US 11,891,868 B2
Extrusion ball actuated telescoping lock mechanism
Jason Cullum, League City, TX (US); and Andres Sosa, Spring, TX (US)
Assigned to BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Jason Cullum, League City, TX (US); and Andres Sosa, Spring, TX (US)
Filed on Nov. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/538,898.
Prior Publication US 2023/0167697 A1, Jun. 1, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 23/04 (2006.01); E21B 33/12 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 23/0413 (2020.05) [E21B 33/12 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of performing an operation in a borehole, comprising:
conveying an assembly in the borehole, the assembly including a retrieving head rigidly coupled to a plug in a locked configuration, the retrieving head including a lock disposed therein comprising a housing having a bore, a mandrel movable within the bore, a ball seat in the bore, and a snap ring, wherein the ball seat is secured to the housing at a first seat location when the assembly is in the locked configuration and the snap ring is disposed in a groove of the housing when the ball seat is at the first seat location, the snap ring wrapped around the ball seat and against a ridge of the mandrel to prevent axial motion of the mandrel;
dropping a ball through the assembly to seat at the ball seat, wherein a fluid pressure created at the ball moves the ball seat from the first seat location to a second seat location within the housing to place the assembly in an unlocked configuration, wherein moving the ball seat from the first seat location allows the snap ring to collapse radially inward and out of the groove to free the mandrel for movement within the housing; and
shifting the mandrel to allow the retrieving head to move axially in the unlocked configuration.