US2122749A - Packer for oil wells - Google Patents

Description

' July 5, 1938.A o. MoRRxsl-:TT

PACKER FOR OIL' WELLS Filed June 19, 1937 t 2 Sheets-Sheyet l ,v e INVENTOR.

. ATTORNEY 1 1 4 `v-` 36 6 um n w a 2a uw 2 July. 5, 193.8. ofl.. MoRRlsETT PACKER FOR OIL WELLS Filed June 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR. 6. z; www we BY WMO-dq ATTORNEYS.

lllllll. w "L lIIIIIIIIllilllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII |I|Il|rl||llr|l Patented July 5, 1938 PATENT OFFICE PACKER, Fon on. WELLS 0. L. Morrisett, Duncan, Okla., assigner to Halliburton Oil Well Cementing Company, Duncan,

Okla.

Application June 19, 1937, Serial No. 149,111 s claims.' (ci. iss-12) This invention relates to apparatus adapted for use in oil wells or the like and more particularly to packers and means for releasably securing the same to the casing of a well.

It is often desirable to fix or seal a valve or other structure tothe casing of an oil well. For example, where a well is to be cemented by forcing cement slurry under pressure down into the well through drill pipe or tubing and into the formation of the well, particularly in connection with what is known as a "squeeze job, it is desirable to provide means at the bottom of the tubing which can be fixed to the casing, thus holding the tubing in place against the fluid pressure l5 in the cement.- It is also desirable in such a case to provide a. packer or other sealing means around the tubing so as to prevent the passage of cement slurry upwardly between the tubing and the casing.

It is an object of the present invention to devise novel means for temporarily setting a packer on tubing or drill pipe in a well, secure the packer in place and hold the same against movement with respect to the casing.

It is a further object of the invention to pro- 'vide novel means for removing a packer and securing means fastened to the casing in an oil well.

It is another object of the invention to devise apparatus for retaining cement or other iluid under high iluid pressure in place in an oil well and to so arrange the apparatus that it can be readily removed from the well after it has accomplished its purpose.

It is a further object of the invention to devise a cement retaining assembly in which slips are employed and in which the slips are set and released by movement of an operating member associated therewith.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the arrangement and construction of parts as will be more apparent from a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which: Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the casing of an oil well with the upper portion of cement retaining assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention located therein, part of the cement retaining assembly being shown in cross-section and part in side elevation;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion oi a casing of an oil well with the lower 55 portion of a cement retaining assembly shown in cross-section therein, Figures 1 and 2 being contiguous;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary showing of one of the sleeves used in the assembly of Figure l;

Figure 4 is afragmentary showing of another 5 sleeveused in the assembly of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the relative positions of the parts of the apparatus of Figures l and 2 when manipulated to set the slips on the casing; 10

Figure 6 is a diagram of the apparatus of Figures l and 2 illustrating the relative positions oi' the parts when the slips and packer are set upon the casing and during the time that cement is being pumped through the cement retaining as- 15 sembly;

Figure 'I is a diagram oi.' the apparatus of Figures l and 2 showing the relative position of the parts after the cement has been pumped through the assembly and during the washing out opera-V go tion; and

Figure 8 is a diagram of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 showing the relative positions of the parts after the slips have been released from the casing and preparatory to the releasing of the 25 packer from the casing.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first to the structural features shown in Figures l and 2, it will be seen that an oil well casing is there illustrated at yI I. 'I'he cement retaining assembly 30 to be fastened within the casing includes a centrally disposed mandrel I2 screw threaded at its upper end as shown at I3 and extending downwardly through nearly the entire portion of the assembly. This mandrel constitutes operating 35 means for actuating various parts of the cement retaining assembly. The mandrel I2 may be connected to tubing or drill pipe at its upper end by means of the threads I3 and constitutes aA support for the remainder oi' the assembly when the n same is being lowered into the well.

Screw threaded onto the upper end oi the mandrel I2 is a collar I4 having a depending sleeve portion II. Within the sleeve portion and between it and the mandrel l2 a coiled spring I5 45 is mounted. This spring is under compression and abuts at its upper end against the collar I4 while the lower end is in engagement with a wedge body or slip actuating member I1. This wedge body is mounted for sliding movement upon the mandrel I2. It is provided with a number of dovetailed slots I 8 adapted to cooperate with coinplementary dovetails on the slips I9. The slots Il do not extend the entire length of the wedge body Il but provide means for permitting the slips I8 to move up and down thereon to a limited extent. The lower ends of the slots I8 provide an abutment for lifting the slips during certain phases ofthe operation of the tool as will presently be described.

The slips I9 may be oi' known construction and consist of a number of segments the outer faces of which are provided with teeth as shown at 20. These teeth are directed outwardly and upwardly so that when they engage the casing II they will resist upward movement with. respect thereto. The lower ends of the slips I9 are connected by means of a'dovetail 2I 'to a ring 22 connected by means of an outer sleeve 23 to the upper shoe 24v of the packer 25. Telescoped between the outer sleeve 23 and the mandrel I2 is an intermediate sleeve26. This sleeve is screw threaded at its upper end into the wedge body I1. The `lower end of the sleeve 26 is not connected to anything, but terminates a short distance above the upper shoe 24 of the packer. Both of the sleeves 23 and 26 are operated and controlled by manipulation of the mandrel I2 through slot and pin connections. The slots in the sleeves are not identical but are as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

, The slot in the sleeve 23 includes an off-set portion 21, a vertically' extending portion 28 andan enlarged lower portion 29 the upper end of which 'terminates in a recess 30. In the sleeve 28 the slot' includes an offset portion 3i identical in shape with the portion 21 in the sleeve 23, a longitudinally extending upper portion 32 and. a lower portion 33 which terminates in a recess 34. A pin or a key 35 is made integral with the mandrel i2 and is disposed within the slots in the sleeves-23 and 26. It will be understood that while only one pin has beenl :shown in the drawings and only one slot in each of the sleeves 23 and 2B, two or more oi' these combinations may be employed to give strength to the assembly.

As mentioned above, the ring 22 is made inte- 'gral with the sleeve 23. In addition, this ring also carries a number of drag springs 36v of conventional design. The lower end of the drag springs may be connected with a oating ring 31.

The upper shoe- 24 of the packer which is connected to the ring 22 by means of the sleeve 23 is provided with a number of wash out ports 38 the purpose of ,which will be described hereinafter. This shoe is also provided with an inner chamber 39 adapted to permit a sleeve 30 made integral .with the lower shoe 4I of the packer to move upwardly and downwardly therein. The sleeve 40 is provided with a number ot wash out ports t2 and slightly above these ports a shoulder 43 is provid- The shoulder is adapted to engage a correponding shoulder on the lower end of the mandrel i2 so that when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 2 upward movement of the mandrel i2 will lift the lower shoe 3i and set the packer upon the casing i I. It will also be seen in Figure 2 that suitable packing 44 is provided onthe lower end of the mandrel i2 and is adapted to form a tight seal with a portion of the sleeve lil. l The lower shoe 4I of the packer is provided with a suitable valve 45 normally' held closed under the influence of acoil spring 36. A.

To operate the apparatus in the cementing of a well by forcing the cement to a point beneath the assembly under pressure, it is operated as follows: Tubing or drill pipe is connected to the mandrel i2 and the assembly is lowered into the well with the parts in the positions shown in Figures 1 and 2. Upon reaching the location 'where it is desired to set and seal the packer, the drill stem I2 is lifted and rotated a slight amount to the right as viewed from the top/ This brings the pin 35 into the portion 28 in the slot in the sleeve 23 and into the portion 32 in the slot in the sleeve 26. Both of these sleeves are then free to move longitudinally with respect to the mandrel I2. The drill stem and mandrel I2 are then lowered or set down so that the pin 35 moves downwardly in the slots in the two sleeves 23 and 28 and the parts take the position shown in Figure 5. It will be seen that in Figure 5 the slips I9 have been brought into engagement with the casing. This occurs due to the fact that the drag springs 36 offer sufficient resistance to downward movement to prevent the slips from moving While the mandrel I2 is lowered. As the mandrel is lowered, the wedge body I1 forces the slips into vtight engagement with the casing, the wedge body being pressed down by the lsleeve I5 and the collar i4 attached to the mandrel.

The slips now being firmly set, the mandrel is again lifted until movement is transmitted to the lower shoe 3i of the packer through the shoulder 33, and the sleeve 4I), as previously described,until the'packer 25 is set and the parts are in the position shown in Figure 6. The coil spring i6 maintains the wedge body I1 in position on the slips during this movement. The apparatus is now in position to enable the cement to be forced into the well. The packer maintains a seal with the casing and the'sllps prevent the packer from of cement has been pumped beneath the packerv assembly, pumping is discontinued and the drill pipe and mandrel are lowered. When the pump is discontinued, the valve 45 will seat and the pressure of the cement Will still be exerted against the lower shoe 4I holding the packer expanded and sealed onthe casing. When the mandrel is lowered it is also preferable to rotate it slightly to the right so as to bring the pin into the recess 34 in the slot in the sleeve 26. The parts are then in the position shown in Figure 7. Any excess cement within the mandrel or drill pipe may then be washed out, the ow circuit usually being downwardly through the drill pipe and mandrel, upwardly around the lower end of the mandrel, between the mandrel and the sleeve 4Il,voutward ly through the ports 42, which will then be in alignment with the ports 38 in the upper shoe 23, upwardly around the slips I9 and upwardly between the drill pipe and the casing ii. Reverse circulation can be.eiected if desired.

The washing out operation may be continued while the cement is allowed to hardeni-beneath the assembly or if desired the drill pipe may be disconnected from the mandrel and moved upwardly in the well some distance to prevent any possibility of the drill pipe becoming cemented in the well. If the drill pipe is disconnected it is later lowered and again connected on to the mandrel after the cement has hardened.

To remove the apparatus from the well, the drill pipe and mandrel i2 are raised, the pin 35 being in the position shown in Figure 7. As the mandrel is raised, the pin 35 will move freely in the portion 28 of the slot inthe sleeve 23 but since the pin is Within the recess 34 in the slot in the sleeve 26 the sleeve 26 will be pulled upwardly, thus forcing the wedge body l1 upwardly with respect to the slips I9. the slips i9 to move inwardly radially out of engagement with the casing, since the slips I9 are dovetailed to the wedge body I1. 'I'he parts will then' be in the position shown in Figure 8. In this iigure, it will be seen that the packer is still set on the casing. If now, however, the drill pipe is pulled still further upwardly, an upward force will be transmitted to the upper shoe 24 of the packer either through the wedge body i'l, the slips i9 and the dovetail connection 2l connected to the ring 22 which is integral with the upper shoe of the packer, or through the pin 35, the recess 3|0 in the slot in the sleeve 23 and through this sleeve to the upper shoe of the packer. The apparatus having been thus disconnected from the casing it may be removed from the well after which the portion of the cement left in the casing beneath the packer assembly may be drilled out in accordance with the usual practice.

It will be seen that in the arrangement illustrated the wedge body which actuates the slips as well as the packer itself is set and released from the casing by longitudinal movement of the mandrel in cooperation with the sleeves 23 and 26, the slot and pin arrangement of which constitute means which is practically automatic for performing the desired functions in operating the tool.

While only oneembodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that various changes may be made in the arrangement and construction of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the annexed claims.

1. Apparatus adapted for use as a cement retainer in an oil well, including a packer, slips and operating mechanism for setting and rel singthe slips and packer, said mechanism including a. plurality of members certain of which have slots therein and one of which has a pin adapted to cooperate with the slots in the other meinbers to selectively actuate the same.

2. Apparatus adapted for use as a cement retainer in an oil well, including a packer, slips and operating mechanism lfor setting and releasing the slips and packer, said mechanism including a centrally disposed mandrel carrying a pin, two

ThisY movement will cause slips and packer, said mechanismincluding a centrally disposed mandrel carrying a pin, two telescoping sleeves mounted upon the outside of Asaid mandrel, each having a slot' therein adapted to cooperate with the pin on the mandrel, the slots being of different shapes to enable the sleeves to bevoperated selectively, one of said sleeves being connected to said slips and another of said sleeves being connected to a wedge body for holding the slips set.

4. Apparatus adapted for use as a cement retainer in an oil well, including a packer, slips and operating mechanism for setting and releasing the slips and packer, said mechanism including a wedge body associated with said slips and adapted, when moved downwardly with respect to the slips, to set the same and prevent upward movement of the same with respect to a casing, a [y mandrel, a pair of members having pin and slot connections to said mandrel, one of said members being connected to said slips and the other to said Wedge body, the pin and slot connections being such that 'the slips and wedge body may be controlled, by movement of the mandrel, to set and release the slips.

5. Apparatus adapted for use as a cement retainer in an oil well, including a packer, slips and operating mechanism forsetting and releasing the slips and packer, said mechanism including a wedge 4body associated with said slips and adapted, when moved downwardly with respect to the slips, to set the same and prevent upward movement of the same with respect to a casing, a mandrel, a pair of members having pin and slot connections to said mandrel, one of said members being connected to said slips and the other to said wedge body, the pin and slot connections being such that the slips and wedge body may be controlled, by movement of the mandrel, to set and release the s1ips,and when the slips are set to enable the packer to be set by pulling against the slips as an abutment. l

6. A packer assembly for use with casing in oil wells or the like, including a packer having an upper and a lower shoe, means adapted to engage the casing to form an abutment above the upper shoe of the packer, means for pulling upwardly upon the lower shoe of the packer to set the same against the abutment and means for controlling the abutment forming means to set the same in engagement with the casing, said setting means including a member having a pin and slot connectionto a device movable with respect to said abutment forming means and means for controlling the abutment forming means to release the same fromNengagement with the casing, said releasing means including a. member having a pin and slot connection to said device.

O. L. MORRISETT.

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