IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,158,052
Granted Patent B2
US 12,158,052 · App. 18/297,467 · Granted Dec 3, 2024

Flow back option plug assembly

Inventors: Abdullah K. Al-Ghannam (Al-Ahsa, SA); Sanjiv Kumar (Jharkhand, IN)
Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
E21B33/12E21B33/1293E21B33/134E21B34/063
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,158,052
App. No.
18/297,467
Granted
Dec 3, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system includes a bridge plug for isolating a section of a wellbore. The bridge plug includes a cylindrical body and an engagement assembly mounted to an outer diameter of the cylindrical body and selectively extendible between a recessed position and an extended position. The system further includes a plug assembly for regulating flow through the cylindrical body of the bridge plug. The plug assembly includes a housing connected to the cylindrical body of the bridge plug, a frangible component that creates a seal within the housing, and a pin disposed within the housing and designed to fracture the frangible component.

Claims (38)

1. A system, comprising:

a bridge plug configured to isolate a section of a wellbore, the bridge plug comprising:

a cylindrical body;

an engagement assembly mounted to an outer diameter of the cylindrical body and selectively extendible between a recessed position and an extended position; and

a plug assembly configured to regulate flow through the cylindrical body of the bridge plug,

the plug assembly comprising:

a housing;

a frangible component configured to create a seal within the housing; and

a pin disposed within the housing, the pin configured to fracture the frangible component;

wherein the housing of the plug assembly is cylindrical and comprises an outer diameter that is a same diameter as the outer diameter of the cylindrical body of the bridge plug, and

wherein an upper end of the housing is connected to a lower end of the cylindrical body of the bridge plug.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the bridge plug is a retrievable bridge plug and further comprises a fishing neck.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement assembly comprises upper slips, lower slips, and at least one packer.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the housing of the plug assembly further comprises a protrusion configured to position the frangible component within the housing.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the frangible component of the plug assembly is embodied as a ceramic disk.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the bridge plug further comprises a setting sleeve configured to actuate the engagement assembly of the bridge plug.

7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the setting sleeve of the bridge plug is disposed at an upper end of the bridge plug.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the housing of the plug assembly comprises a threaded connection along the upper end of the housing.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the cylindrical body of the bridge plug comprises a complementary threaded connection to the threaded connection of the housing of the plug assembly along the lower end of the cylindrical body.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the plug assembly further comprises:

a driving spring configured to move the pin within the housing when released; and

a release tool configured to release the driving spring when actuated.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the plug assembly further comprises a transmitter configured to transmit an actuation signal to the release tool.

12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the actuation signal of the transmitter is wirelessly transmitted to the release tool by the transmitter.

13. A method, comprising:

connecting an upper end of a housing of a plug assembly to a lower end of a cylindrical body of a bridge plug, the housing having an outer diameter that is a same diameter as an outer diameter of the cylindrical body;

deploying the bridge plug and the plug assembly downhole in a wellbore;

actuating an engagement assembly of the bridge plug, thereby extending the engagement assembly from a recessed position to an extended position;

sealing, by a frangible component of the plug assembly, the housing of the plug assembly;

regulating, by the plug assembly, flow through the cylindrical body of the bridge plug;

isolating, by the bridge plug, a section of the wellbore; and

fracturing the frangible component of the plug assembly by a pin disposed within the housing of the plug assembly.

14. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising actuating a setting sleeve of the bridge plug in order to actuate the engagement assembly.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein actuating the engagement assembly comprises engaging upper slips and lower slips against a casing of the wellbore and expanding a packer between the casing and the cylindrical body of the bridge plug.

16. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising moving the pin within the housing of the plug assembly via a driving spring.

17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising actuating a release tool in order to release the driving spring and move the pin of the plug assembly.

18. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising removing debris from the bridge plug by guiding flow into the wellbore through the bridge plug subsequent to fracturing the frangible component of the plug assembly.

19. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising running a fishing operation to return the bridge plug and the plug assembly to a surface.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2023
From: AL-GHANNAM, ABDULLAH K.; KUMAR, SANJIV
To: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
Reel/Frame 063926/0434 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240337168A1 · Oct 10, 2024