US2059901A - Well packer - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 3, 1936. B. E. PARRISH WELL PACKER 5 Shets-Sheet l Filed May 20, 1935 Nov.`3, 1936. B. E. PARRlsl-l 2,059,901

WELL PACKER NOV. 3, 1936. B, E, PARRISH 2,059,901

WELL PACKER Filed May 20, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q :l t A, 4

Nov. 3, 1936. B. E. PARRlsH WELL PACKER Filed May 20, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 gmc/nba@ en/'amm E. Parr/'JA Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNiTED STTE "iAi'N'i' FFIGE Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in well packers. Y

One object of the invention is to provide an improved packer which may be anchored at any point within a well casing and which may be utilized for supporting a working barrel, or for any other purpose.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved packer for packing off a well casing which may be anchored at any point within the casing, and having releasing means for readily removing said packer at any desired time; the packer being capable of supporting a pump whereby the use of tubing, together with its cost and disadvantages, is eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved packer including two sets of slips, one to prevent upward movement, the other to prevent downward movement, and means for releasing both sets of slips simultaneously from gripping position to permit removal of the packer from the casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved releasing means for a packer which is so arranged that upon actuation of said means, the packing is retracted from the wall of the well casing, whereby upon removal of the packer from said casing, no swabbing effect is caused by the packing element remaining in .engagement with said member.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention. f

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specication and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure l is an elevation of the upper portion of a packer, constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a continuation of Figure 1 showing the lower half of said unit,

Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view of the parts shown in Figure 1, taken at right angles thereto, and showing the device in a released position,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view which is a continuation of Figure 3, and showing the same parts shown in Figure 2,

Figures 5 and 6 are views, similar to Figures 3 and 4 and showing the device in an anchored position,

Figure 7 is a horizontal, cross-sectional View, taken on the line 1 1 of Figure 1,

Figure 8 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 1,

Figure 9 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 9-9 of Figure l,

Figure 10 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, 5 taken on the line lli-I0 of Figure l,

Figure 11 is a horizontal, cross-sectional View, taken on the line Il-H of Figure 5, and showing the inner slips in an engaged position,

Figure 12 is a horizontal, cross-sectional View, taken on the line l2-l2 of Figure 1,

Figure 13 is an isometric view of one of the outer slips,

Figure 14 is a vertical, sectional view of the same,

Figure 15 is a rear elevation thereof,

Figure 16 is an isometric view of one of the inner slips and its spring, and

Figure 17 is an isometric View of the releasing plunger for the slips.

In the drawings, the numeral l@ designates a tubular mandrel which forms the main body of the unit. A collar Il is threaded on the upper end of the mandrel while a working barrel collar l2 is screwed onto the lower end oi said mandrel and receives the upper end of a working barrel i3. The pump plunger (not shown) reciprocates in said barrel for pumping the fluid. A J-slot M is provided in the mandrel near the upper end thereof for receiving a suitable tool 30 (not shown) whereby the mandrel may be lowered in the well casing A, as will be explained.

An elongated, iiexible packing member l5, made of rubber, or other suitable material, surrounds the mandrel and has its lower end rest- 35 ing on the upper face of the working barrel collar l2. A slip supporting sleeve i5 is slidably mounted on the mandrel i0 and has its lower end resting on the upper end of the packing member, whereby the latter is conned between said 40 sleeve and the collar l2. The supporting sleeve carries two sets of slips, an upper or outer set B, and a lower or inner set C. The outer slips B are arranged toengage the inner wall of the casing A to prevent upper movement of the sleeve and the inner slips C are arranged to engage complementary teeth il formed on the face of the mandrel I0, whereby the sleeve and mandrel are locked together. When the slips B and C are in their engaged positions, the mandrel and sleeve comprise a single unit locked with the well casing.

As clearly shown in Figures 3, 5 and 8, the upper set B comprises three slips I8 spaced equally around the upper end of the sleeve. Each slip has its outer face curved to conform to the radius of the casing wall. Its rear face I9 is inclined and is arranged to slide vertically on a complementary inclined face 2G which is formed in the upper end of said sleeve. A dovetail 2l on the rear face of each slip engages in slots 22 on the face 20 to prevent outward displacement of said slips. Thus, it is obvious that the slips are freely slidable on the faces 25 ofthe sleeve. The inclination of each face is such that when the slips are in their uppermost position, they are retracted. and disengaged from the wall of the casing A. A shoulder 23 is formed on the upper end of the sleeve above each inclined face, and the upper end of each slip abuts this shoulder when in a retracted position (Figure 3). Since the slips I8 are free to move vertically on the inclined faces 20, it is obvious that as the sleeve moves downwardly within the casing the frictional engagement of the casing wall with said slips will tend to slide the same upwardly on the faces to a retracted position, whereby said slips will not interfere with the downward movement of the sleeve within the casing A.

The lower or inner set of slips C comprises three slips 25 which are disposed within the sleeve I6, one directly beneath each outer slip I8. Each slip 25 is substantially rectangular in shape and is mounted in a rectangular opening 26 which is formed in the sleeve. As clearly shown in Figure 10, each opening 25 extends completely through the sleeve. Each slip is mounted in the opening with its teeth 25 inwardly, whereby said teeth may engage the teeth Il on the mandrel I0. This inner face of each slip 25 is on the same radius as the wall of the mandrel I0. A plate 21 closes each rectangular opening 2S after the slip 25 has been inserted and a pair of flat springs 28 are conned between the rear face of each slip and plate.

Shoulders 29 (Figure 16) are formed at the upper and lower ends of the rear face of each slip 25, whereby the ends of the springs 28 may engage thereunder. The springs exert their tension to constantly force the slips 25 inwardly, whereby their teeth '25' engage the teeth I on th'e mandrel. It is pointed out that the inclination of the teeth of both the mandrel and slips 25 is such (Figures 3 and 5) that when said teeth are engaged, the mandrel I Il may move upwardly within the sleeve but downward movement of the mandrel within said sleeve is prevented. Thus, it is obvious that when the mandrel is lowered into the well casing, the slips 25 being engaged with the .teeth I'i on said mandrel, will cause the sleeve to travel downwardly therewith. As has been explained, downward movement of the sleeve within the casing tends to hold the upper slips I8 in their retracted position.

As soon as the downward movements stop, however, the upper slips I8 immediately drop down the inclined faces 2i! into engagement with the wall of the casing. An upward pull on the mandrel will then raise the collar I2 at its lower end, the inclination of the teeth I7 and teeth 25 of the slips permitting this upward movement of the mandrel with the sleeve I I3. Since the sleeve I B is locked against any upward movement in the casing A by the upper slips I8, upward movement of the mandrel and lower collar I2 will distort the packing member I5 between said collar and the lower end of the sleeve. This distortion causes the packing member to engage the wall of the casing. The mandrel is raised until further upward movement is prevented by the distorted packing member. Then, the tool (not shown) which has been used to lower the unit into the well is removed from the slot I4 and it is obvious that the unit is securely locked against movement in the well. Upward movement is prevented by the outer slips I8, and downward movement is prevented by the frictional engagement of the packing with the casing wall. The packing member cannot be released because the inner slips 25 prevent any downward movement by the mandrel. The pump plunger may then be entered into the working barrel I3 and pumping continued in the usual way.

It is pointed out that with this unit. a working barrel of larger diameter may be employed because the mandrel I8 may be of a larger size than the tubing which would be used in a well easing of the same size. This permits increased production at less lifting costs because the woll casing is utilized for the flow of fluid being pumped. The elimination of the tubing not only saves the original cost of such tubing but does away with all disadvantages thereof, such as paraffin accumulating therein, and cracks and leaks developing in said tubing.

For releasing the two sets of slips B and C to permit removal of the unit from the well casing, a head 30 is slidably mounted on the mandrel between the upper end of the sleeve and the collar II. The upper end of said head is provided with annular teeth 3I. Radial slots 32 are formed in the head near the lower end thereof. Three slots are provided and each slot is positioned in vertical alinement with one of the slips I8 and 23. A vertical opening 33 extends from the bottom of the head to each slot and the upper end of a releasing rod 3G projects through this opening into the slot and receives a nut 35 whereby the rod is attached to and movable with the head.

Each rod extends downwardly through an opening 36 in the shoulder 23 and through an opening 31 in a collar 3T' formed at the upper end of the dovetail 2! on the rear face of the slip I8. Each slip is provided with a vertical groove 38 and the sleeve I I5 is provided with a vertical slot 39 which extends from each opening 25 wherein the inner slips 25 are mounted, to each Shoulder 23 on said sleeve. Thus, each released rod 34 extending downwardly through the opening 3l in each slip continues downwardly through the groove 38 in said slip and through the slot 39 in the sleeve.

Each rod then extends through a groove 4D formed centrally in the gripping face of each inner slip 25 (Figure 15). The lower end of each rod carries a blade-like releasing member 4I, which, when the head 32, which carries the rods is in a lowered position and resting on the upper end of the sleeve (Figures 5 and 6), is positioned within a vertical recess 42 formed on the inner face of the sleeve I6 below and communicating with the opening 28 wherein one of the slips 25 is mounted. It is pointed out that one release rod and blade is provided for one slip of each set B and C. In other words, one rod controls one slip I8 and one slip 25.

Obviously, the weight of the head 30 will at all times cause the same to rest on the sleeve I6, thereby holding the release rods and members III in a lowered position, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. With the members 4I in this position, in the recesses 42, the teeth 25 of the slips 25 engage the teeth II on the mandrel I0, because the springs 28 behind said slips force the latter into said engagement. Thus, when the device is lowered into the casing and the packing set at a desired point, as has been explained, the unit is securely locked in the well casing A.

When it is desired to remove said unit from the casing, a suitable tool (not shown) is entered into said casing and engaged with the teeth 3| on the head 35. An upward pull on said head will pull the release rods 34 upwardly and cause thereleasing blade, like members 4l, to move upwardly from the recesses 42 between the slips 25 and teeth il on the mandrel. The upper edge oi each member 4l may be beveled at 43 while the lower end of each slip 25 may be beveled at 44, whereby entrance of said member between the slip and mandrel is facilitated.

It is obvious that as said rods and members mcve upwardly they depress the slips 25 under tension of the springs 28, thereby disengaging said slips from gripping relation with the mandrel. Immediately the mandrel falls downwardly within the sleeve until the collar Il at its upper end engages the upper end of the head 3B. This downward movement is sufhcient to release the packing member l5 from the wall of the casing.

As the releasing members 4! are moving between the slips 25 and mandrel, a shoulder 45 on each rod engages the underside of the collar 3l at the upper end of the dovetail on each slip i8, whereby as the rods move upwardly to release the inner slips 25, the outer slips I8 are raised to a retracted position. Continued upward pull on the head will raise the unit from the well. The raising operation is made easier due to the fact that the mandrel and working barrel are open throughout their length and any oil standing in the well can freely flow therethrough. The sudden drop of the mandrel IS immediately upon release of the inner slips causes the packmember to return to its original shape, thereby disengaging it from the wall of the casing. Thus, no swabbing effect is had when the unit is withdrawn from the well.

It will be seen that the unit may be locked at any desired point in the well casing and eliminates the use of well tubing, thus permitting the well to be pumped without the use oi said tubing. The unit is particularly advantageous, in that it may be positioned at the standing fluid level in the well casing, whereby only the iluid not naturally rising to the top of said well is pumped. This results in a saving in operation costs- Since the working barrel may be made larger and also since the casing instead of the usual tubing is utilized for the fluid passage, a greater amount of luid can be lifted at reduced costs. By eliminating the tubing, the resultant disadvantages cf said tubing, as well as the expense thereof, are eliminated.

Tt is pointed out that although the device is shown and described with a working barrel i3, it would be possible to mount a check valve in the collar i2 and utilize the valve as a plug for closing the well. The structure of said valve would be preferably as shown by my former Patent, 1,631,152.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A well packer comprising, a mandrel, slips arranged to slide vertically on said mandrel into gripping relation with the well casing, gripping means comprising a longitudinally movable element and a cooperating spring pressed laterally movable element arranged to connect the mandrel with said slips, an elastic packing member lneans,

on the mandrel arranged to be expanded into frictional engagement with the well casing and held so by said gripping means, and means for simultaneously releasing said slips and the gripping means to permit removal of the packer from said casing.

2. A well packer comprising, a mandrel, slips arranged to slide vertically on said mandrel into gripping relation with the well casing, gripping means comprising a longitudinally movable element and a cooperating spring pressed laterally movable element arranged to connect the mandrel with said slips, an elastic packing member on the mandrel arranged to be expanded into frictional engagement with the well casing and held so by said gripping means, and a single means for simultaneously releasing both the slips and the gripping means to permit removal of the packer from said casing.

3. A well packer comprising, a mandrel, a sleeve slidable on the mandrel, slips arranged to slide vertically on said sleeve into gripping relation with the well casing to prevent upward movement of said sleeve in the casing, means comprising a longitudinally movable element and a cooperating spring pressed laterally movable element for connecting the sleeve with the mandrel to prevent downward movement of the mandrel through the sleeve, an elastic packing element carried by the mandrel arranged to be expanded into frictional engagement with the casing and held in expanded position by the gripping means, and means for releasing the slips and gripping means to permit removal of the packer from the casing.

4. A well packer comprising, a mandrel, a

sleeve slidable on the mandrel, slips arranged to slide vertically on said sleeve into gripping relation with the well casing to prevent upward movement of said sleeve in the casing, means for connecting the sleeve with the mandrel to prevent downward movement of the mandrel through the sleeve, an elastic packing element carried by the mandrel arranged to be expanded into frictional engagement with the casing and held in expanded position by the gripping and a single longitudinally movable means for simultaneously releasing the slips and gripping means to permit removal of the packer from said casing.

5. A well packer comprising, a mandrel, a sleeve slidable on the mandrel, slips arranged to slide vertically on said sleeve into gripping relation with the well casing to prevent upward movement of said sleeve in the casing, means for connecting the sleeve with the mandrel to prevent downward movement of the mandrel through the sleeve, a collar at the lower end of the mandrel, a packing element surrounding the mandrel between the collar and the lower end of the sleeve and arranged to be expanded into frictional engagement with the casing wall and held so by the gripping means connecting the sleeve with the mandrel, and means for releasing the slips and gripping means to permit removal of the packer from the casing,

6. A well packer comprising, a mandrel, a sleeve slidable on the mandrel, slips arranged to slide vertically on said sleeve into gripping relation with the well casing to prevent. upward movement of said sleeve in the casing, means for connecting the sleeve with the mandrel to prevent downward movement of the mandrel through theV sleeve, a collar at the lower end of the mandrel, a packing element surrounding the mandrel between the collar and the lower end of the sleeve and arranged to be expanded into frictional engagement with the casing wall and held so by the gripping means connecting the sleeve l with the mandrel, and a single means for releas- -ing the gripping means to retract the packer from engagement with the casing and simultaneously disengaging the slips to permit removal of the packer from the casing.

y 7. A wellipacker comprising, a mandrel, a sleeve slidable on the mandrel, slips arranged to slide vertically on said sleeve into gripping relation with the well casing to prevent upward movement of said sleeve in the casing, means 'for connecting the sleeve with the mandrel to prevent downward movement of the mandrel through thel sleeve, an elastic packing element carried by the mandrel arranged to be expanded into frictional engagement with the casing and held in expanded position by the gripping means, a vertically movable rod extending downwardly through each slip and through the sleeve and gripping means, and means on the rod for releasing said gripping means and disengaging said slips when said rod is raised to permit removal of the packer from the well.

8. A well packer, comprising, a mandrel, a sleeve slidable on the mandrel, slips arranged to slide vertically on said sleeve into gripping relation with the well casing to prevent upward movement of said sleeve in the casing, means for connecting the sleeve with the mandrel to prevent downward movement o the mandrel through the sleeve, an elastic packing element carried by the mandrel arranged to be expanded into frictional engagement with the casing and held in expanded position by the gripping means, a vertically movable rod extending downwardly through each slip and through the sleeve and gripping means, means on the rod for releasing said gripping means and disengaging said slips when said rod is raised to permit removal of the packer from the well, and a head slidably mounted on the mandrel and secured to the upper end of said rods, whereby raising of said head on the mandrel will move said rods.

9. A well packer comprising, a mandrel having ratchet teeth on its surface, a sleeve slidable on said mandrel and having a plurality of inclined outer surfaces, slips slidably mounted on said inclined surfaces and arranged to be disengaged from the wall of the well casing during downward movement of the sleeve and mandrel in the casing and arranged to move to an engaged gripping position upon upward movement of the parts, inner slips carried by the sleeve for engaging the teeth of the mandrel to secure said mandrel to the sleeve, the teeth of the mandrel and slips being so arranged that downward movement of the mandrel within the sleeve is prevented while upward movement thereof may be accomplished, an elastic packing element carried by the sleeve and arranged to be expanded into rictional engagement with the well casing by upward movement of the mandrel within the sleeve, being held so by the inner slips, and means for releasing both sets of slips to retract the paekf ing element and permit removal of the packer from the well.

l0. A well packer comprising, a mandrel having ratchet teeth on its surface, a sleeve slidable on said mandrel and having a pliuality of inclined outer surfaces, slips slidably mounted on said inclined surfaces and arranged to be disengaged from the wall of the well casing during downward movement of the sleeve and mandrel in the casing and arranged to move to an engaged gripping position upon upward movement of the parts, inner slips carried by the sleeve for engaging the teeth of the mandrel to secure said mandrel to the sleeve, the teeth of the mandrel and slips being so arranged that downward movement of the' mandrel within the sleeve is prevented while upward movement thereof may be accomplished, an elastic packing element carried by the sleeve and arranged to be expanded into frictonal engagement with the well casing by upward movement of the mandrel within the sleeve, being held so by the inner slips, and a single means for simultaneously releasing the outer slips and disengaging the inner slips from the teeth of the mandrel to permit removal of the packer from the casing.

BENJAMIN E. PARRISH.

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