Method and Apparatus for providing a plug with a 2-steps expansion activated by cup and untethered object

Abstract

A plug assembly includes an expandable assembly, a locking ring and a cup. The expandable assembly is adapted to be deformed radially over the locking ring and the cup. The locking ring has a stopping inner surface. The plug assembly is used with one or more untethered objects, the untethered objects having an outer surface adapted to couple with the cup, and the cup having an outer surface adapted to couple with the stopping inner surface of the locking ring. The combination of cup and untethered objects is also adapted to contact an inner surface of the plug assembly and, using well fluid pressure, to apply forces to the plug assembly. The forces cause the longitudinal movement of the cup and untethered objects while contacting the inner surface of the plug assembly until the cup contacts the stopping inner surface of the locking ring.

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         22 . A plugging apparatus, for use inside a tubing string containing well fluid, comprising:
 a plug assembly including:
 an expandable assembly, comprising a continuous sealing portion and a gripping portion, 
 a locking ring, 
 a cup 
 wherein the expandable assembly includes a flared inner surface, 
 wherein the locking ring includes a flared outer surface, a stopping inner surface, and a flared portion, 
 wherein the flared portion of the locking ring includes a flared inner surface positioned opposite of the flared outer surface, 
 wherein the cup includes a flared outer surface, a stopping outer surface and multiple identical stopping inner surfaces, 
 wherein the flared outer surface of the locking ring is contacting the flared inner surface of the expandable assembly, 
 wherein the flared outer surface of the cup is contacting the flared inner surface of the locking ring, 
 wherein the stopping outer surface of the cup is adapted to couple with the stopping inner surface of the locking ring; 
 wherein the locking ring includes a flared outer surface and a stopping inner surface, 
 wherein the flared inner surface of the expandable assembly is contacting the flared outer surface of the locking ring, and 
 wherein the expandable assembly is adapted to be deformed radially; 
   multiple identical untethered objects,
 wherein the multiple identical untethered objects include each an outer surface adapted to couple with the multiple identical stopping inner surfaces of the cup and, using well fluid pressure, to apply forces to the plug assembly to cause:
 the radial deformation of the flared portion of the locking ring, 
 the radial deformation of the continuous sealing portion of the expandable assembly, 
 the contact of an internal surface of the tubing string with the continuous sealing portion of the expandable assembly, 
 the longitudinal movement of the cup while contacting the inner surface of the locking ring until the stopping outer surface of the cup contacts the stopping inner surface of the locking ring, and 
 the penetration of the internal surface of the tubing string at least at one point with the gripping portion of the expandable assembly. 
 
   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising a back-pushing ring and a retrievable setting tool, wherein the retrievable setting tool is adapted to displace the back-pushing ring causing the radial deformation of the expandable assembly over the flared outer surface of the locking ring. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the retrievable setting tool includes a mandrel and multiple rods,
 wherein the mandrel has a surface including one or more of annular, conical, and spherical portions,   wherein the mandrel contacts the inner surface of the locking ring with the surface including one or more of annular, conical, and spherical portions,   wherein the number of rods relate to the number of untethered objects and corresponding number of stopping inner surfaces of the cup,   wherein the multiple rod couples to the back-pushing ring with multiple preset load-shearing devices.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the,
 wherein the retrievable setting tool is configured to be retrieved, after the radial expansion of the expandable assembly   wherein the multiple untethered objects are included inside the retrievable setting tool,   wherein the multiple untethered objects are released from the retrievable setting tool after the radial expansion of the expandable assembly and before the retrieval of the retrievable setting tool.