Anti-wear device for composite packers and plugs

Abstract

A downhole packer tool having components made essentially of non-metallic engineering grade plastic materials. The tool having an apparatus for anchoring the tool in an annular structure. The tool has a mandrel; a slip assembly positioned on the mandrel, the slip assembly having at least one spacer ring and a plurality of slip elements; and at least one wear resistant insert installed in an outer surface of the tool and extending outwardly therefrom whereby the at least insert button is abrasion resistant upon setting yet has favorable drillability characteristics upon drilling the tool from the wellbore.

1 . A packer tool comprising:
 a mandrel;   a packing assembly mounted on the mandrel;   an anchoring assembly mounted on the mandrel;   a retaining element mounted on the mandrel, and   a wear resistant insert mounted on the outer surface of one of the retaining elements.   
     
     
         2 . The packer tool of  claim 1  wherein the retaining element comprise a spacer ring and a muleshoe. 
     
     
         3 . The packer tool of  claim 2  wherein a wear resistant insert is mounted on the outer surface of the muleshoe. 
     
     
         4 . The packer tool of  claim 2  wherein a wear resistant insert is mounted on the outer surface of the spacer ring. 
     
     
         5 . The packer tool of  claim 2  wherein a wear resistant insert is mounted on both the outer surface of the muleshoe and the spacer ring. 
     
     
         6 . The packer tool of  claim 1  wherein the wear resistant insert comprises metallic-ceramic composite material. 
     
     
         7 . The packer tool of  claim 1  wherein the wear resistant insert comprises a zirconia ceramic compound. 
     
     
         8 . The packer tool of  claim 1  wherein the wear resistant insert comprises a drillable cast iron material. 
     
     
         9 . The packer tool of  claim 1  wherein the wear resistant insert comprises a titanium compound having a density ranging between about 5 to 7 grams per cubic centimeter. 
     
     
         10 . The packer tool of  claim 1  wherein the retaining element containing a wear resistant insert comprises engineering grade plastic material. 
     
     
         11 . The packer tool of  claim 1  wherein the wear resistant insert extends radially outward at least as far as the remaining portions of the tool. 
     
     
         12 . An improved packer tool for installation in the wellbore at a subterranean location, the plug having an upper end for being positioned in the wellbore closest to the wellhead and a lower end for being positioned furthest away from the wellhead, the plug comprising a tubular mandrel, a packing assembly comprising an annular member comprising deformable material, the annular member being of a size and shape such that when it is axially compressed it extends radially into contact with the wellbore, upper and lower opposed slip assemblies positioned on the mandrel, wherein the upper and lower slip assemblies each comprise an annular member with a wedge surface, an annular spacer ring and a plurality of slips located around the mandrel between an annular wedge surface and the annular shoulder of the slip support, the slips being of a size and shape that when the slip assemblies are axially compressed, the slips extend radially into contact with the wellbore, the packing assembly being positioned on the mandrel between the upper and lower opposed slip assemblies, components of the plug forming the outer surfaces comprise engineering grade plastic and, wherein the improvement comprises a plurality of wear resistant inserts installed on an outer surface of the plug so as to minimize abrasion damage to the plug from contact with the wellbore. 
     
     
         13 . The packer tool of  claim 12 , wherein the wear resistant inserts are made of a metallic-ceramic composite material. 
     
     
         14 . The packer tool of  claim 12 , comprising a muleshoe mounted on the mandrel and wherein wear resistant inserts are disposed in the muleshoe. 
     
     
         15 . The packer tool of  claim 12 , wherein wear resistant inserts are disposed in the outer surface of the spacer ring. 
     
     
         16 . The packer plug of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of plurality of wear resistant inserts is disposed in a surface of the plug with the largest outside diameter. 
     
     
         17 . The packer tool of  claim 12 , wherein the wear resistant inserts comprise metallic-ceramic composite material. 
     
     
         18 . The packer tool of  claim 12 , wherein the wear resistant insert comprises a zirconia ceramic compound. 
     
     
         19 . The packer tool of  claim 12 , wherein the wear resistant insert comprises a drillable cast iron material. 
     
     
         20 . The packer tool of  claim 12  wherein the wear resistant inserts comprise a titanium compound having a density ranging between about 5 to 7 grams per cubic centimeter. 
     
     
         21 . The packer tool of  claim 1  wherein the wear resistant inserts extend radially outward at least as far as the remaining portions of the tool.