US3181614A

US3181614A - Well packers

Info

Publication number: US3181614A
Application number: US37220A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cicero C Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-06-20
Filing date: 1960-06-20
Publication date: 1965-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 1982-05-04

Description

May 4, 1965 Filed June 20, 1960 C. C- BROWN WELL PACKERS 3 Sheets-Sheet l C/CERO C.BAOW/V INVENTOR. I

mile MM. 24 ATTO/P/VE 5 y 1965 c. c. BROWN 3,181,514

WELL PACKERS Filed June 20, 1960 .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3;" 6 C/CERO CBROWN JNVENTOR.

May 4, 1965 Filed June 20, 1960 C. C- BROWN WELL PACKERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 giww Wild g1? ATTORNEYS United States Patent 7 3,181,614 WELL PACKERS Cicero C. Brown, 8490 Katy Road, Houston, Tex. Filed June 20, 1960, Ser. No. 37,220

4 Claims. (Cl. 166-122) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in well packers.

It is one object of the invention to provide an improved well packer of the permanent type having means for effectively setting and anchoring the packer within a well bore and for permanently maintaining said packer in its set and anchored position.

An important object is to provide an permanent-type well packer device wherein the upper and lower gripping members are molded or otherwise secured to the elastic packing or sealing element and are movable outwardly into gripping position by the deformation of said packing or sealing element; the gripping teeth or projections of the upper member being disposed in a direction to resist upward movement of the device and the gripping teeth or projections of the lower member being oppositely disposed to resist downward movement, whereby after the packer device is once set said members maintain it in permanently anchored position within the well bore.

A particular object is to provide a well packer, of the character described, wherein an expander, which effects deformation of the packing or sealing element and outward movement of the gripping members, is constructed of an elastic material so that said expander, in effect, forms a part of the packing or sealing element; the inherent elasticity or resiliency of said expander developing a force when the packer device is in set position which force is constantly applied in a direction holding said device in set position to assure permanent anchoring thereof.

An important object is to provide a well packer, of the character described, which is adapted to be moved into set position by hydraulic fluid pressure and which has a dual piston and cylinder arrangement whereby increased pressure area is exposed to the actuating pressure and increased force is thereby applied to the packing element and anchoring means to properly set the same.

Still another object is to provide a well packer, of the character described, wherein an annular deformable bridging member may be disposed adjacent the segmental gripping slips of the packer, which member is deformed to bridge the annular gap between the packer and well pipe to thereby prevent undesirable extrusion of the mater al of the packing element upwardly from between the gripping slips.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereor, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and where- FIGURE 1 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a well packer constructed in accordance with the invention and showing the same in an unset position;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view, with the packer in set position;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

3,181,614- Patented May 4, 1965 FIGURE 4 is a partial, vertical sectional view illustrating a modified form of packing element;

FIGURE 5 is a view, similar to FIGURE 1, of another form of the well packer with the same in an unset position;

FIGURE 6 is the packer of FIGURE 5 in fully set position;

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating ing the packer of FIGURES 1 and 2, employed with dual tubing strings; and,

FIGURE 8 is a similar view, illustrating the packer of FIGURES 5 and 6 employed with a dual tubing string.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a tubular mandrel or support having an axial bore 11 extending entirely therethrough. As will be explained in detail, the mandrel or main support 10 has a packing element assembly A mounted on its upper portion with a hydraulically actuated setting means, generally indicated at B, carried by the support below said assembly. The device is adapted to be lowered within a well casing C by means of a well pipe or tubing T, and when disposed in desired position in the casing, the hydraulically acuated means B is operated to deform the packing element assembly A into sealing position. Anchoring means in the form of segmental gripping members or

slips

13 and 13a are embedded in the upper and lower outer peripheral portions of the assembly A and when said assembly is deformed into sealing position the gripping members are moved into gripping contact with the well casing to anchor the device therein.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the lower end of the mandrel or support 10 is externally threaded and has an annular block or base 14 secured thereto; the base functions as a lower piston which co-acts with an elongate cylinder 15 which encircles the support in spaced relationship thereto. The cylinder has its lower portion surrounding the annular base piston 14 and is initially releasably attached thereto by a shear pin 16. The upper end of said cylinder is threaded to the lower portion of an annular abutment 17 which forms the lower end of the assembly A. An intermediate annular piston member 18 is secured to the mandrel and is located within the cylinder 15 to divide the interior of the cylinder into an upper cylinder area 15a and a lower cylinder area 1512 (FIGURE 2); suitable seals are carried by the piston member to seal with the walls of the mandrel and cylinder. A seal ring 19 which slidably surrounds the mandrel is supported on a shoulder with the upper end of the cylinder 15 and engages the underside of the abutment 17, said ring functioning to seal off the upper cylinder area 15a. A second seal 20 is secured within the bore of the cylinder and slidably surrounds the mandrel to be movable within the lower cylin der area 1511.

When the cylinder is in the position of FIGURE 1 with the shear pin 16 connecting the cylinder to the base piston 14, the intermediate piston 18 abuts the underside of the upper seal ring 19 of the cylinder 15. At this time the lower seal ring 2% of the cylinder 15 is engaging the upper surface of said base piston. For directing pressure into the cylinder area 15a, a pressure fluid inlet port 21 extends through the wall of the mandrel and establishes a communication between the bore 11 of said mandrel and the cylinder area 15a between the upper seal ring 19 and the intermediate piston 18; a similar port 22 shear the pin 16, the cylinder 15 and seal rings 19 and'20 move upwardly relative tothe mandrel to 'apply an upward force to the abutment'17.

As has been noted, the abutment17 forms the low'er element of thepacking element assembly. {The particular packing element assembly A illustrated in FIGURE 1' comprises a central annular expander 26 which surrounds'the flapper valve 38 may be pivotally connected tothe lower end of the annular base 14 and the tubular conductor 37 has suificient length to extend downwardly past the flapper valve to maintain the same in open position. An upper seal'39 is disposed between the tubular conductor 7 3 6 and'the bore'11 of the mandrel'10, 'whilea lower seal 39a seals'oh between said eonductor 36 and the annular V f base 14. "The area between the upper and

lower seals

38 and 39, as shown inZFIGURE 1, provides an annular inlet ports 21 and 22fwhich direct pressure to the upper and lower .cylinderarease and 15b. Forconductin'g' tubular mandrel or support 10. Theupper' portion of'rthe expander is formed with an 'inwar'dly andlup'wardly -di-,

rected inclined surface 26a while the lower portion there'- of has an inwardly'and downwardly inclined surface 26b.

spacef ttl which is in communication'fwith the pressure pressure'from the tubing string T and the inner conductor 37 to the annular spaceAi), said inner conductor is formed with a-lradial port 41 which is located between the annular J seals 39.-and 39a. From the port 41, pressure from the An upper sealing ring 27 surrounds the mandrel and has 7 7 its major portion overlying the inclined surface 26a of the expander 26 and above this ring a second sealing ring 28 is provided. An annular abutment 2 9 confines the uppermost sealing ring 28 and is in turn held against upward displacement by a retaining collar 30 which is threaded onto the upper end of the mandrel or tubular support 10. With this arrangement, the upper end of the assembly A is confined against upward movement on the mandrel. 7

Below the expander 26 is a sealing ring 27a similar to the ring 27 except that it is upwardly directed to over: 7

lie the major portion of the inclined surface 26b of said expander. A lowermost sealing ring 28a is located below the sealing ring 27a. The lower end of sealing ring 28a abuts and, if desired, may be molded or otherwise secured to the movable annular abutment 17. It will thus be seen that the assembly A shown in FIGURES land .2 is

' made up, of the elasticexpander 26 and the superposed sealing rings'27,'28, 27a and 28a. Since the upper end of the assembly is held against upward movement, upward movement, of the'lower abutment 17 ,applies an endwise compressive forceto the assembly A, defo rming the. sealing rings and expander in the manner shown in FIGURE For anchoring the packing 'element assembly in the well wise firmly attached to the uppermost sealing ring 28 and at its upper end each slip is formed with'an inwardly directed lug 31 which engageswithin an annular groove 32 provided in the upper abutment 29. Similarly,'each lower slip 13a has its major portion molded or otherwise secured to the lower sealing ring 28a and is formed tubing string may pass downwardly into theannular' passage. '40 and then to the

inlet ports

21 and 22, whereby pressure may beapplied to the under side of the upper and

lower seal rings

19 and 20 and thereby apply an upward force to the cylinder 15, V In the operation of the well'packer, the device, is assembled as shown in FIGURE 1, and is connected to the well tubing string through the shear pin 36. At such time the inner tubular V conductor 37 extends entirely 7 through the mandrel or support 10 and projects outwardly from the lowerend thereof to. hold the flapper valve 38 in open position. When thepacker hastbeen lowered to the point at which it is to be set within the well casing C, a closure which is shown in the form of a ball 42 is dropped downwardly throughthe tubing and inner conductor 37 to engage a seat43 at thelower end thereof to close the; bore of said conductor. Thereafter, the pressure within the tubing string may be built up and this pressure is directed through the'port; 41 in the wall of the inner conductor 37, passes downwardly through the -flowing through ports 21"and V22, pressure, is introduced into the. cylinder areaslSa and 15band is applied to the underside 'of the'upper andlower seal rings 19 and 20, respectively. As explain'ed, the upper ring 19 engages the abutment 17 of the packing element assembly A,

with an inwardly directed lug 33 which engages an an" nular groove 34 in the abutment 17.

With this mounting of the segmental slips, the endwise compressive force which will deform the packing element assembly A into its sealing position will simultaneously. move the upper and lower gripping slips into engagement.

with the pipe wall. By reason of the lugs engaging the

lateral grooves

32 and 34, the slip segments are guided in a straight radial movement which results in their 'grip ping teeth engaging the pipe wall throughout the length of each slip. The upper'slips 13 h-a'vetheir gripping while the lower ring '20 is secured to the cylinder 15 and this application of pressure results in an upward force being applied to the cylinder,15'sufiicient to shear the 'pin 16 and effect an upward movement of the cylinder with respect to the mandrel 10; V

The upper end of the. sealing assembly A is confined 7 against upward'movement by the ,upper retaining collar 50,

30, and as the cylinder 15 is moved upwardly by pressure, an endwise force'is appliedto the packing element assembly. vSuch upward force moves the various parts of the assembly A to the positionshownin'FIGURE 2, i

in which position the elastic members of said assembly have been deformed and the sealing rings 27, 27a, 28,

28a and the elastic expander 26 are in packing position, being retained in such position by the engagement of the slipsfwith' the casing wall; additionally, the inherent i elasticity of. the expander 26, which-is attempting to reteeth directed so as to lock the upper portion of the' packer against upward movement within the pipe while the gripping teeth of the lower slips 1311 are directed downdownward movement within thepipe.

W Y to 9 the lower of the s y .agamrstf These slips aredisposed within theinclined bore of the The mandrel 10 and its associ ted parts are adapted to'be lowered into position by means ofthe well tubingtT,

and connection with the device isinade througha coupling I 35 and shear pin 36, said shear .pin connecting withthe i a upper retaining collar 30 oftheassembly. An inner tubular conductor37 has its upper endconnected to coupling 35 and extends axiallyent-irely through thefdevic'e, .A

" rior of the'mandreln turn to'its normal undistorted position, applies a constant force threugh the inclined co-acting surfaces of the various' seal rings of'the" assembly to seal rings and slipsto assist in holding the unit in anchored positiong To further as'sistin preventing the lower portion of V the assembly from moving downwardly on the mandrel, additional internal locking slips 44 may be provided.

lower abutment 17 and have their te'ethin engagement with the exterior surface of the-mandrel 10f 'It wil1 be evident that when the abutment; 17. and slips 44 move upwardly on th e mandrel, any tendency ,of the ring to move downwardly will be prevented because the slips 44 will be moved into tighter engagement with the exte- After thelpackerhas been set,-it remainsfperrnanently modification of the invention is shown.

anchored in the well casing. When it is desired to remove the tubing T, it is only necessary to shear the pin 36 and to lift the same upwardly to the surface. At any time that the tubing and the inner conductor 37 attached thereto is removed, the flapper valve 38 at the lower end of the device will swing to a closed position, and the device becomes a full plug within the well bore.

It is pointed out that during the setting operation the combined total area of both of the

stationary pistons

14 and 18 and the combined area of

movable rings

19 and 20 are available for the application of pressure. By locating the intermediate piston 18 within the cylinder 15, two separate cylinders are, in effect, provided and thus the area available for force application by the pressure is doubled. The

rings

19 and 20 actually work in tandem and this provides for the exertion of a very substantial force which will assure that the packing element A and its anchoring means 13 and 13a are moved into a firm set position.

Although the packer assembly A consisting of a plurality of co-acting elements has been found satisfactory, other types of packing elements could be employed. In FIGURE 4, a solid sleeve-like packing element 45 is illustrated as mounted on the mandrel 10. Upper and lower

gripping slips

13 and 13a are embedded in the ends of the packing sleeve and when an endwise force is applied to the sleeve, said sleeve is deformed into a sealing position and the slips are moved into anchoring engagement with the casing. As in the first form, the inherent resiliency of the packing sleeve 45 which is tending to return the sleeve to its initial undistorted position, is utilized to apply a continuing force to the gripping slips to thereby assure that the device will remain in its anchored position.

Although the double piston and cylinder arrangement of FIGURES 1 and 2 has been found satisfactory, it is not absolutely essential, and in FIGURES 5 and 6 a Referring to FIGURE 5, the packer includes a central tubular mandrel or support 110 having an annular base 114 secured to its lower end. A cylinder 115 has its lower portion surrounding the base 114 and extends upwardly therefrom. As in the first form the base functions as a stationary piston. An annular seal ring 119 supported within the upper portion of the cylinder 115 is slidable on the mandrel 110 and engages an annular abutment 117 which has threaded connection with the upper end of the cylinder. For conducting pressure into the cylinder area between the seal ring 119 and stationary piston 114, an inlet port 122 is provided in the mandrel and is in communication with an annular passage 140 formed between the mandrel 110 and an inner conduit 137. The conduit 137 has a communicating port 141 therein and seals 139 and 139a seal off between the mandrel and conduit at points above and below said port.

It will be evident that when pressure is conducted downwardly through the inner conduit or conductor 137, such pressure may pass through port 141, annular space 140, and into inlet port 122 to act against the under side of the seal ring 119. Application of force against the seal ring 119 is transmitted to the abutment 117 and cylinder 115 to shear the pin 116 and elfect upward movement of the cylinder and abutment. As has been explained, this action applies an endwise compressive force to a packing element assembly A which is mounted on the upper portion of the mandrel above the piston and cylinder assembly.

The particular packing assembly A shown in FIG- URES 5 and 6 is of slightly different construction than the packing assembly element A of FIGURE 1. Referring to FIGURE 5, the assembly A includes a central expander 126 which is constructed of an elastic packing material and which has an inclined surface 126a at its upper end and a similar oppositely inclined surface 1126b at its lower end. A lower sealing ring 128a engages the lower portion of expander 126 and has a lower gripping slip 113a embedded or molded in its outer surface. A deformable anti-extrusion ring 50 which may be constructed of lead or other readily deformable metal surrounds the mandrel irnmediately below the gripping slip 113a. This ring rests upon the upper end of the annular abutment 117.

Above the expander 126 of the assembly A, an upper seal ring 128 having an upper gripping slip 113 embedded therein is provided. A deformable anti-extrusion ring 51, similar in construction to the ring 50, overlies the upper gripping slip and a retaining collar 133, which is threaded onto the upper end of the mandrel, retains the upper end of the assembly in place.

When the packer of FIGURE 5 is properly positioned within the well casing C, a closure or ball 42 is dropped downwardly to seat on an annular seat 143 at the lower end of the inner conductor 137 and thereafter pressure is applied through the tubing string T. This pressure passes through poit 141, annular space 140 and pressure inlet port 122 to act against the lower end of the seal ring 119. Upon sufficient force being applied, the pin 116 is sheared and the cylinder and abutment 117 move upwardly to apply an endwise force to the lower end of the packing element assembly A. The upper end of the assembly is held against movement by the retaining collar 133 and upward movement of the cylinder and abutment 117 results in a deformation of the assembly A to the position shown in FIGURE 6. In such position, the expander 126, the seal rings 128 and 128:: and the deformable metal rings 50 and 51 are distorted as shown. The anti-extrusion rings 50 and 51 move outwardly into contact with the inner bore of the well casing and at the same time the gripping slips 113 and 113a are set into anchored position. Distortion of the sealing rings and the expander eifectively form a seal with the wall of the casing. As in the first form of the invention, the inherent elasticity of the ex pander exerts a constant force which maintains the gripping slips in their engaged or anchored position. The deformation of the metallic rings 56 and 51 will prevent any flow of elastic material from between the slip segments and outwardly into the annular space between the packing device and the casing wall. If desired, the assembly may be additionally locked in its deformed or set position by gripping slips 144 which are confined within the sleeve 117; these slips function in the manner described with respect to the slips 44 in FIGURE 1, and engage the wall of the mandrel to prevent the lower portion of the assembly A from moving downwardly.

In both forms of the invention, the packing element assembly is deformed into sealing position, and is thereafter maintained in such position as a permanent packer. The sealing elements of the assembly including the expander are all constructed of an elastic material. Therefore, when and if it becomes necessary to drill out the packer, such drilling out operation is relatively easy because it is only necessary to drill off the metallic upper slip segments. No other hard metal need be cut away in order to permit removal of the packer from the casing.

In FIGURES 1, 2, 5 and 6 the well packer assembly has been shown as run on a single string of tubing. It has been found, however, that the particular packers of FIG- URES l and 5 are applicable for dual production and in FIGURE 7 the packer of FIGURE 1 is shown in connection with a dual tubing string. In this case, the bore 10 through the mandrel is somewhat enlarged and an elongate housing 60 having

longitudinal passages

61 and 62 extending therethrough is disposed within the bore. This housing is connected to the annular base 14 by a shear pin 63. A first tubing string T1 has connection with the passage tl and the lower end of this tubing string (not shown) passes downwardly, usually through a second packer, to communicate with a lower production zone. The second passage 62 has a second tubing string T2 connected there with and the lower end of this passage and string is in communication with an upper producing zone. 7 The operation of the packer would be exactly as heretofore described with pressure being applied to the inlet ports '21 and 22 through an inlet port 64 which extends from'the passage 62. Thus, by dropping a ball or closure 42, shown in dotted lines inFIGURE 7, onto a seatat the lower end of passage 62, the tubing string T2 may be pressured up to apply pressure. againstthe ,seal rings 19 and 20 and thereby effect a setting of the packer. p

In FIGURE 8 the form of'packer shown in FIGURE 5 is illustrated in use with'a dual tubing'string. In thisjcase the housing 60 having

passages

61 and 62 extends through;

the bore 110 of the packer and is connected to the annular base 114 by the shear pin 63. The tubing strings T1v and T2 are connected in the manner described with respect to FIGURE 7. Here again, the passage. 62 has the pressure port 64 and when the closure 42 illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 8 is dropped to close the tubing string T2, this string may ,bepre'ssured ,up to apply upward force to the seal ring 118 and cylinder 115. Such application of pressure applies endwise force to thepacking element assembly A to set the same. i

In all forms of the invention a permanent type packer is provided which can be effectively set to permanently anchor the device within a well casing. In the first form of the invention the dual cylinder areas aand 15b are provided to increase the available area against which pressure force may be applied. The segmental

gripping slips

13 and 13a are mounted for movement only in a lateral or radial direction so that the gripping teeth thereof contact the wall of the casing throughout the length of each slip. The application of endwise force to the assembly results in a simultaneous deformation of the elastic ele-, ments of the assembly and of the radial movement of the slips into gripping position.

when it becomeslnecessary to remove the same from the well, is facilitated. V

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof and various 7 changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the v V After the packer is set, it is permanently anchored and retained in position with the normal elastic characteristic downwardly and inwardly inclined surface at its lower portion, an upper annular sealing element surrounding the upper portion of the expander and'co-acting with the upper inclinedsurface thereof, and a lower sealing element surrounding the lower portion of the expander and co-acting the lower. inclined 'surface thereof, the application of an endwise compressive'force to the packing means effecting an outward radial deformation of the sealing elements and the central portion of the expander.

2. A well packer for use in a well pipe including, a tubular support, 'a packingelement. assembly mounted on the support and including elastic packing means, anchoring .mernbers adjacent one end portion of said elastic packing-means and co=actingtherewith whereby deformation of the packing means of said assembly simultaneously moves the anchoring members into gripping position with the well pipe,means on the support confining one end of the assembly against-upward movement, an abutment engaging the'lower, endof the assembly and movable on the support wherebyupward movement of said abutment on the support will apply an endwise compressive force to the assembly to deform the elastic packing means thereof radially outwardly into sealing position with the well pipe, a cylinder and piston carried by the suppont below the abutment, means for directing pressure fluid into the cylinder to cause relative movement of thecylinder and piston, means for transmitting the relative movement of said cylinder and piston to the abuttment to move the same upwardly and thereby deform .the elastic packing means of the assembly into sealing position with the well pipe said elastic p-acking tm'eans comprising an annular expander of deformable material and upper and lower annular sealing elements, an expander having upper and lower inclined external surfaces which aretenga'ged by a complementary inclined surface on the bore of each sealing element, whereby endwise compressive force effects a radial deformation of the sealing eleriients as well as a radial deformation of the central portion of the expander. v V

3.'A well packer as set forth in claim- 1 wherein said hydraulically-actuated means comprises ajcylinder encircling the tubular support in spaced relationship thereto details of the illustratediconstruction, maybe made within the scope of the appended claims without depart ing from the spirit of the invention. What I claim is: t r

l. A'well p ackerfor use in a Well pipe including, a

tubular support, a packing element assemblyr'nounted on said support and 'includin'gelastic packing mearis which is deformable radially outwardly into sealing engagemen-t with the well pipe by an endwise compressive.

force, means on the support confining the upper end of the packing means against upward movement on thesulpport, hydraulically-actuated -means movable on the support and engagejableywiith the lower end of the' packing means whereby operation of sai-d'hydraulically-actuated means deformzsthe packing means into. sealing position, upper segmental gripping slips embedded in'the upper outer peripheral portion of the [packing means, lower seg mental gripping slips embedded in the lower outer periph eral portion' of said packing means, means for guiding each slipsegment in a direction radially of the tubular support, wherebyde'for'rnation of the packing means into sealing position results in a radially outward movement of the upper and lower slip: segments into anchoring en gage-merit withthe pipe wall, said'elastic packing means. comprising an annular expander which encircles the tubu1 larsu-pport and which is constructed of elastic material, 7 I

said expander having itstexter-ior formed withan upwardly and inwardly inclined surfacev atitsupper portion anda and having its upper end secured to and extending downwardly from the lower end of said packing means, a base piston member secured to the support and having the lower portion 'of the cylinder encircling the same, an intermediate annular JPlSIOl'I secured to the'support and dividing the interior of .thetCylinder into two cylinder areas, annular seal rings secured within the bore of the cylinder and co-acting with the base piston memher and the'intermediate piston, wherebythe operating fluid directed into theai'easof the cylinder below said seal rings imparts movement to the cylinder to apply an endwise compressive force to the peeking means to there by deform the packing means into sealing position.

4. A well packer asset forth in claim 1' wherein said hydraulically actuated means comprises a cylinder. encirclingthe, tubular support in spaced relationship thereto and having its upper endrsecured to and extending down:

wardly from the lower end o f-said packing means, a base pistonmember secured to the-support and having the lower portion of the cylinder encircling the same, an

intermediate annular piston secured to the support and dividing the interior of the" cylinder into two cylin der areas, and annular seal rings secured -within the bore of. the cylinder and co-acting with the base piston memher and the intermediate piston, whereby the operating lfluid directed into the Iar'easof the cylinder below said seal rings imparts movement to the cylinder to apply an endwisecornpressive force to'the packing means to thereby deform the packing meansinto sealing position, said tubular support having an inlet port therein located immediately above thebase piston member, and a second port immediately above the intermediate, annular piston,

9 16 whereby the operating pressure fluid may be supplied to 2,652,894 9/53 Brown et a1. 166134 the cylinder from the bore of said tubular support. 2,695,064 11/ 54 Ragan et a1. 166134 2,857,972 10/58 Baker 166204 References Cited by the Examiner 2,884,070 4/59 P tt 166.421 UNITED STATES A S 5 2,903,066 9/59 Brown 166134 2,961,047 11/60 Medford 166123 iggggg Z22 22 g: iggjgg 2,991,833 7/61 Brown et a1. 166-187 2,467,801 4/49 Baker 166120 1 2,609,879 9/52 Webber 166 120 CHARLES E. O CONNELL, Prilmary Exammer. 2,647,584 8/53 Baker et al 166-134 BENJAMIN BENDETT, Exammer-

Claims

2. A WELL PACKER FOR USE IN A WELL PIPE INCLUDING, A TUBULAR SUPPORT, A PACKING ELEMENT ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORT AND INCLUDING ELASTIC PACKING MEANS, ANCHORING MEMBERS ADJACENT ONE END PORTION OF SAID ELASTIC PACKING MEANS AND CO-ACTING THEREWITH WHEREBY DEFORMATION OF THE PACKING MEANS OF SAID ASSEMBLY SIMULTANEOUSLY MOVES THE ANCHORING MEMBERS INTO GRIPPING POSITION WITH THE WELL PIPE, MEANS ON THE SUPPORT CONFINING ONE END OF THE ASSEMBLY AGAINST UPWARD MOVEMENT, AN ABUTMENT ENGAGING THE LOWER END OF THE ASSEMBLY AND MOVABLE ON THE SUPPORT WHEREBY UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID ABUTMENT ON THE SUPPORT WILL APPLY AN ENDWISE COMPRESSIVE FORCE TO THE ASSEMBLY TO DEFORM THE ELASTIC PACKING MEANS THEREOF RADIALLY OUTWARDLY INTO SEALING POSITION WITH THE WELL PIPE, A CYLINDER AND PISTON CARRIED BY THE SUPPORT BELOW THE ABUTMENT, MEANS FOR DIRECTING PRESSURE FLUID INTO THE CYLINDER TO CAUSE RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF THE CYLINDER AND PISTON, MEANS FOR TRANSMITTING THE RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID CYLINDER AND PISTON TO THE ABUTMENT TO MOVE THE SAME UPWARDLY AND THEREBY DEFORM THE ELATIC PACKING MEANS OF THE ASSEMBLY INTO SEALING POSITION WITH THE WELL PIPE, SAID ELASTIC PACKING MEANS COMPRISING AN ANNULAR EXPANDER OF DEFORMABLE MATERIAL AND UPPER AND LOWER ANNULAR SEALING ELEMENTS, AN EXPANDER HAVING UPPER AND LOWER INCLINED EXTERNAL SURFACES WHICH ARE ENGAGED BY A COMPLEMENTARY INCLINED SURFACE ON THE BORE OF EACH SEALING ELEMENT, WHEREBY ENDWISE COMPRESSIVE FORCE EFFECTS A RADIAL DEFORMATION OF THE SEALING ELEMENTS AS WELL AS A RADIAL DEFORMATION OF THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE EXPANDER.