US 12,270,259 B2
Snake-skin-inspired in-hole bow spring centralizer
J. David Frost, Atlanta, GA (US); and John A. Huntoon, Atlanta, GA (US)
Assigned to Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on May 20, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/668,487.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/467,504, filed on May 18, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0384608 A1, Nov. 21, 2024
Int. Cl. E21B 17/10 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 17/1028 (2013.01) 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An in-ground mechanical bow spring centralizer device, the centralizer device comprising:
a body collar extending circumferentially around a central axis and defining a longitudinal channel, the central axis extending from an up-hole direction of the centralizer device towards a downhole direction of the centralizer device;
a tail collar extending circumferentially around the central axis to further define the longitudinal channel, the tail collar spaced apart from the body collar in the up-hole direction of the centralizer device;
a body extending between the body collar and the tail collar, the body including a first portion coupled to the body collar, a second portion coupled to the tail collar, and a bow portion coupled to and between the first portion and the second portion, the bow portion extending radially outward from the central axis to define at least one apex, wherein the body further defines at least one opening; and
a tail extending (i) longitudinally from the tail collar or the body collar and (ii) radially outward from the central axis, the tail comprising a tail tip at a distal end thereof, wherein the tail tip is angled such that (i) during movement of the centralizer device in the downhole direction of a hole, the tail tip does not penetrate a surrounding substrate of the hole, and (ii) during movement of the centralizer device in the up-hole direction of the hole, the tail tip penetrates the surrounding substrate to resist movement in the up-hole direction.