US2144420A - Well packer - Google Patents

Description

Jan; '17, 1-939. F A, THAHELD 2,144,420

WELL PACKER' Filed March 21 1956'- 2 eets-Sheet 1" Patented Jan. 17, 1939 WELL PACKER' Feri A. Thaheld, Dallas, Tex., assignor to The Guiberson Corporation, Dallas, Tex., a. corporationof Delaware Application March 21, 1936, Serial No. 70,069

dClaims. (Cl. 166-12) This invention relates to "new and useful improvements in well packers.

The invention particularly relates to that type ofIwell packer which seals or packs off the space between the casing and the tubing and usually is provided with a valve for controlling the fluid through the packer. This valve is ordinarily mounted at the upper end of the packer and acts as a by-pass when the packer is lowered into the well casing. Also, after the packer is set, this valve controls the flow of fluid therethrough. The valve is usually formed with a beveled seating surface adapted to engage a complementary ground seat. It has been found that sand, grit,

l5 and other extraneous matter present in the fluid flowing past the valve accumulate on the ground seat or on the seating surface of the valve, thereby preventing proper seating of the valve and preventing a fluid tight seal; also paraflin adheres to the valve and seat and interferes with the proper operation of the valve. Further, the abrasive materials in the fluid score the metallic surfaces ,of the valve and seat and thus cause improper seating with resultant leakage thereby.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved packer wherein the usual metallic valve and seat for controlling the flow of fluid through the packer is eliminated, thus overcoming the disadvantages and objections above set forth.

39 An important object of the invention is to provide an improved packer which is so constructed that an increased amount of fluid may flow therethrough as the same is being lowered into the well casing, said packer having packing means 35 for. sealing the passageway thereof, whereby said packing means controls the flow of fluid through the packer.

Another object of the invention is to providean improved packer having a primary packing mem- 40 br for packing oil the casing and a secondary packing member carried by the packer and disposed so that when distorted, it will seal off the passage through the packer to control the flow of fluid therethrough. A further object of the invention is to provide a packer carrying two elastic packing elements, which are arrangedto be set successively, one of said packing elements being capable of retraction without releasing the seal formed by the other element, whereby the first named packing element willcontrol the flow of fluid through the packen body while the other element maintains a. seal to pack of! between said body and the well casing. A still further object of the invention is to provide a'packer having an elastic packing element for controlling the flow of fluid through the packer body, said element being constructed with an amplified contacting surface, whereby the flow of fluid is more eifectivelycut oii, and also where- 5 by the amplified sealing area precludes foreign and extraneous matter from interfering with the operation of said packing element.

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

The invention will be more readily'understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the inventionis shown, and 15 wherein:

Figure 1 is an-elevation of a. packer, constructed in accordance with the invention,

- Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse, vertical sectional view of the same, and showing the packing as elements in retracted, or unset position,

Figure 3 is a view, similar to Figure 2, showing the packing elements in an expanded or set position,

Figure 4 is a horizontal, cross sectional view, 25 taken on therline 3- 3 of Figure 2,; Figure 5 is a similar view, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure, 2,

Figure 6 is a similar view, taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3, and

Figure '7 is a similar view, taken on'the line 1-1 of Figure 3. t

In the drawings, the numeral Ill designates an elongated tubular mandrel or shell 10, which forms the main portion of the device. upper end of this mandrel isopen, as is its lower end, which lower end is provided with a suitable collar ll. The mandrel is provided with an annular offset or shoulder 12, this shoulder being located nearer its lower end. A cone 40 or slip head I3 is slidable on the mandrel and is normally supported on the offset or shoulder l2. With this arrangement, it will be obvious that the mandrel Ill may move downwardly with relation to the cone, but upon upward movement 45 flanged cap I! which is preferably. made integral M The 35' with the mandrel [0. By observing Figure 2, it will be obvious that the packing element [4 is confined on the mandrel'between the integral cap l5 and the cone l3.\

A plurality of slipsl6, of any suitable construction, are mounted to slide vertically on the inclined surface of the cone I3. These slips are carried by links H which have their lower ends secured to the lower end of a cage l8 which is their lower ends are secured to a collar 22 (see Figure 1) which is slidable on the well tubing A which passes through the mandrel. These friction springs normally engage the inner periphery of the well casing B.

All of the above described parts are of the usual construction and are, therefore, subject to variation. Their operation is obvious. When the mandrel I0 is lowered into the well casing B, the friction springs 2| will ride the inner peripheral wall of said casing and will serve to center the mandrel therein.- When the point at which the packer is to be set is reached, the mandrel I0 is rotated to disengage the hook l9 from the gudgeon 20. This permits the mandrel 10 to move downwardly through'the cage l8 which is held stationary by the friction springs 2|. This causes the slips l6 to ride upwardly on the cone l3 into their expanded position to grip the casing wall. As soon asthis occurs the cone I3 is locked in a stationary position, and. further downward movement of the mandrel II) will cause the cap which is made integral therewith, to exert a pressure against the packing member l4, whereby said member is expanded into packing relation with the casing wall.

The mandrel or shell I!) has .a greater diameter- 2s which is 'located near its upper end. This spider is provided with longitudinal ports 24-, whereby the fluid may pass upwardly therethrough and into the annular space D there.- above. The spider, of course, has an axial openin 25 through which the well tubing A extends.

For controlling the flow of fluid through .the

space D above the ports and outwardly from the upper end of the mandrel III, a second packing element 26 is provided. This packing element is made of any suitable elastic material and surrounds the well tubing A. The lower end of the member is supported within an annular beveled seat 21 w ch is provided at .the' central portion of the sp derI23 around the well tubing. -The upper end of the packing element is. engaged by an annular ring 28, which is suitably secured to the well tubing A. The underside of this ring is provided with an annular-bevel so as to retain the upper end of the packing element therein. A recovery ring 23 is welded, or otherwise secured, on the outer surface of the well tubing A, and this ring is located so as to engage the under side of the spider 23 when the packing element 26 is in its retracted or unexpanded position. It is noted that although the ring 28 may be welded, or otherwise secured on the well tubing so as to engage the upper end of the packing element, it would be possible to confine this ring between the packing element and the lower end of the coupling collar 30 which is screwed onto the upper end of the section of well tubing.

The operation of the device is obvious. The mandrel and its associate parts are assembled on the section of the well tubing A, which section is connected in the usual tubing string. The device is then lowered into the well and when the point at which said packer is to be set is reached, thehook I9 is disengaged from the gudgeon to permit the slips I6 to be set. Upon setting of the slips l6, the weight of the tubing string A, as well as the weight of the mandrel 4 ID, will cause said mandrel to continue its downward movement. Since the cone I3 is held in a stationary position, continued downward movement of the mandrel I0 causes the primary packing element It to be distorted with longitudinal compression and radial expansion into engagement with the casing wall. Thus, it will be seen that the packing element It packs off the space between the casing and the mandrel l0.

. After the packing element M has been distorted into its packing position, it will be obvious that further downward movement of the .mandrel I0 is arrested. After this occurs, the

weight of the tubing string A is then placed on the ring 28 which engages the upper end of the 23 which is an, integral part of the mandrel Ill,

whereby the lower end of said packing element is held stationary. As the tubing string A moves downwardly ,through the spider, the weight of said string is placed upon the packing element 26 through the ring 28. This causes the packing element 26to move to its expanded position as is. shown in Figure 3, whereby, the annular space D between the well tubing and the mandrel Ill above the spider 23 is packed off or closed. Therefore the flow of fluid through the mandrel is cut oil.

When it is desired to release the packing ele- .ment 26 it is only necessary to raise the well tubing A, whereby the weight of the string is taken off of said element. It is obvious that as tion to the slips and cone 13. This will relieve. the weight on the packing member II and permit it to return to its normal unexpanded position.

Continued upward movement of the mandrel will cause the oflset or shoulder l2 to engage beneath the cone l3 and raise the same, whereby the slips l6 are retracted. The device may then be re-' moved from the well.

It is pointed out that the packing element :0 within the upper end 01 the mandrel Ill takes the ed to control the flow through the mandrel. l The 1 place of the usual metallic valve which is provldseat surface of this metallic valve, as well as the seat which it engages, must be ground to give a tight seal. Due to this fact, it is obvious that dirt, grit, and other extraneous matter will accumulate on the ground seat. Therefore, when the valve is closed this extraneous matter will prevent a tightjseal and will permit leakage. Also in some wells, paraflin will accumulate on the seat or (any the valve and will interfere with the proper operation thereof. By providing the packing element 26, it will be obvious that these disadvantages are overcome. The surface which the packing element 26 engages is enlarged to a' great extent and therefore, any accumulation on the side walls of the mandrel l0 will not interfere with a good seal. Thus, a very efflcient packing ofi of the mandrel is had and all the disadvantages of a metallic valve are overcome. Due tothe construction it is possible to release the packing element 26 without releasing the primary packing element Hi. This permits a control of the flow of fluid" through the mandrel. The

- device is readily lowered to any desired point in the well casing B and may be readily set at any point therein. The insertion and removal of said device within the casing is readily accomplished. What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A well packer carried by tubing adapted to be lowered in a well casing including, a mandrel spaced from the well tubing and casing forming an outer'passageway between the mandrel and casing and an inner passageway between the mandrel and tubing, an outer packing element, means whereby said packing element may be set to close'the outer passageway, an inner packing element, a spider carried by said mandrel and supporting said inner packing element, said inner packing element adapted to be actuated to close the inner passageway when the first mentionedmeans has been actuated and the well adapted to be expanded into engagement with the casing, an internal elastic packing member supported annularly at its lower 'end by said mandrel and extending within the mandrel and normally retracted from the inner wall of said mandrel, and means on the well tubing for .engaging the'upper end of said member annularly,

whereby when the'mandrel is locked and externally packed of! in .position within the well casing the weight of the tubing will longitudinally compress and radially expand said internal packing member to pack ofi the space between the well tubing and the mandrel to prevent the flow of fluid through said mandrel.

3. A well packer including, a tubular mandrel adapted to be lowered into a well casing and having the well tubing extending therethrough,

ternal elastic packing element supported at its lower end on said member and surrounding the well tubing, said internal packing element being normally retracted from the inner -wall of the mandrel whereby fluid may flow past said ele- -ment, and means carried by the well tubing and engaging the upper end of said internal packing element, whereby, when the mandrel is held stationary and externally packed off in the well casing, the downward movement of the well tubing will effect the longitudinal compression and radial expansion of said internal packing element to cut ofi the flow of fluid through the mandrel.

4. A well packer including, a tubular mandrel adapted to be lowered into a well casing and having the well tubing extending therethrough, means for anchoring the mandrel in the well casing, external packing means on the mandrel adapted to be expanded into engagement with the casing, a transverse supporting member within the upper end portion of the mandrel, said member having an annular series of longitudinal fluid flow passageways therethrough and a central annular seat surrounding the'well tubing which is slidable longitudinally therethrough, an

internal elastic packing element supported at its lower end on said annular seat of said supporting member and surrounding the well tubing, said internal packing element being normally retracted from the inner wall of the mandrel whereby fiuid may flow past said element, a collar carried by the well tubing and engaging the upper end of said internal packing element, whereby, when the mandrel is held stationary and packed oil? in the well casing, the downward movement of the well tubing will eflect-thelon gitudinal compression and radial expansion of said internal packing element to cut off the flow of 1mm through the mandrel, and means on the well tubing below said transverse supporting member-of the mandrel whereby to engage said supporting member when the well tubing is raised and thereby eifect the withdrawal of the mandrel from the well casing.

. FERI A. THAHELD.

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