Granted Patent B2

US 12,326,060 · App. 17/326,723 · Granted Jun 10, 2025

Inventors: Ryan Michael Novelen (Houston, TX); David Symon Grant (Houston, TX); Espen Dahl (Stavanger, NO); Morten Falnes (Sola, NO); Gavin Lafferty (Peterhead, GB)

Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

E21B33/1277E21B17/02E21B23/01E21B23/0411E21B43/105E21B43/108

Abstract

Claims (33)

1. An anchor for use with a downhole tool in a wellbore, comprising:

a base pipe;

two or more expandable chambers positioned radially about the base pipe;

wherein the two or more expandable chambers are configured to move from a first collapsed state to a second fixed activated state; and

wherein the two or more expandable chambers are operable to handle at least 20.7 Bar of internal pressure in the second activated state to engage a wall of the wellbore, are generally linearly aligned with one another, include protrusions on an outer surface thereof, the protrusions configured to protrude through openings in an exterior sleeve positioned radially about the two or more expandable chambers for engaging the wall of the wellbore, and further wherein the base pipe does not include openings therein radially inside of the two or more expandable chambers.

2. The anchor according to claim 1 , further comprising an exterior sleeve positioned radially about the two or more expandable chambers.

3. The anchor according to claim 2 , wherein the exterior sleeve includes protrusions on an outer surface thereof for engaging the wall of the wellbore.

4. The anchor according to claim 2 , wherein the exterior sleeve includes a textured surface on an outer surface thereof for engaging the wall of the wellbore.

5. The anchor according to claim 2 , wherein the exterior sleeve comprises a swellable elastomer on an outer surface thereof.

6. The anchor according to claim 2 , wherein the exterior sleeve comprises an expandable metal.

7. The anchor according to claim 1 , further comprising two or more bridging plates positioned radially about the two or more expandable chambers, wherein the two or more bridging plates are configured to extend across at least a gap between outer portions of the two or more expandable chambers in the second activated state.

8. The anchor according to claim 1 , wherein the anchor does not include a screen member having a filter medium having a size less than 36 mesh.

9. A method for anchoring a downhole tool in a wellbore, the method comprising:

running the downhole tool including an anchor into the wellbore, the anchor including:

a base pipe;

two or more expandable chambers positioned radially about the base pipe;

wherein the two or more expandable chambers are configured to move from a first collapsed state to a second activated state; and

wherein the two or more expandable chambers are operable to handle at least 20.7 Bar of internal pressure in the second activated state to engage a wall of the wellbore, are generally linearly aligned with one another, include protrusions on an outer surface thereof, the protrusions configured to protrude through openings in an exterior sleeve positioned radially about the two or more expandable chambers for engaging the wall of the wellbore, and further wherein the base pipe does not include openings therein radially inside of the two or more expandable chambers; and

applying fluid pressure to the two or more expandable chambers to move the one or more expandable chambers from the first collapsed state to the second activated state and anchor the downhole tool within the wellbore.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the anchor further includes an exterior sleeve positioned radially about the two or more expandable chambers.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the exterior sleeve includes protrusions on an outer surface thereof for engaging the wall of the wellbore.

12. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising two or more bridging plates positioned radially about the two or more expandable chambers, wherein the two or more bridging plates are configured to extend across at least a gap between outer portions of the two or more expandable chambers in the second activated state.

13. A well system, comprising:

a wellbore; and

a downhole tool including an anchor positioned within the wellbore, the at least one anchor including:

a base pipe;

two or more expandable chambers positioned radially about the base pipe;

wherein the two or more expandable chambers are configured to move from a first collapsed state to a second activated state; and

wherein the two or more expandable chambers are operable to handle at least 20.7 Bar of internal pressure in the second activated state to engage a wall of the wellbore, are generally linearly aligned with one another, include protrusions on an outer surface thereof, the protrusions configured to protrude through openings in an exterior sleeve positioned radially about the two or more expandable chambers for engaging the wall of the wellbore, and further wherein the base pipe does not include openings therein radially inside of the two or more expandable chambers.

14. The well system according to claim 13 , wherein the anchor further includes an exterior sleeve positioned radially about the two or more expandable chambers.

15. The well system according to claim 14 , wherein the exterior sleeve includes protrusions on an outer surface thereof for engaging the wall of the wellbore.

16. The well system according to claim 14 , wherein the exterior sleeve includes a textured surface on an outer surface thereof for engaging the wall of the wellbore.

17. The well system according to claim 13 , wherein the anchor further includes two or more bridging plates positioned radially about the two or more expandable chambers, wherein the two or more bridging plates are configured to extend across at least a gap between outer portions of the two or more expandable chambers in the second activated state.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (334)