Roll-out apparatus, method, and system

Abstract

A roll-out apparatus, method, and system is disclosed for deployment in a subterranean well at a setting location. The roll-out apparatus, method, and system includes a load ring and an energizing ring. The load ring may include an outer surface having an outer circumference and a slot extending through the entire wall thickness that follows a circuitous path from a front face to a back face of the load ring. The energizing ring includes an outer surface configured to contact an inner surface of the load ring to enlarge the outer circumference of the load ring in a radial direction. This causes the outer surface of the load ring to seal to an inner surface of the subterranean well at the setting location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for deployment in a subterranean well at a setting location, the apparatus comprising:
 a load ring assembly comprising a plurality of rings interlocked together, each ring comprising an outer surface having an outer circumference, an inner surface, a central axis, and a wall having a wall thickness, wherein the wall includes at least one slot extending through the entire wall thickness and wherein the outer surface of at least one ring is configured to grip and seal to the inner surface of a subterranean well;   an energizing ring having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a central axis, wherein the outer surface of the energizing ring is configured to contact an inner surface of the load ring assembly and to enlarge the outer circumference of the load ring assembly in a radial direction thereby causing the outer surface of at least one ring in the load ring assembly to grip and seal to an inner surface of the subterranean well at a setting location.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slot comprises a circuitous path and includes a first portion that runs parallel to the central axis at the front face, a second portion that runs parallel to the central axis at the back face, and a third portion that runs perpendicular to the central axis at one or more locations between the front face and the back face. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the outer surface of the load ring assembly is textured with at least a plurality of coaxial and parallel teeth. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the outer surface of the load ring assembly is textured and includes a particulate configured to increase the friction force between the load ring and the subterranean well. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of at least one of the rings within the load ring assembly includes a curved surface relative to the central axis of the ring. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one ring within the load ring assembly, the energizing ring, or both the at least one ring and energizing ring are made of a material that galvanically corrodes, disintegrates or dissolves as a result of an interaction with a fluid in a subterranean well. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one ring within the load ring assembly, the energizing ring, or both the at least one ring and energizing ring include a composite material. 
     
     
         8 . A method of installing an apparatus in a subterranean well comprising:
 positioning a load ring assembly and an energizing ring on a deployment device,
 a load ring assembly comprising a plurality of rings interlocked together, each ring comprising an outer surface having an outer circumference, an inner surface, a central axis, and a wall having a wall thickness, wherein the wall includes at least one slot extending through the entire wall thickness, and wherein the outer surface of at least one ring is configured to grip and seal to the inner surface of a subterranean well; 
 the energizing ring having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a central axis; 
   inserting the deployment device and the load ring assembly and the energizing ring into the subterranean well, the load ring assembly and the energizing ring positioned on the deployment device in a first orientation that allows the load ring assembly and the energizing ring and the deployment device to traverse the subterranean well;   delivering the deployment device, the load ring assembly, and the energizing ring to a setting location in the subterranean well; and   activating the deployment device to move the outer surface of the energizing ring to contact an inner surface of the load ring assembly to enlarge the outer circumference of the load ring assembly in a radial direction thereby causing the outer surface of at least one ring in the load ring assembly to grip and seal to an inner surface of the subterranean well at a setting location.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one slot comprises a circuitous path and includes a first portion that runs parallel to the central axis at the front face, a second portion that runs parallel to the central axis at the back face, and a third portion that runs perpendicular to the central axis at one or more locations between the front face and the back face. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least a part of the outer surface of the load ring assembly is textured with at least a plurality of coaxial and parallel teeth. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least part of the outer surface of the load ring assembly is textured and includes a particulate configured to increase the friction force between the load ring and the subterranean well. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the inner surface of at least one of the rings within the load ring assembly includes a curved surface relative to the central axis of the load ring. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least one ring within the load ring assembly, the energizing ring, or both the at least one ring and energizing ring are made of a material that galvanically corrodes, disintegrates or dissolves as a result of an interaction with a fluid in a subterranean well. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least one ring within the load ring assembly, the energizing ring, or both the at least one ring and energizing ring include a composite material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the deployment device includes a pivot point configured to reduce the friction force between the deployment device and the inner surface of the subterranean well. 
     
     
         16 . A subterranean well assembly comprising:
 a subterranean well having an inner surface at a setting location;   a load ring assembly comprising a plurality of rings interlocked together, each ring comprising an outer surface having an outer circumference, an inner surface, a central axis, and a wall having a wall thickness, wherein the wall includes at least one slot extending through the entire wall thickness, and wherein the outer surface of at least one ring is configured to grip and seal to the inner surface of the subterranean well;   an energizing ring having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a central axis, wherein the outer surface of the energizing ring is configured to contact an inner surface of the load ring assembly and to enlarge the outer circumference of the load ring assembly in a radial direction thereby causing the outer surface of at least one ring in the load ring assembly to grip and seal to the inner surface of the subterranean well at the setting location.   
     
     
         17 . The subterranean well assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the slot comprises a circuitous path and includes a first portion that runs perpendicular to the central axis at the front face, a second portion that runs parallel to the central axis at the back face, and a third portion that runs perpendicular to the central axis at one or more locations between the front face and the back face of the load ring. 
     
     
         18 . The subterranean well assembly of  claim 16 , wherein at least part of the outer surface of the load ring assembly is textured and includes a particulate configured to increase the friction force between the load ring and the subterranean well. 
     
     
         19 . The subterranean well assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the inner surface of at least on of the rings within the load ring assembly includes a curved surface relative to the central axis of the load ring. 
     
     
         20 . The subterranean well assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the inner surface of at least one of the rings within the load ring assembly includes a tapered surface relative to the central axis of the ring, and the outer surface of the energizing ring includes a convex surface relative to the central axis of the energizing ring. 
     
     
         21 . The subterranean well assembly of  claim 16 , wherein at least one ring within the load ring assembly, the energizing ring, or both the at least one ring and energizing ring are made of a material that galvanically corrodes, disintegrates or dissolves as a result of an interaction with a fluid in a subterranean well. 
     
     
         22 . The subterranean well assembly of  claim 16 , wherein at least one ring within the load ring assembly, the energizing ring, or both the at least one ring and energizing ring include a composite material.