Multiple Ramp Compression Packer

Abstract

Systems and methods for remotely setting a downhole device. The system includes a base pipe having inner and outer radial surfaces and defining one or more pressure ports extending between the inner and outer radial surfaces. An internal sleeve is arranged against the inner radial surface and slidable between a closed position, where the internal sleeve covers the one or more pressure ports, and an open position, where the one or more pressure ports are exposed to an interior of the base pipe. A trigger housing is disposed about the base pipe and defines an atmospheric chamber in fluid communication with the one or more pressure ports. A piston port cover is disposed within the atmospheric chamber and moveable between blocking and exposed positions. A wellbore device is used to engage and move the internal sleeve into the open position by applying predetermined axial force to the internal sleeve.

1 . A system for sealing a wellbore annulus, comprising:
 a base pipe having inner and outer radial surfaces and defining an elongate orifice;   an opening seat arranged against the inner radial surface and having a setting pin coupled thereto and extending radially through the elongate orifice, the setting pin being configured to axially translate in a first direction within the elongate orifice as the opening seat axially translates;   a piston arranged on the outer radial surface and being coupled to the setting pin such that axial translation of the opening seat correspondingly moves the piston, the piston having a piston biasing shoulder;   a lower shoe extending about the outer radial surface and having a mandrel biasing shoulder;   a packer disposed about the outer radial surface and interposing the piston and the lower shoe, the packer having a first packer element adjacent the piston and a second packer element adjacent the lower shoe; and   a wellbore device disposed within the base pipe and configured to engage and move the opening seat, wherein as the opening seat axially translates in the first direction the first and second packer elements are compressed against the piston and mandrel biasing shoulders, respectively, and the first packer element forms a first seal in the annulus and the second packer element forms a second seal in the annulus, and   wherein the first and second seals define a cavity therebetween that traps fluid therein and provides a hydraulic seal.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a piston ramp defined by the piston, the piston ramp being slidingly engaged with the first packer element; and   a mandrel ramp defined by the lower shoe, the mandrel ramp being slidingly engaged with the second packer element.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a ramped collar arranged about the base pipe and interposing the first and second packer elements, the ramped collar having a first ramp and an opposing second ramp, and a first biasing shoulder and an opposing second biasing shoulder, wherein the first ramp is arranged axially adjacent the first packer element and the second ramp is arranged axially adjacent the second packer element. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein axial movement of the piston in the first direction forces the first and second packer elements into engagement with the first and second biasing shoulders, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an upper shoe disposed about the base pipe;   a shear ring axially offset from the upper shoe and disposed about the base pipe, the shear ring housing one or more shear pins that extend partially into the base pipe;   a lock ring housing coupled to the shear ring and housing a lock ring, the lock ring defining a plurality of ramped locking teeth; and   a guide sleeve interposing and coupled to both the lock ring housing and the piston.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the lock ring slidingly engages the outer surface of the base pipe as the piston axially translates, and the ramped locking teeth are adapted to engage corresponding teeth or grooves defined on the outer surface, thereby locking the lock ring and piston in their advanced axial position. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more shear pins prevent the piston from axially translating in the first direction until sheared by a force applied by the wellbore device to the opening seat. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wellbore device is a well plug. 
     
     
         10 . A method for sealing a wellbore annulus, comprising:
 engaging an opening seat with a wellbore device, the opening seat being movably arranged within a base pipe having inner and outer radial surfaces and defining an elongate orifice, the opening seat further having a setting pin coupled thereto and extending radially through the elongate orifice;   applying a predetermined axial force on the opening seat with the wellbore device and thereby axially moving the opening seat and the setting pin in a first direction;   moving in the first direction a piston arranged on the outer radial surface, the piston being coupled to the setting pin such that axial translation of the opening seat correspondingly moves the piston, wherein the piston has a piston biasing shoulder;   engaging and compressing a first packer element with the piston biasing shoulder and thereby forming a first seal within the wellbore annulus;   engaging and compressing a second packer element with a mandrel biasing shoulder and thereby forming a second seal within the wellbore annulus; and   forming a hydraulic seal in a cavity defined between the first and second seals.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein applying the predetermined axial force on the opening seat comprises applying fluid pressure against the wellbore device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising shearing one or more shear pins that secure the piston against axial translation in the first direction. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 slidingly engaging the first packer element with a piston ramp defined by the piston; and   slidingly engaging the second packer element with a mandrel ramp.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 engaging and further compressing the first packer element with a first shoulder defined on a ramped collar arranged about the base pipe and interposing the first and second packer elements; and   further engaging and further compressing the second packer element with a second shoulder defined on the ramped collar, wherein axial movement of the piston in the first direction forces the first and second packer elements into engagement with the first and second biasing shoulders, respectively.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein forming a hydraulic seal in the cavity further comprises pressurizing the cavity. 
     
     
         16 . A system for sealing a wellbore annulus, comprising:
 a base pipe having inner and outer radial surfaces and defining an elongate orifice;   an opening seat arranged against the inner radial surface and having a setting pin coupled thereto and extending radially through the elongate orifice, the setting pin being configured to axially translate in a first direction within the elongate orifice as the opening seat axially translates;   a piston arranged on the outer radial surface and being coupled to the setting pin such that axial translation of the opening seat correspondingly moves the piston, the piston having a piston biasing shoulder;   a lower shoe extending about the outer radial surface and having a mandrel biasing shoulder;   a first ramped collar arranged about the base pipe and interposing the piston and the lower shoe, the first ramped collar having a first ramp and an opposing second ramp, and a first biasing shoulder and an opposing second biasing shoulder;   a first packer element disposed about the base pipe and arranged between the piston and the first ramped collar;   a second packer element disposed about the base pipe and arranged between the lower shoe and the first ramped collar; and   a wellbore device disposed within the base pipe and configured to engage and move the opening seat, wherein as the opening seat axially translates in the first direction the first and second packer elements are compressed and the first packer element forms a first seal in the annulus and the second packer element forms a second seal in the annulus.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first packer element is configured to be compressed between the piston biasing shoulder and the first biasing shoulder, and the second packer element is compressible against the second biasing shoulder, the system further comprising:
 a third packer element disposed about the base pipe and interposing the lower shoe and the first ramped collar, the third packer element being configured to be compressed against the mandrel biasing shoulder to form a third seal in the annulus;   a first cavity defined between the first and second seals and providing a first hydraulic seal; and   a second cavity defined between the second and third seals and providing a second hydraulic seal.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first packer element is configured to be compressed between the piston biasing shoulder and the first biasing shoulder, and the second packer element is compressible against the second biasing shoulder, the system further comprising:
 a second ramped collar arranged about the base pipe and axially offset from the first ramped collar, the second ramped collar having a third ramp and an opposing fourth ramp, and a third biasing shoulder and an opposing fourth biasing shoulder;   a third packer element disposed about the base pipe and configured to be compressed by the third biasing shoulder to form a third seal in the annulus;   a fourth packer element disposed about the base pipe and interposing the second ramped collar and the lower shoe, the fourth packer element being configured to be compressed between the mandrel biasing shoulder and the fourth biasing shoulder to form a fourth seal in the annulus;   a first cavity defined between the first and second seals and providing a first hydraulic seal;   a second cavity defined between the second and third seals and providing a second hydraulic seal; and   a third cavity defined between the third and fourth seals and providing a third hydraulic seal.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first packer element is compressible against the piston biasing shoulder, and the second packer element is compressible against the second biasing shoulder, the system further comprising:
 a third packer element disposed about the base pipe axially adjacent the first packer element and configured to be compressed by the first biasing shoulder to form a third seal in the annulus;   a fourth packer element disposed about the base pipe axially adjacent the second packer element and configured to be compressed by the mandrel biasing shoulder to form a fourth seal in the annulus;   a first cavity defined between the first and third seals and providing a first hydraulic seal;   a second cavity defined between the second and third seals and providing a second hydraulic seal; and   a third cavity defined between the second and fourth seals and providing a third hydraulic seal.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first packer element is configured to be compressed between the piston biasing shoulder and the first biasing shoulder, and the second packer element is compressible against the second biasing shoulder, the system further comprising:
 a shoulder ramp disposed about the base pipe axially adjacent the second packer element, the shoulder ramp having a square shoulder, an opposing biasing shoulder, and a third ramp, the second packer element being compressible against the square shoulder;   a third packer element disposed about the base pipe axially adjacent the shoulder ramp and being configured to be compressed between the mandrel biasing shoulder and the opposing biasing shoulder of the shoulder ramp to form a third seal in the annulus;   a first cavity defined between the first and second seals and providing a first hydraulic seal; and   a second cavity defined between the second and third seals and providing a second hydraulic seal.   
     
     
         21 . A system for sealing a wellbore annulus, comprising:
 a base pipe having inner and outer radial surfaces;   a hydrostatic piston arranged within a hydrostatic chamber defined by a retainer element arranged about the base pipe, the retainer element having a retainer shoulder;   a compression sleeve arranged about the base pipe and coupled to the hydrostatic piston with a stem element extending from the hydrostatic piston, the compression sleeve having a sleeve shoulder;   first and second packer elements arranged about the base pipe and interposing the retainer element and the compression sleeve; and   a wellbore device disposed within the base pipe and configured to engage and move an opening seat arranged against the inner radial surface, wherein moving the opening seat triggers a pressure differential across the hydrostatic piston and forces the hydrostatic piston to pull the compression sleeve into contact with the second packer element and the retainer element into contact with the first packer element, and   wherein the first and second packer elements are compressed and form first and second seals, respectively, in the annulus and further define a cavity therebetween, the cavity being configured to trap fluid therein and provide a hydraulic seal.   
     
     
         22 . (canceled)