US2121002A - Cement retainer and bridge plug for well casings - Google Patents

Description

June 21, 1938.

R.C.BAKER CEMENT RETAINER AND BRIDGE PLUG FUR WELL CASINGS Filed Oct. 10, 1936 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 21, 1938. i R. c, BAKE 2,121,002

v V I I C EMENT RE'fAINER AND BRIDGE PLUG FOR WELL CASINGS Filed Oct. 10, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

A TTbRNEY thiamine. June 21, 15.933

UNITED STATES CEMENT RETAINER AND BRIDGE PLUG FOB- CASING Reuben 0. Baker, Coalinza, cam, assignor to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Huntington Park, a corporation of California Calm,

Application October 10, 1936, Serial No. 105,041

11 Claims.

This invention relates to devices commonly termed cement retainers and bridge plugs which are utilized in packing oil, cementing and well bore and set at other analogous operations in deep oil wells.

It is the principal object of my present invention to provide an improved and simplified apparatus' of the characterreferred to which may be expeditiously run in the casing 01' a deep oil a desired point therein, and efliciently employed in bridging, cementing and analogous operations.

In practicing my invention. I provide a packer body which may be detachably, connected to the lower end of a string of tubing and run in the well here. This packer'body is fitted with operative slips for firmly anchoring it to the surrounding casing so that it will resist dislodgement either from pressures above or pressure below it in the casing. The packer body is also fitted with an expansible packing or sealing element for sealing off the space between the exterior the body and the casing wall.' The slips or anchoring means and the packing element are operated by fluid pressure and by manipulating the running in tubing at the derrick fioor. The tool may be utilized in bridging the casing and in cementing through the casing at any level above the bottom of the bore. The tool may also be used in various other operations, such as repressuring, if so desired.

One form which the invention mayassume is exemplified in the'following description and i1- lustrated by way'of example'in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of a well casing and disclosing my improved apparatus positioned therein with the parts in the position they assume when the device I 'is being run into the casing.

. Fig.2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the exception that the up-pressure slips are shown as tripped and ready for firm setting.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the parts inthe position that they assume when the device has been completelyset in the casing.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, I indicates a packer or what is a commonly known as a cement retainer and bridge plu'g. This device is cylindrical in cross section and of an overall external diameter slightly less, when its parts are in unset position, than the internal diameter of the well easing into which it is to be run and set. The packeror cement retainer l0 includes an elongated'hollow cylindrical body I I, the lower end of which-is formed with a conseat I I.

Cooperating with this valve seat to control the flow of fluid upwardly into the body I I from below the same is a downwardly opening back pressure 5 valve I5 of the poppet type. This valve is fitted with a valve stem I6 which extends vertically upward into the body I I and is reciprocably mounted in a guide I'l formed centrally of a spider I8 formed integrally with or secured within the body 10 II. An expansion spring I9 is arranged between the guide I! and an enlarged head I6a formed on the upper extremity or the valve stem I Ii. The

' spring I9 constantly tendsto maintain the valve I5 seated on the seat I4, thereby closing the main circulating port I2. I It is obvious, however, that the valve I5 maybe opened by fluid pressure from within the body when the same exceeds the pressure in the casing below thepacker l0.

For the purpose of running the body I I into the casing, the upper end of the body is interiorly threaded with a left-hand female thread to receive a left-hand male thread formed on the lower end of a tubular sub Ila, which may be threadedly connected to the lower end of running in tubing 49. The purpose of the left-hand thread is to enable the sub Ila and the tubing 49 to be unscrewed from the body II after the tool has been tripped and set in the casing.

It will be noticed that the body I I is hollow and cylindrical and is formed with a lower bore 20 and an'upper bore 2|. These two are connected by an intermediate bore 22 which is reduced in diameter with respect to the upper and lower bores 2| and 20. A bridging valve seat 23 is formed at the junction between the upper bore 2| and the intermediate bore 22, the purpose of this seat being hereinafter described.

Slidably fitting the intermediate bore 221s a trip sleeve 24 which has a passageway 25 formed coaxially therethrough. At its upper end the sleeve 24 is formed with a trip valve seat 26 to receive a ball trip valvel i as shown in Fig. 2. Depending from the lower end of the sleeve 24 'are spaced legs 28 which connect the sleeve 24 to a circular trunnion 29. This trunnion 29 is connected to the head 16a by means of a shear Pin 30.

When the packer is assembled for running-in, it is desirable to hold the valve I5 open so that fluid may pass freely upwardly through the body II. To maintain the valve in this open position, I secure the sleeve 24 to the body II by a shear pin 32 which issheared as will-be described to release the sleeve and render it ineffective to hold I the valve l5 open after the packer has been set' in the casing.

A packer sleeve 33 formed of rubber or any other suitable pliable material is arranged exteriorly on the body II and is anchored at its lower end to a fixed ring 34 which is bolted or otherwise secured to an annular flange 35 circumscribing the lower end of the body II. The upper end of the packer sleeve 33 is anchored to a sliding ring 35 slidably fitting the exterior of the body II. This sliding ring 35 is formed with an annular groove 35a into which is fitted a spring latch ring 31. When the packing sleeve 33 is compressed into sealing position as shown in Fig. 3, this latch ring engages annular latching grooves 35b on the body ii to latch the sleeve 33 against longitudinal expansion.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, it will be seen that above the packer sleeve 33 the body II is provided with a lower cone 38. This lower cone is bored so that it iscapable of reciprocation on the exterior surface of the body II. The exterior of the lower cone 38 is formed with a frusto-conical face with its smaller diam-' eter lowermost.

Arranged about the exterior of the conical surface of the lower cone is a set of down-pressure slips A which are segmental in form and the interior faces of which are frusto-conical to.coin'- cide with and be complementary to the conicalface of the lower cone member 38. Obviously, any relative longitudinal movement of the cone 38 and slips A will be accompanied by radial movement of the slips relative to the body ll.

Referring to Fig. 1. where the parts are shown in the position which they assume when the device is run into the casing, it will be noticed that the slips A are arranged in their innermost position and that each is secured to the lower cone 38 by a shear pin 42.

When the lower cone 38 is assembled on the body H prior to running the tool into the casing, it is secured to the body I l by a shear pin 44. It will also be noticed that within its lower end the lower cone 38 is formed with an annular groove 46 which receives a spring latch ring 45. This latch ring is adapted to engage the annular latch grooves 35b formed about the exterior surface of the body I I to latch the lower cone 38 in position on the body II when the tool has been runin the casing and set as will be described.

Reciprocably mounted on the body above the lower cone 38 is an upper cone member 58 which has a frusto-conical face 5| arranged with its smaller diameter uppermost. Arranged about the conical face 5| of the upper cone 58' is a set of up-pressure slips B which are likewise segmental and which are formed with an interior conical face coinciding with and complemental to the conical face 5| of the upper cone member 58.

a The up-pressure slips B are each connected to be engaged by the cone member 58 by a shear pin 53.

I desire to point out here that when the device is assembled for lowering into the well casing,

the down-pressure set of slips A and the up-' pressure sets of slips B are so connected by the shear pins 42 and 53 to the lower' and upper cones that they will be in contracted position, and will not interfere with the lowering of the device into the well casing.

Secured on the sub lid and positioned just above the upper end of the flange llb of a diameter body II is an annular suflicient so that it will the slips B in any attempt of the the to the casing due to th sure chamber 56 between them and suitable packingrings 51 are provided and fitted to both the cylinder and the piston to prevent fluid leakage. This pressure chamber 56 communicates with the interior of the packer body ll through suitable ports 58. It is intended that when fluid pressure be built up within the packer body H, that this pressure be exerted in the pressure chamber 55,;tendihg to move the cones 38 and 53 in opposite directions longitudinally of the packer To produce this internal pressure in the packer body I l the ball valve 21 is permitted to seat on the seat 25- of the sleeve 24, shutting of! further circulation downwardly through the body I i. Fluid pressure may then be built up within the body ll, and which pressure will build up in thepressure chamber. through the ports 58. Thispressure will be insuflicient to shear the pin connecting the lower cone to the body, but is sufilcient to move the upper cone 5!! upwardly relative to the body and to the lower cone. This .movement will be resisted by engagement of the slips B with the flange llb, but the pressure will be sumcient to shear the pins 53, detaching the slips B from the upper cone 50. Obviously, continued upward movement of the upper cone 58 on the body II and relative to the slips B will be accompanied by radial outward movement of the slips B until they tightly engage the casing as shown in Fig. 2.

The pump pressure in the body H is then relieved' and an upward strain is taken on the running-in tubing 48. The moment that the body ll commences to move upwardly, it will do so relative to the upper cone 50 due to the fact that the latter will be held stationary relacontact of the slips B with the casing. This upward movement of the body II will continue until the upper'end of the cylinder" engages the annular abutment onthe upper cone 50 at the junction between the conical face and the piston 55. Thereafter continued upward movement will move the upper cone 58 sufllciently upward to tightly jam the slips B into the wall of the casing, at,which time further upward movement of the upper cone 58 will be prevented. I I

As the body ll continues to move upwardly, the strain will be sufflcient to shear the pin 44, releasing the lower cone from the body ll. As this upward movement of the body H continues, the ring 38 at the upper end of the packing element 33 will engage the lower ends 01 the 'segmental slips A, moving them upwardly relative to the lower cone and shearing the pins 42. Ob-

viously, further upward movement of the body ll will move the slips into contact with the casing due to the complementary conical faces of the lower cone and the slips.

As the body I I continues to move upwardly, the ring 35 will remain stationary because of being blocked from further upward movement by the sli'ps, but the lower ring 34 of the packing element will continue to move upwardly with the body I I.

This will shorten the distance between the sliding ring-I8 and the-fixed ring 34, andconsequently" compress-the packer sleeve 33' into tight contact due to the engagement ofthe latch ring 31 with the annular grooves 381), as illustrated in Fig. 3. 'I'he'device is thenset andready for'further operation. Pump pressure is again built up within the body II to a value sufiicient to shear the pin 32. This pressure is considerably greater than the first fiuid pressure created to trip. the uppressure slips. When the pin 32 is sheared, the

sleeve 2 will move downwardly, which downward movement will be accompanied by shearing of the pin 30 connecting the sleeve 24 to the valve stem l6. This will release the valve stem and enable the valve IE to seat on the seat M. The sleeve 24 will drop to an ineffective position within the lower chamber 20 as illustrated in Fig. 3.

If the device is to be used in cementing, cement slurry may then be pumped downwardly through the running-in tubing 49, thence longitudinally through the body I], opening the valve l5'and discharging through the port l2. In most instances the casing is perforated below the device so that the cement may discharge outwardly through the casing.

After the cementing operation has been completed, the back pressure of the cement and the spring 19 will close theback pressure valve l5 and prevent the cement from passing upwardly through the body II. The seal effected by the sleeve 33 will prevent the cement from passing upwardly around the body between it and the casing. I

Uponvcompletion'of the cementing operation, the running-in tubing 49 may be disconnected from the'body due to the left-hand screw connectionbetween the sub Ila and the body II. I may prefer to use in connection with this device a suitable circulating jar of any preferred type'or design.

If it is desired to use the apparatus here disclosed as a bridge plug, a ball 60 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 is dropped through the tubing after the device is set as previously described. This bridging ball ilwillseat on the seat 23 and prevent fluid from being pumped downwardly through thebody ll. The backpressure valve I5 will prevent fluid from passing upwardly through the body so consequently an effective bridge will be provided. i

All of the major parts of the device here shown are constructed preferably of cast iron or other material which can be readily drilled out so that after the device's usefulness has ended, it may be drilled up soas to leavethe casing unobstructed.

Although the devicehas been described for use in bridging a casing and for cementing operations, it is obvious that it has various other uses and that it may be put to these uses without departing fromthe present invention.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.

1. A device of the character described including ancylindrical rigid body member adapted to communicate with and to be connected to the lower end of a string of tubing and lowered into body.

face, segmental slips arranged about 'theexterior of said conical member and having an interior conical face complementary to the conical face ,of said member, shear means connecting said slips to said cone member with the slips in a con tracted position, said cone member being responsive to fluid pressure built up in said body'by the pressure of the drilling fluid within the string of tubing to move longitudinally ofthe bodyln a direction causing said complementary conical faces to move said slips radially outward with respect to the body, and means on the body preventing said sllps from moving longitudinally relative thereto in the direction of movement of said cone member.

2. A device of the character described including a hollow cylindrical body adapted to be connected to the lower end of the string of running-in tubing and lowered into a well bore, a cylindrical cone member slidably mounted on the exterior of the body and having a cone face with itssmaller diameter uppermost, a plurality of segmental slips arranged about the exterior of said cone face, fragile means connecting said slips to said cone member and normally securingthe slips in retracted position, an annular abutment rigid with respect to the body and preventing upward movement of said slips relative to the body, said cone member being responsive to fluid pressure built up in said body by the pressure of the'drilling fluid within the running-in tubing to move longitudinally upward with respect to the body and the slips and disrupt said fragile means and move said slips radially outward with respect to the 3. A device of the character described including a hollow cylindrical body adapted to be connected to the lower end of a string of runningin tubing and lowered into a well bore, a cylindrical cone member slidably mounted on the exterior of the body and having a cone face with its smaller diameter uppermost, a plurality of segmental slips arranged about the exterior of said cone face, fragile means connecting said slips to said cone member and normally securing the slips in contracted position, an annular abutment rigid with respect to the body and preventing upward movement of said slips relative to the body, said body having an interior valve seat formed therein, a valve member adapted to be passed downwardly through the tubing and body to seat on said seat to prevent the fiow of fluid downwardly through the body and enable fluid pressure to be built up within the body, said cone member being responsive to such conical face, whereby relative longitudinal movement between said slips and said first cone member in one direction will result in radial outward movement of said slips, a second cone member having a'conical face arranged in opposed relation to the conical face of the first cone member, segmental slips arranged about the exterior of the second conical member and having conical faces complemental to the conical face thereon,

one of said cone members being responsive to fluid pressure built up in said body to move longitudinally thereof and move its cooperative slips radially outward into engaging position, and means responsive to longitudinal movement of the body after operation of the first cone member to move the slips associated with the second cone member longitudinally relative thereto in a direction moving the same radially outward with respect to the body.

5. A device of the character described comprising a hollow cylindrical body adapted to be secured to the lower end of a string of runningin tubing and lowered into a well bore, a first cone member slidably mounted on the exterior of the body and having a conical face, segmental slips arranged about the exterior of said conical face and having faces complementary to said conical face, whereby relative longitudinal movement between said slips and said first cone member in one direction will result in radial outward movement of said slips, a second cone member having a conical face arranged in opposed relation to the conical face of the first cone member, segmental slips arranged about the exterior of the second conical member and having conical faces complemental to the conical face thereon,

one of said cone members being responsive to fluid pressure built up in said body to move longitudinally thereof and move its cooperative slips radially outward into engaging position, an annular abutment on said body adapted to engage the slips of the second cone member to move the same longitudinally with respect to the second cone after the first cone member has been operated whereby to move said slips radially outward into engaging position.

6. A device of the character described comprising a hollow cylindrical body adapted to be secured to the lower end of a string of runningin tubing and lowered into a well bore, a first cone member slidably mounted on the exterior of the body and having a conical face, segmental slips arranged about the exterior of said conical face and having faces complementary to said conical face, whereby relative longitudinal movement between said slips and said first cone member in one direction will result in radial outward movement of said slips, a second cone member having a conical face arranged in opposed relation to the conical face of the first cone member, segmental slips arranged about the exterior of the second conical member and having conical faces complemental to the conical face thereon, one of said cone members being responsive to fluid pressure built up in said body to move longitudinally thereof and move its cooperative slips radially outward into engaging position, a packer sleeve surrounding said body and fixed thereto at one end, the other end being adjacent the slips associated with the second cone member, said second mentioned end being adapted to engage said slips when said body is moved longitudinally with respect to the first cone member after the same has been operated to move said slips relative to said second cone member to cause the same to move radially outward and grip the casing, said packer sleeve being longitudinally compressed upon continued longitudinal movement of the body after said latter named slips have been placed in engaging position.

7. In a device of the character described, a hollow cylindrical body adapted to be connected to the lower end of a string of running-in tubing and lowered into a well casing, an upper cone member reciprocably mounted on the body and having a conical face with its smaller diameter uppermost, a set of segmental slips arranged about said upper cone member and having conical faces coinciding with the conical face thereof, means on said body for preventing upward movement of the slips relative thereto, a lower cone member attached to said body below said upper cone member and having a. conical face opposed to that of the upper cone member, means whereby fiuid pressure exerted between the continuous ends of said cone members will move said upper cone member upwardly relative to the body and move its associated slips radially outward into engagement with the casing, a set of segmental slips arranged about the conical face of the lower cone member and having conical faces complementary thereto, said lower cone member being adapted to be prevented from upward movement by said upper cone member aftera predetermined amount of upward movement of the body member and to become detached from the body member upon continued upward movement thereof, an annular abutment surrounding the body member below the lower cone member and adapted to engage the slips of the lower cone member upon continued upward movement of the body member and to move the same upwardly relative to said lower cone member into engaging position with respect to the casing.

8. In a device of the character described, a hollow cylindrical body adapted to be connected to the lower end of a string of running-in tubing and lowered into a, well casing, an upper cone member reciprocably mounted on the body and having a conical face with its smaller diameter uppermost, a set of segmental slips arranged about said upper cone member and having conical faces coinciding with the conical face thereof, means on said body for preventing upward movement of the slips relative thereto, a lower cone member attached to said body below said upper cone member and having a conical face opposed to that of the upper cone member, means whereby fluid pressure exerted between the contiguous ends of said cone members will move said upper cone member upwardly relative to the body and move its associated slips radially outward into engagement with the casing, a set of segmental slips arranged about the conical face of the lower cone member and having conical faces complementary thereto, said lower cone member being adapted to be prevented from upward movement by said upper cone member after a predetermined amount of upward movement of the body member and to become detached from the body member upon continued upward move ment thereof, a packer sleeve surrounding the body below the lower cone member and anchored thereto at its upper end, a ring connected with the upper end of said sleeve and slidably engaging the body, said ring adapted to engage the slips of the lower cone member upon continued upward movement of the body member to engage said slips and move the same vertically with respect to the lower cone member into engaging position with the casing, said continued upward movement of the body member resulting in axial compression and radial expansion of said packer sleeve.

9. A device of the character described including a body adapted to be connected to the lower end of a string of tubing and lowered into a well bore, a conical member slidably mounted on the exterior of said body for movement longitudinally thereof, slips arranged about the exterior of said member, complementary means on said slips and said members whereby relative movement therebetween in one direction will move said slips laterally outward, said member being responsive to fluid pressure built up in said body by pressure of the drilling fluid within the string of tubing to move said member longitudinally relative to the body and slips to move the latter laterally outward, a second cone member having a conical face arranged in opposed relation to the conical face of the first cone member, slips arranged about the exterior of the second conical member and having conical faces complemental to the conical face thereon, a packer sleeve surrounding said body and fixed thereto at one end. the other end being adjacent the slips associated with the second cone member, said second mentioned end being adapted to engage said slips when said body is moved longitudinally with respect to the first cone member after the same after said latter named slips have been placed in engaging position.

10. A device of the character described including a body adapted to communicate with and to be connected to the lower end of a string of tubing and lowered into a well bore, spaced slip means with oppositely directed serrations carried by said body and adapted for radial movement, fluid actuated means carried by said body intermediate said slip means and actuable to actuate said slip means, and means for directing fluid pressure from said body to said fluid actuated means to actuate the same.

11. A device of the character described including a body adapted to communicate with and'to be connected to the lower end of a string of tubing and lowered into a well bore, slip means slidably mounted on the exterior of said body, tapered means carried by said body and said slip means whereby relative movement therebetween will move said slip means radially outward, an expansible chamber carried by said body and in communication therewith intermediate the tapered means carried by said body, said expansible chamber being responsive to fluid pressure built up in said chamber and body to actuate said slip means. REUBEN C. BAKER.

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