US2604169A - Well treating and flow controlling device - Google Patents

Description

July 22, 1952 I. A. MILLER 2,604,169

WELL TREATING AND FLOW CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Feb. 7. 1948 [/54 flan/we MILL E/Z INVENTOR.

BY g

ATTORNEY Patented July 22, 19 52 I -,2, 604,169 V V n FLOW CONTROLLING WELL'T'REATINGAN a IDEVI lra Arthur Miller, Dallas, Tex. y ApplicationFebruary 7, 1948, Serial o. 6,935- i This invention relates to newand useful improvements in well treating and flow-controlling devices.

It is becoming more frequently customary, in modern 'oil and gaswell production practice, to install packers between the well flow conductor or tubing and the bore of the well or the ,well casing. The packers are installed for the purpose of sealing off the high pressures of the producing formations of-such'wells to prevent the high fluid pressures from acting against the, well surface connections in the annular space between the flow conductor andthe well casing, and to prevent such high pi-essures-frmfbeing impressed upon the'long string of well casing to reduce the danger of leaks through such casing. It is also becoming a'more common practice to provide loading fluids, such as columns of water,

-or mud or the'like, in the annular space between the well tubing and casing and above the packers to counterbalance or exceed the upward force exerted against such packers by the high producing formation fluid pressures.

It sometimes becomes necessary or desirable, after the packer has been installed and the load- 8 Claims (01. lee-2) ing fluid inserted: in the annular space there above, to establishcirculation of fluids between the annular space and the bore of the well tubing for the purpose of removing the loading fluids, or for the purpose of permitting removal of the packer, or when it is desired to 'kill the well. Attempts have heretofore been'made to utilize valve means, such as control head packers and the like, for establishing circulation of fluid between the annular'space and the bore of the well tubing, but such valve means have very frequently proven unsatisfactory for many reasons, including the fact that the valves do not always positively close off and thus leak, the fact that the valves frequently cannot be reopened, the fact that the usual control head packer requires the use of heavy," expensive auxiliary hoisting equipment for manipulation or movement of the tubing to open the valve, the fact that some devices require such high pump pressure for operation as to create danger of rupturing the casing or collapsing the tubing, and for many other reasons. In such cases, well operators-have resorted to perforating the tubing or flow conductor to establish circulation between the bore of the well conductor and the annular space between such conductor and-the well casing. However, it is difficult in many-instances to raccurately locate the perforations, andit is often extremely difficult if not impossible to perforate the'flowconductor, and in'some wells it is'diflicult to perforate the flow conductor. withoutiperforating the casing and creating a dangerous condition. .ii

It is, therefore, an important object of this invention to provide a novel well treating and flow controlling devicewhich may be installed in a well flow conductor-above a packer, and WhiChiS initially closed but which may be opened Without manipulation of the-tubing to establish circulation :between' the annular space; exteriorly of the flow conductor above the packer and the boreof.theflowconductor.-

Another object .ofi'the invention-is toprovide a device of the-character describedincluding a housing adapted. to be connected in a'iwell flow conductor and having a lateral opening-establishing communication between the interior and exteriorof the housing, inflcombinationuwitha removable closure'for said lateral opening and means for releasably locking said closure in position in the housing, whereby flow from the--:annular space exteriorly of-the housingxinto the bore ofthe housing through suchlateral opening isv completely prevented; while the closure is in position in the housing, said-closurebeingz ee movable to establish communicationbetween the bore of the housingandtheannular'space exteriorly thereof.

A further object of the invention isto provide, in a device: of the characterdescribed, means for preventing fluids entering the housing through the lateral opening. from flowing down-- wardly through the 'conductorto the producing formation therebelow,said means permitting upward flow of fluids frornwthe producing formation through said housing.

Still another object of the invention is to pro.- vide a device of the character-described-wherein the closure means and the lockingmeans are each removable from the housingupon 'amupward nonrotative movement, whereby said closure and locking means may be removed;frorn} the housingby means of a flexibleline retrieving mechanism.- I

A particularobject of the invention-is to proe a W treating, a d low. controll de ice of ct *v scri ed w ereinthe u w f exert dn; e c o ur m m er-@1 5 the r ssures of h W ll. f u dsfr m; t ew e uz in erme iqn transfe ed-em t n mher, to therlocking, means in .such manner that theloc ing. action'o said locking means ee i a Pos ivel rav n upward-d lace:

Additional objects and advantages of the in vention will readily be apparent from .the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with -the invention, and .7

reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, .of the 'upper :portion .of a device constructed in accordance with "the invention,

Figure :2 is as'imilar view of the lower :portion of the device,

Figures '3 and 4 are horizontal cross-sectional views taken on the line 33=and 4- -4 of Figure 1. In the drawings, the numeral I0 designates an elongate tubular housing or nipple having ex- 4 sion may be connected in the well tubing string and lowered into the well bore.

The check valve C is preferably constructed or formed with a tubular body having an external annular flange 2| at its lower end. The lower edge of the flange 2! is beveled to engage and seat upon the upwardly facing seat H at the lower end of the nipple or housing 10. A plurality of upwardly. facing fu shaped'sealing,rings 22 are mounted on the body andabut'a'gainst the upper shoulder of the flange 2|, being confined on said 'body between said flange and an annular follower :ring- 23 which is held in place on the body by a packing nut 24 threaded onto the upper end of said body. The upper end of the bore 20a of the body isflared to'provide a valve seat 25, and a valve head 'or plunger 26 is adapted to engage this seat to close the bore of the body. An upstanding stem 2'! extends upwardly from the valve head 26 and is slidable through a guide collar 23 which :is preferably :formed integral with the upper end of a'valve cage 29 which surrounds the valve head and is threaded onto the upper end .of .the tubular body. .Aretrieving head 3i] is fastened to the .upperprojecting end of the valve stem2'! and istprovided' with an external annular ternal screw threadsat each :end. At its lower end, the nipple is provided with :an internal anthe beveled lower end of a check valve assemblyv C. The structure of the check 'valve will hereinafter be more fully explained. 7

Intermediate its ends, the housing or nipple i1) is provided with lateral openings or ports 12, which may vary in number from one to four or more. The ports extend substantiallyradially through the wall of the housing and provide for communication'between the interior and exterior of the housing. An upwardly facing beveled an -nular seat or shoulder I3 is formed at the upper end of the interior bore wall of the housing, and this seat is adapted to receive and support a beveled flange M of a port closure or sealing means S which extends downwardly into the housing. The details ofjstructure of the closure or sealing means S will also be hereinafter more fully ex plained.

An elongate internal annular jlocking recess l5 may be provided near 'theupper end of the bore of the housing, as clearly shown in Figure 1, such recess having a downwardly facing locking shoulder 16 at its upperend. The locking recess maybe provided'or omitted, as desired, and will permit the use of a flow control; device of the character set forth in the patent to Herbert C. Otis, 2,246,811,-issued June 24, 1941, whereby'the flow controldevice' may be locked in position in the housing. e

An elongate thick-walled tubular housing or nipple extension l1, having internal screw threads at each end, is threaded onto the upper end of the housing"! 0 and forms an upward continuation thereof, as clearly shown in Figure '1. The housing extension is adapted to receive a locking mechanism L'which engages the upper end of the closure or sealing member S to positively hold the same in position in the nipple ID.

The usual well tubing may be screw threaded into the internal threads at the upper end of the extension l1, and may be connected to the lower end of thehousing I0 by meansiof the customary tubing collars, wherebythe housing and extenundercut flange 31 adapted tobe engaged by a I suitable retrieving tool, whereby the check valve assembly may beremoved from the housing. An axial opening .32-isforn1ed in the upper end of the retrieving head and has a plurality of substantially radially extending ports '33tcommunicating therewith; whereby fluids :may flow through the ports 33 into the opening 32 and upwardly therethrough, for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained. Flow openings 34 are provided in the side wall of'thevalve cage 29, whereby fluids flowing upwardly through the bore of the valve may pass outwardly through the'openingsin-to the bore of the housing In thereabove. Inclined flow courses 35 are formed in the upper end of the cage for permitting fluid passage under conditions which :will be hereinafter further set forth. 7

It will be seen, therefore, that when; the valve head 26 is in engagement. with the seat 25 in the check valve lbody20, fluid in the bore of the housing above the .check valve will be prevented from flowing downwardly from the housing to the producing formation .therebelow. However, well fluids from the producing formation below the housing may flow upwardly through the bore of the body 20 and lift the valve head 26. off the seat '25, whereupon such fluids will .flow past the valve head and through the flow openings 34 and the cage .29 'to the bore of thez housing above the sealing rings 22 Thus, the check valve assembly permits upward flow of fluids :therepast, but prevents downward flow.

The closure or sealing: member S'includes an elongate tubular mandrel 40 having an external enlargement 4| located intermediate its end and providing an upwardly facing shoulder 42 and a downwardly facing shoulder'43. A'plurality of rings of upwardly facing U-shaped packing 4d surround the upper portion of 'the mandrel and abut againstthe undercut upwardly facing shoulder 42, and .a plurality'of oppositely facing U- shaped packing rings 65 similarly surround the upper end of the mandrel and are spaced above the packingirings 44 by a spacer ring The packing rings are retained in position on the mandrel'bya follower ring 41 which is confined against displacement from the mandrel by the lower end of a positioning head 49 which is threadedonto the upper end of the mandrel-Mkandengages the follower ring} Complementary-beyels are formed on the upper end of the mandrel and in the bore of the positioning headto provide a fluid-tight sealing engagement at between said mandrel h a t- 5 A plurality of inverted .U -shaped sealing rings 5| are mounted on thelower portion of the mandrel 40 and abut against the undercut downwardly facing shoulder 43 at-thelower endpf. the enlarged central portion 4|, and a plurality of upwardly facing U'-shaped packingrings 52 likewise are mounted on the lower portion of the mandrel below the rings 5| and are separated therefromby a'spacer ring 53; The packinglrings5l. and 52 are retained in position onthe mandrel by a follower ring 54, similar to the follower ring 41,, and a packing nut 55 which is threaded onto the lower end of said mandrel. A tubular cage or sleeve. member 56 is also threaded onto the lowerend of the mandrel and abuts against thefnut55 to lock the same in position onthe mandrel.v Flow openings 51 are provided in the cylindrical walls of the cage 55 for admitting fluids from exteriorly'v of the cage to the interior thereof. I

An elongate cylindrical. stop sleeve 58 is screw threaded onto the lower end ofthe cage 56 and extends therebelow. The extreme lower end of the stop sleeve is adapted to engage the upper endof the valve cage 29 to preventlthe checklvalve C from flowing upwardly against therlower end of the bore 40a of the closureor sealing member S to plug and prevent fluid flow upwardly through the flow passageof the closure member. The length of the stop sleevei sufficient to permit the valve head 26 to rise completely' as, the seat of the check valve before the retrieving head 30 engages the lower end of the cage member56. Thus, fluid may always flow upwardly through the check valve, past the valve head 26,'and through the flow openings 33 and 32intheretrieving'head of the check valve assembly into the bore of the cage member 56, from whence the fluid will flow upwardly through the 'bore- 49a of the tubular mandrel of the closure member.

. The positioning head 49 is provided with an enlargement or external annular flange I4 'nearits upper end having its lower edge beveled .to'provide a seat 69 adapted to engage'and seat upon the shoulder 13 formed at the upper endfofthe housing I0, A retrieving connection 6| formed on the upper end of the positioning head has an external undercut flange 62 which may be vengaged by a suitable retrieving tool (not shown) fof the character set forth in the patent toH. C. Otis, 898,261, issuedFebruary 21, 1933, whereby the closure or sealing member S may be lifted or pulledfrom, its position within the housing l0. 7

When the seat 60 at the lower end of thevflange i4 is in engagement with: the shoulder l3, at the upper end of the housing If], the enlarged central portion 4| of the mandrel 40 isposit ioned in substantial alignment with the lateral Openings or ports I 2 formed in the wall of the housing. Thus, the sealing rings 44 and 45 on the upper portion of the mandrel 40 are positioned above the lateral openings l2 and the sealing rings 5| and'52onv bore wall of the nipple or housing In prevent fluids exteriorly of the housing 'from entering the. housing through th'e'openings' i2 and admixing with the fluids from the producing horizon flowing upwardly through thehousin'g and closur'efmem her. Similarly, fluids within the housing will-be prevented from; flowing-outwardly therefrom through the openings ll to.-;the annular space exteriorly of the housing whereby acomplete separation v the housing is provided-ton H t v 3 The anchoring member L, provided for positively but releasably holding theiclosure or sealing member S in position in the nipple l0, includes anelongate tubular'jn'andrel65 having an axial bore 66. The lower portion 6'! oifthe mandrel is substantially cylindrical'and an: external annular flange .68 is provided Tat -the upper end of this cylindrical section. Immediately above the flange 68, the mandrel is flared outwardly and upwardly to form a slip expanding section 69. The upper portion of themandrel isreduced in diameter and is provided at its upper end withan external annular undercut flange I0, which forms aretrieving connection adapted to be engaged by a suitable retrieving tool (not shown) whereby the anchoringmechanism L may be removed from the well tubing.

Gripping elements or slips H, having gripping secured in an 'annula'r groove formed in its outer.

surface. A similar band ll preventsoutward' disv placementof the s l ipl handles fromfthe slots 13 in theannular flange E8 onthe mfandreL f The slip carrier ,isslidable on thelower cylindrical portion 61 of the. mandrel and upward movement of the slips on the mandrel is limited by the engagement 101; the carrier. vwith the. flange 68. Downwardmovement of the slips is'limited by engagement, of the lower ends thereof with the upper surface of theflange 68, V V v,

A carrier extensionor foot piece 13 is vscrew,- threaded into thecounter bored lower end of "the carrier 'hl andlextends downwardly below the lower end .of the cylindrical portion 61 of the mandrel, whereby a beveled seat 19 formed int-he lower end of the .bore. of theextension. or foot piece mayiengage the'beveled'upper end of the flange 62 at the upper end of the closure member S, asclearly shown in Figure 1. A packing ring is mounted inthe counter-bore of the lower portion of I the slip c'arrie'rfll'and is retained in place therein by the upper end of the extension member 18. The packingring seals between the carrier and the exterior of the cylindrical portion of the mandrel to preventfluid flowther ebetween, wherebyflu'id is positively directed up-t wardly through. the bore 66 of 'themandrel.

. With the foot piece l8 engaging theupper end of the closure;S,'in the manner shown in Figure I, the mandrel 65 ojfth'e 'lock'ing'member L is forced downwardly betweenlthe slips H until the tapered or flared portion. fillofthe mandrel posi-' tively ,forces the gripping ease of the slips into ti ht p n en me t W h he a the housing extension. I"T j Further downward force applied to the mandrel illlincre'ase the gripping engagement of the" slips of fluids; exteriorly and interiorly of housing extension. It will be seen, therefore, that any upward force applied to the closure member S will be transmitted through the upper end thereof to the slip carrier foot piece 18, and from such foot piece through the slip carrier I4 to the slip handles 12 and the slips I I. Since the slips are in tight gripping engagement with the bore wall of; the housing'extension, upward displacement of the closure member will be prevented.

In order to assure that the upward pressure of fluids flowing through the housing will be applied to the closure member, rather than to the mandrel of the locking member L, the bore 40a of the closure member is preferably made smaller than the bore 66 of the locking member mandrel. Thus, the pressure differential resulting from restriction of flow is applied to the mandrel of the closure member, tending to force the closure member upwardly. Due to the engagement of the foot piece 18 of the slip carrier 14 of the lockpressure reduction at the mandrel of the looking member. Therefore, thefmandrel 65 of the locking member will remain in slip expanding position and the slips will be maintained in gripping engagement w'ith the bore wall of the housing extension to positively prevent upward displacement of the closure member and locking member from theirpositions in the housing and extension, and the lateral openings 12 will remain closed to prevent fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the housing.

In many cases, the well treating and flow controlling device will be installed in the well with the check valve C, the closure member S, and thellocking member L in position in the housing and extension. In such event, the parts .are arranged in the manner illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and the lower end of the housing is connected to the "tubing string therebelow while the upper end of the extension is connected to the tubing string thereabove, and the tubing string with the device in place is then lowered into the well bore.

However, if desired, the housing to and the extension member l1 may be connected in the tubing string, in the manner already described, and lowered into the well bore prior to installation of the check valve, closure member and locking member. After the tubing has been positioned in the well, the check valve is lowered through the tubing into position in .the housing engag ing the seat H at the lower end thereof. The closure member S is next lowered through the tubing until the seat 60 engages, the shoulder.

13 at the upper end of the housing I0, and the locking'member'i's then lowered through the tub-- ing until the foot piece 18 engages the upper end of the closure member.v Downward force'applied arranged to seal offth'e annular space between the tubing and casing above the producing formation. If loading fluid is present in the well bore when the tubing and packer are lowered thereinto, it is preferable that the closure member and locking mechanism be in place in the housing to close the lateral openings 12 therein and prevent intercommunication between the interior of the tubing and the exterior thereof. After the packer has been set, the loading fluid may be swabb'ed or flowed out of the bore of the tubing in the customary manner. Since the lateral openings [2 are closed, the loading'fluid in the annular space between the tubing and easing above the packer will not be disturbed and will remain in such annular space to counter-balance the upward pressure of the fluids of, the producing formation acting upwardly against the packer.

Should it subsequently become desirable or necessary to circulate the loading fluids from the annular space above the packer, to remove the packer, to kill the well. or for any other reason, a retrieving tool may be lowered through the well tubing to engage under the flange 'ifl'at the upper end of the locking member mandrel, whereupon an upward pull applied to the mandrel will lift the same from between the slips H to permit retraction of said slips from gripping engagement. Upward movement of the mandrel with respect to theslips will continue until the slips engage the upper surface of the flange 68, where- 7 upon the slips will be lifted with the mandrel to the mandrel 65 of thelocking member will then and the slip carrier attached to said slips will likewise be lifted. The locking member L may then be lifted upwardly and removed from within the tubing. The retrieving tool may again be lowered through the tubing to engage under the flange 62 at the upper end of the closure member S, whereupon an upward pull applied by means of the retrieving tool will lift the closure member upwardly out of the housing l0 and extension and the closure member may be removed from the tubing;

Removal of the closure member from within the housing will open the lateral ports [2 to permit flow of fluids from exteriorly of the housing into the bore thereof, or 'in the reverse direction, as desired. The loading fluids may then be circulated from the annular space in the customary manner by circulating fluids through the lateral ports l2.

The check valve C will prevent any downward flow of fluids therepast, whereby the fluid pressure required to circulate the loading fluids from within the annular space is not applied to the producing formation.

After the loading fluids have been circulated from the annular space, the closuremember and locking member may be reinserted, if desired. Or, in some instances, it may be desired to remove the check valve from within the housing, this being accomplished by loweringa retrieving tool into the tubing to engage under the flange 3i atthe upper end of the retrieving head 30 of the valve and lifting. The valve plunger 26 will thus be lifted into engagement with the collar 28 of the valve cage, whereupon-continued lifting will remove the check valve from the housing.

In some instances, it may be desired to provide the closure means S with aflow restrictive orificed bean- 82, which is threaded into the lower end of the bore ofthe mandrel 40, as shown in Figure2. With the oriflced flow restricting bean in such position in the mandrel, the volume or rate of "J: from the producing tori-nation up-' desirable to pro:

v v ofthe mandrel 40, asisshown' inE-igure 1 ,The fiowinlet opening 8|"W01'11d permit the introduction or'extrane us fluid from exteriorly of the housing" into the bore off-the housing, andin the vent the fluid' is a lifting'-fluid;jl.the flow :op ningwoum ro'vide L for controlled'a'dmissionfofsthe1iftingi'fl" uon'a'nd lifting or the'fluids from m; producing.

simultaneously controlleclfi :Manife'stly, either the opening}; I: or'tl'ie, 'flowifes'tr tiv'eIb n 82, or both, maybe omitted ijf'desiied. t I f From the foregoing, it' will be seen that an improved novel swell treating and new) controlling device hasbesni rovicea' which may; befinstalled in wen flow (inductor; and 'whichiislinitially ciosedbus which be op ned without manipul'ation'.ofLthe'tubmg to.lestablishcirculation be tween the annmasisp e ext-enemy i of the now conductor and the assassins flow conductor. It I will also be seen thatfth dvio is f'pa'rticman adapte'dffor u'se in a well flowl conduotbr'above a packer f or establishing. communication between the. annularspace as ,e 'the' packer and: the inteiior of theftubing to er'riiit circulation of fluids therebetweenfor'thefp "pose o fl-dualiz'ing pressuresfcirciilating loa'ding Tfiuid from the annular space, open ng; thst p ck'er, emo ing; the paclr'er, 1 and thelikel, Furthermore, it will be seen that the device 'providesfor' opening of the lateralports in thehousing without manipulation of the tubing, the closure "meaasand locking member and check valve all being removable from the housing upon an upward non-rotative pull, whereby said check valve, closure, and locking member may be removed from: the housing by means of a flexible line retrieving mechanism.

It is particularly to be notedv that the device is so constructed and arranged that the pressure fluids in "the tubing above the. device may not fiow-downwardlypast thecheckvalve provided inthe device; Furthermore, it is manifest that when thedevice is used in the Well tubing above a packer, and the lateral openings are opened to establish communication between the annular space and the bore of the housing, the check valve will prevent the flow of fluids from the annular space downwardly through the housing to the formation below the packer, thus preventing contamination of the producing formation with the loading fluids, such as mud and the like.

It is particularly important to note that the device has been so constructed and arranged that the upward force exerted upon the closure member by the pressure of the well fluid from a producing formation is transferred'from the closure member to the locking member in such a manner that the locking action of the locking member is not reduced, and may be increased, to positively 0.1", inlet-8| the prevent upward displacement of the closure memof well fluids from the'lproducirig" formation us wardly through the wen; "new .conductor, .or-"for controlling the admission" of .fiiiid' from'j'theannul'ar space exteriorly ofltlie housing through the lateral opening into'thebore of the housing to providelfo'r auxiliary mung of fiuids from the producing formation, or both'simultaneously;

The foregoing f description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes 'in' the details of stop means. engageablelwiththe housing to limitdownward movement ofJthe closure member with respect to said housing, sealing means carried externally by the closure member and engageable with thebore wall of the housing for sealing between the closure member and housing to;

prevent flow offluid through the lateral flow opening in the housing,- a tubular locking mandrel -having expansible gripping means slidably mounted thereon and-expansible into gripping position by a downwardly; tapered expander section. on the locking mandrel whensaid locking mandrel is moved; downwardly V with respect to said grippingmeans, and afoot piece; connected with the gripping means and; extending 1 about and below the lower cylindrical portion of the locking mandrel and adapted to engage the up-1 per end of the tubular closure. member whereby said closure member islocked in place closing the lateral opening oftheahousing'when thelgripping means is; expanded by the mandrel, said mandrel being movable, upwardly: to releasthe gripping means andpermititheLmandrel, gripping means, and foot'piece to be removed independently Of the. closure member.-.. I 1 H 2. A-well treating and flow controlling device including, an elongategtubular housing adapted to be connected in a well flow conductor and having a. lateral flow opening formed therein, a tubular closure member removably mounted in hsrho sina-sston means .on the' housing en a ing the closureymem'ber for limiting downward movement of the closure member with respect to the housing, sealing means on the exterior of the closure member engageable with the bore wall of the housing for preventing passage of fluids exteriorly of the closure member from the lateralopening to the bore of the housing'above and below the closure member, and a locking member comprising a tubular mandrel having a flow passage larger in cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the bore of the tubular closure member, said mandrel having expansible and retractable locking means slidably mounted thereon and arranged to be expanded into gripping engagement with the bore wall of the housing by a downwardly'tapered expander section on the mandrel when said mandrel is moved downwardly with respect tosaid locking means, and a foot piece connected with the looking means and extending below the mandrel and having a tubular lower end adapted to engage the upper end of the tubular closure member to lnmt downward movement of the locking means fionorfaumot mama th jl w'er 'en i on ene e m nt f ij the I 3.-A well treating d. o pe mit the ex a der seq i n ttheim i dre bezmoved idow 'rd ifw h' respec to h' lbc sm m r s o xpand s id kiiie mean in erihriinee m n Withi e borefwa 1 0. ris:y portion telescoping into the tubular .1301? r in tinesher i fqotlpiece with the closureg member hol dil g'said q nsi rei e a a n t. u dt is ac m e fro 'ni the, housing-,1 sai'di'l'ocking member being femqv l 1 mm: the. housin in pen ently f the closure i'member upon an upward non rotative pull 7 applied to the mandrel: to Z retract. .the' expander section from expanding engagement with the locking means, whereby the closure member; mayibqseparately removed from the housing. upon 'an"upward"" non-rotative' pull ap plied-thereto.-

ofthejcharac't'er described in claim 2 and in-" eluding, valve means removably mounted in the housing belowthe closure member for-preventing; flow of fluids downwardly from the housing.

'4'; A well treating-and flow controlling device including, a tubular housing adapted to be connected in a well flow conductor'and having a lateral flow opening therein; a tubular member removably mounted within the housing, sealing means carried externally by'said tubular member and sealing between said member and the bore wall of thehousingfor-preventing flow of fluids exteriorly of said tubular member from the flow opening of the housing to the bore of the housing above and below said tubular memberfstop and flow controlling device locking mandrel having, aflow. passagelarger in crcss'esectional area. than the cross-sectional area of the bore of the tubular member. whereeluding, flow restrictive means. carried by the communication betweenthe bo e ofsaid tubular means on the housing arranged-to engage the drel'and expansible into gripping position by the expander section on the locking mandrel when said mandrel ismoved-downwardlywith respect to; said gripping means; and a'tubular foot piece connected. with the gripping means and extend-- ing about and below the/lower end ci 'the lockingmandrel and'having anannular engaging portion, atv its; flOWBl" end for: engaging "the tubu lar member-to, prevent upward movement o lthe tubular member. fromlwithin the: housing," said;

tubular; member for. restricting flow upwardly therethrough.

6. A well treating and flow controlling device of the character set forth in claim 4 and including, a flowirestrictlngiopeningformed in the wall of the tubular member. and establishingmember. and the lateral flow opening of the housing, whereby fluids. may flow from said lateral opening of the housing, through said flow restricting opening in the tubular member to the bore of the tubular. member and'thence to the bore of the housing. v

7.. A well treating and flow controlling device of the character set forth in claim .4 wherein. the tubular member is'provlded witha lateral flow opening establishing communication be.- tween the bore of the tubular member and the lateral opening of, the housing; and a flow restricting member is carried by said tubular member below the lateral flow opening therein for controlling flow of fluids upwardly through the bore of said tubular member. I

8. A well treating and flew controlling; device. of the character set forth in claim. 4' and includin a check valve. removably mounted in the housing below the tubular member and independently' of said tubular'member for preventing flow of fluids downwardly from the bore of: the housing.

IRA ARTHUR: j

REFERENCES CITED The following references. are of record. in the. flle of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date Re. 20,546 Otis Nov. 2, 1937 1,897,985 Otis Feb. 14, 1933' 2,246,811 Otis June 24, 1 941 2.393,404 Otis Jan; 22, I946

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