Frac Plug with Sealing Element Compression Mechanism

Abstract

A frac plug is provided. The frac plug may include a plug body, a slip, a sealing element, and a compression ring. The plug body may have a first end portion and a second end portion. The slip may be circumferentially disposed about the plug body and configured to expand and couple the frac plug to a tubular section. The sealing element may be circumferentially disposed about the plug body and configured to create a seal between the plug body and an inner surface of the tubular section. The compression ring may be circumferentially disposed about the plug body proximate to the first end portion and abut the sealing element. The compression ring may be configured to expand when shifted along the plug body to compress the sealing element and retain the sealing element in a compressed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A frac plug, comprising:
 a plug body having a first end portion and a second end portion;   a slip circumferentially disposed about the plug body, the slip configured to expand and couple the frac plug to a tubular section;   a sealing element circumferentially disposed about the plug body and configured to create a seal between the plug body and an inner surface of the tubular section; and   a compression ring circumferentially disposed about the plug body proximate to the first end portion and abutting the sealing element, the compression ring configured to expand when shifted along the plug body to compress the sealing element and retain the sealing element in a compressed position.   
     
     
         2 . The frac plug of  claim 1 , wherein the compression ring comprises a composite material. 
     
     
         3 . The frac plug of  claim 1 , wherein the compression ring comprises a ductile metal. 
     
     
         4 . The frac plug of  claim 1 , wherein the plug body comprises:
 a first sub; and   a second sub threadably engaged with the first sub.   
     
     
         5 . The frac plug of  claim 1 , wherein the slip comprises:
 a taper on an inner surface of the slip that extends along an axial length of the slip between a first end portion and a second end portion; and   a left-hand thread pattern defined by an outer surface of the slip and extending from the first end portion of the slip along a portion of the axial length.   
     
     
         6 . The frac plug of  claim 5 , wherein the slip further comprises at least one thread defined by the outer surface of the slip and adjacent the second axial end portion of the slip, the at least one thread having a crest that is angled away from the left-hand thread pattern. 
     
     
         7 . The frac plug of  claim 1 , wherein the compression ring comprises:
 an annular body having an inner surface; and   a plurality of beads embedded in the inner surface of the annular body and configured to increase friction between the compression ring and the plug body.   
     
     
         8 . The frac plug of  claim 7 , wherein the inner surface of the annular body defines a thread pattern and the plurality of beads are embedded between threads of the thread pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The frac plug of  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the compression ring is tapered. 
     
     
         10 . The frac plug of  claim 1 , wherein the compression ring is configured to shift along a tapered portion of an outer surface of the plug body. 
     
     
         11 . A frac plug comprising:
 a plug body, comprising:
 a first sub having a taper extending along a portion of an outer surface, and 
 a second sub threadably engaged with the first sub; 
   a slip circumferentially disposed about the plug body between the first sub and the second sub, the slip configured to expand and couple the frac plug to a tubular section;   a sealing element circumferentially disposed about the first sub, the sealing element configured to create a seal between the plug body and an inner surface of the tubular section; and   a compression ring having a tapered inner surface, the compression ring circumferentially disposed about the first sub and abutting the sealing element, and configured to expand when shifted along the taper of the first sub to compress the sealing element and retain the sealing element in a compressed position.   
     
     
         12 . The frac plug of  claim 11 , wherein the compression ring comprises a composite material. 
     
     
         13 . The frac plug of  claim 11 , wherein the compression ring comprises:
 an annular body having an inner surface; and   a plurality of beads embedded in the inner surface of the annular body and configured to increase friction between the compression ring and the first sub.   
     
     
         14 . The frac plug of  claim 13 , wherein the inner surface of the annular body defines a thread pattern and the plurality of beads are embedded between threads of the thread pattern. 
     
     
         15 . The frac plug of  claim 11 , wherein the second sub is threadably engaged with the first sub via a lock ring. 
     
     
         16 . The frac plug of  claim 11 , wherein the slip comprises:
 a taper on an inner surface of the slip that extends along an axial length of the slip between a first end portion and a second end portion; and   a left-hand thread pattern defined in an outer surface of the slip and extending from the first end portion of the slip along a portion of the axial length.   
     
     
         17 . The frac plug of  claim 16 , wherein the slip further comprises at least one thread defined in the outer surface of the slip and adjacent the second axial end portion of the slip, the at least one thread having a crest that is angled away from the left-hand thread pattern. 
     
     
         18 . A method for setting a frac plug within a tubular section disposed in a wellbore, the method comprising:
 disposing the frac plug on a running tool;   positioning the frac plug within the tubular section using the running tool;   compressing the frac plug with the running tool;   shifting a compression ring of the frac plug along an outer surface of the frac plug to expand the compression ring and compress a sealing element of the frac plug to create a seal between the frac plug and an inner surface of the tubular section, wherein friction between the compression ring and a plug body of the frac plug prevents movement of the compression ring away from the sealing element; and   engaging a left-hand thread pattern defined in an outer surface of a slip of the frac plug with the inner surface of the tubular section to retain the frac plug within the tubular section.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the frac plug further comprises a first sub and a second sub, and the method further comprises ratcheting the second sub along a threadable engagement with the first sub to hold the frac plug in a compressed position. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the frac plug further comprises a back-up ring, and the method further comprises expanding the back-up ring along a taper of the first sub such that the back-up ring contacts the tubular section and prevent extrusion of the sealing element.