US2651362A

US2651362A - Outside pipe cutting tool

Info

Publication number: US2651362A
Application number: US766523A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lynn W Storm
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-08-06
Filing date: 1947-08-06
Publication date: 1953-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 1970-09-08

Description

L. W. STORM OUTSIDE PIPE CUTTING TOOL Filed Aug. 6. 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l a lll; l /wl 1 6 n s A n. o a w lll 1,. Il

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' of'A pipe, the wash lor until the rotary =the operator has determined that he has washed ion the wash pipe -ed tothe drill string which is then lowered into made.

Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE k2,651,362 i oUTsIDEPIPE CUTTING Tool. Lynn W. Storm, Houston, Tex. Application August c, 1947, serial No. 766,523

11 Claims. (Cl. 164-0.6)

TheV invention relates to a washover overshot and outside cutting tool which is adapted to be l owered into a well bore to release and cut a stuck pipe therein. v

` In present day practice inthe drilling of wells by Vthe rotary method wherein a bit is placed on the end of a string of pipe, and a hole drilled in the ground-by rotation of the pipe, it is not uncommon for the pipe to become stuck or twisted oii' in the Well bore. The present day practice in recovering theV stuck pipe calls for rtwo separatefoperations. First, a, rotary shoe of sufficient inside diameter to go over the stuck drill pipe and its tool joints, is run into the hole yon theend of a large diameter pipe suiicient to telescope over the stuck pipe. This large -diameter pipe is commonly called a wash pipe and it in turn is attached to 'a string of drill 'pipe of sufficient lengthto reach the depth of the stuck pipe. As the tool progresses downwardly over the stuck pipe, successive lengths of drillstring may be added. Upon enga-gement of the stuck pipe with the rotary shoe, it is necessary to manipulate the vstring of pipe with respect to ter mentioned projects inwardly and upwardly into the wash pipe. After this is accomplished the string of pipe, the wash pipe, and the ro- 'tary shoe are rotated and lowered so that the shoe tends to dig out material that -ing to the side of the stuck pipe.

It is common practice during this operation to pump a mud fluid down through the string pipe, and out into the formation adjacent the rotary shoe so that the is :stickcuttings can be carried away from the vicinity 'ofthe operation. This procedure is continued untilit is determined that the pipe has been completely freed from the side of the well bore, shoe becomes dull, or when Vdown over al1 of the stuck pipe that he can. #The entire string of pipe is then withdrawn Afrom the well and the rotary shoe is replaced by a cutting 01T side pipe cutter.

tool commonlyV called an out- The cutter is then lowered andthe wash pipe connectcutter, the pipe is either raised, or lowered, or

`rotated, or pumped through to engage a tool joint and to make the cut on the stuck pipe.

V.If a successful cut isaccomplished then the l the stuck pipe so that the lat- .lease the stuck pipe, to the top ofl the well bore all in one .opera- 2 cutter, the washover string, and the drill pipe along with the severed portion of the stuck pipe are withdrawn from the hole, section by section. If an additional Vlength of pipe remains stuck in the well bore, the rotary shoe is replaced on the end of the wash string and lowered into the well bore to cut the formation away from the stuck pipe. After this is completed, the cutter is replaced for the rotary shoe and another cutting operation is attempted. This procedure continues until lall of the pipe has been removed from the well.

However, if it is determined by the operator during the making of a cut on the stuck pipe, that a successful cut cannot be accomplished.

Vit is then necessary to' try to'free the cutting tool from the stuck pipe and remove it from fc'harge it adjacent the rotary shoe since the uid will pass outwardly through the'holes in the body above the shoe thereby losing circulation to the bottom :adj acent the shoe.

A primary object therefore of the present invention is to provide' a combination washover overshot and outside pipe cutter which can recut if off, and retrieve it tion.

Another object of the invention is to provide va combination tool having no holes Ythrough the body thereof so that the circulation of drilling uid can be effected downwardly through the tool todischarge it adjacent the rotary shoe Von the lowerend thereof.

Another object is to washover overshot and provide a combination cutting tool which cutting tool can be engaged and released at will from the stuck iish.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combination washover overshot and outside pipe cutter which may be released at will from the once engaged stuck pipe, and which may be reengaged with'the stuck pipe without damaging or fracturingY various elements of the tool. Y A ,Another objectgof the invention is to provide a combination washover overshot and outside cutting tool which is arranged to telescope over a stuck pipe in a well bore.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination washover overshot and cutting tool, which tool is provided with gripping means to grip the released pipe and cutting means which is arranged to cut the released pipe.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combination washover overshot and outside cutting tool which is provided with gripping means and cutting means to grip and cut a stuck pipe in the well bore, which means are arranged to normally be in inactive position, but movable to and from engagement with the stuck pipe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination washover overshot and cutting tool which is arranged to telescope downwardly over a stuck pipe in a well bore and then to cut the stuck pipe in two, and then to retrieve the f cut portion, all in oneV trip.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a washover overshot, gripping means which are normally retained in inactive position while the tool is telescoping downwardly over the stuck pipe, but which are movable to and from engaging position therewith. 4

Another object of the invention is to provide in a washover overshot a slip cage and slip means along with a ly retained in inoperative position while the overshot is being telescoped downwardly over the stuck pipe, but which holder is'- movable to engage the slips with the stuck pipe.

A further object of the invention is to provide in an outside cutter, cutter members which are adapted to remain in inactive position while the tool is being lowered over a stuck sh in the well bore, but movable to and from operative position after the pipe has been engaged.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a cutter, which is arranged to telescope downwardly over a stuck pipe in a well bore, cutter members which are resiliently urged to cutting action against the stuck pipe.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from a consideration of the following description in connection with the accompanyingi drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View, partially in elevation, of the upper part of the tool;

Fig. 2 is a continuation of Fig. 1 showing the lower part of the tool;

. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the upper part of the tool showing the tool engaged with a stuck pipe in the wellk bore;

Fig. 6 is a continuation of the tool shown in Fig. 5 showing the lowermost part of the tool with the cutters advanced to their centermost position against the stuck pipe;

Fig. 'l' is a section taken on the line Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8V i's a Fig. 6.

The tool shown in Fig. 1 comprises a body 2 secured by means of threads 3 to a sub 4 which is in turn provided with threads 5 for connection to a suitable length of wash pipe. The sub 4 is splined at 'I to receive slip cage nut 9 cotting therewith. The slip cage nut B is in turn thread- 'I-l of section taken on the line 8-8 of slidable slip holder which is resilient- .limited by the pin 45- i ed at I to the slip cage Il which is provided at I3 with windows to receive the slips I4. Adjacent the windows I3, the slip cage is tapered inwardly and downwardly at I5 to guide the slips outwardly into engagement with the pipe to be engaged and cut.

The slip holder I'I is slidably arranged on the slip cage and is connected to the slips by means of the rod I8 which is connected at I9 to the slip holder and passes downwardly through the opening I9 in the slip cage Il, and is connected at to the slips I4. A spring 2| is arranged around the rod I8 and rests on the shoulder 2|. The spring 2I abuts against the slip holder or piston I'I and is provided so as to retain the slip holder in an uppermost position so that the slips I4 will be positioned in the windows or on a portion of the bevelled face I5 so that they will not while being lowered contact the pipe to be engaged and cut. The port 22 through the slip cage nut 9 provides access :for a pressure fluid to the top 23 of the slip holder I'I. A discharge port 24 in the slip cage il provides access for a iiuid pressure to enter into the space 25 between the body 2 and the slip cage II so that an equal pressure will be exerted upon the top 23 and the bottom 26 of the slip cage holder while the tool is being lowered over the stuck pipe in the well.

The lower end of thev slip cage il is provided with a clutch element at 21 to mate with the clutch element 21 of the drive sleeve 28 which serves asa link between the upper and lower portions of the tool. Drive sleeve 28 is provided with an annular ridge 29 which serves as a stop for spring 30 which is slidably mounted over the drive sleeve. The spring 30 rests on bevelled or tapered sleeve 3i which is slidably mounted relative to the driveY sleeve 28 by means of the pin 32 in the guide slot 33. A cotting bevelled plate 35, immediately below the plate3 I, is connected to the ring gear 3S by means of the clutch construction 3l. The ring gear 36 is provided with teeth 38 on the lower end thereof, which are arranged to fit teeth 3'9 on cutter 40 which is pivoted in the body 2 by suitable means such as screws 4I. The cutters 4i! are provided with replaceable knife inserts 52.

Bearings 43 in the race 44 resting on the annular shoulder 44 immediately below the slip cage II, are provided to permit relative rotation between the parts' as hereinafter described. It is to be notedV that the upward travel of slips I4 is therethrough which rests on shoulder 4670i the slip pin pocket 41 which is arranged on the outer periphery of slip cage Il.

Downward movement of the slips may be continued until the pin 45 engages the shoulder 48 whichA is the bottom of the slip pin pocket 41.

In Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 the tool is shown in e gaging and cutting position in a well bore. In actual operation of the tool it would be connected to a string of wash pipe and the wash pipe would then be connected to a string of drill pipe of the required length to complete the releasing of the stuck pipe from the well bore. v

As the tool is telescoped downwardly over the stuck pipe it will be rotated whereupon the rotary shoe which is provided with teeth 5I, will out away stuck material from adjacent the pipe. A mud iluid is circulated downwardly through the tool to discharge at the lower end thereof adjacent the rotary shoe to carry away the cuttings oi' the earth formation from the tool, and to permit it to descend around the cut pipe.

the engagement of When 'the operator has determined that he has telescoped over a suilicient'` length of stuck-pipe, shown'in dotted outline in Figs. 1, 2,v 5, and 6 at 60, he raises the tool while mud circulationis maintained. f When l'the A vpressure port -24 is brought opposite a .tool "joint 60 as shown in dotted line 'in Fig. 5,the port 22 is then located abovev the tool'joint, thus producing a pressure differential between ports 22 and 24.`

' --Under this condition, greater pressure willbe exerted throughthe port 22 andon to the top 23 ofthe slip'holder I 'I than will be exerted on the nether-surface 26 through the port 24, since the upper'pressure port 22 is adjacentfthe drill` pipe where Vthe -luid is moving ata slowervelocity than adjacent the port 24which is adjacent the drill joint 6I VDue to the difference in the velocity of the fluid adjacent the upper port 22 and that adjacent the lower port 24, ahigher pressure area will be created in the lower velocity area; This 4difference in pressure causes the -slip holder -I`Ijto move downwardly whereupon the slips I4 move downwardly and outwardly on to the bevelled surface I5"of the slip`I cage II to engage the tooljoint as'at63.- ff l fl InIorder to insure a positive engagement ofthe slipsYILwith the tool-jointatl63 the operator takes `anA upward pull vupon the string of. pipe which firmly seats the teeth 64 as shown in dotted outline in Fig. :7, againstthe surface of the stuck pipe at 263. Upward movement of the tool serves to position the slipI cageiII downwardly along with the drive sleeve V28, which moves downwardly whereupon the annular ridge 29 being engaged to the lspring 30" compresses the spring downwardly.'-

At the same time clutch 1 is separated as shown in Fig. 5 inl contrast to its position showninFig-1.. c .Y 1

At this lstage of operation' the slip cage is rest` mg upon the ballrace 44 so that relative rotation may be imparted to the body 2-without effecting the slips with the stuck pipe. Thefcompression-of lthe spring 30 forces plate 3I against plate 35 to` a `certain point. lRight' hand rotationofv the tool causes the 'teeth 3 9 on the cutters 40 to engage with the teeth 38 in thering gear 36 so that thercutters are movdoutwardly to engage the stuck pipe.` v' The Vfree rotation of the knife is, however, only momentary and proceeds 'only to the/point that the cutterelement Vcontactsv the iish-fwhere upon the cutter tends to dig into the fish bythe amount of frictionbuiltint-'o the cone clutch'elements 3I and'35. 'This point i'salmost instantly reached and the clutch becomes over-loaded and startsfslipping. fAs the tool is rotated thecltch supplies va continuous given amountof 'drag't the kniie which-continues to cut away" the lsh and advance deeper into the fish with each rota- 'ti-on by virtue "of the efforts of the slipping clutch tofhold the ring gear stationary. As the cutting progresses the pinion armor knifecombination revolves about its Vpin 4I,'the'cuttingfedge'always advancing towardV the center of thefish until the pipeissevered. .I `.f-If forany reason the operator determinesthat he is unable to` make his cut on'thelstuck'pipe, the rotation of .the tool is reversed and-the cutters will back up into retracted position as shown in Figfl. If the operator should decide to remove theV toolfrom the well bore, he maygdisengage the slips I4 from the pipe-at 63 by-merelystopping move the slip upwardly, thereby withdrawing the slips I4 offv of the bevelled face 'I5 and` into 'the windows I3. An alternate method of releasing the tool from the stuck pipe is to lower the tool until the pressure port 22 is adjacent the tool joint 6I), while the pressure port 24 is therebeneath. The reverse positioning of the two pres'- sure ports causes a pressure differential in such a manner so that the slip holder moves up wardly, thereby disengaging the slips I4 from the fish 60.

Broadly the invention contemplates a combination washover overshot and outside cutting tool which is adapted to be lowered into a well bore for releasing and cutting a stuck pipe therein and retrieving the cut portion from the well bore. 1

The invention claimed is:

1. A :combination side cutter for releasing and cutting a portion of a stuck pipe in a well bore comprising, a body, a slip cage releasablyconnected thereto, a pressure sleeve slidable on said slip cage, slips connected to said sleeve, there being windows with inwardly and downwardly tapered surfaces in said slip cage to receive said slips and for moving said slips outwardly into engagement with the pipe to be cut, a drive sleeve connected to said slip cage, tapered means slidably connected to said drive sleeve, cutters mounted in said body; a tapered sleeve engaging said cutters and arranged to t said first mentioned tapered means, resilient means engaging said pressure sleeve to normally retain said slips in retracted position,

said sleeve being movable by iluid pressure to` move said slips to engagement with the pipe to be cut, and means operable when an upward pull is thereafter exerted on said body to frictionally engage said tapered means with said tapered sleeve whereby rotation of said body therewith moves said cutters into engagement with the pipe to be cut.

2. In a washover outside pipe cutter for releasing and cutting a sh stuck in a well bore, said cutter having a rotary shoe thereon, a body, a slip cage slidable in said body and releasably engaged therewith, a sleeve slidable on said cage, slips connected to said sleeve and fitting in said slip cage, there being inwardly and downwardly tapered surfaces on said slip cage for moving said slips outwardly to engage the iish, resilient means engaging said sleeve to normally retain said slips disengaged from said sh, said sleeve being movable by fluid pressure to move said slips outwardly to engage said sh, a drive sleeve connected to said slip cage, a bowl slidably connected to -said drive sleeve, a cooperating-tapered sleeve'therebeneath, 'said bowl and tapered sleeve being normally in sliding engagement, and means operable when an upward pull is exerted on the overshot after engagement with the pipe t'o be cut to frictionally engage said bowl and tapered sleeve.

3. A tool for lowering into a well-bore to wash over and cut `stuck pipe for removal from'the Well bore comprising, an elongate cylindrical body to wash over such pipe, a gripping member Arotatably mounted in such body and movable tol and from engagement with such pipe, cutters mounted in said body, a tubular member slidably connected to said gripping member, meshing gearing means on said tubular memberand said cutters to move said cutters into and out of engagement with such pipe, said cutters normally `retained in inactive position, upward pull on said body frictionally engagingsaid tubular 'member and said. grippingrnember whereby rotatingof washover overshoty and outsaid body thereafter moves said cutters into engegen-lent with such pipe..

4'- Arr overshot forl lowering into a well bore toawashover a fish for removal therefrom oomprising, an elongate cylindrical body, a tubular slipf cage and an elongate tubular sleeve in said body, a piston ring disposed between such body and sleeve and slidable in. said body, slips supported by' said piston ring and fitting in said slip cage, there being inwardly and downwardly tapered; guide surfaces' on said slip cage for moving said slips inwardly to engage-the sh, and means for: releasablyvsupporting said slips in a portion ofthe guidev surfaceswhere` they will not be in engagement with the fish to be gripped, vertically spaced uid inlet means in said sleeve establishing fluid communication with bottom and top faces of said piston ring, said piston ring, being moveable by circulation of fluid in such well bore when said body is telescoped over' such fish and the fluid inletmeans' establishing fluid communication with one face of such piston ring is proximate an enlargement on the fish.

5. A washover overshot adapted to be lowered into a well bore and manipulated therein to engage a pipe comprising, an elongate cylindrical body,l a tubular slip cage and an elongate tubular sleeve in said body, a piston ring disposed between said body and sleeve and slidable in said body, slips connected to and movable by said piston ring, said slipcage and slips having cooperating guide and slide surfaces respectively for moving said slips inwardly into engagement with such pipe, resilient means normally retaining said slips in portions ofl saidguide surfaces out of engagement with such pipe, vertically spaced liuid inlet means in said sleeve. establishing iiuid communication with bottom and top faces of said piston ring, said piston ring being moveable byV circulation of fluid in such well' bore when said body is telescoped over su-ch pipe and the fluid inlet means establishing communication with one face of such piston ring is proximate an enlargement on such pipe.

6. An outside pipe cutter comprising, a body, a gripping member in said body movable to and from engagement with the pipe to be cut, cutters mounted in said body, a pair of beveled coiitting sleves rotatable in said body, one of such sleeves being connected to and actuating said cutters, resilient means connecting such other sleeve to suchv gripping member and normally urging such last mentioned sleeve into sliding engagement with such first mentioned sleeve, movement of such body relative to such gripping member resiliently and frictionally engaging such pair of co-flttingf beveled sleeves whereby rotation of such body relative thereto moves said cutters to and from cutting position.

'Ir In an outside pipev cutter a body, a gripping member in said body movable by fluid pressure to grip the pipe to be out, cutters mounted in said body, a pair of beveled co-litting sleeves in said body, one of said sleeves being connected te and actuating said cutters, the other of said sleeves being connected to said gripping member, said sleeves being normally in slidable engagement but frictionally engageable by an upward pulll on said cutter after said gripping member has engaged the pipe to be out whereby rotation of said body relative to said sleeve moves the cutters to and from cutting position.

`81 A cutter tool adapted to be positioned over a pipe in ya well comprising a body, ya slip cage and slip means having cooperating guide and 8 slide surfaces respectively, said slip means being normally retained in aportion of the guide. where they will not be in engagement with the pipe to be cut but movable to engagement with the pipe at -a predetermined time, means to permit relativerotation of said body and gripping member upon movement of said gripping member into engagement with such pipe, cutters mounted in said body, a pair of beveled coiitting sleeves. rotatable on said body, one: of said sleevesengaging said cutters, resilient meansy connecting the other sleeve to said slip cage and normally urging the last mentioned bevelled sleeve into sliding engagement with the rst mentioned sleeve, said resilient mean-s being operable upon upward movement of such body relative to such slip cage to frictionally engage said pair of bevelled sleeves together wthereby rotation of said body relative thereto moves said cutters to and from cutting position. I

9. In a tool to be lowered into and manipulated in a well bore having drill fluid therein, a body, a slip holder slideable in said body having slips connected thereto, said slips being expansible and retractablev upon movement of said slip holder, fluid reservoirs inA said body above andbelow and in. communication with upper and lower ends of said slip' holder,l a first port in communication with the fluid reservoir above such slipl holder, and a second port spaced fromy said rst port and in communication with the fluid reservoir below saidslip holder, said slip holder being moveable by a differential in pressure created by circulating drill fluid wfhen said tool is positioned adjacent a member to be gripped and one of such ports is positioned proximate a restriction in such wellbore.

10. The method of actuating ay slip assembly in a. bore hole having well iiuid therein, said slip assembly including a movable piston responsive to fluid pressure differential to which slips are secured and including spaced fluid pressure inlet means providing fluid. communication with opposite sides of said piston comprising, positioning said slip assembly in such bore hole adjacent a member to be gripped, positioningV that portion of such inlet means providing fluid communication with one side of said piston adjacent a restriction in such bore hole,V and' circulating drill fluid in such bore [hole whereby fluid circulating proximate said inlet means creates a pressure differential on opposite sides of said piston thereby actuating said piston and moving said slipsy to and from gripping position with such member to be gripped.

1l. Ina tool lated to grip a member to be lowered into and manipuin a well bore, such well bore having drill uid therein comprising, an elongate cylindrical body, ya tubular slip cage and a tubular sleeve in saidy body', a pressure ring slidably disposed between said sleeve and body, saidpressure* ring being movable by fluid pressure and having upper and lower piston faces, rstfluid inlet means above and in fluid communication with such upper piston face, second fluid inlet means spaced below and in fluid communication with such lowerY piston face, gripping elements supported by said pressure ring and movable to and from gripping position by saidpressure ring, such slip ca-ge and slips having cooperating guide Iand slide surfaces respectively for moving said slips into and out of gripping engagement with said member, and resilient means disposed between said body and said slip cage' and engaging said pressure ring to normally retain said slips in .a portion of the guide Where References Cited in the le of this patent they will not be in engagement tlie mem- UNITED STATES PATENTS ber to be gripped, said pressure ring being movable by differential in pressure created by cir- Number Name Date cuiating such driii iiud when said tool is posi- 5 12771600 Kafmmefer Sept 3, 1918 tioned about the member to be gripped and one 1625391 Remy et al A1311 19, 1927 of such inlet means is proximate an enlarge- 19191831 Ellis July 25, 1933 ment on such member- 1,960,337 Gilstrap etal May 29, 1934 2,202,985 Ellis June 4, 1940 LYNN W. STORM. 10 2,277,58() Carotliers Mai'. 24, 1942