US2703622A - Device for centering packers in well robers - Google Patents

Description

March 8, 1955 B. L. AUSTIN 2,703,622

DEVICE FOR CENTERING PAcKERs 1N WELL BoREs Fileq sept. 26, 195o 2 sheets-sheer 1 .1Q T TOE/VE YS @ff-f March 8, 1955 B, L, AUsTlN 2,703,622

DEVICE FOR CENTERING PACKERS IN WELL BORES l- BEM/AMW [5w/s Aus-rm, g i, I INVENTOR.

g l BY A77' Toe/VE YS United States Patent O DEVICE FOR CENTERING PACKERS IN WELL BORES Benjamin Lewis Austin, Long Beach, Calif., assignor t Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corpora- The present invention relates to subsurface well equipment, and more particularly to apparatus for setting well packers, and the like, in well bores.

Well packers and similar tools are run in well bores to be set therein. Diiculties are sometimes encountered in setting the packer coaxially in the well bore. Such difficulties may be due to the large range of expansion required of the packer, crooked or inclined hole conditions, or to a variety of other circumstances in the well bore.

In the event that the well packer is of extended length, failure to set it in a substantially coaxial position in the bore hole may place the upper end of the packer in such relation as to create trouble in later proper association of other well equipment with the packer.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to insure the setting of well packers in well bores in substantially centered position therewithin.

Another object of the invention is to center the Well packer in the well bore preparatory to outward expansion of its normally retracted elements, such as the slips or packing, or both.

A further object of the invention is to provide centering devices for well packers, or similar well tools, which are in retracted position when being run in the well bore, but which are capable of expanding and exerting a maximum centering force when the setting point in the well bore is reached.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a setting mechanism which embodies a normally retracted centering device for insuring the coaxiality in the well bore of the well tool when set therein. Such normally retracted centering device is preferably retractable from expanded centering position, to facilitate withdrawal of the setting mechanism from the well bore after setting of the tool.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a setting mechanism that can be lowered in a well bore on a wire line, center a well packer attached to the mechanism in a positive manner, set such centered packer, and th'en be withdrawn from the well bore, with assurance that the packer is located coaxially in the well bore.

Another object of the invention is'to provide a setting tool adapted to be lowered in a well bore on a wire line, in which movement of the setting tool operates a mechanism for centering the equipment in the well bore, and in which the range of centering movement is limited to insure adequate operational movement of the setting mechanism for setting a well packer, or other well tool, in the well bore.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present speciication. It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best dened by the appended claims.

Figures l, la, and lb together constitute a longitudinal section, partly in side elevation, of well apparatus with its parts in the relative positions they occupy during lowering of the apparatus in the well bore, Fig. la constituting a lower continuation of Fig. 1, and Fig. 1b constituting a lower continuation of Fig. la;

Figs. 2 and 2a are views corresponding to Figs. la and lbof the well packeranchoredv inthe well bore, and with P Ice 2,703,622

the setting tool centered in the well bore, and in condition for release from the set packer;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken along the line 3--3 on Fig. l;

F Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken along the line 4 4 on ig. 2a.

In general,` the apparatus disclosed in the drawings includes a well packer A, which may be set in an open well bore B through use of a setting tool C initially coupled to the packer, which is, in turn, connected to a suitable nmning-in string D, such as a wire line, by means of which the equipment is moved through the well bore. It is desired to set the packer in the well bore, dump cementitious material E around the packer, to leave an unobstructed passage through it, and release the setting tool C for elevation to the top of the hole. For this reason, a dump bailer portion F is included within the setting tool; so as to enable the cementitious material E to be deposited around the set packer A after the setting tool has set the latter in the well bore. Because of the arrangement illustrated, setting of the packer A, and dumping of the cementitious material E upon and around it, is made with a single trip of the running-in string D in the well bore B.

The setting tool incorporates a centering device G which in initially in retracted position, and which is expanded outwardly by the setting tool itself, to center the equipment in the well bore prior to setting of the packer therewithin.

The well packer portion A of the apparatus includes a tubular body 10 having a guide or lower abutment 11 threaded on its lower end. An upper abutment 12 is slidable in a relative downward direction along the packer body, being engageable with a set of upper segmental slips 13 disposed around the body immediately below the abutment 12. These slips are held initially in retracted position by shear screws 14 attaching them to an upper conical expander 15 initially secured to the body 10 by one or more shear pins 16. The converging inner surfaces 17 of the upper set of slips and a companion outer surface 18 of the expander are so disposed with respect to one another as' to secure the packer against movement in an upward direction within the well bore following outward expansion of the slips 13 into engagement with the wall of the bore hole B.

A set of lower segmental slips 19 is provided adjacent the lower abutment 11, these slips being secured by shear screws 20 to a lower tapered expander 21 attached initially to the body 10 by one or more shear pins 22. The direction of taper on the exterior 23 of the lower expander and the taper on the inner surfaces 24 of the lower slips 19 are such as to hold the well packer A against movement in a downward direction following expansion of the slips 19 outwardly against the wall of the well bore.

A suitable lock is provided between the upper abutment 12 and the body 10 to permit upward movement of the body within this abutment, but to preclude its downward movement. As illustrated, the lock includes a split ring or sleeve 25 contained within the upper abutment and having an inner roughened surface 26 for engaging the periphery of the packer body 10. The periphery of the latch sleeve is provided with tapered surfaces or teeth 27 engaging correspondingly tapered surfaces 28 in the upper abutment 12. These surfaces 27, 28 are inclined in an upward and outward direction, functioning as cams wedging the latch sleeve 25 between the body 10 and the upper abutment 12 in the event that the body tends to move downwardly within the abutment. However, upward movement of the body 10 tends to move the latch sleeve 25 upwardly in the upper abutment and relieves the coengaging cam faces 27, 28, which allows the ring to expand and become free of the body. In eect, the latch arrangement constitutes a one-way coupling or clutch permitting upward movement of the body 10 within the upper abutment 12, but precluding its downward movement therewithin.

A suitable packing 29, such as a packing sleeve of rubber or similar pliant, elastic material, is disposed around the body 10 between the upper and lower expanders 15, 21. This packing sleeve 29 encompasses a cylindrical stop sleeve 30 mounted on the packer body, and

Patented Mar. 8, 1955 having a length which is substantially less than the initial l distance between the expanders 15, 21 when the shear pins 16, 22 are intact. This stop sleeve 30 serves to limit the extent of outward expansion of the packing sleeve 29 upon foreshortening of the latter, as a result of moving the expanders 15, 21 toward one another.

In setting the packer A, a downward force is exerted on the upper abutment 12 of sufficient extent to shear the screws 14 attaching the upper slips 13 to the upper expander 15, and also a screw 31 initially attaching the abutment 12 to the body 10. These slips 13 are then moved downwardly along the upper expander 15 and radially outward into anchoring engagement with the well bore B. Such outward expansion of the upper slips can occur at this time, since their retaining shear screws 14 have a lesser combined shear value than the pins 16 securing the upper expander 15 to the expander body 10. These last-mentioned pins have a lesser value than the pins 22 holding the lower expander 21 to the body, and the screws holding the lower slips 19 to the lower expander.

After the upper slips 13 have been engaged with the wall of the Well bore, an upward strain or pull is imparted to the packer body lil, which shears the pins 16 holding the upper expander 15 to the body and moves the lower expander 21 and lower slips 19 with the body toward the upward expander. This action foreshortens the packing sleeve 29 and effects its outward expansion into firm sealing engagement with the wall of the well bore B. The packing sleeve cannot be foreshortened and expanded laterally outward beyond the extent at which the stop sleeve 30 engages both the upper and lower expanders 15, 21, thereby preventing outward expansion of the packing sleeve to too great an extent, which might result in its inability to effect a proper seal against the well bore.

An increase in the upward pull or force on the packer body 10 substantially simultaneously shears the pins 22 holding the lower expander 21 to the body 10 and the screws 20 attaching the lower slips 19 to the lower expander, causing the lower body abutment 11 to shift the lower slips 19 upwardly along the lower expander 21 and radially outward into anchoring engagement with the wall of the hole B. The latch sleeve then is wedged by any lowering tendency of the body 10 between the body and the upper abutment 12 to lock the body against downward movement. Any tendency for the body to move downward is transmitted through the upper abutment 12 and upper slips 13 to the formation wall. If such slips do not remain wedged against the formation wall, then the downward moving tendency is transmitted through the upper expander 15, packing and stop sleeves 29, 30, lower expander 21 and lower slips 19 to the formation wall. It is to be noted that the wickers 19a on the lower slips are relatively deep, so as to embed themselves to a substantial extent in the Wall of the well bore.

Any tendency of the body 10 to move upwardly is resisted by engagement of the lower abutment 11 with the lower slips 19, the upward force being transmitted from the latter through the lower expander 21, packing and stop sleeves 29, 30, upper expander 15 and upper slips 13 to the formation wall. Here again, the wickers or teeth 13a on the upper slips face in an upward direction and are relatively deep, to embed themselves quite extensively in the formation wall.

In the manner just described, the well packer A is anchored in packed-off condition against longitudinal movement in both directions within the open well bore.

The well packer illustrated is designed to be set in open holes, and it is desired to provide a passage in it through which uids may flow in both directions. The packer body 10 preferably has an upper extension 10a which may include one or more tubular body portions, secured to the lowermost body portion 10 and to each other by suitable threaded couplings 10b. The upper end of the uppermost body portion 10a is formed as a head 32, below which a plurality of side ports 33 are arranged through which fluid may ow between the internal body passage 34 and the exterior of the body.

The body extensions 10a may project upwardly from the slip and packing portion of the well packer to as great an extent as desired. As an example, the extent of projection may be about tive to ten feet above the upper packer abutment 12.

It is desired to provide an arrangement which will enable the well packer A to be run in the well bore in a rapid manner, and also to dump cementitious material E upon the set packer and around its tubular body extensions 10a. Such expeditious lowering of the packer in the well bore can be accomplished through use of the wire line D. The mechanism C for setting the packer not only performs its setting function, but also serves to center the equipment in the well bore prior to the performance of the setting function. In addition, the setting tool automatically releases itself from the set packer when a desired maximum force has been exceeded, and dumps cementitious material E upon the set packer and around its body portion 10, 10a, 10b, in order that the cementitious material will form a supplemental annular plug, serving to anchor the packer A in the well bore and prevent leakage thereby. Following release of the setting tool from the set packer, its centering device G is automatically retracted so as to avoid any retarding factors in elevating the setting mechanism to the top of the hole.

In the apparatus disclosed in the drawings, setting of the well packer A is dependent upon the development of a gas pressure within the setting tool C secured initially to the well packer. This gas pressure is developed within the upper portion of a cylinder 40, consisting of a generally cylindrical sleeve 41, an upper head 42 threaded into this sleeve, and also a lower head 43 threaded into this sleeve.

A motivating gas under pressure is generated in the cylinder 40, and this force is imposed upon a piston 44 slidably mounted in the cylinder. This piston has one or more seal rings 45, such as round rubber rings, to prevent leakage between it and the cylinder sleeve 41 in both directions.

The upper end of a piston rod 46 is threadedly connected to the piston 44, the rod extending downwardly through the lower cylinder head 43 to a point therebelow, where an anvil or crosspiece 47 is mounted within a transverse slot 471 in the rod. Leakage between the rod 46 and lower cylinder head 43 is prevented by suitable rod packing 48 in the form of round rubber or rubber-like seals carried in the head and engaging the periphery of the rod. These packing seals 48 prevent leakage of liquids from the well bore B into the cylinder 40 below the piston 44, insuring that air under atmospheric pressure is present below the piston when the apparatus is assembled and lowered in the well bore.

It is desired to transfer the downward movement or force imposed upon the piston 44 and the piston rod 46 to the upper abutment 12 and upper slips 13 of the packer, and the relative upward movement of the cylinder 40 to the packer body 10 and its upwardly projecting extensions 10a, in order to obtain the desired anchoring of the packer in the well bore, in the manner described above. To accomplish this purpose, a tubular actuating mandrel 49 is threadedly connected to the lower cylinder head 43, the lower end of the mandrel being threaded onto the upper end of a release stud 50 having an intermediate reduced diameter or weakened portion 51. The lower end of the stud is threaded into the upper head end 32 of the tubular body extension 10a.

The piston rod 46 is movable downwardly within the bore 52 of the actuating mandrel 49, the cross-piece 47 projecting in opposite directions from the rod through diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots 53 formed through the mandrel wall. The cross-piece 47 also extends into opposed slots 54 formed through a setting ring 55 slidably mounted on the actuating mandrel 49, thereby forming a connection between the piston rod 46 and the setting ring. A setting sleeve or skirt 56 is threaded on the setting ring, the lower portion of the skirt being secured to the upper end of the device G for centering the setting tool C and the packer A. in the well bore B.

The centering device G just mentioned includes an upper abutment 57 threaded onto the lower end of the setting sleeve 56, and also threaded onto the upper end of a tubular centering body or mandrel 58y extending downwardly along the release stud 50 and upper portion of the body extension 10a. The lower portion of the tubular body 58 has a shoulder or Ilange 59 on which a lower abutment 60 may rest. The upper and lower abutrnents 57, 60 are originally spaced longitudinally from one another by a substantial extent, to allow room for an elastic centering element 61', in the form ofa rubber or rubber-like sleeve, whose opposite ends are anchored to the oppositely facing ends of the upper and lower abutments by means of the interlocking anges 62, 63 on the abutments 57, 60 and the sleeve 61.

The rubber sleeve 61 normally tends to occupy a retracted position in which its external surface between the abutments is retracted substantially entirely within the cylindrical confines of the abutments 57, 60. Movement of the upper abutment 57 toward the lower abutment 60 will foreshorten and compress the sleeve 61 longitudinally, causing it to bulge or expand laterally outward into engagement with the wall of the well bore B (Fig. 2). By virtue of such outward expansion, the setting tool C and well packer A are centered positively in the well bore. It is desired, however, to limit the extent of outward expansion of the packing sleeve 61, and for this reason a spacer and stop sleeve 64 is disposed around the tubular mandrel 58 and within the rubber centering sleeve 61. This spacer sleeve is shorter in length than the initial distance between the upper and lower abutments 57, 60, allowing the latter to move toward each other for the purpose of expanding the rubber sleeve 61, but placing a limitation on such approach of the abutments to each other by ultimately engaging both abutments (Fig. 2).

The downward force of the piston 44 and piston rod 46 is transferred through the cross-piece 47, setting ring 55 and setting sleeve 56 to the upper abutment 57, and through the rubber centering sleeve 61 and the spacer sleeve 64 to the lower abutment 60. From the lower abutment, the downward force is transmitted onto the dumpv bailer portion F of the setting tool C. This portion includes an upper container cylinder or member 70 threaded into the lower abutment 60, with its lower end threaded into a coupling 71 that is welded, or otherwise suitably secured, to a lower bailer container or bailer bottom 72 that encompasses the upper portion of the upper abutment 12, and rests upon the shoulder 12a formed on the latter. The bailer F may be made of sections, depending upon the distance between the lower centering abutment 60 and the upper packer abutment 12, which, of course, depends upon the length of the packer body extensions a and of the lower body portion 10 itself.

The bailer portion 70, 72 of the apparatus is spaced outwardly from the exterior of the packer body 10 and its extensions 10a to provide an annular space therebetween for the reception of the cementitious material E. This material may be deposited into the bailer and annular space through an opening or window 73 in the upper portion of the bailer, that may be located adjacent the centering device G. This window 73 is preferably below the body ports 33, to insure that the cementitious material E will not enter the body passage 34.

Leakage from the lower end of the bailer bottom 72 of the bailer `is prevented by a suitable packing 74 in the upper abutment 12 engaging the inner wall of the bailer bottom, and also by a suitable packing ring 75 on the abutment 12 engaging the periphery of the packer body 10. It is only when the lower end of the bailer bottom 72 is moved upwardly off the upper abutment 12 that the cementitious contents E of the bailer F may be deposited upon the set packer A and around the packer body 10 and its extensions 10a.

As indicated above, a gaseous force or pressure is imposed upon the piston 44 to move it downwardly and to move its cylinder 40 relatively in an upward direction, for the purpose of centering the equipment in the well bore B, setting the packer A, releasing the setting tool C from the packer, and dumping the cementitious contents E of the bailer F upon and around the set packer.

This gaseous force or pressure may be obtained from a combustible fuel or power charge 80 contained Within the upper end ofthe cylinder 40. This combustion charge, such as a railway are of cylindrical or stick form, is placed in the upper head end 42 of the cylinder within a combustion chamber 81 formed therein. The charge 80 is ignited by a blank cartridge 82 disposed within a gun barrel 83 inserted within the upper end of the upper cylinder head 42. Leakage between the barrel 83 and head 42 is prevented by suitable side seals 84 on the gun barrel engaging the wall of the head. The barrel is disposed within a cable head 85, which, in turn, is threadedly secured to the upper end of the cylinder head 42. The wire line running-in string D is suitably secured to the cable head 85, in a known manner, and has the lower end of its electrically conductive wire or core 86 connected electri- 6 cally to a heating filament 87 contained within the cai"- tridge 82.

The apparatus is lowered in the well bore B with the parts occupying the positions shown in Figs. l, la and 1b, and with the proper quantity of cementitious material E disposed within the dump bailer F. When the depth in the well bore is reached at which the well packer A is to be set and the cement dumped upon and around the set packer, the electric circuit through the cartridge filament 87 is completed, which fires the cartridge 82. The ame issuing therefrom ignites the upper end of the power charge 80, initiating its combustion. This charge contains its own source of oxygen to support combustion. As combustion proceeds, gas is developed within the cylinder 40 above the piston 44 at a gradually increasing pressure, urging the piston downwardly and the cylinder relatively upward. The force imposed on the piston is transmitted through the rod 46, cross-piece 47, setting ring 57 and setting sleeve 56 to the upper centering abutment 57.

Inasmuch as the shear screws 31, 14 holding the upper abutment 12 to the body 10 and the upper slips 13 to the upper expander 15 are intact, the bailer container 70, 72 is supported by lsuch abutment and slips, and the lower setting abutment 60 is prevented from downward movement at this time. As a result, when sufficient pressure has been developed within the cylinder 40 by the gaseous medium, the upper abutment 57 is moved downwardly toward the lower abutment 60, shortening the centering sleeve 61 and expanding it laterally outward into engagement with the wall of the well bore B (Fig. 2). This movement of the upper abutment 57 toward the lower abutment 60 can occur until the spacer and stop sleeve 64 engages the lower abutment, which places a definite limit on the extent of outward expansion of the rubber centering sleeve 61. This range of movement, however, is sufcient to insure secure engagement of the sleeve 61 with the wall of the well bore, and the centering of the setting tool C and of the packer A connected thereto. Centering of the packer is also assisted by the provision of the cen# tering ribs 9G on the packer body 10a engageable with the inner wall of the bailer container 72.

After the spacer sleeve 64 engages the lower abutment 60, the downward force imposed on the top abutment 57 is transmitted solidly through the sleeve 64 to the lower abutment 60, and from the latter member, through the dump bailer F to the upper packer abutment 12 and the upper slips 13. When suiiicient pressure has been developed within the cylinder 40 by the gaseous medium to overcome the shear strength of the screws 31, 14 holding the upper abutment 12 to the body 10 and the upper slips 13 to the upper expander 15, such screws are disrupted, releasing the slips from the expander and allowing the upper abutment 12 to push the slips 13 downwardly along the expander 15 into outward engagement with the wall of the well bore B.

As the combustible charge 80 continues to burn, the gas pressure within the cylinder 40 increases to a further extent, and this increased pressure or force is transmitted to the piston 44. Since the upper slips 13 are wedged against the well formation, the piston 44 cannot move downwardly to any further appreciable extent. Accord- `ingly, the cylinder 40, actuating mandrel 49, tension or release stud 50 and packer body 10, 10a are urged in an upward direction. When the pressure and force within the cylinder is increased sufliciently to overcome the shear strength of the pins 16 attaching the upper expander 15 to the body 10, such pins are disrupted and the packer body is moved upwardly within the upper expander 15 and upper abutment 12, to compress the rubber packing sleeve 29 between the upper and lower expanders 15, 21, forcing it into hrm sealing engagement with the wall of the well bore B. If the well bore is of relatively small diameter, the packing sleeve will be compressed to the desired extent without engagement of the stop sleeve 30 with the upper expander 15. Otherwise, such engagement will occur, placing a definite limit on the extent of outward expansion of the packing sleeve. y

Further increase in the cylinder gas pressure, as a result of continued combustion of the charge 80, effects shearing of the pins 22 attaching the lower expander 21 to the body 10, and of the screws 20 securing the lower slips 19 to the lower expander 21, allowing the cylinder 40 to move upwardly and carry the body 10, 10a and lower slips 19 in an upward direction to shift the latter along the lower expander 21 and radially outward into lengagement with the formation wall. Pressure in the cylinder 40 continues to increase as combustion of the charge 80 proceeds, and all of the packer elements are engaged more rmly with the formation. When the pressure exceeds the tensile strength of the reduced diameter portion 51 of the release stud 50, the latter is pulled apart at such weakened point, to release automatically the setting tool C from the well packer A.

Following disruption of the release stud 50, the wire line D and its attached setting tool C may now be elevated by the operator. During the initial phase of such elevating movement, the upper centering abutment 57 is moved upwardly away from the lower centering abutment 60, allowing the rubber centering sleeve 61 to retract from engagement with the well bore. However, the well packer A has already been set in a substantially coaxial position within the well bore; so that such release of the centering force on the setting tool cannot eliect any shifting of the packer body 10, a oi center of the hole. As elevation of the wire line D continues, preferably in a slow manner, the shoulder 59 on the centering tool body engages the lower abutment 60, elevating the latter and the bailer F secured thereto. This action lifts the bailer bottom 72 from the upper packer abutment 12, opening the lower end of the bailer, and allowing its cementitious contents E to drop down upon the anchored packer A and around its body 10, 10a and body couplings 10b. Slow elevation of the setting tool parts continues until they have lifted a sufiicient distance to insure that all of the cementitious material E has dropped out of the bailer upon and around the packer A. The contents E of the bailer F are insuiiicient to result in any cementitious material being deposited along the body ports 33, leaving them unobstructed and insuring the ow of uid through the body passage 34.

The wire line D and the setting tool C attached thereto may now be removed in a rapid manner from the well bore B, allowing the cementitious material E to set and harden upon and around the packer A. During such elevation, the elastic centering sleeve 61 of the centering tool G is completely retracted, and will not interfere with the rapid withdrawal of the wire line and setting mechanism from the well bore.

It is, accordingly, apparent that a centering device has been provided which insures the coaxiality of the well packer in the well bore, and also the deposit of a uniform annulus of cement around the centered body 1i) and its extensions Mia. The centering of the body occurs despite the fact that it may be elongate, or of substantial length. The centering device G, itself, is located at or near the upper end of the body and insures that this upper end will be placed centrally of the hole. The expansion of the Well packer parts will insure that the lower portion of the body is centered in the well bore. As a result, there are two points longitudinally separated by an extensive amount that are positively centered against the well bore, which gives positive assurance that the packer body 10, 10a is located centrally of the hole. The centering force is positive and can be of a substantial amount, inasmuch as the packing sleeve Z9 and the centering sleeve 61 are both compressed by a force of substantial extent, to insure their outward bulging against the wall of the Jformation, with substantial power imposed upon them sucient to bring and maintain the packer body 1l), 10a in a coaxial relation with the well bore.

The design of the equipment places a practical limit upon the extent of relative travel of the piston 44 within the cylinder 40, and, for this reason, the stop sleeve 645 is incorporated within the centering device for the purpose of limiting the extent of piston movement that can take place in bulging the centering sleeve 61 outwardly, which provides sufficient remaining travel of the piston 44 in the cylinder for transmission to the expansible packer elements and the packer body, insuring full and complete anchoring of the well packer in packed-olf condition against the formation wall, or other confining enclosure, in which the equipment may be run and set.

The coaxiality of the well packer A will facilitate subsequent coaction of the other well equipment therewith after the setting tool mechanism C has been withdrawn from the well bore. As an example, it may be desired to relate a tubing string (not shown) with the packer body 10, 10a to obtain ow ofuids between the interior of the packer body and the tubing string.

The inventor claims:

l. In apparatus of the character described: a well tool including a body and normally retracted expansible means on said body expandible laterally outward into engagement with the wall of a surrounding enclosure; a setting tool; means releasably conecting said setting tool to said well tool to transmit the force of said setting tool to said well tool and to be released by said setting tool after lateral expansion of said normally retracted means; said setting tool including a first means operatively connected to said body for exerting a longitudinal force in one direction on said body and a second means operatively connected to said normally retracted expansible means for exerting a longitudinal force in the opposite direction on said normally retracted means to expand said normally retracted means laterally outward; said second means including a normally retracted expansible instrumentality expansible laterally outward by operation of said setting tool and removable with said setting tool upon release of said well tool, said second means further including an instrumentality movable longitudinally against said normally retracted expansible instrumentality in said opposite direction to exert a longitudinal force on said normally retracted expansible instrumentality expanding said normally retracted expansible instrumentality outwardly.

2. In apparatus of the character described: a well tool including a body and normally retracted expansible means on said body expandible laterally outward into engagement with the wall of a surrounding enclosure; a setting tool; means releasably connecting said setting tool to said well tool; said setting tool including means operatively connected to said body for exerting a longitudinal force in one direction on said body and tubular means operatively connected to said normally retracted expansible means for exerting a longitudinal force in the opposite direction on said normally retracted means to expand said normally retracted means laterally outward; said tubular means including a normally retracted expansible packing expansible laterally outward into engagement with the wall of the surrounding enclosure, and upper and lower abutments engaging said packing and movable toward each other, said tubular means further including instrumentalities for moving said abutments toward each other to expand said packing laterally outward, said packing being expansible by operation of said setting tool and removable with said setting tool upon release of said well tool.

3. In apparatus of the character described: a well tool including a body and normally retracted expansible means on said body expandible laterally outward into engagement with the wall of a surrounding enclosure; a setting tool; means releasably connecting said setting tool to said well tool to transmit the force of said setting tool to said well tool and to be detached by said setting tool after lateral expansion of said normally retracted means; said setting tool including means operatively connected to said body for exerting an upward force on said body and tubular means operatively connected to said normally retracted means for exerting a downward force on said normally retracted means to expand said normally retracted means laterally outward; said tubular means including a normally retracted expansible packing expandible laterally outward into engagement with the wall of the surrounding enclosure and upper and lower abutments engaging said packing, said tubular means further including instrumentalities for moving said upper abutment toward said lower abutment to compress said packing between said abutments and expand said packing laterally outward upon exertion of a downward force by said tubular means, said packing being expansible by operation of said setting tool and removable with said setting tool upon release of said well tool.

4. in apparatus of the character described: a well tool including a body and normally retracted expansible means on said body expandible laterally outward into engagement with the wall of a surrounding enclosure; a setting tool; means releasably connecting said setting tool to said well tool to transmit the force of said setting tool to said well tool and to be detached by said setting tool after lateral expansion of said normally retracted means; said setting tool including means operatively connected to said body for exerting an upward force on said body and tubular means operatively connected to said normally retracted means for exerting a downward force on said normally retracted means to expand said normally retracted means laterally outward; said tubular means including a normally retracted expansible packing expandible laterally outward into engagement with the wall of the surrounding enclosure and upper and lower abutments engaging said packing, said tubular means including instrumentalities for moving said upper abutment toward said lower abutment to compress said packing between said abutments and expand said packing laterally outward upon exertion of a downward force by said tubular means, said packing being expansible by operation of said setting tool and removable with said setting tool upon release of said well tool; and stop means for liniting the movement of said abutments toward each ot er.

5. In apparatus of the character described: a well tool including a body and normally retracted expansible means on said body expandible laterally outward into engagement with the wall of a surrounding enclosure; a setting tool; means releasably connecting said setting tool to said well tool to transmit the force of said setting tool to said well tool and to be detached by said setting tool after lateral expansion of said normally retracted means; said setting tool including means operatively connected to said body for exerting an upward force on said body and tubular means operatively connected to said normally retracted means for exerting a downward force on said normally retracted means to expand said normally retracted means laterally outward; said tubular means including a normally retracted expansible packing expandible laterally outward into engagement with the wall of the surrounding enclosure and upper and lower abutments engaging said packing, said tubular means including in strumentalities for moving said upper abutment toward said lower abutment to compress said packing between said abutments and expand said packing laterally outward upon exertion of a downward force by said tubular means, said packing being expansible by operation of said setting tool and removable with said setting tool upon release of said well tool; and a stop sleeve within said packing engageable with said abutment to limit the movement of said abutments toward each other.

6. In apparatus of the character described: a well tool having normally retracted expansible means and adapted to be lowered in a well bore and expanded laterally outward into engagement with the wall of a surrounding enclosure; a setting tool for expanding said normally retracted means laterally outward within the well bore; means detachably securing said setting tool to said well tool and to be detached by said setting tool after lateral expansion of said normally retracted means; and means on said setting tool for centering said setting tool in the well bore, said last-mentioned means including a lower abutment operatively connected to said normally retracted means, an upper abutment, a normally retracted expansible packing between said abutments expandible outwardly upon relative movement of said abutments toward each other into engagement with the wall of the surrounding enclosure, means on said setting tool for shifting said abutments toward each other, and means for limiting the extent of separation of said abutments from each other.

7. In apparatus of the character described: a well tool having normally retracted expansible means and adapted to be lowered in a well bore and expanded laterally outward into engagement with the wall of a surrounding enclosure; a setting tool for expanding said normally retracted means laterally outward within the well bore; means detachably securing said setting tool to said well tool and to be detached by said setting tool after lateral expansion of said normally retracted means; and means ou said setting tool for centering said setting tool in the well bore, said last-mentioned means including a lower abutment operatively connected to said normally retracted means, an upper abutment, a normally retracted packing expansible between said abutments expandible outwardly upon relative movement of said abutments toward each other into engagement with the wall of the surrounding enclosure, means on said setting tool for shifting said abutments toward each other, and a tubular body secured to said upper abutment and engageable with said lower abutment to limit the extent of separation of said abutments from each other.

8. ln apparatus of the character described: a well tool having normally retracted expansible means and adapted to be lowered in a well bore and expanded laterally outward into engagement with the wall of a surrounding enclosure; a setting tool for expanding said normally retracted means laterally outward within the well bore; means detachably securing said setting tool to said well tool and to be detached by said setting tool after lateral expansion of said normally retracted means; and means on said setting tool for centering said setting tool in the well bore, said last-mentioned means including a lower abutment operatively connected to said normally retracted means, an upper abutment, a normally retracted expansible packing between said abutments expandible outwardly upon relative movement of said abutments toward each other into engagement with the wall of the surrounding enclosure, means on said setting tool for shifting said abutments toward each other, means for limiting the extent of separation of said abutments from each other, and means for positively limiting the approach of said abutments toward each other.

9. ln apparatus of the character described: a well tool having normally retracted expansible means and adapted to be lowered in a well bore and expanded laterally outward into engagement with the wall of a surrounding enclosure; a setting tool for expanding said normally retracted means laterally outward within the well bore; means detachably securing said setting tool to said well tool and to be detached by said setting tool after lateral expansion of said normally retracted means; and means on said setting tool for centering said setting tool in the well bore, said last-mentioned means including a lower abutment operatively connected to said normally retracted means, an upper abutment, a normally retracted expansible packing between said abutments expandible outwardly upon relative movement of said abutments toward each other into engagement with the wall of the surrounding enclosure, means on said setting tool for shifting said abutments toward each other, a tubular body secured to said upper abutment and engageable with said lower abutment to limit the extent of separation of said abutments from each other, and a stop sleeve on said tubular body and within said packing and engageable with said abutments to limit the approach of said abutments toward each other.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Baker et al. June 2,

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