US2392145A

US2392145A - Cement basket

Info

Publication number: US2392145A
Application number: US489047A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jesse E Hall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1943-05-29
Filing date: 1943-05-29
Publication date: 1946-01-01
Anticipated expiration: 1963-01-01

Description

Jan. l., 1946. 1 E- HALL 2,392,145

CEMENT BAS KET Filed May 29, 1943 INVENTOR. 655e E. Ha

Patented Jan. l, 1946 UNITED 'STATES PATENT carica y omar-:Nr msm .im s. neu, weather-fora, rex.

appueaaon my 2s, 194s. serai No. 4159.041 4 claims. (ci. 16s-1s) My invention relates to new andv useful improvements in cement baskets for oil wells, and refers more particularly to a device attach'ed to the casing for centering the casing during drilling Operations and serving as an obstruction during cementing to position the cemented olf zone.

On occasions it becomes necessary to introduce cement into the annular space between the casing and the well bore above and below the producing formation. The cement when set serves to isolate different producing zones penetrated by the well bore, to prevent water from entering the producing formations and to prevent side wall cavings from falling into the formation and obstructing the ow of oil into the well. Cement baskets attached to th'e casing below levels where the cement columns are to be located form re- 'ceptacles and obstructions to downward flow of the cement.

The cement baskets are alxed to the casing at the surface and lowered with the casing to the desired point in the well. They must be so shaped that their flexible or expandible members will not be permanently distorted or bent by obstructions in the bore when the casing is either raised or lowered. They must be collapsible to conform to the uneven contour of the well bore and snugly fit the section of the bore when permanently located. Furthermore, it is desirable that the lower portions of the baskets are closed to effectively support the cement columns.

An important object of my invention is to provide cement baskets for oil wells which are inherently flexible and to readily follow the contour of the well bore, and withstand the weight of the cement.

Another object of my invention is to provide cement baskets adapted to form closed receptacles when either expanded or contracted.

Still another object of my invention is to provide cement baskets that are not permanently deformed by obstructions in the well bore either during raising or lowering of the casing.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of th'e following description.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing a cement basket embodying lmy invention mounted on av section of well casing.

the line 2--2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, parts being broken away for clearness of illustration,

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional viewesimilar to that shown in Fig. 2 with the basket contracted,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary `transverse sectional view taken on th'e line 8-6 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig, 1.

Referring now to the drawing which shows a cement basket embodying my invention attached to a section of well casing III. The basket is formed with upper-and lower collars Il and I2 connected by a plurality of out-bowed flexible strips I3. The ends of strips I3 are secured within the collars by riveting or welding. The inturned outside edges Ila and I2a of the collars snugly t the casing I0 spacing the collars sumciently from th'e casing to accommodate the attached ends of the exible strips I3. As best shown inFigs. 1 and 3, the lower collar I2 is welded to the casing, while the upper collar II has a limited axial movement thereon. Pins I4 fixed to and projecting radially from the casing I0 through vertical elongated slots I5 in collar I I limit the movement of the collar.

An inner second row of flexible strips I6 is positioned within th'e outer row of flexible strips I3. The lower ends of strips I6 are attached to the lower collar I2, while the free upper ends thereof terminate substantially midway the length of outer strips I3. As shown in Fig. 3 the inner free end strips I6 are spaced about the circumference of the lower collar I2 so as t0 close the spaces or interstices formed by spreading of the outer row of strips I3.

Both' the inner and outer rows of strips I3 and I6 are curved in cross section substantially throughout the length of their contact as shown in Fig. 6, but are fiat in cross section adiacent their attached lower ends as shown in Fig. 7. The ilat cross sectional portions of the strips provide resiliency for spreading oroutbowing of the strips and the curved cross sectional portions provide reinforcement and stiffening of the strips above the resilient portions. Furthermore, the curved cross sectional shape of the strips causes the inner strips to conform with and lie at t against the outer strips when the latter are either y expanded or contracted, the intimate contact between the strirs forming an essentially tight receptacle. l

When expanded the basket is normally atleast aslargeasthemaximum diameterofthewell bore. When the casing and the basket are lowered into the well the basket contracts when passing through constricted portions of the well bore. i. e., collar Il slides upwardly on the casing and the bowed portions of strips i3 move toward the casing. The basket holds the casing properly centered in the well bore so that cement injected into the annular space will flow properly around the casing to form an impermeable plug. The cement flows intoI the basket which thus forms a receptacle and an obstruction for the cement.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the sizel shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a well casing, a cement basket and guide comprising upper and lower collars surrounding and attached to the well casing, outbowed flexible strips fastened at their extremities to the collars and extending lengthwise of the casing.' upstanding free end strips anchored to the lower collar within the fastened outbowed strips and extending only a portion of the distance between the collars, said free end strips overlapping adjacent outbowed strips to close the lower portion of the spaces therebetween forming a receptacle surrounding the casing.

2. In combination with a well casing, a cement basket and guide comprising outbowed flexible strips extending lengthwise of the casing, said strips spaced around the circumference of the .well casing and fastened at their ends to the casing, upstanding free end strips within the fastened outbowed strips, said free end strips having their lower ends anchored to the casing and their upstanding portions overlapping adjacent outbowed strips to close the lower portion of the roundingthe casing.

3. In combination with a well easing a cemmt basket and guide comprising outbowed flexible strips extending lengthwise of the casing, said .spaces therebetween forming a receptacle, said fastened and free end strips curved in cross section substantially throughout the length of their s contact and fiat in cross section adiacent their attached ends, the flat portions of said strips providing resiliency for spreading of the strips and the curved portions providing reini'orcment and stiii'ening for the receptacle portion of the basket.

4. In combination with a well casing a cement basket and guide comprising upper and lower collars surrounding the well casing and at least one of said collars aiiixed to the casing, outbowed flexible strips fastened at their extremities to the upper and lower collars, upstanding free ends flexible strips attached to the lower collar within the fastened outbowed strips and extending only a portion oi' the distance between the collars. said free end strips overlapping adjacent outbowed strips to close the lower portion of the spaces therebetween, forming a receptacle sur.

` rounding the casing. said fastened and free end for spreading of the strips and the curved portions providing reinforcement and stiilfening for the receptacle portion of the basket.

JESBERHALL.