US2400970A

US2400970A - Lock device for well tools

Info

Publication number: US2400970A
Application number: US475390A
Authority: US
Inventors: Reuben C Baker
Original assignee: Baker Oil Tools Inc
Current assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
Priority date: 1943-02-10
Filing date: 1943-02-10
Publication date: 1946-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 1963-05-28

Description

May 28, 1946. R. c. BAKER I LOCK DEVICES FOR WELL TOOLS Filed Feb. 10, 1943- 5 Sheets-Sheet fl 5 7 6 v 0 7 9* 8 00 2 5 10 52 5 21 fi fizmwfl 1 W if Tia/$2 if; M W T 1 4. M 5 ..H ma E u 3 J I. a 1 1; o w w ffifiafl m 3 A BEZ/BEN C. BAKE/a,

INVENTQR.

BY 1 I 0' W d WATTORNH May 28, 1940. R; BAKER 2,400,970

LOCK DEVICES FOR WELL TOOLS Filed Feb. 10, 1945 Sheets-Shegt 2 ,riimms 35055 C. BAKER,

INVENTQR.

May 28, 1946.

R. C. BAKER .LOGK DEVICES FOR WELL-TOOLS Filed Feb. 10, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 EEUEEA/ C. 634x55,

1N VEN TOR.

BY QZWQ'W ATTORNEY.

Patented May 28, 1946 2,400,970 LOCK DEVICE FOR WELL TOOLS Reuben C. Baker, Coalinga, Calm, assignor to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Vernon,

tion of California Calif., a corpora- Appiioation February 10, 1943, Serial No. 475,390

Claims.

This invention relates to well tools, and more particularly to the locking portion of such tools designed for sub-surface operations in well bores. Locking devices are used in connection with many tools designed for operations in well bores.

One of the most common of such devices is a J pin and slot arrangement employed with packers, liner hangers, tubing anchors, well washers, etc. Such J, L, and similar types of locks can function to maintain certain well tool parts in a definite relative position, or they can be manipulated to release such parts and permit their performance of the particular action or operation in the well bore, such as to set a packer or liner therein, control a valve, etc.

In locking and unlocking these J or L devices, it is necessary to turn the string oftubing to which the tool is attached either to the right or to the left. Tubing or drill pipe strings are usually'made up of sections connected together by right hand threaded Joints. Occasionally a, set of left hand threads may be employed. Regard- -less of the type or threaded connection availed of, the turning of the tubing string in one direction to manipulate the J or L lock will tend to tighten the threaded joints of the tubular string, but the turning of such string in the other direction tends to unscrew and possibly disconnect it at one or more of. the Joints. Thisis particularly true when the tool is operated in a. crooked hole, or under conditions in the well bore which can freeze the tool therein, making it necessary to impose a comparatively large torque on the tubular string in order to operate the locking device.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned difliculties by providin a well tool whose parts can be locked or relocked without the necessity for turning the tubular string in a direction in which its joints might become loosened or unscrewed from one another.

' Still another object or the invention resides in ,the provision of a J or L typeollocking device in which the parts can he moved to locked and unlocked positions through rotation olthe tubular string inthe same direction.

A further object of the invention is to prevent inadvertent movement or a J or L type of locking device to unlocked position. 1

.The invention has other objects that will become apparentirom a consideration or the eniis not to be taken in a limited sense, since the scope of the. invention is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal view, partly in sec--- tion'and partly in elevation, of a well packer embodying the present invention with its parts in retracted position for movement in a well bore or casing;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l, disclosing the well'packer with its parts in packed off condition within the well casing;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on a lar e scale of part of the device illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross section taken along the line l-linFigureB;

otherwise attached to the Figures 5 to 8, inclusive, are diagrammatic views of the locking device in diflerent operative positions; I

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 3, with parts of (the lock device in anotheroperative position; an r Figure 10 is a perspective of theslot portion of the lock device.

The invention is exemplified in the drawings as forming part of a well packer or the retrievable type. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is also applicable to other well tools, as the following detailed description of the apparatus shown in the drawings will bring out.

The packer illustrated in the drawings is specifically described and particularly claimed in my application for Releasable well packers," Serial No. 419,061, filed November 14, 1941, now Patent No. 2,368,400, granted Jan. 30,1945. This packer A is adapted to be run in a well bore or casin B on the end of a tubular string C threadedly or lar mandrel iii of the packer. The lower end of bodiment shown in the drawin s accompanying and forming a part or the present specification.

rm will now he described in detail, but it understood that such detailed description This! lStObG this mandrel is threaded into the upper end of a tubular packer body ii, to the lower end of. which is secured a packing actuator l2 in the form oi aguide.

A'tapered expander l3 mounted on the body is preferably prevented from turning with respect thereto by a key ll secured to the exterior or the body II and received vated. the packing actuator i2 is moved towards the expander I! to compress an intervening packin: sleeve is pper end or the tubuwithin a keyway ism the expander, so as to permit relative longitudinal surrounding the body and mice it Y outwardly to eilect an annular seal between the body II and casing B. Such actuation of the packing sleeve l3 only occurs when the tapered expander I3 is prevented from moving upwardly, which results from anchoring engagement by a plurality of slips ll, cooperating with the tapered expander, with the wall of the casing. The slips,

v wardly to retracted position.

It is therefore apparent that elevation of the 1 tubular string C, mandrel Ill and packer body H 1 can effect anchoring of the tool through engagement of the slips I! with the casing under the influence of'th'e tapered expander l3, and they can also eflect compression of the packing sleeve it. between the expander l3 and guide l2 to produce its radial outward expansion into sealing engagement with the wall of the casin The slips I! are held together for joint movement along the tapered expander l3 to and from engagement with the casing by providing recesses 20 in their side faces, which receive outwardly extending fingers 2| for guiding the slips to and from the casing and for preventing their longitudinal movement except in unison by engaging the ends of the recesses 20. These fingers 2| are integral with a sleeve 22 slidable on the madrel 10, which has a stop ring 23 secured'thereto by screws 24 or the like for the purpose of limiting the extent of outward movement of the slips.

This sleeve 22, and the slips ll assembled thereon, are coupled to a drag and lock device 25, comprising a lower collar 26 slidable on the mandrel l0, which receives the lower ends of a plurality of circumferentially spaced outwardly bowed springs .21 held thereagainst in assembled relation by a ring 28 fastened to the collar by a plurality of screws 29. These springs are disposed around the mandrel with their upper ends secured to an upper drag collar 30 by an upper ring 3| suitably fastened thereto, as by screws 32.

The drag and lock device 25 is coupledto the slip assembly by means of a sectional tie or coupling ring 33 secured to the lower collar 26 by screws 34, andhaving a lower inturned flange 35 receiving and fitting under an external flange 36- at the upper end of the slip sleeve 22. Rotation of the tubular string 0, mandrel l and drag device 25 is-permitted without corresponding rotation of the slip assembly sleeve 22 and slips l1, due to the .swivel type of,action provided by the lower end of the coupling-ring 33 and sleeve flange 36.

It is to be noted that the drag device 25 engages the casing wall and thereby tends to resist longitudinal movement of the slips l1 coupled thereto through the well casing. Upon reaching the desired setting point in the casing, if the tubular mandrel I0 is permittedto move upwardly with respect to the drag device; such elevation would also elevate the body ll of the packer, and

through the guide l2 and packing sleeve 16 elevate the expander l3 within the slips IT,- since the versely, lowering of the tubular mandrel It with respect to the drag device 25 permits retraction of the packing sleeve Hi from the casing wall and produces corresponding downward movement of the tapered expander l3, through engagement of the body shoulder 31 with the expander flange 38, so that the slips I! are movable inwardly to retracted position, since they are prevented from moving longitudinally by the drag device.

It is important to note that upward movement of the tubular mandrel l0 and body II can efiect anchoring of the packer in packed ofi condition within the well casing, and that lowering of these members can effect release of the packer. It is,

therefore, essential that some means be provided for preventing relative movement between the slips l1 and the tapered expander 13 in order to allow the tubular mandrel ill to be elevated without anchoring thetool in the well casing when the entire tool i to be raised within the well casing.

The usual device for locking slips with respect to an expander, or for that matter, for preventing relative movement until desired between co I ment of the pin within the horizontal slot to and from the longitudinal slot (or to and from locking and unlocking positions) is performed through turning or rotation of the tubular string to which the tool is attached in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Assuming that the tubular string is made up of right hand thread connected joints, its rotation in a clockwise direction would tend to tighten the joints, while rotation in the opposite or counterclockwise direction would tend to loosen the joints. That is one 01 the difllculties with this type of pin and slot arrangement.

It requires counterclockwise or left hand turning of the tubular string for its effective and complete operation.

The present invention overcomes this disadvantage and dimculty through its ability to effect locking and unlocking or the device and the slips 11 through turning of the tubular string in one direction only. In the case of a tubular string in which the threaded joints are right hand, such turning takes place in a clockwise direction. It,

is apparent, however, that the locked device could be so designed as to operate upon turning in a counterclockwise direction only, where a left hand threaded tubular connection isemployed.

As disclosed in the drawings, the locking device 39 is incorporated in the lower portion of the drag device 25. A sleeve ll-extends .upwardly from the lower collar 26 and is spaced therefrom to form a circumferentially continuous slot orgroove 4| completely around the mandrel M which is disposed substantially entirely in a horizontal position. This sleeve has alongitudinal slot 42 exlatter are prevented from moving upwardly'by ward into anchoring engagement with the casing wall. A'continuation of such upwardmovement causes'compression ofthe packing sleeve l6 into .sealing engagement with the casing Band body I l,' in the manner hereinbefore described. Cohtending upwardly from the circumferential slot to permit upward sliding of the mandrel Ill therewithin whenever a locking pin. on the mandrel is positioned in the longitudinal slot portion. The sleeve 40 ismaintainedin proper spaced relation with respect to the lower collar 23 and is secured,

for movement therewith by suitable means, as by casing wall.

welding a ring 44 on the sleeve and bridging the circumferential slot 4| formed between the sleeve 48 and lower drag collar 28 by a spider like ring 45, whose upper end is welded tothe first mentioned ring 44, and whose lower end is welded or otherwise suitable secured to the lower collar The mandrel lock pin 48 is movable in the 1ongitudlnal slot portion 48 and also in the circumferentially .continuous slot portion 4| or the looking device. It is apparent that when the mandrel Ill has been lowered with respect to the drag device 25 in order to position the pin 48 in the circumferentially continuous slot 4|, the tool A is in locked position and the slips l1 and packing sleeve It will be retained in retracted position, allowing the tool to be moved longitudinally in either direction throughthe casing B. 'However, the turning of the tubular string C and mandrel It to align the pin 48 with the longitudinal slot portion 42 allows the tubular string to be moved upwardly slot portions 48, 4-8 are communicable with each other to permit passage or the. pin 48 on the mandrel l8 from one slot portion into the other, The diilerence in elevation between these slot portions is vinsuthcient to cause material movement of the packer parts when the mandrel II is elevated to shift the pin 48 from the lower slotportion 48 to the upper slot portion 48, so that the slips l1 and packing l8 are moved only slightly and will remain in comparative retracted position.

Both the upper and

lower slot portions

48, 48

merge into the longitudinal slot 42, but at diflerent elevations. The upper slot portion 48 lies in a transverse plane which intersects the left hand wall" of the longitudinal slot" 48. It isapparcut that when the lock pin 48 is positioned in the upper slot 48, rotation ortha mandrel II in a clockwise direction will cause the pin 48 to move within this upper slot in the same direction until it enters the longitudinal slot 48 and strikes against the leithandwall II or the latter. when this position is reached, the. operator is notified string C. Inany event, he knows-that the turning or the'tubular string 0 and mandrel |8 a partial 'revolution'positions the pin 48 against the 2,400,970 i i r 3 l1 and packing l8 are locked intretracted position. If it is again desired to setjzhe packer, the

tubular string and mandrel are rotated in a clockwise direction to move the pin 48 to the other end of the lower slot portion 48, after which the tubular string C is elevated. very slightly to liit the pin 48 into the upper slot portion 48. Further rotation ot the tubular string and mandrel shifts the pin 48 into the longitudinal slot 10-48 as determined by engagement of the pin with the left wall 88 o! the latter.

The operation 01' the pin and slot combination is exemplified diagrammatically in Figures 5 to 8, inclusive. These views each disclose the is 360- circumierentially continuous slot 4| laid out on a plane. Actually, ofcourse, this plane rep-- resents the cylindrical portion of the sleeve 48 and collar 28 in which the right and lett ends 01 the plane join to complete the cylinder. Each view shows the longitudinal slot 42, and the uppar and

lower portions

48, 48 oi thecircumierentially continuous slot 4|. The left end of the upper slot portion 48 merges into the longitudinal slot 48 opposite the left wall ill of the latter,

while thelower portion 48 of the circumferentially continuous slot extends to the left from the bottom end of the longitudinal slot 42. The upper and

lower slot portions

48, 49 are communicable with one another at a substantial angular 80- distance from the longitudinal slot 42.

Figure 5 discloses the lock pin 48 in its locked position within the lower circumferential slot portion 48. when it is desired tomove the pin 48 into its releasing position within the longitudinal 5 vslot 42, the tubular string!) and mandrel II are turned in a clockwise direction so as to move the pin 48 along the lower slot portion 48, thence a slight distance upwardly into the upper slot portion-48; as exemplified in I'igure 6, and thence 40 into the longitudinal-slot 4: with the pin 4: en-

gaging its left wall 88 (as illustrated in Figure- 7). The mandrel l8 may now be moved lonsl" tudinally, as permlttedby a corresponding movement of the pin 48 in the longitudinal slot 48 5 (Figure 8).

-When the tool is to be relocked, the mandrel is is lowered to move the pin 48 downwardly until I it moves from the longitudinal slot 42 into the lower'portion 48 of the circumferential slot 4|. Partial rotation of'the mandrel Ill and tubular string C in a clockwise directionwill reposition the pin 48 inthis latter circumferential slot portion, as shown in Figure 5.

It is therefore apparent that the pin 48 may be moved from locked to unlocked position, and back of that iact, usually by the feel at the tubular direction, which in the above example is a clockwise direction.

leithand'wall II. or the loo; In order to preclude inadvertent retrograde string 0 and mandrel l8 lowered with respect to the drag device ".18 permittediby lowerlns or the lock pin 48 within the longitudinal slot 48, until the pin is at the intersection between the longitudinal slot .48 and the io'wercircumierential slot. portion 48. Turning of the tubular string and mandrel in a clockwise direction, or

to theright, moves the pin 48 into the lower circumferential slot portion 48, in which the slips 8'isireetomoveupmovement or rotation of the pin 48 into align-- 'ment with the longitudinal slot 48, a one-way latch is incorporated in, the device. so that unintentional'settins oi the packer A' is prevented while'it' .is'being elevated within the well bore.

This latch is of such character.v as to permit' movementoi' the pin 48 from the long tudinal slot 48 downwardly into the lower portion 48 otthe circumferential slot 4|, but it prevents return movement or this pin 48 from the lower circumferential slot back into the longitudinal slot 42. The only way that the pin can progress into the longitudinal slot is through its rotation in a clockwise direction, so that it must 76 first enter the upper ircumi'erential slot portion ter member by one or more screws 54. The spring 3| depends from the collar 52 lengthwise over the longitudinal slot 42, being spaced at sumcient distance from the sleeve 40 to permit free longitudinal movement of the pin in this slot, as will be clear from an inspection of Figure 3. The lower end of the spring extends into a recess 55 in the lower sleeve 45 connecting the upper sleeve 49 with the lower drag collar 26,;and has an inturned nose 53 projecting into the juncture 51 of thelongitudinal slot 42 with the lower portion 49 of the circumferential slot 4|.

The pin 43 is free to move lengthwise along the longitudinal slot 42 without restraint from the one-way spring latch 5|. However, lowering of the mandrel l9 and pin 43 sufliciently causes the pin to engage the inturned nose 58 at the lower end of the latch, forcing this latch Si in an outward direction and allowing the pin 43 to enter the lower portion 49 of the circumferential slot 4|.

the entry of the pin 43'back into the longitudinal slot 42. The only way for this pin to again enter the longitudinal, slot is to rotate the mandrel iii to which it is attached in a clockwise direction, causing it to move from the lower slot portion a 49 into the upper slot portion 43 and thence into the longitudinal slot v42. However, when the placing of this pin in locked position is again desired, the mandrel ill need merely betlowered tocause the pin 43 to engage the inturned latch nose 69, forcing it out of the way and allowing the pin to reenter the lower slot portion 49.

It is, therefore, apparent that the one-way latch precludes return movement of the pin 43 from its locked position back into the longitudinal slot 42. Almost a complete rotation of the tubular string C is required in a clockwise direction before this pin can again be located in the longitudinal slot. Such complete rotation will not occur inadvertently while the tool is being moved through the well bore either in an upward or downward direction. between the upper and

lower slot portions

49, 49

' assists in preventing unintentional positioning of the pin 43 in the longitudinal slot 42, since it is necessary to elevate the tubular string 0 and I mandrel in a slight distance in moving from the lower portion 49 to the upper portion .49; Unless such elevation takes place, the pin 43 when in the lower slot portion 49 merely strikes against the left side of the lower slot 49 without being permitted to enter the upper slot portion 48.

' "I laim:

A well tool having relatively movable parts,

it means for controlling longitudinal movement of said parts with respect to one another, including The step 43.

' and whose extremities merge into said longitudi-v a first member connectable to a running-in string and attached to one of said parts, a second member attached to another of said parts, one of said-members surrounding the other, one of said members being provided with a pin and the other of said members with a longitudinal slot and a circumferential slot disposed substantially entirely in a horizontal position and whose extremities merge into said longitudinal slot, said pin being movable along the entire extent of said circumferential slot upon relative rotary movement between said members while preventing substantial longitudinal movement between said parts,- and said pin being movable along said longitudinalslot upon'movement of said first member by said running-in string to permit longitudinal movement of said parts with respect to each other. l

2. A well tool having relatively movable parts,

means for controlling longitudinal movement of into said longitudinal slot, said pin being movable along the entire extent of said circumferential slot upon rotary movement of saidmember by said running-in string while preventing substantial longitudinal movement between said parts, and said pin being movable along said longitudinal slot upon movement of said member by said running-in string to permit longitudinal movement of said parts with respect to each other.

3. A well'tool having relatively movable parts,

means for controlling longitudinal movement of said parts with respect to one another, including a first member connectable to a running-in string and attached to one of said parts, a second member attached to another of said parts, one of said members being provided with a pin and theother of said members with a longitudinal slot and a circumferential slot disposed substantially entirely in a horizontal position nal slot, and means for preventing passage of said pin from said circumferential slot to said longitudinal slot upon,relative rotary movement between said members in one direction, while permitting such passage upon their relative movement in another direction.

4. A lock device adapted to be lowered in a well bore for controlling the operation of a well tool therewithin, including means providing a longitudinal slot and a circumferential slot whose extremities communicate with said longitudinal slot at different elevations, a member movable with respect to said means, said member having a pin movable relatively along-the entire extent of said circumferential slot and also along said longitudinal slot, and a one-way latch device shiftable by said pin from its path of movement for permitting passage of said pin from said longitudinal slot into said circumferential slot upon relative movement between said means and relative movement between said means and memher in another direction 5. A well tool adapted for operation in a well bore, including a first member connectable to a running-in string formoving said tool within said well bore, a second member movable with respect to said first member, one of said members surrounding the other, one of said members being provided with a pin, and the other of said members with a longitudinal ,slot and a circumferential slot disposed substantially entirely in a horizontal position and whose extremities merge into said longitudinal slot, said pin being movventing movement ofsaid pin from said circumierential slot into said longitudinal slot upon rotation of said first member by-said running-in string in one direction, but which permits passage of said pin from said longitudinal slot into said circumferential slot upon rotation'cf said first member by said running-in string in the other direction. REUBEN C. BAKER.