Downhole Tool having Slips Set by Stacked Rings

Abstract

An apparatus installs downhole in a surrounding tubular. A first shoulder on a mandrel of the apparatus is movable toward a second shoulder. A plurality of stacked rings are disposed about the mandrel and are spaced between the first and second shoulders. A first of the stacked rings decreases in spacing in response to the movement of the first shoulder toward the second shoulder, and a second of the stacked rings expands outward from the mandrel in response to the decrease in spacing. A slip disposed on the stacked rings is movable away from the mandrel toward the surrounding tubular in response to the outward expansion. The apparatus can be a plug, a bridge plug, a fracture plug, a packer, a permanent packer, a retrievable packer, a sump packer, and a sealbore packer. Additionally, the apparatus can include a completion assembly with packer and screen supported on the mandrel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus installing downhole in a surrounding tubular, the apparatus comprising:
 a mandrel;   first and second shoulders disposed on the mandrel, at least the first shoulder being movable toward the second shoulder;   a plurality of stacked rings disposed about the mandrel and spaced between the first and second shoulders, a first of the stacked rings decreasing in spacing in response to the movement of the first shoulder toward the second shoulder, a second of the stacked rings expanding outward from the mandrel in response to the decrease in spacing; and   a slip disposed on the stacked rings, the slip being movable away from the mandrel toward the surrounding tubular in response to the outward expansion.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is selected from the group consisting of a plug, a bridge plug, a fracture plug, a packer, a permanent packer, a retrievable packer, a sump packer, and a sealbore packer. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the slip comprises an outer surface having wickers engageable with the surrounding tubular. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the slip comprises a plurality of segments being arranged longitudinally relative to the mandrel and being disposed about the stacked rings. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first shoulder comprises a drive sleeve disposed on the mandrel and movable thereon. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a lock disposed between the drive sleeve and the mandrel, the lock permitting movement of the drive sleeve toward the second shoulder and preventing reverse movement of the drive sleeve away from the second shoulder. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second opposing comprises a sleeve fixed on the mandrel. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second of the stacked rings is spaced in between the first of the stacked rings, the second of stacked rings expanding outward from the mandrel in response to the decrease in spacing of the first of the stacked rings. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the slip is disposed about at least the second of the stacked rings, the slip being movable away from the mandrel toward the surrounding tubular in response to the outward expansion of the second of the stacked rings. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first of the stacked rings comprises at least one first ramped edge against which the second of the stacked rings adjacent thereto wedges. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the second of the stacked rings comprises at least one second ramped edge wedging against the at least one first ramped edge of the first of the stacked rings adjacent thereto. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the stacked rings comprises at least one of a split ring element defining a split; a segmented ring element having a plurality of segments; a full ring element defining a full circumference; an individual ring element disposed about the mandrel; a strip coiled about a portion of the mandrel; a compressible material; and a rigid material. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the stacked rings comprise first and second outer rings each having a third shoulder disposed adjacent one of the first and second shoulders disposed on the mandrel. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the slip comprises a central tab disposed on an inner surface of the slip toward the mandrel, and wherein the stacked rings comprise first and second inner rings each having a third shoulder disposed adjacent a side of the central tab. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first shoulder comprises a catch at least temporarily holding an end of the slip. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the stacked rings have different spacings between one another, whereby the second of the stacked rings at one of the first and second shoulders expands outward before the second of the stacked rings at the other of the first and second shoulder. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the stacked rings have different contact angles disposed adjacent one another, whereby the second of the stacked rings expands outward at one of the first and second shoulders before the second of the stacked rings at the other of the first and second shoulder. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a packing element disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first shoulder; and   a setting sleeve disposed on the mandrel adjacent the packing element, the setting sleeve movable on the mandrel toward the first shoulder and expanding the packing element outward toward the surrounding tubular.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a completion assembly installing in the surrounding tubular and having a distal end supported by the mandrel of the apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of:
 the distal end engages in a throughbore defined in the mandrel;   the distal end comprises a seal sealing in a throughbore of the mandrel;   the distal end comprises a latch latching to the mandrel; and   the distal end comprises a bull plug.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the completion assembly comprises:
 a packer disposed toward a proximal end of the completion assembly; and   a screen disposed on the assembly between the packer and the distal end.   
     
     
         22 . A method of installing an apparatus downhole in a surrounding tubular, the method comprising:
 deploying the apparatus in the surrounding tubular;   moving at least a first shoulder disposed on the apparatus toward a second shoulder disposed on the apparatus;   decreasing spacing of first of a plurality of stacked rings disposed on the apparatus between the first and second shoulders in response to the movement;   expanding second of the stacked rings outward from the apparatus in response to the decrease in spacing; and   engaging a slip disposed on the stacked rings toward the surrounding tubular in response to the outward expansion.