Rolling bridge through tubing bridge plug

Abstract

A bridge plug assembly having a mandrel and an annular flexible member that is selectively fashioned into a volute that extends radially outward from the mandrel for isolating a portion of a tubular. In an example, a web member is provided that runs between the flexible member and the mandrel, and exits an end of the flexible member. Pulling the web member inverts an end of the flexible member rolling the sidewall of the flexible member into a volute. In another embodiment, upper and lower series of collars circumscribe the mandrel that when pushed towards one another axially squeeze the flexible member therebetween to outwardly bulge the flexible member into contact with a tubular. Continued force applied to the collars causes the flexible member to roll into a volute.

1 . A bridge plug assembly for use in a tubular comprising;
 a mandrel; and   an annular flexible member circumscribing a portion of the mandrel, having first and second ends and that a portion that is fashionable into a volute that projects radially outward into the annular space between the mandrel and the tubular.   
     
     
         2 . The bridge plug of  claim 1 , further comprising an elongated continuous web member having a portion disposed between the flexible member and the mandrel that exits the flexible member at the first end of the flexible member, and an outer portion disposed in a space past an outer diameter of the flexible member and between the first and second ends of the flexible member, so that when the bridge plug assembly is inserted within a tubular and the outer portion is pulled in a direction away from the first end, the flexible member is inverted at the first end to form a volute 
     
     
         3 . The bridge plug of  claim 2 , wherein a ring like lip is formed on the first end of the flexible member and adjacent the lip the thickness of the flexible member reduces to define an annular neck portion. 
     
     
         4 . The bridge plug of  claim 2 , further comprising additional elongated continuous web members, wherein the web members each have ends coupled to the mandrel and free ends that are distal the ends attached to the mandrel that are joined together to form a web harness. 
     
     
         5 . The bridge plug of  claim 4 , wherein the web harness is selectively attachable to a downhole device. 
     
     
         6 . The bridge plug of  claim 2 , wherein the web member is substantially planar with first and second planar surfaces, and wherein the first surface faces the mandrel in the portion of the web member that is between the flexible member and the mandrel and wherein the first surface faces away from the mandrel in the outer portion of the web member. 
     
     
         7 . The bridge plug of  claim 1 , further comprising a cable head attached to an end of the mandrel for attachment to a wireline. 
     
     
         8 . The bridge plug of  claim 1 , further comprising a first annular flange member coaxially coupled within the first end of the flexible member that is slidable along the mandrel and a second annular flange member coaxially coupled within the second end of the flexible member. 
     
     
         9 . The bridge plug of  claim 8 , further comprising a collar coaxially disposed around the mandrel and comprising planar leaf members projecting from a mid portion of the collar and that are selectively oriented substantially parallel with an axis of the mandrel and selectively pivotable radially outward from the mandrel. 
     
     
         10 . The bridge plug of  claim 9 , wherein when the leaf members are pivoted radially outward a support is formed for the volute to resist directions axial to the mandrel. 
     
     
         11 . The bridge plug of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of collars on a side of the volute to form an upper series of collars and another plurality of collars on a side of the volute opposite the upper series of collars to define a lower series of collars. 
     
     
         12 . The bridge plug of  claim 11 , further comprising an annular sleeve that is slideable over the mandrel and having an end in selective contact with the upper series of collars, so that when the sleeve is pushed downward against the upper series of collars, the leaf members pivot radially outward and axially support the volute. 
     
     
         13 . The bridge plug of  claim 11 , further comprising an annular sleeve that is slideable over the mandrel and having an end in selective contact with the upper series of collars, so that when the sleeve is pushed against the collars, one of the flange members is moved towards the other flange member to cause the flexible member to bulge radially outward from the mandrel and into contact with the tubular. 
     
     
         14 . The bridge plug of  claim 13 , wherein the length of axial attachment between the first end of the flexible member and the first annular flange is greater than the length of axial attachment between the second end of the flexible member and the second annular flange, so that the flexible member bulges radially outward at a position between the mid point of the flexible member and the second annular flange. 
     
     
         15 . A method of setting a bridge plug in a wellbore tubular comprising:
 inserting into the tubular a bridge plug assembly comprising a mandrel, and a flexible member circumscribing a portion of the mandrel;   fashioning a portion of the flexible member into a volute so that the volute extends into an annular space between the mandrel and the wellbore tubular.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein fashioning a portion of the flexible member into a volute comprises inverting an end of the flexible member. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the flexible member has a first and a second end and the bridge plug assembly further comprises a web element that extends between the flexible member and the mandrel, exits from within the flexible member through the first end, and outside of the flexible member, the web element loops towards the second end of the flexible member, so that pulling the web element in a direction away from the first end and towards the second end inverts the flexible member. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein fashioning a portion of the flexible member into a volute comprises axially compressing the flexible member and causing the flexible member to bulge outward and into contact with the tubular and form a fold in the sidewall of the flexible member. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a first annular flange is inserted into a first end of the flexible member and an upper connection is formed between the flexible member and the first annular flange and a second annular flange is inserted into a second end of the flexible member and a lower connection is formed between the flexible member and the second annular flange wherein the axial length of the upper connection is greater than the axial length of the lower connection. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein planar collars that circumscribe the mandrel are provided on opposing sides of the flexible member that pivot radially outward when the flexible member is compressed and provide support for the volute. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the thickness of the flexible member varies so that when the flexible member is compressed the volute is formed that comprises at least two rolls of the sidewall of the flexible member.