US2208775A - Automatic bypass valve for oilwell packer - Google Patents

Description

July 23, 1940. w. F. RURUP 2,208,775

AUTOMATIC BYPASS VALVE FOR OIL WELL PACKER Filed May 9, 1939 2 sheets-sheet i July 23, 1940. w. F RURUP l2,208,775

AUTOMATIC BYPASS VALVE FOR OIL WELL PACKER F'led May 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ffy/0512250.27

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Patented July 23, 1940 2,208,775

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC BYAPASS VALVE FOR OILWELL PACKER Walter F. Rui-up, Santa Ana, Calif.

Application May 9, 1939, Serial No. v272,603 12 Claims. (Cl. 166-12) This invention relates to an automatic bypass wherein-there is a Valve seat above the packing packer for use in oil wells, and concerns a method ring or rings with a valve on the tubing adapted of using the same. to seat thereon and cause the valve seat to com- An object of the present invention is to propress and expand the packing rings.y In such vide a packer for use in oil wells equipped with type of packers `when the packer is lowered into 5 automatic bypass valves which will permit the the hole the valve on the tubing is held above downward liow of uid through the packer the valve seat so that circulation uid in the well around the tubing or passage through the packer, may readily pass through the packer whi1e it is 'but which will automatically prevent ow in the being lowered to the desired position. On reachopposite direction, thus retaining the formation Aing the desired pOSitiOn the Packer iS Set and l0 pressure below the paokor, 1n many instances, the valve seated on the Valve seat. Thereafter, when packers are 'installed in wells it becomes it is customary to apply the Christmas tree desirable to permit uid to flow from above the to the top of the tubing. If conditions should paokor to below the packer Without in any way arise wherein it would be desirable to unseat the disturbing the packer. For example, if a well is valve fromtits valve seatso as t0 equalize pres- 1S brought in, thus reducing the pressure below the sures above and below the packer, this C011ld Only packer, the hydrostatic pressure developed by the be done by rernOVin,r the Christmas tree from column of liquid above the packer is unbalanced the tubing, then lifting the tubing to lift the by the formation pressure and must be supported ValVe Off the Valve Seat- HOWeVer, When 'the by the packer. Under such circumstances it is Christmas tree is removed from the tubing 2o desirable to at least partially equalize the pressurethere is constant danger 0f the Well owing durabove and below th'e packer or on the outside ing this period and getting out of control. The and inside of the tubing by permitting somo of present invention is applicable to packers of this the liquid above the packer on the outside of the type to automatically permit equaliZatiOn Withtubing to pass downwardly through the packer, out requiring removal of the Christmas tree or` 25 In some instances it is desirable to replace the a lifting of the tubing to unseat the valve from heavy circulation fluid that may be in the wen the valve seat. Consequently, in the present conabove the packer with a lighter liquid such as oil.` struction equalizing of pressures can take place The packer embodying the present invention per- Whenever necessary without endangering the well mits such partial equalization of pressure to by the removal of the Christmas tree. 30 automatically take plaoe whenever necessary but With the foregoing and other objects in View, at the same time it serves to automatically retain Which Will be Inalle manifest in the follOWing dethe Well or formation prossure tailed description and specically pointed out in The packer embodying the present invention the appended Claims, reference is had to the aomay also be used advantageously for other pur- Companying drawings f0r an illustrative embOd- 35 poses than to merely equalize pressures. For exment 0f the inVentiOn, wherein: ample, it may be advantageously used to start an Figure 1 is a Vertical Section through ya Casing oi1 well to ow or in the parlanee of oi1 elds to illustrating one form of oil well packer as having kick the well over. When used for this purpose the automatic bypass valve embodied thereon, a

'gas may be forced into the well between the casportion of the `packer being broken away and 4:0

ing and the tubing and passed downwardly shown in vertical Section; lirriiglllleimllc lgoryatsbvlgvevel gg; fFilgl. 2 is a vertical section through the valve nnally following the liquid into the tubing and gutnaer Showln m. Fig 1 fs havin? the thus enabling the well to start flowing through ypas va Ves Incorpora ed therem. 45 the tubing. When the Wen starts to now through o Flg. 3 1s a horlzontal section taken substantially the tubing the automatic bypass automatically up@ the.1.me 3- 3 liportmg 2; closes to retain the -formation pressure and thus Fig 4 1S a' vlewm Slde elevan-'19u of another causes the well to continue to ow. form Pf p acker ha'vmg the aU-toman@ bypass Valve The packer embodying the present invention constltutlng the present lnventlon lrlcorporated may also be advantageously used in flowing a therein, a portlon ofl the packer belng broken well by means of compressed gas and may be used aWay and shown in vertlcal section; advantageously in cleaning sandy wells that tend Fig. 5 is a partial view in vertical section on an to sand up below the packer. enlarged scale showing the bypass valve used in vI-Ieretofore oil well packers have been devised the packer shown on Fig. 4; and 55 shell I I.

ing I Il imposed by means of the valve on valve seat Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 6 6 upon Fig. 4.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the invention has been .illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 ashaving been applied to that type of well packer known in the industry as a Guiberson control head packer, although it will be understood that this type of packer has been shown for illustrative purposes only in these figures and that the invention may be incorporated in or applied to other types of well packers. In order to understand the nature of the present invention and its function with relation to packers of the Guiberson type, a brief description of the Guiberson type of packer illustrated is thought to be necessary.

In this form of construction the tubing is generally designated at I0 and -around this tubing in spaced relation thereto there is a sleeve or shell II. Around the lower end of the sleeve or shell II there are friction springs I2 engageable with the interior of the casing I3. These friction springs are releasably held in their lowermost positions by any suitable means, such as a bayonet joint, not shown, while the packer is being lowered into the Well. On release of the bayonet joint accomplished by rotating the tubing the sleeve or shell II can be lowered relative to the friction springs' so that slips I4 can be expanded by the slip cone I5 into engagement with the casing. Above the slip cone I5 there is a rubber packing sleeve I6, or a series of packing rings may be employed, constituting a packing means. On top of the sleeve or shell II there is a valve seat I1 on which is adapted to seat a valve which is mounted on tubing II). When tubing I0 is lowered after the slips I4 have been set the valve on the tubing engages the valve seat, thus closing lthe packer against flow through the space between tubing III and the sleeve or At the same time Weight of the tub- I'I causes the rubber packing sleeve I6 to be compressed and expanded into rm sealing engagement with the interior of thei casing. In this way, the upper portion of the wellis isolated from the lower portion of the wellbelow the packer except through tubing I0. 'When' the packer is thus set in the well it is customary to apply the conventional Christmas tree to the top ot the tubing at the surface and as long as the Christmas tree remains installed the tubing can no longer be vertically moved`to unseat the valve on the tubing from thevalve seat I 'I.

If the well is brought in under these conditions the circulation fluid or mud between the tubing ID and casing I3 above the packer has its weight supported by the packer. In the case of very deep wells this weight of liquid may be of a very great magnitude. On bringing the well in 4the pressure within the tubing may become a great deal less than the pressure created by the weight of the circulation iluid between the casing and the tubing. Severe strains are thus imposed upon the packer and upon the tubing tending to cause the packer to leak and in severe cases,

, tending to cause the tubing to collapse. While it might be desirable to lift the tubing under these circumstances to unseat the valve on the tubing from valve seat I1- and thus permit a portion of the column of circulation uid between the tubing and the casing to drain through the packer and to this extent reduce the pressure on top of the packer, the opening of the valve cannot be accomplished vwithout lifting the tubing which involves a removal of the Christmas tree. If the Christmas tree" is removed, however, under these conditions there is always a danger of the well getting out of control.

The present invention when applied to a packer of the Guiberson type contemplates a valve applicable to the tubing I0 which is designed to seat on valve seat I 1 and which provides a bypass that will permit uid between the casing and the tubing above the packer to pass downwardly through the packer between tubing I 0 and sleeve II at any time without requiring removal of the Christmas tree or any disturbance of tubing I0. Thus, an equalization of pressures aboveand below the packer or on the inside and outside of the tubing can be accomplished whenever necessary without danger of the well getting out sure belowthe packer will always b e retained.

The bypass valve forming the present invention as applied to packers of the Guiberson type is illustrated in detail in Fig'. 2V and consists of la valve body I8 having a seating surface I9 engageable with the seating surface of valve seat II. 'I'his valve body I8 is attached to or may be incorporated in the string of tubing I0. One or more passages 20 extend vertically through the body and are arranged inwardly of the seating surface I9. The upper ends of these passages are enlarged forming shoulders 2| constituting spring seats for springs 22. The springs 22 urge balls 23 'which constitute upwardly closing check valves into engagement with their seats 24 which are screwed into the upper ends of thepassa'ges. While the number of passages may vary, I prefer to use an even number of passages such as four, six, or eight, equally spaced around the valve body I8 although it will be understood that the particular number employed is somewhat optional and immaterial.

Arranged over the valve body I8 is a conical screen 25 in the top'of which there is brazed an internally threaded ring 26 that is screwed onto a short section of tubing 21. 'I'his serves to maintain the screen in place. The function of this screen is to merely screen such uid or liquid that may pass downwardly through passages 20 so that there will be no danger of the upwardly closing check valves 23 becoming clogged or held open.

There are numerous advantages of equipping an oil well packer with an automatic bypass valve as above described. The following are given as illustrative methods of use, although it will be understood` that the use of the invention is not in any way restricted thereto. When the auto- 'matic bypass valve is combined with or associated with av packer of the character-previously described, the packer may be set in the well in its normal or usual manner. On bringing in the well such as by swabbing through the tubing,

if the hydrostatic weight of the fluid or liquid between the casing andthe tubing above the packer becomes excessive the pressure exerted by this liquid may force the valves 23 open against their springs 22 and thus pass downwardly through the space between tubing I0 and sleeve II thus reducing the height and consequently 7o passing of liquid from above the packer through 75 the packer can take place while seating surface I9 remains in engagement with valve seat I1 and while the Christmas tree remains on the tub- If it should be desired to replace the heavy circulation fluid between the tubing and the casing above the packer with a liquid that is lighter than the circulation uid, this may be easily accomplished by forcing the lighter liquid such as oil into the casing, thus forcing the circulation uid downwardly through the passages 20 and past the upwardly closing check valves 23. That all of the circulation iiuid has been replaced by oil can be readily determined by Watching for the return of oil through the tubing at the surface. It will be understood that in this operation the circulation fluid is first forced downwardly past the check valves 23 and through the passages 20 and through the packer. It then passes upwardly through the tubing. During this operation, as before the Christmas tree remains installed and the tubing I undisturbed at all times so that the well is under control.

Whenever there is suicient formation pressure in the well this is automatically retained by the packer inasmuch las the valves 23 are automatically closed by their springs whenever the pressures above and below the packer are closely enough equalized to permit the springs to become effective.

Under certain circumstances it may be desirable to kick the well over or to flow the Well b-y forcing gas below the packer to carry the oil up into the tubing. Either of these procedures may be readily accomplished by pumping gas into the casing which displaces the liquid between the casing and the tubing above the packer in a Y downward direction. The gas ultimately follows CII of a gas lift.

-sleeve 3| and the tubing 30.

this displaced liquid and passes downwardly through the packer past the check valves 23 and finally enters the bottom of the tubing bringing about a flowing of the well ii there is suicient formation pressure to cause the .well to flow or elevating oil through the tubing on the principle Even under these conditions the Christmas tree and tubing I0 remain undisturbed so that the well is always under control. In some wells there is a tendency for the well to sand up below the packer, and in this event by forcing liquid downwardly between the casing and the tubing and through the passages 20 circulationl may be maintained sufficiently to wash the accumulated sand into the tubing and thus cause it to be expelled from the well with the ascending column of liquid in the tubing.

The packer embodying the automatic bypass valve can thus be used under a variety of diierent conditions wherein it is desirable to force liquid downwardly through the packer around the tubing without disturbing the packer, the tubing, or the Christmas tree thereon.

In Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the invention has been illustrated as having been applied to another type of packer. In this form the tubing is generally designated at 30 surrounding which there is a sleeve or shell 3l in spaced relation thereto. The packing rings 32 constitute the packing means surrounding the shell above the slip cone 33. On the tubing there is a collar 34 which, when the weight of the tubing is imposed there on, compresses and expands the packing rings 32. Passages 35 are formedthrough the collar and communicate With the space 36 between the These passages are equipped with upwardly closing check valves or for kicking the well over or ow a well by means.v

of compressed gas it is desirable to provide relatively long, small tubes 40 extending upwardly from the valve seats 39. 'I'hese tubes are equipped with inlets 4I adjacent their upper ends. A cylindrical screen 42 is mounted between collar 34 and collar 43 which latter collar sockets the upper ends of the tubes. By having the tubes of the required length and required small diameter the volumetric fiow of gas therethrough can be controlled. Thus, by having these tubes quite long and of relatively small diameter the amount of gas that can be forced therethrough during any period of time will be relatively small. By shortening the tubes or increasing their diameters the rate of ow of gas therethrough may be increased. In this way the volume of gas permitted to pass through the packer can be varied for various conditions that may be encountered in the well. It will be understood that the packer shown in Figs. fl, 5, and 6 may be utilized to accomplish the same results as above described in connection with the construction illustrated in Figs. 1, Zand 3.

From the above-described constructions it will be appreciated that the automatic bypass valve is a very simple and durable construction and may be applied to virtually any type of oil Well packer. Although downward flow may take place through the packer at any time and under any conditions without disturbing the tubing or removing the Christmas tree, upward flow through the packer except through the tubing is automatically prevented so that the formation pressure below the packer `will be preserved at all times.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A well packer having a longitudinal passage therethrough to permit upward passage of well uid, and means including one or more check valves permitting downward ow through the packer around said passage but preventing ow in the opposite direction.

2. The combination with a packer having a packing means, a sleeve within the packing means, a tubing within the sleeve and a valve on the tubing adapted to seat on the sleeve, one or more passages through the valve for permitting flow through the valve when the valve is seated to the space between the tubing and the sleeve, and upwardly closing check valves in the passages.

3. The combination with a packer having' a packing means, a sleeve within the packing means, a tubing within the sleeve and a` valve on the tubing adapted to seat on the sleeve, one or more passages through the valve for permitting flow through the valve when the valve is seated to the space between the tubing and the sleeve, upwardly closing check valves in the passages, and screen means arranged over the upper ends of the passages. f

4. An automatic bypass for packers comprising a valve adaptedto be attached to the tubing and adapted to engage the packer to close the passage therethrough about the tubing, there being a passage through the valve to permit downward flow through the packer while the valve is seated,

and check valve means for preventing upward ow through said passage. l

5. An automatic bypass for packers comprising a valve adapted to be attached to the tubing and adapted to engage the packer to close the passage therethrough about the tubing, there being a passage through the valve to permit downward flow through the packer while the valve is seatedf check valve means `for preventing upward flow through said passage, and screen means over the upper end of the passage.-

6. In combination with a packer having a tubing extending therethrough and a valve on the tubing engageable with the packer, of a bypass through the valve equipped with check valve means whereby downward flow through the valve may take place past the check valve means while the valve is seated but upward flow through the valve is prevented.

7. An automatic bypassvalve for packers compsing a valve'body having a seating surface, one

around the tubing designed to remain open while the packer is being lowered into the well, a valve on the tubing adapted to close said passage through the packer when the packer is set, passages through the valve permitting downward ow through the packer while the packer is set, and upwardly closing check valve means in said passages.

10. A well packer having packing means, a sleeve within the packing means, a tubing within the sleeve in spaced relation thereto, and upwardly closing check valves permitting downward I flow between the sleeve and the tubing but preventing upward iiow `between the sleeve and the tubing.

11. A `well packer having packing `means, a sleeve within the packing means, a tubing within the sleeve in spaced relation thereto, upwardly closing check valves permitting downward flow between-the sleeve and the tubing but preventing upward ow between the sleeve and the tubing, and tubes leading to said check valves for controlling the ilow therethrough.

12. A well packer having packing meansa sleeve within the packing means, a tubing within the sleeve in spaced relation thereto, upwardly closing check valves permitting downward flow between the sleeve and the tubing but preventing upward flow between the sleeve and the tubing, tubes leading to said check valves for controlling the flow therethrough, and a screen surrounding said tubes.

WALTER. F. RURUP.

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