Drillable slip with non-continuous outer diameter

Abstract

A slip for use in the anchoring of a downhole tool in a well casing is provided. The slip's outer diameter is about equal to the inner diameter of the well casing. The slip is positioned about a mandrel and radially expands upon the application of force. The wickers on the slip deformably engage the casing in response to a force.

1 . An apparatus for use in a well, the apparatus for anchoring a downhole tool against a casing disposed in the well, the apparatus comprising:
 a mandrel;   a slip assembly positioned on the mandrel, the slip assembly having at least one slip ring; and   a plurality of slip banks integrally formed on the slip ring wherein the slip ring has at least one circumferential pair of slip banks, the slip banks having a groove longitudinally positioned between each circumferential pair of slip banks, wherein the slip ring has an outer diameter about equal to the inner diameter of the casing.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the slip banks have a plurality of wickers formed therewith. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of wickers has a cutting edge defined thereon and extending radially outward from the slip ring. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the grooves define a fracture channel. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the slip ring is a unitary slip ring. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the unitary slip ring is formed from a drillable material. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outer diameter of the slip ring is between about 1/16 th  of an inch (0.159 centimeters) less than the inner diameter of the casing and about equal to the inner diameter of the casing. 
     
     
         8 . A unitary downhole anchor for use in a well having a casing positioned therein, the casing having an inner diameter, the unitary downhole anchor comprising:
 a mandrel;   a slip assembly positioned on the mandrel, the slip assembly having at least one outwardly expandable slip ring, the slip ring being a unitary slip ring, and at least one slip wedge, wherein the slip wedge and slip ring are movable relative to one another when force is applied to the slip assembly, whereby the slip ring will expand radially outward in response to such movement; and   a plurality of slip banks circumferentially defined on the slip ring, wherein the slip ring has at least one circumferential pair of slip banks, the slip banks having a groove longitudinally positioned between each circumferential pair of slip banks, wherein the slip ring has an outer diameter about equal to the nominal inner diameter.   
     
     
         9 . The unitary downhole anchor of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of wickers defined on the slip bank. 
     
     
         10 . The unitary downhole anchor of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of wickers deformably engage the casing upon the application of a force to the slip assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The unitary downhole anchor of  claim 8 , wherein the groove is a fracture channel. 
     
     
         12 . The unitary downhole anchor of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of wickers is integrally formed from the slip ring. 
     
     
         13 . An evenly setting anchor apparatus for anchoring a downhole tool in a well, the well having a casing secured therein, the apparatus comprising:
 a mandrel;   at least one slip assembly positioned on the mandrel, the slip assembly having at least one slip ring and at least one slip wedge, wherein each slip ring has a plurality of radially expandable slip banks;   a plurality of wickers defined on each of the slip banks, wherein each the wicker has a cutting edge extending therefrom, wherein the wickers are positioned to evenly set against an inner wall of the casing wall in response to an input force.   
     
     
         14 . The evenly setting anchor apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the casing has an inner diameter and the slip ring has an outer diameter that is about equal to the inner diameter. 
     
     
         15 . The evenly setting anchor apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the slip ring is a unitary slip ring. 
     
     
         16 . The evenly setting anchor apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the slip banks further comprise at least one circumferential pair of slip banks having a groove longitudinally positioned therebetween. 
     
     
         17 . The evenly setting anchor apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the groove defines a fracture channel. 
     
     
         18 . The evenly setting anchor apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein each of the wickers evenly set against the casing inner wall thereby deformably engaging the casing inner wall. 
     
     
         19 . A downhole tool anchoring apparatus for use in high-pressure wells, the high-pressure well having a casing and the casing having an inner diameter, the anchoring apparatus comprising:
 a mandrel;   a slip assembly positioned on the mandrel, the slip assembly having at least one slip ring; and   a slip bank defined on the slip ring, wherein the slip bank has at least one wicker integrally formed therewith, the wicker being designed to engage and anchor the downhole tool within the casing in the high-pressure well.   
     
     
         20 . The anchoring apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the high-pressure well has a pressure between about 8,000 pounds per square inch (about 55 megapascals) and about 12,000 pounds per square inch (about 83 megapascals). 
     
     
         21 . The anchoring apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the slip ring has an outer diameter about equal to the inner diameter of the casing. 
     
     
         22 . The anchoring apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the outer diameter is about 1/16 of an inch or less than the inner diameter. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the wicker has a cutting edge defined thereon and extends radially outward.