US3011549A - Workover of permanently completed wells - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 5, 1961 J. v. FREDD ETAL WORKOVER 0F PERMANENTLY COMPLETED WELLS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 4, 1956 IN VEN TORS 1961 J. v. FREDD ETAL 3,011,549

WORKOVER OF PERMANENTLY COMPLETED WELLS Dec. 5, 1961 J. v. FREDD ETAL 3,011,549

WORKOVER OF PERMANENTLY COMPLETED WELLS Filed Sept. 4, 1956 6 Sheet-Sheet '3 (/0/7/7 1 Free/d Car/ M. Jc/r wab INVENTORS ATTORNEYS Dec. 5, 1 J. v. FREDD ET AL WORKOVER 0F PERMANENTLY COMPLETED WELLS 6 Sheets-Shee 4 Filed Sept. 4, 1956 (/0/7/7 l Free/o ("ar/ M. Jc/zwab INVENTORJ 1961 J. v. FREDD ETAL 3,011,549

WORKOVER OF PERMANENTLY COMPLETED WELLS Filed Sept. 4, 1956 e SheetsShet er f W do n V. Free 0 M817 .Car/ M. Jcfiwob 57 INVENTORS ATTORNEY) United States Patent C) 3,011,549. WORKOVER OF PERIVIEANENTLY COMPLETED This invention relates broadly to the workover of permanently completed oil and gas wells; and, more particularly, to improved methods of and apparatus for squeeze cementing such wells, or performing other operations thereon in which a substance is to be injected under pressure into the production zone. In one of its aspects, this invention relates to the performance of such operations wherein fluid within the tubing may first be displaced into the tubing-casing annulus and the annulus then isolated from the squeeze pressures.

In the workover of a permanently completed well a hanger comprising a tubular member may be lowered into the tubing and sealed on" above a port communicating the interior of the tubing with its exterior above the well packer so as to extend the effective length of the tubing so that cement or other substance conducted downwardly through the tubing and member may be spotted adjacent and then squeezed into the production zone. The extension hanger also defines a flow path communicating the port with its lower end so that fluid may be circulated downwardly through the annulus to wash excess cement from adjacent said zone and upwardly through the tubing.

It is often desirable to perform a packer type squeeze in which the annulus is isolated from the squeeze pressures to protect the casing. To enable such isolation of the annulus it has been proposed to control passage through the communication between the tubing and annulus by a suitable valve which permits fluid circulated downwardly through the annulus to flow upwardly through the tubing for washing purposes, but which prevents circulation in the opposite, or conventional direction during spotting.

A shortcoming of this sort of installation has been the necessity, in spotting the cement, of displacing fluid within the tubing into the production zone. One suggestion for overcoming this difiiculty has been to control the communication between the tubing and annulus with a velocity type check valve designed to close upon an accelerated rate of pumping downwardly through the tubing. However, as a practical matter, such an arrangement provides no assurance that the communication will be closed at any predetermined interval prior to squeezing of the cement. The consequences of cement being squeezed into the annulus prior to closing the communication and setting up with water therein are so serious as to render the use of a velocity check valve of dubious value.

An object of this invention is to provide a method of performing a packer squeeze or like operation upon a permanently completed well without first displacing fluid within the tubing into the production zone, and with the assurance that the annulus will be isolated from squeeze pressures.

Another object is to provide apparatus for use in performing a packer squeeze or the like upon a permanently completed well, which aparatus enables the communication between the tubing and annulus to be positively closed, and preferably sealed off, at a predetermined interval prior to squeezing of the cement.

Still another object is to provide apparatus of the character described in the foregoing object which may be manipulated in accordance with standard wire line practices and, more particularly, without the necessity 3,011,549 Patented Dec. 5, 1961 ice of removing either the apparatus or the wire line connection therewithfrom the well during spotting, squeezing or washing.

A further object is to provide apparatus including a tubular member especially well adapted for manipulation vertically within the tubing between a position sealing off the port communicating the tubing with the annulus and another position extending the effective length of the tubing and establishing a path for the circulation of fluid between said port and the lower end of the tubular member.

Yet a further object is to provide a novel assembly for locating the tubular member in the first of the positions mentioned in the foregoing object, which assembly permits salvage of the entire length of said member without a correspondingly long travel between said first and the second-mentioned positions.

Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon a consideration of the written specification, the attached claims and the annexed drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters are used throughout to designate like parts:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of one form of apparatus for use in carrying out the method of the present invention, and in a position for either circulating downwardly through the tubing and upwardly through the annulus, as indicated by the broken arrows, in spotting cement adjacent the production zone, or circulating in a reverse direction, as indicated by the solid arrows, to wash excess cement from adjacent the zone;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a position for squeezing the cement into the zone;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, of another form of apparatus for use in carrying out this invention;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are also views corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, of a still further form of such apparatus;

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D are successive detailed views of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 disposed in the position of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are successive detailed views of the lower portion of the apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 4 disposed in the position of FIG. 4; and

FIGS. 9A and 9B are successive detailed views of the upper portion of the apparatus of FIGS. 5 and 6 disposed in the position of FIG. 6.

Referring now narticularly to the abovedescribed drawings, there is shown in each of the diagrammatic views of FIGS. 1 to 6 the lower end of a permanently completed well including a casing 20 perforated at 21 for communication with a production zone and a substantially unobstructed tubing 22 packed off within the casing at 23 above the production zone. As previously mentioned, and as well known in the art, the tubing 22 extends upwardly to the well head (not shown) at ground level and defines an annulus 24 between the tubing and casing above the packer 23. In order that the well may be worked over, the tubing is customarily provided with one or more circulating ports 25 communicating with the annulus 24. As can be seen from each of the above-described figures, the lower end of the tubing 22 may be disposed a substantial distance above the production zone.

Each form of the apparatus of the present invention includes a first tubular member connected as a part of the well tubing 22 at the lower end thereof which is packed off by the packer 23 and provided with the circulating ports 25. A second tubular member is lowerable into the tubing on a wire line for disposal inspaced relation within the first tubular member and at a level to extend the efiective length of the tubing. The first and second tubular members are provided with seal means adapted in a first position of the second member (FIGS. 1, 3 and 5), to establish a How path communicating the ports with the lower end of said second tubular member and, in a second position of the second member (FIGS, 2, 4 and 6), to isolate the annulus 24 above the packer 23 from fluid within the remainder of the well.

In accordance with the present invention, the second tubular member is first located in the first position abovementioned, and the substance to be injected into the production zone is spotted adjacent the production zone by pumping downwardly through the tubing and second member. Also, since, in this position, the second member defines a flow path between its lower end and the ports 25, the fluid within the tubing will be displaced ahead of such substance into the annulus.

According to a preferred application of the method of the present invention, this substance comprises a cement adapted to be squeezed under high pressure into the production zone so as to shut oil the water therefrom. Since the cement will not set except when water is present, only that portion of the zone producing water will be squeezed off, and the production of oil will not be disturbed. More particularly, the substance comprises a diesel oilcement slurry which has the advantage over conventional cements in that it remains pumpable for a long period of time. This characteristic not only provides allowance for breakdowns, but also permits changing of the movable second member so as to shorten or increase the extension thereof, the advantage of which will be more apparent from the description to follow.

In practice, diesel oil is first pumped downwardly into the tubing and followed by the required slurry. Diesel oil is then again pumped into the tubing to circulate the slurry downwardly to a location adjacent the production zone.

With the slurry spotted as above-noted, the wire line is manipulated to locate the second member in its second position for isolating the annulus 24. At this time, squeeze pressures may be established in the remainder of the well by suitable means (not shown) at ground level, and held for a sufficient time to squeeze the slurry into the zone. Obviously, upon bleeding off of the pressure, the slurry which entered the oil producing portion of the zone will wash back into the bottom of the well.

At this time, the wire line is again manipulated to relocate the second tubular member in its first position. The extension of the lower end of the second member to a location adjacent the production zone will permit a fluid circulated downwardly through the annulus 24 and ports 25 and the flow path established by such member to wash the excess slurry from adjacent the zone and upwardly through the member and tubing. Uponcompletion of such washing up operation, the second tubular member may be raised from the tubing to permit a resumption of production, or further workover operations therethrough.

Turning now to a more detailed description of the form of apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a first tubular member 26 is connected, as above mentioned, as a part of the well tubing 22 at the lower end thereof, and a second tubular member 27 is suspended from a wire line 28 by means of a suitable connecting tool 29 for movement vertically within the first member in spaced relation thereto. The tubing is substantially unobstructed in that the minimum diameter through the first member corresponds to the drift diameter of the tubing thereabove. This, of course, permits passage of workover tools, such as second member 27 therethrough, while at the same time maintaining the size of the tubing and casing to a minimum.

The first member 26 is provided with an upwardly facingshoulder 3t) and the second tubular member with a downwardly facing shoulder 31 adapted to engage the shoulder 30 for locating said second member in the member in the position of FIG. 1. More particularly, and as will be described more fully hereinafter, the shoulder 31 is spring pressed outwardly into locating position when disposed opposite the recess above shoulder 30. In this first position, the lower end of the second member extends to a position adjacent the production zone and a sea-ling member 32 on the upper portion of the second member sealably engages with a sealing surface 33 on the bore of the first tubular member 26 above ports 25 to establish the aforementioned flow path communicating the ports with the lower end of tubular member 27. It should be understood, of course, that the term adjacent is intended to include those positions of the lower end of the second member just above as well as below the perforations, the important aspect being that the efiective lower end of the tubing 22 is lowered.

The second tubular member 27 is provided with an as sembly for locating it in the second position of FIG. 2, which assembly includes an upwardly facing shoulder 35 which is supported by a part 35a for movement inwardly out of locating position during passage downwardly through the first tubular member 26 and out wardly into locating position upon passage below a downwardly facing shoulder 34 on the lower end of the first member 26. Thus, upon raising of the second tubular member from the first position of FIG. 1, the shoulder 35 is brought into engagement with the locating shoulder 34 so that the wire line 28 may be held in tension to locate the second member in the second position of FIG. 2. In this position, the annulus 24 above the packer is isolated from fiuid within the remainder of the well by the sealing engagement of sealing member 32 on the second tubular member 27 with a sealing surface 36 on the bore of the first tubular member above ports 25, as well as sealing engagement of another sealing member 37 on the second tubular member with a sealing surface 38 on the bore of the first member below such ports. Thus, with the length of the second tubular member 27 intermediate sealing members 32 and 37 being imperforate, the ports 25 are effectively and positively sealed off, as canbe seen from FIG. 2.

The second tubular member 27 may be securely locked in the first position of FIG. 1 by means of a locking recess 38a on the bore of the first tubular member 26 and a locking part on the second member 27 which may be expanded into or retracted from such recess by manipulation of the wire line 28, in a manner to be described hereinafter.

As may also be seen from the diagrammatic illustration of FIGS. 1 and 2, the part 35a of the second tubular member 27 which supports the shoulder 35 is releasably connected, as by a shear pin 35b, to the remainder of the second tubular member so that such remainder may be raised from the second position of FIG. 2 andremoved from the tubing by jarring upwardly on the wire line 28. In order that substantially all of the second tubular member 27 may be salvaged, and also to keep junk within the well to a minimum, the shoulder 35 and its supporting part 35a which make up the locating assembly are disposed at the lower end of the second memher.

It will also be seen that, in this form of the apparatus, the extent or length of movement of the tubular member between its first and second positions is generally dependent on the distance which packer 23 is located above the production zone because, as previously noted, it is desired that the lower end of the second tubular member extend in its first position to a location adjacent the production zone. In order to decrease any possibility of column action in the second member in a well in which this distance is great, it may be desired to either shorten the extension of the second tubular member or remove the member which is shown subsequent to spotting and replace it with a similar member of lesser extent for the purpose of isolating the annulus during squeezing. Then, upon completion of squeezing, the shorter tool could be replaced by thepreviously used longer one, or at least one of greater extent, for the purpose of washing. Such replacement of the second member would be facilitated by the use of a slurry having a long pumpable life, as previously mentioned.

The wire line connecting tool 29 is provided with unconventionallyv large ports 29a therethrough, so that the wire line and tool may be left in the well during the entire workover operation without substantially obstructing the flow of fluid therethrough. Thus, the tool serves not only to run the second tubular member, but also to locate and lock it in the positions above-described as well as to pull it. Alternatively, of course, separate and more conventional wire line tools may be used for each of these steps. The second tubular member 27 may be lowered by the running tool to the first tubular member 26 and then pumped into the desired position as its seal members enter the sealing surfaces on the first member. Despite the large flow ports 29a in the tool 29, the bore through the second tubular member 27 provides sufiicient restriction to permit such pumping.

' The form of apparatus illustrated diagrammatically in FIGS. 3 and 4 is, in many respects, similar to .that of FIGS. 1 and 2. That is, a first tubular member 41 of this apparatus is connected as a part of the well tubing 22 at the lower end thereof and packed oif as at 23 within the well casing 20. Additionally, the first tubular member 41 of this form of the apparatus is provided with one or more ports 25 therethrough communicating with the annulus 24 above the packer 23. A second tubular member 42 is lowered into, removed from and manipulated vertically within the first tubular member 41 by means of a wire line 28 connected thereto by a tool 29 having large flow ports 29a therethrough.

Still further, the second tubular member 42 of this form of the apparatus may be provided with a springpressed part having a downwardly facing shoulder 43 for engagement with an upwardly facing shoulder 44 on the first tubular member 41 for locating the second tubular member in the first position of FIG. 3. In this position, a sealing member 45 on the second tubular member sealably engages a sealing surface 46 on the bore of the first tubular member 41 above the ports 25 so as to establish a flow path communicating said ports with the lower end of the second tubular'member 42 which is disposed adjacent the perforations 21 into the production zone in the first position. The first tubular member 41 is also provided with a locking recess 47 to receive wire line operated locking parts 48 on the second tubular member for securely holding said second member in the first position of FIG. 3.

As distinguished from the foregoing, however, the means on said second tubular member for isolating the annulus 24 by sealing 01f the ports 25 differs from that of the form of FIGS. 1 and 2. In particular, the second tubular member 42 is provided along an intermediate length thereof with a by-pass assembly-51 which includes a sleeve 52 fixedly disposed concentrically about and in spaced relation to an inner tubular'portion 53 of the second tubular member 42 so as to provide an annular by-pass therebetwcen. More jparticularly, the sleeve 52 carries a pair of spaced apart sealing members 54 and 55 adapted to sealably engage with sealing surfaces 56 and 57, respectively, on the bore of the first tubular member 41 when said first member is located in the position of FIG. 4.

Thus, with reference to FIG. 4, it will be seen that while the ports 25 are sealed off, communication is provided between opposite ends of the second tubular member 42 both through the bore of the inner tubular part 53 thereof as well as through the annulus between said inner tubular part and the sleeve 52. This construction not only permits greater freedom of movement of the 6 second tubular member vertically within the first member, but also reduces thecompressive stresses exerted on opposite ends of the second tubular member when located in thesecond position of FIG. 4.

Furthermore, this form of the apparatus is provided with a novel assembly for locating the second tubular member 42 in the second position of FIG. 4 which permits the entire length of such member to be moved upwardly from said position, so that the travel of such member between alternate positions need not correspond to the distance which production packer 23. is spaced abovethe production zone. That is, although the second tubular member may be of considerable length so that its lower end will be adjacent the production zonei n the first position of FIG. 3, said member need only be shifted that distance required to move the sealing members 54 and 55 between positions below the lower end of the first member and above and below the ports 25, respectively. Furthermore, of course, recovery of the entire second tubular member avoids the necessity of leaving junk in the well.

This novel locating assembly includes an upwardly facing shoulder 58 which, similarly to the locating shoulder 35 on the form of apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, is supported by a part 58a for movement inwardly vout of locating position during passage downwardly through the first tubular member 41 and outwardly into locating position upon passage below a downwardly facing locating shoulder 59 on the lower end of the first member 41. Thus, upon raising of the second tubular member from its first position of FIG. 3, the shoulder 58 is engaged with shoulder 59 so that the wire line 28 may be held in tension to locate the second member in the second position of FIG. 4.

However, as distinguished from the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, the supporting part 58a of the locating assembly of the form of the apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 4 is releas-' ably connected as by a shear pin 58b to an intermediate portion of the second tubular member 42. Additionally, the second member 42 is provided with shoulders 58c and 58d adapted to limit downward movement of the shoulder 58 andpart 58a, respectively, upon shearing of the pin 58b. As will be explained more fully hereinafter these shoulders are so arranged as to permit movement of the shoulder inwardly therebetwee'n so that it may pass upwardly through the first tubular member along with par-t 53a and the remainder of the second tubular member.

The form of the apparatus shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 5 and 6 is also similar in many respects to the form shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that it includes a first tubular member 6% connected as a part of the tubing 22 at the lower end thereof and packed off at 23 within the casing below ports 25 communicating the interior of the tubular member with the annulus'24. Furthermore, a second tubular member 61 is movable vertically within the first tubular member by means of a wire line 28 con nected to the upper end of the second tubular member 61 by a wire line tool 62, although this latter tool differs from the tools 29 described in connection with the earlier forms of the apparatus in'a manner to be described hereinafter. T

'The means for locating the second tubular member in the first position of FIG. 5 so as to establish a flow path between the ports25 and the lower end of the second member 61, whereby cement may be spotted adjacent the production zone, comprises a downwardly facing and outwardly spring-pressed locating shoulder 63 carried by a part 64 releasably connected, as by a shear pin 65, to the remainder of the second tubular member for engagement with an upwardly facing shoulder 66 on the first tubular member 60. A pair of sealing members 67 and 68 are carried by the first member for sealing engagement with a sealing surface 69 on the bore of the first .tubular member 60 above the ports 25 to establish the aforementioned flow path between ports 25 and the lower end of the second tubular member.

With the part 64 of the second tubular member fixedly supported by means of locating shoulders 63 and 66, another shoulder 71 thereon is positioned to engage with an oppositely facing shoulder 70 on the remainder of the second member so as to locate such member in the second position of FIG. 6. Thus, upon jarring down with the wire line 28 to shear pin 65, the remainder of the second tubular member may be lowered into the second position. When the second tubular member is so located by the engagement of shoulder 70 with shoulder 71, the sealing members 67 and 63 thereon will be sealingly engaged with sealing surfaces 72 and 73, respectively, above and below ports 25 for isolating the annulus 24.

Prior to shearing of the pin 65 and while the second tubular member 61 is in the position of FIG. for the purpose of spotting cement adjacent the production zone, the second tubular member 61 is located by engagement of shoulder 63 of part 64 with shoulder 66 of the first tubular member. However, as above described, in order to move the second tubular member 61 downwardly to the squeezing position of FIG. 6, it is necessary to shear the pin 65. Thus, when the second tubular member 61 is raised subsequent to squeezing to a position for reestablishing the how path communicating ports 25 with the lower end of second member 61 to permit excess cement to be washed from adjacent the production zone, additional means must be provided for locating the remainder of the second tubular member.

Such means comprises a plurality of spring fingers 74 at the lower end of the part 64 in position to latch into supporting position beneath ledges 75 upon the remainder of the second tubular member 61 when the latter has been raised above and thenlowered to the position of FIG. 5. From this latter position, removal by wire line of the entire second tubular member 61 including the part 64 is made possible by an upwardly facing shoulder 76 on the tubular member which engages with a downwardly facing shoulder 77 on the part 64 as the second tubular member is raised from its FIG. 5 position to urge the outwardly spring-pressed shoulder inwardly and carry part 64 through the tubing.

The second tubular member 61 is provided with a wire line operated locking part 78 which is cooperable in the first and second position, respectively, of the second tubular member with each of two locking recesses 79 and 80 in the first member 60 for securely locking the second tubular member in such positions.

Turning now to FIGS. 7A to 7B which show in detail the construction of the form of apparatus illustrated diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 2, and beginning at the upper end of such apparatus, the wire line tool 29 will be seen to be threaded at 81 on its upper end for connection with the wire line 28 and to be connected at its lower end to a fishing neck 82 on the upper end of the second tubular member 27 by means of a tangential shear pin 83. As can be seen from FIG. 7A, the shear pin connection is so located as to leave a space above the upper end of the fishing neck 82 and below an internal shoulder 84 on the tool 29 so that the tool may be released from the second tubular member, if desired, upon jarring downwardly. As previously mentioned, however, the wire line may remain connected to the second tubular member during each of the manipulations of the present invention, and thus is intended for use as a running, pulling and shifting tool. Such a practice is permitted by the exceptionally large flow ports 29a through the tool, which tool corresponds in other respects to the Type I Otis Running Tool shown on p. 4015 of the l955-56 edition of the Composite Catalog of Oil Field and Pipeline Equipment.

- As previously mentioned, the form of the apparatus shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 2 is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 7A to 7D in its first position (FIG. 1). In this position, the sealing member 32 of the second tubu lar member is disposed below the sealing surface 36 on the first tubular member 26. This sealing surface 36 will be seen from FIG. 7A to be disposed on the inner polished bore of a nipple 85 which may be connected at its upper end to the remaining portiontnot shown) of the well tubing 22.

The portion of the first tubular member 26 directly beneath polished nipple 85 and the upper end of the second tubular member 27, which is connected by fishing neck 82 to the wire line tool 29, correspond to the Type S Otis Selective Landing Nipple and Extension Hanger shown and described on page 3990 of the aforementioned 195556 edition of the Composite Catalog of Oil Field and Pipeline Equipment. As shown in such publication, and as illustrated in the lower portion of FIG. 7A and the upper portion of FIG. 7B in the drawings, a landing nipple 87 is connected at its upper end to the lower end of polished nipple 85 by means of a collar 88 and is provided with a recess 89 on its bore having the upwardly facing locating shoulder 39 disposed on its lower end. The main mandrel 90 of the extension hanger making up the upper end of the second tubular member 27 is provided with selector keys 91 disposable within the recess 89 and having the shoulder 31 at their lower ends for engagement with the locating shoulder 39 in the recess 89 of the nipple 87 in the illustrated first position of the apparatus.

As can be seen in both the publication and drawings of the present application, the keys 91, and thus the shoulder 31 are urged outwardly by a spring 92 disposed between such keys and the main mandrel 99. Furthermore, the upper ends of each of the recess 89 and keys 9.1 are tapered inwardly and upwardly so that the keys and thus the shoulder 31 are retracted upon upward movement of the second tubular member to permit move ment thereof to the second position of FIG. 2. As can be seen from FIG. 2, in this second position the selector keys 91 will be disposed opposite the sealing surface 36 within polished nipple 85 and thus held in a retracted or non-locating position. 7

The sealing surface 33 on the first tubular member 26 is provided by a polished section on the bore of the landing nipple above recess 89, such that the V-type packings making up the sealing member 32 will be sealably engaged therewith in the first position illustrated. As indicated in FIG. 2, when the second tubular member is raised to its second position, such V-type packings will be sealably engaged with the sealing surface 36 in polished nipple 85. In both such positions, the sealing member will not onlyfunction to direct flow within the Well in a manner previously described, but also will serve to protect the selector keys 91 and recess 89 from debris thereahove.

The locking recess 38a, in the first tubular member is disposed in the landing nipple 87 at a position above the polished section thereof to receive the locking parts 39 on the second tubular member, which locking parts are disposed on expandable and contractable dogs 93. As fully described in the aforementioned publication, the dogs 93, and thus the locking parts 39, are selectively expanded into and retracted from locking position by relative longitudinal movement between a mandrel extension 94-fixedlyconnected at its lower end to the main mandrel 90 and an expander sleeve 95 telescopically arranged around the extension 94 and having the fishing neck 82 at its upper end. As is explained insuch publication, upon lowering of the wire line to a position wherein the selector keys 91 expand into the recess 89 so as to locate the second tubular member in its first position, the sleeve 95 may be moved downwardly relative to the extension 94 so as to expand the dogs 93 outwardly and lock parts 39 within the recess 38. Alternatively, the sleeve 95 may be moved upwardly by the wire line 28 to retract the'dogs from expanded position.

It should be noted, in this respect, that such shifting of the sleeve 95 for expanding and contracting the looking dogs 93, as well as running, pulling and shifting the second tubular member, is made possible with the use of the single connecting tool 29 by means of a tangential shear pin 83 of such strength as not to be sheared except upon jarring downwardly. Thus, the second tubular member would be so jarred only in the case in which it was desired to remove the connecting tool and wire line from its connection with the second tubular member.

Continuing downwardly along the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, and with particular reference to FIG. 7B, the lower end of the landing nipple 87 is connected by means of a collar 97 to a side port nipple 96 through which the ports 25 are disposed.

The intermediate portion of the second tubular member shown in FIG. 7B comprises a bottom sub 98 which connects the main mandrel 90 of the above-described extension hanger with a collar 99 which supports a tube 100 of such length as to dispose the lower end of second member adjacent the production zone, as shown in FIG. 1. This tube 100 will be seen to define, along with the inside diameter of the portion of the first tubular member beneath the ports 25 an annular portion of the flow path connecting such ports with the lower end of the second tubular member. Continuing further downwardly along the formof apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower end of side port nipple 96 is threadedly connected to a sub 101 which, as shown in FIG. 7C, is provided with an annular shoulder 102 supported upon the production packer 23, which packer may be of any suitable well known construction. Although not specifically illustrated in FlG. 70, the first tubular member 26 is sealably received within the packer 23 in a manner well known in the art so that the annulus thereabove is isolated from the annulus therebeneath.

Supported from the sub 101 is another nipple 102a, the polished bore of which provides the sealing surface 38. As previously described, upon raising of the second tubular member to the second position of FIG. 2, the sealing member 37 thereon is sealably engageable with this surface 38 so that, in combination with the sealing engagement of sealing member 32 with sealing surface 36 within polished nipple 85 (FIG. 7A), the ports 25 are effectively and positively sealed off.

As can also be seen from FIG. 7C, the downwardly facing locating shoulder 34 within the second tubular member is provided by a downwardly and outwardly tapered surface at the lower end of polished nipple 102a, and the tube 100 extends downwardly through the polished nipple and shoulder 34 in spaced relation thereto so as to define a continuation of the annular portion of the flow path communicating with the ports 25, as shown in FIG. 7B.

As shown in detail in FIG. 7D, the assembly for locating the second tubular member in the second position of FIG. 2 is connected to the lower end of the tube 100 for suspension in the first position of such second member at a level to dispose locating shoulder 35 beneath shoulder 34 and sealing member 37 beneath surface 38. More particularly, this locating assembly is disposed beneath the shoulder 34 a distance sufficient to permit the lower end of the second tubular member to be disposed adjacent the perforations 21.

With particular reference to the construction of this assembly, as it is shown in FIG. 7D, the shoulder 35 comprises downwardly and outwardly tapered surfaces on dogs 103 which are supported above a tapered expander part 104 on the lower end of a lock mandrel portion 105 of the part 35a. The lock mandrel 105 is in turn threadedly connected at its upper end to a sub 106 forming the upper end of part 35a. and supporting a part of the shear pin 35b for releasable connection with a part 107 suspended from thetubing 100 by means of a collar 108. An O-ring 109 received within an internal recess in the sub 1% provides 'a seal between the part 35a and the lower end of theportion of the second tubular member thereabove. The sub 106 is also provided with a downwardly facing shoulder on its outer diameter to define the upper end of a recess for receiving the V-type packing which makes up the sealing member 37. A retainer-nut 110 threaded about lock mandrel 105 and in abutment with the lower end of sub 106 provides the opposite end of the recess for retaining the sealing member 37.

The expander part 104 on the lock mandrel 105 and inner lower surfaces of the dogs 103 are tapered downwardly and outwardly to permit movement of the latter inwardly upon movement of the second tubular member downwardly through the first tubular member. However, as the second tubular member is moved downwardly to a position to dispose the shoulder 35 of the dogs beneath the shoulder 34 on the lower end of the first tubular member, such dogs together with the shoulder 35 are permitted to expand into a locking position, as shown in FIG. 7D. Thus, upon return movement of the second tubular member upwardly to engage the shoulder35 with the shoulder 34, and with the wire line 28 held in tension, the second tubular member will be fixedly located in its second position. As can be seen from FIG. 7D, the dogs 103 are supported above the expander part 104 and about the lock mandrel 105 by means of a carrier 111 and are urged downwardly to their expanded position by a coil spring 112 disposed between the retainer nut 110 and the upper end of carrier 111.

With the second tubular member located in the second position of FIG. 2, it may be jarred upwardy so as to shear the pin 35b which is weaker than the tangential shear pin 83 connecting the wire line tool 29 to the fishing neck 82 of such member. As a result, the locating assembly including part 35a drops ofi? into the bottom of the well so that the remainder of the second member may be pulled from the well upwardly through the first member and Well tubing.

The form of the apparatus shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 3- and 4 is shown in detail in FIGS. 8A and 8B in the second position (FIG. 4) thereof. As previously mentioned, the upper portion of the second tubular member 42 of this form corresponds to the same portion of the second tubular member 27 of the form of apparatus shown in detail in FIGS. 7A and 7B. Also, the first tubular member 41 of this form corresponds to the first tubular member 26 of the previously described form of FIGS. 1 and 2, except that it does not require a sealing surface such as shown at 3 6. For this reason, the polished nipple of the form of FIGS. 1 and 2 is replaced by a conventional length of the well tubing (not shown), which would, of course, be connected above a landing nipple corresponding to nipple 87 in FIGS. 7A and 7B. As shown at the upper end of FIG. 8A, a side port nipple 113 may be connected at its upper end (not shown) to the lower end of such a landing nipple.

Similarly to the side port nipple of the form of FIGS. 1 and 2, the side port nipple 113 supports a sub 101 having an annular shoulder 102 thereon supported on the packer 23. The bore of nipple 113 is polished so as to provide sealing surfaces 56 and 57-with which V-type packings making up the sealing members 54 and 55 on the second tubular member 42 are sealably engageable in the illustrated position of such member.

More particularly, the sealing members 54 and 55 are carried upon the outer sleeve 52 of the by-pass assembly 51. As can be seen from FIGLSA, this sleeve is threadedly connected at its upper end to a tube 114, which may correspond to the tube of the form of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that it is connected at its upper end to the lower end of the extension hanger assembly (see FIG. 7B). At its lower end, the sleeve 52 the sleeve 52 intermediate each opposite end thereof and the adjacent sealing members 54 and 55. These ports 116 connect with an annular flow path between the sleeve 52 and the inner tubular part 53 of the assembly 51, which flow path bypasses the sealing members 54 and 55 sealing off the ports 25, as shown in the illustrated position of FIG. 8A. The inner tubular part 53 comprises a tube sealably disposed with the sleeve 52 at its opposite ends by means of O-rings 117 to provide a continuation of the flow passage through tubes 114 and 115 of the second member 42.

Continuing downwardly along the apparatus of FIGS. 8A and 8B, the lower end of sub 101 of the first tubular member is threadedly connected to a nipple 119 having a downwardly and outwardly tapered surface on its lower end providing the locating shoulder 59 on the first member. The novel locating assembly shown, in detail in FIG. 8B, is supported from tube 115 by means of a collar 120.

This assembly includes an inner mandrel 121 which is connected to the collar 129 at its upper end and to a downwardly extending tube 122 at its lower end, so as to make up an intermediate portion of the fiow passage through the second tubular member. The part 58a of this assembly which supports the locating shoulder 53 for engagement with oppositely facing shoulder 59, as shown in FIG. 8B, comprises a lock mandrel having an expander part 123 at its upper end and releasably connected, as by shear pin 58!), to the inner mandrel 121. More particularly, and as in the case of the locating assembly shown in FIG. 7D, the expander part 123 is tapered outwardly and downwardly so as to support similarly tapered surfaces on the dogs 1124 upon which the shoulder 53 is disposed. With the dogs 124 supported by a carrier 125 about the inner mandrel 121 above the expander part 124 of the lock mandrel 8a, it will be understood that, upon movement of the second tubular member downwardly through the first tubular member, the dogs and thus the locating shoulder 58 will be urged upwardly and inwardly against the influence of the spring 126. However, upon movement of the second tubular member, downwardly to a position to dispose the shoulder 58 below shoulder 59, the shoulder 58 will be urged outwardly by the spring 126 and the influence of gravity to a locating position for engagement with the shoulder 59 as the second tubular member is moved upwardly from the first position to the second position illustrated in FIG. 8B.

However, as distinguished from the form of apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a portion of the second tubular member 42, specifically tube 122, extends downwardly from the locating assembly of the form of FIGS. 3 and 4, and the second member is provided with the external shoulders 53c and 58d for limiting downward movement of the dogs 124 and lock mandrel 58a, respectively, upon shearing of the pin 58b. More particularly, an internal shoulder 127 on the lock mandrel is disposed to limit downward movement of such mandrel by engagement with shoulder 58d upon shearing of pin 58b, and is spaced from such shoulder a greater distance than is an internal shoulder 126a on the dogs from the limit shoulder 58c on the inner mandrel engageable therewith. Thus, as the pin 58b is sheared to release both the lock mandrel 58a and dogs 124, the expander part 123 on the lock mandrel 58a will move downwardly out of supporting position with respect to the lower end of the dogs 124 so that the shoulder 58 maybe forced inwardly between shoulders 58c and 58d and past shoulder 59 as the second tubular member is moved upwardly through the first member.

At least in the second position thereof shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the upper portions of the first tubular member 6t) and second tubular member 61 of the form of apparatus shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 5 and 6 correspond substantially to the Type S Otis Selective Landing Nipple and Extension Hanger comprising similar portions of the previously described form of apparatus shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 3 and 4. More specifically, a landing nipple 128 is supported from a collar 129 for connection to the remainder of the well tubing 22 thereabove (not shown). Furthermore, the selective landing nipple 128 is provided with a recess 130 on its bore which defines the upwardly facing locating shoulder 66, as well as the locking recesses 79 and 80 above the recess 1311.

The extension hanger which forms the upper portion of the second tubular member 61 is suspended from the wire line tool 62. This tool has enlarged flow ports 62a therethrough, so that it may remain connected to the second tubular member during the various steps of the method of the present invention, and a threaded upper end 131 for connection with the wire line (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Although the tool 62 is similar to the wire line tool 29 described in connection with the first two forms of the invention in that it may be used in running, pulling and shifting the second tubular member 61, it also differs therefrom in several respects. For example, the interior of the tool 62 beneath internal shoulder 62]) is provided with a reduced diameter portion 132, the lower end of which is adapted to rest upon the upper end of the expander sleeve 133 of the extension hanger portion of the second member 61 and the upper end of which is adapted to support in one position thereof an external shoulder on a tubular part 134 engageable at its lower end with the mandrel extension 135 of the, extension hanger portion.

For illustrative purposes, the second tubular member 61 is illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B in the second position of FIG. 6 for sealing off the circulating ports 25 (see FIG. 9B). In such a position, dogs 136 as well as spring-pressed selector keys 137 carried by the extension hanger portion of the second tubular member are in expanded positions to lock part 78 within locking recess 80 and dispose downwardly facing locating shoulder 63 in engagement with upwardly facing shoulder 66 at the lower end of recess 130 in the landing nipple 128. In this second position of the second tubular member, the V-type packings making up sealing members 67 and 68 carried by the portion of the second tubular member 61 beneath the extension hanger are sealably engageable with sealing surfaces 72 and 73 above and below the ports 25 through the side port nipple 1338 supported from the lower end of the landing nipple 128. As in the case of the earlier described forms of the invention, the sealing surfaces 72 and 73 are provided by the polished bore through the nipple 138. This bore also provides the sealing surface 69 above surfaces 72 and 73 with which the sealing members 67 and 68 are sealably engageable in the first position (FIG. 5) of the second tubular member for establishing a flow path communicating the annulus 24 above the packer 23 with the lower end of the second tubular member. Also, the lower end of the side port nipple 138 is threadedly connected to a sub 139 having an annular shoulder 140 sealed with respect to and supported on the packer 23 so as to isolate the annulus 24 above the packer from that below.

As distinguished from the earlier described forms of the invention, the extension hanger which comprises the upper portion of the second tubular member is formed in two parts which are movable vertically relative to one another. One such part which is indicatedat 64- in FIGS. 5 and 6, carries the selector keys 137 for disposal within the recess 136 for disposing shoulder 63 in locating engagement above shoulder 66 on the landing nipple 128 so as to locate the second member in the first position for spotting cement adjacent the production zone. This part also includes an inner mandrel 141 through which the remainder of the extension hanger may be moved vertically. The upwardly facing locating shoulder 71 is disposed on the upper end of the inner mandrel 141 in position for engagement by the downwardly facing shoulder 70 on the remaining portion of the extension hanger so as to locate the second member in its second position for subjecting the cement to squeeze pressures. More particularly, a spring 142 is disposed between the inner mandrel 141 and the selector keys 137 for urging them outwardly into the recess 130. Suspending from the lower end of the inner mandrel 141 of the part 64 are the spring fingers 74 for latching between the shoulder or ledge (FIG. 9B) of the second tubular member 61 so as to locate the latter in the first position for washing excess cement from adjacent the production zone.

When the second tubular member 61 is initially run on the wire line into the first tubular member 60, the part 64 thereof is releasably connected to the remainder thereof by means of shear pin 65, as shown in FIG. 5, for supporting the shoulder 76 spaced above the locating shoulder 71 on the part 64 a distance equal to that required to lower sealing members 67 and 68 into sealing relation above and belowports 25. At this time, the wire line tool 62 is connected to the tubular part 134 by means of tangential shear pin 143 (shown sheared in FIG. 9A) so that the lower end of the external shoulder on the part 134 is disposed adjacent the upper end of reduced diameter portion 132 of the wire line tool 62. With the wire linetool and tubular part 134 so connected, the tangential shear pin 144 connecting the tool beneath reduced diameter portion 132 to the fishing neck of the expander sleeve 133 of the extension hanger will dispose the upper end of such sleeve above that of the extension 135.

In this relative position of the expander sleeve, the dogs 136 will be in a retracted position opposite the recess 79, as shown in FIG. 5. That is, the second tubular member will be located in its first position of FIG. for use in spotting cement adjacent the production zone by means of the releasable connection 65 between the landed part 64 and the remainder of said member. Since the circulation of fluid involved during this initial step of the process is downwardly, the oppositely facing shoulders 63 and 66 serve to resist downward movement of the second tubular member so that the wire line need not be manipulated to expand the locking parts 78 of the dogs 136 into the locking recess 79 of the landing nipple 128.

Subsequent to the required circulation downwardly through the tubing and second tubular member for spotting cement, the second tubular member 61 may be jarred downwardly by the wire line 28 so as to shear the radial shear pins 65 releasably connecting the part 64 to the remainder of the second tubular member. That is, since the part 64 is landed against downward movement by means of shoulders 63 and ,66, and further since the tangential shear pin 143 is stronger than the shear pins 65, a downward jar will first shear the pins 65. This shearing of pins 65 permits the remainder of the second member 61 to be moved downwardly through mandrel 141 of the part 64 thereof to a position for locating the second member in its second position by landing the annular shoulder 79 at the lower end of such remainder upon the oppositely facing shoulder 71 on the upper end of part 64, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9A.

At this time, the locking part 78 on dogs 136 are disposed opposite the lower of the locking recesses 80 in the landing nipple 128. Upon further jarring downwardly, the upper tangential shear pin 143 between the wire line tool 62 and tubular part 134 will be sheared. This shearing occurs since the tubular part 134 is fixed against further downward movement due to the engagement of locating shoulders 76 and 71, while, at the same time, sleeve 133 is free to move downwardly relative to extension 135.

Thus, upon shearing of the tangential pin 143, the sleeve 133 is moved downwardly with respect to extension 135 to expand the locking part 78 on the dogs136 into locking position with respect to locking recess 80. This, of

course, disposes the second tubular member 61 in the second position shown in FIG. 6 as well as 9A and 9B so that the circulating ports 25 are sealed 011 by means of sealing members 67 and 68 to isolate the annulus 24 from fiuid within the remainder of the well. At this time,- the spotted cement may be subjected to squeeze pressures.

When it is then desired to relocate the second tubular member 61 in the first position for circulating downwardly through the annulus 24 and upwardly through the second tubular member and tubing to wash excess cement from adjacent the production zone, it is merely necessary to raise the second tubular member 61 by means of the wire line to a level just above such first position. At this level, the ledge 75 on the remainder of the second tubular member will be disposed just above the latches 145 on the lower end of the spring fingers 74 on part 64, so that, upon return movement of the second tubular member downwardly, the remainder of such member will again be supported from the landed part 64.

Also, in this first position of the second tubular member, the locking parts 78 of the dogs 136 will again be disposed opposite the upper locking recess 79. Since the locating shoulders 63 and 66 will not serve to resistthe circulation of fluid upwardly, as is contemplated by the washing step in this position of the second member 61, the wire line is again manipulated to lower the sleeve 133 relative to the extension 135 for expanding the dogs 136 and moving the locking parts 78 into locked position within the recess 79. Obviously, when this final step of washing is completed, the second tubular member is merely lifted by the wire line so as to raise the sleeve 133 relative to the extension 135 and thus collapse the dogs and expander part 78 from locking position.

Further raising of the wire line will bring upwardly facing shoulder 76 (FIG. 9B) into engagement with oppositely facing shoulder 77 on part 64. Since, as previously described, the upper ends of both recess and spring pressed selector keys 137 are tapered inwardly and upwardly, the part 64 may thus be moved upwardly from its landed position and removed from the first tubular member 60 and tubing 22 along with the remainder of the second tubular member 61.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that the wire line tool 62 may remain connected to the sleeve 133 by means of the tangential shear pin 144, so that it is useable to run, pull, and shift the second tubular member in the manner above-described. Alternatively, of course, and as mentioned with respect to the wire line tool 29 of the other forms of the invention, the second tubular member may be jarred upwardly so as to shear the tangential pin 144 and permit removal of tool 62 and part 134, in which case the second tubular member may be shifted as well as pulled by one or more different wire line tools adapted to be connected to the fishing neck of sleeve 133.

Since the details of the extension hanger forming the upper portion of the second tubular member 61 are so similar to those shown and described in connection with the aforementioned publication, as well as in connection with the apparatus shown in FIG. 7A, it is unnecessary to repeat them here. It will be noted, however, that for v the purpose of protecting the selector keys and recess in the landing nipple from debris within the wellthereabove, a sealing member 146 is carried by the second tubular member for sealably engaging, in the second position thereof, a sealing surface 147 on the polished bore of the landing nipple 128 intermediate locking recess 80 and the selector key recess 130, and, in the first position thereof, another such surface 147a above recess 80. As shown in FIG. 9A, this sealing member may be composed of V- type packing and is carried between a downwardly facing external shoulder on thesecond tubular member 61 and a retaining nut 148 threaded about a tube 148a thread 'edly connected to the lower end of dog holder beneath mandrel extension and forming therewith a continuation of the internal diameter of the extension hanger.

As shown, the downwardly facing locating shoulder 70' on the second tubular member is disposed on the lower face of the retaining nut 148.

Continuing downwardly along the second tubular member 61, and with reference now to FIG. 9B, the lower end of the tube 143a is threadedly connected to a sub 149 which carries a part of the shear pins 65 as well as the downwardly facing latching shoulder or ledge 75. This sub 149 also cooperates with a lower sub 151 suspended therefrom to carry the sealing members 67 and 68 disposed on opposite sides of a spacer 150. A tube 152 connected to the lower end of lower sub 151 may extend for any desired length, as indicated in FIGS. and 6.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the method and apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention Without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having been described, What is claimed is:

1. A method of performing a packer squeeze or like operation on a permanently completed well, wherein a tubing extending downwardly from the wellhead is packed off within the well casing above the production zone and beneath a port in the tubing to provide an annulus above the pack elf, comprising the steps of conducting cement downwardly through the tubing to displace fluid adjacent the production zone into the annulus above the packer and spot the cement adjacent the production zone, then isolating the annulus above the packer from fluid within the remainder of the well at a predetermined time interval prior to squeezing the cement, squeezing the cement into the production zone while the annulus is isolated, and then washing excess cement from adjacent said zone upwardly through the tubing.

2. A method of working over a permanently completed well, wherein a tubing extending downwardly from the wellhead is packed off within the well casing above the production zone and beneath a port in the tubing to provide an annulus above the pack off, comprising the steps of conducting a substance to be injected into the production zone downwardly through the tubing to displace fluid adjacent the production zone into the annulus and locate said substance adjacent said zone, then sealing oil said port to isolate the annulus from fluid within the remainder of the well, pressurizing such last-mentioned fluid to squeeze the substance into said zone while the annulus is isolated, and then circulating fluid downwardly through the annulus and port to wash an excess of said substance from adjacent said zone and upwardly into the tubing.

3. A method of working over a permanently completed well, wherein a tubing extending downwardly from the wellhead is packed off within the well casing above the production zone and beneath a port in the tubing to provide an annulus above the pack off, comprising the steps of establishing a path for the circulation of fluid downwardly through and past the lower end of the tubing and upwardly into the annulus through the port above the packer, conducting a substance to be injected into the production zone downwardly through the tubing to a location adjacent said production zone while said path is established to displace fluid adjacent the production zone into the annulus above the portion of the tubing which is packed off, then sealing off said port to isolate said annulus from fluid within the remainder of the Well, pressurizing such last-mentioned fluid to squeeze the substance into said zone while the annulus is isolated, then establishing a path for the circulating of fluid downwardly through said annulus and port past the lower end of the tubing and upwardly into the tubing, and circulating fluid downwardly through said annulus upon the establishment of said last-mentioned path to wash an excess of said substance from adjacent said zone and upwardly through the tubing.

4. A method of working over a permanently completed well, wherein a tubing extending downwardly from the wellhead is packed off within the'well casing above the production zone and below a port in the tubing to provide an annulus above the pack off, comprising the steps of locating a tubular member at a level within the tubing and with the lower end of said tubular member extending below the tubing for extending the efiective lower end of said tubing and in which a space between the tubular member and tubing is sealed off above the port to establish a flow path communicating said port with the lower end of the tubular member, conducting a substance to be injected into the production zone downwardly through the tubing and tubular member to a location adjacent said zone While the flow path is established to displace fluid adjacent the production zone into the annulus above the portion of the tubing which is packed off, then manipulating one of said tubular member and tubing relative to the other for sealing off between an imperforate length of the tubular member and the tubing above and below the port to isolate the annulus from fluid within the tubing, subjecting such last-mentioned fluid within the tubing to pressures for squeezing said substance into said zone while the annulus is isolated, again manipulating one of the tubular member and tubing relative to the other for sealing off between the tubular member and tubing above the port to establish a flow path communicating said port with the lower end of the tubular member, and circulating a fluid downwardly through the annulus and last-mentioned flow path to wash an excess of the substance from adjacent said zone and upwardly through said tubular member and tubing.

5. A method of working over a permanently completed well as defined in claim 4, wherein the tubular member is moved vertically within the tubing to alternately establish said flow paths and isolate said annulus above the packer.

6. Apparatus for use in workover operations on a permanently completed well comprising a casing and a tubing positioned therein, and wherein a first tubular member is connected as a part of the well tubing at the lower end thereof with a portion packed off within the casing to provide an annulus above the pack off, a port in said first tubular member above the portion thereof packed off, said apparatus comprising a second tubular member movable vertically within said first member in spaced relation thereto for extension therebelow, coengageable and releasable means on said first and second members for positioning said second member in vertically spaced apart positions relative to said first member and releasable for permitting movement of the second member from the first of these positions to a second position and then back to the first position, and seal means on said first and second tubular members cooperable, in the first of said spaced apart positions, to seal off between said tubular members above said port to establish a flow path communicating said port with the lower end of said second tubular member, and, in the second of said spaced apart positions, to seal off the port in said first tubular member to isolate the annulus about the well tubing above the portion of the first tubular member packed ofi from fluid within the remainder of the well.

7. Apparatus for use in workover operations on a permanently completed well comprising a casing and a tubing positioned therein, and wherein a first tubular mem ber is connected as a part of the well tubing at the lower 'end thereof with a portion packed ofl within the casing to member in spaced relation thereto for extension therebelow, coengageable and releasable means on said first and second members for positioning said second member in vertically spaced apart positions relative to said first member and releasable for permitting movement of the second member from one of these positions to another position and then back to said one position, and means on said first and second members for sealing therebetween above said port in said one position to seal olf between said members above the port to provide a flow path communicating said port with the lower end of said second tubular member, and for sealing between said first and second members above and below said port in the other position for preventing communication between said port and the lower end of said second member.

8. Apparatus for use in workover operations on a permanently, completed well comprising a casing and a tubing positioned therein, and wherein a first tubular member is connected as a part of the well tubing at the lower end thereof with a portion packed off within the casing to provide an annulus above the pack off, a port through said member above the portion thereof packed off, said apparatus comprising a second tubular member movable vertically within said first tubular member in spaced relation thereto for extension therebelow, an upwardly facing locating shoulder within the first tubular member, sealing surfaces on the bore of said first tubular member above and below said port, an additional sealing surface on said boreabove the port and vertically spaced from the first-mentioned sealing surface above said port, a downwardly facing locating shoulder on said second tubular member for abutment, in one position of said second member, with the upwardly facing shoulder within said first tubular member and releasable for permitting movement of said second tubular member to another position vertically spaced from said one position, seal means on the second member for sealing with said additional sealing surface on the first member, when located in said one position, to establish a fiow path communicating said port with the lower end of said second tubular member, a downwardly facing locating shoulder within said first member, and an upwardly facing locating shoulder on said second member for abutment in said another vertical position with the downwardly facing shoulder on said first member and releasable therefrom to permit return of said second member to said one position, seal means on said second member for sealing with the sealing surfaces on the bore of the first member above and below the port therethrough, in said another position of the second member, to prevent communication between the port and the lower end of said second tubular member, a locking recess in the bore of said first tubular member, and a locking part on the second member disposable in said recess when said second member is in said one position.

9. Apparatus for use in work-over operations on a permanently completed well comprising a casing and a tubing positioned therein, and wherein a first tubular member is connected as a part of the well tubing at the lower end thereof with a portion packed off within the casing to provide an annulus above the pack off, a port through said member above the portion thereof packed off, said apparatus comprising a second tubular member movable vertically within said first tubular member in spaced relation thereto for extension therebelow, said second tubular member comprising a first part rele'asably connected to a second part in telescoping relation thereto, an upwardly facing locating shoulder within the first tubular member, sealing surfaces on the bore of said first tubular member above and below said port, an additional sealing surface on said bore above the port and vertically spaced from the first-mentioned sealing surface above the port, a downwardly facing locating shoulder on the first part of said second tubular member for abutment,

in one position of said second tubular member, with the upwardly facing shoulder within the first tubular memher, the connection between the first and second parts of said second tubular member being releasable to permit movement of said second part to another position vertically spaced from its said one position, seal means on the second tubular member for sealing with said additional sealing surfaces on the first member, when located and second parts of the second tubular member abuttablein said another position of the second part and releasable therefrom to permit return of said second member to said one position, seal means on said second part for sealing with the sealing surfaces on the bore of the first member above and below the port therethrough in said another position of said second part to prevent communication between the port and the lower end of said second tubular member, a locking recess in the bore of said first tubular member, and a locking part on the second part of the second tubular member disposable in said recess when said second part is in said one vertical position.

10. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 9, wherein said first tubular member is provided with another locking recess in its bore, and the locking part which is disposable in the first-mentioned recess in said one position of the second tubular member is also disposable in the other recess in said another position thereof.

11. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 9, wherein said first part has means for suspending the second part of the second tubular member in the said one position of said second tubular member upon release of said connection.

12. Apparatus for use in workover operations on a permanently completed well comprising a casing and a tubing positioned therein, and wherein a first tubular member is connected as a part of the well tubing at the lower end thereof with a portion packed off within the casing to provide an annulus above the pack off, a port through said member above the portion thereof packed off, said apparatus comprising a second tubular member movable vertically within said first tubular member in spaced relation thereto for extension therebelow, an upwardly and a downwardly facing locating shoulder in the bore of the first tubular member, sealing surfaces on the bore of the first tubular member above and below said port, an additional sealing surface on said bore above the port and vertically spaced from the first-mentioned sealing surface above said port, an upwardly facing locating shoulder on said second tubular member for abutment in one position of said second tubular member with the downwardly facing shoulder on said first tubular member and releasable for permitting movement of said second member to another position vertically spaced from said one position, a downwardly facing shoulder on said second tubular member for abutment in said another position thereof with the upwardly facing shoulder of said first tubular member and releasable for permitting movement of said second member to said one position, and means for locking the second tubular member in said another position within the first tubular member, seal means on the second member for sealing in said one position with said first-mentioned sealing surfaces on the first member above and below said port to prevent communication between said port and the lower end of said second member, and with said additional sealing surface in said another position to establish a flow path communicating said port with said lower end of said second member, said downwardly facing shoulder of the first tubular member being disposed in the lower end thereof, and said second member comprising a first part relcasably 19 Connected to a second part with said upwardly facing shoulder on said second member being disposed on said first part.

13: Apparatus of the character defined in claim 12, wherein the upwardly facing shoulder on the first part of said second member is movable inwardly upon movement of the second member downwardly through the first member.

14. An assembly for releasably locking an inner tubular member against movement upwardly within an outer tubular member, comprising a body connectable to the inner tubular member, a mandrel movably mounted on the body, means releasably connecting the mandrel to the body to normally prevent such movement, a dog having a locking part thereon and carried by the body for movement vertically therealong above the mandrel, an expander part on the mandrel for moving the locking part of the dog outwardly into locking position upon movemerit of the dog downwardly along the body, spaced external shoulders on the body, and internal shoulders on the dog and mandrel engageable, upon release of the connection of the mandrel with the body, with said external shoulders on the body for limiting downward movement 20 of the dog and mandrel, rspectively, said internal shoulder on the mandrel being initially spaced from its external limiting shoulder a distance greater'than the distance the internal shoulder on the dog is initially spaced from its external limiting shoulder, so that the locking part may be forced inwardly out of locking position intermediate said external limiting shoulders upon release of said connection 15. An assembly of the character defined in claim 14,

including spring means urging said dog downwardly along the body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,187,480 Baker Jan; 16, 1940 2,189,703 Burt et al. Feb. 6, 1940 2,673,614 Miller Mar. 30, 1954 2,726,724 Wilhoit et al. Dec. 13, 1955 2,749,989 Huber June 12, 1956 2,760,578 Tausch Aug. 28, 1956 2,772,738 Tausch Dec. 4, 1956 2,798,559 Fredd July 9, 1957 2,884,071 Fredd Apr. 28, 1959

Images