CEMENT RETAINERS TECHNICAL UNIT

DESCRIPTION:
The “CR” is a modular designed tool package that can quickly be field converted
from Cement Retainer to Bridge Plug or from mechanical to wireline set with
minimal changes to the basic assembly. This versatile package provides the user
with reliable high pressure plugging devices that can be drilled quickly using
rotary or cable tools.

APPLICATIONS:
Cement Retainer for deep, hot, high risk, prolonged or complicated squeeze
Cement jobs.
Bridge Plug for temporary or permanent zone isolation or to abandon a well.

FEATURES:
• Wireline or Mechanical set - Can be set with electrical pressure setting
tool or mechanically on tubing.
• Speed and safety - Locked together design and extra clearance safely
speeds run-in.
• Quick field change - Simple conversion to Bridge Plug or Cement Retainer
or mechanical to wireline.
• Fast drill up - Drills out quickly with rotary or cable tools.
Cement Retainer
• Simple control - Slide valve is controlled from surface. Pick up work string
to close, set down to open.
• Allows pressure test of tubing - Pick up to close valve and test tubing Mechanical Set
before squeezing. Cement Retainer
• Locked in squeeze pressure - The valve automatically closes when the
stinger is removed locking in squeeze pressure while excess cement is
circulated out.
• Isolates hydrostatic pressure - The valve protects sensitive zones in low
fluid level wells.
AVAILABILITY:

Casing Cement Retainer/Bridge Plug

OD Weight Preferred Range of Casing Size Max. Tool OD

Min. Max.
4-1/2 9.5-15.1 3.826 4.090 450 3.593
5 11.5-20.8 4.156 4.560 500 3.937
5-1/2 13-23 4.580 5.044 550 4.312
5-3/4 14-25.2 4.890 5.290 575 4.700
6-5/8 17-32 5.595 6.135 658 5.375
7 17-35 6.004 6.538 700 5.688
7-5/8 20-39 6.625 7.125 758 6.312
8-5/8 24-49 7.511 8.097 858 7.125
9-5/8 29.3-58.4 8.435 9.063 958 8.125
10-3/4 32.75-60.7 9.660 10.192 1075 9.437
Wireline Set
11-3/4 38-60 10.772 11.150 1175 10.437
Cement Retainer
11 3/4 60-83 10.192 10.772 1176 9.937
13 3/8 48-80.7 12.175 12.715 1338 11.875
16” 65-118 15.250 1600 14.125
20” 94-133 18.730 19.124 2000 18.375

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 CEMENT RETAINERS TECHNICAL UNIT
CEMENT RETAINER/BRIDGE PLUG PRODUCTS
The cast iron Cement Retainers and Bridge Plugs
provide the end user with tools that will consistently
contain well pressures at elevated temperatures and
pressures. The Cement Retainers or Bridge Plugs
permit faster removal from the well with either rotary
or cable tool methods due to their compact size and
the selection of high quality construction material.
The outside diameter of these products has been
held to a minimum to provide maximum tool-to-casing
clearance for safe running and maximum fluid bypass
area during displacement procedures even in heavy
mud systems.
Any Cement Retainer product can be converted to
perform as a Slide Valve Cement Retainer, a Flapper
Valve Cement Retainer or a Bridge Plug. In addition,
these tools may be converted for electric line setting
or mechanical setting by selection of the proper upper
slip and the appropriate running tools.
Slide Valve Cement Retainer
The Slide Valve Cement Retainer utilizes a slide
valve which is pressure balanced in the closed
position to reliably contain high fluid pressures. The
bonded mono-seal design eliminates seal damage
during opening at high pressure differentials.
Flapper Valve Cement Retainer
The Flapper Valve Cement Retainer is utilized in
those applications where sustained pumping of large
volumes of highly abrasive fluids are anticipated.
The standard Stinger Sub on the ‘MST’ Mechanical
Setting Tool and ‘SSA’ Stinger Seal Assembly should
be replaced with a Flapper Valve Stinger Sub when
running Flapper Valve Cement Retainers. The
Flapper Valve Stinger Sub does not have side ports.
This helps protect the flapper valve and valve seat
seal from fluid washing during pumping operations.
Bridge Plug
The short, compact, interlocked construction assures
the user that the Bridge Plug will provide faster, safer
run-in, dependable set and pack-off and hold
pressure that is safe for the casing weight and grade.
The interlock construction and compact size requires
minimal material removal during drill out.
The Cement Retainer and Bridge Plug product line
consists of the following:
• Wireline Set Cement Retainer
• Mechanical Set Cement Retainer
• Wireline Set Bridge Plug
• Mechanical Set Bridge Plug
• Flapper Valve Wireline Set Cement Retainer
• Flapper Valve Mechanical Set Cement Retainer
The following service tools are used for setting and
service with the Cement Retainers or Bridge Plugs:
• Wireline Adapter Kit
• Stinger Seal Assembly
• Tubing Centralizer
• Mechanical Setting Tool
• Wireline Adapter Kit for Flapper Bottom
• Hydraulic Setting Tool
CONVERSION OF CEMENT RETAINER TO
BRIDGE PLUG UTILIZING THE BRIDGING PLUG
Sizes 4-1/2 through 8-5/8:
1. Carefully clamp the Cement Retainer in a vise
and loosen set screw from the guide. Unscrew
the guide (right-hand thread) from the inner
mandrel.
2. Using a bar, inserted from the top end of the
Cement Retainer, tap the slide valve so it will exit
the lower end of the body. Avoid contact of the
bar with the sealing surface of the body.
3. Install o’ring into groove of bridging plug. Grease
the bore of the Cement Retainer guide and the
lower end of the bridging plug.
4. Install the bridging plug into the bore of the guide.
Align the drive pin in the side of the Bridge Plug
with one of the fluid bypass holes in the guide
and press it into the bore of the guide.
Note: The thread in the bridging plug MUST be
visible from the top of the plug.
Turn the guide on its side and see if the Bridging Plug
falls out of the guide. If the Bridging Plug moves or
drops out, re-grease the back of the Bridging Plug
and bore of the guide and reseat the Bridging Plug in
the guide. With the Bridging Plug properly stuck in
place, make up the guide to the Cement Retainer
mandrel. Snug the guide with a wrench and re-install
the set screw in the guide.
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 CEMENT RETAINERS TECHNICAL UNIT
Sizes 9-5/8 through 13-3/8:
1. Carefully clamp the Cement Retainer in a vise and
loosen two (2) set screws from the flange of the
outer mandrel. Unscrew the guide, from the inner
mandrel.
Note: Size 1338 does not have set screws.
2. Using a bar, inserted from the top end of the
Cement Retainer, tap the slide valve so it will exit
the lower end of the body. Avoid contact of the
bar with the sealing surface of the body.
3. Install o’ring into groove of bridging plug. Grease
the bore of the guide and the lower end of the
bridging plug.
4. Install the bridging plug into the bore of the guide.
Align the drive pin in the side of the Bridging Plug
with one of the fluid bypass holes in the guide and
press it into the bore of the guide.
Note: The thread in the bridging plug MUST be
visible from the top of the plug.
5. Turn the guide on its side and see if the plug falls
out of the guide. If the Bridging Plug moves or
drops out, re-grease the back of the Bridging Plug
and bore of the guide and reseat the Bridging
Plug in the guide. With the Bridging Plug properly
stuck in place, make up the guide to the retainer
mandrel. Snug the guide with a wrench and
install the two (2) set screws through the flange of
the outer mandrel.
HYDRAULIC FORCES ACTING ON CEMENT
RETAINERS
Forces created by applied pressure to the casing and
tubing act upon the stinger sub and tubing during
cementing and pressure testing operations. These
forces are variable and are affected by the area of the
cement retainer seal bore, casing and tubing pressure
changes at the Cement Retainer, tubing size and
weight and fluid weight.
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An increase in casing pressure at the Cement
Retainer tends to lift the tubing which can cause the
slide valve to close. The force generated by a casing
pressure increase is calculated by multiplying the
casing pressure increase by the outside area of the
tubing minus the seal bore area of the tool.
A pressure increase in the tubing exerts a lifting force
at the top of the string which will reduce the effective
hook load. A pressure increase in the tubing at the
Cement Retainer will tend to hold the stinger sub in
the tool and keep the slide valve open. The net of
these two forces is upward and is equal to the
increase in tubing pressure multiplied by the area of
the seal bore in the cement retainer. When this force
is equal to the tubing weight, any additional pressure
will lift the tubing and allow the slide valve to close.
Therefore, the minimum setting depth will depend
on the applied pressure changes in the tubing and
casing acting to lift the available tubing weight.
The amount of tubing and annulus pressure that can
be applied are limited for any size and length of
tubing. When the total of the forces is equal to the
weight of the tubing in fluid, an increase in either
tubing or casing pressure will raise the tubing and
close the slide valve. However, the cementing
pressure may be increased if the casing pressure is
decreased and vice versa.
The snap latch feature of the stinger sub has no effect
on either opening or closing the slide valve. The
stinger sub will remain in the Cement Retainer as long
as the snap-out force is not exceeded. If excess
tension is pulled on tubing while pressure testing the
snap-out force may be overcome and the stinger sub
will be pumped out.
 CEMENT RETAINERS TECH UNIT
REMOVAL TECHNIQUES FOR MODEL “CR”
CEMENT RETAINERS AND BRIDGE PLUGS
General
Drilling is the preferred method of removing
Cement Retainers and Bridge Plugs since drilling
can usually be accomplished in less than 10
percent of the time it takes to millout the same
tool. This high removal time for the milling
technique is explained by the mechanics of the
two methods. Drilling causes a chiseling effect,
and milling has a shaving effect of the target.
Further, milling yields more debris of the type that
causes penetration stoppage. Drilling with a short
tooth, medium hard formation rock bit is usually
the best combination for cement retainer or bridge
plug removal.
Suggested Drilling Technique
Though the best drilling technique will vary with
available equipment, a typical combination of a
short tooth, medium hard formation rock bit (ADC
Codes 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4, and 3-1), 75 to 120 RPM
rotary speed and such drill collars as necessary
for weight and bit stabilization will provide
desirable results.
To drill the Cement Retainer or Bridge Plug:
• Apply 5,000-7,000 lbs. until top end of the
mandrel is drilled (4 to 5 inches).
• Increase weight to 2,500-3,000 lbs. per inch of
bit diameter to drill out remainder. Example:
Use 12,000-14,500 lbs. for a 4-3/4” OD bit.
• Drill collars should be used as required for
weight and bit stabilization.
• A rotary speed of 75-125 RPM is
recommended.
• A Junk Basket should be used.
• The mud viscosity and gel strength should be
sufficient to remove and support the cuttings.
A minimum annular velocity of 120 FT/MIN is
recommended.
When normal circulation is to be used, place a
junk basket above the bit. If reverse circulation is
planned, the casing scraper or other equipment in
the tubing string should have an inside fluid
passage as large as the passage through the bit
so cuttings will not bridge.
Variations in bit speed and bit weight should be
made to help break up debris to re-establish
penetration should it cease while drilling.
Penetration may be stopped by “bit tracking”
which is usually caused by insufficient weight on
the bit. Bit tracking occurs when bit teeth travel in
the same indentation of “track” made previously
by another tooth. Successive tooth impact to the
same location will sometimes deepen the track
until indentations equal bit tooth length, reducing
the impact of teeth to the point that they will not
penetrate. Drilling penetration may be re-
established by raising the bit off of the tool and
then lowering the bit while maintaining rotation
and making rapid bit contact with extra weight.
NOTE: Drilling times are directly related to tool
size, bit stability, drilling weight, pump rate, bit
RPM, type of bit, drilling fluid, etc. The same
considerations should be used when drilling
Cement Retainers and Bridge Plugs as would be
used when drilling medium hard formations.
Suggested Milling Technique
If equipment availability or other considerations
dictate that the Cement Retainer or Bridge Plug
be milled, the recommended combination is a junk
type mill tool rotated at 60-150 RPM with 5,000-
8,000 lbs. on the mill.
Use a mud viscosity of 60 CPS and a minimum
annular velocity of 120 ft/min to assure cutting
removal.
When ready to begin milling operations, start
rotating the mill above the target and lower it
slowly onto the target. Do not apply weight in
excess of recommended amount. Excessive
weight can tear out chunks of the Cement
Retainer/Bridge Plug and make a bailer trip
necessary to remove the chunks to allow further
penetration.. Maintain a constant milling rate by
adding weight as the tool is milled away.
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 CEMENT RETAINERS TECHNICAL UNIT

DIMENSIONAL DATA (INCHES)

DIM. 450CR 500CR 550CR 575CR 658CR 700CR 758CR 858CR
A 20.0 20.0 20.0 20.0 22.7 22.7 22.7 22.7
B .60 .60 .75 .6 .78 .80 .51 .50

C 3.04 3.04 2.86 2.94 3.37 3.20 3.20 2.90

D .73 .73 .96 .96 .86 1.07 1.20 1.27
E 2.83 2.83 2.62 2.7 2.64 2.67 2.60 3.04
F .73 .73 .96 .96 .86 1.07 1.20 1.27
G 2.25 2.25 1.94 1.8 2.86 2.73 2.75 2.56
H 2.10 2.10 2.25 2.38 2.40 2.42 2.54 2.46
I 7.75 7.75 7.75 7.75 8.70 8.70 8.70 8.70
J 1.90 1.90 1.90 1.9 2.78 2.78 2.78 2.78
K 2.50 2.50 2.75 3.00 3.74 3.74 4.37 4.37
L 3.58 3.937 4.31 4.68 5.36 5.68 6.31 7.12
M 3.55 3.900 4.26 4.62 5.31 5.62 6.25 7.07
N 3.52 3.875 4.28 4.63 5.26 5.62 6.22 7.00
O 3.55 3.900 4.26 4.62 5.31 5.62 6.25 7.07
P 3.58 3.937 4.31 4.68 5.36 5.68 6.31 7.12
Q 3.48 3.875 4.25 4.63 5.30 5.62 6.23 7.06

R 3.59 3.937 4.31 4.75 5.36 5.68 6.31 7.13

S 1.35 1.35 1.35 1.35 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00

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 CEMENT RETAINERS TECHNICAL UNIT

Dimensional Data (in.)

M Dim 958CR 1075CR 1175CR 1338CR
A 22.90 23.20 24.90 24.90
B .78 1.30 2.50 2.30
C 3.85 3.60 5.03 4.70
D 1.20 1.39 1.25 1.25
E 3.42 4.48 3.75 5.68
F 1.20 1.39 1.25 1.25
G 3.00 3.00 5.03 3.10
H 2.90 2.93 2.87 3.41
I 6.50 5.10 3.21 3.21
J 2.78 2.78 2.78 2.78
K 6.25 7.38 8.25 8.25
L 8.12 9.41 10.44 11.84
M 8.00 9.38 10.33 11.79
N 7.96 9.29 10.33 11.75
O 8.00 9.38 10.33 11.79
P 8.12 9.41 10.44 11.84
Q 7.99 9.37 10.32 11.75
R 8.12 9.44 10.44 11.88
S 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00

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