US2595563A - Jar type well packer - Google Patents

Description

y 6, 1952 c. c. BROWN ET AL 2,595,563

JAR TYPE WELL FACKER Filed Sept. 2, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET l JR. BASS ML 0. 0. BROWN INVENTORJ ATTORNEY y 6, 1952 c. BROWN ET AL 2,595,563

JAR TYPE WELL PACKER Filed Sept. 2, 1947 4 2' SHEETS-SHEET 2 i -34 q as -3| J') /25 I ml J.R.BAS$ u. 0.0. BROWN INVENTORJ F G 3 ATTORNEY Patented May 6, 1952 JAR TYPE WELL PAGKER'.

Cicero C. Brown, Houston, and John R. Bass Brenham, Tex.; said. Bass assignor to said Brown Application September 2, 19.47. Serial no. 771,752-

Claims- 1 This invention relates to. well packers and par.- ticularly to packers of the hook-Wall type adapted for use in deep wells. 7

At the great depths currently being attained in the drilling of oil and gas wells, the problems attendant upon the use of packers both for testing purposes and for production purposes have been increased greatly, due primarily to the extremely high loads impressed upon the packers in such deep wells, both by the great weight of the long strings of pipe and by the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid columns normally present in such deep wells.

When hook-well packers of the more conven tional type are set in a well under such heavy.

loads, the toothed slips, which conventionally engage the wall of the well casing, are driven so tightly into the metal of the well casing that their subsequent reelase, when it is desired to remove the tubing or production string and packer from the well, is frequently very difficult to accomplish. The packing element may likewise become so tightly compressed against the wall of the casing as to become almost bonded to the metal of the casing, with the result that great difliculty is also frequently experienced in effecting its release. Thedifficulty is frequently accentuated by settling and deposit of sand and silt carried by the well fluids on and around the packing and slip elements.

The problem of efficient setting and release of packers in such deep wells is particularly important in connection with the use of such packers as test packers, wherein repeated setting and release of the same packer must be effected at several diiferent depths in a well for the purposes of testing various portions of the casing for leaks and for testing various elevations in the well for producing horizons. In such operations it becomes especially important that no great difficulty should be experienced in the repeated setting and release of the packer, since otherwise great delay and severedamage or destruction of the packer and damage to the well itself may result in many cases.

The packer in accordance with this invention combines the functions of a more or less conventional hook-wall packer, and a cooperating jarring mechanism of novel form and construction which is adapted to effect the ready release of the packer under extreme load conditions at which release of the packer cannot be effected with more conventional structures and methods without damage or destruction to the packer elements. The novel jarring mechanism is of a form which is adapted to employ the high energy available in long pipe strings when under tension to release. the packer structure.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved packer structure for a use in deep wells which is readily releasable under heavy load conditions.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a hook-wall type packer which combines the functions of a packer and a novel jar mechanism for efficient and ready release of the packen.

A further object is the provision of a packer which is releasable by jarring action effected through relative rotary and longitudinal movement of the pipe string on which the packer is mounted.

A more specific object is the provision of a hook-wall packer having a release element for normally releasing the packer by relative vertical -movement of the supporting pipe string and which, by appropriate application of relative rotary movement, may be caused to produce a sharp jarring action upon the packer elements so as to effect release of the casing engaging elements which do not release in response solely to the normal vertical movements.

Other and more specific objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one useful embodiment in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the packer structure in accordance with this invention show ing the position of the parts thereof, while the packer is being inserted in a well casing;

Figs. 2 and 2a comprise an enlarged quartersectional-elevation of the packer structure shown in Fig. l, which illustrates the positions of the several packer elements in a well casing prior to the setting of the packer;

Figs. 3 and 3a comprise a view similar to Figs. 2 and 2a showing the position of the pack-er elements when the packer is set in a well casing, and showing in broken lines the positions of some of the packer elements at the instant of release;

Fig. 4 is a cr0ss-sectional view along line 44 of Fig. 3a, looking: upwardly toward the upper end of the packer structure; and

Fig. 5 is a quarter-sectional elevation of a pertion of the packer structure showing intermediate positions of some of the packer elements during the release movements thereof.

Generally speaking, and in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of this invention, the foregoing objects are accomplished by providing a novel inter-engaging means between the packer supporting body and the slip expanding mandrel by which torsional and tensional forces may be developed in the supporting pipe which are automatically releasable to produce sharp jarring impacts for transmission to both the slips and the conventional resilient sealing elements in a manner which will effect their release substantially simultaneously.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 2a, there is shown a well casing II) in which has been inserted a packer structure in accordance with this invention, which is conventionally connected into a tubing or other pipe string (not shown), which is employed in the conventional manner to lower the packer structure into the well and provides support for the same. The packer structure comprises a tubular body, indicated generally by the letter B, composed of sections II, I2 and I3 which are connected to form a part of the pipe string supporting the packer structure. Sections I2 and I3 of the body are joined together by means of a threaded collar I4, the external diameter of which is greater than that of the connected sections I2 and I 3, thereby forming an annular external shoulder I5 about the lower end portion of body section I2. Concentrically disposed about body section I2 is a downwardly tapering conica1 mandrel I6 which supports a plurality of angularly spaced wickered slips ll of generally conventional shape, which are slidable on the surface of mandrel I6 in slots I8 andare held therein by a conventional dove-tail tongue-andgroove arrangement indicated at I9. Passage- 8 ways Ilia extend through the body of mandrel I8 and provide communication between the interior and exterior thereof. The upper end of mandrel I6 carries a vertically aligned group of annular compressible sealing elements 28-20, constructed of rubber or rubber-like resilient materials, which are adapted to be expanded under compression to seal the annular space between casing I0 and the tubular body B. These sealing elements are of generally conventional construction and are supported between a pair of ends screwed into end ring 20b, thereby tying.

the sealing elements together into a unitary structure with mandrel I6. The upper edge of end ring 20b is ground to form an annular seat 28g, which cooperates with an annular valve member 20h carried by body section I I to close the annular space between the interior of the packer structure and supporting body B when relative longitudinal movement between the body B and the packer structure in setting the packer brings annular valve 28h into contact with seat 20g. The lower end of mandrel I6 is threaded internally for rigid connection thereto of an elongated sleeve member 2| which concentrically surrounds body sections I2 and I3 as well as coupling I 4. Sleeve member 2| is counterbored from its lower end to provide an internal annular shoulder 22, which is adapted for cooperation with shoulder I5 on coupling I4. The external diameter of sleeve member 2| is successively enlarged toward its lower end to form vertically spaced external annular shoulders 23 and 24. Sleeve member 2| is provided with J-slots 2501 diametrically opposite sides thereof (see Fig. 4), the longitudinal legs of the J-slots extending downwardly to the lower end of sleeve member 2|. The hook portions of the J-slots are arranged so that they will be opposite substantially the mid-section of coupling I 4 when the packer structure is in the unreleased position.

A longitudinal recess 25 is cut into the left hand wall of the longitudinal portion of each of the J-slots '25 and extends upwardly to a point spaced below shoulder 24 of the sleeve member. The upper ends of recesses 26 are arranged to form upwardly sloping shoulders 21, the out-er ends of which terminate at the adjacent'edges of the related J-slots.

Concentrically surrounding sleeve member 2| is a generally tubular slip cage 28, of generally conventional construction, to the upper end of which slips I1 are pivotally connected by means of links 29. The outer surface of slip'cage 28 carries conventional bow springs 30 for frictionally engaging the inner wall of casing Ill in the conventional manner. The lower portion of slip cage 28 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed J-slots 3| which register with J-slots 25 of sleeve member 2| However, the length-of slip cage 28 is less than that of sleeve member 2| so that its lower end terminates just above shoulder 24 of the'sleeve member. Slip cage 28 is provided internally thereof, adjacent its upper end, with an annular shoulder 32 which is adapted for cooperation with shoulder 23 on 'wardly at'angles complementing shoulders 27.

The above-described packer structure is operated in the following manner: Body B of the structure is connected into a tubing or other pipe string (not shown) in the conventional manner and lowered into casing I0. During this operation, the several elements of the packer structure will be maintained in the positions shown particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 2a, through the locking engagement of J-pins 33 in the hook portions of J- slots 25 and 3|, thus allowing the packer structure to move freely down the casing except for the frictional resistance resulting from the contact of bow springs 30 with the inner wall of easing I0, this resistance being, of course,

overcome by the weight of the packer structure and supporting pipe string in effecting the lowering of the packer structure through the casing. At this stage annular valve member 2071. will be spaced from end-ring 20b, thus leaving open the annular space between the packer structure and the supporting body B and permitting the free passage through the structure of well fluids entering through passageway Ilia, to thereby further reduce the resistance to the downward movement of the packer structure in the casing and to permit circulation of well fluids through the wellin the conventional manner; when desired.

It-will be notedthat when the'packerstructure is in the locked or unreleased position, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 2a, shoulder [5 on collar I4 is in engagement with internal shoulder 22 of sleeve member 2| and forms means for supporting sleeve member 2! and itsconnected mandrel-and packer elements on body 13 of the structure. At the same time, external shoulder 23 on sleeve member 2! is in engagement with internal shoulder32 of cage 23.-

When. the locked structure has been lowered to the point in the casing" at which it is to rotate body Bin like manner, while the frictional contact'ofbow spring 30 with the wall of easing It] will hold the packer structure stationary to thereby permit this relative rotational movement. J-pins 33, being an integral part of body B, will move out of the hook portion of J- slots 25 and 3| in response to this relative rotational movement and will enter the vertical legs of the J-slots. Thereupon, the pipe string will be lowered'at the top of the well, lowering body B relative to the surrounding packer structure and allowing J-pins 33 to descend through the vertical legs of the J-slots. As the supporting body B is thus lowered, sleeve member 2| carrying mandrel it; and the sealing elements carried thereby, being supported on collar l4, will also move downwardly. The downward movement of the mandrel relative to slips l1 and slip cage 28 will expand the slips into engagement with the casing wall. The engagement of the slipswith the casing wall will stop the further downward movement of mandrel l6, sleeve member 2| and the sealing elements 20, but the lowering of the pipe string will be'continued until annular valve h contacts seat 20g, closing the annular space between the packer structure and body B and transferring the weight of the string upon sealing elements 2i!2t. Under the pressure exerted by the weight of the pipe string, the sealing elements will expand and seal the annular space between the exterior of the packer structure and casing l0. At the same time, pressure will also be exerted against the upper end of mandrel l6 causing the latter to drive slips l1 into very tight gripping engagement with the wall of casing 10 and thereby completing the setting of the packer structure. The continued downward movement of body B in completing the setting of the packer will bring J-pins 33 to a position in the J-slots opposite recesses 26 and below sloping shoulders 21. The position of the several elements of the packer structure, when the packer has been set, is shown in full lines in Figs. 3' and 3:1. It will be noted that shoulder 23 is now spaced somewhat below shoulder 32 while shoulder l5 has moved a considerably greater distance below shoulder 22.

With the packer structure thus set, the desired testing on other operations may be now conducted in the conventional manner, the packer structure remaining as described until the completion of such operations.

To release the packer for withdrawal from the well, under conditions where no unusual sticking ofthe slips and sealing elements has occurred, an upward pull is taken at the top of the well on the pipe string supporting body B. This will first lift valve 20h off of end ring 201), relieving the. pa'cker' structure of:the' weight of the pipe string. Continued upward movement of the pipe string will bring shoulder [5 into contact with shoulder 22 and this engagement will force sleeve member 2| and mandrel I6 upwardly relative to slips I? which, by their sliding engagement with mandrel l 5 will be retracted thereby, thus pulling them out of engagement with casing i6. At the same time, the release of pressure upon sealing elements 20-20 will permit them to return to their contracted form while the upward force exerted against the mandrel through the engagement of shoulder 15 with shoulder 22 will aid in releasing the sealing elements from their engagement with the casing wall. Finally, continued upward movement of the supportingpipe string will pull the entire packer structure upwardly out of the casing. It will be noted that under conditions where no special difficulty is encountered in releasing the packer structure, no rotational movements or any movements other than direct upward pull on the supporting pipe string are required in order to effectively release the packer.

Where sticking of the slips and sealing elements is not excessive but sufficient to resist release solely through the upward pull on the supporting pipe string as described, some degree of jarring may be accomplished by merely lowering the pipe string and bringing it up quickly. The relatively quick sequential impacts of shoulder i5 upon shoulder 22 and of shoulder 23 upon shoulder 32 may be suificient to effect release of the packing elements and the slips, although the force available for producing the desired degree of shock is necessarily limited because of the inertia of the pipe string which is inherent in a direct upward pullon the usually very long pipe strings.

However, packers of the general type described frequently become so tightly stuck in the casing that the relatively simple release movements previously described will be ineffective to release the packer and permit its withdrawal from the well. Under such circumstances, the packer structure in accordance with the present invention possesses certain novel features of construction by which high energy jarring impacts may be applied to the'packer structure during release movements, which will effect relatively quick and efficient release of the packer structure in a manner to be described hereinafter.

When such difficult release conditions are encountered, the paclrer structure being set and the parts thereof in the relative positions shown in full lines in Figs. 3 and 3a, the supporting pipe string will be rotated at the top of the well in the clockwise or right-hand directions which will cause J-pins 33 to enter recesses 26 until the forward faces of the J-pins engage the inner walls of the recesses. While the actual degree of rotation required to effect this engagement is relatively small at the point of engagement, the natural flexibility of the long string of pipe to which the packer is normally connected will necessarily require that several turns of the pipe string be made at the top of the well to produce the small rotary movement required for moving J-pin 33 into recess 25. For example, in a string of 'pipe several thousand feet long, about two full turns will be required at the top of the Well. This twisting of the long pipe string will introduce a considerable degree of torque into the pipe string which will cause the pipe string to unwind or-rotate in the opposite direction when the torque-creating force is released at the top of the well.

force to the pipe string against the resistance created through the engagement of J-pins 33 with shoulders 21 will produce a reaction of forces at these contacting faces, the resultant of which will be generally rearwardly in the plane of the contacting faces and will produce a camming action between thefaces soas to force J-' pins 33 to slide rearwardly off of shoulders 21 and into the vertical legs of J-slots 25. This action will produce a quick release of the tension in the pipe string which, due to its resiliency, will cause body B to jump sharply upwardly relative to sleeve member 2| and by virtue of this sudden release of the large amount of energy available in the stretched pipe string, will drive shoulder l5 up against shoulder 22 (see Fig. 5) with a sharp, high-energy impact which will be transmitted through sleeve member 2| to mandrel l6 and sealing elements 26-48 and will jar these elements sharply in the upward direction as is required to effect their release. This impact will be followed almost instan taneously by a similar sharp impact of shoulder 23 striking shoulder 32 which will similarly sharplyjar slip cage 28 and slips I! to aid in effecting their release from the casing. These inter-engaging parts are so dimensioned that the impacts between shoulder l5 and sleeve member 2| and between sleeve member 2! and slip cage 28 follow in very close succession such that the force of the original impact is transmitted almost instantaneously both to mandrel l6, slip cage 28 and slips I1, whereby all of these elements will be caused to move in a releasing direction practically simultaneously. Since mandrel IE will be moving upwardly under the force of the initial impact, it will place a retractive pull upon slips H and the closely following second impact directly upon the slip cage will cause the latter and the slips to move upwardly substantially in unison with the mandrel whereby both sets of elements which were in engagement with the casing will thus be released and driven upwardly substantially together.

1 If the first jar fails to release the packer, the jarring operation may be repeated as many times as may be found necessary to free the packer. Each repetition of the jarring action is simply accomplished by lowering the supporting pipe string at the top of the well, rotating it to the right, and taking an upward strain again thereon in the manner described.

By means of the described apparatus, the great amount of energy available in a twisted and stretched supporting pipe string, particularly in deep wells requiring long strings of pipe, is caused to be released quickly and transmitted with full effect in the sharp impacts which will be applied substantially simultaneously against the portions of the packer structure which are engaged with the casing to effect their release.

In the ordinary case, only a very few turns of the upper end of the pipe string at the top of the well, followed by a relatively small up- .-ward strain is all that is necessary to produce the jarring movements described and thus release of the packer structure may be effected quickly and effectively with a minimum of effort even in cases of severe sticking of the structure.

Various alterations and modifications may be made in the details of this invention within the scope of the appended claims but without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A well packer including a tubular body member supporting for relative movement thereon a sealing element, a s1ip cage, slips hingedly connected to said cage, a slip-expanding member connected to said sealing element movable into and out of expansive-relation with said slips in response to relative longitudinal movement between said members, opposed jarring shoulders carried by said members engageable upon relative longitudinal movement between said members, and opposed abutment elements carried by said members longitudinally spaced from said shoulders and positioned to be engaged in advance of engagement of said shoulders upon relative longitudinal movement and upon limited relative rotation of said members, said abutment elements having cam-shaped engaging surfaces shaped to slide past each other to effect sudden release therebetween upon application to one of said members of an axially directed engaging force exceeding the resistance of the engaged abutment elements to such release.

2. A well packer including a tubular body member supporting for relative movement thereon a sealing element, a slip cage, slips hingedly connected to said cage, a slip-expanding member connected to said sealing element movable into and out of expansive relation with said slips in response to relative longitudinal movement between said members, opposed jarring shoulders carried by said members engageable upon relative longitudinal movement between said members, and opposed abutment elements carried by said members longitudinally spaced from said shoulders and positioned to be engaged in advance of engagement of said shoulders upon relative longitudinal movement and upon limited relative rotation of said members, said abutment elements having engaging surfaces inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said members.

3. A well packer including a tubular body member supporting for relative movement thereon a sealing element, a slip cage, slips hingedly connected to said cage, a slip-expanding member connected to said sealing element movable into and out of expansive relation with said slips in response to relative longitudinal movement between said members, an extension sleeve rigidly connected to said slip-expanding member concentrically interposed between said slip cage and said body member, opposed jarring shoulders mounted on said sleeve and said body member engageable upon relative longitudinal movement between said sleeve and said body member, and opposed abutment elements mounted on said sleeve and said body member longitudinally spaced from said shoulder and positioned to be engaged in advance of engagement of said shoulders upon relative longitudinal movement and upon limited relative rotation between said sleeve and said body member, said abutment elements having engaging surfaces upwardly inclined at an angle; to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve,

mb dy m mb A. well, a e nc u ng a tubular body member supporting for relative movement thereon a sealing element, a slip cage, slips hingedly connected to said cage, a slip-expanding member connected to said sealing element movable into; and out of expansive relation with said slips in response to relative longitudinal movement e e sai rs an exte on Sleeve g d connected to said slip-expanding member concentrically interposed between said slip cage and said body member, a first pair of opposed jarring shoulders mounted on said body member and said sleeve, a second pair of jarring shoulders mounted on said sleeve and said slip cage and axially spaced from said first pair, said pairs being positioned for sequential engagement in response to upward movement of said body member relative to said sleeve member and said slip cage, and opposed abutment elements mounted on said sleeve and said body member longitudinally spaced from both said pairs of shoulders and positioned to be engaged in advance of engagement of both said pairs of shoulders upon relative longitudinal movement and upon limited relative rotation between said sleeve and said body member, said abutment elements having engaging surfaces upwardly inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve and body member.

5. A well packer including a tubular body member supportin for relative movement thereon a sealing element, a slip cage, slips hingedly connected to said cage, a slip-expanding member connected to said sealing element movable into and out of expansive relation with said slips in response to relative longitudinal movement between said members, an extension sleeve rigidly connected to said slip-expanding member concentrically interposed between said slip cage and said body member, opposed jarring shoulders mounted on said sleeve and said body member engageable upon relative longitudinal movement between said sleeve and said body member, a longitudinal slot in said sleeve, a pin on said body member extending into said slot, and an abutment at one side of said slot longitudinally spaced from said shoulders and positioned to be engaged by said pin in advance of engagement of said shoulders upon relative longitudinal movement and upon limited relative rotation of said members, the pin-engaging surface of said abutment inclining upwardly into said slot.

6. In a well packer including a tubular body .1

member supporting for relative movement thereon a tubular packer member carrying expandible elements for engaging a well wall, a jarring mechanism for effecting release of said packer member from said well wall comprising, opposed jarring shoulders carried by said members engageable upon relative longitudinal movement between said members, and opposed abutment elements carried by said members longitudinally spaced from said shoulders and in position to be engaged in advance of engagement of said shoulders upon relative longitudinal movement and upon limited relative rotation of said members, said abtument elements having relatively slidable cam-shaped engaging surfaces shaped to cause said abutment elements to be forced past each other longitudinally to effect sudden release therebetween when the axially directed force applied to one of said members in effective engagement of said abutment elements exceeds the re- 10 sistance of the engaged abutment elements to such release.

7. In a well: packer including a tubular body member supporting for relative movement thereon a tubular packer member carrying expandible elements for engaging a well wall, a jarring mechanism for effecting release of said packer member from said well wall comprisin opposed jarring shoulders carried by said members engageable upon relative longitudinal movement between said members, and opposed abutment elent ca r ed, by S i membe longitudinally spaced from said shoulders and in position to be engaged in advance of engagement of said shoulders upon relative longitudinal movement and upon limited rotation of said members, said abutment elements having relatively slidable engaging surfaces inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said members.

8. In a well packer including a tubular body member supporting for relative movement thereon a tubular packer member carrying expandible elements for engaging a well wall, a jarring mechanism for effecting release of said packing member from said well Wall comprising, opposed jarring shoulders carried by said members engageable upon relative longitudinal movement between said members, a longitudinal slot on one of said members, a pin on the other of said members extending into said slot, and an abutment at one side of said slot longitudinally spaced from said shoulders and positioned to be engaged by said pin in advance of engagement of said shoulders upon relative longitudinal movement and upon limited relative rotation of said members, the pin-engaging surface of said abutment inclining upwardly into said slot.

9. In a well packer including a tubular body member supporting for relative movement thereon a tubular packer member carrying expandible elements for engaging a well wall, a jarring mechanism for effecting release of said packer member from said well wall, comprising, opposed jarring shoulders carried by said members engageable upon relative longitudinal movement between said members, a longitudinal slot on one of said members, a pin on the other of said members extending into said slot, an abutment at one side of said slot longitudinally spaced from saidshoulders and positioned to be engaged by said pin in advance of engagement of said shoulders upon relative longitudinal movement and upon limited relative rotation of said members, the pin-engaging surface of said abutment inclining upwardly into said slot, and a pin-receiving recess in the side of said slot opposite said abutment.

10. In a well packer including a tubular body member supporting for relative movement thereon a tubular packer member carrying expandible elements for engaging a well wall, a jarring mechanism for effecting release of said packer member from said well wall comprising, opposed jarring shoulders carried by said members engageable upon relative longitudinal movement between said members, a longitudinal slot in one of said members, a pin on the other of said members extending into said slot, an abutment at one side of said slot longitudinally spaced from said shoulders and positioned to be engaged by said pin in advance of engagement of said shoulders upon relative longitudinal movement and upon limited relative rotation of said members, said abutment and said pin having relatively slidable 11 engaging surfaces'inclining upwardly toward said Number slot. 2,136,047 CICERO C. BROWN. 2,138,157 JOHN R. BASS. 2,182,549 5 2,187,482 REFERENCES CITED 2,21 ,353 The following references are of record in the 2-363'400 file of this patent: 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2389869 2,426,370 Number Name Date 2,430, 23

1,785,277 Mack Dec. 16, 1930 12 Name Date Fulkerson Nov. 8, 1938 Halliburton Nov. 29, 1938 Brumbly Dec. 5, 1939 Baker et a1 Jan. 16, 1940 Spencer Oct. 1, 1940 Baker Jan. 30, 1945 Quintrell July 31, 1945- Phipps Nov. 27, 1945 Penick Aug. 26, 1947 Taylor et a1 Nov. 11, 1947

Images