US1788109A

US1788109A - Well tester

Info

Publication number: US1788109A
Application number: US251680A
Authority: US
Inventors: Claude L Jett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1928-02-03
Filing date: 1928-02-03
Publication date: 1931-01-06
Anticipated expiration: 1948-01-06

Description

C. L. JETT WELL TESTER Jan. 6, 1931.

Filed Feb. 3, 1928 fore the Well casing is se Another purpose of the tester is to detertaken by thetester. mine the natural pressure of the oil, gas and water or other fluids, or of any one thereof, in the rat hole or core hole before Well casing is set. n

Another purpose of the tester is to determine thebest part of the ground formation inthe Well, above the productive formation, in'or on which to seat and rest the Well casing, before the Well casing is set f In operation, the prospector drills a hol in the ground at ka place which he believes productive formation may be found. ing, of Which: This initial hole is of sufficient size to permit the set-ting of a surface casing, to prevent the walls of the Well from caving in at the ground surface, and to eliminate the entrance of surface water sands fromI the- Well. Drilling is then resumed at the bottom of the hole initial hole, through the surface casing.

In the drilling of4 the Well, a small hole, the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; known to the trade as a rat hole, is drilled and cored down through the underlying formations, substantially concentric i with the initial hole, to a depth of or 60 feet in search of productive formations.

If no productive formation is encountered in this E30-or 60 feet of rat holea bit just small enough to pass through surface casing is lowered in the hole and the previously formed rat hole is then-roamed to substan- UNITED STA This invention relates to tools of the type generally known as Well-testers, which are employed in the oil fields and similar places hole. where Wells are to be drilled and operated.

5 The purpose of the tester is to determine Whether the ground formation which underlies the upper layers of shale, gumbo and cap rock, carries, contains or is capable of pro- Vhen a formation though to be productive is encountered, the tester forming the subject of my invention is then lowered in the full size hole, being positioned on the Patented Jan. 6, 1931 'WELL TESTER Application led Tebruary 3, 1828.` Serial No. 251,680.

pensive to manufacture.

TES 'PATENT' oFFIcE CLAUDE L. JETT, OF EL DORADO, ARKANSAS lower end Iof a drill stem or tubing, and havlng a portion which projects into the rat A packer is provided on the tester which is adapted to seal the rat hole relative to the full size hole to eliminate the passage of n1ud, Water or other undesirable foreign matl ter from the rat hole, from which the natducing profitable liquid or gaseous fluids, beural pressure is to be tested and the sample t. of fluid contained in the formation is to be The principal object of theinvention is to produce a tester which will be simplel of construction, eiiicient inl operation, and inex- 'Another object of the invention is to pro-k vi/de an improved form of packer Which will be more efficient in operation than those ernployed at the present time.

The details of construction of mv invention Will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying draW- Fig. l is a sectional View taken through a full size hole and the rat hole aligned herewith, showing my improved tester in sectional elevation, with the packer in posi- 'tion to be seated at the mouth of the rat Fig. 2 -is a sectional plan view taken' on l Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the packer in its inactive' position;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 showingr the packer in its activep mouthof the rat hole;

Figs. 5and 6 are views similar to Figs. 3 and 4, of a modified form of packer.

` InFig. 1, the full size hole.-A is illustrated as Apassing intoa stratum of c'ap rock Z. The rat hole B is shown as passing tially the full size ofthe initial hole, to elimthrough the cap 'rock vZ and the-underlying Y innate binding and sticking of adrill pipe formation S. Y- subsequently passed down through the initial Rat holing and coring are vthen osition sealing the The tester comprises a piston 1 adapted to be secured to the lower end of the usualtype of tubular drill'stem 2. The piston 1 is hollow and isprovided\with a head 3 and a transverse partition wall 4, which divides the interior of the piston into an upper chamber 5 and a lower chamber 6.

Threaded iiito-the partition 4 and carried thereby is an enlongated tubular piston plunger 7 which passes through an aperture formed in the piston head 3. On the lower end of the plunger 7 is a cap or spud nut 8 which closes the lower end of said tubular plunger and provides a shoulder 9 for supporting a plunger jacket 1() which eiicircles said tubular plunger 7 and extends upward from the cap nut 8 to a point below the head 3 of the piston l1.

The upper end of the plunger jacket 10 is threaded into an opening formed in the head 11 of a hollow cylinder, the circulai` y wall 12 of Which fits snugly around the outside .of the piston 1, which is adapted to move longitudinally in the piston cushioning chamber 13 of said cylinder. Y

A key 14 prevents relative circular movement between the piston 1 and cylinder 12.

` The key 14 is carried by thepiston 1, and is adapted to'slide in a groove 15 formed in the cylinder wall 12. Y

In the piston head 3 are formed ports or passages16 and 17 which provide communication between the lower chamber 6 of the piston 1 'and the cushioning chamber 13 of the cylinder 12. The port 16 is unrestrictedv but passage throughA the port 17 is adapted.

to be .limited to one direction i. e. from the chamber 6 in the piston to the cushioning chamber 13 of the cylinder 12, by a spring 4controlled check valve 18, which prevents a return through the port 17 to the chamber 6.

In the partition 4 of the piston 1 is formed an opening 1 9 which provides communication between the. chambers 5 and 6 ofthe piston 1, said opening 19 being normally closed by a threaded plug 20.,

The opening 19 is provided for the purpose of permitting any suitable cushioning fluid to be run into the chamber 6, from which it ywill flow through thev ports 16 and 17 into tle cushioning chamber 13 ofA the cylinder The pistonplunger 7 is provided with series of openings 21 which are adapted to be broughtv intoregistry with va series of openings 22-formed in the plunger jacket 10, when the jacket 10 is moved ,longitudinally on and wit-h'respect-to the plunger 7 thereby providing direct communication between the rat hole B and the interior of the tubular piston plunger 7. The key 14 which prevents relative rotation between the piston 1 and cylinder 12 'consequently prevents a similar relative rotary motion between the piston ment of the holes 2l and 22 in the plunger I 7 and jacket 10 is at all times assured.

Surrounding the jacket ,10 immediately 4adj acent the under side of the cylinder head 11 is the packer 25, which comprises a ta# pered plug 26 of hard nonfyielding fabric f plug 26 is a soft extremely pliable gum sleeve 29. A nut 30 is threaded on the jacket 10 below the plug 26, and is 'adapted to maintain the said plug in contact with the c vhiider head 11.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a packer 25a which is collapsible and is composed of an outer casing 35 of resilient rubberized fabric. Within the packer casing 35 is located a body of soft pliable gum 36. and a rigid element 37.

In operation, the tester is lowered into the upper or full size hole A until the sides of the packer 25 engage the edges of the mouth of the lower or smaller rat hole B.

As the tubular drill stem 2 is perniittedto f descend the weight thereof causes the -outer soft sleeve 29 of the packer 25 to assume the form illustrated in Fig. 4, completely sealing the mouth of the small hole B against the passage of mud, etc. from the larger hole g,

piston head 3 to gradually approach the cylinder head 11. When the said piston head l3 contacts with the said cylinder head 11, the

openings 22 in the piston plunger jacket 1() are in alignment with the openings 21 in the plunger 7, which lpermits the flow of fluid. y

at natural pressure contained in the small d hole B, from the hole B into the interior ot'. Athe tubular piston plunger 7.

It will'here be 'noted that the chamber 6 j lll) piston head 3 may contact with the cylinder headI 11 to bring the openings 2l and 22 formed in the plunger 7 and jacket 10 into alignment with each other. sion of the trapped air acts as a resilient means for maintaining the walls of the packer 25 iiifirni contact with the mouth of ythe This ('oinpressmaller liole B, and the softness of the sleeve 294 of said packer permits the. said sleeve to adhere to any and all irregularities inthe mouth ofthe hole B, thus forming a perfect sealbetween the holes A and B.

The elements of the device are permitted to remain in this position while the natural pressure test is being inade lwith pressure gauge installed on drill stem at the surface 'of the ground, and for a suiicient length ot' time to permit a goodly quantity of the fluid and natural pressure contained in -the hole. B to tlow through the. openings 21 and 22 into the interior of the phmger 7 and into the dry drill stem 2, and as the drill stem is raised the air compressed in the piston chamber 6 expands and holds the packer in its sealing position while the plunger 7 is moved relative. to thc jacket 10, breaking the alignment between the openings 21 and 22 -formed in these respective elements, thus trapping the fluid received from the hole B in thc said plunger 7 and drill stem 2. Thus it will be seen that the plunger 7 and its jacket `10 act as a sleeve valve to permit the fluid to flow through the openings -21 and 22 into the plunger 7 and drill stem 2, and to cut off this communication and trap the said fluid inthe plunger 7 and drill stem 2.

During the upward movement of the piston 1 relative to the cylinder 12 the check valve 18 opens to permit a quick flow Aof the cushioning iuidfrom the chamber 6 tothe cushioning chamber 13 so that the packer 25 will not be raised from its seat inthe mouth of the hole B, by a vacuum created in the chamber 13 by the upward movement of the piston 1 therein.

The upward movement of the tester is then continued to the surface of the ground where the sample of rfluid contained in the drill stem 2 and plunger 7 is removed and its nature determined.

The packer 25a illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 is of a more pliable nature than the packer 25 and, in addition to sealing the mouth of the small hole B, is expanded to such an extent that it rests on the bottom of, and engages the circular wall of the full size hole A thereby maintaining a seal between the holes A and B in event of the breaking down of the wall of the small hole B at the mouth thereof, and by means of hydrostatic u pressure bearing down on said packer 25a.

I claim:

1. The combination in a well tester adapted to be lowered into a well of a packing element adapted to engage the wall of a well and thereby isolate one section of the well from the other portion thereof` a hollow element extending into sai-d isolated section and adapted to receive a sample of fluid at natura-l pressure tl'ierefrom. a sleeve valve for controlling the How of tluid to the interior of said hollow element, connected to said packing clement and adapted tobe operated by a continued lowering of the tester occuring 4after said packing' element has engaged the wall of said well,.n1eans for moving said packing element into sealing engagement with said well wall, means for cushioning the operation of said moving means rela'- tive to the said packing element comprising a cylinder carried by said packing element and a hollow piston carried by said moving means operable in said cylinder, a cushioning fluid in said cylinder between the head thereof and the head of said piston, said piston head being provided with a. restricted opening permitting the gradual passage of said cushioning fluid into the interior ot' said hollow piston.

2. The combination in a well tester ada-pted to be lowered into a well of a packing element adapted to engage the wall of a well and thereby isolate one section of the well from the other portion thereof, a hollow cicment extending into said isolated section and adapted to receive a sample of iuid at natural pressure therefrom. a sleeve valve for controlling the flow of fluid at said natural pres sure tothe interior of said hollow element, connected to said packing element, and adapted to be operated by a continued lowering of the tester after said packing element has engaged the wall of said'well, means forl moving said packing element into sealing engagement with said well wall, means for cushioning the operation ot' said moving means rela-tive to the said packing element comprising a cylinder carried by said pa'cking element and a hollow pisto-n carried by Said moving means operable in said cylinder, a cushioning fluid in said cylinder between the head thereof and the head of said piston, said piston head being provided with a restricted opening permitting the gradual pas- Sage of said cushioning fluid into the interior of said hollow piston, and a check valve in said piston head adapted to permit the said Huid to bc exhausted quickly from the interior of said piston into said cylinder.

3. The combination in a well tester of apiston adapted to be secured to a drill stem of ordinary construction and adapted to be lowered into a well by said drill stem, a cylinder surrounding said piston and adapted for longitudinal movement relative thereto, a packing element carried by said cylinder and adapted to engage a` shoulder formed in the wall of the well to be tested whereby said packing element functions to isolate the portion of the well below the shoulder from the portion thereof above said shoulder` a tubular plunger connected to said piston extending through said cylinder and said packing elcment into the isolated section of the well and provided with an opening adapted to aii'ord communication between the interior of said plunger and the lsaid isolated section of the well, a jacket surrounding said tubular plunger secured to said packing element and said cylinder and provided with an opening adapted to register with that of the tubular plunger when said packing elementengages said shoulder and thereby causes a. relative movement of said cylinder and said jacket longitudinally with respect to said piston and said plunger; respectively, as the drill Astem is lowered into the well.

4. The combination in a well tester of a Aing through said cylinder'and said packing element into the isolated section of the well and provided with an opening adapted to afford communication between the interior of said plunger and the said isolated section of the well, a jacket surrounding said tubular plunger secured to said packing element and said packing element functions to isolate the.

said cylinder and provided with an opening adapted to register with that of the tubular plunger when said packing element engages said shoulder and thereby causes a relative movement of said cylinder and said ljacket longitudinally with respect to said piston and said plunger respectively, as the drill stem is lowered into the well, and a fluid in said cylinder between the head thereof and the head of said piston for cushioning the action of the piston within the cylinder.

5. The combination in a well` testerof a piston adapted to be secured to a drill stem of ordinary construction and adapted to be lowered into a well by said drill stem, a cylinder surrounding said piston and adapted for longitudinal movement relative thereto, a packing element carried by said cylinder. and adapted to engage a shoulder formed in the wall of the well to be tested whereby portion of the well below the shoulder from the portion thereof above said shoulder, a tubular plunger connected to said piston eX- tending through said cylinder and said packing element into the isolated section of the well and provided with an opening adapted tov afford communication between the inte-v rior of said plunger andthe said isolatel section of the well, a jacket surrounding said tu-' bular plunger secured to said packing element and said cylinder and provided with an opening adapted to register with that of the tubular plunger when said packing element engages said shoulder and thereby causes a relative movement of said cylinder and said jacket longitudinally with respect to said piston and said plunger respectively, as the drill stem is lowered into the well. and a fluid in said cylinder between the head thereof and the head of said piston for cushioning the ac tion of the piston within the cylinder, said piston head beingprovided with a restricted 4passa-ge to permit said cushioning fluid to gradually escape into a ca-vity formed in said piston.

6. The combination in a well tester ofv a l ,packing element carried by said cylinder and adapted to engage a shoulder formed in the wall of the well to be tested whereby said packing element functions to isolate the portion of the Well below the shoulder from theportion thereof above said shoulder, a tubular plunger connected to said piston extending through said cylinder and said'packing element into the isolated section of the well and provided with an opening adapted to afford communication between the interior of said plunger and the said isolated section of the well, a jacket surrounding said tubular plunger secured to said packing element and said cylinder and provided with an opening adapted to register with that of the tubular plunger when said packing element engages said shoulder and thereby causes a relative movement of said cylinder and said jacket longitudinally with respect to said piston and said plunger respectively, asthe drill stem is lowered into the well, a fluid in said cylinderbetween the head thereof and the head of said piston for cushioning the action of the piston within the cylinder, said piston head being provided with a restricted passage to permit said cushioning fluid to gradually escape into a cavity formed in said piston whereby the air trapped in said piston cavity is compressed therein, and a check valve in said piston head adapted to permitI the said cushioning fluid to be exhausted quickly from said piston cavity into said cylinder, under the influence of the compressed air in said cavity whereby the said packing element is held in its sealing engagement with said'well shoulder until after the fluid openings, in said tubular plunger are closed by said jacket.

7. The combination in a well tester of a piston adapted to be secured to a drill stem of ordinary construction and adapted te be lowered into a well by said drill stem, a cylinder surrounding said piston and adapted for longitudinal movement relative thereto, a packof said plunger and the said isolated section of the Well, a jacket surrounding said tubular plunger secured to said packing element and said cylinder and provided with an opening adapted to register With that of the tubular plunger when said packing element engages said shoulder and thereby causes a relative movement of said cylinder and said jacket longitudinally With respect to said piston and said plunger respectively, as the 'drill stem is lowered into the Well, a fluid in said cylinder between the head thereof and the head of said piston for cushioning the action of the piston Within the cylinder, said piston head being provided With a restricted passage to permit said cushioning fluid'to gradually escape into a cavity formed in said piston whereby the air trapped in said piston cavity iscompressed therein, a check valve in said piston head adapted to permit the said cushioning Huid to be exhausted quickly from said piston cavity into said cylinder, under the inuence of the compressed air in said cavity whereby the said packing element is held in its sealing engagement with said well shoulder until after the fluid openings in said tubular plunger are closed by said jacket, and means for limiting the movement of said tubular plunger relative to said jacket,

whereby the said packing element is released from its Well sealing position when the drill stem is raised.

CLAUDE L. JETT.