US2970650A

US2970650A - Baker

Info

Publication number: US2970650A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1961-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 1978-02-07

Description

Feb. 7, 1961 Filed Jan. 27, 1958 R. c. BAKER 2,970,650

3 Shee'cs--Sheei'l 1 deceasd 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. C. BAKER inea H. Aena @fw/.p CH/varese SUBSURFACE APPARATUS FOR OPERATING WELL TOOLS Feb. 7, 1961 Filed Jan. 27, 1958 2,970,650 suBsURFAcE: APPARATUS FOR OPERATING WELL Toons Filed Jan. 27, 1958 R. C. BAKER Feb. 7, 1961 3 SheetS-Sheet 3 United States 12 Claims. (Cl. 166-124) The present invention relates to subsurface well apparatus, and more particularlyto apparatus for performing certain desirable functions or operations in oil, gas, and similar well bores.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved subsurface well apparatus for mechanically effecting operation of well tools and equipment in a well bore.

Another object of the invention is to provide subsurface well apparatus for mechanically effecting operation of a well tool in a well bore through rotating a tubular string to which the apparatus is connected, in which the torque imposed upon the tubular string is multiplied for application to the well tool, thereby providing a greater operating force on the well tool.

A further object of the invention is to provide subsurface apparatus for setting a well tool in a well bore by suitable manipulation of the tubular string to which the apparatus is secured, the setting force imparted by the tubular string to the apparatus being multiplied therein for application to the well tool.

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:

atentf Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through an apparatus disposed in a well casing, with its parts occupying relative positions for lowering the apparatus in the well casing;

Fig` 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the setting apparatus and the upper portion of the well packer, with the setting apparatus in condition for effecting setting of the packer;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section similar to Fig. 2, disclosing the parts in another relative position;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section illustrating a portion of the setting apparatus in position for elfecting a full setting of the well packer in the well casing;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the drag portion of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive; t

Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken along the line 6 6 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken along the line 7-7 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a cross-section taken along the line 8-8 on Fig. 2.

As illustrated in the drawings, a setting apparatus A i is secured to the upper portion of a well tool" B, such A asl a well packenwhich is to beanchored in packed-off A condition in a well casing C, the entire combination being adapted to be lowered in the well casing on a tubular string D, such as drill pipe or tubing, extending to the top of the well bore, by means of which the apparatus is manipulated.

The lower well tool B can be of any desired type to be actuated by the operating or setting apparatus A. In the drawings it is shown as a well packer, including a main body 10 having a passage 11 therethrough and a guide 12 secured on its lower end. A set of lower segmental slips 13 is disposed around the body, bearing against a lower body ilange 14 and having inner tapered surfaces 15 adapted to coact with companion tapered surfaces 16 on a lowerexpander 17. The lower slips are secured initially in retracted position to the lower expander by shear screws 18, the lower expander 17 being initially attached to the body 10 by one or more shear screws 19.

Surrounding the body 10 is a packing sleeve 20 of rubber or rubber-like material, the lower end of which engages the upper portion ot' the lower expander 17 and the upper end of which engages the lower portion of an upper expander 22 initially secured to the body by one or more shear screws 23. This upper expander has a tapered expander surface 24 adapted to coact with companion inner tapered surfaces 25 on a set of upper segmental slips 26 surrounding the body, the slips being held initially in retracted position by shear screws 27 attaching them to the upper expander. The upper end of the upper slips bear against an upper abutment or trip ring 26 slidably mounted on the body `16 and engaging a stop ring 29 threaded on the upper end of the body to prevent upward movement of the trip ring.

The screws 27 securing the upper slips 26 to the upper expander 22 have a lesser shear strength than the screws 23 attaching the upper expander to the body 10;,whereas the

screws

19, 18 attaching thelower expander 17 to the body 10 and the lower slips 13 to the lower expander have a greater shear strength than the screws 23 attaching the upper expander 22 to the body. Such `relative shear strengths are provided so that the upper slips 26 will be rst released from `the upper expander 22, followed by release of the upper expander 22 from the body, and then release ofthe lower expander 17 from the body andthe lower slips 13 from the lower expander, in the manner described hereinbelow.

The body 1U has an upper threaded box 30, preferably of left hand, which meshes with a companion thread 31 on the lower end of the tubular mandrel portion 32 of the operating or setting apparatus A. The upper end of this mandrel is threadedly secured to a coupling 33, which is, in turn, threaded on to the lower end ot' the tubular string D extending to the top of the well bore. A drag and actuating device 34 surrounds and is slidable on the body or mandrel 32, this device including a drag body 35 having a central circumferential groove 36 formed therein, there being aligned upper and

lower slots

37, 38 formed in the body 35 and communicating with the circumferential groove'36. Surrounding the body 35 are circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending drag members 39 in the form of drag blocks that extend across the circumferential groove 36 and having upper and lower reduced end portions or

lugs

40, 41 received within the upper and lower slots or

grooves

37, 38 in the body. The drag blocks 39 are shiftable radially of the drag body 35, the

lugs

40, 41 thereon making a sliding it with the sides of the

longitudinal grooves

40, 41. The blocks are urged in an outward direction by helical compression springs 42 engaging the base of the circumferential groove 36 and also the bases of sockets 43 formed in the inner v portion of each drag block 39. The extent of outward expansion of each drag block under the inuence of the Patented Feb. 7, 1961 'in Fig. l.

springs 42 is determined by engagement of upper block terminals 44 with an upper stop ring 45 encompassing the body 35 and suitably secured thereto by s crews 46, and by engagement of lower block lug terminals 47 with a lower stop ring 48 encompassing the'lower portion of the body 35 and its longitudinal grooves 38, and secured to the body 35 by one or more screws 49.V

Secured to the drag device 34 in any suitable manner, as by making it integral with the lower stop ring 48, is a thrust ring 50 depending from the body 3S and having an internally threaded box 51 `andl an externally threaded portion 52. The internally threaded box 51 is adapted to threadedly mesh with an axial cam or feed screw 53 integral with or welded to the mandrel v32 of the tool. The outer threaded portion 52 of the thrust ring 5t) meshes with an internally threaded portion 54 of a setting sleeve 55 that depends from the thrust ring and is adapted to contact the upper abutment or trip ring 28. This setting sleeve 55 may have one or more radial bleeder holes 56 therethrough to permit fluid in the well casing to pass readily between the interior and exterior ofthe setting sleeve 55, and thereby avoid impeding its movement in effecting the desired operation in the well bore.

The threaded connection between the feed screw 53 and the internal thread 51 on the thrust ring S0 is preferably left hand. which is also true of the threaded connection between the setting sleeve 5S and the exterior of the thrust ring 5t), whereas the pitch of the threaded connection between the feed screw 53 and the thrust ring 50 is much greater than the pitch of the threaded connection between the setting` sleeve and the thrust ring. By Way of example, the left hand threaded connection between the feed screw 53and the thrust riru;l 50 may have four threads per inch, whereas the threaded connection between the setting sleeve 55 and the thrust ring 50 may have eight threads per inch.

Initiallv. the setting sleeve 55 engages the lowermost external threaded portion on the thrust ring 50 and the thrust ring mav be completely unthreaded from the feed `screw 53 and be disposed thereabove, such as illustrated The threaded connection between the feed screw 53 and thrust ring 50 may be established in the manner described hereinbelow. and after an appropriate operation on the lower well packer B has been performed, the feed screw 53 mav bey unthreaded from the thrust sleeve 50 and disposed thereabove. being placed in a position in which the uppermost thread 53a on the feed screw can engage a downwardly facing stop shoulder 56 on the drag7 bodv 3S.

The springs 42 urge the drag blocks 39 outwardly into frictional engagement with the wall of the well casing C to resist movement of the drag device 34 therewithin.

-To insure against rotation of the drag device around the casing when the tubular string D and the mandrel 32 are rotated to the right, the outer face 57 of each drag block Ymav be tapered in a rearward direction awav from the wall of the well casing C, to provide a forward or leading edge 58 adapted to engage the casing wall and tend to dig thereinto under the inuence ofthe springs 42 (Fig. 7). Thus. the drag device will more positively tend to resist rotation of the thrust ring 50 upon rotation of the tubular mandrel 32 and of the setting sleeve 55, in the manner described hereinbelow. v

In the operation of the apparatus, the mandrel 32 is threadedly secured within the body box 32, the drag device 34 and its thrust ring 50 being unthreaded from the feed screw 53. The setting sleeve 55 is disposed in its lower position on the thrust ring 50, such as illustrated in Figs. l and 2. During the lowering of the apparatus in the well casing, the frictional engagement of the drag `device. 34 against the wall of the well casing C causes it to occupy an upper position onthe mandrel 32 in engagevment with the coupling 33, the coupling forcing the drag device downwardly ahead of it asthe tubular string D is lowered in the well casing. At this time, the -inner threads 51i4 of the thrust ring S0 are disposed a substantial Vdistance above the feed screw 53A so that inadvertent turnf ing or rotation of the tubular string D and the mandrel 32 attached thereto cannot inadvertently effect a premature actuation `of the well packer B.

After the desired location in the well casing has been reached at which the well packer is to beset, the tubular string D is elevated to a slight extent to bring the uppermost thread 53a of the feed screw against the lowermost internal thread 51a of the thrust ring 50, whereupon the tubular string and mandrel of the tool are rotated to the right, which will effect relative upward feeding of the mandrel 32 and the feed screw 53 within the thrust ring 50. When substantially a full threaded engagement has been secured, the trip ring 28 will engage the lower end of the setting sleeve 55, the parts then occupying the posi tion illustrated in Fig. 2. Relative rotation of the mandrel 32 within the thrust ring 50 and drag device 34 can occur in view of the frictional engagement of the drag blocks 39 with the wall of the well casing C and the slight embedding of the leading edges 53 of the drag blocks therewithin.

A. continuation of the rotation of the tubular string D and of the mandrel 32 attached thereto will then cause the mandrel to feed relatively -upwardly within the thrust ring 59 in view of their left hand threaded connection. ISince the well packer B is secured to the mandrel 32, the entire packer structure will also be rotated, the trip ring 28 engaging the setting sleeve 55 and rotating the setting sleeve with it relative to the external thread 52 on the thrust ring 50, feeding the setting sleeve S5 in an upward direc tion along the thrust ring (Fig. 3). Since the pitch of the threads on the feed screw 53 and internally of the thrust ring 50 is much greater than the pitch of the threads on the setting sleeve 55 and the exterior of the thrust ring S0, the mandrel 32 and packer body 10 will move relatively upward of the thrust ring 50 a much greater dis-v tance than the setting sleeve 55 is moving upwardly along the thrust ring 50, causing the sleeve 55 to exert a downward force on the trip ring 28 and the slips 26. In effect, the setting sleeve SSis urging the trip ring 28 and slips 26 in a downward direction relativeto the body 10, and when the downward force becomes sufficient, theV shear screws 27 attaching the upper slips to the upper expander 22 are disrupted and the upper slips will drop downwardly along the upper expander and radially outward into engagement with the well casing C (please refer to Fig. 3 for condition of slips 2,6 at instant of disruption of shear screws 27).

After the upper slips 26 have engagedvthe well casing C, an upward strain can betaleen on the tubing string D, mandrel 32 and packer B. Since the upper slips engage the well casing and cannot move upwardly therealong, the upper expander 22 is prevented from moving upwardly, since it is wedged within the slips. The upward strain on the tubular string, mandrel and body ofthe well packer will shear the screws 23 holding the upper expander to the body 10 and will then shift the lower expander 17 and lower slips 13 toward the upper expander 22, foreshortening the packing sleeve 20 and expanding it outwardly into sealing engagement with the wall of the well casing C. A continuation of such upward strain will then shear the screws 19, 1S holding the lower expander 17 to the body 10 and the lower slips 13 to the lower expander, sliding the body within the lower expander and moving the lower slips 13 along the lower expander and radially outwardly into anchoring engagement with the wall of the well casing.

A sufcient upward strain is taken to insure the tirm embedding of the upper and

lower slips

26, 13 against the wall of the well casing C and sealing engagement of the packing sleeve 20 against the casing wall, as well `as against the periphery of the body 10. The parts are vretained in this position by engagement of a` lsplit ratchet ring disposed in an internal groove 61 in the upper expander 22'with a tooth `62 of a series of longitudinally e l n g ratchet teeth formed on the yperiphery of the 15 ,v o dy 10 and facing in a downward direction. -fI-he ring gemeenA 60 and ratchet teeth 62 will permit upwardmovement of the bedy ltlrelative to the upper expanderV 22, but will preclude downward movement of the body relative thereto (Fig. 4).

With the packer B now anchored in packed-off condition within the well casing C it can be used for performing the desired operation in the well bore. If a squeeze cementing operation is to beperformed, the cementitious material is pumped down the tubular string D, passing through the mandrel 32 and the body 10 of the tool to discharge into the formation below the well packer. After the cementing operation has been completed, the tubing string D and mandrel 32 are rotated to the right a Ysufficient number of revolutionsto unthread the lower end of the mandrel from the body box 30, after which the tubing string and the setting tool A can be elevated in the well casing C and removed completely therefrom at the top of the well bore. The rotation of the tubular mandrel 32 will effect a complete upward unthreading of the feed screw 53 from the thrust ring 50, the uppermost thread 53a then engaging the stop shoulder 56 of the drag body 35 in order to carry the drag device 34 upwardly along the casing with the mandrel and out of the hole.

In the event that the mandrel 32 has not been rotated sufiiciently to unthread the feed screw 53 from the thrust ring 50 in detaching the upper slips 26 from the upper expander 22, the act of rotating the mandrel to effect its disconnection from the packer body 10 will insure the complete unthreading of the feed screw from the thrust ring. However, as assurance that the slip screws 27 `have been sheared and the upper slips `26p released, a suicient number of turns will normally be taken on the tubular string C and themandrel 32 to not only shear the screws 27 and release the slips 26, butto completely unthread the feed screw 53 from the thrust ring 50. The tubular string C and mandrel 32 can then be rotated within Vthe drag device 34 without any restraint offered by the left hand threaded connection between the feed screw 53 and thrust ring 50. p

The making of the left hand threaded

connection

52, 54 between the setting sleeve 55 and the thrust ring `Si) 'of a much lesser pitch than the threaded connection between the

mandrel

32, 53 and the thrust ring 50 provides ar mechanical advantage or force multiplying arrangement insuring a multiplication of the downward shearing force imposed upon the trip ring 28 and upper slips 2 6.' The feed screw 53 is feeding upwardly along the thrust ring 50 a certain distance and the setting sleeve 55 is also feeding upwardly along the thrust ring 50, but to -a lesser extent. Accordingly, to secure the shearing ofthe screws 27, a much greater number of revolutions "of the tubular mandrel 32 is required than if the backing off or upper feeding of the setting sleeve 55 along the Vthrust ring 50 were not provided. Since a greater number of revolutions are p-rovided for the same torque im- .posed upon the mandrel 32, the shearingforce available `for application to the screws 27 is much greater. As a result, the shear strength of the screws 27 Aholding .the

jupper slips 26 to the upperexpander 22 `can be made quite substantial, insuring against premature releasing of such screws while the apparatus is being moved longitudinally in the well casing. f

What is claimed is: 1. In well apparatus adapted to` be lowered in a well lconduit and adapted to operate a toolin the well co-nduitrfaniemb'er adapted to b`e attached to the tool; means on said member for operating the tool, said means cornprising first instrumentalities movable relative to said member and engageable with the well conduit to resist rotary movement of said first instrumentalities there- Within, second instrumentalities engageable with the tool ties to a portion of' said first instrumentalities, rotary movement of said portion being resisted by the well conduit, and an axial cam connection securing said member to said first instrumentalities, whereby rotation of said member and second instrumentalities relative to said first instrumentalities relatively feed said member and second instrumentalities longitudinally of said first instrumentalities.

2. In well apparatus adapted to be lowered in a well conduit and adapted to operate a tool in the well conduit: a member adapted to be attached to the tool; means on said member for operating the tool, said means comprising first instrumentalities movable relative to said member and engageable with the well conduit to resist rotary movement of said first instrumentalities there- Within, second instrumentalities engageable with the tool and rotatable relative to said first instrumentalities, a first threaded connection securing said second instrumentalities to a portion of said first instrumentalities, rotary movement of said portion being resisted by the well conduit, and a second threaded connection securing said member to said first instrumentalities, whereby rotation of said member and second instrumentalities relative to said first instrumentalities relatively feeds said member and second instrumentalities longitudinally of said first instrumentalities.

3. In well apparatus adapted to be lowered in a Well conduit and adapted to operate a tool in the w-ell conduit: a member adapted to be attached to the tool; means on said member for operating the tool, said means comprising first instrumentalities movable relative to said member and engageable with the well conduit to resist rotary movement of said first instrumentalities there- Within, second instrumentalities engageable with the tool and rotatable relative to said first instrumentalities, a first threaded connection securing said second instrumentalities to said first instrumentalities, and a second threaded connection securing said member to said first instrumentalities, whereby rotation of said member and second instrumentalities relative to said first instrumentalities relatively feeds said member and second instrumentalities longitudinally of said first instrumentalities, said second threaded connection having a greater pitch than said first threaded connection, said threaded connections being of the same hand.

4. In well apparatus adapted to be lowered in a well conduit and adapted to operate a tool in the Well conduit: a member adapted to be attached to the tool; drag means on and movable relative to said member and engageable with the well conduit; a sleeve engageable with the'tool and rotatable relative to said drag means; a first threaded connection securing said sleeve to a portion of said drag means, rotary movement of said portion being resisted by the well conduit; a second threaded connection between said member and drag means, whereby rotation of said member and sleeve relative to said drag means relatively feeds said member and sleeve 1ongitudinally of said drag means.

5. In well apparatus adapted to be lowered in a well 0 conduit and adapted to operate a tool in the well conduit: a member adapted to be attached to the tool; drag means on and movable relative to said member and engageable with the well conduit; a sleeve engageable with the tool and rotatable relative to said drag means; a first threaded connection between said sleeve and drag means; a second threaded connection between said member and ".dr'agnmeans, whereby rotation "of said member and sleeve relative to said drag means relatively feeds said member and sleeve longitudinally of said drag means; such second 0 threaded connection having a greater pitch than said and rotatable relative to said first instrumentaliti an axial cam connection securing said second instrnmitlu first threaded connection, said threaded connections being of the same hand.

6. In well apparatus adapted to be lowered in a Well conduit and adapted to operate a tool in the well conduit: a member adapted to be attached to the tool; drag means. on and movable relative tosaid member and en; gageable with the well conduit; a sleeve engageable with the tool yand rotatable relative'to said drag means; a firstV threaded connection securing said sleeve toM a ,portion-of said drag means, rotary movement of said portion being resisted by the well conduit; a second threaded connection between said member and drag means, whereby rotation of said member and sleeve relative to said drag means relatively feeds said member and sleeve longitudinally of said drag means; said member being adapted to be disposed within said drag means with said second threaded connection disrupted and movable longitudinally within said drag means to establish said second threaded connection.

7. `In well apparatus adapted to be lowered in a well conduit and adapted to operate a tool'in the well conduit: a member adapted to be attached to the tool; drag means on and movable relative to said member and engageable with the well conduit; a sleeve engageable with the tooland rotatable relative to said drag means; a first threaded connection securing said sleeve to aportion of said drag means, rotary movement of said portion being resisted by the well conduit; a second threaded connection between said member and drag means, whereby rotation of said member and sleeve relative to said drag means relatively feeds said member and sleeve longitudinally of said drag means; said drag means including drag elements having longitudinal edges engageable with the wall of the well conduit to resist rotation of said drag means in the well conduit.

8. In well apparatus: a Well tool having normally retracted means adapted to be expanded laterally outwardly into engagement with the Wall of the well conduit; setting apparatus for said well tool, including an operating member attached to the well tool, holding means engageable with the well conduit to resist rotary movement of the holding means therewithin, a setting member engageable with said normally retracted means for expanding said normally retracted means laterally outwardly, said setting member being rotatable relative to said holding means, an axial cam connection securing said setting member to a portionfof said holding means, rotary movement of said portion being resisted by the well conduit, and an axial cam connection securing said operating member to said holding means, whereby rotation of said .operating member and lsetting member relative to said holding means relatively feeds said operating member and `setting member longitudinally of said holding means.

9. In well apparatus: a well tool having normally retracted means adapted to be expanded laterally outwardly into engagement with the wall ofthe well conduit; setting apparatus for said well tool, including an operating member attached to the well tool, holding means engageable with the well conduit to resist rotary movement of the holding means therewithin, a setting member engageable with said normally retracted means for eX- panding said normally retracted means laterally outwardly, said setting member being rotatable relative to said holding means, a first threaded connection securing said setting member to a portion of said holding means,.

rotary movement of said portion being resisted by the well conduit, and a second threaded connection securing said operating member to said holding means, whereby rotation of said'operating member and setting member `relative to said holding means relatively feeds said members longitudinally of said holding means.

10. In well apparatus: a well tool having normally retracted means adapted to` be expanded laterally outwardly into engagement with the wall of the well conduit;

setting apparatus f or said welltool, including an operata. Ving* member attached 'to the `well tool, holding'means. engageable with the well conduit to resist rotary movement of the holding means therewithin, a setting member engageable with said normally retracted means for expanding said normally retracted means laterally outwardly, said setting member being rotatable relative to said holding means, a first threaded connection securing said setting member to said holding means, and a second threaded connection securing said operating member to said holding means, whereby rotation of said operating member and setting member relative to said holding means relatively feeds said members longitudinally of said holding means, said second threaded connectionhaving a greater pitch than said rst threaded connection, suchthreaded connections being of the same hand.

1l. In well apparatus: a well tool having normally retracted means adapted to be expanded laterally outwardly into engagement with the Wall ofthe well conduit; setting apparatus for said well tool, including an operating member attached to the well tool, holding means engageable with the well conduit to resist rotary movement of the holding means therewithin, a setting member engageable with said normally retracted means for expanding said normally retracted means laterally outwardly, said setting member being rotatable relative to said holding means, a rst threaded connection securing said setting member to said holding means, and a second threaded connection securing said operating member to said holding means, whereby rotation of said operating member and setting member relative to said holding means relatively feeds said members longitudinally of said holding means, said second threaded connection having a greater pitch than said rst threaded connection, such threaded connections being of the same hand, said operating member being adapted to be disposed within said holding means with said second threaded connection disrupted and movable longitudinally within said holding means to establish said second threaded connection, said holding means including drag elements having longitudinal edges engageable with the wall of the well conduit to resist rotation ofrsaid holding means in the well conduit.

l2. In well apparatus adapted to be lowered in a well conduit and adapted to operate a tool in the well conduit: a member adapted to be attached to the tool; drag means on and movable relative to said member and engageable with the well conduit; a sleeve engageable with the tool and rotatable relative to said drag means; a rst threaded connection between said sleeve and drag means; a second .threaded connection between said member and drag means comprising a thread on said member meshing with a companion thread on said drag means, whereby rotation of said member and sleeve relative to said drag means relatively feeds said member and sleeve longitudinally of said drag means; said member being adapted to be disposed within said drag means with said member thread disconnected from and below said companion thread and said member being movable upwardly within said drag means to mesh said member thread with said companion thread.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,589,506 Morrisett Mar. 18, `l952 2,802,533 Baker Aug. 13, 1957