US2037938A - Collar breaker - Google Patents

Description

April 21, 1936. SPENCER 2,037,938

COLLAR BREAKER Filed Oct. 10, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1v VEN TOR L. SPENCER COLLAR BREAKER pril 21, 1936.

Filed Oct. 10, 19

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 'llllllllll April 21, 1936. L. SPENCER 2,037,933

COLLAR BREAKER Filed Oct. 10, 1934 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ..II 6 I -i;

50 gg f 44 ya [NVENTOR 47 O qgmw operated electrically and though carrying Patented Apr. 21,. 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAR BREAKER.

Application October 10, 1934, Serial No. 747,803

21 Claims.

My invention relates to collar breakers and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a collar breaker which is particularly adapted for operation within well tubing or casing while suspended therein by a cable;

Second, to provide a collar breaker of this class which fires several projectiles through the collar simultaneously and in a manner to cause the collar to split axially so that the adjoining tubing or casing may be readily separated;

Third, to provide a collar breaker which incorporates a novel means and method of locating the collars or joints in the tubing or casing so that the projectiles may penetrate the collar at the desired points;

Fourth, to provide a collar breaker which is an explosive is entirely safe to handle;

Fifth, to provide a collar breaker which will not hang up in the tubing or casing, the collar locating fingers being so positioned that the collar breaker may be raised or lowered even though the locating fingers fail to assume a collapsed posiion;

Sixth, to provide a tool of this class which readily lends itself to streamlining so that it readily passes through the tubing or casing even though the same is filled with liquid or oil well mud; and

Seventh, to provide on the whole a novelly constructed collar breaker which is durable and efficient in its action.

With the above and other objects in view as may hereinafter appear, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of my collar breaker in its one form with the supporting cable -shownfragmentarily; Figure 2 is'an enlarged fragmentary partial sectional, partial elevational view thereof taken through 22 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through 33 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is another transverse sectional view through 4-4 of Figure 2; Figure 5 is another transverse sectional view through 5-5 of Figure 2; and Figure 6 is a diagrammatical view of the electrical elements of my collar breaker;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary, partial sectional, partial elevational view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a modified form of my collar breaker; Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view thereof through 8-8 of Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a diagrammatical view illustrating the electrical elements of my modified collar breaker;

Figure 10 is an elevational view of a'further modification of my collar breaker showing diagrammatically its association with cable length and tension measuring devices; Figure 11 is an enlarged sectional view thereof taken through HH of Figure 10 with parts and portions in 5 elevation; Figure 12 is a transverse sectional view through l2-l2 of Figure 11, and Figure 13 is a transverse sectional view through l3-I3 of Figure 11.

Attention is first directed to Figures 1 to 6. 19 The structure here illustrated comprises a body member I, which carries an explosive cartridge and projectiles as well as collar locating fingers to be described hereinafter; a shell 2 connected to the upper end of the body'member; and a cable 5 head So attached to the upper end of the shell 2.

A supporting and conducting cable 3 is fastened to the head and is connected to suitable apparatus, not shown, for raising and lowering the tool as well as supplying electrical energy thereto. 20

The lower end of the body member is tapered to form a blunt point. The lower end of the body member is provided with a socket la, the inner portion of which receives a cartridge 4. Said cartridge is slightly tapered towards its inner end and is formed of relatively heavy gauge metal. The inner end, 4a, is in the form of a plug and is insulated from the remainder of the cartridge. The plug is connected with the opposite or grounded end of the cartridge by a fusible wire 41).

Three lateral and parallel disposed bores lb intersect the socket Ia and are adapted to receive projectiles 5. The ends of the bores are covered with suitable sealing disks 6. l

The outer portion of the socket la receives a plug 1 designed to withstand the explosive force of the cartridge. Said plug forms a continuation of the tapered lower end of the body member.

The upper end of the body member is provided with a large axially directed recess Ic at the base 40 of which is a smaller screwthreaded recess. The walls of the recess lc form a sleeve fit with the lower portion of the shell 2, while the screwthreaded recess receives the screwthreaded extremity of a solenoid pole piece to be described hereinafter.

The body member is provided with three axially directed channels ld disposed so as to clear the bores I b. The upper end of each channel Id intersects the recess lc at its lower portion and extends downwardly until it merges into the tapered lower end of the body member. Each channel is traversed by a pin 8 near its upper end which journals a collar locating member 9 intermediate its ends. The lower arm 9a of each member 9 is relatively long and is provided with a rounded boss or lug 9b near its lower end which is adapted to engage the walls of the tubing or casing and enter the spaces between adjacent sections joined by collars. Below the lug So each member finger turns inwardly and maintains a position in the corresponding channel Id throughout the movement of the collar locating member.

The other arm of each collar locating member extends upwardly and terminates in an inturned arcuate armature 9d which is adapted to coact with a solenoid and pole members to be described hereinafter.

The shell 2 is made of non-magnetic material and is substantially uniform in section except for a reduced lower end 2a which fits snugly within the upper portion of the recess lc as shown in Figure 2. The lower portion of the shell 2 contains a solenoid ID. The solenoid is provided with an inner'pole piece ll extending therethrough in concentric relation with the shell 2 and body I and protruding below the shell 2. The inner pole piece is screwthreaded at its extremity for connection with the screwthreaded socket at the bottom of the recess lc. Above its screwthreaded extremity, the pole piece II is provided with a flange or annular rib Ha having a beveled or frusto conical upper surface. Above the flange Ha, the pole piece is provided with a. sleeve l2 of non-magnetic material.

An outer pole piece It is fitted within the shell 2 around the solenoid l0 and below the solenoid is constricted as indicated by I30. in conformity with the reduced lower end of the shell, and terminates in a downwardly and inwardly beveled end i3b spaced upwardly from the flange lid to form therewith an annular, substantially v-shaped channel, the base of which is defined by the lower extremity of the sleeve l2. The reduced lower end 2a of the shell, constricted portion I30. of the outer pole piece, sleeve [2 and corresponding portion of the inner pole piece are welded or otherwise secured together to form an integral strong lower end for the shell 2.

The armatures 9d of the several collar locaters are attracted into the channel formed between the rib Ila and end lib of the inner and outer pole pieces when the solenoid is energized. Below the rib i la the inner pole piece is surrounded by a band from which extend leaf springs II, the extremities of which bear against the upwardly directed arms of the several collar locaters to urge them outwardly and thereby urge the lower arms inwardly and clear of the walls of the tubing or casing in which the collar breaker is inserted.

The body member I is provided with a small bore communicating between the cartridge chamber and the screw-threaded recess. Said bore alines with a small bore through the inner pole piece H. A small insulated conductor fits l5 within the bores and engages the plug la of the cartridge.

Above the solenoid the shell 2 is provided with a bridge disk It connecting the pole pieces and above said disk space is provided for receiving a remotely controlled switch or analogous device designated I1 and shown diagrammatically in Figure 6. Said switch includes contacts lla. in series with the cartridge 4 and a solenoid Hb in parallel with the solenoid It. An armature coacts with the solenoid "b and. operates an overcenter link and lever arrangement "c to close the contacts Ila when the current through the solenoid exceeds a predetermined value. A spring lld normally holds the over-center arrangement free of the contacts.

Current is supplied through the cable which may carry a single conductor, the other side of the circuit being grounded. The cable is connected to a source of direct current preferably through a variable resistance IS. A milli-ammeter II is suitably positioned in the circuit.

Operation of the structure illustrated in Figures 1 to B inclusive is as follows:

The device is lowered in the tubing or casing A until slightly below the desired level. Thereupon the solenoid i0 is energized, causing the collar locaters to bear against the casing. The device is then raised until the collar locaters enter a channel 13 formed between adjacent sections of tubing. When the locators snap into the channel B, the resulting sudden movement of the armatures 9d is registerable on a milli-ammeter I 8. Or a suitable weight indicator may be associated with the cable as described hereinafter in conjunction with a modified form of my collar breaker, and the collar located by the increased load on the cable. Upon locating the collar, the current to the solenoid I0 is raised momentarily until the switch l6 completes the circuit through the cartridge and fires the projectiles. The localized pressure exerted against the collar along its axis, preferably at its connection with one only of the connected sections of casing, splits the collar longitudinally so that the upper section can be pulled from the lower.

The collar locating members are adapted to be inserted through the recess ie before connecting the shell 2 and body I. Several sizes of collar locating members may be used with the same size of body and shell, but it is desirable to use as large a body member as possible.

Attention is now directed to Figures 7, 8, and 9. The structure here illustrated difiers in its operation over the first described structure in that the collarlocating members normally occupy an extended position by spring action and the electrical means is used only to indicate when the locating members enter the space between adjacent sections of tubing.

The body member, designated 2| of the present structure, is provided with the cartridge socket and projectile and bores as in the first described structure. The upper end of the body member is constricted and is provided with a recess 2Ia which receives a. correspondingly shaped reduced end 22a. of a shell member 22. Above its reduced end 220 the shell member is provided with a stepped shoulder fiush with the constricted end of the body member and the two members are here welded together.

The body member 2| is provided with three longitudinally extending channels 21b which continue part way along the shell 22 as indicated by 22b. The shell 22 is circular internally except for a region near its lower end which is generally triangular in cross-section with the flat sides corresponding to and opposite the continuations 22b of the three channels 2"). Each fiat side is apertured opposite the corresponding channel and receives a small cup member 23 which is welded by its rim to the outer margin of the aperture to define a sealed recess or socket in the upper end of each channel 22b. Each cup member protrudes into the shell 22 and forms a spool for receiving a relatively fiat solenoid coil 24 and is formed of non-magnetic material except for its inner end. A triangular retainer member 25 fits loosely within the shell 22 to retain the several solenoid coils in position. The'retainer member and shell are formed of permeable magnetic material.

Each channel 2 lb is provided near its upper end with a pin 26 which journals a collar locating member 21. Each collar locating member comprises a longer depending arm 21a at the lower portion of which is a lug or shoe 21b. The upper or shorter arm, designated 21a of each collar 10- cating member, extends into the continuation channels 22b and is equipped with a laterally directed armature 21d adapted to fit within a corresponding cup member 23 when the shoe 21b is extended. Springs 28 set in socket 2 ie formed in the body member 2| urge the shoes outwardly.

As in the first described structure, an insulated conductor 29 extends from the cartridge into the shell 22.

The shell 22 is connected with the cable head 3a and cable 3 as in the first described structure. The cable in this instance, however, is connected with its source of direct current through a polarity reversing switch 30. Within the shell 22 there is mounted a suitable polarized relay 3| or similar device which is arranged to connect the three solenoid coils 24 with the direct current supply when one side is grounded and to connect the cartridge therewith when the other side is grounded.

Operation of the structure disclosed in Figures 7, 8, and 9 is as follows: I

The collar breaker is run in the tubing or casing with the fingers riding on the walls thereof and engaging the collars as they pass, sufficient weight being provided to overcome the action of the springs 28. When approximately the desired depth is reached, the collar breaker is either raised or lowered while the solenoid coils 24 are energized until a collar is encountered, which fact will be indicated on the milli-ammeter 32. The collar breaker may be caused to pass several times over the collar to ascertain whether or not the collar is located. When the desired collar is located, the polarity of the circuit is reversed, causing the ignition of the explosive charge. A suitable weight indicator on the cable is quite helpful when used in conjunction with the ammeter.

Attention is now directed to Figures 10 to 13 inclusive. This structure utilizes a weight indicator in place of the milli-ammeter and associated electrical apparatus for determining the location of a collar. The body member, designated 4|, is provided with a deep socket extending therein from its upper end, the innermost portion of which is slightly tapered to receive a cartridge 42. This cartridge is similar to the cartridge 4 except that the insulated plug 42a is at the larger end and the fusible wire 42b is grounded at the smaller end. One or more bores 4|a extend lateral from the cartridge and are disposed in vertical alinement. The bores are sealed at their extremities by disks 8 and are supplied with projectiles 5.

The body member 4| is provided with three longitudinally extending channels 4|b at the upper ends of which are mounted pins 43 which journal depending collar locating members 44. Each collar locating member is provided near its lower end with a collar locating roller 44a which rides against the walls of the tubing or casing and at its extremity, which is inturned, with a second or cam roller 45.

The bottom end of the body member 4| is provided with a recess 4|c.from the center of which depends a stem 4|d. A cam sleeve 46 is slidably mounted on said stem. Said cam sleeve is provided with an upwardly converging trusto-conical cam portion 48a which engages the rollers 45. Below the cam sleeve 46 the stem 11 carries a cup-shaped nose piece 41 which complements the body member to provide a bullet shaped lower end therefor. A spring 48 fits between the nose piece 41 and cam sleeve 46 to urge the cam sleeve upwardly and thereby shift the several collar locating members outwardly.

The outer portion of the socket provided in the upper end of the body member 4| is provided with a buttress thread and receives a correspondingly threaded lower end of a plug member 49, designed to withstand the force of combustion within the cartridge 42. The upper portion of the plug member 49 is screwthreaded to receive the lower end of a weight tube 50. The plug member is provided with a small bore therethrough which receives a snugv fitting insulated conductor 5| which contacts the cartridge 42. The weight tube 5|] is suitably connected with the cable head 3a and cable 3 and the conductor is joined to the conductor portion of the cable.

The cable is suitably wound on a drum and connected with a source of electrical energy, not shown. First, however, the cable passes over a measuring sheave 52 embodying a suitable measuring device. Said sheave is supported by a suitable weight indicating device 53. For simplicity. these devices are shown as being readable directly, but actually they are equipped with Selsyn motors or the like to permit reading from a remote point such as at the cable drum.

Operation of the structure shown in Figures 11 to 13 is as follows: The collar breaker is run into the tubing or casing until the desired depth is reached, whereupon the cable is slowly raised or lowered as desired until the weight indicator indicates an increased or decreased load as the case may be. When the collar is located, the cartridge is fired.

It should be understood that while I have shown the weight and length measuring devices in conjunction with the last described structure, these devices aid materially in the operation of the. first described structures and in actual .practice are so used.

In each of the structures illustrated, the cartridge shells are designed to act as delayed firing means so as to build up an initial pressure before rupturing.

Though I have shown and described several embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to such embodiments but desire to .include in the scope of my invention the struc tures covered by the following claims:

I claim:

l. A collar breaker for tubing or the like which is connected by collars, the connecting portions of which define internal channels, comprising: a plurality of yieldable fingers adapted to ride in either direction along the interior of the tubing and into and across connecting portions of said collars; means for indicating engagement of said yieldable fingers with said collars; and a retrievable explosive actuated means forsplitting a collar engaged by said fingers.

2. A collar breaker for tubing or the like which is connected by collars, the connecting portions of which define internal channels, comprising: a plurality of depending fingers yieldably engageable with the interior of the tubing and arranged to ride in either direction into and across the connecting portions of said collars; means for indicating engagement 01' said fingers with said collars; and a retrievable explosive actuated means for splitting a collar engaged by said fingers.

3. A collar breaker for tubing or the like which is connected by collars, the connecting portions of which define internal channels, .comprising: a gun unit arranged to fire a projectile through a surrounding collar; a plurality oi pivotally mounted fingers mounted above said gun unit and depending along the sides thereof, and shaped to fit within but ride in either direction past said channels, said gun unit adapted to cocupy a position for splitting a collar when said fingers fit in the corresponding channel; and means for detecting entry of said fingers into said channels.

4. In a collar breaker for well tubing or the like positioned within a well bore wherein the tubing sections are joined in slightly spaced relation with each other by collars; a body structure; a cable for lowering and raising the body structure within said tubing; yieldable collar engaging elements carried by said body structure, adapted to be lowered or raised past any of said collars; means disposed exteriorly of the well bore and associated with said elements through said cable for indicating the location of a collar engaged by said elements; and a gun unit associated with said body structure and disposed so as to direct a collar splitting projectile against a collar and between said elements.

5. In a collar breaker for well tubing or the like positioned within a well bore wherein the tubing sections are joined in slightly spaced relation with each other by collars; a retrievable gun unit arranged to direct against a surrounding collar an explosive charge calculated to split the same; a collar locating means for said gun unit comprising a plurality oi collar engaging elements disposed to engage yieldingly a collar surrounding said gun unit and arranged to make readily separable connections 'therewith, and indicating means exteriorly of the well bore responsive to such engagement.

6. In a collar breaker; a device insertable in a well casing or tubing to engage internally a collarconnected joint; electrically responsive means for indicating such engagement; and an electrically operable gun unit positioned to discharge a projectile through the collar of a joint engaged by said device.

7. In a collar breaker; a device insertable in a well casing or tubing to engage internally a collar connected joint; electrically responsive means for indicating such engagement; an electrically operable gun unit positioned to discharge a projectile through the collar oi. a joint engaged by said device; a common supply for said indicating means and said gun unit; and control means for operating said indicating means independently of said gun unit.

8. In a collar breaker for well tubing or the like positioned within a well bore wherein the tubing sections are joined in slightly spaced relation with each other by collars; an electrically responsive collar locating means; and an electrically operated gun unit arranged to fire a collar splitting charge through a collar located by said means.

9. In a collar breaker for well tubing or the like positioned within a well bore wherein the tr'sing sections are joined in slightly spaced relation with each other by collars; an electrically responsive collar locating means; an electrically operated gun unit arranged to fire a collar splitting charge through a collar located by said means; a control mechanism adapted to be connected with said collar locating means and said gun unit; and a unitary supply circuit leading to said control mechanism, said control mechanism arranged to permit operation of said collar locating means independently 01 said gun unit.

10. In a collar breaker for well tubing or the like positioned within a well bore wherein the tubing sections are joined in slightly spaced relation with each other by collars; a gun unit arranged to direct against a surrounding collar an explosive charge calculated to split the same; and a collar locating means for said gun unit comprising a plurality of collar engaging elements arranged to move into the space between adjacent sections of tubing connected by a collar surrounding said gun unit, and electrical means for indicating such movement.

11. In a collar breaker for well tubing or the like positioned within a well bore wherein the tubing sections are joined in slightly spaced relation with each other by collars; the combination with a gun unit arranged to direct against a surrounding collar an explosive charge calculated to split thesame; of a collar locating means comprising, a plurality of yieldable fingers arranged to ride along the walls of said tubing and enter the joints therebetween; and electrically operated means associated with said fingers to detect movement of said fingers into said joints, said fingers being positioned to engage a joint connected by a collar surrounding said gun unit.

12. In a collar breaker for well tubing or the like positioned within a well bore wherein the tubing sections are joined in slightly spaced relation with each other by collars; the combination with a gun unit arranged to direct against a surrounding collar an explosive charge calculated to split the same; of a collar locating means comprising, a plurality of fingers, means normally withholding said fingers from contact with the tubing, and magnetically operated means for yieldably urging said fingers against the walls of the tubing and into the joints therebetween; said fingers being positioned to engage a joint connected by a collar surrounding said gun unit.

13. In a collar breaker for well tubing or the like positioned within a well bore wherein the tubing sections are joined in slightly spaced relation with each other by collars; the combination with a gun unit arranged to direct against a surrounding collar an explosive charge calculated to 4 split the same; of a collar locating means comprising, a plurality of fingers, means normally withholding said fingers from contact with the tubing, and magnetically operated means for yieldably urging said fingers against the walls of the tubing and into the joints therebetween, said fingers being positioned to engage a joint connected by a collar surrounding said gun unit; and an indicating device associated with said magnetically operated means for indicating engagement of said fingers with a joint.

14. In a collar breaker for well tubing or the like positioned within a well bore wherein the tubing sections are joined in slightly spaced relation with each other by collars; a body structure; a cable for lowering and raising the body structure within said tubing; a plurality of yieldable fingers carried by said body structure and engageable with the walls of the tubing and the joints therebetween; and electrically operated means associated with said fingers to detect movement of said fingers into said joints; and a gun unit associated with said body structure and disposed so as-to direct a collar splitting projectile through a collar embracing the joint located by said fingers.

15. In a collar breaker for well tubing or the like positioned within tubing sections are joined in slightly spaced relation with each other by collars; a body structure; a cable for lowering and raising the body structure within said tubing; a plurality of yieldable fingers carried by said body structure and engageable with the walls of the tubing and the joints therebetween; means normally withholding said fingers from contact with the tubing; and magnetically operated means for yieldably urging said fingers against the walls of the tubing and into the joints therebetween.

16. In a collar breaker for well tubing or casing; a body structure including a gun unit arranged to drive projectiles through a surrounding collar to split the same; a cable for raising and lowering said body structure within a string of tubing or casing; a plurality of yieldable fingers arranged to engage the walls of the tubing and enter the joints between adjacent sections; and means for measuring the variation in tension on said cable as said fingers pass said joints.

17. In a collar locating means; a plurality of yieldable fingers arranged to ride along the walls of a tubing string and engage internally joints between sections of said tubing string; and magnetically operated means associated with said fingers to detect movement thereof into said joints.

18. In a collar locating means; a plurality of yieldable fingers arranged to ride along the walls of a tubing string and engage internally joints between sections of said tubing string; means nora well bore wherein the mally withholding said fingers from contact with the tubing walls; and magnetically operated means for yieldably urging said fingers against the walls of the tubing and into the joints therebetween.

19. In a collar locating means; a plurality of yieldable fingers arranged to ride along the walls of a tubing string andengage internally joints between sections of said tubing string; means normally withholding said fingers from contact with the tubing walls; magnetically operated means for yieldably urging. said fingers against the walls of the tubing and into the joints therebetween; and a device for indicating movement of said fingers into said joints in response to said magnetically operated means.

20. In a retrievable collar breaker for well tubing or the like wherein a variation in the diameter of the tubing occurs at the joints thereof; a joint locating means including circumferentially spaced finger elements adapted to ride along the interior of the tubing; and a retrievable gun unit mounted within the area defined by said finger elements and having a laterally directed barrel adapted to fire a joint splitting projectile between said finger. elements and through the joint located thereby.

21. In a tool for breaking in situ well tubing wherein a variation in diameter of the tubing occurs at the joints thereof; the combination with a retrievable gun unit arranged-to direct against a surrounding joint an explosive charge calculated to split the same; of a collar locating means comprising a plurality of fingers engageable with the walls of the tubing opposite said gun unit; and magnetically operated means for indicating movement of said fingers past a joint in said tubing.

. LLOYD SPENCER.

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