US2189702A - Well cementing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 6, 1940.. C, E, BURT 2,189,702

WELL CEMENTING MECHANISM ATTORNEY Feb. 6, 1940. c, E BUT 2,189,702

WELL CEMENTING MECHANISM Fiied May 5, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

BY@ E E Z972 5.

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 6, 1946 UNITED STATES WELL cErmNmG MEcnANrsM Clarence E. Burt, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Huntington Park, Calif., a corporation of California Application May 5, 1939, Serial No. 271,937 22 claims. (o1. 16s-12) This invention relates to well cementing mechanism and is more particularly directed to that general character of well cementing apparatus by vmeans of which the s'o-called tubing method of well cementing is practiced.

' Y It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved and eliicient well cementing apparatus having particular utility in the back plugging of wells and in other plugging operations involving the depositing of cement slurry at a selected zone in a well in sufficient quantity to/ form therein a relatively long cement plug, the apparatus beingcapable of being lowered to a position of use by a cementing string of 15. tubing and of being under the operative control of 'the operator at the derrick oor, such control insuring a proper functioning of the apparatus to pack oil the well immediately above the cementing zone, to deposit the cement slurry directly in the lower portion of said cementingv zone to displace the well iluid therein, and to gradually elevate the depositing means throughout the cementing operation when such procedure is considered necessary' or desirable, there being provisions permitting a retrieving of the cement depositing means and its withdrawal from the well with the cementing string of tubing after comple- 'tion of the cementing operation.

vA practical apparatus of this type will be generally tubular in character and adapted to be run in a well casing at the lower end of a cementing string of tubing by means of which it may be manipulated by an operator at the derrick oor, and it will include in its structure an expansible packer vhaving slips operable to'rmly anchor the packer in the surrounding casing, and an expansible packing or sealing element for sealing off the annular space between the packer body and the I wall of the casing at the upper end of the cement- 40 ing zone. The means through which the cement slurry is discharged at or near the bottom of the cementing zone forms the lower end portion of the retrievable cementing string and comprises a tubular mandrel which normally is detachably connected to the packer and has a terminal tailppe projecting downwardly therefrom a distance approximating the total height of the cementing zone. packer and the depending tail-pipe, is run in the .well casing to the selected location, the packer is' tripped and set by iiuid pressure and by manip-4 ula-tion of the tubing string to pack off the casing at the upper end'oi thecementing zone, a further increase of the fluid pressure wil] condition ythe mechanism for a discharge of cenient from In use, the tubing string, carrying the the tail-pipe into the lower portion of the cementthe setrpacker to function as a closure or backpressure valve preventing upward escape of the discharged cement through the packer.

sirable or necessary, the tubing -ring may be disconnected from the set packer and elevated gradually as the cementing operation is in progress,

The 4 ,mechanism is so arranged that, if it becomes dewhereby the cement will be discharged at progresv,

sively higher elevations as the cement plug is f' built up thus relieving the pumps of the necessity of lifting or forcing the discharged cement upwardly the length of the long cementing zone.

One form which the invention may assume is t exemplied in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: f Fig. l is a vertical section through a portion of a well bore and casing and showing in section the upper portion of the well cementing apparatus of, the present invention in normal condition as it. is run in the well casing to position of use.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through' the next adjacent lower portion of said well bore and casing and showing in section the tail-pipe of said ccmenting apparatus as initially disposed within a screen portion of said casing.

Fig. 3 is a section, similar to Fig. l, showing the packer in actuated condition', vwith the tubing string mandrel disconnected therefrom and the entire tubingk string assembly being shown in-aA from the set packer, the terminal closure member f of the tail-pipe having been engaged in the'packer body and been stripped from the tail-pipe to remain in the set packer to valve said packer against reverse flow of the cement.

Although my improved apparatus may be emf ployed in various situations where a cement plugging operation is either desirable or necessary, I have in the drawings illustrated its use in a cementing operation involving the plugging of a screen or perforated portion of acombination casing string or liner.

In its preferred form the apparatus comprises two distinct assemblies adapted to be initially connected together and lowered into a well casing or liner to a position of use and to be thereafter disconnected, one thereof constituting a packing means adapted to be left anchored in the casing or liner and being constructed of drillable materials capable of being drilled up in a subsequent drilling operation, and the 4other thereof constituting the lower portion of a tubular cementing string and including a flow mandrel and a depending cement discharging tail-pipe, and flow c ontrolling mechanism retrievabl'e by withdrawal of the tubing string from the well.

rI'he packing means which I prefer to use is, insofar as its general type is concerned, similar in character to that disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,121,051, issued June 21, 1938, to Thomas M. Ragan and myself.

The packer A in the condition shown in Fig. 1, is run intothe well casing B, on a tubular mandrel assembly C', which forms the lower portion of a connecting string of tubing D. This Vpacker has a hollow cylindrical body I0, having a lower abutment shoulder II, and provided at its upper end with an enlarged abutment collar I2.

An external packing sleeve I3, formed of rubber or other suitable pliable material, surrounds the medial portion of the body vIII and is connected at its lower end to a lower cone I4, which slidably ts said body, while its upper end is connected to an upper cone I5, likewise slidably fitting said body. Normally these cones I4 and I5 are connected to the body ID by shear pins I6 and I1, respectively, the pins I6 of the lower cone having a greater shear value than the pins I1 of ,the upper cone so that a lesser pressure is required to release the upper cone than that required to release the lower cone.

Up-pressureslips I8 are normally connected to the body I0 by shear pins I9 and to the upper cone by shear pins Isa, and down-pressure slips 20 are normally connected to the body by shear pins 2I and to the lower cone by shear pins 2Ia.

It will be noted that a split contractable ring 22, tooth-shape in cross section is disposed within an internal' groove in the uppezfcone I5 in position to engage annular serrations forming on the exterior of the body I0 a series of ratchet teeth 23, said teeth and latch forming 'a one-way ratchet means which will retain the upper cone latched to the body in operated position.

The body I0, behind the'surrounding packing sleeve I3, is provided with lateral ports 24, which communicate with the bore of the body and the lower portion of the body is formed to provide a housing in which is disposed an internal tailpipe packing sleeve 25 formed of rubber or other suitable pliable packing material.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the'upper end of the bore of the body I0 is providedjwith square left-hand female threads 26 adapted to receive similar male threads 26a formed on a sleeve valve member 21 which is incorporated in the tubular mandrel assembly C,-

and the-'upper end of the body is formed to provide an annular seat 28 which Surrounds the body bore and will, when the apparatus is in the normal condition shown in Fig. 1, be engaged by an external valve shoulder 29 formed on said valve sleeve 21.

The retrievable assembly C comprises a tubular ow mandrel 30 connected at its upper end to a back-pressure valve housing 3l which in turn is detachably connected to the lower end of the tubing string D, and a depending tail-pipe or discharge nozzle 32 normally extending through the bore of the packer body I0 and the tailfpipe packing sleeve 25 to extend downwardly below the packer to the lower end portion of the cementing zone.

The iiow mandrel 30 has a lower portion 30a of reduced diameter which is provided with lateral ow passages 33 and has a collar 34 providing an annular valve seat and valve stop 35. Surrounding and slidably tting both the upper and lower portions of the flow mandrel, is the valve sleeve 21 which also serves as a sub for detachably connecting the retrievable assembly C to the packer A, and between the upper end of said valve sleeve 21 and a shoulder formed on the upper portion ,of the mandrel 30 is disposed a compression coil spring 36. For the purpose of transmitting applied torque from the mandrel to the valve sleeve 21, said valve sleeve is keyed to the mandrel 30 by means of diametrically opposed studs 31 projecting laterally in companion vertically disposed elongated slots 38 formed in the upper wall portion of said sleeve, and for the purpose of preventing fluid leakage between the mandrel 30 and the sleeve 21, there is provided a packing ring 3S which is preferably disposed within a groove in the mandrel 30 in position to engage the inner wall surface of said sleeve.

Referring to the upper portion of Fig. 1, it will be observed that the upper valve housing 3| provides a valve chamber in which is disposed a. back-pressure ball valve 40 adapted to engage an internal valve seat 4I and close the ow passage of the tubing string at this point to prevent an upward ilow of iiuid or cement.

This back-pressure valve is of a buoyant character and will for this reason automatically close when the apparatus is lowered into a well containing uid. However, it is at all times free to open under the inuence of a predominating pressure above it, inY which event its downward movement will be arrested by a series of upwardly projecting supporting ribs 42 disposed within the valve housing in circularly spaced relationship to provide intermediate passages permitting free downward flow of iiuid past the open ball valve.

When the apparatus is conditioned as shown in Fig. 1, the sleeve valve sub 21 will be in its uppermost position on the mandrel 30 to compress the coil springl 36 and uncover the lateral ow passages 33-and will be normally retained in this position by shear pins 43 connecting it to the mandrel 30. The collar 34 of the'mandrel portion 30a closely ts within the bore of the packer body I0 as does the lower end of the sleeve valve 21 which, in this run-in condition of the apparatus, is upwardly spaced from the annular valve stop shoulder 35 and thus defines an annular flow chamber 44 communicating with the l lateral ports 24 of the packer body I 0 and with lateral flow passages` 33 of the mandrel.-

The lower end of the depending tail-pipe 32 `is normally closed by a terminal closure plug 45 initially secured in the tail-pipe by a shear pin 46.- This closure 45 has a gripping teeth 4l and below said body portion' is an enlarged head formed to provide an angled fannular shoulder 48 which subsequently cooperates with an annular valve seat 49 formed in the lower end of the bore o f the packer body I0. I'he lower end of the closure plug 45 is of inverted cone shape andthe lower end of the packer body is tapered so as toguide the apparatus as lt isl lowered into the well casing.,

Above the terminal plug 45 the tail-pipe is provided with a series of lateral discharge ports 50 and above said portsa trip ball seat 5I slidably fits in the tail-pipe and is initially at- Atached thereto by a shear piny 52. member forms a part of the flow passage of the This seat retrievable assembly and provides an annular valve seat 53 which will subsequently be engaged by a tripping ball 54 that will be sent down the tubing string by the operator to valve the flow passage above the discharge ports and cause a build up pressure to trip the packer and to thereafter shear the pin 52 and translate said seat member `and ball downwardly past the discharge ports until arrested by a stop stud 55 carried by the tail-pipe immediately above its terminal plug'.

In practice, the apparatus is conditioned as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and is lowered into thcwell casing to a position of use. In the drawingsl have illustrated as an example', the use of my improved apparatus in a cementing operation involving the back plugging of a perforated or screen portion E of a combination casing o r liner in which operation the apparatus has been lowered to position the packer A in the casing closely adjacent the upper end of the screen E with the l tail-pipe 32 depending downwardly to the lower portion of the cementing zone which may, due toy necessity or to state regulations, extend to a point flfteenor more feet below the packer.

With the apparatus thus positioned in the well casing, circulation may be 'established for such ilushing operations as may be considered desir- -able or necessary. When the operator at the derrick floor desires to set the apparatus for the cementing operation, he will insert the trip ball 54 into the run in tubing string D and allow it to gravitate down through said string and the mandrel and into the tail-pipe to engage the valve seat 53 of the tripI member 5I or he may re-establish the circulation and pump said ball down to its seat in which case the closing of the iiow passage by the trip ball will be evidenced to the operator, through the usual circulation pressure gauges, by an abrupt rise in the circulation pressure.

After the trip ball 54 seats to close the fluid passage through the apparatus, fluid pressure will be built up and will be effective through the lateral flow passages 33, the annular iiow chamber 44 and the lateral ports 24 to expand and elongate the packer sleeve I3 and shear -the pins I'I of the upper cone I5, moving said cone upwardly with suillcient force to shear the pins I9 and Illa of the upper slips I8. With said cone and slips thus freed from thepacker body and from each other, said slips will engage the abutment collar I2, and by reason of the co'engaging tapered surfaces of the cone and slips, the slips will be expandedto grippingengagement with the casing wan.

. Continued increase of the uid pressure will shear the pin 52 of the seat member 5I and force said seal member and the trip ball 54 downwardly until larrested by the stop stud 55 (as shown in Fig. 4). This downward translation of the trip ball and its seat member connects the iiow passage of the tail-pipe with the lateral discharge ports 50 and eiects an immediate drop in the iluid pressure, which pressure drop will inform the operator that the tripping cycle has been comvtripped to anchor the upper slipsand the easing and maintain the upper end of the packer sleeve stationary, the setting of the packer is completed by subjecting the tubing stringto an upward strain sufiicient to move thepacker body I0', the lower cone I4, the lower slips 20 and the lower end of the packing sleeve relative to the now stationary upper end of the packing sleeve, so as to compress said packing sleeve into sealing condition against the casing wall and packer body until it will compress no further.

The pin 43 of the sleeve valve 21 is sheared and the upward movement of the mandrel will effect a closing of the lateral iiow passage 33 and cause the lower end of said Valve to be engaged by the stop shoulder 35.

Continued upward movement of the body I0 will shear the pins I6 of the lower cone I4 causing the abutment shoulda: II to engage the lower slips 20 said movement then shearing the pins 2| and 2 Ia and expanding the lower slips to gripping engagement with the casing wall.

With the packer A thus ilrmly anchored in the casing against dislodgment in either longitudinal direction, the upward strain on the tubing string is released and the apparatus is then in conditionfor the cementing operation which'will be pressure may be applied to the discharged cement at any time to insure a complete iilling of the cementing zone. After the cementing operation is completed th cementing string may be withdrawn from the well to retrieve the mandrel assembly from the set packer for future use. This is accomplished by rotating the tubing string a few times to the right to disconnect the leftLhand screwthreaded end of the sleeve valve sub 21 from the upper left-hand screw-threaded endv of the set packervand then lelevating the entire cementing string, the tailpipe being thus pulled through the tail-pipe packing sleeve 25 until its terminal closure plug 45 is forced into the bore of said packing sleeve to embed its teeth 41 into the packing material and to from the set packer, the coil spring 36 will insure a closing of the lateral iiow passages 33 by the sleeve valve 21, the lower end of said valve sleeve engaging the annular valve seat and stop 35 'to form an additional seat against leakage, as shown in Fig. 3.

It will be pointed out that in the event it is considered necessary or desirable, the mandrel assembly may be disconnected from the set packer at the left-hand screw-threaded connection prior to or at any time during the cementing operation and that the entire cementing string may be gradually elevated as the cementing progresses, this gradual retrieving of the tail-pipe during the discharge of the cement slurry being of particular advantage in enabling the discharge of the cement at progressively higher elevations and thus relieving the pumps of the necessity of lifting or forcing ,that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit ofthe invention as defined in the appended claims.

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

l. In an apparatus of the nature disclosed, a packer. body having a longitudinal bore and lateral ports communicating therewith, means operable to anchor said body in a well casing, a packing sleeve surrounding said body and expansible by fluid pressure transmitted through said ports to actuate said anchoring means, a tubular mandrel normally extending through said bore and including a fluid discharge tailpipe depending below said body, said mandrel being adapted for connection to a run in string of tubing and providing an axial flow passage and lateral flow passages communicating with said body ports, means for valving said axial passage below said lateral passages to enable a build up of hydraulic pressure to expand said packing sleeve, said valvingV means being capable of being subsequently actuated by an additional build up of hydraulic pressure to reopen said axial passage, and means detachably connecting said mandrel to the packer body and releasable to permit the mandrel to be withdrawn from the anchored packer body. y

2. In an apparatus of the nature disclosed, a packer body having a longitudinal bore and lateral ports communicating therewith, means operable to anchor said body in a well casing, a packing sleeve surrounding said body and expansible by fluid Vpressure transmitted through said ports to actuate said anchoring means, a tubular mandrel 'normally extending through said bore and including a uid discharge tailpipe depending below said body, said mandrel being adapted for connection to a run in string of tubing and providing an axial flow passage and lateral flow passages communicating with said body ports, means for valving saidv axial passage below. said lateral passages to enable a build up of hydraulic pressure to expand said packing sleeve, said valving means being capable of being subsequently actuated by an additional buildup ofl hydraulic pressure to reopen said axial passage, and means detachably connecting said mandrel to the packer body and re-v leasable to permit the mandrel to be withdrawn from the anchored packer body, said connecting means` including -a valve element adapted to close said lateral ow passages as the mandrel is withdrawn.

3. In an apparatus of the nature disclosed, a packer body having a longitudinal bore and lateral ports communicating therewith, means operable to anchor said body in a well casing, a packing sleeve surrounding said body and expansible by fluid pressure transmitted through said ports to actuate said anchoring means, a tubular mandrel normally extending through said bore and including a uid discharge tailpipe depending below said body, said mandrel being adapted for connection to a run in string of tubing and providing an axial ow passage and lateral ow passages communicating with said body ports, means for valving said axial passage below said lateral passages to enable a build up of hydraulic pressure to expand said packing sleeve, said valving means being capable of being subsequently actuated by an additional build up of hydraulic pressure to reopen said axial passage, and means detachably connecting said mandrelto the packer-body and releasable to permit the mandrel to be withdrawn from the anchored packer body, and a closure capable of being drawn into the lower end of the body bore and close it against reverse fluid flow, saidr closure being detachably connected to the lower end of said tail-pipe and adapted to be arrested in its upward movement by said body and thereafter be stripped from the tail-pipe as said tailpipe is withdrawn through said body bore.

4. In an apparatus of the nature disclosed, a packer body having a longitudinal bore and lateral ports communicating therewith, means operable to anchor said body in a well casing, a packing sleeve surrounding said body and expansible by uid pressure transmitted through said ports to actuate said anchoring means, a tubular mandrel normally extending through said bore and including a uid discharge tailpipe depending below said body, said mandrel being adapted for connection to a run in string of tubing and providing an axial flow passage and lateral flow passages communicating with said body ports, means for valving said axial passage below said lateral passages to enable a build up of hydraulic pressure to expand said packing sleeve, said valving means being capable of being subsequently actuated by an additional build up of hydraulic pressure to reopen said axial passage, and means detachably connecting said mandrel to the packer body and releasable to permit the mandrel to be withdrawn from the anchored packer body, an annular tail-pipe packing sleeve mounted in the lower end portion of the packer body to closely surround said tailpipe, and a shouldered plug element capable of being drawn into said tail-pipe packing sleeve 4and close the body bore against reverse iiuid ow, said element being detachably connected to the lower end of said tail-pipe and adapted to be arrested in its upward movement by engagement of its shoulder with said body and thereafter be stripped from the tail-pipe as said tailpipe is withdrawn through said body bore.

5. In an apparatus of the nature disclosed, a packer body having a longitudinal bore and lateral ports communicating therewith, means operable to anchor said body in a well casing, a packing sleeve surrounding said body and expansible by iluid pressure transmitted through said ports to actuate said anchoring means, a tubular mandrel normally extending through said bore and including a uid discharge tail-pipe aisavoa "said body ports, means for valving said axial passage below said lateral passages to enable a build up of hydraulic pressure to expandsaid'packing sleeve, said valving means being capable of being subsequently actuated by an additional build up of hydraulic pressure to reopen said axial passage, and means detachably yconnecting said mandrel to the packer body and releasable to permit the mandrel to be withdrawn from the anchored packer body, an annular tail-pipe packing sleeve mounted in the lower end portion of the packer body -to closely surround said tail-pipa, and a shouldered plug element capable of being drawn into said tailpipe packing sleeve and close the body ,bore

against reverse fluid iiow, said element being detachably connected to the lower end of said tail-pipe and adapted to be arrested in its upward movementby engagement of its shoulder with said body and thereafter be stripped from the tail-pipe as said tail-pipe is withdrawn through said body bore, there being retaining means formed on said plug element and adapted to become embedded in thertail-pipe packing sleeve.

6. In an apparatus of the nature disclosed, a packer body having a longitudinal bore and lateral portscommunicating therewith, means operable to anchor said body in a well casing, a packing sleeve surrounding said body and expansible by fluid pressure transmitted through said ports to actuate. said anchoring means, a tubular mandrel normally extending through said bore and including a fluid discharge tailpipe depending below said body, said mandrel being adapted for connection to a run in string of tubing and providing an axial flow passage and lateral flow passages communicating with said body ports, means for valving -said axial passage below said lateral passages to enable a build up of hydraulic pressure to expand said packing sleeve, said valving means being capable of being subsequently actuated by an additional build up of hydraulic pressure to reopen said axial passage, and means detachably connecting f said mandrel to the packer body and releasable to permit the mandrel to be withdrawn from the anchored packer body, said body providing an annular valve seat surrounding the lower end of its bore, an annular tailpipe packing sleeve mounted in said body immediately above said valve seat to closely surroundl said tail-pipe, and a plug element having an annular valve shoulder, said element being detachably connected to the lower end ofsaid tail-pipe and adapted to be moved upwardly thereby until arrested by engagement of said valve shoulder with said valve seat and to be thereafter stripped from the tailplpe as said tailfpipe is withdrawn through said body bore. Y

7. In an apparatus of the nature disclosed, a

packer body having a longitudinal bore and lateral ports communicating therewith, means operable to anchor said body in a well casing, a packing sleeve surrounding said body and expansible by fluid pressure transmitted through said ports to actuate said anchoring means, a tubular mandrel normally extending through said bore and including a uid` discharge tailpipe depending below said body, said mandrel being adapted for connection to a run in string of tubing and provldingan axial ow passage and lateral ilow passages communicating with said body ports, means for valving' said axial passage below said lateral passages to enable a build up'of hydraulic pressure to expand said packing sleeve, said valving means being capable of being subsequently actuated by an additional` build up of hydraulic pressure to reopen said axial passage, and means detachably connecting said mandrel to the packer body and releasable to permit the mandrel to be Withdrawn from the anchored packer body, said body providing an annular valve seat surrounding the lower end of its bore, an annular tail-pipe packing sleeve mounted in said body immediately above said valve seat to closely surround said tail-pipe, and a plug element having an annular valve shoulder, said element being detachably connected to the lower end of said tail-pipe and adapted to be moved upwardly thereby until arrested by engagement of said valve shoulder with said valve seat and to be thereafter stripped from the tailpipe as .said tail-pipe is withdrawn through said body bore, said plug element being provided with retaining teeth adapted to become embedded in the tail-pipe packing sleeve.

8. In an apparatus ofy thel nature disclosed, a packer body having a longitudinal bore and Alateral ports communicating therewith, means operable to anchor said body in a well casing, a packing sleeve surrounding said body and expansible by iiuid pressure transmitted through said ports to actuate said anchoring means, a tubular mandrel normally extending through said bore and including .a tail-pipe depending below said body, said mandrel being adapted for connection to a run in string of tubing and providing an axial ow passage and lateral ilow passages communicating with said body ports andhaving formed in the lower portion of said tail-pipe lateral discharge ports, means for valving said axial iiowpassage between said lateral flow passages and said tail-pipe discharge ports to enable a build up of hydraulic pressureto expand said packing sleeve, said valving means being capable of being subsequently actuated by an additional build up of hydraulic pressure to reopen said axial passage, and means detachablyconnecting said mandrel to the packer body and connection to arun in string of vtubing and pro- *Y viding an axial now passage and lateral flow passages communicating with said body ports and having formed in the lower portion of said tail-pipe lateral discharge ports, a tubularzvalve seat normally retained in said flow passage between said lateral iiow passages and said tailpipe discharge ports by means capable of being `disabled andeapable, when released,of a limited slidingv movement to a position below said discharge ports, ajvaIveeIementadapted to be sent down the tubing string and mandrel to engage said valve seat and closesaid axial now passage to enable" a build up of hydraulic presbelow said body, said mandrel being adapted for 6 0 sure to expand said packing sleeve and to subsequently disable said valve seat retaining means and translate said seat and said valve element to a lower position to re-establish communication between said axial liow passage and said tailpipe discharge ports, and means detachably connecting said mandrel to the packer body and releasable to permit the mandrel to be withdrawn from the anchored packer body.

10. In an apparatus of the nature disclosed, a packer body having a longitudinal bore and lateral ports communicating therewith, means operable to anchor said body in a well casing, a packing sleeve surrounding said body and expansible by fluid pressure transmitted through said ports to actuate said anchoring means, a tubular mandrel normally extending through said bore and including a tail-pipe depending below said body, said mandrel being adapted for connection to a run in string of tubing and providing an axial iiow passage and lateral ow passages communicating with said body ports and having formed in the lower portion of said tail-pipe lateral discharge ports, a tubular valve seat normally retained in said flow passage between said lateral flow passages and said tail-pipe discharge ports by ,means capable of being disabled and capable, when released, of a limited sliding movement to a position below said discharge ports, a valve element adapted to be sent down the tubing string and mandrel to engage said valve seat and close said axial flow passage to enable a build up of hydraulic pressure to expand said packing sleeve and to subsequently disable said valve seat retaining means and translate said seat and said valve element to a lower position to re-establish communication between said axial now passage and said tail-pipe discharge ports, and means detachably connecting said mandrel to the packer body and releasable to permit the mandrel to be withdrawn from the anchored packer body, and a closure capable of being drawn into the lower end of the body bore and close it against reverse iuid .flow, said closure being detachably connected to the lower end of said tail-pipe and adapted to be arrested in its upward movement by said body and thereafter be stripped from the tail-pipe as said tail-pipe is withdrawn through said body bore. f

11. In an apparatus of the nature disclosed, a packer body having a longitudinal bore and lateral ports `communicating therewith, means operable to anchor said body in a well casing, a packing sleeve surrounding said body and expansible by fluid pressure transmitted through said ports to actuate said anchoring means,la tubular mandrel normally extending through said bore and including a tail-pipe depending below said body, said mandrel being adapted for connection to a run in string of tubing and providing an axial ilow passage and lateral flow passages communicating with said body ports and having formed in the lower portion of said tail-pipe lateral discharge ports, a tubular valve seat normally retained in said ow passage between said lateral `flow passages and said tail-pipe discharge ports by means capable of being disabled and capable, when released, of a limited sliding movement to a position belowsaid discharge ports, a valve element adapted to be sent down the tubing string and mandrel to engage said valve seat and close said axial flow passage to enable a build up 'of hydraulic pressure to, expand said packing sleeve and to .subsequently disable said valve seat retaining means and translate said seat and said valve element to a lower position to re-establish communication between said axial flow passage and said tail-pipe discharge ports, and means detachably connecting said mandrel to the packer body and releasable to permit the mandrel to be withdrawn from the anchored packer body, an annular tail-pipepacking sleeve mounted in the lower end portion of the packer body to closely surround said tail-pipe, and a shouldered plug element capable of being drawn into said tail-pipe packing sleeve and close the body bore against reverse uid flow, said element being detachably connected to the lower end of said tail-pipe and adapted to be arrested in its upward movement by engagement of its shoulder with said body and thereafter be stripped from the tail-pipe as said tail-pipe is withdrawn through said body bore.

12. In an apparatus of the nature disclosed, a packer body having a longitudinal bore and lateral ports communicating therewith, means operable to anchor said body in a well casing, a packing sleeve surrounding said body and expansible by fluid pressure transmitted through said ports to actuate saidanchoring means, a

tubular mandrel normally extending through said bore and including a tail-pipe depending below said body, said mandrel being adapted for connection to a run in string of tubing and providing an axial flow passage and lateral ow passages communicating with said body ports and having formed in the lower portion of said tailpipe lateral discharge ports, a tubular valve swt normally retained in saidvflow passage between said lateral flow passages and said tail-pipe discharge ports by means capable of being disabled and capable, when released,-of a limited sliding movement to a position below said discharge.

ports, a valve element adapted to be sent down the tubing string and mandrel to engage said valve seat and close said axial flow passage to enable a build up of hydraulic pressure to expand said packing sleeve and to subsequently disable said valve seat retaining means and translate said seat and said valve element to a lower position to re-establish communication between said axial now passage and saidv1 tail-pipe discharge ports, andA means detachably connecting said mandrel to the packer body and releasable to 'permit the mandrel to be withdrawn from the anchored packer body, said body providing an annular valve seat surrounding the lower end of its bore, an annular tail-pipe packing sleeve mounted in said body immediately 'above said valve seat to closely surround said tail-pipe, and a plug element having an annular valve shoulder, said element being detachably connected to the lower end of said tail-pipe and adapted to be moved upwardly thereby until arrested by engagement of said valve shoulder with said valve seat and to be thereafter stripped from the tail-pipe as said tail-pipe is withdrawn through said body bore.

13. In an apparatus of the nature disclosed, a packer body having a longitudinal bore and lateral ports communicating therewith, means operable to anchor said body in a well casing, a packing sleeve surrounding said body and expansible by uid pressure transmitted through said ports to actuate said anchoring means, a tubular mandrel normally extending through said bore and including a tail-pipe depending below said body, said mandrel being adapted for connection to a run in string of tubing and providing an axial now passage and lateral now passages communieating with said body ports and having formed inthe lower portion of said tail-pipe lateral discharge ports, means for valving said axial flow passage between said lateral flow passages and said tail-pipe discharge ports to enable a build up of hydraulic pressure to expand said packing sleeve, said valving means being capable of being subsequently actuated by an additional build up of hydraulic pressure to reopen said axial passage, and means detachably connecting said mandrel to Ithe packer body and releasable to permit mandrel to be withdrawn from the anchored packer body, saidl connecting means including avalve element adapted to close said lateral iiow passages as the mandrel is withdrawn. I

14. In an apparatus of the nature'disclosed, a

packer body having a longitudinal bore and lat. eral ports communicating therewith, means operable to anchor said body in a well casing, a packlng sleeve surrounding said body and expansible Aby fluid pressure transmitted through said ports to actuate said anchoring means, a tubular mandrel normally extending throughsaid bore and including a tail-pipe depending below said body, said mandrel being adapted for connection to a run in string of tubing and providing an axial iiow passage and lateral flow passages communieating with said body ports and having formed in the lower portion of said tail-pipe lateral discharge ports, a tubular valve seat normally retained in said flow passage between said lateral ow, passages and said tail-pipe discharge ports by means capable of being disabled and capable, when released, of a limitedsliding movement4 to a position below said discharge ports, a valve element adapted to be sent down the tubing string andmandrel to engage said valve seat and close said axial flow passage to enable a build up of hydraulic pressure to expand said packing sleeve and to subsequently disable said valve seat retaining means and translate said seat and said.

erable to anchor said body in a well casing, a

packing sleeve'surrounding Asaid body and expansible by iiuid pressure transmitted through said ports to actuate said anchoring means, a tubular mandrel normally extending through said bore and including a uid discharge tail-pipe depending below said body, said mandrel being adapted for connection to a run inY stringl of tubing and providing an axial iiow passage andvlateral flow passages communicating 'with said body ports, means for valving said axial passage below said lateral passages to enable a build up of hydraulic pressure to expand said packing sleeve, said valving means being capable oi being. subsequently actuated by an additional build upof hydraulicv pressure to reopen said axial passage, and means detachably connecting said mandrel to the packer body and releasable to permit the man.

drel to be withdrawn from the anchored packer l' body, said connecting means including a yvalve elemenhadapted to close said lateral ficwpas sages as the mandrel is withdrawn, and tension means tending to translate said valve element tol sible by fluid pressure transmitted through said ports to actuate said anchoring means, a tubular mandrel normally extending through said bore and including. a tail-pipe depending below said body, said mandrel being adapted for connection toa run in string of tubing and providing an axial flow passage, and lateral ilow passages communicating with said body ports and having vformed in the lower portion of said tail-pipe lateral discharge ports, means for valving said axial ow passage between said lateral ilow passages and said tail-pipe discharge ports to enable a build up of hydraulic pressure to expand said packing sleeve, said vali/ing means being` capable of being subsequently actuated by an additional build up of hydraulic pressure to reopen said axial passage, and means detachably connecting said mandrel to thefpackerbody and releasable to permit the mandrel to be withdrawn from the anchored packer body, said connecting means including'a valve element adapted to close said lateral ow passages as the mandrel is withdrawn, and tension means tending to translate said valve element to closed postidn. Y A

17. In an apparatus of the naturedisclosed, a packer body having a longitudinal-bore and lateral ports communicating therewith,. means operable to anchor said'body in a well casing, a packing sleeve surrounding said body and expansible by iiuid pressure transmitted through said ports to actuate said anchoring means, a tubular mandrel normally extending through said bore and including a, Etail-pipe depending below said body, said mandrel being adapted for connection to a run in string of tubing and providing an axial flow passage and lateral iiow passages communicating with said -body ports and having formed in the lower portion of said tailpipe lateral discharge ports, a tubular valve seat normally retained in said iiow passage between said lateral flow passages and said tail-pipe discharge ports by-means capable of being disabled and capable, when released, Aoa limited sliding movement to a position below saiddischarge ports, a valve element adapted to be sent down the tubing string and mandrel to engage saidk valve seat and close said axial flow passage to enable a build up of hydraulic pressure to expand said packing sleeve and to subsequently disable said valve seat retaining means y. and translate said seat and said valve element to a ,lower position to re-establish communication between said axial iow passage and said tailpipe discharge ports, and means detachably connecting said mandrel to the packer body and releasable to permit the mandrel to be withdrawn from the anchored packer body, said connecting means including a valve element adapted to close vsaid lateral iiow passages as the mandrel is withdrawn, and tension means tending' to translate said valve element to closed position.

18. In apparatus of the character described, a

body having a passage' and adapted to be lowf ered in a casing, means'carriedby said body for engagement with s aid easing, :duid operated means for moving said means into engagement 'with said casing, a setting tool wlthinsaid pas-A sage for conducting iluid under pressure to said fluid operated means', and packing means carried by said body within said passage for sealing contact with said setting tool.

19. In apparatus of the character described, a body having a passage and adapted to be lowered in a casing, means carried by said body for engagement with-said casing, iuid operated means for moving said means into engagement with said casing, a setting tool within said passage for conducting iiuid under pressure to said uid operated means, and a packing sleeve carried by said body within said passage for slidable sealing contact with said setting tool.

20. In apparatus of. the character described, a body having a passage and adapted to be lowered in a casing, slips carried by said body for securing it to said casing, fluid operated means for moving said slips into engagement with said casing, said body having one or more ports establishing communication between saidpassage and uid operated means, a tubular setting tool within said passage having one or more ports establishing communication between the interior of said tool and said passage, and packing means 'carried by said body within said passage below said ports for sealing contact with said setting tool.

21. In apparatus of the character described, a body having a passage and adapted to be lowered in a casing, slips carried by said body for securing it to said casing, uid operated means for moving said slips into engagement with said basing, said body having one or more ports establishing communication between said passage and iiuid operated means, a tubular setting tool within said passage having a lower terminal opening, said tool being provided with one or more ports establishing communication between the interior of said tool and said passage, a packing sleeve carried by said body within said passage and below said ports for slidable sealing contact with said setting tool, and means for closing the terminal opening in said setting tool.

22. In apparatus of the character described, a body having a passage and adapted to be lowered in a casing, slips carried by said body for securing it to said casing, a cone slidable on said body for moving said slips toward said casing, a pliable packing secured to said cone, said body having one or more ports providing communication be tween said passage and packing, a tubular setting tool within said passage having a lower terminal opening, said tool being provided with one or more ports establishing communication between the interior of said tool and passage, a packing sleeve carried by said body within said passage and below said ports for slidable sealing contact with said setting' tool, and means capable of passing through said tool for closing its terminal opening.

CLARENCE E. BURT.

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