US2555648A - Well packer - Google Patents

Description

June 5, 1951 1. 1 Kor-AHL 2,555,648 l WELL PACKER Filed April 1o, 1945 l INVENTCR. 0,7260@ KOF-AHL,

@2f/aww @j We//Lt/ ATTORNEY.

Patented June 5, 1951 WELL PACKER Jacob L. Kofahl, Taft, Calif., assignor to Baker OilTools, Inc., Vernon, Calif., a corporation of California Application April 10, 1945, Serial No. 587,639

claims. l

This invention relates to packers useful in per forming cementing,` acidizing, testing, production and similar operations in oil and gas wells.

An object oi the invention is to provide an improved well packer capable of being cleansed of all deleterious matter while in a well bore Yby circulating washing fluid down through and around the entire packer.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a Well packer of the retrievable type capable of being anchored in packed off condition against upward movement in a well casing, in which circulation can be established down through the tool and around its lowerniost portion while in such packed on condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved well packer whose release from anchored and packed ofi condition in a well bore is facilitated by the ability to clean it thoroughly of cementitious, plastic, acid, and other harmful materials previously displaced into or through the well packer.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved well packer tool capable of being anchored in packed oli condition against upward movement in a well casing or liner, inV which hydraulic forces around the packing element of the packer can be equalized to facilitate release of the packer and its elevation in the casing or liner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well packer adapted to be anchored in a well bore against upward movement, and through and around which fluid can be by-passed to expedite its lowering and elevation within the well bore.

This invention has other objects that will become apparent from a consideration oi the embodiment shown in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the present speciiication. This form will now` be described' in detail, but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken inv a limited sense since theV scope of the invention is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings;

Figure 1 is a view partly in section Aand partly in elevation of a packer embodying the invention in condition for longitudinal movement through a well casing; and

Figure 2 is a viewsimilar' to Figure 1 of the well packer anchored in packed off condition within the well casing.

As disclosed in the drawing, the well packer A is secured to the lower end of a string of tubing or drill pipe B, by means of which it can be Ill inthe expander.

moved through a casing or liner C. The packer includes a tubular member consisting of an upper tubular mandrel Iil threadedly attached to the tubular string B and a lower tubular mandrel I I threaded onto the upper mandrel. A slip eX- pander I2 is splined to the upper end of the lower mandrel by one or more keys I3 secured to the mandrel I I and slidable within keyways or grooves This expander is provided with a lower abutment or shoulder I5 engageable with a companion abutment or flange I6 on the lower mandrel.

Slips or similar casing gripping elements I'I are received within channels I6 in the expander I2, having base portions I9 inclined in an upward and inward direction, engaging correspondingly tapered inner surfaces Z on the slips. The slips Il are held in the channels by their oppositely directed tongues ZI received within side grooves 22 in the channel walls, which form slidable key connections serving to shift the slips positively in a radial direction to and from the wall of the well casing C upon longitudinal movement of the expander l2 within the slips I'l. Wedging of the expander in the slips embeds the slip wickers 23 in the casing to prevent upward movement of the packer, as explained heren inafter.

The slips I'l are caused to move jointly along the expander by pivotally securing the lower ends of links 24 to them and by coniining pins 25 on the upper link ends between spaced sets of fingers 2G, 21 extending from a sleeve 2B slidable on the upper mandrel IE5. A stop ring 29, secured to the upper lingers 21 by screws 323, prevents remova of the upper ends of the links from the fingers.

The sleeve 28' and slips 26 are secured to a. drag device 3l through a swivel type of connection, consisting of an outer ilange 32 on the sleeve received Within a groove formed between the lower end of a lock collar 33 and an inner flange 3d on a sectional tie ring to suitably secured to the lock collar, as by screws 35. The lock collar 33, which is part of the drag device 3|, extends upwardly from the tie ring 35 and has a .Iv or L slot 36, 31 receiving a lock pin 38 attached to the upper tubular mandrel IB. The lower ends of outwardly bowed, casing engaging springs t9 are attached to the lock collar 33` by an encompassing ring 4B secured to the collar by screws 4I, while the upper ends of the springs are similarly secured to an upper collar 42 slidable on the upper tubular mandrel I0.

A tubular body member 43 is threaded on the lower end of the tapered expander I2 and carries a packing 44 adapted to seal with the Wall of the casing C. The packing disclosed is of the swaboup type, with its base portion 45 secured to the body in a suitable manner to prevent leakage therebetween. Specifically, the base portion is conned on the body between a thimble 49 and a sleeve 41 forced against the base by a clamp member 49 threaded on the lower `end of the body 43.

The packing cup 44 sildably engages the wall of the casing at all times, and prevents fluid from passing in an upward direction between the body of the tool and the casing. However, provision is made for by-passing fluid around the packing, through spacing of the body 43 from the'lower tubular mandrel to provide an annular passage 49 therebetween communicating withjports 59 extending through the upper end of the body, thus forming a passage for iluid around the packing cup 44 extending from a point at the lower end of the tool to a point above the packing cup. This passage, however, can be closed by engagement of a Valve head 5| on the lower end of the tubular mandrel with a valve seat 52 formed at the lower end of the clamp nut 4B. A packing ring 33 is preferably placed in the valve seat to engage the head 5| and insure against leakage when the valve is closed.

When running the tool in the well casing, the lock pin 38 on the upper tubular mandrel is located in the horizontal locking Iportion 36 of the J-slot, which holds the valve head 5| removed from its companion seat 52 and the slips I1 in retracted position with respect to the tapered expander |2'and casing C. The open valve permits fluid in the casing to by-pass around the packing 44 by moving through the passageway 49, 50. Upon reaching the position in the well casing at which the tool is to be set, the tubular mandrel I is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (looking downward) through a partial revolution to move the locking pin 33 into alignment with the longitudinal leg 31 of the slot. This action can occur since the friction springs 39 engage the casing to prevent movement of the lock collar 33 provided with the J-slot. After alignment with the leg 31 of the slot the tubular member l, can be elevated within the drag device 3| and its lock collar 33, raising the valve head 5| and engaging it with its seat 52 to close the annular passage 49. A continuation of this up- 4 33 and permits a partial revolution of the mandrel clockwise (looking downward) to shift the pin 38 into the slot 3B, thereby relooking the slips in retracted position and the valve open. The tool can then be elevated in the well bore, with any fluid above the packer readily by-passing around the packing 44 through the ports 59 and Y open annular passage 49. Y

The tool can be used in the performance of many functions in a well bore. Assuming that a squeeze cementing operation is to be accomplished through casing perforations D, the packer is lowered through the well casing with its parts in retracted and open position to a point immediately above the perforations. With the tubular mandrel I0, lowered and the valve head 5| off its seat 52,V cement slurry is pumped down the Y tubing string B, causing the fluid in the tubing ward movement causes the body 43 packing 44 l pander within the slips |1 and shift them radially outward into anchoring engagment with the casing C. The slips are prevented from moving in an upward direction during upward movement of the other packer members by the casing engaging friction springs 39, to Which they are coupled by the links 24 and swivel connection 32, 34.

When the tool is to be elevated in the well casing, the tubing string B and associated tubular member lil, are lowered, which rst removes the valve head 5| from its seat 52 to open the passage 49, and then engages the mandrel abutment l5 with the expander shoulder I5 to force the expander downwardly within the slips I1 and retract the latter from the wall of the casing. Again, the friction springs 39 engage the casing to resist downward movement of the slips. Complete lowering of the tubular mandrel |0,'|| within the lock collar 33 repositions the lock pin 38. in alignment. with the horizontal slot'portion string ahead of the slurry to exit from the lower end of the lower mandrell and around the valve head 5| for upward passage through the annular passage 49 and ports 50, through the annular space between the tubing string B and'casing C,

slurry in the tubing reaches the well packer, the

tubing string is turned a partial revolution to Y position the lock pin 38 in the longitudinal leg portion 31 of the slot, allowing elevation of the tubing string and mandrel to rst engage the valve head 5| with the valve seat 52, thereby closing the annular passage 49, and then to raise the body 43 and expander I2 within the slips I1, shifting them radially outward against the well casing. The cement slurry is thus precluded from passing from the lower end of the mandrel up around the tool, since the annular passage 49 is closed and the packing cup 44 prevents upward ilow between the body 43 and casing C. Pressure can then be exerted on the cement slurry to force it through the casing perforations D.

After the desired quantity of cement slurry has. been forced through the tool and casing perforations, the mandrel I9, is again lowered to shift the valve head from its seat and open the annular passage 49. Any excess cement slurry within the tubing string and mandrel can then be pumped out through the lower end of the tool for upward owing through the passage 49, 59 and annulus between the tubing B and casing C to the top of the well bore, for appropriate disposal. The washing fluid following the cement slurry may be circulated through and around the tool as long as desired to cleanse theV tool thoroughly of all cement slurry and insure that no deleterious material remains in and around the tool which might prevent retraction of the slips and elevation of the tool to the top of the hole.

If desired, the excess cement slurry can be removed from the tool by reverse circulation; that is, by pumping washing fluid down around the tubing (through the annulus between the tubing string B and casing C), around the slips 1, through the passageway 59, 49 and up through the mandrel E, l! and tubing string B, ilushing the cement slurry ahead of it to the top of the well bore. Reverse circulating in this manner not only cleans the tool, but also facilitates opening of the valve by exerting hydraulic pressure downwardly on the valve head 5|, assisting the downward mechanical force of the tubing string and mandrel in lowering the valve head from its seat.

After the excess cement slurry has been ilushed from the tool, further downward movement causes the mandrel abutment I6 to engage the expander shoulder I5 and release the slips I'l from anchoring engagement with the casing, whereupon the lock pin 38 is turned into the horizontal locking portion 36 of the slot and the entire tool elevated from the well casing, with the valve locked open and the slips secured in retracted position.

The packer arrangement described facilitates release of the slips i1. Removal of the valve head 5I from its seat 52, as a iirst incident of lowering the mandrel l0, Il, equalizes the pressure around the packing 44 and prevents any pressure that might exist below the tool from urging the packing cup 44 and expander l2 upwardly to hold the latter wedged within the slips ll. With the valve open, the mandrel I0, Il can readily force the expander I2 down out of wedging engagement with the slips l1 and cause the expander to withdraw the slips from the casing into retracted position.

It is, therefore, apparent that a comparatively simple and eiiicient tool has been devised for performing cementing, acidizing, testing, production and other operations in a well bore. The tool can be run readily in a well casing and elevated therefrom; the same direction of movement which opens the valve 5|, 52 is availed of to release the slips I1; and the same elevational movement used to close the valve effects setting of the slips and anchors the packer in the well casing. After reaching its position of use, the tool need be moved only a few inches to obtain circulation and release of the slips, or closing of the valve and anchoring of the packer against the well casing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A well packer including a tubular member, gripping elements arranged around said member, means for shifting said gripping elements into engagement with a well casing, a body disposed around said tubular member and adapted to move said shifting means, a packing on said body for effecting a seal with said well casing, means spacing said body from said tubular member to form a fluid passage therebetween extending from a point outside said packer below said packing to a point outside said packer above said packing and below said gripping elements, the upper end of said passage being constantly open, and valve means on said member movable upwardly by said member into engagement with said body to close said passage and elevate said body and shifting means to cause said shifting means to move said gripping `elements into engagement with said casing.

2. A well packer including a tubular member, gripping elements arranged around said member, means for shifting said gripping elements into engagement with a well casing, a body disposed around said tubular member, a packing on said body for sealing with said well casing, means spacing said body from said tubular member to form a fluid passage therebetween extending from a point outside said packer below said packing to a point outside said packer above said packing and below said gripping elements, the upper end of said iluid passage being constantly open, and valve means on said member movable 6 upwardly by said member into engagement with said body to close said passage.

3. A well packer including a tubular member, slips arranged around said member, a tapered expander movable upwardly within said slips to shift them into engagement with a well casing, a body disposed around said tubular member and adapted to move said expander, a packing on said body below said expander for sealing with said well casing, means spacing said body from said tubular member to form a uid passage therebetween extending from a point outside said packer below said packing to a point outside said packer above said packing and below said expander, and valve means on said member movable upwardly by said member into engagement with said body to close said passage and elevate said body and expander to cause said expander to move said slips into engagement with said casing.

4. A well packer including a tubular member, slips arranged around said member, a tapered expander movable upwardly within said slips to shift them into engagement with a well casing, a body around said member and secured to and depending from said expander, a cupshaped packing secured on said body and engageable with said casing to prevent upward flow of luid between said body and casing, means spacing said body from said tubular member to form an annular passage therebetween extending from a point outside said packer :below said packing to a point outside said packer above said packing and below said expander, the upper end of said passage being constantly open, and a valve head on said member movable upwardly by said member into engagement with said body to close said annular passage and elevate said body and expander to cause said expander to move said slips into engagement with said casing.

5. A well packer including a tubular member, gripping elements arranged around said member, means for shifting said gripping elements into engagement with a well casing, a body connected to said shifting means, a cup-shaped packing on said body for effecting a seal with said well casing, means spacing said body from said tubular member to form a fluid passage therebetween extending from a point outside said packer below said packing to a point outside of said body above said packing and below said gripping elements, the upper end of said passage being constantly open, and valve means movable upwardly by said tubular member to close said passage.

JACOB L. KOFAl-IL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,790,424 Johnston Jan. 27, 1931 2,292,345 Arutunoff Aug. 11, 1942 2,368,400 Baker Jan. 30 1945 2,380,612 Quintrell July 31,. 1945 2,390,112 McGaiey Dec. 4, 1945 2,442,529 Clark June 1 1948

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