Molded shear slip

Abstract

A molded slip assembly comprises a shear ring coupled to a plurality of slip segments to form a unitary solid ring and a plurality of drillable bases. A drillable base is molded to an inner surface of each of the plurality of slip segments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A molded slip assembly comprising:
 a plurality of slip segments;   a shear ring coupled to the plurality of slip segments to form a unitary solid ring; and   a plurality of drillable bases, wherein of the plurality of drillable bases is molded to an inner surface of each of the plurality of slip segments.   
     
     
         2 . The molded slip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary solid ring is formed from a single piece of material. 
     
     
         3 . The molded slip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary solid ring is formed by coupling the plurality of slip segments to the shear ring. 
     
     
         4 . The molded slip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of drillable bases is molded to the plurality of slip segments at the same time. 
     
     
         5 . The molded slip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary solid ring is a composite material. 
     
     
         6 . The molded slip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of drillable bases includes a composite material. 
     
     
         7 . The molded slip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of drillable bases includes a thermoset plastic. 
     
     
         8 . A downhole tool comprising:
 a mandrel;   a setting cone moveably coupled to the mandrel; and   a molded slip assembly disposed about the mandrel, wherein the molded slip assembly includes a unitary solid ring having a plurality of slip segments coupled to a shear ring and a plurality of drillable bases, wherein one of the plurality of drillable bases is molded to an inner surface of each of the plurality of slip segments, wherein the plurality of drillable bases is in contact with the setting cone.   
     
     
         9 . The downhole tool of  claim 8 , wherein the unitary solid ring is formed from a single piece of material. 
     
     
         10 . The downhole tool of  claim 8 , wherein the unitary solid ring is formed by coupling the plurality of slip segments to the shear ring. 
     
     
         11 . The downhole tool of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of drillable bases is molded to the plurality of slip segments at the same time. 
     
     
         12 . The downhole tool of  claim 8 , wherein the unitary solid ring is a composite material. 
     
     
         13 . The downhole tool of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of drillable bases includes a composite material. 
     
     
         14 . The downhole tool of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of drillable bases includes a thermoset plastic. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 forming a unitary solid ring having plurality of slip segments coupled to a shear ring;   molding a drillable base onto each of the plurality of slip segments.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the unitary ring is formed by a method comprising:
 forming an outer profile on an outer surface of a cylinder; and   forming a plurality of axial slots in the cylinder to form the plurality of slip segments, wherein the plurality of axial slots is formed so that the shear ring is coupled to the plurality of slip segments.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the unitary solid ring is formed by coupling the plurality of slip segments to the shear ring. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the drillable base is molded to each of the plurality of slip segments at the same time. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the drillable base includes a composite material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the drillable base includes a thermoset plastic.