US2243967A - Packer and setting tool - Google Patents

Description

L. A. LAYNE ET AL PACKER AND SETTING TOOL June 3, 1941.-

Filed Jan. 29. 1937 s Sheets-Sheet 1 QQUUSQ Q L.A.Ll-\YN E v HIiBLocK MENTOR A.L.ROCO 6? ATTORNEYS Fig.1.

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June 3, 1941. A. LAYNE ET'AL 3,9

PACKER AND SETTING TOOL v Filed Jan, 29, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I :mLALm NE H'.G.BLocK A.LRoco ATTORNEYS.

June 3, 1941. L. LAYNE A 2,243,967

PAGKER AND SETTING TOOL Filed Jan. 29. 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 L.A. LAYN E. H .C. BLOCK.

A-.L.Roco.

ATTORN EYS.

Patented June 3, 1941 UNlTED STATES PATENT FFEQE.

PACKER AND SETTING TOOL Application January 29, 1937, Serial No. 122,948

10 Claims.

I he invention relates to a combination packer setting tool and well bottom assembly wherein a simple and economical arrangement has been provided by which the well bottom assembly may be lowered into the well, the packer set, and the setting string either removed or left in the well.

In lowering a wel1 bottom assembly into the well it is sometimes desirable to support such assembly from the lower end thereof so as to avoid excessive strain on the screen or perforate portions of the pipe and also in order that a wash valve in the base of the string may be moved to closed or locked position in order to insure that all of the flow thereafter will occur through the strainer. It is of course desirable to release this setting string from the well bottom assembly after the wash valve has closed and to thereafter set the packer so as to seal the upper end of the liner in the casing. The entire operation is carried out by manipulation of a setting string, which is here shown as composed of a minimum number of parts so as to avoid cost in construction as well as difliculty in operation.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a combination letting in string and packer setting tool which can be readily released.

Another object of the invention is to provide a release mechanism for the wash pipe so that it will be released by continued rotation after the wash valve has been closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an upside down packer which will begin setting at the bottom and releasing at the top when it is to be removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a piston seal within the liner about the wash pipe so as to prevent the flow of fluid therethrough and to utilize the hydraulic pressure of the fluid in maintaining a seal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spring pressed setting ring member which will automatically expand to engage the packer and set the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a setting ring which may be used repeatedly in setting a plurality of packers. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a friction release for the wash pipe.

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the lower end of the assembly with the parts in the position in which they would be located when the device is being lowered into the well bore. Certain of the parts are shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the upper end of the portion of the assembly.

Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar to the View in Figs. 1 and 2 but show the construction after the wash valve has been closed, the letting in string released, and the packer set.

Figs. 5 and 6 are sections taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2 and B--5 of Fig. 4, respectively.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the parts are assembled in the position they will occupy as the device is being lowered in the well and they include the shoe 2, which is provided with the usual opening 3 therein and which carries the back pressure valve 4, which is normally urged against its seat 5 by means of a spring 6. Seat 5 is carried on a special type of seat ring 1 which is beveled at 8 to receive the wash valve 9. The combination of the back pressure and the wash valve in an arrangement of this sort is disclosed in the prior copending application of A. L. R000 and W. V. Walters, filed December 13, 1934, for Set shoe which has resulted in Patent No. 2,072,439, granted March 2, 1937.

A coupling I 0 forms part of the shoe and carries a ring [2 which is threaded therein. The inside of the ring l2 carries a coarse or acme thread M which is arranged to receive the periphery of the wash valve sleeve it, which is provided with a complementary thread. It seems obvious that the passage through the wash valve occurs through theopening H, which is cut off when the valve 9 engages the seat 8 upon relative rotation of the threads M. The wash valve is in the position shown in Fig, 1 so that fluid may be circulated downwardly through the assembly through the wash valve so as to create pressure on the back pressure valve, which will open it and allow a flow of fluid upwardly through the well outside of the assembly in order to wash out the drilling mud or any sediment. After this washing operation it is then desirable to close the wash valve 9 so as to insure proper sealing of the lower end of the string in event the back pressure valve should fail.

In order to manipulate this valve 9 the internal portion of the sleeve I5 is also provided with a coarse acme thread 23. This thread, however, is of opposite pitch as compared with the thread I l. Thus, if the thread It is right-handed then the thread 2!] will be left-handed or vice versa. This coarse left-hand thread at 29 is arranged to receive the threaded end 2! of the wash or letting in pipe 22. A resilient seal 23 may be provided adjacent the shoulder 24 on the wash pipe so that it will abut against the upper tapered end 25 of the wash valve sleeve. In this manner any sediment or sand isprevented from flowing in or settling in about the threads 26 so that they will readily release when desired.

When the washing operation is completed the prior application above referred to discloses how the wash valve 9 can be moved to closed position by rotation of the wash pipe 22. As soon as the wash valve is closed it is desirable to then release the letting in tool 22 and for this purpose the left-hand threads have been provided. It is necessary, however, to transmit sufiicient torque by means of the threads Zil to the wash valve 9 to cause it to rotate to closed position, but when the valve once reaches its closed position continued rotational pressure applied to the wash pipe will cause the left-hand thread to release,

ting of the valve 9 on its seat 8 then this frictional resistance will be overcome and the threads 20 will be unscrewed.

In order to insure that the frictional resistance of the valve 9 and its sleeve 15 to rotation will not exceed that of the frictional resistance transmitted by the faces 2'! and 28 a stop pin 30 has been provided in the sleeve l5 and it is arranged to abut against the threaded ring l2 so that when the wash pipe is rotated the wash valve will readily rotate with it and it will be unnecessary to break out a friction lock in order to begin rotation.

Above the coupling is the screen 32 which may be of any desired length and which has its upper end 33 connected to the liner 3% which extends upwardly in the well.

The wash pipe or letting in pipe 22 is co-axial with the screen 32 and, as seen in Fig. 1, is provided intermediate its ends with a seal ring dB. This ring is in the nature of a coupling M, which is threaded to the adjacent ends of the pipe portions 42 and G3 which make up the wash pipe 22. This seal has a rigid base which carries a resilient body of rubber or other suitable material 45 of the lip type as shown by the lips 62'. In this manner a 'flow of fluid either upwardly or downwardly through the liner is cut off and any increase in fluid pressure tends to form a seal between the wash pipe and the liner.

The liner (id, as seen in the bottom of Fig. 2, has the packer connected thereto, which packer is of a peculiar construction in that it is inverted or upside down with respect to the type of packers in general use, because of the fact that the packer support 5! telescopes down inside of the packer instead of having the packing material 52 telescope downwardly over the packer support. To accomplish this the packing 52 has been wrapped upon the support 5! with the support formed with upwardly facing ratchet teeth 53, which are arranged to be engaged by the spring fin ers 55 formed on the upper part of the packer body 55. As the packer support 5! moves downwardly these teeth will successively engage lapsed. A packer guide sleeve 51 is supported by a shoulder 58 on the fingers 54 and has a skirt 59 which overlies the fingers in order to protect and to keep out any grit and dirt. The shoulder 60 on a packer guide sleeve 5'! acts as a base for the packing 52 which is held thereon by wrappings of wire 6!. This sleeve 5'! has a neck portion 63 thereon which underlies the packing material for a considerable distance and over which the packing is telescoped during the collapsing of the packer so that it is caused to expand an additional amount due to the tapered face 64 on this neck.

This sleeve 5? is also of advantage in prevent.- ing leakage around the packer because it would be necessary for seepage to flow inwardly around the lower end of the packer, then upwardly along the sleeve and then down inside the sleeve. This additional sealing area is of material value.

In order to carry the packer support 5! downwardly and to apply pressure to the packing a collar 66 is threaded to the support and has a shoulder .61 against which the upper end of the packing has been disposed.

The advantages of this type of packer is that the collapsing of the packer begins at or adjacent the base Hi thereof because of the fact that the packer support 5! is moved downwardly and tends to carry the packing with it. In this manner the expansion of the packing material begins at the point Hi and progresses gradually up wardly as the collar 66 is moved downwardly. The particular advantage of this is that the packing material, after it has been collapsed, is not compelled to move from its position where it has been wedged against the pipe casing or wall of the formation, and a lesser pressure or weight to eifect setting is required than with the usual type of packer where collapsing begins at the top and then the collapsed material must have sufficient pressure applied to it to causeit to slide downwardly in order to effect collapsing of the other part of the material which is beneath it. This causes movement of the upper part of the packing after it has been expanded and in some instances results in its destruction or incomplete expansion of the packer.

In other words, the folds of the packing material pile up on the shoulder til as the packer is set and when and if the packer is to be withdrawn a suitable tool engaged beneath the ring 89 will lift the support barrel 5i and destroy the latching fingers so as to raise the packer folds in exactly the reverse order from which they were formed.

In order that the packer may be collapsed, by moving it from the positionshown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 4, a setting ring, indicated generally at 75 in Fig. 2, has been provided. This ring is in the form of a coupling between the sections '56 and ii of the wash pipe or letting in pipe and is in the form of an expansible ring which is deposited in the recess 18 in the coupling 15 and, as seen in Fig. 5, is made up of two complementary substantially semicircular sections I9. These two sections are normally forced apart by means of a spring but are confined in their radial movement by the 8i and 82 which are formed on the collar a These segments it are provided with an upper beveled face 8 so that upon upward movement of the ring it may be collapsed when it engages an enlargement on the inside of the pipe. On the other hand, the lowermost corner thereof is in the form of a shoulder which is adapted to apply pressure to the shoulder 86 on the upper end of the packer support A manner of arranging this pressure is seen in Fig. 4 where the wash pipe has been moved upwardly, carried without the setting ring construction 35. As the portions 19 arrive above the elevation of the shoulder 86 they will then snap outwardly into the recess 8? over the shoulder 86. As the wash pipe is then moved downwardly the side thereof can then be applied to the packer body 51 to collapse the packer as previously described and as seen in Fig. 4. The collar 66 carries an internal ring 8% which may be removed and another packer 53 attached thereto if it is desired that a plurality of packers be set or some other device be operated.

Fig. 2 shows a cap 9!! which may be of suitable resilient material so that it will project out-' wardly from the wash pipe 22 and is of such a size that it will engage the collar 66 at 9| in order to form a seal therewith. It is intended that this cap may have breather openings therethrough so that pressure will be equalized on the inside and outside of the assembly, the object of this cap being to deflect any sediment settling in the well so that it will not travel downwardly inside of the setting tool assembly.

Fig. 3 shows the construction where, upon rotation of the wash pipe 22, the wash valve 9 has been screwed downwardly against its seat 8 and continued rotation has caused the friction faces 21 and 28 to separate so that the thread 26 has unscrewed, releasing the same at 23 or releasing the wash pipe 22. The wash pipe has then been moved upwardly to carry the setting ring to the position shown in Fig. 4 to effect setting of the packer 56. The wash pipe or letting in pipe may or may not be removed, if desired, depending upon the practice being followed.

One of the primary advantages of the construction is its simplicity and the fact that it can be manufactured for a minimum cost, which results in a construction which may be left in the well bore with a minimum loss.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the combination of the various details which have been shown and described, all of which lend themselves to an exceptionally satisfactory and economical setting tool construction.

What is claimed is:

1. In a well bottom assembly including a set shoe, wash valve, screen, packer, wash pipe, and setting tool the combination of a sleeve on said wash valve, an internal connection therein to releasably receive said wash pipe, and an external connection thereon whereby said valve may be moved to open or closed position by said wash pipe, said internal thread being a coarse tapered thread, and means to seal the top and bottom of said internal thread.

2. In a well bottom assembly which includes a wash Valve and a wash pipe, a sleeve on said valve, external threads on said sleeve so that rotation thereof in one direction will close the valve, internal threads in said sleeve of the opposite pitch to said external threads, a threaded connection on said wash pipe to engage said internal thread and adapted to release when said valve moves to closed position, and stop means to prevent said external thread from looking by friction.

3. A setting pipe for well bottom assemblies including a resilient protective cap to grip about said pipe to deflect'material tending to settle into said assembly.

4. A setting pipe for well bottoms including a piston having resilient lips, said piston being spaced intermediate the ends of said pipe to form a seal with the well bottom liner in event of fluid pressure thereon.

5. In a releasable letting in tool for well bottoms, having a wash pipe and wash valve, a left-hand threaded connection between the wash pipe and said valve, and a friction seat for said ipe in said valve which is adapted to drive said valve to closed position and then release upon continued rotation thereof.

6. The combination of a left-hand threaded wash pipe, a right-hand threaded wash valve connected thereto, and a sealing member disposed at the top of said left-hand threads to form a seal between said pipe and valve so that sediment cannot bind said threads while the tool is lowered into a well bore containing liquid.

7. A setting tool assembly including a String of well tubing, a setting ring coupling therein, a sealing piston thereon below said ring, and a left-hand threaded portion adjacent the lower end of said string.

8. A packer including a support, a packer barrel, a shoulder on said barrel, a packer disposed about said barrel and above said support, said barrel being adapted to move downwardly to move the top of said packer toward said support whereby said packer will be carried along with said barrel to begin expanding adjacent said support, said support including an internal upstanding skirt to seal inside the bottom of said packer.

9. An upside down packer including a packer barrel, a packing positioned thereon, a support slidably disposed about the lower end of said barrel, a shoulder on said barrel to be engaged so as to move the barrel and packing downwardly against said support whereby the folding of the packing will begin adjacent said support and accumulate thereon until the entire packer is set, and an upstanding neck portion on said support to underlie said packing.

10. An upside down packer including a packer barrel, a packing positioned thereon, a support slidably disposed about the lower end of said barrel, and. a shoulder on said barrel to be engaged so as to move the barrel and packing downwardly against said support whereby the folding of the packing will begin adjacent said support and accumulate thereon until the entire packer is set, and latch means to retain said barrel in set position, said latch means being adapted to release when a predetermined upward pull is exerted on said barrel so as to release and unfold said packing to remove the packer.

LESLIE A, LAYNE. HAROLD C. BLOCK. ALBERT L. ROCO.

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