US2896723A - Dump bailer - Google Patents

Description

July 28, "1959 w. E. BARNES DUMP BAILER Filed May 10, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

WILLIAM E. BARNES ATTORNEY July 28, 1959 w. E. BARNES I 2,396,723

DUMP BAILER v 1 Filed May 10, 1956 v2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n 3'7 fee 59 v I P41 67 H 67 '1 I. u), 5k 59 Lg G v S ,es I .2 I 64 53 v Fig. 5 I 9"" IN VEN TOR. WILLIAM E. BARNES DUMP BAILER William E. Barnes, Beaumont, Tex., assignor to Sun gm Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of New ersey Application May 10, 1956, Serial No. 583,967

11 Claims. (Cl. 166-166) This invention relates, generally, to dump bailer-s used in treating oil wells, and specifically to the operating mechanisms for suchdevices.

The control of oil well tubing corrosion is a typical use for the type of dump bailer disclosed here. The tubing, which extends downwardly from the earths surface to the working depth, is generally subject to corrosive conditions which may cause varying degrees of corrosion throughout its length. These active areas may occur at any elevation in the tubing string. Further, the treatment may be needed in either gas or oil wells requiring the dump bailer to be operable under either gas or liquid surrounding conditions.

Various forms of dump bailers are known which have open tops. While this construction permits the bailer to be filled readily with the well treating agent, it limits its usefulness to gas filled wells, as otherwise liquid in the well tubing may flush out the treating agent before the bailer has reached the zone at which it is desired to release the material. Other forms of bailers have been proposed which have closed tops, but these generally have been disadvantageous in requiring a disassembly of certain parts to permit refilling and then reassembly before the bailer is introduced again into a well.

It is an object of this invention to provide a dump bailer for use in either gas or oil wells and which will control the release of treating liquids in such wells accurately and completely.

It is another object of this invention to provide a dump bailer which will release the well treating contents at selected elevations in the tubing string.

A further object is to provide a dump bailer for use in tubing strings in which the operating mechanism will be triggered to a release position by operation of the suspension line.

Yet another object is to provide a dump bailer operating mechanism for use in collared tubing strings in which the trigger once operated will be withdrawn from operating position and not interfere with the further movement of the bailer in the tubing string.

Yet a furtherobject of this invention is to provide a dump bailer for operation in liquid filled holes which is retrievable and refillable for further use with ease and accuracy.

' suspended from a wire line, and also shows a device for filling the same;

Figure 2 is an elevational view in section, of the position of the operating mechanism prior to operation;

Figure 3 is an elevational view, in section, of the relative positions of the elements releasing the bailer contents;

nited States Patent 2,896,723 Patented July 28, 1959 Figure 4 is an elevational view, in section, of an alternate form of the device;

Figure 5 is an elevational view, partly in section, of an operating element of the alternate form, rotated a quarter turn from the position shown in Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is the device in Figure 4 showing the position of the elements releasing the bailer contents.

In Figure l, the bailer body 10 forming chamber 11 is shown with the wire-line connector 12 threadedly engaging it as a top closure. The wire line 14 extends through the top to anchor there as by a lead spud 116, or knot arrangement, and radially extending apertures 18 vent the bailer permitting pressure balance in chamber 11.

The bottom of the bailer body 10 is closed by the housing 20 adapted to enclose the bailer dumping mechanism and to connect with the bailer body chamber. This housing 20 forms a cylindrical chamber having a top plug 23 and a bottom plug 25. Plug 23, threaded to join the bailer body and dump mechanism housing together, is drilled to form a valve seat 22 for a tubular valve member 24 extending through it. This is generally designated, inclusive of the above-described plug 23, by the numeral 28 and will be referred to as the bailer dump bottom. As such it will be distinguished from the bailer 10 and the wire line connector 12.

Tubular valve member 24 extends through the housing of the bailer dump bottom 28 passing through the top and bottom plugs 23 and through apertures 30 and 32. The end of this valve member 24 which operates in the plug 23 is provided with both internal and external sealing means to close the bailer during periods of non-operation. As shown, the 0 ring 34 engages the valve seat aperture 22 throughout its length providing the necessary sealing arrangement externally of the valve. Internally of the valve member 24, pressure responsive means closes the tubular passageway through the valve, releasably operable for filling the bailer as later described. A simple construction for such a means would be as shown, comprising a ball 38 acting as a seal on seat 40, held closed by a spring element 42. An expanding ring 43 of sufiicient thickness for spring 42 to lodge against is inserted in a shallow groove in the tube. Other similar and well known devices such as check valves and like mechanisms will be known to those versed in the art and may be used with equal satisfaction.

Adjacent an aperture 44 in the wall of the housing 20, provision is made to position a trigger 46 and to operably connect it with the tubular valve member 24 for bailer opening operation. Trigger .46, in this initially disclosed embodiment, has a straight, finger like extension 48 adapted to extend through the aperture 44 in an upward direction making an angle with the side wall of the tubing T insuring engagement with a tubing collar when moved upwardly (Fig. 2). The trigger 46 is secured to the tubular valve member by slotting the base 50 to embrace the tubular valve rod 52. A collar 54 secured by set screw 56 supports the trigger 46 in operating position. A resilient member such as spring 58, held in proper compression by a second collar 60 secured by set screw 62, operably holds the base 50 of the trigger against the supporting collar 54. Adjustment of collar 69 to increase or decrease the compressive force in spring 58 will regulate the force with which trigger 46 is held against collar 54 and consequently the firmness with which it is extended against the well tubing.

A stop pin 64, positioned in the inner wall of housing 20, releasably supports the tubular valve member 24 by abutting against collar 54. As shown in the drawing, collar 54 is shaped to present a nose 66 extending into operating engagement with stop pin 64.

Below the trigger supporting collar 54, the tubular 'valve rod 52 extends through aperture 32 in bottom plug 25, the aperture having a diameter substantially larger than that of valve rod 52, and is terminated by an internally threaded fitting 68 removably connected at the bottom. This fitting 68 where connected prevents the tubular 'valve member 24 from being pushed upwardly in the housing 20 opposite to the direction of operating movement. Further it provides an internal threaded portion 70 adapted to receive fluid transmitting means to fill the bailer, as

indicated in Figure l. V a

V In Figure 1, a hose 71 with connection 72 is removably connected, as by threads, to fitting 68 fastened on the tubular valve member. Fluid from a source 74 is forced into the bailer through the tubular valve member 24 by operation of a pump 76 as by lever 78. This permits filling the bailer with measured quantities of liquid for treating the well and permits the filling operation to be accomplished without dismantling the bailer in any way.

After being filled with the charge of liquid for treating the well at a selected depth, the hose connection 72 is disconnected. The device is checked by observation for leaks and the relative positions of the valve and casing to be sure that the tubular valve member 24 is properly seated against ring 34 in seat 22 to keep the bailer contents in place until discharged and that the valve is also sealed internally. As the device is lowered down the well, the trigger extension 48 is urged into contact with the tubing wall by spring 58, and it engages the tubing T and collar connections 45 as the bailer descends. The valve member is maintained in closed position by the bearing of collar 54 on stop pin 64.

Before describing the operation of the combination of elements in emptying the bailer at the desired depth in the well tubing, the alternate form of device illustrated in Figures 4 to 6, inclusive, will be described. This is desirable here, because this second form is similar in many respects to the device already described. Additionally, the operation of the moving parts to dump the bailer closely follows that of the first described form, although this second form involves certain modifications which improve the action of the device. Also the second form comprises a different arrangement for conveniently filling the device. Where the elements of this alternate form are structurally and operably like those disclosed above for the previously described embodiment, the numbers originally used will be retained. Where they are difierent in either structure or operation, a new number will be assigned.

Referring to Figure 4, the bailer dump bottom designated generally by the number 28 in this alternate form, follows, closely, the configuration of the device previously described. Plug 23 is externally threaded to engage chamber 11 of bailer and housing 20. It is drilled, concentrically, to form a longitudinally extending hole 22 through plug 23 connecting chamber 11 with housing 20. This drilled hole 22 provides a valve seat for valve head 27 which extends into it, and which, with the help of 0 ring 34, sealably engages the seat 'when in the closed position.

The valve head 27 is formed differently from that portion of the previously described device serving the same purpose and is, therefore, numbered differently. Positioned on the valve head below the operating portion which engages the valve seat 22, a collar 61, fastened by set screw 63, secures a number of springs or resilient means 59 which, in turn, cooperate with the triggers 47 47 by pressing against pins 67 set in the triggers. These triggers 47-47 shown as two in number and arranged to operate in diametn'c position, are pivotally connected to valve rod 53 as by pin 49. Pin 49 is positioned in relation to both the triggers 4747, and the valve rod 53, to permit proper trigger extension into operating contact with the tubing and tubing collars, and also designed to allow proper withdrawal from contact (after operation) as shown in Figure 6.

In this instance the valve rod 53 is of solid construction tom aperture.

dilfering from tubular rod 52 of the earlier device, and is rectangular in cross-section, except'for the valve head portion 27 which is cylindrical, this being evident by a comparison of Figures 4 and 5. Sufficiently spaced below the lower ends of the triggers 4747, collar 54 is fixed in position on valve rod 53 as by set screw 56. An upper extension or nose 66 of this collar 54 is positioned to engage pin 64 in releasable detention operable by the triggers as indicated in describing the first form, and to be later described in the operation of both forms.

Here too, the slot 33 in the bottom plug 25 is shaped in section to loosely receive valve rod 53 and allow sufiicient lateral motion to satisfactorily operate the valve mechanism. By this free lateral movement, the enlarged portion or nose 66 of collar 54 is permitted to be urged away from and over pin 64 to release the valve head 27 from valve seat 22, thereby releasing the dumping elements of the bailer to dump its contents.

In order to retain the ease of filling disclosed in the first form of dump mechanism, a like pressure responsive valve mechanism is fitted into the bottom of the bailer chamber 11 adjacent the plug 23 which houses the valve head 27. Figures 4 and 6 illustrate a preferred form of pressure responsive filling means which is readily connected to the pump structure 76 shown in Figure 1. A filling tube 80 is inserted substantially diametrically of the chamber 11 adjacent plug 23. Threaded portion 82 is designed to receive hose connection72 in the filling operation. A pressure responsive valve element similar to that inserted in the tubular valve element in Figure 2 normally seals the tubular element 80 against leakage from chamber 11. One form of such element includes a ball 37 designed'to fit tightly against seat 41, urged into that position by a spring 42'. A set screw 84 which traverses a threaded portion of tube 80 from the end opposite that fashioned as connector for hose 71 is adapted to properly compress spring 42. Radially disposed holes 86 on the valve side of seat 41 transmit the treating liquid both to and from chamber 11 meeting the operating requirements of the device.

The description of operation is now resumed, being pertinent to both forms of the device as illustrated and described. On reaching the required depth, the bailer is lifted until the trigger arrangement of either form engages the next collar in the tubing as indicated in Figures 2 and 4. Further upward movement of the bailer causes the trigger means to move the valve assembly downwardly. As the lower portion of the valve member fits loosely in the bottom plug, the trigger urged movement causes the valve rod to move slightly off center within the bottom aperture 32 or 33 and thereby allows collar 54 to slide over stop pin 64. This downward movement, now free of the resistance of pin 64, continues, releasing the valve from the sealing position. in seat 22 and urging the triggers 4747, or 48 for the first form, to move into the housing 20 as it abuts the lower rim of the side wall aperture as shown in Figures 3 and 6. g

The fluid contents of the bailer are then discharged downwardly through the valve seat 22 into housing 20. The void made by the moving fluid in the bailer chamber is filled by well fluids entering the bailer chamber through the. apertures 18 in the wire-line connector, facilitating flow. As the trigger arrangement is retracted due to the downward movement of collar 54, the baileris free to be lifted or further lowered, while the valve remains open so that the fluid contents will discharge through the side Wall apertures 44 in the housing 20 and through the bot- As the collar 54 is displaced over stop pin 64 the valve will remain open until the valve is forced into the closed position prior toreloading after it is withdrawn from the tubing string.

I claim:

1. A bailer dump bottom for use in well tubing connected by collars comprising a housing, means for connecting said housing with bailer, a valve seat in the connecting means, a valve head cooperatively engaging said valve seat, a valve rod positioning said valve head in the valve seat and extending from the valve head longitudinally through said housing, trigger means operably mounted on said valve rod extending through the housing to operatively contact the tubing collars and means mounted on the valve rod and extending into frictional engagement with said housing to releasably hold the valve head in the seat until withdrawn by operation of the trigger means.

2. The bailer dump bottom of claim 1 further characterized by the valve head and valve rod being integrated to form a single tubular member with a pressure responsive valve means inside the tubular member and connecting means on the end opposite the valve head adapted to receive fluid transmitting means for loading the bailer.

3. The bailer dump bottom of claim 1 further characterized by the means cooperating with the valve rod and the housing including a collar fastened to said rod and a pin mounted in the housing wall in cooperating relation with the collar positioned to keep the valve head in the valve seat until the collar is urged to slideably pass the pin by operation of the trigger means.

4. A bailer dump bottom for use in collar-connected well tubing comprising an elongated housing apertured at top and bottom, means to connect the top of said housing to the bottom of a bailer, a valve head adapted to engage the top aperture in releasably sealing engagement, a valve rod connected to the valve head and extending longitudinally of the housing passing with loose fitting engagement through the bottom aperture thereof, a collar on the valve rod, a pin in the wall of the housing cooperating with said collar to keep the valve head in sealing engagement in the top aperture until withdrawn, and trigger means operably mounted on the valve rod and extending through the housing to engage a collar of the well tubing thereby urging the valve rod otr center in the loosely fitting bottom aperture and allowing the collar on the valve rod to pass the pin withdrawing the valve from its seat.

5. The bailer dump bottom of claim 1 further characterized by said trigger means including engaging members extending through apertures in the housing, said members pivotally connected to the valve means permitting lateral movement relative tothe housing, and resilient means urging said engaging members outwardly of the housing into contact with the well tubing.

6. A bailer dump bottom for use in collar-connected well tubing comprising an elongated housing apertured at top and bottom, means to connect said housing with a bailer adjacent the top aperture, a longitudinally movable tubular member adapted to pass fluids therethrough positioned to slideably engage the top and bottom apertures in the housing, pressure responsive valve means internally sealing the tubular member, seal means externally positioned on the tubular member to engage the top aperture of the housing in sealing relation, a collar on the tubular member in the housing, means in the wall of the housing cooperating with the collar of the tubular member to releasably position said member in the sealing position with the top aperture, a trigger cooperating with the collar on the tubular member and projecting through a slot in the housing to operably engage the connected tubing, and means on the bottom of the tubular member to receive fluids for passage therethrough.

7. A dump bailer for use in well tubing comprising a tubular body adapted for wire line support, a valve seat in said body forming with the body a liquid supply' chamber and a dumping mechanism chamber, an apertured plug closing the end of the dumping mechanism chamber opposite the valve seat, a tubular valve stem extending through the dumping mechanism chamber in sliding engagement with the valve seat and said apertured plug, external sealing means and internal pressure-opening sealing means for the tubular valve stem closing the liquid supplychamber at the valve seat, trigger means projecting fiom the tubular valve stem and extending through an aperture in the wall of the dumping mechanism chamber to operably engage the tubing, restraining meach holding the tubular valve stem in sealing engagement with the valve seat until released by the trigger means, and means at the bottom of the tubular valve stem adapted to receive liquid for transmission therethrough to the supply chamber.

8. A dump bailer for use in collar-connected well tubing comprising an elongate body divided into a liquid supply chamber above a dumping mechanism chamber, a wire line connector secured to the top of said liquid supply chamber having a venting aperture therein in communication with the liquid supply chamber; the dumping mechanism chamber concentrically apertured for internal connection with the liquid supply chamber and being also concentrically apertured at the bottom thereof, a tubular member extending through these apertures in the dumping mechanism chamber being longitudinally slideable relative thereto, contact sealing means mounted externally of the tubular member in position to sealably engage the aperture connection between the liquid supply chamber and the dumping mechanism chamber, an internal pressure-opening sealing means in the tubular member controlling the passage of liquid therethrough, a collar member connected to the tubular member in position to engage a pin retainer in the wall of the dumping mechanism chamber, trigger means operably mounted on the tubular member adjacent the collar extending through an aperture in the wall of the dumping mechanism chamber to operably engage the collared tubing to release the collar from the pin retainer for operation, and means on the bottom of the tubular member to receive fluids for transmission to the liquid supply chamber.

9. A dump bailer for use in well tubing comprising a tubular body divided into a liquid supply chamber above a dumping mechanism chamber, a wire line connector secured to the top of said liquid supply chamber having a venting aperture therein opening that chamber to receive external pressures; the dumping mechanism chamber having an aperture in the top connecting with the liquid supply chamber and also apertured at the bottom thereof, a valve head adapted to engage the top aperture in the dumping mechanism chamber in releasable sealing relation, 21 valve rod connected to the valve head and extending through the dumping mechanism chamber to slideably engage the bottom aperture in loose contact, a pin extending from the inner wall of the dumping mechanism chamber, a latching member connected to the valve rod extending into frictional engagement with the pin and longitudinally positioned on the rod normally to hold the valve head in releasable sealing position with the top aperture, a pair of trigger members pivotally mounted on the valve rod apart from the latching member, and springs pressing the pivotal trigger members through apertures in the dumping mechanism chamber to operably engage the well tubing.

10. A dump bailer for use in well tubing comprising a tubular body divided into a liquid supply chamber and a dumping mechanism chamber, a Wire line connector secured to the top of said liquid supply chamber having a venting aperture therein opening that chamber to receive external pressures; a filling tube mounted to extend through said body into the liquid supply chamber being adapted to receive fluid therethrough for transmission to said liquid supply chamber, and pressure responsive valve means in said tube; the dumping mechanism chamber being apertured at the top thereof for inner connection with said liquid supply chamber and also being apertured at the bottom thereof, a valve head adapted to releasably engage the top aperture in sealing engagement, a valve rod connected to the valve head and extending through the dumping mechanism chamber to slideably engage the lower aperture in loose contact, a pin extending from the inner wall of the'dumping mechanism chamber, a latching member connected to the valve rod extending into frictional engagement with the pin and longitudinally positioned on the rod to normally hold the valve head insealing position in the top aperture, a pair of trigger members pivotally mounted on the valve rod apart from the latching member, and springs pressing the pivotal trigger members through apertures in the dumping mechanism chamber to operably engage the well tub- 11. A dump bailer for use in collar-connected well tubing comprising an elongate body divided into a liquid supply chamber above a dumping mechanism chamber, awire line connector secured to the top of said liquid supply chamber having a venting aperture therein in communication with the liquid supply chamber; the dumping mechanism chamber having means for connecting the dumping mechanism chamber with the liquid supply chamber and said dumping mechanism chamber being concentrically apertured at the top and bottom thereof, valve means cooperatively engaging the top aperture in 8 a the dumping mechanism chamber and extending longitudinally throughthe dumping mechanism chamber into sliding contact With the bottom aperture, trigger means operably mounted "on'said valve means and extending through apertures in the dumping amechanism chamber into operative contact With the well tubing, and a collar mounted on the extended valve means adapted to contact the interior of the dumping mechanism chamber in frictional engagement releasably holding the valve. means in sealing engagement with the top aperture of the dumping mechanism chamber until released by operation of the trigger means in contact with a collar in the Well tubing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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