Frac Plug Having a Cover

Abstract

A frac plug having a cover and including one or more expansion components configured to expand during setting of the frac plug within a section of a tubular disposed in a wellbore. The cover may be disposed circumferentially about at least the one or more expansion components of the frac plug. The cover may be configured to prevent the one or more expansion components from expanding during deployment of the frac plug in the tubular and to permit the one or more expansion components to expand during setting of the frac plug in the tubular.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A frac plug, comprising:
 a first sub having a taper extending along a first portion of an outer surface thereof;   a second sub that is threadably engaged with the first sub;   a slip circumferentially disposed about the taper of the outer surface of the first sub and adjacent to the second sub;   a sealing element circumferentially disposed about the first sub; and   a cover disposed circumferentially about at least one of the slip and the sealing element and configured to prevent the at least one of the slip and the sealing element from expanding during deployment of the frac plug in a tubular and to permit the at least one of the slip and the sealing element to expand during setting of the frac plug in the tubular.   
     
     
         2 . The frac plug of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is disposed circumferentially about the slip and configured to prevent the slip from expanding during deployment of the frac plug in the tubular and to permit the slip to expand during setting of the frac plug in the tubular. 
     
     
         3 . The frac plug of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is disposed circumferentially about the slip and the sealing element and is configured to prevent the slip and the sealing element from expanding during deployment of the frac plug in the tubular and to permit the slip and the sealing element to expand during setting of the frac plug in the tubular. 
     
     
         4 . The frac plug of  claim 1 , further comprising a back-up ring disposed between the first sub and the second sub. 
     
     
         5 . The frac plug of  claim 4 , wherein the cover is disposed circumferentially about the slip and the back-up ring and is configured to prevent the slip and the back-up ring from expanding during deployment of the frac plug in the tubular and to permit the slip and the back-up ring to expand during setting of the frac plug in the tubular. 
     
     
         6 . The frac plug of  claim 4 , wherein the cover is disposed circumferentially about the slip, the sealing element, and the back-up ring and is configured to prevent the slip, the sealing element, and the back-up ring from expanding during deployment of the frac plug in the tubular and to permit the slip, the sealing element, and the back-up ring to expand during setting of the frac plug in the tubular. 
     
     
         7 . The frac plug of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is constructed from a plastic material. 
     
     
         8 . The frac plug of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is constructed from a rubber material. 
     
     
         9 . The frac plug of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is a shrink tube. 
     
     
         10 . A frac plug, comprising:
 a plug body;   a plurality of expansion components axially spaced from one another and circumferentially disposed about the plug body, each of the expansion components configured to expand radially outward from the plug body in response to a compressive force applied by a setting tool; and   a cover disposed circumferentially about at least one expansion component of the plurality of expansion components and configured to prevent the at least one expansion component from expanding during deployment of the frac plug in a tubular and to permit the at least one expansion component to expand during setting of the frac plug in the tubular with the setting tool.   
     
     
         11 . The frac plug of  claim 10 , wherein the cover is disposed circumferentially about each expansion component of the plurality of expansion components. 
     
     
         12 . The frac plug of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of expansion components includes:
 a slip;   a sealing element; and   a back-up ring disposed between the slip and the sealing element.   
     
     
         13 . The frac plug of  claim 12 , wherein the cover is disposed circumferentially about the slip and the back-up ring. 
     
     
         14 . The frac plug of  claim 10 , wherein the cover is constructed from a plastic material or a rubber material. 
     
     
         15 . A method for setting a frac plug within a tubular section, the method comprising:
 covering at least one or more expansion components of the frac plug with a cover;   disposing the frac plug on a running tool;   positioning the frac plug within the tubular section using the running tool; and   compressing the frac plug with the running tool such that the cover is segmented and the one or more expansion components engage with the tubular section, retaining the frac plug in position within the tubular section.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more expansion components include at least one of a slip, a sealing element, and a back-up ring. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more expansion components include the slip, the sealing element, and the back-up ring. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more expansion components include the slip and the back-up ring. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the cover is constructed from a plastic material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the cover is constructed from a rubber material.