip comprises a water soluble material.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

exposing the soluble material to a fracturing fluid.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

retrieving the retrievable downhole tool.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein retrieving the retrievable downhole tool further comprises:

retrieving the retrievable downhole tool using a cable.

8. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

flowing the pig upward within the well bore and into contact with the retrievable downhole tool.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first soluble material is water soluble.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second soluble material is water soluble.

11. The method of claim 4 , wherein the upper slip and the lower slip comprise different materials.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2026
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: NINE ENERGY SERVICE, INC.; NINE DOWNHOLE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; MAGNUM OIL TOOLS INTERNATIONAL, LTD.
Reel/Frame 075264/0159 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2026
From: NINE DOWNHOLE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; NINE ENERGY CANADA ULC
To: WHITE OAK COMMERCIAL FINANCE, LLC
Reel/Frame 075048/0092 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: NINE ENERGY SERVICE, INC.; NINE DOWNHOLE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; MAGNUM OIL TOOLS INTERNATIONAL LTD.
Reel/Frame 071155/0559 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2025
From: NINE ENERGY SERVICE, INC.; NINE DOWNHOLE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; NINE ENERGY CANADA INC.
To: WHITE OAK COMMERCIAL FINANCE, LLC
Reel/Frame 071147/0203 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 30, 2023
From: NINE ENERGY SERVICE, INC.; NINE DOWNHOLE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; MAGNUM OIL TOOLS INTERNATIONAL, LTD.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 062546/0076 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 30, 2023
From: NINE ENERGY SERVICE, INC.; NINE DOWNHOLE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; MAGNUM OIL TOOLS INTERNATIONAL, LTD.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 062545/0970 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 045823 FRAME 0166. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 12, 2023
From: PAT GREENLEE BUILDERS, LLC
To: NINE DOWNHOLE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 062379/0787 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2018
From: GREENLEE, DONALD ROY; GREENLEE, DONALD JONATHAN; GREENLEE, PATRICIA GAIL
To: PAT GREENLEE BUILDERS, LLC
Reel/Frame 045823/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2018
From: PAT GREENLEE BUILDERS, LLC
To: NINE DOWN TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 045823/0166 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 14666398 · Mar 24, 2015
Provisional Application 61969713 · Mar 24, 2014
Cited By (2)
US 12,637,912 US 12,655,699