Well barrier apparatus and associated methods

Abstract

A barrier forming apparatus is deployable through a conduit component in a well. The apparatus has a snap latch that removably couples to a work string. A mandrel element in the apparatus is selectively moveable with the coupling element. A plurality of locator dogs on the apparatus are spring biased and are activated when pressure is applied to a piston in the apparatus, which release the locator dogs. Once activated, the locator dogs engage a first grove the in the conduit component. When the work string is pulled up while the apparatus is held by the locator dogs, a plurality of locking dogs are activated by movement of a mandrel element caused by the work string. The locking dogs engage second grooves in the conduit component. Continued pulling of the work string moves a cone attached to a distal end of the mandrel element, and the moving cone deforms a barrier element positioned between an end of the apparatus' housing and the cone. The deformed barrier element forms a barrier in the conduit component between upper and lower completions. Removal of the barrier is achieved by reversing the steps. The apparatus can be used to isolate an expandable sand screen section below the conduit component.

1 . A barrier forming apparatus deployable through a conduit in a well, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having a first end, a second end, and a side, the side defining at least one first slot;   a coupler positioned at the first end of the housing and removably coupling to a work string;   a mandrel positioned in the housing and moveable with the coupler, the mandrel having a distal end extending beyond the second end of the housing;   at least one first dog positioned between the mandrel and the housing and being moveable between a retracted position and an extended position within the at least one first slot by movement of the mandrel; and   a barrier element positioned between the second end of the housing and the distal end of the mandrel and being deformable by movement of the distal end of the mandrel towards the second end of the housing.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the mandrel comprises a body for at least partially expanding an expandable sand screen in the well. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the coupler comprises a snap latch latchable to a complimentary element on the work string. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier element comprises an elastomeric sleeve positioned about a portion of the mandrel. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the elastomeric sleeve comprises edge portions with a greater Durometer hardness than a central portion. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mandrel comprises a narrow portion and a wide portion, the mandrel element being moveable to a first position in which the narrow portion is adjacent the at least one first dog and the at least one first dog is moveable to the retracted position in the at least one first slot, the mandrel being movable to a second position in which the wide portion is adjacent the at least one first dog and the at least one first dog is movable to the extended position in the at lease one first slot. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one first dog in the extended position is engageable with at least one first groove defined in an inner passage of the conduit. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one second dog positioned between the mandrel and the housing, the housing defining at least one second slot, the at least one second dog being movable between a retracted position and an extended position within the at least one second slot. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one second dog in the extended position lockably engages at least one groove defined in an inner passage of the conduit in a first direction toward the first end of the housing. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a piston movable from a first position to a second position on the mandrel by pressure communicated from the work string coupled to the coupler, the piston in the first position engaging the at least one second dog in the retracted position, the piston in the second position disengaging the at least one second dog; and   a biasing element biasing the at least one second dog from the retracted position toward the extended position within the at least one second slot.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the mandrel defines a central bore communicating with the work string and defines a passage communicating from the central bore to an outside surface of the mandrel, the mandrel having a first seal on one side of the passage and engaging the piston, the piston having a second seal engaging the mandrel on another side of the passage. 
   
   
       12 . A barrier forming system for a well, the system comprising:
 a conduit deployable in the well, the conduit having an inner passage and defining at least one first groove in the inner passage; and   a plug deployable through the conduit, the plug at least including:
 a housing having a first end, a second end, and a side, the side defining at least one first slot, 
 a coupler positioned at the first end of the housing and removably coupling to a work string, 
 a mandrel positioned in the housing and moveable with the coupler, the mandrel having a distal end extending beyond the second end of the housing, 
 at least one first dog positioned between the mandrel and the housing and being moveable between a retracted position and an extended position within the at least one first slot by movement of the mandrel, the at least one first dog in the extended position being engagable with the at least one first groove in the inner passage of the conduit, and 
 a barrier element positioned between the second end of the housing and the distal end of the mandrel, the barrier element being deformable by movement of the distal end of the mandrel towards the second end of the housing to engage the inner passage of the conduit. 
   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the mandrel element comprises a narrow portion and a wide portion, the mandrel element being moveable to a first position in which the narrow portion is adjacent the at least one first dog and the at least one first dog is movable to the retracted position in the at least one first slot, the mandrel being moveable to a second position in which the wide portion is adjacent the at least one first dog and the at least one first dog is movable to the extended position in the at lease one first slot. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a first lock positioned on the mandrel and engageable with the housing when the mandrel is in the first position; and   a second lock positioned on the mandrel and engageable with the housing when the mandrel is in the second position.   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one second dog positioned in at least one second slot defined in the housing and movable between a retracted position and an extended position in the at least one second slot. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the conduit defines at least one second groove in the inner passage, and wherein the at least one second dog in the extended position lockably engages the at least one second groove in a first direction toward the first end of the housing. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a piston movable from a first position to a second position on the mandrel by pressure communicated from the work string coupled to the coupler, the piston in the first position engaging the at least one second dog in the retracted position, the piston in the second position disengaging the at least one second dog; and   a biasing element biasing the at least one second dog from the retracted position toward the extended position within the at least one second slot.   
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the mandrel defines a central bore communicating with the work string and defines a passage communicating from the central bore to an outside surface of the mandrel, the mandrel having a first seal on one side of the passage and engaging the piston, the piston having a second seal engaging the mandrel on another side of the passage. 
   
   
       19 . A well barrier method comprising the steps of:
 installing a conduit in the well, the conduit defining one or more inner grooves;   deploying a plug in the well on an end of a work string;   engaging one or more dogs on the outside of the plug in the one or more inner grooves to hold the plug in the conduit;   deforming a barrier element against the conduit by pulling up on the work string; and   disconnecting the end of the work string from the plug.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein installing the conduit comprises:
 installing the conduit below a liner hanger in the well, and   installing an expandable sand screen below the conduit.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein deploying the plug in the well on the end of the work string further comprises using a cone shaped portion on a distal end of the plug to at least partially expand the expandable sand screen. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein engaging the one or more dogs on the outside of the plug in the one or more inner grooves to hold the plug in the conduit comprises:
 activating at least one of the one or more dogs on the outside of the plug to engage at least one of the one or more grooves by applying fluid pressure through the work string.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein activating the at least one dog comprises:
 biasing the at least one dog after applying fluid pressure; and   lockably engaging the at least one biased dog against the at least one groove in only a first direction.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein deforming the barrier element against the conduit by pulling up on the work string comprises deforming the barrier element between an end of a mandrel of the plug and a portion of a housing of the plug, the mandrel being movable relative to the housing by the pulling up of the work string. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein deforming the barrier element against the conduit by pulling up on the work string comprises:
 locking a movable mandrel within the plug; and   locking the one or more dogs in the one or more inner grooves with the locked movable mandrel.