US2333348A

US2333348A - Screen cleaner

Info

Publication number: US2333348A
Application number: US355896A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph B Tucker
Original assignee: ANNIE SMITH TUCKER
Current assignee: ANNIE SMITH TUCKER
Priority date: 1940-09-09
Filing date: 1940-09-09
Publication date: 1943-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 1960-11-02

Description

Nov, 2, 1943. J, B, TUCKER 2,333,348

SCREEN CLEANER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOSEPH E. TUCKER J. B. TUCKER' SCREEN CLEANER Filed sept. 9, 1940 R 5 wmm v Il. D

Nov. 2, 1943.

Nov. 2, 1943. l 1 B, TUCKER 2,333,348 f v SCREEN' CLEANER Filed Sept. 9, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jost/H e. rua/(ER Patented Nov. 2, 1943 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SCR-EEN CLEANER Joseph E. Tucker, Houston, reir., assignor to Annie Smith Tucker 5 Claims.

The invention relates to a tool which may be lowered into deep wells and operated to effect cleaning of clogging material from the perforations in screens and also for cleaning the pores in the adjacent formations.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a device which may be lowered into a well casing and repeatedly actuated at a given level to eect desired cleaning action.

nnother object is to provide a cleaning device having a displacement chamber of varying volume, the cleaning action being obtained by varying the volume of such chamber.

Another object is to eiect repeated surges of liquid to and from the displacement chamber,

such surges being eifective at a point below a packer mounted on the device.

A further object is to provide a device of the class described having a heel; wall anchor which may be set after the device has been lowered into the well to a level at above which cleaning is to be effected.

.he foregoing objects together with other objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figs. l to 4 inclusive are sectional views of successive portions of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, parte thereof being shown in their relative positions when the device is being lowi' ered into the well bore.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on line 5 5 of Fis. 2;

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are similar to Figs. 1 to 4 but show the relative position of parts after the hook wall anchor has been set and the working barrel or displacement chamber has been moved to its lowermost position;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9 9 in Fig. 2;

Fig. l0 is a sectional view taken on line Ill-Ill in Fig. 2|;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view showing the construction of the spring cage for setting the slips of the hook wall anchor;

Fig. l2 is an assembly view showing the device in position within a well bore;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view showing a mcdication of the telescopic connection between the displacement chamber and the remainder of the device.

As best seen in Fig. l2 the device of the invention is lowered into a screen or perforated section of casing I havinCr perforations 2 which are to be subjected to cleaning action in order to remove any clogging material therefrom. Such device comprises a working or displacement barrel or chamber 3 which is telescopically connected with the upper end l cf a mandrel 5 upon which is mounted a packer E. A hook wall anchor 'l anda spring setting cage 8 are attached to the mandrel 5 at its lower end.

The illustrated embodiment is shown in greater detail in Figs. 1 to 4 wherein the displacement chamber 3 is shown as comprising a tubular section closed at its upper end by means o'f a plug Il) having a threaded pin member I I at its upper end so that the device may be suitably attached to a sucker rod, tubing string or a wire line. A setting pin I2 is attached to the lower end of the plug lil and extends axially downward within the chamber 3 to serve a purpose that will `more fully appear,

The barrel 3 is reduced internally at its lower end to form a shoulder I 5 below which is a counterbore filled with packing it held in place by means of the gland I'I to form a fluid seal between the chamber 3 and the remainder of the device.

The mandrel 5 includes an upward extension 2l! of an enlarged outer diameter to form a shoulder which is complementary to the shoulder I5 in the chamber 3. The engagement of these shoulders determines the extended limit of movement of these parts.

An annular plug Ill is threadably connected to the upper end of the mandrel and is provided at its upper end with a plurality of spring pressed projections 2li which are adapted to releasably engage' the upward projection 2l on a plunger assembly 23 which is movable within the extension 2b which comprises the upperportion of the mandrel 5. This construction provides a releasable connection for holding the plunger assem- 'bly 22 in the position indicated in Fig. 2,

The plunger assembly 22 comprises a body member it to which is fixed a plurality of cups 2S at its lower end. Intermediate its ends the body member lli is enlarged at 23, such enlargenient being provided with a transverse slot in which are pivotally mounted a plurality of latching dogs 2d which are urged outwardly by a spring Sii so that such dogs will move into the openings 34 in the extension 29 and latch the plunger assembly in a lowered position to serve a purpose that will more fully appear.

The plunger assembly is guided in its movement by screws 32 which are secured to the enlargement 23. The heads of these screws `slidably fit within elongated slots 33 in the extension' 20 as shown in Fig. 9.

The bore in the extension 25 is enlarged at 25 and has a shoulder 21 at its lower end to cooperate with the tapered surface 28 on the body member I8 to determine the lowermost position of the assembly in which position the dogs 29 enter the openings 34 to latch the assembly in place.

As the displacement chamber 3 is elevated relative to the mandrel and associated elements, a

shoulder 3| on the inside of the chamber 3 en-` gages and moves the dogs 29 whereby the plunger assembly is released and permitted to move upwardly and open the passage to the interior of the chamber 3. It is to be noted however that the shoulder 3| is near the lower end of the chamber 3 and since this chamber may be of considerable length it may be moved a considerable distance before the plunger assembly is unlatched to permit the entry of fluid to the chamber. Attention is also directed to the fact that the unlatohing takes place before ports |4 are uncovered so that the ingress of i'luid takes place through the mandrel 5 from below the packer 5.

The composite mandrel 5 includes a threaded collar 35 to which is attached a nipple 36 by weld 3l, thus providing a chamber 38 within which is positioned an outwardly opening check valve 33. This valve permits the outward movement of iiuid from within the mandrel but prevents the influx of fluid to the interior of the mandrel above the packer El. Below the nipple 35 the mandrel is reduced in section at 40 to receive a packer cup 4| which is secured in place thereon by means of a ring 42.

Attached to the lower end of the mandrel 5 is an expander 43 having slip jaws 44 movable upon its tapering surfaces 45. Links 46 are attached to the jaws 44 and the opposite ends of these links are pivotally attached to a ring 4l which slidably surrounds the tubular extension 48. This extension is slotted vat 49 to receive pins 5G projecting outwardly from an inner ring 5|. Compression spring 52 engages this ring 5| and also the surface 53 within the expander 43. The ring is thus normally urged downwardly thus tending to hold the slips 44 in retracted position.

Surrounding the extension 48 below the ring 41 is the spring cage assembly 8 which includes a spring cage 5| to which is attached a plurality of bowed springs 6B so that the assembly engages the walls of the surrounding screen and tends to resist movement of the assembly.

The spring cage assembly is urged upwardly by means of a spring 65 which engages a small housing 68 (Fig. ll.) extending transversely of the extension 48. The opposite end of this spring engages a ring 65 having ears 6l which project outwardly thru the slots 49 and engage the upper ends of the slots 52 in the cage 6|.

It seems app-arent that upward movement of the spring cage assembly 8 causes the cage 6| to engage the ring 4l and set the slips. In order to avoid such operation taking place while going into the well a latching mechanism is provided to hold the 'assembly in a predetermined retracted position. This mechanism comprises a plunger within the housing ES, a compression spring 1| constantly urging the plunger toward the interior of the housing.

A slot 'l2 angularly spaced from the slots 62 in the spring cage is enlarged at its upper end sufficiently to pass the head 13 on the plunger l0. In order to latch the cage assembly in downward position such assembly is pushed kdownwardly against the spring and the plunger 10 is forced outwardly until the head 13 passes thru the enlarged portion of the opening '|2. The assembly is then allowed to move upwardly under the influence of the spring 65 until the plunger 'l0 strikes the lower end of the slot 12 whereby the assembly is latched in retracted position.

The operation of the illustrated embodiment is believed apparent from the foregoing description. By way of summary it will be stated that preliminary to lowering the device within the well the spring cage assembly 62 is latched in its downward position as just described. The device is then lowered into the well by means of a tubing string, sucker rods or cable until the desired lowermost level is reached. During the lowering step a portion of the uid within the well will be passed about the packer 4|. In order to avoid any restriction for the passage of liquid, however, a plurality of openings I4 are provided in the mandrel, such openings being so located that they are exposed beneath the gland |1 when the charnber and mandrel are in extended position.

When the desired level is reached the spring cage assembly 62 remains stationary by irictional engagement with the screen 2 as the remainder of the device is then lifted. When the plunger 'ID reaches the enlargement in the slot 12 the spring causes the plunger to move inwardly and hence the spring cage 6I is released for movement over the extension 49. The device is then lowered whereupon the expander 43 moves downwardly relative to the slips 44 so that the latter are forced outwardly and into engagement with the surrounding screen.

Continued lowering of the device will cause the chamber 3 to move telescopically over the upper end of the mandrel 5 whereby the volume of the chamber is decreased. Continued lowering brings the pin 2 into engagement with the projection 2| on the plunger assembly 22 whereupon such assembly is forced downwardly to close the passage thru the mandrel, the dogs 29 moving into engagement with the openings 34.

The chamber 3 is then moved upwardly to enlarge the chamber which is closed to the entry of uid until the dogs 29 are released by the shoulder 3| on the interior of the chamber. When such release takes place the plunger assembly moves quickly upwardly, thus opening the chamber at its lower end whereupon fluid is `admitted to the chamber from within the screen below the packer 6. 'I'his surge of iluid tends to dislodge any material which may be clogging the openings 2 in the screen or the pores in the surrounding formation. Subsequent successive lowering and raising of the chamber 3 causes an inux and eiliux of liquid from below the packer 6 and hence the desired cleaning action is brought about.

It is believed apparent that progressive cleaning action may lbe effected by lifting the complete assembly a predetermined and desired amount after suflicient cleaning action has been produced at a given level. When desired cleaning has been effected the entire unit may be lifted from within the well. The spring cage B2 drags upon the interior of the screen or casing I and hence the slips 44 are constantly urged downwardly in addition to the force exerted by the spring 52. The slips therefore are urged to retracted position. In any event the slips cannot cause the tool to become stuck since the teeth thereon restrain the assembly from downwardly movement only. During upward movement of the assembly the openings I4 and the bore of the mandrel 5 serve to bypass liquid axially of the packer 6.

A modiiication of the construction already described is shown in Fig. 13 wherein the extension 20 on the mandrel 5 and the plunger assembly 22 are replaced by a collar 'I5 which determines the downward limit of movement of the mandrel relative to the chamber 3. In this modiiied construction cleaning action is brought about by the raising of the chamber to the position of Fig. 13; the ports I4 being closed until they are uncovered as the gland I'I moves above them.. As the ports I4 are opened there will be a rush of liquid into the mandrel and chamber which allows the column of liquid in the well to drop sharply and strike a heavy liquid hammer blow upon the screen to clear the openings. In addition the alternate upward and downward movement of the chamber 3 whereby the surging of fluid into and from this chamber produces the desired cleaning action upon the screen I. It is to be understood that the structure is moved within the well and the operation thereof is entirely controlled through the cable 24 attached to the upper end of the assembly.

The invention is based upon the use of a displacement chamber of varying volume to repeatedly produce the desired surging action to effect cleaning. It seems apparent that, while the chamber 3 is shown at the upper end of the mandrel 5, these elements may be interchanged, the only requisite 'being that there be relative movement of the two members to produce the desired volumetric change in the device. Broadly the invention comprehends a tool for removing clogging material from the screen or the perforations in a well casing by producing repeated surges of the liquid to and from the interior of the device.

What is claimed is:

1. A well cleaner for cleaning perforations in a Well strainer and the like comprising, a working barrel closed at its upper end and having a pin projecting downwardly therein, a packer assembly including a mandrel having a telescopic connection with said barrel, a packer surrounding said mandrel and adapted to seal with the walls of said strainer member, a plunger assembly movable within said mandrel to close the passage therein when moved to a downward position, means for latching said plunger assembly to the mandrel when said assembly is forced downwardly by said pin as the barrel is telescoped over the member, and means for thereafter releasing the plunger assembly when the barrel and mandrel are moved to extended position to open the passage so that flushing fluid surges through the perforations in the strainer and to the interior of the device.

2. In a screen cleaner the combination of a displacement chamber closed at its upper end, and including a tubular mandrel telescopically connected to, the chamber at its lower end so that relative telescopic movement of the chamber and mandrel varies the volume thereof, a packer on said mandrel, there being openings in the mandrel and about said packer to bypass uid through the mandrel as the device is being lowered into 'a well and the chamber and mandrel are in extended relation, means for repeatedly closing and opening the passage in the mandrel to the interior of the chamber by movement of the chamber relative to the mandrel so as to create a suction in the chamber when the openings are closed and to thereafter due to continued movement of the chamber effect opening thereof to apply such suction to the well screen, said means being operable to thereafter again close said openings and means for anchoring the mandrel in position as the displacement chamber is reciprocated relative thereto.

3. In a screen cleaner adapted to be lowered into a well screen to be cleaned the combination of a displacement chamber closed at its upper end and having a setting pin extending downwardly therein, a packer assembly, said assembly including a tubular mandrel telescopically connected to said chamber, a packer on said mandrel to seal between the mandrel and the surrounding screen, means for anchoring said mandrel against downward movement within a well during lowering of the chamber relative to the mandrel, closure means for the passage in the mandrel engageable by said setting pin as the chamber and mandrel approach fully telescoped position for anchoring said last mentioned means in position to close the passage from below the packer to the interior of the chamber and means Operable as the chamber and mandrel move to extended position for releasing the closure means to open the passage in the mandrel so that fluid may surge to the interior of the chamber and mandrel.

4. In a well cleaning assembly the combination of a displacement chamber, a cable attached to the upper end of said chamber for operating the assembly, a mandrel connected to said chamber and telescopically movable relative thereto to increase and decrease the volume of said chamber, a packer sealably engaging the walls of a screen surrounding the device, and means includingr a series of openings in said mandrel and a sleeve valve on said chamber for alternately admitting fluid from below the packer to and from the interior of said chamber as the relative positions of the chamber and mandrel are varied by a reciprocating action.

5. A screen cleaner for wells comprising a hollow mandrel, means operable to anchor said mandrel inthe screen to be cleaned, a housing having a chamber therein telescoped over said mandrel and sealed thereabout, means to elect reciprocation of said chamber relative to said mandrel, a plurality of openings in the mandrel to be covered or uncovered by the sliding movement of said housing, said openings being disposed to be covered except when said housing is in extended position to have created a suction in the chamber and mandrel so that the subsequent uncovering of the openings permits a surge of nuid from the screen to rush into the chamber so as to eicct a cleaning action in the screen due to the hammer obtained by the sharp droping of the column of liquid in the Well.

JOSEPH B.