US2191000A

US2191000A - Deep well tool

Info

Publication number: US2191000A
Application number: US140461A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas Idris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-05-03
Filing date: 1937-05-03
Publication date: 1940-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 1957-02-20

Description

|. THOMAS DEEP WELL TOOL Feb. 20, 1940.

Filed May 5, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 20, 1940.

l. THOMAS DEEP WELL TOOL Filed May 5, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3mm Jdh/am Feb. 20, 1940. l, THQMAS 2,191,000

DEEP WELL TOOL Filed May a, 1937 s sneets sheet 3 M Feb. 20, 1940 uNl'rED I S- {PATENT ornea s 2,101,000 I s near we; 'roor. Idrls Thomas, Whittier; cam. Application May's, 1037, Serial No. is', 4s1

. This invention relates to deep well inventionmay be embodied inspears andsockets, or other tools for making aconnection'to'tubing or casing within a well for backing-oil opera- 6 tions, or other operations. As ordinarily constructed, tools of this type include movable slips which are set against the tubing by pulling up on the tool string, and then while the tool string and "flsh are subjected to an up strain,the tool it 1 string is rotated to back of! the fish. This operation has the objection that on accountof the severe strain or, stress to which the "fish" is subjected, very high frictional resistance is developed at the threads where the "fish" hep-- is formed with circumferentially spaced cam faces, and after the slips have'been set by 8. 2o slight up pull, the-slips arecausedto grip the "fish" by a rotation of the tool string on its axis.

This latter type of tool gives considerable satisfaction, but in rotating thetool string in the 0 reverse direction to releasethe slips, it the slips do not release readily there is a tendency for the torque in the tool string to start theleft-hand 0 threads to unscrew at some one of the tool joints in the tool string. This would make it or impossible torelease the slipsr One of the objects 01 the presentinvention is to provide a'flshing tool'ior backing oi! tubing or casing, which'will overcome the objections referred to above, and in which it is unnecessary to subject the tool string to a severe up strain while backing oif'the tubing orcasing; also, to construct the tool in such a way that when thereis substantially little or noup strain on the tool string, the slips can be readily released by a rotation in the same direction that gripped the slips, on the tool, and which will require the development of only a relatively low torque in the tool string. In other words, the release of the tool would be attained by a rotation notin a direction tojunscrew any of the joints of the tool string. g

In connection with deep wells, it is sometimes necessary to determine with definite accuracy thedepth or level of a cementing point that has occurred previously at some level below the surface. In order to determine cement level in a well, it has been the practlce' to employ a tool of the type of a spearp'rovlded with slips. By gripping the slips in the casing at different levels, and vibrating the tool string or the casing at the v well head, it is possible to ascertain the cement s 0 la m gm. 04-04) The level, by reason of the fact that when the tool is gripped in the casing at the cement, thecement will deaden or reduce the vibrations transmitted back to the well head. One of the objects of my inventionis to provide a well testing tool particularly adapted for such use in determining the level of a cemented point in a well.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter. l

. The invention consists in the novel parts and combinations of parts to bedesc ribed hereinafter,

all ot which contribute to produce an eiiicient deep well tool, r

A preferred embodimentoi the invention is described lnthe following specification, while the broad scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings;

.Fig. 1 isa side elevation and partial section of .a fishing tool of speartype, embodying my invention. I'his view shows a portion of the tubing or, "iish and illustrates the parts with the slips set against the "flsh preparatory to backing it off. This view also shows the lower end of the drill string broken away.

'Fig. 2 is a .view very similar to Fig. 1, but showing the slipsin their releasedposition, and further illustrating the means employed for releasing the slips. 3 This view shows the parts in the relation they have when the slips have been cammed" upon the, mandrel to release them preparatoryto withdrawing the tool.

20. his cross-se'ctlonon theline Zw-Ia Fig.2... C

Fig.3 is a horizontal section taken through the spear and the nslfon the'line 3-3 of Fig. 1, but upon an enlarged scale. This view shows the tool after, the rotation that causes slips to grip the casing. l

Fig. 4 is also a cross-section on the line 3-4 of Fig. 1, but showing the tool after the slips have been set against the casing by a slight up pull of the tool string.

Fig. 5, is a cross-section on the line 55 of r Fig. 2, showing the relation .ofthe parts after the socket type. This view shows a portion of tubing in the tool, and broken away, and illustrates the slips in their gripping position against the fish.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken about on' the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

construction of a tester tool for connecting to a casingin determining the level of cement by the vibration method referred to above. This view shows the tool gripping the casing, a portion of 1 v tool string to which the actuating member in which is illustrated in cross-section.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to 'Fig. 9, but showing the tool released and ready to be withdrawn.

Figflll is a cross-section on the line ll-Hof Fig. 10 upon an enlarged scale.

Fig. 12 is a section on theline l2-l2 of Fig. 9, showing the slips set. a Y I Fig. 13 is a section at the same point as Fig. 12, but after the rotation of the mandrel has gripped the slips on the casing.

' the present specification. I have described my* Fig. 14 is a viewyof the testerassembled on the end of the drill stem. g

Before proceedingto a more detailed description of the invention, it should be stated that in improvements as applied to a tool of the spear type, and a tool of the socket type. Inboth of these types I prefer to provide a slip carrier or cage which carries the slips, so that t ey have a limited radially guided movement. ut the use of a cage is not essential, and in a type of spear to test for cement levels, I' have illustrated a construction not using a cage for'the slips. In the fishing tool of'eith'er type, the construction. includes an elongated actuating member. The slips and the actuating member have engaging inclined seat faces approximately conical in form, cooperating insuch a way that ii a relative downward movement of the'slips occur with respect to the actuating member, the slips will set themselves against the face of the fish.

tiallyaround the axis of the tool, they do not maintain a constantdistancefromthe axis of the tool; and. in the preferred form the cross section of the actuatingmember at each seat face will present a plurality of slightly'projecting "peaks" or high points that function like cam faces. face recedes, or is relieved in a radial direction so that the effect. of dips is attained located between the peaks or high points. .Inthe preferred construction I provide three rises" or high points located apart. w th the dive or "low points of the cross-section located midway between the high points or peaks of the cams. I

After the slips have been set against the fish by a slight relative upward movement or upreferred to above. that each slip 5 presents a plurality of inclined Although the inclined seat faces. of the actuating member extend circumferen-- Between these high points the seat anyone I actuating member and the move the. slips to their completely released position.

The construction of the cement level testing tool is very similar to the spear, but inverted so that the cone necks of the mandrel have their slips is utilized to large ends up instead of down. This gives the slips an inclined downward thrust against the casing that is favorable for imparting vibrations to the casing through the tool string.

Referring more particularly to the parts, and

especially to the spear type of tool illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, I indicates the lower end of the the form of a mandrel 2 is secured at the lower endof the tool string by asuitable tool joint 3.

The mandrel .2 is preferably of the stepped wedge being' of stepped wedge-form with the small ends of the .wedges disposed downwardly. The cross-section of the mandrel at the seat faces is'geomet'rically speaking a triangle, the I sides of which are curved lines and the angles of I which (formed by the intersection of the curved sides) are very obtuse, that form the peaks In this way it will b81868!)- substantially conical seat faces] to engage the corresponding seat faces 4 of the actuating member, or mandrel 2. The slips arepreferably three around the axis of the tool,- and these slips are preferably carried on a slip carrier, or in a cage 1 of tubular form, and having radial slots 8 (see Figs. 3 and 4), that guide the slips in their radial movements. The upper end of the cage 1 isprovided with a cap in the form of a collar 9 that is attached to the cage 1 by a screw thread Ill. The upper end of this cage cap may limit the upward movement of'the cage by striking against a shoulder H at the underside of the tool joint 3.

Referring particularly to Fig. 5, which illustrates the slips in their released position, it should be stated chat I form the mandrel with a crosssection so that three high spots orpeaks 12 are formed located 120 apart with relieved faces or dips I3 located between the same. The faces of the dips preferably merge into the faces of the peaks (see Figs. 3-5). In the released position of the slips shown in Fig. 5, these high points, or peaks I! of the cams, are located somewhere near the adjacent side edges of theslips. In operation the slips should be set against the face of the fish as illustrated in Fig. 1, by giving a slight up strain to the tool string I, and it will be evident that a rotation ofthe tool string I will cause the cam peaks I! to move around toward the center lines of the slips, and this will force the slips outwardly and grip their wickers It, or other engaging means, against the face of the fish. The faces 4 of the 'mandrel and the corresponding faces 4a are struck on a gradually changing radius that is slightly greater than onehalf the outer diameter of the cone at any point in its length. And these faces lie against each other in the accurately collapsed condition of the tool.

The tool string should, to grip, be rotated in the same direction that would unscrew the fish; and in this connection it will be evident that the greater the torque required to unscrew the fish," the greater the force will be with which the cam in number, disposed120" apart circumferentially o,1o1,oco faces or peaks i2 force'the slips against the face I I ofthe"ilsh." a I a If, or when, it becomes necessaryto release theslips from the fish" this is accomplished by eifecting a relative rotation between the mandrel g and the slip carrier, or cage "Inwhile the tool is not under an up strain. Any suitable means may be employed for thispurpose, but I preferto employthe means illustrated in Figs. 1 and.2, which has been used heretofore for releasing theslips in tools of thisgeneral type. .In order to accomplish this, I provide the lower end of the cage .wlthan inclined or helical cam face it, and at faces is illustrated at a time when the slips are "set against the fish preparatory to gripping I the same. At this time thesecam faces l6 and collar l8 carried by the lower'end of the mandrel,

the lower end of the. mandrelI provide a similar inclined orcam face l"| to engage and cooperate with the face I5; I In Fig. 1, the relation ofthese I! will have been slightly separated: by the up pull that sets the slips.

The cam face I! is preferably formed on a and having an angular opening. l9 within it that fits over an angular shank 20 on the mandrel at this point. This angular shank and angular opening l9 effectively mount. the collar l8 so that it is non-rotatable with respect to i the mandrel, and so that when the mandrel is rotated,these cam faces I5 and I1 willcause the cageto rise to a relativelyelevated position on the mandrel, thereby,sliding the slips 5 up on the stepped seat faces 4. This causesthe slips to release themselves by reason .of the frictional contact of the usual long friction springs" 2| that are secured to the cage at the three intermediate points between the adjacent edges of the slips, and engaging. with the casing. The lower end of the spear may beformed by a bowl 22 secured to it by a thread 23, and a set screw 24 that engages into a groove 25 to prevent 1 any possibility of the bowl becoming unscrewed. I This bowl, of course, retainsthe collar II on. the

mandrel, and the collar 18 in turnretains the cage I. I

In order to limit the rotary movement of the mandrel with respect to the cage I, I provide the lower end of the cage with a circumferential,

of tubular or shell-form, the upper end of which is supported by a sub 29,with threads 29a to enable the same tomake a tool joint connection to the tool string. .The inner face of this socket is formed with aplurality of stepped inclined seat faces that cooperate with three slips 30, said slips being of wedge-form with the small ends of the wedges downward, and each slip presenting in? clined seat faces 3| to engage with and cooperate with the inclined seat faces 28a of the socket.

As illustrated in Fig.8, the cross-sectionof the socket does not present a uniform thickness, but itpresents three cam faces 32 where the thickness of the wall has its maximum. In other words, the curve-sided triangle formed by the cams32 has peaks that approach toward the axis of the tool, and relief faces or dips33located be- In principle the tool operates in the same way as the spear, already tween the cams or peaks.

described; that is to say, by subjecting thetool iii H string to a slight 1155mm. the Wlckers 34 of the slips on be set against the face o'i'the "fish" 35 (see Fig. 7).;TIThis, of course, is done while the dips Q33,are located adjacent thecentral axes of the slips, and hence after the slips have been set, aslight rotation pfthe socket will cause cam faces 32 toshovethe slips inwardly in their guide slots 36, and grips them flrmly against the fish." The direction of rotation to grip the slips would, of course, bethe directionwhich will unscrew the fish and back it ofl.

In order to enable the slips .30 to be released when desired a helical cam face 31 is provided 'atthe lower end of the slip carrier or cage 38,

and this cam face 31 cooperates with a similar camface 39 that is formed on a shoulder .40 that projects .inwardly at the lower end of the socket.

After forming the helical engaging faces 3? and 39, notches 42 are cut in them so as to mm for the cage and slips. These shouldered? pre vent any possibility of using too great a. rota tion to kick. the slips up, and make it unnecessary to use a stoplsuch as, stop 26 in Fig. 6.

A stop should be provided on the cage or on the slips to prevent mouse-trapping" the tool over a collar on the casing. For this purpose the slips 30 are preferably provided with flanges 44 that project inwardly attheir upper ends to engage the upper. end of the fish (see Fig. 7).

The lower end of the socket may-be provided with .a shoe 4'5 attached to it by .ascrew thread 46. This shoe may have the usual helical or in clined guide face 41 that assists in guiding the a shoe over the upper. end of the ".flsh.

The tools can be constructed so asto operate very accurately on a predetermined slight up strain, to grip the slips; and so that with any less up strain, the slips will immediately release when the rotationvoccursthat is intended to kick: upthe slips at the helical cams to release them? A tester tool 48 embodying this invention is illustrated in Fig. 14. This tool has'a head 48 secured to the drill string 50, said head being rigid with an actuating part in the form of a mandrel including a round. stem or shank 5i terminating below in a series of steps or cones 52 with their large ends uppermost. The lower end of the head 49 has a helical cam face 53 to cooperate with a similarcam face 54 on the upper end of a loose sleeve 55, said sleeve having friction springs 56 for engaging the casing 57, and the lower end. of this sleeve supports the upper ends of the slips 58 on loose pin and slot [connections 59. On similar pin and slot connections G0 the lower ends of the slips support a collar 6| guided on a neck 62 of reduced diameterbelow the "cones and which carries the bowl 63.

, .Theslips are tapered to' correspond with the taper of the cones. and these parts are formed and correlated on their cooperating seat faces in the way set. forth in describing the spear disclosed in Figs; 1 and 2. A key 64, and cooperat ing stop65 on: the sleeve 55, limit the relative rotation of the sleeve and mandrel. This test ing tool is run down the casing with the cam faces 53and 54 ridden up on each other somewhat as shown in Fig. 10. This holds the slips 5! down on the cones (see Fig. 10) and pre vents the slips from being set against the casing 51. After the tool is at the level where it is to grip the casing, the tool string is then rotated duce stop shoulders .43 that will engage with each other at the limit of the rotary lifting movement tit? ' slight upper pull to take the weight off the slips, j

the casing 51. These wickers or teeth 68 preferably incline downwardly as shown. .A slight rotation of the tool string 50 in a right-hand direction would cause the slips to grip the casing with great force by reason of the fact that the '7 peaks 6! of the cam faces 68, move into-contact f with the inner faces of the slips (see Fig. 13). The slips can be released from the casing by a accompanied by a left-hand rotation of the tool string 50 m bring the parts into substantially the relation shown in Fig. 1-0. When the

helical cams

53 and 54 have'this relation, the slips 58 'will be held down on the cones" 52, which keeps them in a collapsed condition enabling the i tation of thetool string 50 with weight on it.

tool to be withdrawn.

In Fig. 14 this tool is indicated gripped in the casing at an elevated point above the cement 69. '.In using this tool to test a well to determine the level of the cement 69, the tool would be gripped in the casing at a succession oi'points extending progressively down through the well,

and during each gripping operation the tool string 50 would be vibrated and the consequent In the spear illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, it

should be understood thatthe. spear would be lowered into'the casing I while in the collapsed condition illustrated in Flg.'2,'and with the helical cam IS in the relation'indicated in Fig. 2. When the tool has been lowered to the" desired level in contact with the fish or casing H,- the tool string I would be rotated in a left-hand direction, which would permit the cage or sllpcarrier 9 to move relatively downwardly on the man-' drel, and permit the wickers l5 to touch the casing I4. Then a slight upward. pull on the tool string would set the slips firmly against the casing, after which a further rotation of the tool string in a left-hand direction would bring the peaks of the cam-form cones more nearly under the medial axes of the-slips as indicated in Fig. 3,

V which would force the same outwardly against the casing l4, and a continue-d rotation in a-lefthand direction will cause the tool to unscrew the fish. If it should be necessary at any time to release the tool from the fish within the .well,

or when releasing the tool from the fish after pulling the same from the well, this would be accomplished by reducing the up strain on the tool'string so that there is substantially no upward pull on the slips, whereupon a slight rotation of the tool string in a right-hand direction through the agency of the helical surface l6 will push the slips up on the-mandrel and release them.

' In the socket type of tool illustrated in Figs.

7 and 8, substantially the same procedure is had, i

it. being understood that the slips are in an elevated position when the socket is run down the well. After having positioned the tool over the upwardly projecting end of the fish an upstrain on the tool string will set the slips 30 against the fish, whereupon a rotation of the tool string in a left-hand direction will cause the withdrawn.

cam faces on the inner slde'of the shell of the socket to force the slips II inwardly and grip the fish. The tool can be released by relieving the up strain and rotating the tool string further in a left-hand direction, which will cause'the helical faces "and 391m engage and push the slips up toan elevated position and disengage them from the fish. 1

In operating the testing tool shown'in Figs. 9 and 10, the tool is run down the wellwith the

helical cams

51 and 54 in the relation shown in Fig. 10. This holds the slips collapsed, and after the tool has arrived at the level where it is to grip the'ca'sing, a right-hand rotation of the tool willbring the cam surfaces 53 and 54 more or less into the relation shown in Fig. 9, which will per-.

mit the mandreltomove down relatively to the slips. Such a down movement would set the slips against the casing, after which a slight rowill cause the camfacesof the cones 52 to move the slips out to grip them on-the casing. The

release of the slips will be accomplishedby a rotation in the same direction with substantially no down pressure on the slips. This, throughthe agency of the helical faces. and 54, will move the siips down into the relation shown in Fig. 10, collapsing the tool, and'permlttlng it to be n is understood that the embodiment of the many embodiments this invention may take, and I do not wish to'be limited in the practice of r the invention, .nor in the claims, to the particular embodiment set forth.

What I claim is::

1. In a fishing tool, the combination of a slip-carrier, a plurality of slips carried thereby, said slips having wedge-formportions of reduced the cam faces; the faces .of said dips and peaks merging into each other, and operating when 80 invention; described herein is only oneof the g the actuating member is rotated in one'direction after setting the slips, to grip the slips on the fish, said slip'carrie'r having a can! face adjacent its lower end, and a collar carried by the lower end of the actuating member having acam face to cooperate with the last-named cam face,

and inclined in a direction enabling the same to cooperate when the actuating member is rotated in the same direction'as before with substantially no up strain, to raise the slip-carrier relative to theactuating member and thereby release the slips from the ffish.

2. In a deep well tool for gripping tubing in the well, the combination of a plurality of slips, said slips having wedge-form portions of reduced thickness. toward one end with longitudinally inclined seat faces on one face and faces on their opposite sides for gripping the tubing, an elongated actuating member to be attached to a tool string, having a plurality 'of longitudinally inclined circumferential seat faces for engaging the seat faces of the slips and operating by ltuovement in one direction to set the slips against the tubing, said circumferential seat faces having having a substantially helical cam face and a collar carried by the actuating member having a substantially he.ical cam face, said helical cam faces inclined so that they will cooperate when the actuating member is rotated in the same direction as before with substantially no pressure exerted on the slips, to cause a relative longitudinal movement between the slips and the actuating member, and thereby release the slips from the tubing.

ii. in a deep well toolfor gripping tubing in well, the combination of a plurality of slips, slips having wedge-form portions of reduced lull, as toward one end with longitudinally incleared seat faces on one face and faces on their its sides for gripping the tubing, an elonactuating member to be attached to a tool Wig, having a longitudinally tapered crossctinn presenting a plurality of curved cam with peaks and dips on each side of each call: merging into the same for engaging the "es of the slips and operating by a rotation in the tool in one direction while the tool is lecterl to a longitudinal strain to set the slips ainst the tubing and cause the same to forcibly grip the tubing; and means moving with the actuating member and brought into action by rotation of the actuating member in the same direction as before when there is substantially no longitudinal strain on the tool, for effecting the sliding of the slips longitudinally relative to the actuating member, and thereby effecting the release of the slips from the tubing. r

In a fishing tool for backing oif tubing connected by threaded joints, the combination of a slip carrier, a plurality of slips carried thereby, said slips having wedge-form portions of reduced thickness toward their lower ends with longitudinally inclined seat faces on one face and means ontheir opposite faces for gripping the tubing, an elongated actuating member to be attached to a tool string, said actuating member having a cross-section presenting curved camform side faces the middle portions of which constitute dips of the cams, said side faces intersecting each other to form cam peaks, and forming seat faces for the slips inclined longitudinally of the actuating member, said actuating member operating by a movement in one direction to set the slips against the tubing, and operating when the actuating member is rotated after setting the slips, to grip the slips on the tubing; and correlated engaging means on the actuating member and on the slip carrier brought into engagement with each other by the rotation of the actuating member in the same direction as before when v there is substantially no strain, to raise the slip carrier relative to the actuating member, and thereby release the slips from the tubing.

5. In a fishing tool of the socket type, the combination of a cage for carrying slips, a plurality of slips carried thereby, said slips having wedge-form portions of reduced thickness toa ward their lower ends with longitudinally inclined seat faces on their outer sides, and means on their inner faces for gripping the fish, a sleeve-form socket to be attached to a tool string,

having a plurality of longitudinally inclined annular seat faces for engaging the seat faces of the slips, and operating by an upward pull to set the slips against the outer side of the fish, said socket having a cross-section at its inner wall presenting cam-form side faces intersectlng each other to form campeaks approaching the longitudinal axis of the socket, said curved faces forming seat faces inclined longitudinally of the socket to enable the said upward pull to set the slips against the outer side of the fish, and operating when the socket is rotated after setting the slips, to grip the slips on the fish, and correlated engaging means on the socket and on the cage having engaging faces inclined so that when the socket is rotated in the same direction as before with substantially no up-strain, said correlating engaging means will raise the cage relative to the socket and thereby release the slip from the fish.

6. A fishing tool for actuating slips to back off tubing connected by threaded joints, having an actuator for the slips with a cross-section presenting a plurality of circumferentially disposed curved cam faces with peaks, and dips on each side of each peak merging into the same.

IDRIS THOMAS.