US2832418A

US2832418A - Well packer

Info

Publication number: US2832418A
Application number: US528692A
Authority: US
Inventors: Reuben C Baker
Original assignee: Baker Oil Tools Inc
Current assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
Priority date: 1955-08-16
Filing date: 1955-08-16
Publication date: 1958-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 1975-04-29

Description

April 29, 1958 R. c. BAKER 2,832,418

WELL PACKER Filed Aug. 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

fizz/54w C Baas/e pril 29, 1958 Filed Aug, 16, 195

R. C. BAKE WELL PACKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Kauai/v L. 152 5 3 United States Patent WELL PACKER Reuben C. Baker, Coalinga, Califi, assignor to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application August 16, 1955, Serial No. 528,692

14 Claims. (Cl. 166-136) The present invention relates to well packers adapted to be anchored in packed-off condition in a well bore, and more particularly to well packers which can function as bridge plugs in well bores.

An object of the invention is to provide a well packer, or the like, capable of being run in a well bore on a wire line to the desired setting point, easily set at such point, and then, if desired, be elevated back up the well bore, or he allowed to remain in its set position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well packer or the like capable of being lowered through fluid in a well bore on a wire line, anchored in the well bore against downward movement therein, and then, if desired, subsequently elevated within the well bore.

A further object of the invention is to provide a well packer or bridge plug of the character indicated, which is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and easy to operate, but which is still capable of withstanding substantial fluid pressures in the well bore, or of supporting a column of cement slurry that might be deposited on the set packer or plug.

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 specification. 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 defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through an apparatus being run in a well casing to a desired setting point;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, disclosing the well packer anchored in packed-off condition in the well casing;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the elevation of the well packer in the well casing;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken along the line 4-4 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 55 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 66 on Fig. 2.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, a well packer A is lowered in a well casing B, or through an open well bore, by means of a running-in tool C that may be secured to a wire line D extending to the top of the hole. In place of the wire line D, the running-in tool could be secured to a tubular string extending to the top of the well bore. The well packer A is designed to be lowered in the well casing, or open well bore, to a desired point therein at which the packer is to be anchored in packed-off condition.

As specifically disclosed, the well packer includes a tubular body 10 that may be made of several sections. Thus, the tubular body includes an intermediate portion 2,832,418 Patented Apr. 29, 1958 11 threadedly secured within a lower guide 12 having a tapered lower end 13 for steering the packer through restrictions or obstructions that might be encountered in the well bore during lowering of the apparatus therewithin.

The lower guide portion 12 of the body has a plurality of to extend progressively increasing distances in a lateral i inward direction from the axis of the hinge pin. In effect, each gripping member 15 is in theform of an eccentric or cam member. The outer eccentric surface 18 is provided with a plurality of teeth 19 adapted to grip the wall of the well casing B, or the wall of an open hole, and prevent downward movement of the plug A therewithin.

Each of the casing gripping dogs 15 is urged in an outward direction by a spring 20, to engage its teeth 19 with the Wall of the well casing B, or wall of an open hole. As specifically disclosed, the spring is of the coil type, being wound about a hub portion 21 of each dog, an intermediate web 22 of each spring engaging the undersurface of the gripping member 15 below the hinge pin 16, and the upper leg portions 23 of the spring engaging the guide 12 above the hinge pin. The springs tend to expand, pivoting the depending leg portions 17 of the dogs outwardly to place their teeth v19 in gripping engagement with the casing or formation wall. Such outward movement tendency of the gripping members or dogs 15 under the influence of the springs 20 is initially prevented by a holding or retaining device 24 provided on the lower end of a mandrel 25 mounted coaxially of the body of the tool, and extending through the passage 26 of the tool. Actually, there is a substantial annular clearance between the mandrel 25 and the inner wall of the body 10 for the flow of fluid therethrough.

The lower end of the mandrel is formed as a generally cylindrical retainer head 24 adapted to engage longitudinally extending surfaces 28 on arms 27 of the gripping members 15, extending inwardly of the hinge pins 16. These holding surfaces are substantially. parallel to the axis of the apparatus when engaging the head 24, to hold the gripping members in their retracted positions substantially completely within the confines of the body guide 12, when the apparatus is being lowered in the well casing B, to positively prevent outward expansion of the gripping members 15 until such expansion is desired.

The mandrel 25 extends upwardly throughthe body portion 11, and through an upper spider portion 29, which is integral with the central portion. This spider portion 29 includes a pair of diametrically opposed legs 30 in tegral with an outwardly extending body flange 31, the upper ends of the legs being secured to a central hub 32 through which the mandrel 25 is slidable, and above which the mandrel extends.

Mounted on the body 10 above the gripping members is a packing member 33 of generally frusto-conical or cup shape. This packing member has a central portion 34 engaging the body flange 31, being held securely thereagainst by a thimble 35 encompassing the packing and engaging the upper end of the body. guide 12. The threading of the body guide 12 on the intermediate body portion 11 will cause the guide to bear against the thimble 35 and clamp the packing 33 between the thimble and the body flange 31. The packing itself extends outwardly beyond the periphery of the thimble 35, and has an wall of the well casing B.

. During the lowering of the well packer A through the fluid in the well casing, such fluid is permitted to by-pass the packing structure 33 by flowing upwardly through the annular passage 37 between the mandrel 25 and the body 10. It is preferred to controllably prevent downward movement of fluid through such passage 37, for which purpose a valve member or head 38 is slidable downwardly of the mandrel into engagement with a companion valve seat 39 surrounding the passage 37 at the upper end of the body flange 31. This valve head is urged downwardly into engagement with the seat by a compressed helical spring 4t) surrounding the mandrel 25 and seating against the upper end of the head 38, and also against a washer 41 loosely mounted on the mandrel and adapted to engage a downwardly facing shoulder on the mandrel.

The spring will urge the valve 38 downwardly into engagement with the seat 39 to prevent downward flow of fluid through the passage 37, but fluid can flow upwardly through the passage, this fluid shifting the valve head upwardly against the force of the spring 449 and away from its seat 39. When the valve head 38 engages its seat 39, leakage of fluid between the mandrel 25 and the valve head is prevented by a suitable seal ring 43, such as a rubber O-ring, mounted in an internal circumferential groove 44 in the head and slidably sealing against the periphery of the mandrel.

For the purpose of running the well packer A in the well bore a running-in tool C is secured to the lower end of a running-in string D, such as a wire line. This running-in tool includes an upper sub or head 45' having a central socket 46 for receiving the upper end of the mandrel 25, the upper end 47 of the socket being adapted to engage the upper end of the mandrel 25. Secured to the running-in tool sub 45, as by use of welding material M, is a skirt or sleeve 49 extending downwardly along the spider legs 30. This skirt or sleeve is secured to one of the legs 30 by a shear pin or shear screw in a position in which the end 47 of the socket engages the mandrel 25 and positions the latter downwardly with its retaining head 24 disposed behind the gripping member arms 27, to retain the dogs in their retracted position.

The apparatus is run in the well bore, or through the well casing, on the end of the wire line D to the desired setting point. During such lowering movement, the mandrel is held in a downward position with its retaining head 24 disposed behind the gripping members 15 to retain them in the retracted position in Fig. l. The running-in tool C is secured to the body 10 of the tool A by t the shear screw 50. Accordingly, the downward force of the running-in tool C is transmitted to the body It), to carry the packing cup 33 and the rest of the parts in a downward direction through the fluid in the well bore or casing B. The fluid can by-pass around a well packer by flowing into the lower end of the passage 37, unseating the valve head 38 against the force exerted by the spring 40, and passing into the well bore or casing B above the packing cup 33.

When the location has been reached in the well bore or casing at which the plug is to be anchored in packedoif condition, it is only necessary to elevate the runningin string D. When such elevating action occurs, the spring will have shifted the valve head 38 downwardly into engagement with the seat 39, to close the central passage 37 against downward flow of fluid therethrough. Since the casing is usually substantially full of fluid, or at least there is a substantial column of fluid in the casing B above the well packer A, such upward elevating force will be exerted on the packing 33, body lltl and valve head 38, which tend to lift the whole column of fluid, but are incapable of doing so, such parts remaining in the location to which they have been lowered in the well casing B. When suflicient force is exerted, as a result of elevatlng the running-in string D, to shear the pin 50, the running-in tool C is released from the body 10 and can be elevated substantially above the body 10 and the mandrel 25. For that matter the tool C can be removed entirely from the well bore.

As soon as the running-in tool C is moved away from the mandrel 25, the spring 4-0 will shift the mandrel in an upward direction, to move its retaining head 24 above the gripping member arms 27. Such removal of the retaining head withdraws the restraint from the springs 2t} and allows them to pivot the gripping member legs 17 outwardly until their teeth 19 engage the wall of the casing B, or formation. The mandrel 25 is elevated to the extent determined by engagement of the washer 41 with the hub 32 of the body spider 29 (Fig. 2).

Inasmuch as the teeth 19 lie on an eccentric surface, any tendency for the well packer A to shift downwardly in the casing B will cause the gripping legs 17 to tend to rock in a relative upward direction about the pivot pins 16, which will embed their teeth 19 more firmly into the casing wall. Any tendency for fluid or fluent material to pass down beyond the packing structure 33 is prevented by the sealing action of the upwardly facing lip 36 of the packing against the wall of the well casing, and also by the downward closing of the valve head 38 against its companion valve seat 39 on the body 10.

In the event it is desired to retrieve the bridge plug A from the well casing or well bore, a suitable tool, such as an overshot E, can be lowered in the well bore, that is capable of passing over the upper retrieving head portion 6f: of the mandrel and of grasping the same. An upward pull is then taken on the mandrel 25, moving upwardly through the washer 41 until an upwardly facing shoulder 61 on its holding head 24 engages the valve head 38 to shift the latter in an upward direction from its seat 39, and thereby open the body passage 37 to permit relative downward flow of fluid therethrough. The mandrel is movable upwardly until the spring 40 is compressed to a certain extent, or to its solid height, whereupon, the entire packer is elevated. The packing cup 33 does not prevent upward movement of the plug A in the well bore, since fluid can by-pass around it through the open passage 37. Likewise, the dogs 15 will not prevent upward passage of the tool in the well bore, inasmuch as upward movement will tend to swing them downwardly and inwardly against the force of their springs 20, their teeth 19 merely riding freely along the wall of the casing B.

If desired, the well packer or bridge plug A can remain in the well casing B. It can form a stop or plug on which a specified quantity of cement slurry, or the like, can be deposited, which will set and harden in the well casing, and thereby form a permanent bridge.

At any future time, the bridge plug A with hardened cement thereabove can be removed by the action of a suitable drill bit to facilitate its removal. The several parts of the plug are made of readily drillable material such as cast iron, aluminum or magnesium. The sealing and packing element 33 may be made of rubber or rubberlike materials.

It is, accordingly, apparent that a well packer .has been provided which is relatively simple to manufacture and to operate. It is easily run in the well bore on a wire line, being set merely as a result of taking an upward pull on the wire line, or other running-in string. If its removal from the well bore is desirable, it is a simple matter to take an upward pull on the mandrel 25 to open the by-pass passage 37 through the well packer, the gripping members 15 themselves being effective only to anchor the well packer A in the well bore B against downward movement therewithin.

The inventor claims:

1. In a well packer to be set in a well casing or the like: a body; packing means on said body adapted to seal with the wall of the well casing; gripping means pivotally carried by said body and having a casing gripping portion and a holding portion; means urging said gripping means about its pivot axis to shift said gripping portion outwardly into anchoring engagement with the wall of the well casing and said holding portion inwardly; and releasable holding means disposed between and behind said holding portion and releasably engaging said holding portion to prevent said holding portion from swinging inwardly and said gripping portion outwardly to retain said gripping portion in retracted position with respect to said body.

2. In a well packer to be set in a well casing or the like: a body having a passage therethrough; packing means on said body adapted to seal with the wall of the well casing; gripping means pivotally carried by said body and including a casing gripping portion on one side of its pivot and a holding portion on the other side of its pivot; means urging said gripping means outwardly to place its gripping portion into anchoring engagement with the wall of the well casing; and releasable holding means operable by a running-in string and disposed in said passage behind and in releasable engagement with said holding portion to retain said gripping means in retracted position with respect to said body.

3. In a well packer to be set in a well casing or the like: a body having a passage therethrough; packing means on said body adapted to seal with the wall of the well casing; gripping means pivotally carried by said body and including a casing gripping portion on one side of its pivot and a holding portion on the other side of its pivot; means urging said gripping means outwardly to place its gripping portion into anchoring engagement with the wall of the well casing; releasable holding means operable by a running-in string and disposed in said passage and in releasable engagement with said holding portion to retain said gripping means in retracted position with respect to said body; and valve means adapted to close said passage against downward flow of fluid therethrough.

4. In a well packer to be set in a well casing or the like: a body having a passage therethrough; packing means on said body adapted to seal with the wall of the well casing; gripping means pivotally carried by said body and including a casing gripping portion on one side of its of its pivot and a holding portion on the other side of flits pivot; means adapted 'to swing said grippingmeans outwardly to place its gripping portion into engagement with the wall of the well casing; and releasable holding means disposed in said passage and engaging said running-in tool to be held by said running-in tool in releasable engagement with said holding portion to retain said gripping means and its gripping portion in retracted position with respect to said body.

7. In a well packer to be set in a well casing or the like: a body having a passage therethrough; a running-in tool adapted to be secured to a running-in string; means releasably securing said running-in tool to said body; packing means on said body adapted to seal with the wall of the well casing; gripping means pivotally carried by said body and including a casing gripping portion on one side of its pivot and a holding portion on the other side of its pivot; means adapted to swing said gripping means outwardly to place its gripping portion into engagement with the wall of the well casing; releasable holding means disposed in said passage and engaging said running-in pivot and a holding portion on the other side of its pivot;

means urging said gripping means outwardly to place its gripping portion into anchoring engagement with the wall of the well casing; releasable holding means operable by a running-in string and disposed in said passage and i in releasable engagement with said holding portion to retain said gripping means in retracted position with respect to said body; valve means adapted to close said passage against downward flow of fluid therethrough; and means on said holding means for shifting said valve means to open position.

5. In a well packer to be set in a well casing or the like: a body; a running-in tool adapted to be secured to a running-in string; means releasably securing said running-in tool to said body; packing means on said body adapted to seal with the wall of the well casing; gripping means pivotally carried by said body and including a casing gripping portion on one side of its pivot and a holding portion on the other side of its pivot; means adapted to swing said gripping means outwardly to place its gripping portion into engagement with the wall of the well casing; and holding means engaging said runningin tool to be held by said running-in tool in releasable engagement with said holding portion to retain said gripping means and its gripping portion in retracted position with respect to said body.

6. In a well packer to be set in a well casing or the like: a body having a passage therethrough; a running-in tool adapted to be secured to a running-in string; means releasably securing said running-in tool to said body; packing means on said body adapted to seal with the wall of the well casing; gripping means pivotally carried by said body and including a casing gripping portion on one side tool to be held by said running-in tool in releasable engagement with said holding portion to retain said gripping means and its gripping portion in retracted position with respect to said body; and valve means adapted to close said passage against downward flow of fluid therethrough.

8. In a well packer to be set in a well casing or the like: a body having a passage therethrough; a running-in I tool adapted to be secured to a running-in string; means releasably securing said running-in tool to said body; packing means on said body adapted to seal with the wall of the well casing; gripping means pivotally carried by said body and including a casing gripping portionon one side of its pivot and a holding portion on the other side of its pivot; means adapted to swing said gripping means outwardly to place its gripping portion into engagement with the wall of the well casing; releasable holding means disposed in said passage and engaging said running-in tool to be held by said running-in tool in re leasable engagement with said holding portion to retain said gripping means and its gripping portion in retracted position with respect to said body; valve means adapted to close said passage against downward flow of fluid therethrough; and means on said holding means for shifting said valve means to open position.

9. In a well packer to be set in a well casing or the like: a body having a passage therethrough; packing means on said body adapted to seal with the wall of the well casing; gripping means pivotally carried by said body and including a casing gripping portion on one side of its pivot and a holding portion on the other side of its pivot; means adapted to swing said gripping means outwardly to place its gripping portion into engagement with the wall of the well casing; a mandrel disposed in said passage and engaging said holding portion to retain said gripping means in retracted position with respect to said body; and means for elevating said mandrel with respect to said body to release said mandrel from said holding portion.

10. In a well packer to be set in a well casing or the like: a body having a passage therethrough; packing means on said body adapted to seal with the wall of the well casing; gripping members pivotally carried by said body and including a casing gripping portion on one side of its pivot and a holding portion on the other side of its pivot; spring means engaging said gripping members to swing said gripping members outwardly to place their gripping portions into engagement with the wall of the well casing; and a mandrel movable longitudinally with respect to the body and disposed in the body passage; said mandrel having retaining means thereon disposed between and behind and engaging said holding portions of said gripping members to hold said gripping members in retracted position with respect to said body.

11. In a well packer to be set in a well casing or the swam-1e like a bodyhaving,a'passagetherethrough; paeking means on.said'lbody.adapted to seal with the wall of the well casing; gripping-members pivotally carried by said body andincludinga easingv gripping portion on one side of its-pivot and a holding portion on the other side of its pivot;.' spring means engaging said gripping members to swing vsaid gripping members outwardly to place their grippingrportions into engagement with the wall of the well casing; a mandrel movable longitudinally with respect to the body and disposed in the body passage; said mandrel having retaining 'means thereon engaging said holding portions of said gripping members to hold said gripping members in retracted position with respect to said body; said bodyhaving a valve seat thereon surrounding saidr passage; and a valve member slidable along .said mandrel into engagement with said seat to close said passage.

:12. In a well packer to be set in a well easing or the like: a body havinga passage therethrough; packing means onisaid bodyadapted to seal with the wall of the well easing; gripping members pivotally carried by said body and including a casing gripping portion on one side of 'its pivot and a holding portion on the other side of'its pivot; spring means engaging said gripping members to swing said gripping members outwardly to place their gripping portions into engagement with the wall of the Well casing; a mandrel movable longitudinally with respect to said body and disposed in the body passage; said mandrel having retaining means thereon engaging said holding portions of said gripping members to hold said gripping members in retracted position with respect to said body; said body having a valve seat thereon surroundingsaidpassage; a valve member slidable along said mandrel intoengagement with said seat to close said passage; and means-on said mandrel engageable with said valve member to shift said valve member away from said seat.

13. Ina well packer to be set in a well casing. or the like: a body having a passage therethrough; packing means on said body adapted to seal with the wall of the well ing engagement with the wall of the well casing; releasable holding means disposed in said passage behind and in releasable engagement with said gripping means to retain said gripping means in retracted position with respect to said body; and means for moving said holding means upwardly relative to said body to release saidholding means from said gripping means.

14. In a well packer to be set in a well casing or the like: a body; a running-in tool adapted to be secured to a running-in string; means releasably securing said runningin tool to said body; packing means on said body adapted to seal with the wall of the well casing; gripping means pivotally carried by said body; means adapted to swing said gripping means outwardly into engagement with the wall of the well casing; holding means engaging said running-in tool to be held by said running-in tool in releasable engagement with said gripping means to retain said gripping means in retracted position with respect to said body; and means for moving said holding means upwardly relative to said body, following release of said running-in tool from said body, .to disengage said holding means from said gripping means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 344,849 Miller et al. July 6, 1886 1,034,963 Boutte Aug. 6, 1912 2,092,337 Spencer Sept. 7, 193'! 2,547,461 Hampton Apr. 3, 1951 2,566,323 Forsyth et al. Sept. 5, 1951 2,751,012 Baker et al. June 19, 1956