Granted Patent B2

US 12,305,472 · App. 18/383,549 · Granted May 20, 2025

Inventor: Adrian Caruana (Fana, NO)

Assignee: TCO AS

E21B33/1208

Abstract

Claims (82)

1. A plug assembly ( 200 ) arranged in a housing ( 140 ) for use in a downhole tool comprising:

a glass assembly ( 15 ) comprising a plug ( 10 );

a seat ( 20 ) arranged to support the plug ( 10 );

a breaker object ( 30 ) arranged to break the plug ( 10 ) upon contact with the plug ( 10 ); and

a tensile release mechanism ( 50 ) comprising:

a tensile body ( 51 );

a tensile element ( 52 );

wherein:

the tensile element ( 52 ) is arranged along the tensile body ( 51 );

the tensile release mechanism ( 50 ) arranged to break at the tensile element ( 52 ) at an applied threshold tensile force;

wherein:

the plug assembly ( 200 ) is arranged to have a first position and a second position,

in the first position, the plug ( 10 ) is intact and fluid flow through the plug assembly is blocked, and

in the second position, the plug assembly ( 200 ) is arranged such that after a threshold pressure has been applied to the plug assembly ( 200 ), the seat ( 20 ) moves with the respect to the breaker object ( 30 ), the tensile element ( 52 ) is broken, and the plug ( 10 ) is broken by the breaker object ( 30 ); and

pressure applied to the plug ( 10 ) is arranged to apply a tensile force to the tensile release mechanism ( 50 ); and

wherein the tensile body ( 51 ) further comprises:

a first tensile body part ( 51 A) and a second tensile body part ( 51 B) separated by the tensile element ( 52 ),

wherein the first tensile body part ( 51 A) is stationary with respect to the housing ( 140 ) between the first and second position and the second tensile body part ( 51 B) supports the seat ( 20 ) in the first position; and

wherein the breaker object ( 30 ) is arranged in a breaker holder ( 31 ) in the tensile release mechanism ( 50 ).

2. The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the tensile element ( 52 ) is arranged to break in a direction transverse to the applied threshold tensile force.

3. The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first tensile body part ( 51 A) is fixed to the housing ( 140 ).

4. The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to claim 1 , wherein:

the tensile body ( 51 ) further comprises a tensile shoulder ( 53 ), and

the seat ( 20 ) further comprises a seat body ( 21 ), and the seat body ( 21 ) comprises a seat shoulder ( 24 );

wherein: the tensile shoulder ( 53 ) is in contact with the seat shoulder ( 24 ).

5. The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the tensile element ( 52 ) is thinner than the tensile body ( 51 ).

6. The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to claim 1 , wherein a snap ring ( 40 ) is arranged in a snap ring pocket ( 41 ) in the housing ( 140 ), and

the seat ( 20 ) further comprises:

a seat body ( 21 ), and

a seat pocket ( 23 ) arranged on the seat body ( 21 );

wherein:

the snap ring ( 40 ) enters the seat pocket ( 23 ) and locks the seat ( 20 ) in place in the second position.

7. The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the tensile element ( 52 ) further comprises a groove ( 52 B).

8. A plug assembly ( 200 ) arranged in a housing ( 140 ) for use in a downhole tool comprising:

a glass assembly ( 15 ) comprising a plug ( 10 );

a seat ( 20 ) arranged to support the plug ( 10 );

a breaker object ( 30 ) arranged to break the plug ( 10 ) upon contact with the plug ( 10 ); and

a tensile release mechanism ( 50 ) comprising:

a tensile body ( 51 );

a tensile element ( 52 );

wherein:

the tensile element ( 52 ), is arranged along the tensile body ( 51 );

the tensile release mechanism ( 50 ) arranged to break at the tensile element ( 52 ) at an applied threshold tensile force;

wherein:

the plug assembly ( 200 ) is arranged to have a first position and a second position, in the first position, the plug ( 10 ) is intact and fluid flow through the plug assembly is blocked, and

in the second position, the plug assembly ( 200 ) is arranged such that after a threshold pressure has been applied to the plug assembly ( 200 ), the seat ( 20 ) moves with the respect to the breaker object ( 30 ), the tensile element ( 52 ) is broken, and the plug ( 10 ) is broken by the breaker object ( 30 ); and

pressure applied to the plug ( 10 ) is arranged to apply a tensile force to the tensile release mechanism ( 50 ); and

wherein the breaker object ( 30 ) is arranged within the tensile release mechanism ( 50 ); and

wherein the tensile element ( 52 ) comprises a number of tuning areas ( 54 ) having a different thickness than the tensile element ( 52 ).

9. The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to claim 8 , wherein the tuning areas ( 54 ) are through the tensile element ( 52 ).

10. The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to claim 8 , wherein the tensile release mechanism ( 50 ) supports the seat in the first position.

11. The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to claim 8 , wherein the breaker object ( 30 ) is arranged in a breaker holder ( 31 ) in the tensile release mechanism ( 50 ).

12. The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to claim 8 , wherein the tensile element ( 52 ) is thinner than the tensile body ( 51 ).

13. The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to claim 8 , wherein:

the tensile body ( 51 ) further comprises a tensile shoulder ( 53 ), and

the seat ( 20 ) further comprises a seat body ( 21 ), and the seat body ( 21 ) comprises a seat shoulder ( 24 );

wherein: the tensile shoulder ( 53 ) is in contact with the seat shoulder ( 24 ).

14. A plug assembly ( 200 ) arranged in a housing ( 140 ) for use in a downhole tool comprising:

a glass assembly ( 15 ) comprising a plug ( 10 );

a seat ( 20 ) arranged to support the plug ( 10 );

a breaker object ( 30 ) arranged to break the plug ( 10 ) upon contact with the plug ( 10 ); and

a tensile release mechanism ( 50 ) comprising:

a tensile body ( 51 );

a tensile element ( 52 );

wherein:

the tensile element ( 52 ) is arranged along the tensile body ( 51 );

the tensile release mechanism ( 50 ) arranged to break at the tensile element ( 52 ) at an applied threshold tensile force;

wherein:

the plug assembly ( 200 ) is arranged to have a first position and a second position,

in the first position, the plug ( 10 ) is intact and fluid flow through the plug assembly is blocked, and

in the second position, the plug assembly ( 200 ) is arranged such that after a threshold pressure has been applied to the plug assembly ( 200 ), the seat ( 20 ) moves with the respect to the breaker object ( 30 ), the tensile element ( 52 ) is broken, and the plug ( 10 ) is broken by the breaker object ( 30 ); and

pressure applied to the plug ( 10 ) is arranged to apply a tensile force to the tensile release mechanism ( 50 ); and

wherein the tensile body ( 51 ) further comprises:

a first tensile body part ( 51 A) and a second tensile body part ( 51 B) separated by the tensile element ( 52 ),

wherein the first tensile body part ( 51 A) is stationary with respect to the housing ( 140 ) between the first and second position and the second tensile body part ( 51 B) supports the seat ( 20 ) in the first position; and

wherein there is a gap between at least a portion the second tensile body part ( 51 B) and the housing ( 140 ).

15. The plug assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the tensile element ( 52 ) is thinner than the tensile body ( 51 ).

16. The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to claim 14 , wherein:

the tensile body ( 51 ) further comprises a tensile shoulder ( 53 ), and

the seat ( 20 ) further comprises a seat body ( 21 ), and the seat body ( 21 ) comprises a seat shoulder ( 24 );

wherein: the tensile shoulder ( 53 ) is in contact with the seat shoulder ( 24 ).

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (24)