Expandable casing anchor

Abstract

A wellbore isolation device includes an expandable housing. The expandable housing has a first end portion and a second end portion. A scarf cut can extend helically about the housing at least partially between the first and second end portions. The scarf cut can have a cut width. The housing is diametrically expandable from a contracted state to an expanded state to set the housing against an inner diameter of a wellbore.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wellbore isolation device, comprising:
 an expandable housing having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a scarf cut extending helically about the housing at least partially between the first and second end portions, the scarf cut defining a cut width,   wherein the housing is diametrically expandable from a contracted state to an expanded state to set the housing against an inner diameter of a wellbore.   
     
     
         2 . The wellbore isolation device of  claim 1 , further comprising a wedge member with a tapered outer surface, wherein the tapered outer surface is engaged with the expandable housing in the expanded state. 
     
     
         3 . The wellbore isolation device of  claim 2 , wherein the scarf cut forms a first movable end segment adjacent to the first end portion and a second movable end segment adjacent to the second end portion, and wherein during diametric expansion, the first movable end segment moves circumferentially relative to the second movable end segment to set the housing against an inner diameter of the wellbore. 
     
     
         4 . The wellbore isolation device of  claim 1 , further comprising a lower wedge member with a lower tapered outer surface, wherein the lower tapered outer surface is engaged with the housing in the expanded state. 
     
     
         5 . The wellbore isolation device of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper wedge member with an upper tapered outer surface and a lower wedge member with a lower tapered outer surface, wherein the upper tapered outer surface and the lower tapered outer surface are engaged with the housing in the expanded state. 
     
     
         6 . The wellbore isolation device of  claim 5 , further comprising a setting sleeve disposed about the upper wedge member and a tension mandrel disposed about the lower wedge member, wherein the setting sleeve and the tension mandrel axially contract the upper wedge member and the lower wedge member in the expanded state. 
     
     
         7 . The wellbore isolation device of  claim 1 , wherein the scarf cut extends along the housing at a scarf angle relative to a plane extending normal to a longitudinal axis of the device. 
     
     
         8 . The wellbore isolation device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a polymer, a composite material, a degradable material, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The wellbore isolation device of  claim 8 , wherein the degradable material is selected from the group consisting of borate glass, polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, a degradable rubber, a degradable polymer, a galvanically-corrodible metal, a dissolvable metal, a dehydrated salt, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The wellbore isolation device of  claim 1 , further comprising a mandrel and an expandable sealing element disposed about the mandrel, wherein the housing is operatively coupled to the mandrel to anchor the downhole device within the wellbore. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 conveying a wellbore isolation device to a location within a wellbore, the wellbore isolation device including an expandable housing that provides a first end portion, a second end portion, and a scarf cut extending helically about the housing at least partially between the first and second end portions, the scarf cut defining a cut width; and   actuating the wellbore isolation device from a contracted state to an expanded state and thereby increasing a size of the scarf cut to radially expand the housing to set the housing against an inner diameter of the wellbore.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising forcing a wedge member toward the housing to radially expand the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising forcing a lower wedge member toward the housing to radially expand the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising axially contracting an upper wedge member and a lower wedge member about the housing to radially expand the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising axially contracting the upper wedge member and the lower wedge member between a setting sleeve and a tension mandrel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising landing a wellbore projectile at the first end portion of housing after actuating the wellbore isolation device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the scarf cut provides opposing angled surfaces and an amount of material of the housing connects the opposing angled surfaces, the method further comprising breaking the amount of material as the housing radially expands and thereby allowing the opposing angled surfaces to separate. 
     
     
         18 . A well system, comprising:
 a casing disposed within a wellbore; and   a wellbore isolation device conveyable within the wellbore and including:   an expandable housing that provides a first end portion, a second end portion, and a scarf cut extending helically about the housing at least partially between the first and second end portions, the scarf cut defining a cut width,   wherein the housing is diametrically expandable between a contracted state, wherein the housing, and an expanded state, wherein the housing is set within the casing.   
     
     
         19 . The well system of  claim 18 , further comprising an upper wedge member with an upper tapered outer surface and a lower wedge member with a lower tapered outer surface, wherein the upper tapered outer surface and the lower tapered outer surface are engaged with the housing in the expanded state. 
     
     
         20 . The well system of  claim 19 , further comprising a setting sleeve disposed about the upper wedge member and a tension mandrel disposed about the lower wedge member, wherein the setting sleeve and the tension mandrel axially contract the upper wedge member and the lower wedge member in the expanded state.