US1795713A - Pipe-suspension device - Google Patents

Description

March 10, 1931. c. DEAN ET AL PIPE SUSPENSION DEVIC'E 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 9, 1926 INVENTORS.4 6/ /6Lfz.&4/l 62a 5 /F/0/// 5 Ma rch 10, 1931. c. L.'DEAN ET AL PIPE SUSPENSION DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 9 192 INVENTORS. 679071. 05444 Gm 5 Emma 1 Patented Mar. 10, 1931 I UNITED STATES PATENT, OFF-ICE CHARLES L. DEAN, FRANK LOCKWOOD, AND GEORGE B. RICHIE, OF DENVER, COLO- RADO, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO WILLIAM. A. TROUT, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AND CHARLES R. BUTLER AND CHESTER A. RASMUSSEN,

BOTH OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA PIPE-SUSPENSION DEVICE Application filed November 9, 1926. Serial No. 147,251.

This invention relates to the suspension of casings for oil wells and its primary ob]ect resides in providing a novel method of placing and suspending the concentric strmgs of casings commonly used in oil wells.

-Our improvements reside more partlcularly in the formation and construction of the head or stack from which the casings are suspended and it is, a further ob ect of the 1 invention to provide simple and highly efiicient means for the suspension of the casings from the component sections of the stack after the casings have been placed in tension and cut to the required length.

The suspension means are distinguished by many advantageous features principal among -Which are; 1st, its possible automatic application when the stack-sections are placed in their proper relative position after a casing string associated with an upper section has been lowered into the well to the required depth; 2nd, its dependable action in positively assuming its operative relation to the casing when or after the upper section of the stack is placedupon a lower section;

3rd, its permanent association with the easing after it has been placed in its operative position, positively preventing accidental separation irrespective of jars or stresses to which the suspension-structure may be sub jected or of breakage of any of the parts of Which the structure is composed; 4th, its

clamping action upon the part of the casing with WhlCh it is directly associated; and 5th, its capability of being adjusted to its operati've' position relative to the casing for its -suspension from the stack without rotation ofany of the sections of which the stack is composed. 5 a

Other objects and advantagesof-the invention will be fully brought out in the course 5 of the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings in the several views of which like parts have been similarly designated Figure 1 represents a fragmentary vertical section of the head or stack of an oil well showing the suspension means in their 0 erative position as well as in their con ition prior to their application to the respective string of casing,

Figure 2, a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 Figure 1,

Figure 3, a fragmentary plan view of one of the stack-sections showing a modification of the appliance employed in the application of the suspension element of the invention,

Figure l, a sectional elevation of an oil well stack and casing assembled and constructed in accordance, with the resent invention, and drawn to a reduced sca e,

Figure 5, a sectional elevation of one of the members of the suspension element of the invention,

Figure 6, a fragmentary horizontal section showing a modification in the construction of'the suspension element,

Figure 7, a vertical, partially sectional elevation illustratin a modified method of suspending the casing from a section of the stack,

Figure 8, a-horizontal section in the plane indicated by the line 8-8 Figure 7, looking in the direction of the arrows,

- Figure 9, a section similar to that of Figure 7, but drawn to a smaller scale, showing an other modification of the suspension means,

Figure 10, a vertical partially sectional elevation of two of the stack-sections illustrating still another modification of the element employed for-suspending the casing in the stack, a

Figure 11, a section on'the line 1111 Figure 6, and

Figure 12 a fragmentary horizontal section showing a modified method of placing the ring-segments of the suspension element in engagement with the collar of the casing.

Re erring more in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral 5 designates the basemember of the stack which usually is supported on a, suitable foundation and which supports the outer casing 6 of the well. This outer casing serves in the capacity of a retaining wall in the first stage of boring the well and when in place provides a passage, for the drilling tool in boring the well to greaterdepth. f

The next following string of easing whi obviously is of smaller diameter, is lowered into the outer casing through the medium of a so-called drilling nipple connected at the upper end of the casing by means of a screwthreaded coupling. After the inner casing has been lowered to the entire depth of the well, it is tensioned by upward movement of the nipple, and it is marked at a point above the stack to indicate its required length, and subsequently cut andexteriorly threaded for the application of a collar by which the casing is subsequently adjusted to its proper position in the well and which cooperates with the suspension element to hold the casing in place.

, The collar designated by the numeral 7 is interiorly screw-threaded at one end for its connection with the corresponding end of the casing 8 and it has in its'opposite upper end a screw thread for the application of a lifting pipe 9 by means of which the casing is raised to its proper position with reference to the stack.

It is an aim of the invention to use the collar as a medium for suspending the casing from the base or from a thereto superimposed section of the stack as the case may be, and it is for this purpose provided with a central circumferential groove 10' which provides a shoulder for its connection with the suspension element proper hereinafter to be described. I

The stack hereinbefore repeatedly referred to is built up of sections 12 superimposed on the base member in vertical alinement. The sections commonly known as spools by reason of their form, are each composed of a hollow body of somewhat conical form having upper and lower flanges provided with outwardly projecting slotted lugs for the application of bolts 13 by which thelower section is connected with the base member and each ripper section is connected with the section immediately 'below the same. At the lower end ofv the spool is an annular recess 14 provided with an inwardly projecting segment 15 and at the opposite, upper end of the same is an inwardly projecting rim 16 for the application of a packing ring 17 at the upper edge of the collar 7.

The suspension element hereinbeforereferred to comprises a plu'ralityof segmental members 18 fastened at their outer peripheries inside of a normally circular split spring 19. The members 18conjointly form a broken ring which when the spring is released and allowed to contract engage upon the outer surface of the collar as indicated in the lower portion of Figure 1, and they are provided with inwardly projecting ribs- 18a adapted to enter into the circumferential groove of the collar.

The spool in which the suspension element is disposed rests normally on either. the spool immediately below the same or on the landmeans ing base and when the suspension element occupies its operative position with relation to the collar as hereinabove described, it likewise rests on the lower spool or on the landing base and thereby supports the collar and the string of casing to which it is connected, against vertical displacement.

The segmental members of the suspension element have at their lower surface, ridges 180 which fit inside the spool or base on which the element is supported and thereby lock the members against lateral movement to prevent their accidental separation from the collar understresses due to the weight of the casing or other causes.

The members also extend a distance above the groove of the collar to firmly engage with the exterior surface of the same. The extensions 18d exert a clamping action on the collar by the weight of the casing sus pended from the ribs, which greatly increases the holding power of the suspension element.

Before the spool is applied for the suspension of its respective string of casing, the spring of the suspension-element is in a slightly expanded position, held in the recess of the spool by the engagement of its ends with the shoulders formed at opposite ends of the segmental projection 15 of the recess 14, as illustrated in the upper portion of Figure 1 and in Figure 2. The spring thus positioned spreads the segmental members apart so that the spool may freely move upon the collar of the casing and it is an important feature of the construction that when the suspension element is in its inoperative position the segmental members thereof project below the stack-section with which the suspension element is associated so that the section cannot be lowered to its final position upon the base or the next lower section until the spring has been released from the shoulders in the recess for the purpose of permitting the locking-members to enter the groove of the collar.

When the spring is released from the recess, the spool is free to move to its supporting surface and the operation is completed by fastening the spool in place by means of bolts inserted in the notches of the lugs on its lower flange and of the therewith registering lugs of the upper flange of the base or the lower spool.

In order to permit of their entering the recess of the spool, the segmental'ring sections are shouldered below their extensions to provide an outstanding rid e 186 to which the sping is attached. This ridge is of greater height than the recess of the spool so that when the spring is expanded in the recess, the segments project a greater distance below the spool than when the spring is contracted and the segments have entered the groove of the collar.

The above described arrangement has the added advantage of placing the spring and the segments out of alinement with the recess when the suspension element is" in its operative position thereby locking the sections against accident lateral displacement and insuring their proper position in the groove of the collar.

For the purpose of releasing the springs from the shoulders in the recess when the spool is being lowered on the collar of the casing, the base-plate and each of the spools is proyided with a wedge-shaped projection 20 extending above its upper surface, and the recess of each spool has a space 21 rearward of one of the ends of its shouldered segment into which the wed e may enter.

It will be noted t at when the spool is loweredlthe wedge will gradually release one of the ends of the spring from the shoulder in the recess with which it engages and thereby cause the spring to contract at substantially the same moment that the downward movement of the spoolis arrested by contact with its supporting surface.

The wedge as shown in Figure l is provided by a .pointed stud screwed into an opening in the upper surface of the spool but it is to be understood that other releasing means, either automatic, or manually adjusted, may be employed Within the scope of the invention. K

The spools have in their annular body portions between their flanges, screw-threaded openings 23 for the attachment of conduits through which gases may escape from the well and the stack and packing rings are applied between the spools as at 24, in addition to the packing-rings '17 between the collars and the inwardly extending rims 16 at the upper ends of the spools. These packings preven. LL: gases from escaping otherwise than through the openings provided for the purpose. itt is to be noted that the spaces between the ring-sections by which the casing is suspended in the stack provide passages forthe unobstructed flow of the gases to the openings 23. i

The spools may be provided with centering vanes as shown at25 in Figure 1 to facilitate the placement of the spools around the collars. It is to be understood that the same means for suspending the casings from the spool sections of the stack may be employed to conmeet the outer casing with the base section of the same, as illustrated in Figure 4. 7

It is a distinctive feature of the construction hereinabovedescribed'that the suspension element must be in place with relation -to the collar of the casing before the spool with which the element is associated can be lowered to its final position.

The suspension-element illustrated in Figures 6 and 11 differs from the other in that the ing-segments 18 are fastened to the spring l9 by means of bolts 37, the heads of which extend in a recess 38 of the stack section and thereby hold the element against vertical niotion, the recess being formed in the section at i a short distance above its lower end. But one end of the spring engages a shoulder 39 in the recess and the opposite end of the sprin ,is held in place 'by a screw-bolt extendlng through an opening of the stack-section.

The spring is released by unscrewing the bolt from its threaded aperture, which causes the spring to contract and thereby free its other end from the shoulder in the recess.

It will be ,understood that the ring-segments may be applied to the shouldered collar without the aid of a spring, either manually before the spool is placed over the collar or by set-screws extending through threaded openings in the spool, the last mentioned modification having been illustrated in Figure 12 in which one of the set-screws is designaited by the reference numeral 26.

In the modified construction illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the collar 27 on the casing 8 is supported on a ledge 29 in one of the stack-sections 12 through the medium of two sectional rings 30 and 31 and an interposed packing 32. The packing is preferably composed of three rings in pyramidal arrangement so that they may expand against the walls of the stack-section and the casing by the superimposed weight of the casing.

. The packing 17 between the collar and I the stack-section is applied as before, but the packing which in the first described construction was applied between the stacksections, may be dispensed with.

The modification illustrated in Figure 9 "differs from that of Figure 7 in that the upper ring 30 is eliminated andvits function is performed byan extension 33 of the spool around the collar, adapted to enter the spool on which the casing is suspended, for engage.- mentwith the packing placed upon the lower ring. In this form of the invention the packing which in the other construction is disposed between the upper end of the collar and a ridge in the spool around the same, may be omitted.

In-the construction illustrated in Figure 10 the casing is suspended from the lower stacksection by means of a sectional ring 34: seated in a recess at the upper end thereof. Packings 17 and 24 are disposed as in the first described form of the invention and the ringsections have openings 35 'for. the escape of gases to the opening 23 of the upper s 001.

The constructions illustrated in igures 7 to 10 have an advantage over that of F igure 1 in that ordinary standard collars may be employed for the suspension of the casings and the forms shown in Figures 1 and 10 differ from the others in that they permit of the use of stack-sections of materially reduced height.

All of the forms herein shown and described have common characteristics which distinguish them favorably from other well structures heretofore used but we reserve the privilege ofprotectin any features of construction in the modifications, not found in the preferred form of the invention, in applications for patent divisional of the present one.

Variations in construction and'arrangement of parts other than those herein disclosed, may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as defined in the hereunto appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In well construction, the combination of a casing, a collar on the casingfa stack-sec tion, a suspension-element held in an inactive condition on the section and adapted to cooperate with the collar for suspension of the casing, when released, and means to release the suspension-element.

2. In well construction, the combination of a casing,,a collar on the casing, a stack-section, a spring-urgedsuspension-element held in an inactive condition on the section and adapted to cooperate with the collar for suspension of the casing, when released, and means to release the suspension-element.

3. In well construction, the combination of a casing, a collar on the casing, upper and lower stack sections, a suspension-element held in an inactive condition on said upper section and adapted to cooperate with the collar for suspension of the casing, when released, and means to automatically release the suspension-element by movement of the section onto a supporting surface of said lower section.

4. In well construction, the combination of a casing, a collar on the casing, upper and lower stack-sections, and an element on the upper section adapted to be removed from the upper section and placedon the lower section and thereby cooperate with the collar to suspend the casing from the lower section.

5. In well constructiomthe combinationof a casing. a. collar on the casing. upper and lower stack-sections, an elementon the upper section adapted to be removed from the upper suspend the casing in the stack by cooperasection and placed on the lower section to tion with the collar, the upper section having means to hold the element in an inactive condition, and means on the lower section to release the'element when the upper section is moved onto the lower one.

6. In well construction, the combination of a casing, a collar on the casing, upper and lower stack-sections, an element on the upper section adapted to be removed from the upper section and placed on the lower section to suspend the casing in the stack by cooperation with the collar, the upper section having means to hold the element in an inactive condition, and means to release the element when the upper section is in place' on the lower section.

7. In well construction, the combination of a casing, a shouldered collar on the casing, a shouldered stack-section, a suspension-element comprising ring-members connected by asplit spring and adapted to engage beneath a shoulder of the collar, the spring being capable of holding the members away from the collar by engagement with shoulders of the stack-section, and means for releasing the spring from the shoulders of the stack-section.

8. In well construction, the combination of a casing, a shouldered collar on the casing, a stack-section, a contractible spring-urged suspension-element comprising ring-members adapted to engage beneath a shoulder of the collar, the stack-section having means for holding the element in an expanded condition, and means for releasing the suspensionelement from the section.

- 9. In well construction, the combination of a casing, a shouldered collar on the casing, a suspension element comprising ring-members connected by a split spring and adapted to engage beneath the shoulder of the collar for suspension of the casing, a stack-section having a recess to admit the spring and in said recess, shoulders engaged by the spring to hold the suspension element in an inoperative condition, and means to release the spring.

10.'In well construction, the combination of a casing, a shoulder collar on the casing, a suspension-element comprising ring-members connected by a split spring and adapted to engage beneath the shoulder of the collar for suspension of the casing, a stack-section having a recess to admit the spring and in said recess, shoulders engaged by the spring to hold the suspension-element in an inoperative condition, the ring-members being proportioned relative to the recess to project below the section when the spring engages the shoulders in the recess thereof, and means to release the spring.

11. In well construction, the combination of a casing, a collar at an end thereof, two stack sections, one placed upon the other, a suspension means held in inactive position between said stack sections and adapted to be moved into engagement with the collar and the lower section and thereby suspend the operate with said collar to suspend said cas-' ing from said lower stack-section.

13. In well construction, the combination of a casing, a collar on said casing, upper and lower stack-sections, an element adapted to be removed from said upper section and placed on said lower section to suspend said casing in the stack by cooperation with said collar, said upper section provided with means to hold said element in an inactive condition, and means on the lower section adapted to release said element when said upper section is moved onto said lower section.

14;. In well, construction, the combination of a casing, a collar on said casing, upper and lower stack-sections, means adapted to be removed from said upper section and placed on said lower section for suspending the casing in the stack by cooperation with said collar, means on said upper section for holding said removable means in an inactive condition,

and means on said lower section to release said removable means when said upper section is moved onto said lower section.

15. In well construction, the combination. of a casing, a collar on said casing, upper and lower stack-sections, means associated with I and adapted to be removed from said upper section and placed on said lowers'ection for suspending said casing in said stack by cooperation with said collar, meanson said upper section for holding said removable means in an inactive condition, and'meanson said lower, section adapted to release said removable means when said upper section is moved onto said lower section. 1

16. In well construction, the combination of a casing, a collar on said casing, upper and associated with said upper section and adapted to be removed from said section and placed on said lower section for suspending said casing in said stackby cooperation with said collar, means'for holding said spring actuated means in'inactive condition, and means on said lower section or releasing said spring holding said suspension element in inactive condition, and means to automatically release said suspension element by movement of said upper section onto a supporting surface of said lower section. I

19. In a well construction, the combination of a casing, a collar on one end of said casing, upper and lower stack-section, a spring urged suspension element held in inactive condition on said upper section and adapted to cooperate with said collar for suspending said casing, means for holding said element in inactive condition, and means to "automatically releasesaid element by movement of said upper section onto said lower section.

In testimony whereof we have aifixed our signatures. v

QI-IARLES L. DEAN.

FRANK A. LOCKWOOD.

GEORGE B. RICHIE.

' lower stack-sections, spring actuated means actuated means when said upper section is.

moved onto said lower section.

17. In well construction, the combmation of a caslng, a collarpn one end of said casing,

' upper and lower stack-sections, spring urged means normally associated with said upper section and adapted to be removed therefrom and placed on said lower section for suspending said casing in said stack by cooperation with said collar, -means for holding said spring urged means in inactive condition, and

means on said lower section adapted to release said spring urged means when said upper section is moved onto said lower section.

18. In well construction, the combination of a casin a collar on one end of said casing, upper an lower stack-sections, a suspension element held in inactive condition on said upper section and adapted to cooperate with said

Images