US3111989A

US3111989A - Perforator for well flow conductors

Info

Publication number: US3111989A
Application number: US8577A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jack W Tamplen
Original assignee: Otis Engineering Corp
Current assignee: Otis Engineering Corp
Priority date: 1960-02-15
Filing date: 1960-02-15
Publication date: 1963-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1980-11-26

Description

Nov. 26, 1963 J. w. TAMPLEN PERFORATOR FOR WELL FLOW CONDUCTORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15, 1960 INVENTOR Jack W. Tamplen ATTORNEY Nov. 26, 1963 J. w. TAMPLEN PERFORATOR FOR WELL FLOW CONDUCTORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb; 15, 1960 INVENTOR Jack W. Tomplen lll' ATTORNEY Nov. 26, 1963 J. w. TAMPLEN 3,111,989

PERFORATOR FOR WELL FLOW CONDUCTORS Filed Feb. 15, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 k 2/ 90 30 T Q 23 43 H9 ll Fig.1 2

INVENTOR Jack W. Tomplen ATTORNEY United States Patent l 3,111,989 PERFORATOR FUR WELL FLGW CONDUCTORS Jack W. 'Iarnplen, Celina, Tern, assignor to Otis Engineering Corporation, Dallas, County of Dallas, Tern, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 15, 1960, Ser. (No. 8,577 11 tllairns. (El. 166-553) This invention relates to well tools and more particularly to perforators for perforating well tubing, casing or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved perforator for perforating well tubing or the like operable by the flexible line by means of which the perforator is lowered into the well tubing.

Still another object is to provide a mechanically operable perforator whose complete cycle of operation is accomplished by upward forces imparted to the flexible line by means of which the perforator is lowered into the well tubing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for perforating well tubing and the like having a punch movable outwardly of the device to pierce the well tubing or casing and then retractable into the device to permit upward removal of the perforator from the well tubing or casing by the exertion of only upwardly acting forces on the device.

A still further object is to provide a device for perforating well tubing and the like having a punch which is movable between extended and retracted positions and having means for locking the punch in its retracted position either after the perforating operation has been completed or before it has been completed whereby the device may be removed from the well tubing regardless of the direction of jarring impacts imparted thereto by means of the flexible line by which the device is lowered into the well tubing.

Another object is to provide a mechanical perforator for well tubing and the like which is operable by flexible line equipment and is relatively short in length so that it may pass through tubing which is crooked or corkscrewed.

Still another object is to provide a device for perforating well tubing and the like having a punch which is movable perpendicularly outwardly through the well tubing to perforate the tubing and which is retractable perpendicularly inwardly from the well tubing thereby preventing any bending forces across the punch which might tend to bend or break the punch during the perforating process or during the retracting process.

A further object is to provide a new and improved periorator for well tubing and the like having a punch, a punch holder and an operator member longitudinally movable relative to theh older and the punch for moving the punch between an extended position wherein the punch extends outwardly of the holder and a retracted position wherein the punch is disposed within the holder.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a perforator which may be employed to perforate the well casing and simultaneously insert an orifice insert in the perforation.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof; wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perpendicular sectional view of the perforator embodying the invention showing the elements of the perforator in operative position during the lowering of the perforator through the well tubing;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical view of the perforator illustrated in FIGURE 1 with some parts broken away showamass Patented Nov. 26, 1963 ing the punch in its extended perforating position in a well tubing;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the punch in its retracted position after the perforating operation has been completed;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 with some portions broken away showing the perforator latched in an inoperative position wherein the punch is held in retracted position;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 66 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal sectional View taken on line 77 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevation of the operator member of the device illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the punch of the device illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective sectional view of the operator member for moving the punch between extended and retracted positions;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modified form of the perforator employable for installing orifice inserts through a tubing or casing wall and showing the insert and perforator punch in retracted position; and,

FIGURE 12 is a horizontal sectional view of the well tool of FIGURE 11 showing the punch and insert in extended positions wherein the insert is positioned in a well tubing.

Referring now to the drawing, the perforator 26 includes an elongate tubular housing 211 in which are longitudinally movably disposed an elongate punch holder 22 and an operator member 23. The housing 21 is internally threaded at its lower end to receive the threaded pin 25 of any suitable stop means 27 for arresting downward movement of the perforator in a well tubing. The stop means may be of the type illustrated in FIGURE 62, page 4156, and FIGURE 54, page 4151, of the Composite Catalog of Oil Field Services and Equipment, 1957-58 Edition. The upper end portion of the tubular housing is externally threaded or serrated as at 28, and an elongate arcuate section thereof is cut away to provide vertical shoulders 30 and to permit the upper portion 32 of the punch holder to be laterally exposed. The housing is also provided with a pair of perpendicularly spaced upper and

lower latch recesses

33 and 34, respectively, and a set screw access opening 35. A set screw 36 may be inserted through the access opening into a threaded lateral bore in the lower portion 37 of the punch holder 22 to hold in place a pin 38 whose outer ends extend into the vertical elongate slots 39 of the housing to limit longitudinal movement of the punch holder in the housing. The punch holder is held in the housing in the lower position illustrated in FIGURE 1 by a shear pin 49 which extends through suitable aligned bores in the lower portion of the punch holder and of the housing.

The upper portion 32 of the punch holder has an outer arcuate surface 4-2 of substantially the same radius of curvature as the outer surface of the housing 21 and has vertical inner side surfaces 43 and 4 4 which engage the vertical shoulders 3t! of the housing.

The guide flange 45 extends laterally from the

shoulders

43 and 44 and oppositely from the outer arcuate surface 42 of the upper portion 32 of the punch holder into the guide slot 47 of the operator member 23 in order to help hold the operator member in longitudinal alignment with the punch holder. The upper and lower portions 3-2 and 37, respectively, of the punch holder are connected by an intermediate portion or section 48 whose outer surface 49 is arcuate and of substantially the same radius of curvature as the internal surface of the housing and is provided with a laterally extending longitudinal flange or tongue 59 which extends laterally in the same direction as the flange or tongue of the upper end portion 32 of the tool holder. The opposite sides 51 and 52 of the tongue engage the

side surfaces

54 and 55, respectively, of the operator member and thus also assist in holding the operator member in longitudinal alignment in the punch holder.

The lower pontion or section 37 of the punch holder is provided with a vertical bore 58 in whose lower end is provided a spring retainer 59 which is rigidly secured in the bore by any suitable means, such as pin 59a. The spring retainer has an upwardly opening bore in which is received the lower end portions of a spring 60 whose upper end is received in the downwardly opening bore of a spring guide 61 slidably disposed in the upper portions of the bore 58, the upper end of the spring guide being yieldably urged upwardly and outwardly of the upper end of the bore. The spring guide is provided with an upwardly facing shoulder 62 which is adapted to engage the downwardly facing shoulder 63 provided by an inwardly extending flange of the lower end portion of the tool holder to limit upward and outward movement of the spring guide from the bore.

The internal bore of the lower portion of the housing is reduced to provide an annular upwardly facing shoulder 65 which is adapted to be engaged by the down wardly facing shoulder 66 provided by a reduction of the diameter of the lower portion of the tool holder to limit downward movement of the punch holder in the housing, and to provide additional wall thickness to provide better support for the

pins

38 and 40. The upper end of the spring guide 61 engages the lower end of the operator member 23 to bias the operator member upwardly relative to the punch holder.

The operator member 23 is substantially circular in cross-sectional configuration and is provided at its upper end with a threaded pin 67 by means of which the perforator may be attached to a string of flexible line tools, such as shown in FIGURE 70, page 4163, of the Composite Catalog of Oil Field Services and Equipment, 1957-58 edition. The narrow longitudinal guide slot 47 of the operator member extends between the

apertures

68 and 69 adjacent opposite ends of the operator member and provides downwardly and outwardly extending

cam shoulders

70 and 71 and

shoulders

73 and 74 which extend angularly downwardly from the lower ends of the

shoulders

70 and 71.

Aligned inwardly opening lateral upper guide recesses 77 and 78 extend perpendicularly from the guide slot 47 of the operator member and have upper portions which provide

shoulders

79 and 80, respectively, which are spaced outwardly from and extend parallel to the

cam shoulders

70 and 71, respectively.

Lower guide recesses 82 and 83 extend angularly and downwardly away from the

upper guide recesses

77 and 78, respectively. The lower guide recess 82 is defined by spaced

shoulders

84 and 85 and the other lower guide recess 83 is defined by spaced

parallel shoulders

35 and 87.

The punch has a base 91 which is receivable in the laterally outwardly opening base recess 93 of the upper portion 32 of the punch holder while the punch extends through a tubular bushing 95 slidably disposed in an aperture 96 of the punch holder which communicates with the punch recess 93. The recess 93 extends through the flange 45 of the punch holder whose additional width contains and guides the base of the punch to prevent the punch from binding in the punch holder. The bushing 95 may be provided with an external annular flange 97 which engages an outwardly facing stop shoulder 99 of the punch holder to limit inward movement of the bushing into the recess 96. The base 9 1 of the punch 9t) is a section of a circular disk having upper and lower arcuate surfaces 109 and 101 which slidably engage the walls forming the punch holder recess 93 of the punch holder.

The base has lateral flanges 192 which are receivable in the upper and lower guide recesses of the operator member 23. Each of the flanges 1112 has a pair of spaced parallel shoulders 104 and 195, respectively, which are adapted to engage the

shoulders

70 and 79 of the upper guide recess 77 and the

shoulders

71 and 80 of the upper guide recess 78 when the punch holder is being moved outwardly to perforating position. The flanges are also provided with

parallel shoulders

106 and 107 extending angularly in opposite directions and from the cam shoulders 1M and which are adapted to be engaged by the

shoulders

84 and 85 of the lower guide recess 82 and the

shoulders

86 and 87 of the other lower guide recess 83 when the punch is being moved from its extended perforating position back to a retracted position within the punch holder.

The surface of the base opposite the punch may be provided with a suitable wear resistant plate 110 which is welded or otherwise suitably bonded to the base and which engages the cam shoulders '76 and 71.

It will be apparent that when the operator member moves longitudinally upwardly relative to the punch holder 22 the plate 119 of the base 91 engages the

shoulders

70 and 71 and is caused by the camming action therebctween to move outwardly between the

surfaces

54 and 55 of the guide slot 47.

When the base of the punch moves past the ends of the

shoulders

70 and 71 and the punch is in its fully extended position, the base is aligned with the

shoulders

73 and 74, which, since they are spaced from the shoulders of the guide recesses 82 and 33, do not contact the base and thus permit inward movement of the punch from fully extended position upon further upward movement of the operator member. Further upward movement of the operator member results in the engagement of the shoulders 106 of the flanges 102 of the base of the punch with the shoulders 85 and S7 of the guide recesses 82 and 83, respectively, and the camming action therebetween causes the punch to be drawn inwardly to retracted position as further upward movement of the operator member relative to the punch holder takes place.

The operator member 23 is provided with a lateral bore 112 below the lateral aperture 69 in which is slidably disposed the latch 114 yieldably biased outwardly by a coil spring 115 received in a bore of the latch. The latch is receivable in the upper and

lower latch recesses

33 and 34 to lock or latch the operator member in either a lowermost position in the tubular housing or in an upper most position therein.

The

apertures

68 and 69 of course permits access to the punch during assembly and disassembly of the perforator and to facilitate the placement of the lateral flanges of the base of the punch in the guide recesses.

In use, when it is desired to employ the perforator to perforate well tubing, a stop means such as the one shown in FIGURE 62, page 4156, and FIGURE 54, page 4151 of the Composite Catalog of Oil Field Services and Equipment, 1957-58 Edition, is secured to the lower threaded end of the housing 21 and the threaded pin 67 of the operator member 23 is secured to a conventional string of flexible line tools, which may be of the type shown in FIGURE 70, page 4163, of the Composite Catalog of Oil Field Services and Equipment, l957-58 Edition. The operative elements of the perforator are then in the positions illustrated in FIGURE 1 wherein a shear pin 116 extends through aligned apertures in the housing, the punch holder and the operator member to releasably hold them against movement relative to one another, and wherein the shear pin 40 releasably holds the punch holder against movement in the tubular housing. The spring 60 now tends to bias the operator member upwardly relative to the punch holder 2 but such movement of course is prevented by the shear pin-116.

The string of flexible line tools and the stop are then lowered through the tubing T until a desired depth is reached by the perforator after which the stop is set in the conventional manner by downward jarring imparted to the string of flexible line tools, to the perforator and to the stop. The stop then prevents further upward or downward movement of the stop and therefore of the perforator.

The downward jarring which is utilized to lock the stop causes the operator member to move downwardly relative to the housing and to the punch holder against the resistance of the spring 60 thereby shearing the shear pin H6 and releasing the operator member for longitudinal movement relative to the punch holder and to the housing. The spring 69 is then free to help the operator member to move upwardly relative to the punch holder and thus insures that the punch 90 move outwardly into engagement with the internal wall surface of the tubing T. At the same time the serrations 28 engage the diametrically opposed internal wall surface of the tubing and tend to dig into the tubing to rigidly hold the housing against upward movement in the tubing string. The engagement of the guide pin 33 in the longitudinal slot 39 insures that no rotation of the punch holder take place relative to the housing so that the punch always faces in a direction opposite to that of the serrated upper portion of the tubular housing.

Upward jars are then imparted to the operator member by means of the flexible line and the string of flexible line tools to which the operator member is secured. Such upward impacts or jars cause the operator member to move upwardly relative to the tubular housing and to the punch holder. The engagement of the base of the punch with the cam shoulders 70 and 71 during such upward longitudinal movement of the operator member relative to the punch holder moves the punch outwardly from the retracted position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to the projecting. position illustrated in FIGURE 2. As the punch moves outwardly, the frictional engagement between the punch and the bushing 95 causes the bushing to move outwardly therewith until the outer end of the bushing engages the inner wall surface of the tubing T whereupon further outward movement of the punch takes place independently of the bushing which is held stationary by such engagement. Such further movement of the punch then causes the punch to pierce or perforate the tubing as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The bushing helps to hold or support the punch during the time it is piercing or perforating the tubing T since at such time the punch is subjected to extremely high column loads.

When the punch has reached its extreme outermost or extended position as shown in FIGURE 2, the shoulders 1 of the lateral flanges 162 of the base of the punch engage the

shoulders

35 and 87 of the lower guide recesses 32 and 83 and further upward movement of the operator member causes the base to move out of engagement with the cam shoulders 'ill and 71 whereby the punch is then free to move inwardly toward retracted position. Continued upward movement of the operator then causes the punch to be moved to retracted position, due to the camrning action of the shoulders 1% with the

shoulders

35 and 87, wherein it moves out of the erforation or aperture formed by it into the punch holder. The operator member is then moved upwardly to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 wherein the latch 11.14 is aligned with and enters into the upper latch recess 33 to lock the operator member against further longitudinal movement in either direction relative to the housing and therefore relative to the punch holder. Further upward jars then imparted to the perforator through the string of flexible line tools then unlock the stop means freeing the whole assembly for movement to the surface.

It will be apparent that outward and inward movement of the punch is along the longitudinal axis of the punch and perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the punch holder and of the tubular housing so that the forces to which the punch is subjected which cause perforation of the tubing T occur parallel to the longitudinal axis of the punch whereby bending or transverse breaking of the punch is precluded, the bushing of course helping to prevent any such bending or breaking.

At any time after the upper shear pin 116 has been sheared and the perforating operation has commenced, perforation of the tubing may be stopped and the perforator withdrawn from the tubing. Such withdrawal is accomplished by imparting downward jars to the operator member by means of the string of flexible line equipment tools. Such jars cause the operator member to first move downwardly relative to the punch holder and'to the housing to the position illustrated in FIG- URE 1, the punch being withdrawn from any position intermediate the positions illustrated in FZGURES 1 and 2 to which it may have been moved during the perforating operation due to the engagement of the shoulders 194 of the flanges 102 of the base of the punch with the shoulders 7t) and 731 of the guide recesses '77 and 78 during such downward movement of the operator member relative to the punch holder. When such downward jars have retracted the punch and moved the operator member to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1, continued downward jars imparted to the operator member through the string of flexible line tools causes the lower end of the operator member to engage the upwardly facing shoulder 120 of the lower portion 37 of the punch holder whereby such jars are transmitted to the punch holder and shear the shear pin ll). The operator member and the punch holder then move further downwardly in the housing 21 until the latch 114 moves into alignment with the lower latch recess 34 and moves outwardly thereinto due to the force of the spring 115 to lock or latch the operator member and the punch holder 32 in the lowermost position in the housing illustrated in FIG- URE 4, the elongate slots 38 permitting such downward movement of the punch holder. The operator member is thus latched to the housing 21 with the punch held in its retracted position whereby the stop may be unlocked and the perforator may be raised from the tubing. It will be noted that this withdrawing operation may be effected prior to the completion of the perforation without the necessity of completing the perforation prior to the withdrawal.

It will now be apparent that a new and improved perforator for well tubing, casing and the like has been illustrated and described which is operated by upward jars or impacts imparted to the perforator through a string of flexible line tools whereby much greater forces can be exerted on the perforator than can be achieved by downward jars.

It will further be seen that the complete operation of perforating the Well tubing or the like is performed by upward jars imparted through a flexible line, the punch being moved both to extended perforating position and subsequently to retracted position by the upward movement of an operator member of the perforator secured to the flexible line through any suitable string of tools capable of transmitting or of imparting jars thereto Whereby greater forces can be imparted to operate the perforator than if it were operated by downward forces since the force of downward forces impartable to a well tool in a well through a flexible line is limited.

It will be seen that pin 38 prevents the tubular housing from becoming separated from the punch holder and lost in the well should the pin 4d be sheared accidentally or should the detent ill i fail. Due to the disposition of the pin 38 in the slots 39, upward impacts tend to shear both pins 33 and 4d simultaneously while downward impacts tend to shear only pin 40 since pin 38 is free to move downwardly in the slots 39.

In FIGURES 11 and 12 is illustrated a modified form of the punch wherein tne punch 91% is shorter in length than the punch 95 whereby the orifice insert 125 may be disposed in the bushing 95. Outward movement of the punch fifia will cause the orifice insert to perforate or pierce the wall of the tubing T and remain in the aperture so formed upon withdrawal of the punch 98 back to retracted position since the orifice insert is not connected in any way to the punch 98 but merely abuts its outer end. The orifice insert has an orifice 126 of any preselected cross-sectional area in order to control the flow of fluids therethrough.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A perforator insertable in a well including: a punch holder, an operator member movable relative to said punch holder, said operator member having means to connect said operator member to means for moving said perforator in a well, a punch carried by said punch holder, means on said punch holder and said punch supporting and guiding said punch for movement along its longitudinal axis perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis of the holder between extended and retracted positions; and co-engageable means on said punch and said operator member for moving the said punch outwardly along its longitudinal axis perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis of the holder from a retracted position within said punch holder to an extended position wherein its outer end extends outwardly of the perforator and subsequently moving the punch inwardly along its longitudinal axis perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis of the holder to retracted position within the punch holder all upon upward longitudinal movement of the operator member relative to the punch holder.

2. A perforator including: a tubular housing; a punch holder and an operator member mounted on said housing and movable longitudinally relative to one another and to said housing, said operator member having means adapted to connect said operator member to means for moving said perforator in a well; means releasably securing said operator member in a first longitudinally retracted position relative to said punch holder; a punch carried by said punch holder and movable perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the punch holder between a retracted position wherein the punch is disposed within said punch holder and an extended position wherein said punch extends outwardly of the punch holder and the housing; coengageable means on said punch and said operator member for moving said punch from retracted position to extended position and then to retracted position upon upward longitudinal movement of the operator member relative to the punch holder, second co-engageable means on said operator member and said housing for locking said punch holder and said operator member in a fully retracted position within said tubular housing wherein said punch is prevented from movement toward extended position, said second co-engageable means including means for locking said operator member against further upward longitudinal movement relative to said housing and said punch holder after a perforating operation has been completed.

3. A perforator including: a tubular housing; a punch holder and an operator member mounted on said housing and movable longitudinally relative to one another and to said housing; said operator member having means adapted to connect said operator member to means for moving the perforator in a well; means releasably securing said punch holder in a first longitudinally retracted position in said housing; means releasably securing said operator member in a first longitudinally retracted position in said housing and against longitudinal movement relative to said punch holder; a punch carried by said punch holder and movable perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the punch holder between a. retracted position wherein the punch is disposed within the punch holder and an extended position wherein said punch extends outwardly of the punch holder and the housing; coengageable means on said punch and said operator member for moving said punch from retracted position to extended position and then to retracted position upon upward movement of the operator member relative to the punch holder, second coengageable means on said operator member and said housing for locking said punch holder and said operator member in a fully retracted position within said tubular housing wherein said punch is prevented from movement toward extended position after said punch holder and said operator have each been moved downwardly within said tubular housing from said first longitudinally retracted position into said fully retracted position and for locking said operator member in a second position with respect to said housing wherein said operator member is locked against further upward longitudinal movement relative to said housing after a perforating operation has been completed, said second coengageable means comprising longitudinally spaced apertures provided in said housing and outwardly biased detent means carried by said operator member.

4. A perforator including: a tubular housing; a punch holder and an operator member connected with said housing and movable longitudinally relative to one another and to said housing, said operator member having means for connecting said operator member to means by which said perforator is moved in a well; means releasably securing said punch holder in a first longitudinally retracted position in said housing; means releasably securing said operator member in a first longitudinally retracted position in said housing and against longitudinal movement relative to said punch holder; a punch carried by said punch holder and movable perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the punch holder between a retracted position wherein the punch is disposed within said punch holder and an extended position wherein said punch extends outwardly of the punch holder and the housing; coengageable means on said punch and said operator member for moving said punch to extended position from rctracted position and then to retracted position upon upward longitudinal movement of the operator member relative to the punch holder, second coengageable means on said operator member and said housing for locking said punch holder and said operator member in a fully retracted position within said tubular housing wherein said punch is prevented from movement toward extended position after said punch holder and said operator member are each moved downwardly in said housing from said first longitudinally retracted position thereof in said housing and for locking said operator member in a second position with respect to said housing wherein said operator member is locked against further upward longitudinal movement after a perforating operation has been completed, said punch holder and said housing having cooperative means permitting limitcd longitudinal nonrotational movement of said punch holder from said first longitudinally retracted position toward said fully retracted position in said housing.

5. A perforator including: a tubular housing; a punch holder and an operator member connected with said housing and movable longitudinally relative to one another and to said housing; said operator member having means adapted to connect the same to a means for moving said perforator in a well; means releasably securing said punch holder in a first retracted position in said housing; means releasably securing said operator member in a first longitudinally retracted position in said housing and against longitudinal movement relative to said punch holder; a punch carried by said punch holder and movable perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the punch holder between a retracted position wherein the punch is disposed within said punch holder and an extended position wherein said punch extends outwardly of the punch holder and the housing; coengageable means on said punch and said operator member for moving said punch from retracted position to extended position and then to retracted position upon upward longitudinal movement of the operator member relative to the punch holder, second coengageable means on said operator member and said housing for locking said punch holder and said operator member in a fully retracted position within said tubular housing wherein said punch is prevented from movement toward extended position after said punch holder and said operator member have each been moved downwardly in said housing from said first longitudinal retracted position and for locking said operator member in a second position wherein said operator member is locked against further upward longitudinal movement after a perforating operation has been completed, and means biasing said operator member upwardly in said housing.

6. A perforator for a well flow conductor including: a tubular housing; a punch holder and an operator member carried by said housing; means for releasably securing said punch holder in a first longitudinally retracted position in said housing; means for releasably securing said operator member in a first longitudinally retracted position in said housing and against longitudinal movement relative to said punch holder; said operator member having means adapted to be connected to a means for moving said perforator in a Well; said operator member being movable upwardly relative to said punch holder; a punch carried by said punch holder movable substantially horizontally between a retracted position wherein the punch is disposed within the punch holder and an extended position wherein said punch extends outwardly of the punch holder to engage and perforate a flow conductor in which the perforator is disposed; coengageable means on said punch and said operator member for moving said punch along its longitudinal axis perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of said tubular housing from retracted position to extended position to engage and perforate the well fiow conductor and then for moving said punch along its longitudinal axis perpendicularly to the logitudinal axis of said tubular housing to retracted position all upon upward movement of the operator member relative to the punch holder.

7. A perforator for a well flow conductor including: a tubular housing; a punch holder and an operator member mounted on said housing; means for releasably securing said punch holder in a first longitudinally retracted position in said housing; means for releasably securing said operator member in a first longitudinally retracted position in said housing and against longitudinal movement relative to said punch holder; said operator member having means adapted to be connected to a means for moving said perforator in a well whereby said operator member may be moved relative to said housing; said operator member being movable upwardly relative to said punch holder from its longitudinally retracted position; a punch carried by said punch holder movable substantially horizonally between a retracted position wherein the punch is disposed within the punch holder and an extended position wherein said punch extends outwardly of the punch holder to engage and perforate a flow conductor in which the perforator is disposed; coengageable means on said punch and said operator member for moving said punch from retracted position to extended position to engage and perforate the well flow conductor and then for moving said punch to retracted position all upon upward movement of the operator member relative to the punch holder, and latch means carried by said operator member and engageable with said housing for locking said punch holder and said operator member in a lowermost position within said housing wherein said punch is prevented from movement from retracted position toward an extended position after said punch holder and said operator member have each been moved downwardly in said housing from said first longitudinally retracted position thereof in said housing and for locking said operator member in an uppermost position after a perforating operation has been completed wherein said operator member is locked against further upward movement relative to said punch holder and said housing.

8. A perforator of the character set forth in claim 2 and including: external projecting gripping means on said housing opposite and in substantially the same transverse area of the housing as the punch holder, said gripping means being disposed to engage the wall of a well conductor in which the perforator is being operated while the operator member is being moved to move the punch between retracted and extended and between extended and retracted positions to prevent longitudinal movement of said housing with respect to said well conductor during such movement of said punch.

9. A perforator of the character set forth in claim 5 wherein said co-engageable means on said punch and said operator member for moving said punch from retracted position to extended position and then to retracted position upon continued upward longitudinal movement of said operator member relative to said punch holder and the punch carried thereby comprises: an elongate continuous outwardly facing longitudinal slot in said operator member having a pair of opposed downwardly and outwardly extending internal grooves formed in the opposite side walls thereof, the lower end portions of said downwardly and outwardly extending grooves extending downwardly and inwardly in the opposite direction to the upper portions thereof, said punch having a pair of laterally extending flanges slidably received in said grooves in said slot whereby movement of said operator member moves said grooves relative to said punch and said flanges ride in said grooves to move said punch first outwardly to extended position and then inwardly to retracted position.

10. A perforator of the character set forth in claim 3 including: a punch guiding and supporting sleeve slidably mounted within said punch holder and frictionally engaging said punch and movable with said punch from retracted to extended position; and an orifice member in said sleeve disposed outwardly of said punch and movable outwardly out of said sleeve by said punch on movement of said punch to extended position.

11. A perforator of the character set forth in claim 7 wherein the co-engageable means on said punch and said operator member for moving said punch from retracted position to extended position and from extended position to retracted position comprises: an elongate continuous outwardly facing longitudinal slot in said operator memher having a pair of opposed downwardly and outwardly extending internal grooves formed in the opposite side walls thereof, the lower end portions of said downwardly and outwardly extending grooves extending downwardly and inwardly in the opposite direction to the upper portions thereof, said punch having a pair of laterally extending flanges slidably received in said grooves in said slot whereby movement of said operator member moves said grooves relative to said punch and said flanges ride in said grooves to move said punch first outwardly to extended position and then inwardly to retracted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,805,515 Denney May 19, 1931 1,815,661 Williston July 21, 1931 2,373,006 Baker Apr. 3, 1945 2,426,106 Kinley Aug. 19, 1947 2,482,913 Jobe Sept. 27, 1949 2,509,608 Penfield May 30, 1950

Claims

1. A PERFORATOR INSERTABLE IN A WELL INCLUDING: A PUNCH HOLDER, AN OPERATOR MEMBER MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID PUNCH HOLDER, SAID OPERATOR MEMBER HAVING MEANS TO CONNECT SAID OPERATOR MEMBER TO MEANS FOR MOVING SAID PERFORATOR IN A WELL, A PUNCH CARRIED BY SAID PUNCH HOLDER, MEANS ON SAID PUNCH HOLDER AND SAID PUNCH SUPPORTING AND GUIDING SAID PUNCH FOR MOVEMENT ALONG ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS PERPENDICULARLY RELATIVE TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE HOLDER BETWEEN EXTENDED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS; AND CO-ENGAGEABLE MEANS ON SAID PUNCH AND SAID OPERATOR MEMBER FOR MOVING THE SAID PUNCH OUTWARDLY