US 12,188,314 B1
Isolation plugs, ratchet systems, and methods to set a packing element
Evan Blott, Carrollton, TX (US); Donald Ray Smith, Duncan, OK (US); and Matthew Dexter, Carrollton, TX (US)
Assigned to HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Aug. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/234,363.
Int. Cl. E21B 23/06 (2006.01); E21B 33/124 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 23/06 (2013.01) [E21B 33/124 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An isolation plug, comprising:
a ratchet wedge having a set of threads formed along an interior surface of the ratchet wedge, the set of threads configured to permit movement in a first direction towards the ratchet wedge and to restrict movement in a second direction away from the ratchet wedge;
a ratchet shoe configured to shift in the first direction to ratchet into the ratchet wedge to engage the ratchet wedge, wherein the ratchet shoe comprises a corresponding set of threads that are configured to engage the set of threads of the ratchet wedge to permit the ratchet shoe to shift in the first direction, and restrict movement in the second direction once the set of threads are engaged with the corresponding set of threads;
a packing element positioned in between the ratchet shoe and the ratchet wedge, the packing element is configured to expand radially as the ratchet shoe is shifted in the first direction; and
a slip coupled to an exterior of the ratchet wedge, the slip configured to engage the ratchet wedge to hold the isolation plug in position, wherein the slip comprises a first set of teeth along an interior surface of the slip, and wherein the ratchet wedge comprises a corresponding second set of teeth configured to engage the first set of teeth to engage the slip to the ratchet wedge.