US2338369A

US2338369A - Well tester

Info

Publication number: US2338369A
Application number: US174071A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ollin W Williams; Luther E Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-11-11
Filing date: 1937-11-11
Publication date: 1944-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 1961-01-04

Description

Jan. 4, 1944. o, w. WILLIAMS ETAL 2,338,369

WELL TESTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. ll, 1937 r.the wellv and showingy a Patented Jan. 4, 1944 WELL TESTER Olln Williams andiLuther E. Brown, Greggton, Tex.

Application'Novcmber 11, 1937, Serial No.1174,071 13 Claims. y(ci. 16s-1o) This invention relates to a well tester. An object of the invention is tovprovide a te'sting tool adapted to be lowered into a well and whereby a sample of` the fluid in the "formation to be tested may be entrapped and removed to the` ground surface for inspection.

It is another object of the invention to provide a-testing tool of the character described designed to be attached to the lower end of the ldrill stem or" other tubular string and lowered `into the Well empty and embodying novel meansfor forming a seal above the formation to be testedV and a novel .type of'valve normally closing they lower 'end'of the drill stem, or other operating stringv `and adapted tov be opened by a relative longitudinalv movementof the valve means to permit the entrance of a sample from theformation befneatnthe seal with means for automatically entrapping the sample upon upward movement of the tool.V v 1 It is another object of the invention'to provide a testing ytool of the character described whereby the heavy drilling uid may be allowed to enter the drill stem, or other operating strin-g as the tool `is withdrawn, in the presence of gas pressure in the" well, to prevent a blowout.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well tester ofthe character described wherein f provision lismade for'maintaining the operating` lstring lempty lwhile going into the well but which will'allow` circulation of vdrilling uid through ysaidstring, whiflevgoing in or coming out, if gas Apressure conditions make such circulation advisable.

` A further object of the invention is to provide i a tester of the character described embodying an expansible lpackerand havingVv means for preventingvthe premature expansion of the packer.

versa. f

Wit-hthe-above` and other obJects in view `the inventionfhas'particular relation to certain novel features vof construction. operation and arranger'ment of parts; an example of which is given in thisspe'cication and illustrated in the accom- Figure 1 shows a lvertical. sectional view of the :upper yend of oney form of the testing tool in jclOsedjpositicin preparatory to be lowered into downwardly opening valve therein.

IFigure 2 shows a velticaL sectional view of the lower end ofjthe device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3` shows a cross-sectional view taken on the line `3-'-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a sidev view of a complete tool illustrating' anotherl embodiment shown in open position for the Vadmission of a sample.

Figure 5 shows an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view 'of the tool showing the valve mechanism open as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 shows an enlarged, fragmentary, verticaLVsectional view of' the lower end of either form of the tool in position for taking a sample,

and

Figure 7 shows afragmentary, vertical, sectional view showing the valve mechanism in p0' sition to admit drilling fluid from the bore into the drill stem or operating string.`

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate the same' parts in each of the figures,l the numeral Iy designates the body of the' tool. screwed into the upper end of which vthere is the gland 2 whose upper end is upwardly tapered. The lower endof the body is reduced in inside diameter' forming a bearing 3 through which the releasing tube 4 is slidably tted. The lower end of the releasing tube extends beneath the lower end of the body and both the body and releasing tube have suitable perforations as 5, 8 providing for the inlet of a sample from the formation being tested. The upper end of the body I is in# wardly thickened forming a bearing l through which the upper end of the releasing tube is fitted Above the bearing I thevbody has `the, inside annular recess 8 to receive the dogs 9 which are seated against the coil springs IU. These coil springs normally holdthe dogs inwardly as indicated in Figure 2 andthe inner sides of these dogs have upwardly pitched ratchet teeth I-I. The lower end of the dogs are ared downwardly and outwardly forming downwardly flared faces I2 against which the upper end of the releasing tube bears. The releasing'tube is fitted closely through the bearings 3 and 1 so .that it will be held in placey by friction, while the tool is beingr lowered into or withdrawn from the well. There is an expansible packer I3 Whose vlower end is suitably secured to the upper end of the gland 2 in any preferred manner. As shown in Figure 5 it is so secured by wrapping the same with securing wire I4,

The upperend of the packer I3 is securely at tached, in anypreferred manner to a coupling I5. A cylindrical housing I1 is screwed into the coupling I5 and contains a cylindrical chamber Is. The upper end of the housing has an internally threaded box I8 intowhich the lower end of the drill pipe, or other tubular operating string, 20 is threaded. Said string 20 extends to the ground surface. Beneath the box I9 the housing is provided with the inwardly extended bearing flange 2| through which the upper'end of a tubular mandrel 22 is fitted. The mandrel 22 is closely surrounded by a packing 23 'countere sunk into -the nange 2|. The lower end of the mandrel 22 is screwed into the housing I1 at the lower end of the cylindrical chamber I8 as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 5,`said mandrel thus extending axially through the cylindrical chamber I8. In the embodiment shownin all of the gures, the mandrel has a transverse web 24 intermediate its ends and above and beneath said web the mandrel has the upper and

lower side ports

25, 28 and in the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the web 24 has the downwardly opening valve 24a therein. l

Slidably mounted on the mandrel 22 is the cylindrical shaped piston valvev 21 having the

piston rings

28, 23 therearound forming seals with the walls of the chamber I8. The piston valve 21 has an inside annular groove, or recess 30 therearound of a suicient length to communicate with both of the ports 25, 2li when the valve mechanism is opened to admit a sample as shown in Figure l5. The piston valve also has an inside annular packing 3| forming a seal with the mandrel 22 and beneath the piston valve there is a packing 33 which is fitted closely around said mandrel and which fits closely within the chamber I8.

' There ls a piston, designated generally by the numeral 34 on the valve 21 and which is iitted closely around the mandrel 22 and closely within the chamber I8 andwhich'may be formed o1' alternately `arranged -packing rings and spacing rings as shown in Figures 1 5 and '1. Interposed Ibetween' this piston 34 and the inwardly extended flange 2| and surrounding said mandrel there is a strong coil spring 35, shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 5.k The housing I1 has its vlower end reduced and formed into a tubular extension 35 which works axially through the gland 2 and which is surrounded by the packing 31 countersunk'into said gland.

Attached to' the lower end of the extension 38 there is an elongated tubular ratchet member `38 provided with the external ratchet teeth 39 which engage with the' ratchet teeth of the'dogs 3, when the valve mechanism of the testing tool is in closed position as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and prevent the premature setting of the packer. 'Ihe packer I3 encloses `a chamber 40 and the ducts 4I lead from said chamber upwardly through the lower end of the housing and enter the lower end of' the cylindrical chamber I8. Thechamber 40 is normally nlled with a suitable liquid as shown in Figure 1.

In order to make a test the apparatus is assembled as shown in Figure 2 with the piston valve 21 The piston valve 21 alsohas an outlet well the drilling uld beneath may pass upwardly through the channel 44 of the housing extension and out through said

ports

25, 42 and 43.

When the tool lands on bottom the downward 5 movement of the releasing tube 4 will stop but the housing I1 and the body I will move on downwardly, the upper end of the releasing tube contacting with the diverging faces I2 and expanding the dogs 8 to release them from the ratchet l teeth 38, placing the springs I0 under compression. The weight will thereupon be assumed, in part, by the packer I3 and an endwise compressive force will be exerted against said packer expanding it out against the wall of the bore, as l shown in Figures 4 and 5,' and compressing it inwardly so as to reduce the capacity of the chamber 40. The ducts 4I and that portion of the chamber I8 beneath the packing 33 will also be filled with fluid, as shown in Figure 1. When the pressure on the fluid in the chamber 40 is greater than the pressure of the drilling iluid outside of the tool (and which enters the groove through the

ports

43, 42, see. Figure 1) the piston valve 21 and piston 34 will be forced upwardly on the 25 mandrel 22 and place the spring 35 under. compression. This spring has sufficient resistance to react against said pressurey iiuid in the chamber to cause the packer to expand and rmly seat against the walls of the bore to form a seal. 30 Any fluid in the cylindrical chamber I8 above the piston 34 will be expelled outwardly through the side port 45 at the upper end of said chamber I8. This upward movement-of the piston valve 21 will close the

ports

42 and 43 and will uncover 35 the ports 25 so that both the

ports

25 and 28 communicate with the groove 30. Thedrilling fluid above is now sealed oifv from the strata to be tested and any fluid in said strata. may flow inwardly through the

ports

5 and 5 and up through the channel 44 and may pass through the

ports

25, 25 around the partition 24, or valve 24a, and on up into the empty drill stern 20. .The operator of the tool will be able to hear the fluid thus flowing up into the drill stem andwill promptly stop the `downward movement of the stem and will hold thestem stationary for the required length of time to permit the sample to enter the drill stem. Whenthe samplehas been taken the drill stem may then be elevated thus releasing the compressive -force on the packer I3 and the spring 35 ywill thereupon force the piston valve 21 back downwardly into the position shown in Figure 1 closing the ports 25 to entrap the sample and the tool may then be withdrawn from the bore for an inspection of the sample.

At times the gas pressure in the well is liable to cause a blowout if the string is withdrawn from the well empty. As vthe string is withdrawn the top sections will be broken out one at a time so that the weight of that portionofk the string left in the hole is not sufficient to overcome said pressure and the string is liablekto rbeexpelled -from the well by said pressure. Therefore if there is any considerable gas pressure in the well after the test is taken and before the string is withdrawn the weight of the string should be released to allow it to travel further downwardly and the pressure of the liquid beneath the valve piston is raised sufficiently to move the piston valve 21 further upwardly, further compressing the spring 35 and until the ports 28 are cornpletely covered and' the port 42 islbrought into registration with the radial bore'46 of thehousing I1 as shown in Figure `7 and with'the ports 25 still in registration with, the groove 30." The fiuid as a guard against a blowoutv as the drill stem is withdrawn. This `will not in any way contaminate the sample in the drill stem since the sample, if oil, can be measured as it comes through the release valve, in the vderrick, control-- ling the upper end of the drill stem or the fluid may be allowed to run into the surface pit and there gauged.

While the tool is being lowered into the well, if conditions should require it; drilling fluid may be forced downwardly through the operating string past the valve 24a and on down and out through the

openings

6 and 5 and back up on the outside of the operating string so that circulation of the drilling fluid may be maintained, if desired, while lowering the tool. It is also obvious that in a similar manner circulation may be maintained, if desired, while withdrawing the tool from the well.

The drawings and description disclose what is now considered to be a preferred form of the invention by way of illustration only, while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What we claim is:

l. A well tester comprising a tubular string adapted to be lowered into a well to be tested containing drilling fiuid, valve means movable to one position to close the lower end of the string, means for forming a seal between the string and the walls of the well bore to exclude the drilling fluid from the formation to be tested, means for actuating the valve means into open position to permit the entrance of a sample from said formation, beneath the sealing means, into the string, means for moving the valve means to another position to open the lower end of the string to the well bore, above said sealing means, to

permit the entrance of drilling fluid intok the string and means for moving the valve means to original position to again close the lower end of the string to entrap the contents thereof, therein.

2. A well tester comprising a tubular string adapted to be lowered into a well to be tested containing drilling fluid, a testing tool on the lower end of the string embodying relatively movable parts having an inflow conduit communicating with the interior of the string. means adapted to be compressed by relative movement of said parts for forming a seal with the walls of the well bore to exclude drilling' fluid from the formation to be tested, valve means within the tool above the sealing means for controlling said conduit and normally closing the same to exclude the drilling fluid from the string while the tool is being lowered. said valve means being arranged to be opened upon such relative movement to 'permit the entrance of a sample from the formation into the string and means for closing said valve means to entrap said sample upon relative movement of said parts in another direction.

3. A testing tool, shaped to be lowered into a well and having a conduit therethrough and comprising relatively movable parts, means, containing a liquid, for forming a seal with the walls of the well bore and arranged to be compressed into such sealing relation by relative movement of said parts in onedlrection, valve means normally closing said conduit and arranged to be actuated by pressure of said liquid, upon such. relative movement, into position to open the conduit and means effective to close the valve means'when said parts are relatively-moved in the other direction.

4. A testing' tool having an inflow conduit therethrough and shaped to be lowered into a well and' comprising relatively movable parts. means normally locking said parts against rela-v tive movement, means for forminga' seal with the walls of the well bore and arranged to be com-1 pressed into said sealing relation upon such relative movement, means for releasing said lockingy meansto permit such relative movement, valve means normally closing said conduit and` ar-y 20 ranged to be actuated, upon such relative movement, by the pressure of a liquid containedin the tool into position to open said conduit to permit the flow of a sample through said conduit and means for actuating the valve` means to 35 closed position upon relative movement of said parts in another direction.

5. A device of the character described comprising a tubular string of pipe shaped to be lowered into a well and having relatively movable parts,

means normally closing the passageway through the string to permit the string to be lowered into the well empty sealing mea-ns on the string containing achamber filled with fluid and adapted to form a seal between the string and the Walls of the well bore, said relatively movable parts being effective, when relatively moved in one direction to apply compression to the liquid in said chamber to cause the expansion of the sealing means into said sealing relation with the walls of the well.

15 and a liow line forming said passageway and extending from below said packer to the well surface having a port therein opening into the well shaft, means to close the bore of said line, means to close the port in said line and communicate the zone of the bore of said line at opposite sides 'of said last-named means, and resilient means to resist actuation of said last-named means.

7. In a device of the character described adapted for use in a well, a flow line comprising relatively telescopic upper and lower portions, saldi upper portion having a bore, means to close said bore to the passage of pressure fluid therethrough in either direction, said upper portion having ports communicating with the well below said closure means, and means for closing the ports and opening the bore of said flow line to the passage of pressure fluid upwardly therethrough actuated by telescoping said upper and lower'portions.

8. In a device of the character described, a ported flow line comprising an upper tubing section and a lower tubing section telescopically connected, a valve closing the bore of the upper portion to pressure therebelow, and a valve structure connected in said flow line and actuated by v iiow of uid from end to end thereof when extended. means for conducting fluid from the interior to the exterior thereof when extended, and means for controlling relative movement between said members longitudinally. f

10. In a device for use in a well shaft, a flow line comprising a pair of telescoping sections, a packer carried by said flow line to seal the latter with the well shaft, means to communicate the flow line above the packer with the zone of lthe well shaft above the packer, and means operable by telescopic movement of said sections to close off said last-named means of communication and open the flow line for communication of the area of the well shaft below said packer with the Well surface. i

11. In a device for use in a well shaft, a ow line comprising a pair of telescoping sections, a packer carried by said flow line, means of communication, comprising a port in one of said sections, between said flow line and the area. of the well shaft above said packer, means to prevent the ow of fluid through said ow line from end to end thereof, and means to close said means of communication and open said flow line to communication from end to end thereof through said port.

12. In a device of the character described, a pair of tubular members, means for connecting said members together for limited relative longi tudinal movement, and a. single valve associated with said members to controlse1ective1y, communication of the lowermost of said members with the well shaft above the packer and with the bore of the upper member.

13. In a well testing device for usein a well shaft, a, pair of telescopically connected tubular members, one of said members forming a head for a packer and having a lateral port therein communicating the bore of the lowermost tubulanmember below the packer with the well shaft above the packer through said head, and a single valve member movable in said head and actuated by telescopic contraction of said tubular members to close said communication with the well shaft and open communication between said tubular members through said head.

OLLIN W. WILLIAMS. LUTHER E. BROWN.