US2214555A

US2214555A - Apparatus for cementing wells

Info

Publication number: US2214555A
Application number: US197392A
Authority: US
Inventors: Landes H Hayward; Charles O Harper
Original assignee: Hayward
Current assignee: Hayward
Priority date: 1938-03-22
Filing date: 1938-03-22
Publication date: 1940-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 1957-09-10

Description

Sept. 10, 1-940. L. H. HAYWARD ET- AL 2,214,555

APPARATUS FOR GEMENTING WELLS 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTORS, I In 0.

14 /& 72y? &

Filed March 22, 1938 ATTORNEY.

9 0, 1940- L. H. HAYWARD i-rr AL 2,214,555

APPARATUS FOR CEMENTING WELLS Filed March 22, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll' l/ I H k l7 L p E l x f 21 2 l 5 J a I Q INVENTORS /J' /J'/ ,qgg d I BY 8: w W

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 10, 1940 r UNITED STATES mm'rus Fon onnmnrma warms Landes 11. Hayward, Los Angelea and Charles 0.

Harper, Inglewood, Calif.; said Harper alslgnor' tosaid Hayward Application ms 2:, 193a, Serial No. 191,392

Claims.

In substantially all of the known multiple stage cementing devices, the cementitious material is forced through radial discharge openings directly into the space between the cementing 5 device or casing and the walls of the hole. In-

stead of being distributed uniformly around the device or casing in the region of the discharge openings, the cementitious material tends to channel through the drilling fluid contained in l thewell bore, leaving intermediate bodies of said I drilling fluid which subsequently hardens. The

presence of such solidified drilling fluid will permit seepage of waters or other undesirable materials back into the casing through the radial openings to contaminate the oil flowing in the well and also permit the passage of fluids from the interior of the casing outwardly through the discharge openings and solidifled drilling fluid. The extent of seepage will be enhanced by the I inability of the presently used multiple stage cementing devices to distribute the cementitious 'material below the radial discharge openings due to the tendency of the material to move in a path of least resistance upwardly therefrom,

25 caused by the progressively decreasing fluid pressure from the discharge openings to the surface.

Such lack of cementitious material will permitfi seepage of water into the casing from points below the position of the cementing device.

30 Attempts have heretofore been made to prevent reverse flow of the cementitious material and of the waters, by associating one way pressure actuated valve devices with the discharge openings. These expedients have proved imsatis- 35 factory, since the presence of foreign matter,

or the cement itself, tends to prevent their closing or the valve devices themselves may be entirely cut away.

Among the features of the present invention 40 is to obviate the foregoing disadvantages of the prior art devices. Itntherefore becomes an obiect of the invention to provide a well cementing device which will ensure a, complete cementitious seal between the openings for discharging 4s cementitious-material into the space between the casing and walls of the bore, or another casing within which the device is conflned.

A further object of the invention lies in th provision of a well cementing device capable of so producing a circumferentially uniform discharge of cementitious material from the outlet end of the device to the space between'the casing and walls of the bore, or another casing withinwhich the device is conflned.

55 Another object of the invention is the provision 01' a well cementing device which will ensure a eircumferentially uniform discharge of cementitious material from the outlet end of the device byeifecting a uniform circumferential dispersion of the material within the device prior to its 5 discharge.

\ Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a valve mechanism positively operable from the surface of the bore for controlling the discharge of material from the cel0 menting device into the bore or other confining casing.

A further biect of the invention is to provide a valve echanism positively operable from the surface of the bore for controlling the dis- 1 charge of material from the cementing device into the bore, said control being assisted bythe action of gravity and/or friction'on the well casing to which the device is attached. I

A further object of the invention is tov provide a sealing mechanism positively operable from the surface of the bore for preventing reverse flow of fluid cementitious material through the cementing device.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a sealing mechanism positively controllable from the surface of the bore for preventing reverse flow of fluid cementitious material through the cementing device, said sealing being assisted by the action of gravity on the well casing to which the device is attached.

Still another object of the invention contemplates a well cementing device capable of performing its functions both in upright and inverted positions. This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objects which will be made more easily apparent from a consideration of the embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and forming a part of the present specification. We shall now proceed to describe these forms in detail which illustrate the general principles of our invention; but it is to be understood that this descri on is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since e scope of the invention is best deflned by the appended claims.

1 Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of the device, portions of which are shown in elevation.

Figurezisaviewsimilartol igure lshowing. parts of the device in a difl'erent position of go adjustment.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing parts of the device in still another position of adjustment.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view parsection l3 through a coupling l4 into which the tube and casing ends are threaded. The tubing carries a ring l5 threaded onto its upper end which serves to adjustably connect it with the hanger sleeve II) by means of the square threads IS on the exterior of the ring |5 interfltting with the complementary internal threads l'l formed in'the hanger sleeve I5. Relative rotation between the hanger sleeve and tubing l2 will produce movement of the tubing longitudinally of the axis of a well bore within which the casing and cementing device is contained, to accomplish a purpose hereinafter described.

The 'tubinglz is provided near its lower end with generally radial discharge ports 20 normally" closed by an annular valve head 2| whose inner surface slidably engages the tubing. The valve head 2| is threaded onto the lower end of a valve sleeve 22 surrounding the tubing l2 and having its upperend threaded into the hanger sleeve l0. ,When the valve head 2| is inits closed position as shown in Figure 1, fluid will be prevented from passing between the interior and exterior of the casing string through the discharge openings 20. Assurance. against such passage of fluid is provided by the engagement of the lower tapered portion of the valve head 2| with the annular seats 23 formed on the. frusto-conical coupler 24 threadedly attached to the lower end of the tubing |2 below the discharge openings 20. The valve head 2| is preferably provided with a lead or other suitable insert 25 which will provide an efficient fluid tight seal upon application of pressure between it and the with respect to the valve head 2|, valve sleeve 22, and hanger sleeve l0, all of which are rigidly interconnected as heretofore described, until the parts become positioned as shown in Figure 2, with the valve head removed from the sealing seats 23 and disposed above the discharge ports 20 to permit passage of fluid therethrough. Cementitious material forced downwardly through the casing string S is thus permitted passage through the discharge ports, but instead of being permitted to flow directly therefrom into the space between the casing string and the walls of the bore or confining casing (not shown), it is directed through an annular passage 30 defined by a discharge tube 3| threadedly connected to the frusto-conical coupler 24 and spaced with respect to the outer surface of the valve sleeve 22. I

The cementitious material is caused to flow through the passage 30 to obviate the defects associated with the aforementioned channeling of the material resulting in seepage of waters or other undesirable elements back into the casing through the discharge ports 20. Due to the extended annular passage 30, the cementitious material, prior to its emission from the outlet end of the discharge tube 3|, will become uniformly dispersed between the valve sleeve 22 and said discharge tube, to provide a circumferentially continuous mass of sealing material in said passage. Such continuity will insure against the aforementioned undesirable seepage upon hardening of the material. It also results in the emission of the fluid cementitious material from the discharge tube 3| in a circumferentially continuous stream to provide a complete filling of the space between the casing string and walls of the bore, particularly in the region of the dis;

charge end of the tube.

In furtherance of obtaining a circumferentially continuous mass of sealing material in the passage, the outer surface of the valve sleeve can be tapered outwardly towards the discharge end of the tube, to cause the cementitious material to spread circumferentially during its movement through the passage, because of the gradual restriction'to" longitudinal flow of the material.

After the proper quantity of fluid cementitious material has been discharged through the radial openings 20 and from the outlet end of the tube 3|, its reverse flow is prevented by effecting a seal between an annulus -35 secured to the interior of the discharge tube 3| and an upper portion of the valve head 2|, preferably consisting of a hardened ring insert 36 having an upper edge adapted to be pressed against the lower tapered face 31 on the annulus for efiecting a positive seal. The seal is produced by a continued rotary movement of the hanger sleeve III with respect to the tubing I2, which will cause the latter element and the discharge tube 3| connected therewith to move longitudinally of the valve head 2| until the tapered seat 31 on the annulus engages with the upper edge of the hardened ring insert 36 as disclosed in Figure 3. After the seal is established, the fluid cementitious material is prevented from flowing reversely past the upper portion of the valve headjl. Upon hardening, a solid cementitious seal will be obtained in the passage 30 between the discharge tube 3| and valve sleeve 22 to prevent leakage into the casing string, which leakage is further prevented by the sealing engagement between the ring insert 36 and the tapered seat 37 on the annulus 35.

When used for cementing at an intermediate stage in a bore, the device is lowered thereinto -as part of the casing string, with the discharge ports 2!) closed by the valve head 2|, as shown in Figure 1. This will permit circulation of drilling mud and fluid cementitious material to a lower stage without any leakage of these materials through the discharge openings. When it is desired to cement at the stage at which the device is positioned, the casing string N thereabove and the hanger sleeve Ill attached to it ,will be rotated from the surface preferably in a clockwise direction. Due to its inertia and, resistance to turning oflered by the drilling mud, I

and also possibly by its engagement with the walls of the bore, the casing depending from the cementing device will be restrained from rotation,

resulting in relative longitudinal movement between the rotating hanger sleeve and the tubing l2 occasioned by the interconnected helical threads on the hanger sleeve and ring l5 secured to said tubing. Such longitudinal movement will open the valve to the position in Figure 2, permitting the flow of fluid through the dis- 70 f-weight of the tubing i2 and lower casing Under certain conditions, such" as the use of the cementing device as an intermediate part of the casing string, the weight of the string it below the device will assist in the aforementioned longitudinal movements of the tubing l2 and associated parts withrespectto the hanger sleeve Ill and its associated valve sleeve 22 and valve head 2|. The action of gravity and/or friction upon the lower casing string I3 will reduce the effort required in obtaining the necessary relative rotation between the hanger sleeve and tubing; and additionally, it will assist in the maintenance of the sealing engagement between the annulus l5 and the hardened ring insert 36.

The modified form of the invention disclosed in Figures 4 and 5 possesses the same general constructional features and mode of operation as the embodiment heretofore described. For that reason the same reference numerals have been applied to similar parts with a prime mark 'added in each instance. The essential difference resides in the elimination of the annulus and hardened ring insert for preventing retrograde flow of the fluid cementitious material through the discharge openings. Figure 4 shows normally be prevented from unwarranted reversemovement through the discharge openings 20' by maintaining suitable pressure upon the fluid within the casing until the cementitious material becomes set. v'lhe cementitious material.

will harden within the discharge tube 3| and the discharge" openings 20. However, should leakage develop within the discharge tube and fail to materialize through the discharge openings and the hard cement surrounding them in their vicinity, the seepage of waters or other fluids between the valve sleeve 22' and the tubing i2,

' and between the cooperating square threads to pling occuring between the square threads in the hanger sleeve and the threads on the ring mixed to the tubing. This will permit the attached thereto, to apply a compressive effort to the packing through the agency of a clamping ring ll, attached to the'square threaded ring I I, to expand the packing ll into sealing engagement with the inner surface of the hanger sleeve Ill and the outer surface of the tubing II.

It is to be understood that it is not essential to rotate the hanger sleeve III to an extent sunlcient to disengage thercooperating square threads l6 and I1 onthe hanger sleeve and ring l8.

Opening of the valve can be efifected with the,

the valve head closes the discharge openings,

which will prevent reverse flow of any matter therethrough. Instead of permitting disengagement between the cooperative square threaded portions, the threads in the hanger sleeve could extend sufficiently to maintain engagement throughout the entire range of movement of the tubing. With this arrangement of parts, the packing could be compressed through the advancement of the packing ring occasioned by relative turning of the hanger sleeve and tubing.

Such compression could be released by reverse rotation of the hanger sleeve, which could continue to the point of reclosing the valve, as aforementioned.

We claim:

1. A well cementing device comprising, means .deflning'a passage for conducting cementitious material, means providing a second passage having a circumferentially continuous outlet, one or more openings in said device providing intercommunication between said passages, said last mentioned means being of rigid material to withstand forces tending to deform it and restrict said second passage.

2. A well cementing device comprising, a tubing for conducting cementitious material, a discharge tube providing a passage for said material having a circumferentialiy continuous outlet, one or more openings in said device providing intercommunication between said tubing and discharge tube, said discharge tube being of rigid material to withstand forces tending to deform it and restrict said second passage.

3. A well cementing device comprising, a tubing for conducting cementitious material, a discharge tube providing a passage for said material having a circumferentialiy continuous outlet, one or more openings in said device providing intercommunication between said tubing and discharge tube, means within said passage and positioned between said one or more openings and the outletend of said tube for restricting the flow of material therethrough, said discharge tube being of rigid material to withstand forces tending to deform it and restrict said passage.

4. A well cementing device comprising, means defining a passage for conducting cementitious material, means providing a circumferentialiy continuous and convergent ssage, means providing intercommunication etween, said pas-- sages, said s'econd-meritio'ned means being of rigid material to withstand forces tending to deform it and restrict its passage.

' 5. A well cementing device comprising a tubing-for conducting cementitious material, a discharge tube providing a passage for said material, means providing inter-communication between said tubing and discharge tube, separate means intermediate said tubing and discharge tube deflning a circumierentially continuous and convergent passage between said inter-communicating means and the outlet end of said discharge tube, said discharge tube being of rigid material to withstand forces tending to deform it and restrict its passage.

6. A well cementing device comprising, means defining a passage for conducting cementitious material, one or more openings in said device through which said material can flow, valve means for controlling the passage of material throughrsaid one or more openings, and means permanently secured to said valve means and positively operable from the surface of a bore for producing relative movement between said valve means and one or more openings, whereby to open or close said openings tocontrol the passage of material therethrough.

'7. A well cementing device comprising a tubing for conducting cementitious material, the side walls of said tubing being provided with one or more openings for the passage of said material, valve means slideable over said one or more openings for controlling the passage of material therethrough, and means permanently secured to said valve means and positively operable from the surface of a bore for producing relative movement between said valve means and one or more openings, whereby to open or close said openings to control the passage of material therethrough.

8. A well cementing device comprising, a tubing for conducting cementitious material, said tubing being provided with one or moreopenings for the passage of said material, valve means for controlling the passage of material through said one or more openings said means including sealing instrumentalities for preventing leakage of fluid when said valve is in closed position, and means permanently secured to said valve means and positively, operable from the surface of a bore for producing relative movement between said valve means and one or more openings, whereby to open or close said openings to control the passage of material therethrough and the sealing of said instrumentalities.

9. A well cementing device comprising, a, t bing for conducting cementitious material, a discharge tube providing a passage for said material, said tubing having one or more openingsproviding intercommunication between it and said discharge tube, valve means within said passage for controlling the passage of material through said one or more openings, means positively connected with said valve means and positively controllable from the surface of a bore for producing relative movement between said valve means and one or niore openings, whereby to control the passage of material therethrough, and cooperable sealing instrumentalities on said valve means and discharge tube for preventing reverse flow of fluids through said one or more openings.

10. A well cementing device comprising a tubing for conducting cementitious material a 'discharge tube surrounding said tubing and providing a passage for said material the side walls of said tubing having one or more openings providing inter-communication between it and saiddischarge tube, valve means within said discharge tube slideable over said one or more openings for controlling the passage of material therethrough, ineans positively connected with said valve means and positively controllable from the surface of a bore for producing relative movement between said valve means and one or more'openings, and

providing intercommunication between it and said discharge tube, a valve head within said discharge tube for controlling the passage of material through said one or more openings, means including a valve sleeve positively connected with said valve head and positively controllable from the surface of a bore for producing relative movement between said valve head and said one or more openings, whereby to control the passage of material therethrough, said valve sleeve being positioned within said discharge tube in spaced relation with respect thereto to define a convergent path through which said material can flow.

12. A well cementing device adapted to be attached in a casing string as a part thereof comprising, a tubing for conducting-cementitious material, one or more openings in said tubing through which said material can flow, valve means for controlling the passage of material through said one or more openings, and means fixedly connecting said valve means and casing string and causing relative movement between said valve means and one or more openings upon movement of the casing from. the surface, to open or close said openings to control the passage of material therethrough.

13. A well cementing device adapted to be attached in a casing string as a part thereof comprising, a tubing for conducting cementitious material, a discharge tube providing. a passage for said material, said tubing having one or more openings providing intercommunication between it and said discharge tube, valve means within said discharge tube for controlling the passage of material through said openings, means positively connected with said valve means and operable through motion of the casing string for producing relative movement between said valve means and openings, whereby to control the passage of material therethrough, and cooperable sealing instrumentalities on said valve means and discharge tube for preventing reverse flow of fluids through said openings.

14. A well cementing device comprising a tubing for conducting cementitious material, said .tight seal between said first mentioned means and tubing. f

15. A well cementing device comprising a tubing for conducting cementitious material, said tubing having one or "more discharge openings therein, a valve head for controlling the passage of material through said openings, means, connected with said valve head and positively controllable from the sm'face of a bore for providing relative movement between said valve head and said one or more openings whereby to control the passage of material therethrough, packa ing means between said means and tubing, and 5 means compressing said packing means into sealing engagement with the sides 01' said tubing upon relative movement between said tubing and said valve head.

16. A well cementing device comprising a tub- 10 ing for conducting cementitious material, said terconnecting said valve head with means positively controllable from the surface of a bore for effecting relative movement between the valve head and one or more discharge openings, and means for threadedly interconnecting said hanger sleeve and tubing, whereby to .efl'ect relative movement between said valve head and one or more openings longitudinally of said tubing upon relative rotative movement between said hanger sleeve and tubing, to control the passage of material through said one or more discharge openings.

LANDES H. HAYWARD. CHARLES O. HARPER.