US20030051871A1

US20030051871A1 - Plastic packer

Info

Publication number: US20030051871A1
Application number: US09/953,982
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard Swineford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-09-17
Filing date: 2001-09-17
Publication date: 2003-03-20

Abstract

This invention is a packer that is a short pipe designed fit over a well pipe. The bottom of the pipe flares outward to provide a seal between the packer and the adjacent strata of earth or well casing. An annular ring is placed at the top of the flared section to create a more secure seal between the packer and the well casing. The packer is made of plastic and can be cast in a single step process. The packer is designed to easily attach to a well pipe in that the inside of the top of the packer that fits over the well pipe has numerous knurls running parallel to each other and along the pipe. These trenches are designed to allow glue to flow down between the well pipe and the packer to ensure attachment of the packer to the well pipe.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The conventional packer now in use consists of a funnel shaped object, made of rubber that is attached to the well pipe with a clamp.

A packer has to be designed to insure that the water or liquid below it in the well flows through the packer and the well pipe, not between the packer and the well pipe casing or the adjacent strata of earth. Therefore, the packer has a means for stopping the flow of liquid around it. There are a great number of methods in the prior art used to achieve this goal. The one most used is to place one or more annular rings on the outside of the packer. These annular rings can be about any shape. P. Kollsman—U.S. Pat. No. 3,305,367 1968 in FIGS. 1 through 12 shows many of the shapes these annular rings could take. No matter what the shape of the annular rings, they work by fitting tight against the wall of the casing. Basically, all of the methods of stopping the flow work on the principal of fitting tightly against the casing so that no water can pass. Some packers have packs that expand against the casing after they are placed in the well casing. The usual method of causing this expansion is compression on the packer or having a ring or part that expands when wet. Another expansion method is expansion of a balloon-like structure against the pipe casing with a gas. Most conventional packer also contains annular rings made out of elastomer material, usually rubber, around the outside to provide a seal between the packer and the adjacent strata of earth.

The conventional packer most commonly used for the type of wells that the inventor packer is used consists of a funnel shaped pipe, made of rubber that is attached to the well pipe with a clamp.

There are numerous problems with this packer. The first being that it is made of rubber and tears easily when being placed in the casing and when in use. Thus one of the objectives of this invention is to create a packer that does not tear easily and will last a long time in the casing and around the well pipe. Another problem with the conventional packer is that it is attached to the well pipe with a clamp. This clamp is usually made of steel. Thus, the clamp will corrode in the wet environment of a well. Therefore, one of the objectives of this invention is to be able to attach the packer to the well pipe by a means that does not corrode. There are other problems with the clamp. First, one needs to buy or find two parts instead of one. Secondly the two parts makes it more difficult to place the packer on the pipe. Another objective of this invention is to create a packer made out of a single material that can easily be placed on the well pipe with glue. By making the packer out of a single material, one can inexpensively manufacture the packer by molding.

There are numerous advantages of the invention. First, the packer is made out of plastic. Plastic is chosen for the packer because it has outstanding hydrolysis resistance and will not corrode like metal of the clamp. The invention also insures a longer life of the well casing and well pipe, since the plastic packer will not enhance corrosion of the well casing or the well pipe.

Another advantage is that the plastic packer is made of one material. This means it can be molded in a single step process. Therefore, the plastic packer can be produced easier and with less expense. If the plastic packer is made out of polyvinyl chloride, it will have much better tear resistance than the rubber used on the conventional packer. This will make the annular ring seals much tougher and more resistant to tearing. The plastic packer is also glued to the well pipe. This makes for quick an easy attachment to the pipe.

One of the unique features of this packer which is not found on other packer in the art is a set of knurls. These knurls are place on the inside of the packer where the packer meets the well pipe. To place the packer on the well pipe the pipe is wiped with a solvent and glue is placed on the pipe where the packer is to be placed. The packer is then pulled over the pipe and into place over the glue and the glue is forced into the knurls and between the packer and the well pipe. An area at the bottom of the packer has no knurls and keeps the glue from seeping out from between the packer and the knurls.

Another unique feature of the packer which is not found on the conventional packer now in use is the annular ring at the top of the packer. The conventional packer is a conic section but does not have the annular ring at the top. This annular ring makes for a much better seal against the well pipe casing then just the top of the conic section. This annular insures that the water in the well passes up the inside of the well pipe and not around the well pipe and the packer.

The object of this invention is to produce a packer that is easier and less expensive to manufacture, easier to work with, has a long life, and will not corrode. The main features that make the invention achieve these objectives is that the packer is made of only one material, plastic.

SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the bottem view of the invention. [0010]
FIG. 2 is a sectional view along line b-b of FIG. 1 of the invention that shows the knurls. [0011]
FIG. 3 is a view of the packer on the well pipe with the well casing cut away. [0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a packer that is a short pipe designed fit over a well pipe. The top of the pipe flares outward to provide a seal between the packer and the adjacent strata of earth or well casing. An annular ring is placed at the top of the flared section to create a more secure seal between the packer and the well casing. The packer is made of plastic and can be cast in a single step process. The packer is designed to easily attach to a well pipe in that the inside of the top of the packer that fits over the well pipe has numerous knurls running parallel to each other and along the pipe. These trenches are designed to allow glue to flow down between the well pipe and the packer to ensure attachment of the packer to the well pipe. [0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of the invention. FIG. 2 is a section view of the invention along line b-b of FIG. 1. FIG. 1 and [0014] 2 shows that at the bottom of the packer 10 is a short, cylindrical piece 12. In the preferred embodiment the cylindrical piece 12 is approximately 2 inches long. The diameter of the cylindrical piece 12 is determined by the size of the well pipe. Integrally attached to the top of the cylindrical piece 12 is a flared piece 14. The flared piece 14 is circular at the top and bottom. The bottom of the flared piece 14 which integrally attaches to the cylindrical piece 12 and has the same diameter as the cylindrical piece 12. The top diameter of the flared piece 14 is larger than the bottom diameter. Integrally attached to the top of the flared piece 14 is an annular ring 18. The inner diameter of the annular ring 18 is the same diameter as the diameter of the flared piece 14. In the preferred embodiment the annular ring is approximately ⅝ of an inch.
FIG. 2 shows that on the inside of the [0015] cylindrical piece 12 is a set of knurls 20. These knurls 20 run length wise down the cylindrical piece 12 and in the preferred embodiment, the set runs all the way around the inner circumference of the cylinder. The knurls 20 in the preferred embodiment are approximately {fraction (1/64)} of an inch wide. The knurls 20 do not run fully down the cylindrical piece 12. At the bottom of the cylindrical piece is an area 26 that the knurls 20 do not extend within. In the preferred embodiment this area 26 is approximately ¼ of an inch.
FIG. 3 shows the [0016] packer 10 within a well 22. To place the packer 10 on the well pipe 24, the well pipe 24 is wiped with a solvent and glue is placed on the well pipe 24 where the packer 10 is to be placed. The packer 10 is then pulled over the well pipe 24 and into place over the glue and the glue is forced into the knurls 20 and between the packer 10 and the well pipe 24. An area 26 at the bottom of the packer 10 which has no knurls 20, keeps the glue from seeping out from between the packer 10 and the well pipe 24. Thus when the glue dries the packer 10 to securely attach to the well pipe 24. The well pipe 24 is then placed in the well 22. The outer diameter of the angular ring 18 is slightly larger than diameter of the well 22. Thus, the angular ring 18 slightly bends on the end as it is placed into the well 22 forming a secure seal that will not allow water to pass between the packer 10 and the earthen sides 26 of well 22 or the adjacent strata.
One of the most important features of the [0017] packer 10 is that the packer 10 is made of plastic. In the preferred embodiment, the packer 10 is made out of polyvinyl chloride. However, other plastics of sufficient stiffness and hydraulic qualities could be used. Plastic is chosen for the packer because it has outstanding hydrolysis.
Another important feature is that the [0018] packer 10 is made of one material. This means that it can be molded by a single-step process. It can basically be molded by six different processes: open cast, compression molding, transfer molding, injection molding, centrifugal casting, and vacuum molding. In the open cast method the plastic is poured into an open plastic packer 10 mold and allowed to set. The mold is then opened and the plastic packer is taken out. In the compression molding method the plastic is put into an expanded mold. The mold is then compressed and held until the plastic has set. The plastic packer (10) is then removed from the mold. In transfer molding the plastic is then forced through sprues and runners in a compression mold of the plastic packer (10). The plastic is held in the compression mold under pressure until it has set. In the injection mold process the plastic material in a fluid or semi-fluid is forced into the mold of the plastic packer (10) under pressure and held until the reactants set. In centrifugal casting the plastic material enters the center of the plastic packer mold and is pushed into the mold cavity by centrifugal force. The centrifugal force continues until all the reactants have set. In the vacuum molding the plastic packer (10) mold is placed in a vacuum chamber and the air is evacuated. The mold is then filled with plastic and held until the reactants have set.
Many changes and modifications in the above described embodiment of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appending claim. [0019]

Claims

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A packer for a water well which attaches near the end of a well pipe and said well pipe has an outer diameter comprising:

a. a piece which is cylindrical with two ends and an inside and an outside adapted to allow liquids to flow through it and said piece has a diameter and a inter diameter and said inter diameter is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the well pipe; and,

b. a flared piece with a top and bottom said bottom of the flared piece is integrally attached to the piece and the bottom of the flared piece diameter is the same as the piece's diameter and said bottom of the flared piece has an outer diameter; and,

c. a means for stopping liquids from flowing between the outside of the packer and an adjacent strata or well casing; and

d. the packer is made of a single material; and

e. the packer is attached to the well pipe by gluing.

2. A packer as in claim 1 wherein:

a. the single material is plastic.

3. A packer as in claim 1 wherein:

a. the means for stopping liquids from flowing between the outside of the packer and an adjacent strata or well casing is an annular ring integrally attached to the top of the flared piece and said annular ring's inter diameter is the same as the flared piece outer diameter and the outer diameter of the annular ring is of sufficient size that when the packer is attached to the well pipe and placed in the well that the annular ring makes contact with the well casing or the adjacent strata and stops the flow of liquids between the packer and the well casing or the adjacent strata.

4. A packer as in claim 2 wherein:

a. a. the means for stopping liquids from flowing between the outside of the packer and an adjacent strata or well casing is an annular ring integrally attached to the top of the flared piece and said annular ring's inter diameter is the same as the flared piece outer diameter and the outer diameter of the annular ring is of sufficient size that when the packer is attached to the well pipe and placed in the well that the annular ring makes contact with the well casing or the adjacent strata and stops the flow of liquids between the packer and the well casing or the adjacent strata.

5. A packer as in claim 1 further comprising:

a. a set of knurls running around the inside circumference of the piece and said knurls are parallel to each other and run lengthwise along the piece.

6. A packer as in claim 5 wherein:

a. the knurls on the inside of the cylindrical piece do not run fully to the bottom of the cylindrical piece forming a small area without knurls.

7. A packer as in claim 6 wherein:

a. the knurls are design such that when the packer is attached to the well pipe glue can be distributed above the top of the cylindrical piece and when the packer is pulled over the glue, the glue is forced into the knurls and the area which the knurls do not extend within keeps the glue from seeping out the bottom of the packer and makes for a more secure attachment of the packer to the well pipe when the glue dries.

8. A packer as in claim 2 further comprising:

9. A packer as in claim 8 wherein:

10. A packer as in claim 9 wherein:

a. the knurls are design such that when the packer is attached to the well pipe glue can be distributed around the well pipe and when the packer is pulled down the well pipe over the glue, the glue is force into the knurls and the area which the knurls do not extend within keeps the glue from seeping out the bottom of the packer and makes for a more secure attachment of the packer to the well pipe when the glue dries.

11. A packer as in claim 4 further comprising:

12. A packer as in claim 11 wherein:

13. A packer as in claim 12 wherein:

14. A packer as in claim 5 wherein:

a. the knurls on the inside of the cylindrical piece do not run fully to the bottom of the cylindrical piece.

15. A packer as in claim 14 wherein:

16. A packer as in claim 15 wherein:

17. A packer as in claim 2 wherein:

a. the single material is polyvinyl chloride.

18. A packer as in claim 1 prepared by a process comprising:

a. molding or casting the packer.

19. A packer as in claim 2 prepared by a process comprising:

a. molding or casting the packer.

20. A packer as in claim 4 prepared by a process comprising:

a. molding or casting the packer.