Slips with internal buttons

Abstract

A slip for use in a downhole tool that includes internal buttons on an internal surface of the slip that engages a setting cone. The internal buttons may be made of a hard material, such as a ceramic, among others, to increase the coefficient of friction between the slip and the cone when the downhole tool is set.

1 . A slip, comprising:
 an outer surface enabled to engage a wellbore surface; and   an inner surface enabled to be engaged by a setting cone of a downhole tool, wherein the inner surface includes at least one inner button enabled to contact the setting cone when the setting cone engages the inner surface.   
     
     
         2 . The slip of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface includes at least one outer button enabled to contact the wellbore surface. 
     
     
         3 . The slip of  claim 1 , wherein the inner button comprises a material that has a higher coefficient of friction than the coefficient of friction of the inner surface of the slip when in contact with the setting cone. 
     
     
         4 . The slip of  claim 3 , wherein the inner surface of the slip in the downhole tool is parallel to the setting cone. 
     
     
         5 . The slip of  claim 1 , wherein an exposed surface of the inner button facing the setting cone is not parallel with the setting cone. 
     
     
         6 . The slip of  claim 1 , wherein the setting cone comprises a metal and the inner button comprises a non-metal. 
     
     
         7 . The slip of  claim 1 , wherein the inner button comprises a composite material including at least one non-metal. 
     
     
         8 . The slip of  claim 1 , wherein the inner button comprises a metal. 
     
     
         9 . The slip of  claim 1 , wherein the inner button is substantially cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         10 . The slip of  claim 1 , wherein the inner button is shaped substantially as a polygonal prism. 
     
     
         11 . The slip of  claim 1 , wherein an exposed surface of the inner button that faces a surface of the setting cone is not parallel with the surface of the setting cone. 
     
     
         12 . The slip of  claim 1 , wherein an exposed surface of the inner button that faces a surface of the setting cone is parallel with the surface of the setting cone. 
     
     
         13 . The slip of  claim 1 , wherein the wellbore surface is a casing. 
     
     
         14 . A downhole tool, comprising:
 a setting cone enabled to engage a plurality of slips located circumferentially about the setting cone when the downhole tool is set; and   wherein the slips further comprise:   
       an external surface enabled to engage a casing when the downhole tool is set; and 
       an internal surface enabled to engage the setting cone when the downhole tool is set;
 wherein at least one of the slips further comprises: 
 
       the internal surface of the slip including at least one internal button enabled to contact the setting cone when the downhole tool is set. 
     
     
         15 . The downhole tool of  claim 14 , wherein the external surface of the slip includes at least one exterior button enabled to contact the casing. 
     
     
         16 . The downhole tool of  claim 14 , wherein the internal button comprises a material that has a higher coefficient of friction than the coefficient of friction of the internal surface of the slip when in contact with the setting cone. 
     
     
         17 . The downhole tool of  claim 14 , wherein the setting cone comprises a metal, and the internal button comprises a non-metal. 
     
     
         18 . The downhole tool of  claim 14 , wherein the internal button comprises a composite material including at least one non-metal. 
     
     
         19 . The downhole tool of  claim 14 , wherein the internal button comprises a metal. 
     
     
         20 . The downhole tool of  claim 14 , wherein the internal surface of the slip is parallel to the setting cone. 
     
     
         21 . The downhole tool of  claim 14 , wherein an exposed surface of the internal button that faces a surface of the setting cone is not parallel with the surface of the setting cone. 
     
     
         22 . The downhole tool of  claim 14 , wherein an exposed surface of the internal button that faces a surface of the setting cone is parallel with the surface of the setting cone. 
     
     
         23 . The downhole tool of  claim 14 , wherein the internal button is substantially cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         24 . The downhole tool of  claim 14 , wherein the internal button is shaped substantially as a polygonal prism. 
     
     
         25 . A method for engaging downhole tools in wellbores, the method comprising:
 running a downhole tool to a depth in a casing, wherein the downhole tool comprises a setting cone enabled to engage a plurality of slips located circumferentially about the setting cone when the downhole tool is set;   setting the downhole tool in the casing, including causing the plurality of slips to engage a setting cone, the slips further comprising:   
       an outer surface enabled to engage the casing when the downhole tool is set; and 
       an inner surface enabled to engage the setting cone when the downhole tool is set; 
       wherein at least one of the slips is an inner button slip further comprising:
 the inner surface of the slip including at least one inner button; and 
 
       wherein causing the plurality of slips to engage the setting cone further comprises:
 forcing the plurality of slips against the setting cone; and 
 
       wherein the plurality of slips include the at least one inner button slip, and wherein the inner button contacts the setting cone as the plurality of slips engage the casing. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of slips engaging the setting cone further comprises:
 at least one outer button located at the outer surface of the slip engaging the casing.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the inner button comprises a material that has a higher coefficient of friction than the coefficient of friction of the inner surface of the slip when in contact with the setting cone. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the setting cone comprises a metal, and the inner button comprises a non-metal. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the inner button comprises a composite material including at least one non-metal. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the inner button comprises a metal. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the inner surface of the slip is parallel to the setting cone in the downhole tool. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein an exposed surface of the inner button that faces a surface of the setting cone is not parallel with the surface of the setting cone. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein an exposed surface of the inner button that faces a surface of the setting cone is parallel with the surface of the setting cone. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the inner button is substantially cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the inner button is shaped substantially as a polygonal prism.