Methods for more reliably cementing and remediating oil and gas wells by plastically expanding the diameter of the wellbore casing at select locations along the wellbore to control fluid flow in the micro-annular leak paths formed in the casing annulus between the casing and cement sheath, or between the casing and wellbore. Such methods do not require pre-placement of casing packers or prediction of potential leak points of the casing annulus. In cementing operations, casing expansion can be performed at strategic locations along the wellbore to eliminate annular leak paths that permit detrimental flow, direct the flow of cement to the desired portions of the wellbore, and prevent the flow of cement to oil producing formations. In instances of inter-zonal communication between subterranean formations, casing expansion can be performed at location(s) between the formations to mitigate or prevent inter-zonal communication via annular leak paths in the casing annulus.

Provided is a slip ring for use with a sealing assembly, a sealing tool, and a method for sealing an annulus within a wellbore. The slip ring, in at least one aspect, includes an expandable metal ring member having a width (w), a wall thickness (t), an inside diameter (d.sub.i) and an outside diameter (d.sub.o), the expandable metal ring member comprising a metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis. The slip ring, in at least one aspect, further includes one or more cuts located in the wall thickness (t) and spaced around a circumference of the expandable metal ring member, the one or more cuts configured to allow the expandable metal ring member to move between a radially reduced state and a radially enlarged state.

Valve systems and methods for inserting into a casing in a downhole environment are provided. A valve system includes a tool mandrel, a check valve assembly, and a setting system. The setting system includes a sealing element, wedges, slips, and a set nut. Each of the wedges and slips includes an inner surface slidable along the outer surface of the tool mandrel. Each wedge includes a primary angled surface and a secondary angled surface. The wedges are located between the slips and the secondary angled surface of one wedge is in contact to the secondary angled surface of the other wedge. Each of the slips includes an outer surface including gripping elements configured to grip an inner surface of the casing. Also, each of the slips includes an angled side surface configured to engage with the primary angled surface of the wedge.

Methods for more reliably cementing and remediating oil and gas wells by plastically expanding the diameter of the wellbore casing at select locations along the wellbore to control fluid flow in the micro-annular leak paths formed in the casing annulus between the casing and cement sheath, or between the casing and wellbore. Such methods do not require pre-placement of casing packers or prediction of potential leak points of the casing annulus. In cementing operations, casing expansion can be performed at strategic locations along the wellbore to eliminate annular leak paths that permit detrimental flow, direct the flow of cement to the desired portions of the wellbore, and prevent the flow of cement to oil producing formations. In instances of inter-zonal communication between subterranean formations, casing expansion can be performed at location(s) between the formations to mitigate or prevent inter-zonal communication via annular leak paths in the casing annulus.

A system and method for a composite cement retainer. A composite cement retainer has various components. When these various components comprise composite where feasible, or a drillable metal, the retainer can be easily placed and quickly drilled if necessary.

Embodiments presented provide for a slip wedge anchor system that is used in plugs for hydrocarbon recovery operations, wherein the plugs are made through a sacrificial tooling element.

A frac plug defines a central passage therethrough and is movable from an unset to a set position in a well casing. A single slip ring assembly is supported by the bottom shoe and a slip wedge is positioned in slidable relationship to the single slip ring assembly. A sealing element is supported by the slip wedge. A deformable ball seat is movable axially relative to the sealing element and the sealing element is expandable radially outwardly to engage and seal against the well casing upon the application of a force applied thereto by the deformable ball seat.

An anchor-packer assembly includes a packer having a slips assembly and a seal. The slips assembly and the seal are radially expandable so as to engage a surrounding tubular. The assembly also includes an anchor coupled to the packer. The anchor includes a slips assembly and is configured to transmit a first torque and a first axial force to the packer, to set the packer. The anchor is configured to be actuated from an anchor running position in which the slips assembly thereof is retracted, to an anchor set position, in which the slips assembly thereof is expanded radially outward, in response to a second torque and a second axial force, and the anchor in the anchor set position is configured to prevent an uphole-directed force on the packer from releasing the slips assembly of the packer from engagement with the surrounding tubular.

A frac plug is provided. The frac plug includes a plug body, a sealing element, and a slip. The plug body includes a first sub and a second sub. The first sub includes a first composite material outer sleeve, and a first metal inner core engaged with and structurally supporting the first composite material outer sleeve. The second sub includes a second composite material outer sleeve, and a second metal inner core engaged with and structurally supporting the second composite material outer sleeve. The sealing element is circumferentially disposed about the first sub and, when actuated, seals an annulus between the frac plug and a tubular section. The slip is disposed between the first sub and the second sub and, when actuated, engages the tubular section.

A borehole plug or packer for treating is designed to be flowed back to a surface location after use. When the treatment is concluded pressure from above is relieved or lowered, and well fluid is flowed back, so that the plug or plugs disengages at slips designed to resist differential pressure from above. The application of differential pressure from below causes the lower slips to release one or more of such plugs in the hole into specialized sub surface or surface capture equipment so that well pressure is relieved before removal of the plugs from specialized subsurface or surface capture equipment. Sensors to obtain and store data can be incorporated into the plugs or into objects landed on the plugs so that when brought to the surface the data can be processed and used in aid of production.