Slip system for retrievable packer

Abstract

The present invention provides a slip system for frictionally engaging a temporarily set body, such as a packer or a whipstock, within a wellbore. The slip system comprises (1) a plurality of slips; (2) a tubular slip ring for holding the individual slips at an end; and (3) a tubular cone body having beveled surfaces for receiving the individual slips when the slip system is actuated. Each slip has a first end that defines a tail, and a second opposite end that defines a slip body. The tail and the slip body are integral, meaning that the intermediate shank portion of prior art slips is essentially removed. In its place, a dovetail geometry is provided within the tail, creating an increased tail width at the end of the tail opposite the slip body. The slip ring has a plurality of pockets, with each pocket being dimensioned to receive the dovetailed configuration of the tail on the respective slips.

1 . A slip system for use in a retrievable downhole tool, the slip system comprising: 
 a plurality of slips, each slip having a first end defining a slip body, and a second end defining a tail, each of the respective tails having a generally dovetail configuration;    a tubular slip ring, the slip ring having a plurality of pockets configured to receive a respective tail of an individual slip; and    a tubular cone body, the cone body having a plurality of beveled surfaces configured to receive a respective slip body of an individual slip when the slip system is actuated.    
     
     
         2 . The slip system of  claim 1 , wherein the pockets and the respective tails of the slips have mating beveled side edges.  
     
     
         3 . The slip system of  claim 2 , wherein the side edges of the tails of the slips are beveled to face upwardly, while the side edges of the pockets are beveled to face downwardly.  
     
     
         4 . The slip system of  claim 3 , wherein the lower edges of the tails of the slips are beveled to face downwardly, while the lower edges of the pockets are beveled to face upwardly.  
     
     
         5 . The slip system of  claim 1 , wherein the retrievable downhole tool is a packer.  
     
     
         6 . The slip system of  claim 1 , wherein the retrievable downhole tool is a whipstock.  
     
     
         7 . A slip system for use in a retrievable downhole tool, the slip system comprising: 
 a plurality of slips, each slip having a first end defining a slip body, and a second end defining a tail, each of the respective tails having a progressively greater width opposite the slip body; and    a cone body, the cone body having a plurality of beveled surfaces configured to slidably receive a respective slip body of an individual slip when the slip system is actuated.    
     
     
         8 . The slip system of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a slip ring, the slip ring having a plurality of pockets configured to receive a respective tail of an individual slip.    
     
     
         9 . The slip system of  claim 8 , wherein the tail of each slip defines an essentially dovetail configuration.  
     
     
         10 . The slip system of  claim 9 , wherein the slip body of each respective slip has an outer surface defining a plurality of teeth for releasably engaging a surrounding tubular body.  
     
     
         11 . The slip system of  claim 10 , wherein the slip body of each respective slip further comprises opposing sides having upwardly beveled surfaces received within the plurality of beveled surfaces of the cone body.  
     
     
         12 . The slip system of  claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the slip body further comprises a flat portion approximately 0.010″ below that of the teeth.