US2071391A

US2071391A - Apparatus for cementing wells

Info

Publication number: US2071391A
Application number: US41400A
Authority: US
Inventors: Erd V Crowell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-09-20
Filing date: 1935-09-20
Publication date: 1937-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 1954-02-23

Description

Feb. 23, 1937. E. v. CRQWELL 2,071,391

APPARATUS FOR CEMENTING WELLS Filed Sept. 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A5 INVENTOR.

Enr/ 1 Gran/e A TTORNE Y.

Feb. 23, 1937. v CROWELL 2,071,391

APPARATUS FOR CEMENTING WELLS Filed Sept. 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet; 2

7 O I? ,I v 24 2 Q) Q 2 :;I 2 5 Y INVENTOR. 7 ,9 Era K Cram? 5 B grww mwz A TTORNEY.

Patented Feb. '23, 1937 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE 21 Claims.

This invention relates generally to means for cementing oil wells, which cementing operation consists broadly of placing a fluid mixture of Portland cement between the outside of the cas- V ing and the wall of the hole, the present invention appertaining specifically to structural details constituting additions to or improvements in the means described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 34,920 (series of 1935), filed August 6, 1935, such means involving principally a unitary or integral structure of the valve body, and means to protect valves controlling discharge ports through the casing member from possible injuries caused by abrasion or impingement of or 13 with the sides of the hole while' being lowered to,

operative position within a well.

All the problems described, and the objects stated with respect to the apparatus described in my said co-pending application,. SerialNo. 34,920, filed- August 6, 1935, apply to the means constituting the subject-matter of the present in vention, and in addition the following:

It is a principal object of the present invention, as distinguished from that of said abovementioned co-pending application, to provide a unitary or integral valve body structure, preferably of friable metal such ascast aluminum, having ports radiating from a central valve chamber, said ports being adapted to register with lateral ports through the casing member, which valve body structure is adapted to be imbedded in a surrounding filling of lapideous material, to form, when molded, in place, a compositevalve body' structure within the collar'or casing shoe of which it becomes a part.

It is also an important object to provide the outward opening spring-pressed back-pressure valves controlling lateral ports through the wall of the collar or shoe, with abutments positively limiting the range of outward opening of said \valves to a space within the outer surface of the tubular supporting member; so as to protect said valves and their resilient closure means from possible injury caused by impingement or abrasion with or by the sides of the well hole while being lowered into the well.

Other objects such as simplicity of construction, ease of assemblage, said lattel; advantage resulting principally from the integral'or unitary valve body structure, ,and adaptability, without change, to either casing shoe at the bottom of the string or to a collar at any place above the bottom, will be readily apparent to all of skill in this art.

(Cl. lee-1i In the drawings, in which one embodiment of my invention is illustrated,-

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section on line l-l of Fig. 2 through a casing. shoe and its attachment to a section of casing embodying essential parts of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig. l;-

Fig.3 is a perspectivelview of the outside of theunitary or integral structure of valve body lining designed to be imbedded in a body of lapideous material cast within casing shoe or collar;

Fig} 4 is a longitudinal section through a cas-. ing shoe embodying principal parts of my invention showing attachment to a section of casing, illustrating the operation of cementing plugs therein contained;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a viewpartially in longitudinal section of a collar above a well screen showing application of my invention to any place in a well above the casing shoe. 1 t

Referring more specifically to the drawings, in which like numerals designate similar parts throughoutthe several views, It] indicates a section of well casing, having threaded thereto, as

, shown in Figs. 1 and 4, a casing shoe II, and in Fig.6, a collar l2, in each of which shoe and friable metal, adapted to be imbedded or surrounded within casing shoe ll or eollar I2 by the cast lapideous valve body l4 hereinabove identified. Valve body lining l6 comprises an enlarged cylindrical portion I! having a seriesog. ports l8 extending radially therefrom, said ports l8 being adapted to register'with like ports I9 thrcughthe wall of shoe H or collar l2. Said lining l6 also comprises an upper cylindrical extension 20 of lesser diameter than cylindrical portion H, in longitudinal alignment axially therewith, and a like extension 2|, although of less length,. similarly extending below said enlarged portion ll, extensions 20 and 2 I, being respectively joined to enlarged cylindrical portion frusto-conical reducing portions 20a and 2 la, the parts comprising valve body lining l6, l1, i8, 20,

20a, 2! and 2 la, being joined together to make an: integral valve body lining as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. A cylindrical valve 22 of the poppet type with frusto-conical upper and lower seat contacting surfaces is adapted to seat on the inner conical surface of 20a, or 2m in accordance with operating requirements.

Valve 22, as shown in Fig. 1, has a hollow body adapted to be filled with lapideous material 2211 and is provided with an upper stem 23 and a lower stem 24. Wing guides 25 extending radially fromvalve stem 23 slidingly, fit the interior of extension 20 to hold the valve and its stem in proper vertical alignment.

A spider 26 having a central boss 21 concentrically bored, said spider and boss being horizontally disposed within lower extension 2| with said concentric bore .registering with the vertical axis through valve 22 and its stems, provides a bearing through which lower valve stem 24 extends, thus cooperating with wing guides 25 in securing proper vertical alignment of both seating surfaces of valve 22. w

A helical spring 28 surrounding lower extension 24 and seated on boss 21 having an upper bearing on the lower surface of valve 22, normally tends to urge said valve to contact with its upper seat.

Leaf spring valves 29-29 secured in any suitable manner'as by screws 30-30 within an appropriate annular groove 3| formed in the outside of casing shoe or collar l I normally, by their tension, yieldably close lateral discharge ports l9 through said shoe or collar ll, being adapted to yieldably direct the flow of pressure fluid down wardly through the shoe or collar. Upon contact of valve 22 with its lower seat 2la, which closes the lower bore, as hereinafter described, pressure plug 33 having securedv adjacent its upper surface a flexible packing 34, circularly cut to snugly fit the casing, is provided for the double purpose of first, acting as a barrier between mud fluid in the casing and cement above it, and second, by contact ofa lower extension 35 of said plug with the upper surface of valve stem 23, depressing float valve 22 against the tension of its spring 28 so as to open communication from above through the lateral ports in the casing shoe or collar, and by i the same downward movement closing the conduit below said valve so as to prevent escape of fluid pumped. in from above through the bottom of the string. The function and purpose of upper plug 36 with its flexible packing 31 as a barrier between pressure fluid and cementing mixture, and as indicator is so well known in the art that it need not be further described.

1 It will be seen that I have provided an improved gral lining of any suitable material, of simple and inexpensive design,- maybe securely cast within a body of lapideous material, and with a" protection of the outwardly opening lateral port valves from injury during placement in a well by a simple form of protecting abutment greatly increases practicability by insuring against a very common contingency experienced in lateral port cementing.

It will also be apparent to those of skill in this art that as the cementing collar or shoe is being lowered into the Well, in the event of a caving of the walls of a hole, movement of circulating fluid under pressure may be either through the bottom of the casing, or in the event that egress is wholly or partially cut off, the casing may be raised and lowered alternately causing the circulating fluid to be ejected through the bottom or through the lateral ports thus assisting in gradually eroding obstructions and preparing for placement of the cement.

The advantages of the form of combined float and cement deflecting valve in providing an upper closure to enable the, casing to be floated into place while providing for eflic'ient deflection of cementing mixture through lateral ports has been sufiiciently set forth in the co-pending application of which the present invention is an addition or improvement above averred to.

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

I 1. Well casing having a series of lateral ports, valvular means controlling said ports, means in the casing and immovable with relation thereto extending above and below said ports, forming, respectively, upper and lower valve seats, a float valve, means resiliently holding said float valve against said upper seat, andmeans actuated by fluid pressure to compel said valve to contact said lower seat.

comprising a tubular member, a valve body of lapideous material secured in said member, said valve body having a valve chamber formed therein between the ends thereof, said valve body having an upper passage extending from the upper end of the valve chamber through the upper end of the valve body, said valve body having a lower passage extending from the lower end of the valve chamber through the lower end of the valve body, ports extending radially from the chamber outwardly through the valve body and through the tubular member, a valve member in said chamber capable of discontinuing flow of fluid upwardly through the upper passage, and a plug adapted for actuation by fluid pressure to compel said valve to close the lower passage 3. Well casing having a series of ports, outwardly ,openingvalvular means on said casing tending normally to maintain closure of said ports, means for limiting the outward opening of said valves, a float valve, means in the casing and immovable with relation thereto above and below said ports forming respectively upper and lower seats for said float valve, means resiliently supporting said float valve against the upper seat, and means actuated by fluid pressure to compel said float valve to contact the lower seat.

4.. An apparatus of the character described comprising a tubular member, a valve body of lapideous material secured in said member. said valve body having a 'valve chamber formed therein between the ends thereof, said valve body having an upper passage extending from the upper end of the valve chamber through the upper end of the valve body, said valve body having a lower passage extending from the lower end of the valve chamber through the lower end of the valve body, ports extending radially from the 2,071,891 chamber outwardly through the valve body and through the tubular member, a valve member normally closing said ports, abutments seated in the depression and overlying the valves for preventing opening movement thereof beyond the exterior surface of v the casing, a float valve, means in the casing and immovable with relation there to above and below said ports forming upper and lower seats for said float valve, means normally resiliently supporting said float valve against said upper seat,'and means actuated by fluid pressure to compel said float valve to contact the lower seat. .1

6. A device of the character described adapted to be connected with a string of well casing, said device comprising a cementitious plug having upper and lower aligned passageways forming upper and lower openings for an intermediate valve chamber and having radial ports in its sides, a

valve in said chamber closing the boreof said upper passageway to pressure within said chamber, and a plug actuated by fluid pressure for opening the upper passageway and ,closing the lower passageway.

7. An apparatus of the character described comprising a tubular member having an opening throughout its length for the passage of pressure fluid downwardly therethrough, a valve body having a valve chamber formed therein between the ends thereof, said'valve body having an upperpassage extending from the upper end of said valve chamber through the upper end of said valve body, said valve body having a lower passage extending from the lower end of the valve chamber through the lower end of the valve body, ports extending radially through said valve body, and through said tubular member, a valve member in said chamber for preventing .the flow of pressure fluid from the valve chamber to the upper passage, and a plug actuated by fluid pressure to depress said valve member for discontinuing flow of pressure fluid through the lower passage.

8. The combination of a well casing, a cementing device embodied as one of the casing sections,

said casing section having a plurality of valved ports; a float valve body of cementitious material cast directly into said casing section and inseparably connected therewith, and having a valve chamber therein, a float valve in said chamber, upper and lower seats for said float valve in said chamber above and below said ports, resilient means for holding said float valve against its upper seat, saidresilient means being adapted to yield under the influencecf means operated by pressure fluid to permit said float valve to rest to normally urge said valve against its upper seat.

10. In a well cementing apparatus, a well casing, a hollow valve body secured in said casing forming a pair of oppositely-disposed valve seats, a valve between, and adapted to close the bore through said valve body by'contact with either of, said seats, and resilient means to urge said valve against its upper seat.

11. In a device of the character described, a tubular member, a hollow valve'body' secured to said member forming a pair of oppositely-disposed valve seats, a valve between, and adapted to close the bore through said valve body by con.- tact with either of, said seats, resilient meansto urge said valve against its upper seat, and a plug actuated by fluid pressure to force said valve to said lower seat against the tension of said resilient means.

12. In a device of the character described, a tubular member, a hollow valve body secured to said member forming a pair of oppositely-disposed valve seats, a valve between said seats adapted to close the bore through said valve body by contact with either of said seats, and a plug actuated by fluid pressure to force said valve against said lower valve seat.

13. In a well cementing apparatus, a well casing, a hollow valve body secured in said casing forming a pair of oppositely-disposed valve seats, a lateral port through said well casing and valve body between said seats, a valve adjacent said port between said valve seats and adapted to close the bore of said valve body by contact with either of said seats and resilient means to urge said valve against its upper seat.

14. In a device of the character described, a tubular member, a hollow valve body secured to said member, a lateral port through said tubular member and valve body, said valve body forming a valve seat on each side of said port, a valve adjacent said port adapted to seat on either of said valve seats so as to close the bore through said valve body, resilient means to urge said valve against its upper seat, and a plug actuated by fluid pressure to force said valve to its lower valve seat against the tension of said resilient means.

15. In a device of the character described, a tubular member, a hollow valve body secured to said member, a lateral port through said tubular member and valve body, said valve body forming a valve seat on each side of said port, a valve disposed between said valve seats adapted to close the bore through said valve body by contact with .either of said seats, and a plug actuated by fluid pressure to force said valve against said lower valve seat.

16. In a device of the character described, a

tubular member, a hollow valve body secured to said member, a lateral port through said tubular member and valve body, a valve seat in said valve body on each side of said port, a valve adjacent said port and, adapted to close the bore through said valve body by contact with either of said seats, a plug actuated by iiiid pressure to urge said'valve against said lower valve seat, and an indicator plug actuated by fluid pressure to close the bore of said valve body above said valve upon contact with said valve-actuating plug. 1

17. In a well cementing apparatus, a tubula member having laterally extending conduits, said conduits being adapted to register with lateral ports through a well casing, said tubular member with said conduits being adapted to be cast within a valve body of lapideous material, a valve within said tubular member adjacent said conduits adapted to close the bore of said tubular Jto urge said valve member to close the upper a circular valve body cast within said member' having a valve chamber therein, a portion of said body projecting beyond the lower end of said member, said projecting portion being tapered inwardly and downwardly to form a guiding end,

an upper passage in said valve body extending from the upper end of said valve chamber through the upper end of the valve body, and a lower passage in said valve body extending from the lower end of the valve chamber through the lower end of said valve body and the projecting portion, ports extending from the valve chamber outwardly through the valve body and through the tubular member, a valve member in said chamber, resilient means normally'tending to urge said valve member to close the upper passage, and a plug actuated by fluid pressure to cause said valve member to open said upper passage and close the lower passage.

'19. An apparatus of the character described comprising a tubular member adapted to be connected to the lower end of a string of well casing, a valve body cast within the lower end of said member having a valve chamber therein, a portion of said body projecting beyond the lower end of said member, said projecting portion being tapered inwardly and downwardly to form a guiding end, said valve body having an upper passage extending from the upper end of the chamber through the upper end of \the .valve body, and a lower passage extending from the lower end of the valve chamber through the lower end of said valve body and the projecting portion, ports extending from the valve chamber outwardly through the valve body and through the tubular member, outwardly opening valvular means normally closing the ports for yieldably directing the flow of pressure fluid downwardly through the lower passage, a valve member in said chamber, resilient means normally tending passage, and aplug actuated'by pressure fluid to causesaid valve member to open said upper passage and close the lower passage.

20. An apparatus of the character described comprising a tubular member adapted to be connected to the lower end of a string of well casing, a circular valve body cast within said member having a valve chamber therein, a portion of said body projecting beyond the lower end ,.of said member, said projecting portion being tapered inwardly and downwardly to form a guiding end, an upper passage in said valve body extending from the upper end of said valve chamber through the upper end of said valve body, and a lower passage in said valve body extending from the lower end of the valve chamber through the lower end of said valve body and the projecting portion, ports extending from the valve chamber outwardly through the valve body and through the tubular member, a, valve member in said chamber, and a plug actuated by fluid pressure to cause said valve member to open said upper passage and close the lower passage.

21. An apparatus of the character described comprising a tubular member adapted to be connected to the lower end of a string of well casing, a valve body cast within the lower end of said member having a valve chamber therein, a portion of said body projecting beyond the lower end of said member, said projecting portion being tapered inwardly and downwardly to form a guiding end, said valve body having an upper passage extending from the upper end of the chamber through the upper end of the valve body, and a lower passage extending from the lower end of the valve chamber through the lower end of said valve body and the projecting portion, ports extending from the valve chamber outwardly through the valve body and through the tubular member, outwardly opening valvular means normally closing the ports for yieldably directing theflow of pressure fluid downwardly through the lower passage, a valve member in said chamber, and a plug actuated by pressure fluid to cause said valve member to open said upper passage and close the lower passage.

, ERD V. CROWELL.