US2893491A - Apparatus for retrieving tools in well bores - Google Patents

Description

July 7, 1959 T. L. CROWE 2,893,491

- APPARATUS FOR RETRIEVING TOOLS I N WELL BORES D I1 0 I Filed May 3, 1957 '{figI/IIIIIIIIII; VII/A [7/ III/11111:: i

72 56 72 a I INVENTOR. ja/mqoas L. Ceaws,

APPARATUS-FOR-RETRIEVING roors IN WELL BORES" Talinadge L. Crowe, Houston, Tex, assignor to Baker 'Oil' Tools, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif.,- a corporation of Galiforniav Application May 3., 1957, Serial No. 656,795

Claims. (Cl; 166-103) The present invention relates to subsurface well bore apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for lowering other-tools or devices in the well bore and for elevating or retrieving such devices from the well bore.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus adapted to be releasably coupled to a well devicefor lowering and elevating the well device in a well here, the apparatus being capable of cutting away sand, cement or other material that might have settled upon the well device, thereby enabling the apparatus to be coupled to the well device when the latter is to be elevated in the well bore. More specifically, the apparatus is connectible to a tubular string extending to the top of the well bore, the drilling torque being transmitted directly and positively from the tubular string to the apparatus to insure its drilling up the unwanted material deposited uponthe well device.-

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of several forms in which it may be embodied. Such forms are shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. These forms 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 l is a side elevation, partly in longitudinal section, of an apparatus being lowered in a well-casing dis posed in a well bore;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section, parts beingshown in elevation, of the running-in and retrieving tool, by means of which the apparatus is lowered and raised in the well bore;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation shown in a single plane of the development of the slotted portion of the retrieving tool and the various operative positions of the pin movable in the slot;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a modified form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive.

The invention is disclosed in the drawings in combination with a well packer A, which is specifically designed to function as a bridge plug when anchored in a well casingB in packed-off condition against longitudinal movement in both an upward and a downward direction. The well packer'is lowered in the well casing by a runningin tool C secured to the lower end of a tubular runningin string D extending to the top of the well bore.

The specific well packer or bridge plug A disclosed, by itself,-forms no part of the present invention, and is fully described in United States Patent No. 2,751,012. In that patent, the well packer A is described as being run in the'well casing B to the desired setting point merely by pushing it down the casing. During such pushing action, fluidin the well casing is capable of byat r ice 2 passing around the packen. Following its arrival at the desired setting location in the casing, the. running-in string D canbe released from the packer, and pressure either from above or below. the packer, as the case may be, is effective in anchoring the packer to the well casing against downward or upward movement, the packer also being sealed against the casing to prevent leakage of fluid thereby. After the well packer A has performed its function in the well casing, it can be retrieved by. means of the running-in and retrieving tool C, or shifted to another location in the well casing; .The wellpacker can be pulled in an upward direction if it is to be elevated to a new location in the'latter, or it can be'pushed downwardlyto a new location below its initial setting point;

In general, the well packer A includes a tubular body 10 having a passage 11 therethrough that is valve controlled, as well as a control rod 12 which extends through the body to substantially its lower end. The control rod 12 projects upwardlyabove the body 10 to a substantial extent, and terminates in an enlarged head 13 having a tapered upper guiding end portion. A single pin 15 projects laterally, from the enlarged head 13 for cooperation with the running-in and retrieving tool C.

Secured to the body 10 is an upwardly facing, generally cup-shaped packing member 16 sealingly engaging the well casing B, as well as an upper expander 17 that tapers in a downward direction for cooperation with an upper set of circumferentiallyspaced slips 18 having friction drag portions 19 adapted to frictionally engage the wall of the well casing. The upper expander 17 and upper set of slips 18.coact with each other to anchor the well packer A to the casing B against downward movement therewithin.

Similarly, a. set of circumferentially spaced lower slips 20 is disposed around'the'body 10 of the tool, having friction drag portions 21 to. frictionally engage the wall of thewellcasing B, the slips 20 being cooperable with a lower upwardly tapering expander 22 secured on the body. A downwardly facing lower packing cup 23 is also adapted to sealingly, engage the well casing B. The lower slips Y20 and lower expander 22 coact with each other to anchor the well packer to the casing against upward movement therewithin;

The upper and lower'packing cups 16, 23 firictionally engage the wall of thewell casing B, and since these packing cups are secured to the tubular packer body 10, the control rod IZ can beshiftedlongitudinally within the body to determine the ability of the upper and lower expanders 17, 22 to anchor. their respective slips 18, 20 against the wall of the well casing. In the event that the packing members 16, 23 provide insufficient friction for securing the relative movement of the control rod 12 within the packer body, a friction drag device 24 may be secured to the lower. end of the body, this friction drag device frictionally engaging the wall of the well casing B.

Further details of the well packer are unnecessary to an understanding of thelpresent invention, and may be found in the above-identified patent. It is sufficient to state at this point that when the control rod 12 is disposed in a central or neutral longitudinal position within the body 10, to which position it is normally urged by springs 25 engaging ..valve members 26 within the packer body adapted to engage the rod (of which only an upper valve head is disclosed),pressure on the packer imposed from above can shift the upper packing member 16, packer body 10, and upper expander 17 in a downward direction relative to the slips 18, .to cause the upper expander to expand and hold the upper set of slips in anchoring engagement with the well casing B. By the same token, with the:control'rod 12in its neutral position, pressure from below the .well: packer will urge the lower packing cup 23,"body 10, and lower expander 22 in an upward direction relative to the slips 20, the lower expander shifting the lower' slips outwardly into anchoring engagementwith the wallrof the well casing B, to prevent upward rnovernent' of the well packer within the casing. When in such neutral position, the control rod allows the upper and lower valves 26 (of which only the upper valve is disclosed in the drawings, there being a lower valve in the packer body) to close and prevent flow of fluid in both longitudinal directions through the packer body 10.

As further explained in the above-identified patent, the shifting of the control rod 12 in a downward direction relative to the packer body will cause it to open the lower valve in the packer body and allow fluid to by-pass around the well packer by flowing through the packer body. At the same time, such downward shifting of the control rod 12 within the body will serve the purpose of holding the slips 18, 20 in a central or neutral position with respect to the expanders 17, 22, preventing relative movement between the bodyand expanders and the slips, so as to prevent the upper expander 17 from being wedged withintheupp'er slips 18. Similarly, the control rod 12 can be shifted upwardly with respect to the body 10' from its neutral or central position to open the upper valve member 26 and also allow fluid to by-pass through the bodypassa'ge 11 and around the well packer. When in this upper position, the control rod 12 will again hold' the slips 18, 20 in a central or neutral position with respect to the expanders 17, 22 and will prevent the lower expander 22 from moving upwardly with respect to the lower slips 20, to expand and anchor the latter outwardly against the wall of the Well casing.

' As explained above, when the control rod 12 is allowed to occupy a neutral or central position within the body 10, then the body 10 and the expanders 17, 22 can shift longitudinally with respect to the slips 18, 20, longitudinal movement of the latter being resisted by the frictional engagement of their drag block portions 19, 21 against the Wall of the well casing B. Accordingly, the running-in and retrieving tool C constitutes a device for shifting the control rod 12 downwardly within the body 10 when the well packer A is being lowered within the well casing B, to prevent the upper slips 18 from being anchored against the casing. The tool C can also become coupled or connected to the control rod 12 for the purpose of elevating the latter within the body of the tool to prevent the lower expander 22 from being wedged upwardly within the lower slips 20 to anchor the latter against the well casing. When the tool C is connected to the well packer A, to shift the control rod 12 in the upward direction just described, the entire apparatus can be elevated in the well casing to the desired location in the latter, or may be removed completely from the well casing.

The running-in and retrieving tool C is connected to the lower end of the tubular running-in string D, which may consist of tubing extending to the top of the well bore. The lower end of the running-in string D is threadedly secured to a coupling 30, which is, in turn,

threadedly secured to the upper end of the tubular head specifically disclosed in the drawings, the one-way clutch includes an upper ratchet or clutch member 35 abutting the tubular head 31 and prevented from rotating with entrance vertical slot portion 52.

of the inner wall of the tubular housing, from which:

depends a reduced diameter skirt portion 38 that abuts.

the upper end of the slotted structure 34. The upper. portion of th'e'slotted structure 34 is constitutedby a:

skirt 39 of a diameter conforming to that of the upper ratchet member skirt 38, the structure skirt being integral. with a lower ratchet or clutch'portion 40 of the slotted. structure.

A helical spring 41 encompasses the two skirt portions,. 38, 39, the upper end of the spring engaging a longitu-- dinal or axial tooth 42 provided on the upper ratchet or clutch member 35, and the lower end of the spring: engaging a lower longitudinal or axial teeth 43 formed on the lower ratchet or clutch member 40. Each tooth 42, 43 has a length preferably somewhat greater than the diameter of the wire of which the spring is made; each clutch member having a cam face or slope 44 pitched to conform substantially to the slope or inclination of the spring and running from the inner end of each tooth; to its outer end. This slope or face 44 functions as a. cam, to permit the lower slotted structure 34 to rotate: in counter-clockwise direction (as seen from the top of' the hole) with respect to the spring 41, which could also rotate in a counter-clockwise direction relative to the: upper clutch member 35 and the housing 32; Counter clockwise rotation of the housnig 32 will cause the slottedfl structure 34 to rotate in the same direction with it, the: turning effort being transmitted from the upper tooth 42 to the spring 41 and from the latter to the lower clutchz tooth 43 of the slotted structure 34.

The slotted structure 34 includes the upper P0111011 45 that has the ratchet or clutch member 40 of a diameter conforming to the diameter of the inner wall of the housing 32. The slotted structure further includes a lower slotted portion 46 which is secured in appropriate relation to the upper slotted portion 45 by an intermediate sleeve member 47 integral with both of such portions. The lower slotted portion is, in turn, integral to a lower sleeve member 48 having an outside diameter that conforms to the inside diameter of the inner wall of the housing 32. The same is true of the outside di ameter of the intermediate sleeve member 47. Actually, the several parts of the slotted structure are integral with each other, being made from a single casting.

The slot 50 of the sleeve structure is formed within and between the upperrand lower slotted portions 45, '46, the development of the slot being most clearly shown in the diagrammatic view of Fig. 3. The pin 15 on the control rod head 13 can move relatively in an upward direction against the lower inclined guide surface 51 on the lower slotted portion, which will serve to guide the pin into the vertical slot portion 52 terminating at anplaced to the left of the vertical slot portion 52, such displacement being provided to preclude inadvertent downward and return movement of the pin into the Instead, relative downward movement of the pin in the locating slot 54 will result in its engaging a guide surface 55 on the upper end of the lower slotted portion which is inclined in a downward direction toward the left, as seen in Fig. 3, this guide surface causing the pin 15 to shift relatively to the left and into alignment with opposed upper and lower vertical slot portions 56, 57 in the upper and lower sections 45, 46 of the sleeve structure, respectively, that enable the well packer A to be either lowered in the well casing B or elevated in the well casing by respect to the housing 32 by a radial pin 36 secured to 7 shifting the C DtIO rod 12 downwardly with respect to iasaaisi the packer body or upwardly with respect to the packer body.

Adjacent the upper slot portion 56 a guide surface 58 inclined downwardly to the left, whereas adjacent the elevating slot portion 57 is a guide surface 59 inclined upwardly to the left. These opposed inclined guide surfaces 58, 59 will direct the pin into a releasing vertical slot 60 that extends upwardly to sub stantially the same degree as the locating slot 54, and which also opens downwardly intofan exiting slotportion 61a incl-inedin a downward direction toward the left, such as disclosed in Fig. 3. Once the pin 15 has been located in the releasing slot portion 60, the elevation of the tubular string D and housing will cause the pin to engage a guiding surface 615 formed on the lower slotted portion that is inclined a downward direction to the left, as seen in Fig. 3, which will cause the pin to move toward and against a vertical locating wall 616 on the lower housing structure 46 which is in alignment with the entrance slot portion 52.

Although reference has been made to the movement 'of the pin 15 to the left in connection with the diagram disclosed in Fig. 3, actually, the pin is normally stationary insofar as rotary motion is concerned, and it is the sleeve structure 34 that is rotated to the right, or in a left-hand or counter-clockwise direction, the rotation being accomplished by the carhrnin-g action of the pin against the various inclined urfaces 53, 55, etc, on the sleeve structure, as permitted by the release of the overrunning clutch 34, which automatically uncouples or unclutc-hes the slotted structure 34 froth the housingsz.

The slotted structure 34 itself is maintained in the housing in appropriate clutching relation to the spring 41 and upper clutch member 35 by a 'fnilli ng shoe and guide 70 threadedly secured to the lower end of the housing 32, its unthreading being prevented by a cap screw 71 extending through the wall of the housing and threadedly attached to the shoe. This milling shoe and guide has circumfercntially spaced de ending cutting teeth 72 thereon for action upon any material that might be disposed upon the bridge plug A located in the well casing B. x,

The housing 32 and its guide 70 are of such length with respect to the slot 50 provided within the slotted structure that the lower end 73 of the guide will engage the upper end 74 of the body 10 to bear thereaga'inst at the same time that the pin 15 is disposed 'within the upper slot portion 56, the rod 12 being pushed downwardly within the body to the position in which it prevents relative longitudinal movement between the body 10 and its expanders 17, 22, on the one hand, and the slips 18, 20, on the other hand. However, the control rod 12 may be shifted downwardly within the body 10 to the extent preventing the slips 18 from being expanded out against the casing B, in the absence of the guide 70 engaging the upper end 74 of the body 10, inasmuch as the control rod 12 itself, as cxplained'in the aboveidentified patent, may be shifted to :a position in which it exerts a downward force on the body 10, to prevent relative downward movement between the rod 12 and body 10 and between the e'xpanders and the slips.

In the use of the running-in and retrieving tool C in connection with the retrievable bridge'plug A, it is first desired to lower the parts to the specific location in the well casing B in which it is to be "set. The milling shoe and guide 70, the housing 32 and slotted structure 34 are disposed over the control rod '12 at the top of the hole, the'pin' 15 moving into the slotted structure and bearing against the lower inclinedsur'face 51 of the lower slotted portion, which i's the No. 1 position shown in Fig. 3. The tubular string D and housing 32 are now lowered, the pin 15 engaging the inclined surface 51 to turn the slotted structure 34 within the housing, as permitted by the one-way clutch 34a, causing the pin 15 to move relatively up through the vertical slot portion 52 and against the inclined surface 53, the latter causing the slotted structure to turn further, so that the pin 15 moves upwardly further and into the No'. 2 locating position in the locating slot 54.

The housing 32 is now elevated, causing the pin 15 to engage the lower inclined surface 55, which will further rotate the slotted sleeve structure 34 within the housing, as permitted by the automatic release ofthe one-way clutch 34a, until the pin 15 shifts into the No. 3 position. When the apparatus is at the top of the well bore, it is easily ascertainable that the pin is properly located in the elevating slot 57, orthe No. 3 position. The apparatus is then lowered in the well casing. As the well packer or bridge plug A enters the latter, the drag block portions 19, 21 of the slips will engage the Wall of the casing, whereupon the downward weight disposed on the tubing string D will shift the housing 32 and slotted structure 34 contained therewithin downwardly, causing the pin 15 to move from the lower elevating slot portion 57 into the running-in slot portion 56 aligned therewith (No. 4 position in Fig. 3). When the upper end of the running-in slot portion 56 engages the pin 15, it shifts the rod 12 downwardly within the packer body 10 to the extent determined by engagement of the lower end 73 of the milling shoe and guide 70 with the upper end 74 of the body 10. When in this position, as explained above and in the aforementioned patent, further relative downward movement between the rod 12 and body 10 cannot occur, which, by virtue of an interconnection (not shown) between the rod 12 and the slips 18, 20 also precludes relative movement between the slips 13, 20 and the expander's 17, 22, the slips occupying the neutral position disclosed in Fig. l. The apparatus can then be run in the well casing B on the lower end of the string of tubing D, pushing the bridge plug A downwardly by means of the tubing without anchoring the slips against the housing, the pin 15 occupying and remaining in the No. 4 position disclosed in Fig. 3.

When the location in the well casing B has been reached at which the well packer A is to be anchored, the runningin and retrieving tool C is released from the rod 12. A left-hand torque is taken on the tubular running-in string D, which shifts the housing 32 and slotted structure 34 to the left, in view of the coupling action of the oneway clutch 34a, the upper clutch member 35 engaging the upper end of the spring 41 and causing the lower end of the spring to engage the tooth 43 on the lower clutch member 40, which is actually an integral part of the slotted structure 34. With such left-hand torque imposed on the tubing string D and the housing 32, the tubing string D is elevated slowly, the upper end of the guide 70 engaging the slotted structure 34 and elevating it with the housing 32 with respect to the pin 15. Inasmuch as the slotted structure is being urged in a counterclockwise direction (actually to the right, as seen in Fig. 3), the pin 15 comes out of the running-in slot portion 56. The pin 15 will engage the inclined guide surface 58 and move over against the left wall 6% of the releasing slot 60.

The operator can readily determine if the pin is in the releasing slot portion 60 since the lowering of the tubing string D and the housing 32 will shift the guide 70 downwardl'y against the body 10, the control rod 12 being free from the downward force imposed by the housing structure that it possessed when in the No. 4 position. Such action will cause the control rod '12 to shift to a neutral position, and will result in downward movement of the tubing string D, shifting the body 10 of the tool and the expander 17 downwardly within the slips 18, expanding the latter outwardly into anchoring engagement with the wall of the well casing. Accordingly, the operator will be advised of the fact that the pin 15 is in the releasing slot portion 69 by virtue of his inability to further lower the tubing string D.

Accordingly, a positive indication is given to the operato r that the retrieving head C is in a 7 g V I the proper position for its release from the well packer A. The operator will now move the tubing string D and housing 32 upwardly, which will elevate the housing and slot structure 34 relative to the pin 15 and cause the pin to engage the inclined surface 61b of the lower slot portion 61a, automatically rotating the slot and sleeve structure 34 to the left, in view of the unclutching of the sleeve structure 34 from the housing 32, as permitted by the one-way clutch 34a. The slotted structure 34 will rotate until the pin 15 engages the vertical wall 610, which then places the pin 15 in alignment with the entrance slot 52, and which also enables the tubing string D, housing 32, and slotted structure 34 to be elevated until the pin 15 moves completely out of the slotted structure and passes through the milling shoe and guide 70, which releases the retrieving tool C from the control rod 12.

Following removal of the running-in and retrieving tool C from the well packer A, the springs 25 of the latter close the valves 26 and the passage 11 through the packer body 10, and also shifts the control rod 12 to the neutral position within the body, permitting relative longitudinal movement between the body and the expander 17, 22, on the one hand, and the slips 13, 20, on the other hand, to anchor the plug in the well casing, depending upon the existence of a pressure differential above or below the location of the bridge plug or well packer A. If desired, the tubular running-in string D and running-in tool C may now be elevated in the well casing B and removed therefrom, or they need merely be elevated a desired distance above the bridge plug A.

In order to retrieve the well packer or bridge plug A, the tubular running-in string D is lowered in the well casing B, the flaring end 73 of the milling shoe and guide 70 insuring the movement of the housing and the slotted structure therein over the control rod 12 and head 13. The tubular string D and the housing 32 connected thereto need not be turned, since the pin will be guided properly into the sleeve by bearing against the inclined guiding surface 51 of the lower slotted portion 46, such engagement causing the sleeve structure 34 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction within the housing 32 until the left vertical wall 610 of the housing structure engages the pin 15, whereupon the latter is in alignment with the entrance slot portion 52. Downward movement of the tubular string D will shift the tubular housing 32 and the slotted structure 34 therein downwardly along the pin, the latter entering the entrance slot portion 52 and continuing along the inclined guiding wall 53 to the No. 2 position within the locating slot 54, which is disaligned with respect to the entrance slot portion 52. When the pin 15 engages the inclined Wall 53, it will rotate the slotted structure 34 in a counter-clockwise direction, to bring the locating slot portion 54 in alignment with the pin. The pin 15 will not engage the upper end of the locating slot portion 54 since before that can take place, the lower end 73 of the guide 70 will have engaged the body 10 and will have shifted the latter downwardly to expand the upper slips 18 against the casing. The fact that the well packer A is taking weight will advise the operator that the pin 15 is in the locating slot portion 54.

The tubular string D, housing 32, and slotted structure 34 is now moved upwardly, to bring the inclined guide surface 55 against the pin, which will cam the slotted structure 34 in a counter-clockwise direction until the pin is received within the retrieving slot portion 57, the upward movement of the tubular string D, housing 32, and slotted structure 34 insuring the disposition of the pin in that particular slot portion designated as position No. 3 in Fig. 3. Continued upward movement of the tubing string, housing, and slotted structure will now shift the control rod 12 upwardly with respect to the body 10, or to a neutral position, which will prevent the slips 18, from being set against the well casing B during upward movement of the packer in the latter. With the pin 15 in the position just described, the well packer A can be elevated in the casing B to a new setting location, or it can be removed completely from the well casing.

Instead of elevating the well packer A in the well casing, it may be desired to lower it to a new position. All

that need be done after the pin 15 has been located in the elevating slot portion 57 is to lower the tubing string -D, housing 32, and slotted structure 34. Such lowering will shift the housing and sleeve structure downwardly until the pin 15 enters the running-in slot portion 56 (position No. 4), the upper end of this slot portion engaging the pin and shifting the control rod 12 downwardly to its neutral position, the lower end 73 of the guide 70 engaging the upper end 74 of the body 10. The tubing string D can now be lowered to carry the running-in and retrieving tool C and the well packer A down the casing B to a new location.

If it is again desired to release the tool C from the well packer A, a left-hand torque is taken on the tubing string and the latter elevated slowly, to elevate the housing 32, and the slotted structure 34 therewithin. The turning effort of the tubing string is transmitted to the housing and through the one-way clutch 34a to the slotted structure 34, causing the pin 15 to move relatively to the left of the upper running-in slot 56 and against the vertical wall 60a of the release slot 60. If the operator wishes to assure himself that the pin 15 is in the vertical release slot 60, he need merely lower the tubing string D, housing, and slotted structure. With the pin in the releasing slot, the control rod 12 will have shifted to its neutral position, whereupon down weight imposed upon the tubing string D, housing 32, and slotted structure 34 will cause the housing to anchor the well packer A against downward movement in the casing. The operator now elevates the tubing string D and the housing 32, the pin 15 moving relatively downward from the releasing slot 60 and against the inclined wall 61b, which will rotate the slotted structure 34 in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the housing until the wall 610 engages the pin 15. The housing and slotted structure can now be elevated entirely above the pin 15 and the control rod head 13, inasmuch as the pin 15 can pass freely out of the slotted structure 34 and through the guide 70.

It is to be noted that the upper end of the running-in slot 56 is substantially lower than the upper end of the locating slot portion 54 and of the releasing slot portion 60. This arrangement is provided so that the pin 15 when in the running-in slot portion 56 will be engaged by the slotted structure to effect downward shifting of the control rod 12 within the body 10 to the neutral and non-slip setting position. On the other hand, the locating slot portion 54 and releasing slot portion 60, by extending much higher in the slotted structure 34, allow the lower end 73 of the guide 70 to engage the body 10 and anchor the upper slips 18 against the casing before the pin 15 can engage such upper ends of the slotted portion 54, 6t and shift the control rod 12 downwardly in the housing to the neutral position. Thus, the operator is given a positive indication, by the fact that downward weight anchors the packer A against downward movement, that the pin 15 is in the locating slot portion 54 or in the releasing slot portion 60.

After the well packer A has been lowered to the desired location in the well casing B by means of the running-in tool C, and the latter has been released and elevated to any desired point in the well casing or has been removed therefrom, and it is desired to retrieve the well packer, difliculty may be encountered in lowering the tubular housing 32 and slotted structure 34 over the control rod 12 and its head 13, so as to again place the pin within the slotted portion 50 of the structure. Sand, or other detritus, cement, and the like, may have been deposited partially upon the packer A. The presence of the milling shoe 70 on the lower end of the tubular housing 32 enables such undesired material to be removed by rotating the tubular runnin -in string D, the torque being transmitted directly to the housing 32 and the milling tool 70. During rotation and the imposition or the appropriate down weight on the milling shoe 70, the teeth 72 'will cut away the undesired material's, while fluid is circulated down through the tubing string D to flush the cuttings up around its exterior to the top of the hole. As the undesired material is removed from around the control head 13 and the control rod 12, the pin 15 can move upwardly within the slotted structure 34.

The right-hand rotation imparted to the running-in string D, housing 32, and milling shoe 70 during the drilling operation is not transmitted to the slotted structure 34, since the overrunning clutch 34d automatically releases. It is to be noted that the upper tapered cam surface 44 on the upper clutch member 35 will merely ratchet freely around on the upper portion of the spring 41, or if this does not occur, the lower portion of the spring will merely ratchet freely upon the inclined surface 44 of the lower ratchet or clutch member 40, the spring 41 simply compressing and then expanding as the ends of the spring ride off the innermost portions of the clutch teeth 42, '43. Accordingly, the milling action can occur without imparting any rotary motion to the control bar 12 and the well packer A. When sufficient material has been re moved from around the control bar 12, the pin 15 is permitted to move Within the slotted structure 54 and can achieve its position within the elevating slot portion 57 (No. 3 position in Fig. 3). The tubular string D may now be elevated, which will cause the slotted structure 34 to be coupled to the pin 15 and the control rod 12, eifecting a shifting of the slips 18, 20, to a'neutral position, from which position they cannot be anchored against the well casing. The entire well packer A can now be elevated in the well casing.

Under some conditions, some of the material that might be deposited around the control rod 12 may offer great resistance to cutting away under the rotary action of the milling shoe 70. As a result, it may be diflicult to achieve a condition in which the housing 32 and slotted structure 34 can be shifted downwardly over the control rod 12 and the pin 15 a sufficient distance to locate the pin in the retrieving slot 57 (No. 3 position in Fig. 3). Under these conditions, the form of invention illustrated in Fig. 4 can be used to advantage, since it precludes the necessity for extensive milling away of the material deposited around the control rod.

The running-in tool C is. identical with that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, with the addition of an adapter 80 that will permit the control rod 12 to be coupled to the running-in tool without the necessity for shifting the latter over the control bar 12 to the No. 3 position, as described above. This adapter 80 is tubular and will permit the control bar head 13 and pin 15 to pass there through. It fits within the milling shoe and guide 70, having a flange 81 which rests upon the upper end of the guide 70 and which may, in turn, be engaged by the lower end 82 of the slotted structure 34. The adapter 80 is coupled to the slotted structure 34 by a plurality of upwardly projecting fingers 83 on the adapter engaging companion lugs 84 extending inwardly from the wall of the slotted structure 34. The adapter 80 has a longitudinal slot 85 extending completely through its wall and through which the transverse pin 15 of the control rod 12 can pass. The lower end 86 of the adapter is inclined from the right wall of the slot 35 (as disclosed in Fig. 4), extending upwardly in a counter-clockwise direction, where it ends at the left wall or side of the slot 85. The lowermost portion 86 of the adapter is disposed above the lower end 73 of the cutting teeth 72 'of the milling tool 70.

In using the running-in and retrieving tool C with the adapter 80 in place, as disclosed in Fig. 4, it is lowered on the tubular running-in string D until the cutter teeth 72 engage the undesired material surrounding the con- 16 trol ba'r 12 and possibly surrounding the head 13. The drilliiig torque is then transmitted from the running-in string D through the housihg 32 to the milling tool 70, thecutting teeth 72 milling away the undesired material,- which is then flushed away by the circulating fluid beingpumped down through the running-in string D, the slotted structure 34, adapter and "the milling shoe and guide 70. As the material is disintegrated, the control bar 12, head 13, and pin 15 pass upwardly into the adapter. The pin l5 will project from the rod head 13 transversely across the lower end 86 of the adapter, the transverse pin first engaging the inclined end 86 and then coming to rest against the right wall of the vertical adapter slot 85. The running-in string D and tubular housing 32 and shoe 70 can continue torotate, the adapter 80 and slotted sleeve structure 34 being freed from partaking of this rotary motion by the ratcheting of the upper ratchet member 35 upon the spring 41. As the cutting action proceeds, the housing 32 is lowered until the pin 15 is located above the fingers 83 of the adapter, whereupon the tubular string D and housing 32 can be moved upwardly, the upper end 83a of the adapter engaging the transverse pin 15, which will pull the control rod 12 upwardly to a neutral position, in which the expanders 17, 22 are prevented from setting the slips I8, 20.

It is apparent that with the adapter 80 illustrated in Fig. 4, his unnecessaryfor an extensive milling operation 'to be performed upon the material that might be deposited upon the packer A andaiouhd the control rod 12. Only a relatively short length of material need be disintegrated by the cutter 70, the short length merely being sufiicient to secure the lowering of the housing 32, milling tool 70 and adapter 80 along the control rod 12 until the pin 15 is disposed just above the upper end 83a of the adapter. Such upper end will then engage the transverse pin 15, whereupon the elevation of the tubing string D, housing 32 and adapter 80 will shift the control rod 12 upwardly with respect to the body 10, 'or'to a neutral position, which will prevent the slips 18, 20 from being set against the well casing B during upward movement of the packer in the latter. With the pin 15 engaged with the upper end 83a of the adapter, the well packer A can be elevated the casing B and removed completely therefrom.

The inventor claims:

1. In apparatus for moving a device in a well bore, the device having a laterally extending coupling pin: a member adapted to be connected to a running-in string to be rotatable by the running-in string in opposite directions and adapted to be moved over the device and its coupling pin; a slotted structure rotatable within said member and adapted to receive the coupling pin; a oneway clutch interconnecting said structure and member for rotationtogether in one direction, said clutch releasing to permit relative rotation between said structure and member in the opposite direction; said slotted structure including a retaining slot portion into which the coupling pin is movable to couple the structure and member to the device.

2. In apparatus for moving a device in a well bore, the device having a laterally extending coup-ling pin: a member having means thereon for connecting said member directly 'to a running-in string to be rotatable by the running-in string in opposite directions, said member being adapted to be moved over the device and its coupling pin; a slotted structure rotatable within said member and adapted to receive the coupling pin; a oneway clutch interconnecting said structure and member the device having a laterally extending coupling pin: a. member adapted to be connected to a running-in string to be rotatableby the running-in string in opposite directions and adapted to be moved over the device and its coupling pin; a slotted structure rotatable within said member and adapted to receive the coupling pin; a oneway clutch interconnecting said structure and member, whereby left-hand rotation of said member is transmitted through said clutch to said structure, said clutch releasing I directly to a running-in string to be rotatable by the running-in string in opposite directions, said member being adapted to be moved over the device and its coupling pin; a slotted structure rotatable within said member and adapted to receive the coupling pin; a one-way clutch interconnecting said structure and member, whereby left-hand rotation of said member is transmitted through said clutch to rotate said structure in a left-hand direction, said clutch releasing to permit left-hand rotation of said structure relative to said member; said slotted structure including a retaining slot portion into which the coupling pin is movable to couple the structure and member to the device; and rotatable cutting means secured to the lower end of said member.

5. In apparatus for moving a device in a well bore, the device having a laterally extending coupling pin: a member adapted to be connected to a running-in string to be rotatable by the running-in string in opposite directions and adapted to be moved over the device and its coupling pin; a slotted structure rotatable within said member and adapted to receive the coupling pin; a oneway clutch interconnecting said structure and member for rotation together in one direction, said clutch releasing to permit relative rotation between said structure and member in the opposite direction; said slotted structure including an entrance portion to receive the pin and a locating generally vertical slot portion above and cir cumferentially ofiset from. said entrance portion and communicating therewith; an inclined guiding wall below said locating slot portion to engage and guide the pin relatively circumferentially away from said entrance portion; said guiding wall defining the lower guide of an intervening slot portion inclined in a downward direction circumferentially away from said entrance portion; said structure having a generally vertical pin retaining slot portion communicating with said intervening inclined slot portion and offset circumferentially from said locating slot portion in a direction away from said entrance portion; said structure further including an exit portion below and communicating with said pin retaining slot portion and through which the pin can move relatively downward completely out of said structure.

6. In apparatus for moving a device in a well bore, the device having a laterally extending coupling pin; a member having means thereon connecting said member directly to a running-in string to be rotatable by the running-in string in opposite directions, said member being adapted to be moved over the device and its coupling pin; a slotted structure rotatable within said member and adapted to receive the coupling pin; a one-way clutch interconnecting said structure and member whereby left-hand rotation of said'member is transmitted through said clutch to rotate said structure in a left-hand direction, said clutch releasing to permit left-hand rotation of said structure relative to said member; said slotted 'and communicating therewith; an inclined guiding wall below said locating slot portion to engage and guide the pin relatively circumferentially away from the entrance portion; said guiding wall defining the lower side of an intervening slot portion inclined in a downward direction circumferentially away from said entrance portion; said structure having a generally vertical pin retaining slot portion communicating with said intervening inclined slot portion and offset circumferentially from said locating slot portion in a direction away from said entrance portion; said structure further having an exit portion below and communicating with said retaining slot portion and through which the pin can move relatively downward completely out of said structure.

7. In apparatus for moving a device in a well bore, the device having a laterally extending coupling pin: a member adapted to be connected to a running-in string to be rotatable by the running-in string in opposite directions and adapted to be moved over the device and its coupling pin; a slotted structure rotatable within said member and adapted to receive the coupling pin; a oneway clutch interconnecting said structure and member for rotation together in one direction, said clutch releasan adapter in the lower portion of said member having ,an upper end substantially below said retaining slot por- 30' T from its lower to its upper ends and through which the tion, said adapter having a longitudinal slot extending retaining pin can pass in order to rest upon said upper end.

8. In apparatus for moving a device in a well bore,

.the device having a laterally extending coupling pin: a .member adapted to be connected to a running-in string to be rotatable by the running-in string in opposite directions and adapted to be moved over the device and its coupling pin; a slotted structure rotatable within said member and adapted to receive the coupling pin; a oneway clutch interconnecting said structure and member for rotation together in one direction, said clutch releasing to permit relative rotation between said structure and member in the opposite direction; said slotted struccoupling pin is movable to couple the structure and member to the device to elevate the device in the well bore; an adapter in the lower portion of said member having an upper end substantially below said retaining slot portion, said adapter having a longitudinal slot extending from its lower to its upper ends and through which the retaining pin can pass in order to rest upon said upper end, the lower end of said adapter inclining in an upward direction from one side of said longitudinal slot to the opposite side of said longitudinal slot.

9. In apparatus for moving a device in a Well bore,

the device having a laterally extending coupling pin; a

member having means thereon for connecting said member directly to a running-in string to be rotatable by the pling pin; a slotted structure rotatable within said member and adapted to receive the coupling pin; a one-way clutch interconnecting said structure and member for rotation together in one direction, said clutch releasing to permit relative rotation between said structure and member in the opposite direction; said slotted structure including a retaining slot portion into which the coupling pin is movable to couple the structure and member to the device to elevate the device in the well bore; rotatable cutting means secured to the lower end of said member; an adapter in the lower portion of said member and having an upper end substantially below said retaining slot portion, said adapter having a longitudinal slot extending from its lower end to its upper end through 13 which the retaining pin can move and come to rest upon said upper end, the lower end of said adapter being disposed above the lower end of said cutting means, said lower adapter end inclining in an upward direction from one side of said longitudinal slot to the opposite side of said longitudinal slot.

10. In apparatus for moving a device in a well bore, the device having a laterally extending coupling pin; a member having means thereon connecting said member directly to a running-in string to be rotatable by the running-in string in opposite directions, said member being adapted to be moved over the device and its coupling pin; a slotted structure rotatable within said member and adapted to receive the coupling pin; a one-way clutch interconnecting said structure and member whereby left-hand rotation of said member is transmitted through said clutch to rotate said structure in a left-hand direction, said clutch releasing to permit left-hand rotation of said structure relative to said member; said slotted structure including a retaining slot portion into which the coupling pin is movable to couple the structure and member to the device to elevate the device in the well bore; rotatable cutting means secured to the lower end of said member; an adapter in the lower portion of said member and having an upper end substantially below said retaining slot portion, said adapter having a longitudinal slot extending from its lower end to its upper end through which the retaining pin can pass and come to rest upon said upper end, the lower end of said adapter being disposed above the lower end of said cutting means, said lower adapter end inclining in an upward direction from one side of said longitudinal slot to the opposite side of said longitudinal slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Baker Jan. 1, 1957

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