US2373005A

US2373005A - Retrievable well packer

Info

Publication number: US2373005A
Application number: US407430A
Authority: US
Inventors: Reuben C Baker
Original assignee: Baker Oil Tools Inc
Current assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
Priority date: 1941-08-19
Filing date: 1941-08-19
Publication date: 1945-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 1962-04-03

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A Trae/ve y.

L Ap 3, 1945. v R. c. BAKER RETRIEVABLE WELL PACKER Filed Aug." 19, 1941 y Patented pn -i .I

' ma.. e; ma',

' Calif., `assigner' to,

y Coalinga,

Baker 011v Tools, Ine.; Vernon, Calif., a corpo- I Y ration 4of .California nppucnupn Angustia, 1941, semi Ng. 4

` 17 Cim. (c1. y16s-12) jrnisvinvenuon renda :to wen devices, and

more particularly to'well\packers` designed to bev et in sealed oi!` condition within wellbores.v

l It is sometimes desirable to employwell pack- Y, ers of the retrievable type in the performance of squeeze cementing, acldizing, testing, or other operations within the well bore,y to obviate the necessity for drilling out the particular packer)` after'the well operation has beenv completed. An object lof the present invention is to provide an improved packer'of the character indicated capable of being set at the proper pointin the well bore `by the direct application of hydraulic pressure to its gripping members, releasevof the packer from its set condition occurring'l automatically upon release of the hydraulic pressure.

in order to enable the tool to be reset at the saineV or another point in the well bore, or to permit itswithdrawal as a unit to the surface of the bore hole. l

, A further object of the invention is-toprovide a well packer of the retrievable type Ain which its casing gripping and packing members are inA retracted position 'during movement of the tool through the casing, both before and after it has been set in sealed ofl condition therewithin, the

gripping and packing elements beine.r actuated' directly by hydraulic pressure to expand and hold them against the casing. v-

Stillanother object of vtheinventionv concerns aretrievable well packer adapted to be anchored back-pressure valve at the outlet end of the tool, which is set to open at a predetermined pressure in order that-the pressure internally of the tool be materially in excess of that externally there- That is.' sumcient pressurenmust be exerted within the toolto expand the packer elements into engagement with the casing before the backpressure valve can open, and this pressure differ- .ential will be maintained at all vtimes during displacement of fluids through the tool.

Despite the provision of such back-pressure devices in obtaining the required pressure differential within the tool, during actual operations within' the well bore the pressures internally and externally of the tool sometimes seem to equalize during the displacement of fluids into the formation, vcausing the casing engaging elements to be y invention to provide a well packer, especially of to the casing through the vai'n'alication of pressure internally of -the` to.o1, in which the packer can remain in anchored position veven, though the internal pressure is relieved. In "this connection, the inventi'on contemplates the provision of a selective control mechanism for determining the application of pressure to the gripping members of the tool, the control function--` ing selectively tol permit or vprevent fluid under pressure from actingupon these members.

A further object of the invention is to provide awell packerv adapted to be set hydraulically, in which premature setting of the tool by fluid un? der pressure can be prevented.

In certaintypes of well packers, the grlppin or packingelementsare maintained in engaged released andallowing the entire tool to be urged up the well bore byvirtue of pressure below the tool.

Therefore, it is another object of the present the retrievable type, which is set hydraulically and in which a'ny equalization oi.' the pressure internally and externally of the tool has no effect in producing its release from the casing or.

vin causing leakage between the packer and casing. More specifically, the invention contemplates an arrangement whereby the pressure below and externally of the tool, instead of releasing it from -its set position within the casing,

l actually increases the sealing action of the tool against the casing.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a well packer embodying a back-pressure valve at its outlet end -for the purpose of producing a greater pressure internally of the tool.

than externallythereof, in which the valve is prevented from closing for the purpose of automatically filling up or draining the tubing string as the tool is lowered in or elevated from the well bore. l

- sun a further object of the invention is to provide a comparatively compact well packer of the retrlevable type in which both the casing gripping and packing elements are constructed v and arranged as a unit, being designed for submentl with vthe casingv by iluid under pressure acting directly thereupon., I-f the internal and external vpressures were to substantially equalize,

these elements would be forced from engage-- stantially simultaneous expansion against the casing when the toolis to beset therewithin and .contraction therefrom when the tool ls to be re- V ment with the casing and nolonger function t0v secure the well packer to the casing in leak-proof relation. To prevent thisv action from occurring. it has heretofore been proposed to provide a Because of the clearance that must be allowed between a body'of a tool and the wall of the casing in which it is run, the packing member designed to Aeifect a seal between this body and casing may be forced through this clearan space and even completely `dissipated by the action oi' pressure, particularly oi' the high magnitudes encountered in the operation oi well pacl'rcome apparent from a consideration of the em# f bodiment shown in'the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification.

This form .will now be described in detail to illustrate the general principles of the invention, but.

it is to be understood that such detailed description is notto be taken 'in a limited sense. since the scope of thel invention is best defined by the claims appended hereto. l v

Referring tol the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal view through a well casing, illustrating the well packer withitscasing engaging elements in retracted position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure with the packer anchored in packed oi condition against the casing; 1

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 of the lower portion of the tool. disclosing the entrapment of fluid therewithin for the purpose of holding the packer anchored in packed oil condition against the casing:

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are cross-sections taken along the lines l-I, 5 5 and 6 8, respectively, in Figure 1.

'Ihe well packer A disclosed in the drawings is adapted to be run in a well casing Bon the lower end of a tubular string C to-be set in packed -oiI condition therewithin in such manner as to resist upward movement of the packer by hydraulic force from below.

Y 'Ihe tool includes a support comprising. an outer runner body member I0, in which is telescoped a generally tubular body member I3. The runner body member I is threaded to a collar II coupled to an upper sub I2 screwed on the' tubing string C, while the tubular body member I3 is slidable along a thrust collar Il threaded in the runner body I0. This tubular body member has a guide I screwed on its lower end, and is provided with a head I 8 engageable with the` thrust collar Il to limit the' extent of downward movementl of the body member..

'a cooperable external flange /20 projecting from vthe lower end of the packing member I1. The

upper end o! the elastic member is similarly secured against the body I3 and the thrust collar I I surrounding the body by its upper external ange 2| interlocking with an inturned iiange 22 depending from the collar. This latter mem- A combined elastic packing and actuator I1 for a plurality` f lower. ena ma' met u seated-within" an annular groove "provided within .the lower casing engaging packing portion Ila of the .actuating mem-ber in order to prevent vitsinadvertent removal from theelastic member Illand to assist in retraction of the segments It from .the casing I .B. The upper portion of each segment body abuts .the underside 22net. the collar ange 22, being provided with. a neck .extending lengthlwise across the exterior of this flange andmerg-v ving into an inwardly extending

head

2,1 seated within an annular groove or recess 28 formed bey tween/the collar u .and runner body In.' The under surface 22a offthe collar flange and the bottom Nago! the recess `28 serve .as guides inv directing the movement of the gripper segments lIlsubstantially in a straight line to and from l engagement with thefcasing.- The-extent of this outward movement Ais limited by anfupsta'ndin'g ear 29 on each segment engageable with an an- 'nular stop 3U depending from the runner body Ill, whilereturn inward movement of thegripper segments toretracted position is assisted by encircling/upper and vlower coil vretractor springsA 3|,l 32 tted withinexternal grooves 33, at the upper and lower ends of the gripper segments- 'I'he lower portion IIa.v of the elastic actuating member I1 is `designed as a packing for eiecting an annular seal between the body I3 and wall of the casing B. 'I'his portion projects radially outward to substantially the lsame extent as the l gripping teeth\or 'wickers 35 on the exterior of the segments, extendingaround the depend- 'i ing feet 24 of these segments to hold. them in-A proper assembled position on the tool. 'The exterior face of the packing section Ila is preferlably formed with ribs 38`for the purpose "of t producing a plurality'oiseparate annular seals against the casing, and, therefdnefoier greater assurance against leakageof iiuid between the packing andl casing.

Both the gripper segments IB :and packing I'Ia are moved by hydraulic means radially from their retracted positions into engagement with the casing, uid under pressure passingfrom the inf "terior of'the body I3 through the body ports 3l l in generally balloon fashion to force the gripper ber I4 normally abuts the head I6 at the upper end oi.' the body, but permits the body to move upwardly with respect to it, vin accomplishing a it The gripper segments I3 are'relatively narrow specied purpose described below. 3

The gripper segments IB are arranged circumferentially in juxtaposed. position around the' elastic actuatingmemb'er I1. Each segment includes a body 23 extending lengthwise of the'elasber I'L Sufficient pressurev ating member to ,overcome both its inherent elasj ticity resisting deformation, and. the restaining into the interior of the elastic actuating member I1. .Leakage fof viluid between this member and the'body is prevented by the opposed lipv seals 38,

33 formed adjacentv the endi of the elastic memis applied to the actuforce 'exertedbythe retractor springs 3I, 32. The `actuating member I1 is expanded outwardly segments I8 and-packing Ila. into engagement with the wall of the well casing. So long as. this pressure vismaintainedwithin the. elastic member I'I., the tool is held anchored in packed oi'f condition within the casing. lOf course, as the pressure within the actuating member increases, the greater is the force embedding the segment wickers 35 into thecasing and holding. the packing IIa thereagainst. As a result, iiuid pressure acting directly upon-:the gripping segments and packing holds them. Lgainst the casing and preventspressure from'below the tool from forcing it upwardly within the casing or leaking around and engageone'another when in retracted position. In view oitheir relatively vsmall-width,` aV `are employed'to whileinretractcdpositlm. Upolibeingexpanded; the segments are separated from one another by small leaving spaces 33 that' are insuiiicient in arcuate extent to permit thel cold or plastic flowing of the rubber or rubberlike material from which the actuating member is preferably formed. Not mLv is radial owing fas-imam ma anreisen...

casing and the packing I'Ia .mnvedoubwardlyasainstthecasingbyuidpresof this rubber material between the segments Il incapable of occurring, but the packing member is also prevented from owing and dissipating longitudinally in an upward direction, since, g

as was just stated, the separations 39 between adjacent segments are of too small an extent to permit the occurrence of this detrimental eiect. As a result, the gripping elements I8 are not only capable of anchoring'the well packer to the casing, but they also function to prevent cold or plastic ilowing of the packing material II, I'Ia from its intended sealing region between the body and casing, even under high pressure and temperature operating conditions, and in the presence of hydrocarbons in the well bore,

which ordinarily have a very deleterious eilect upon rubber and similar packing materials."

In order to hold the segments I3 and packing elements I'Ia securely against the casing, the pressure within the actuating member Il must be of the actuating member I1, the back-pressure valve opens against the'action of its spring 41 and the fluid pressure below the tool acts upwardly over the. entire cross-section of the lower guide Il and body I3, forcingthem upwardly and compressing the packing Ila betweenthe segments Il and the guide I5.. This ac-V tion can occur since the gripping segments I8 are held stationary in anchored condition against the Vwall of the casing, but the tubular body I3 isvfree vto slide upwardly along the thrust collar I4, whichv isI held ilxed w the segments I8` The resultant relative movement eects a shortening of the distance betweenthe collar I4 and guide I5, and pro-V duces compression of the packing member I 1a.

The packing'otl! force'due to upward movement or the guide and body with respect to me gripper segments is relatively large, since, as above stated,

' wthe pressure below the-tool is acting upwardly greater than'the pressure externally thereof by I an amount which at least equals that required to overcome the resistance of the retractor springs Il, l2 andthe tensionv of the rubber actuating member Il resisting its expansion outwardly toover a comparatively large cross-sectional area of both the `guide I5 and tubular body I3.

As assurance against the exertion of too great a compressive force against the packing member upon upward movement of the guide and body, a stop sleeve 5I! is placed atthe upper end of the body I3, this sleeve being of lesser length than the initial distance between the body head Il and the collar II threadedly attached to the runner body I0. If the guide I5 and body I3 move ward the casing. This pressure differential may be maintained within the tool by various exp'edents.y 'Ihe specific device disclosed in the drawings or accomplishing this purpose is a back- `pressure valve 40, which is so adjusted as not to open until the pressure within the tool has been increased to a value causing proper engagementv of the gripper segments Il and packing lla with the wall of the casing. Y

The valve device 4B includes a spider-like valve cage 4| threaded in the lower end of the guidel I 5.

This cage possesses a valve seat 42 screwed in its upper end for engagement-by a valve head 43 secured on a valve stein 44 'by opposed lock nuts 45. 'Ihis stem 44 is slidably received within a valve guide 46 threaded in the lower end of the valve cage 4I for thelpurpose of adjusting the tension of a helical spring 41 received within an annular pocket 4B in the guide and bearingA against the valve head 43 for the purpose of forcing it upwardly into engagement with its cooperable seat 42. The valve guide 46 is threaded with'I in the cage 4I to enable the tensionl in the spring 4l to be varied for the purpose of predetermining the pressure requiredto open the valve. This guide is` held in its adjusted position by means" of a lock nut 49 bearing. against the cage.

Despite the provision of the spring loaded hackpressure'valve Ill, under some conditions encountered in well bores, the pressures still seem to upwardly suiliciently, the floating .stop sleevell engages the collar II to prevent any further upward movement ofthe guide and body, vsince the collar II is rigidly related to the thrust collar I4 through the rimner body III, preventing the occurrence of any further relative movement of the members under the action. of iluid pressure from below the tool. Q

The present invention also contemplates a control for the ports 31 in the body for selectively determining the passage of fluid to and from the fill equalize internally and externally of the flexible f actuating member-l1 while pressure is being imposed upon the fluid within the tool and there below. Whenever this occurs, a slight leakage takes place around the tool, as indicated by iiuid returns received at the surface o! the well bore.

In the` present instance, eiiectiv'e `sealing of the packing I'Ia between the body and casing is notl entirely dependent upon the pressure differential 0f the uid internally of the actuating member.

In addition to this sealing force, pressure below Vthe tool is availed of to maintain the packing in proper sealing-position.

'ill

interior of the elastic actuating member I1. This control device consists of a cylindrical valve sleeve :laudable within the tubular body la and adapted to have sealing engagement with upper and lower seal-.rings 52, 53 provided at the upper end of the body Il and the guide l5, respectively. The upper end of this sleeve 5I is threadedly attached to a lower sub 53d, which, in turn, is threaded into the upper sub I2 screwed on the lower end of the tubular string C, by means of which the entire gitudinally extending .friction springs 5.4 whose outwardly bowed portions are adapted to engage the wall of the casing B to resist'movementof the 4ruimer body III, lock collar I Iy and thrust collar I4 attached to its ends, 'and through the elastic actuating member Il, the guide I5 and tubular Tbody I3. These springs 54 are held within slots 55 in vthe runner body by an upperV retaining ring 50 secured 'to the upper end of the runner body and extendingover the upper inner ends of the springs,and by a lower'ring 51 extendingover' the lower `ends of the springs Due to the resistanceofl'ered by these friction springs 54 to movement of the'tubular body I3, the valve sleeve I may be shifted longitudinally within this body from the surface of the bore by raising or lowering the tubing string C.- If the valve sleeve is elevated until its lower portion 5in a :,sraoosn and suitably 1 totherunner body. Y

with we para mithin position. the mi run in the well bore, without fear of its Premature setting, since any uidy pressure developed 4is positioned above the lower seal 53, fluid under ment with this spider.

pressure may pass downwardly from the tubing string C, through the subs I2, 53a and sleeve 5I, around the lowery end 5Ia of the'latterrthrough the annular space between the sleeve 5I and body I3, and into the ports "for action upon the elas- The depending valve sleeve Y5l is also employed for controlling the operation of. the valve 40 at the; outlet end of` the tool. This control is obtained by securing a wingedspider 58 to the upper end of the valve stem 44, as by means ofthe opposed lock nuts 53, and providing an extension 6|) on the end ofthe valve sleeve 5I Afor engage-y This extension-SII is reduced in external diameter so as not to seal with y thelower sealing ring` 53 when the sleeve 5l is 43 with the seat.

elevated, to allow fluid to pass into the actuating member I1. e When the sleeve 5I is lowered sumclently with respect tothe tubular body I3 and guide I5, its extension `6I! engages-the spider .53

within-the tool is incapable of'passing through the Ports 31 to expand the gripping segments and packing. Moreover, the tubing string C is auto,

4matlcally lled up with uid since the back-pressure Ivalve is held in openl position. Circulation through the tool can be established at any time vfor the performance of a washing or other i operation without fear of setting the'tool.

When the'tool is to vbe setl .in the casing, the tubing string is rotated a partial revolution in a clockwise direction, to allow. elevation of the tubing string C for the purpose of raising the valve control sleeve 5| upwardly to a position in which the back-pressure valve 40 may close and fluid pass through the ports 31 into the actuating member. The friction springs 54 hold the various bodies and collars'of thetool stationary to permit such rotation and longitudinal elevation to occur, until the lock pin 5I is engaged with the uppermost shoulder 64 of the lock c ollar (see Figure 2). Fluid under pressure within the tool may now-pass around the end 5Ia of the control sleeve and into the ports 31 to expand the elastic actuating member I1 and force the gripper segments I3 and packing Ila against the casing.

Increase in the Ifluid pressure above a predeterand holds the valve head 43 from the seat 4,2

against the force of the heli-:al'spring 41. On the other hand, upon elevation of the valve sleeve 5I sulciently, the spring 41 may engage the head l Various control positions of the valve sleeve are obtainable with the present device.- lFor the purpose. of positively determining these positions from `the surface of the well bore, a locking device is provided'to hold the valve sleeve 5| in several positions of adjustment with' respect to the outlet valve 4I! and the body seal 53.H Thislocking device consists of a locking pin 5| secured to 'or J-slot 62 formed in the'lock collar II.

the-upper sub I2 and extending into a stepped L slot enables the locking pin 6I, and consequently the controlled valve sleeve 5I secured thereto through the subs I2, 53a, to have three main positlons, namely, a first position in which the valve head 43 is held ofi' its seat 42 and fluid prevented from passing through the body ports 31, a second positionin which the valve head 43 canengage its seat and fluid be allowed to. pass around the valve sleeve'5l throughthe ports 31, and a third position in which the valve-head 43 can engage its seat 42, but the fluidunder pressure is trapped A-or held within'the actuating member I1 to hold it expanded -and maintain the 'segments' Il! and y packing I1a against the casing B.

As illustratedin Figure 1, the'tool Als in ,po-

I sition for movement through the'well casing, `in

which the valve sleeve 5I is in its:lowermost po.

` sition to prevent passage yoi iluidaround the lower sealing ring 53 and throughthe ports 31, and in which theA valve head 43 is positively heldoli its seat 42. The sleeve is prevented. from moving from this'position .until desired by engagement of the lock pin 6I with the vunderside of the low.-

ermost s158933 of theslotl in the collar II.

This` `mined value opens the outlet valve 40 against the action of its spring 41 and allows. fluid, such as vcement slurry, iells, acids and the like, to be Aforced into the formation. As stated above, this pressure also acts upon and elevates the valve guide I5 and tubular body I3 to pack oil the tool more securely. A

Upon release of the pressure within the tool,

and with the valve sleeve in the position disclosed yin Figure 2, the gripping members I3 and packing I1a retract'ifrom the casing to their initial position, the linherent elasticity and retraction tendencies of the rubber actuating member lI1 operating upon the feet 24 of the segments to move .them toward the packer body, which action is assisted by the encircling coil springs 3|, 32.

e. However, should/it be desired to hold the packer anchored andsealed ofi in the casing upon re- 1 lieving of the pressure within the tool, the valve control sleeve 5Ivcan be lowered by lowering the tubing string C to reengage its external surface with the lower sealing ring 53 before pressure within the tool is relieved, to entrap the uid under pressure within the actuating member I1.

'This lowering of the sleeve 5I with respect to the tool bodies can occur to itsfullest extent for the purpose of holding the outlet valve 40 open (as in the Figure 1 position), or the valve sleeve 5I may be shifted to occupy some intermediate position in which its external surface seals with the lower ring 53 but its extension 6l) is spaced from the spider 58 to permit the spring engagement of the valve head'43 with its cooperable seat 42 (as in the position disclosed in Figure 3). This last-mentioned relationship of parts can be positively' determined at the surface of the bore by lowering the sleeve 5I and turning it to the right of the slot (as seen in Figure 2), until the lock pin -BI engages with the under surface of the inter.

meldiatestep 55 in the lock collar Il.

After the desired operation has been performed 'at the point vin well casing, the pressure within the actuating member I1 may be relieved to enable the parts to return to their initial retracted positions, and the tubing string C low' ered and rotated -until the lock pin 6I again is may bey other setting point or its ento the surface of the bore hole can now occur, while Permitting uid to drain automatically from the tubing string into the casing. Moreover, since the valve sleeve I is again in sealing engagement with the lower moet 5. A well packer. including inner and outer body members adapted for lowering in a. well casing on a tubular string, said `inner member being telescoped within said outer member, a

sealing ring I3, any pressure forces within the tool are incapable of inadvertently setting it against the casing and preventing its 'withtranslate said gripping members radially toward engagement with the wall of ar casing.

2. A well packer, including generally tubularbody meansradapted for attachment to a tubular string for lowering in a well casing, an elastic sleeve surrounding said body means with its ends secured thereto, a plurality of narrow circumferentially juxtaposed segmental casing gripping members c-:mpletely encircling said sleeve and extending longitudinally thereof substantially parallel to the axis of said Well packer, means on said body /means for guiding each of said gripping members in a straight line path generally radial of the axis of said packer, and means for directing fluid under pressure from the interior of said body into said sleeve to inflate the latter and bodily translate ea'ch of said gripping members Yalong said guiding means into' engagement with the 'wall of a casing.

3. A well packer, including generally tubular body means adapted for lowering in a well casing on a tubular string, a pliant, elastic sleeve ysurrounding said bodymeans with its ends secured thereto in leak-proof relation, a plurality of circumferentially juxtaposed casing gripping members completely encircling said sleeve and extending longitudinally thereof substantially parallel to the axis of said well packer, said members having 4elements thereon ,embeddedl within said sleeve, and means for directing fluid under pressure into said sleeve to expand it and bodily translate said gripping members radially towards'engagement with the wall of 'said casing, said `sleeve moving said gripping members from such engagement upon decrease 'in the fluid pressure therewithln.

4. A well packer, including generally tubular body 'means adapted for lowering in a well casing on a tubular string, a pliant, elastic'sleeve surrounding said body means with its ends secured thereto in leak-proof relation, a plurality of circumferentially juxtaposed casing gripping members completely encircling said sleeve and extending longitudinally thereof substantially parallel to the axis of said well packer, said sleeve comprising a packing member adapted to form an annular seal between said body means and wall of a casing, and means for directing iluid under pressure from the interior `of said body means into said sleeve to expand said packilexible sleeve surroundingl one ofV said body members. a plurality of circumferentially juxtaposed casing gripping members encircling said sleeve and seeured te one of seid body members, a casing engageable packing one one of-said body members having one end prevented from longitudinal movement by said gripping members and the other end secured to the other of said body members, and means forv directing iiuid under pressure into said `sleeve to shift said gripping members into engagement with said casing, said gripping members'serving to anchor their connected body member to said casing, whereby its companion body member is movable longitudinally thereof under the influence of I uid pressure to compress said packing into rm sealing engagement with said casing,

6. A well packer, including inner and outer body members adapted for lowering in a well casing on a tubular string, said incr member being telescoped Within said outer member, a pliant, elastic sleeve surrounding one of said body members with one of its ends secured thereto and its other end secured to the other of said body members, a plurality of circumferentially juxtaposed casing gripping members encircling said sleeve and secured to one of said members,

said sleeve comprising a packing member adapted to form a se'al with the wall of the casing, and means for directing fluid under pressure into said sleeve to expand said packing into engagement with said casing and bodily translate said gripping members radially into engagement with said casing, said gripping members serving to anchor their connected body member to saidvcasing, Whereby its companion body member is movable longitudinally thereof under the influence of fluid pressure to compress said packing into firm sealing engagement with said casing- '7. A well packer, including inner and outer body members adapted for lowering in a well casing on a tubular string, said inner member being telescoped within said outer member, a flexible sleeve surrounding said inner body member, a plurality of circumferentially juxtaposed casing gripping members encircling said sleeve and secured to said outer body member. casing engageable packing meanson said inner body member having one end abutting said gripping members and the other end secured to said inner body member, and means for directing fluid under pressure into said sleeve to shift said gripping members into engagement withsaid casing, said gripping members serving to anchor said' outer body member to said casing whereby said inner body member is movable longitudinally therewithin under the iniiuence of iluid to compress said packing means into iirm sealing engagement with said casing.

8. A well packer, including an outer body member, an inner body member telescoped within said outer/ body member, a pliant, elastic sleeve surrounding said inner member with one of its ends' secured thereto and its other end secured to said outer member, a plurality of circumferentially juxtaposed casing gripping members secured to said outer member and encircling pressure to compress said packing into irm sealing engagement with said casing.

' 9. A well packer, including a body adapted for lowering in a well casing on a tubular string,

means for anchoring saicl lbody to said casing,

hydraulically operated means for moving said anchoring means into engagement with said casing, means for directing uid between -the"`in terior of said body and said hydraulically'operated means, means engageable with said casing prior to engagement-of said anchoring means s with said casing for resisting movement of said body within said casing,v and valve means connected to said body and extending within said body, said valve means being connectable to said tubular string and movable with respect to said body by manipulation of said tubular string for opening and closing said directing means.

llivianos L www body 'brmmvulum able 4`with respect oi said tubular stringfor selectively openingand closing said directing.l means-1 to f the e. of uid and forseletively holding said back-pressure valve open or allowing it to.`f:lose.-`

13. A well packer, including a body adapted for lowering in a. wellrGaSlng on aftubular string, hydraulically actuated-meansycarried -by said -body and adapted for engagement with said cas- 10. A well packer, including a body adapted for lowering in a well casing on a tubular string, normally retracted means carried by said body, hydraulically operated means for moving said normally retracted means into engagement with said casing, said body having a port establishing communication between its interior and said hydraulically operated means to allow passage of iluid to operate the latter.` means vengageable fwith said casing prior to engagement of said retracted means with said casing for resisting movement of said body within said casing, and

' valve means connected to said bodyand extending within said body, said valve means being connectable to said tubular string and'movable with respect to said body by manipulation of said tubular string for opening and closing said port.

1l. A well packer, including a body adapted for loweringin a well casing on a tubular string,

ingl means for directing fluid .between the interior of said body and said hydraulically actu-4 ated means to actuate the same, `a back-pressure valve for maintaining` anexcess of pressure within said body over that externally thereof, and a slidable sleeve connected to Said body and extending within said body, said slidable sleeve being connectable toi-said tubular string and movablefwithgrespectto said body by manipulation' of 'said tubular string Ai'or selectively opening and closing said directing means to the passage of iluid and for selectiveLv holding said back-pressure valve open or allowing it to close. 14. A well packer, includingv a body adapted for lowering in a !well casing on a tubular string,

.hydraulically actuated means carried by said body and adapted for engagement with said casing, means for directing fluid between the interior of said body and said hydraulically actuated means to actuate the latter, a valve formaintaining an excess of pressure within said i body over that externally -thereof, means engageable with said casing prior to engagement of said hydraulically actuated means with said casing for resisting movement of said body within said casing, and a slidable lsleeve connected to said body and extending within said body, said slidable sleeve being` connectable to said tubular string and movable with respect to said body by manipulation of said tubular string for selectively opening and closing'said directing means to the passage of fluid and for selectively holdi' ing said -valve open or allowing it to close.

hydraulically actuated means carried by said body and adapted for engagement with said casing, means for directing fluid between the interior of the bodyand said hydraulically actuatedl means to actuate the latter, a slidable sleeve within said body operable by manipulation of said tubular string for selectively opening and closing said directing means to the passage of nuid, means engageable with said casing for resisting movement of said body therewithin prior to engagement o! said hydraulically actuated means with said casing, and means connectedto said sleeve `and engageable with said body for positively locating said sleeve within said body in open or closed position with respect to said directingmeans.

l2. A well packer, including a body adapted for lowering in a well casing on a tubular string, `hydraulically actuated means carried by said body and adapted for engagement with said cas- -ing, means for directing fluid between the interior of said body and said hydraulically actuated means to actuate the same, a back-pressurel valve for maintaining an excess of pressure within said body over that externally thereof,

and valve means connected to said body and extending within said body, said valve means being connectable to said tubular string and movl5. A well packer, including a. bodyl adapted for lowering in awell casing on a tubular string, casing gripping means carried byY said body with the gripping portions thereof substantially parallel of the axis oi' the well' packer both while in retracted and expanded positions, means on said body for guiding said gripping means -in straight line paths generally radial ofthe axis lof said packer, means for directing fluid under pressure between the interior oi' said body and said casing gripping means to bodily translate the latter along said guidingmeans into engagement-with the wall oi the casing, a sleeve connected to and extending within said body adapted for connection to said tubular string and operable by manipulation of 'said tubular string for selectively opening and vclosing said directing means tol the passage of fluid, and meansv engageable with said casing for resisting movement of said body therewithin prior to engagement of said gripping means with said casingzv'i 1a. A wen packer; inducing a bodyagapd' for lowering in a well casing onatubul 's'tring, hydraulically actuated means carried -lby .fsaid body and adapted for engagement 4.with said casing, meansv for directing iiuid-betweenthe interior of said body and said hydraulically factuated means toactuate theflatter, a valvefor maintaining an excessl ofv pressure iwlthin'said body over that externally .theredfec vf'sulabm sleeve within said body movable by said tubular string for selectively opening and closing said directing means to the passage of iluid and for asv-3,605

selectively controlling opening and closing of said valve, and means .connected to said sleeve and engageable with said body for positively locating said sleeve within said body in various selected positions of adjustment with respect to said directing means and valve.

17. A well packer, including a, body adapted for lowering in a well casingon a tubular string, hydraulically actuated means carried by said body and adapted for engagement with said casing, means for directing iluid between the interior of said body and said hydraulically actuated means to actuate the latter, a valve for maintaining an excess of pressurewithin said .body over that externally thereof, a slidable sleeve within said body movable by said tubuthe passage of fluid, and athird position wherein4 said valve is permitted lto close and said direct.

ing means is open tothe passage of fluid from lwithin said body.

REUBEN C. BAKER.

CEERTIFI GATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2, 575 ,005.

REUBEN C BAKER.

April 5: 1914-5- It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification ofI the above numbered patent requiring-correction as follows: Page 2, seepage 5, 'seoond column, line l2, claim 5, for "one one'f read --on one-; line 65, claim Y,

after "fluid" 'insert --pressureof the case in the lPatent Office.

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to (Seal)` Leslie Frazer First Assistant Commissioner' of Patents.

the rec ord asv-3,605