Pressure enhanced frac plug

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a frac plug having an uphole side and a downhole side and having a first cone, wherein the first cone defines one or more chambers within the first cone; one or more pistons each partially inserted into the one or more chambers at a first end of the one or more pistons; a second cone connected to a second end of each of the one or more pistons; a slip barrel surrounding the first cone and the second cone.

1 . A frac plug having an uphole side and a downhole side, comprising a first cone, wherein the first cone defines one or more chambers within the first cone;
 one or more pistons each partially inserted into the one or more chambers at a first end of the one or more pistons;   a second cone connected to a second end of each of the one or more pistons;   a slip barrel surrounding the first cone and the second cone.   
     
     
         2 . The frac plug of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pistons each include a shear tab configured to resist further insertion of the one or more pistons into the one or more chambers up to a predetermined amount of force. 
     
     
         3 . The frac plug of  claim 2 , wherein each of the one or more chambers are initially set at atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The frac plug of  claim 3 , wherein the frac plug comprises a dissolvable material. 
     
     
         5 . The frac plug of  claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of slip buttons, wherein each of the plurality of slip buttons is embedded in the slip barrel at a first non-perpendicular angle. 
     
     
         6 . The frac plug of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of slip buttons comprise a first group of slip buttons proximate the uphole side of the frac plug, and a second group of slip buttons proximate the downhole side of the frac plug; and further wherein the first group of slip buttons are embedded at the first non-perpendicular angle, and the second group of slip buttons are embedded at a second non-perpendicular angle. 
     
     
         7 . A method of running and setting a frac plug at a desired location in a casing within a wellbore, comprising the steps of:
 providing a first cone and a second cone of the frac plug situated at a distance from each other; wherein the first cone comprises one or more chambers defined within the first cone, and wherein the second cone comprises one or more pistons partially inserted into the one or more chambers;   setting each of the one or more chambers at a predetermined pressure;   preventing the one or more pistons from further engaging with the one or more chambers via a shear tab on each of the one or more pistons;   and providing a slip barrel surrounding the first cone and the second cone.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:
 actuating a setting tool connected to the frac plug;   shearing the shear tab of each of the one or more pistons;   decreasing the distance between the first cone and the second cone; and   driving the one or more pistons further into the one or more chambers after shearing the shear tab of each of the one or more pistons.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the step of:
 anchoring the frac plug into the casing via the slip barrel. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of
 driving the one or more pistons further into the one or more chambers via a hydrostatic pressure of the wellbore, wherein the hydrostatic pressure is greater than the predetermined pressure of the one or more chambers;   further decreasing the distance between the first cone and the second cone; and   boosting the anchoring of the frac plug into the casing;   wherein the steps of driving the one or more pistons further into the one or more chambers, further decreasing the distance between the first cone and the second cone, and boosting the anchoring of the frac plug into the casing occur after the step of actuating the setting tool.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of
 dissolving the frac plug with a dissolving media; and   accelerating the step of dissolving the frac plug via exposing an increased surface area of each of the one or more chambers to the dissolving media.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of: creating an isolation zone via a sealing element connected to the slip barrel, wherein the sealing element seals against the casing. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of: releasing a ball of the frac plug; and retrieving the ball from the wellbore while preventing the frac plug from releasing from the casing via the slip barrel anchored into the casing. 
     
     
         14 . A method of running and setting a frac plug at a desired location in a casing within a wellbore, comprising the steps of:
 setting a frac plug within the casing; and   after the frac plug is set, boosting a retention of the frac plug by enabling relative motion to occur between a first cone and a second cone.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the first cone defines at least one chamber and the second cone comprises at least one piston extending from the second cone; and further comprising the step of inserting the at least one piston into the at least one chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one piston comprises a shoulder and comprising the step of preventing the insertion of the at least one piston past the shoulder up to a predetermined pressure. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the wellbore further comprises a hydrostatic pressure and wherein the at least one chamber comprises a chamber pressure;
 and further comprising the step of setting the chamber pressure lower than the hydrostatic pressure.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of setting the frac plug comprises the steps of: stroking a setting tool connected to the frac plug; overcoming the shoulder of the at least one piston and inserting the at least one piston past the shoulder into the at least one chamber; and anchoring the frac plug into the casing. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the difference between the hydrostatic pressure and the chamber pressure drive the at least one piston further into the at least one chamber. 
     
     
         20 . A frac plug having an uphole side and a downhole side, comprising
 a first frustoconical cone and a second frustoconical cone of the frac plug, wherein each frustoconical cone defines a top surface, and the top surface of the first frustoconical cone is situated facing the top surface of the second frustoconical cone, and wherein the top surface of the first frustoconical cone and the top surface of the second frustoconical cone are separated at a distance during a run-in position of the frac plug;   a plurality of chambers defined in the first frustoconical cone;   a plurality of pistons extending from the top surface of the second frustoconical cone, wherein each of the plurality of pistons is partially inserted into each of the plurality of chambers of the first frustoconical cone during the run-in position of the frac plug;   a slip barrel surrounding the first frustoconical cone and the second frustoconical cone.   
     
     
         21 . The frac plug of  claim 20 , wherein each of the plurality of pistons comprises a shoulder along each of the plurality of pistons, wherein each of the plurality of pistons is partially inserted into each of the plurality of chambers up to the shoulder during the run-in position of the frac plug. 
     
     
         22 . The frac plug of  claim 21 , further comprising a first set position of the frac plug, wherein the first set position of the frac plug comprises each of the plurality of the pistons inserted further into each of the plurality of chambers beyond the shoulder of each of the plurality of pistons. 
     
     
         23 . The frac plug of  claim 22 , further comprising a second set position of the frac plug, wherein the distance between the first frustoconical cone and the second frustoconical cone is decreased; and further wherein the second set position of the frac plug comprises the plurality of pistons inserted even further into each of the plurality of chambers as compared with the plurality of pistons in the first set position of the frac plug. 
     
     
         24 . The frac plug of  claim 20 , further comprising
 a second plurality of pistons extending from the top surface of the first frustoconical cone; and   a second plurality of chambers defined in the second frustoconical cone;   wherein each of the second plurality of pistons is partially inserted into each of the second plurality of chambers during the run-in position of the frac plug.