US3295606A - Combination squeeze and full bore production packer with connected upper downwardly, and lower upwardly, biting slip jaw segments - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 3, 1967 G. A. BUMPERS COMBINATION SQUEEZE AND FULL BORE PRODUCTION PAGKER WITH CONNECTED UPPER DOWNWARDLY, AND LOWER UPWARDLY, BITING SLIP JAW SEGMENTS Filed Feb. 17, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 GEORGE A. BUMPEES INVENTOR INA/56 5714! A TTORNE Y Jan. 3, 1967 e. A. BUMPERS 3,295,506

RODUCTION PACKER WITH CONNECTED UPPER DOWNWARDLY, AND LOWER COMBINATION SQUEEZE AND FULL BORE P UPWARDLY, BITING SLIP JAW SEGMENTS 5 Sheets$heet 2 Filed Feb. 17, 1964 INVENTOR BY %.5. 2

ATIOENEV I .5 5 GaozazABumPsks FLU/,UQ

G. A. BUMPERS 3,295,606

RODUCTION PACKER R DOWNWARDLY, AND LOWER Jan. 3, 1967 COMBINATION SQUEEZE AND FULL BORE P WITH CONNECTED UPPE UPWARDLY, BITINQ' SLIP JAW SEGMENTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 17, 1964 UPPER PACKER I N VEN'IOR Gsoeae ,4. B UMPEES 7 E IJY M2 F W ATTORNEY 1967 5. A. BUMPERS 3,

COMBINATION SQUEEZE AND FULL BORE PRODUCTION PACKER WITH CONNECTED UPPER DOWNWARDLY, AND LOWER UPWARDLY, BITING SLIP JAW SEGMENTS Filed Feb. 17, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet s fill A F icyl 3 IN V I N 0R GEORGE A. BUMPERS A TTOE/VEY Unitcd States Patent O 3,295,606 COMBINATION SQUEEZE AND FULL BORE PRO- DUCTION PACKER WITH CONNECTED UPPER DOWNWARDLY, AND LOWER UPWARDLY, BIT- ING SLIP JAW SEGMENTS George A. Bumpers, 8406 W. Little York Road, Houston, Tex. 77040 Filed F eb. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 345,513 18 Claims. (Cl. 166131) This application is a continuation-in-part application of application Serial No. 287,000, filed June 11, 1963, for Combination Squeeze and Full Bore Production Packer, and now abandoned. The invention relates to a novel and improved combination squeeze and full bore production packer of the type which may be lowered into a well bore with an equalization valve establishing communication between the interior of the packer and the well bore annulus, such packer having an upper packer assembly to be set for production purposes above the slips and alternatively a lower packer assembly to be set below the slips for squeezing and high pressure operations, the packers carrying the slips, and the slips carried thereby, being capable of adaptation to serve in a multiple of other usages.

As a primary object, this invention sets out to provide a packer having successively from top to bottom a three position valve, an upper packer assembly, slips with oppositely biting slip jaws on unitary slip segments, and a lower packer assembly whereby the packer may be employed selectively for production at lower pressures or for squeezing and other high pressure operations.

Another and important object of the invention, is to provide slips having oppositely biting slip jaws at opposite ends of unitary, slip segments, the slip jaw teeth being tapered to smaller diameter at the segment ends, the slip segments being pivoted centrally thereby avoiding the use of separate upper and lower slips with oppositely biting slip jaws. 7

Another and further object of the invention is to provide a packer of this class which may be changed from a low pressure production packer to a high pressure or squeeze packer without the necessity of making a trip out of the well.

Another and further object of this invention is to provide a packer of this class which has a uniform inner diameter or full bore therethrough.

Another and further object of the invention is to provide a packer of this class in which the function of the packer may be changed from low pressure production to high pressure squeezing and other operations by a minimum of longitudinal movement of the tubing string on which the packer is installed.

Another and further object of the invention is to provide a packer of this class which is inexpensively constructed, simple in operation, and which can be relied upon to give positive performance in the selective positions in which it may be employed.

Also as an important object, the invention sets out to provide slips of a particular character having slip segments each including oppositely biting jaws connected by a leaf spring element.

Also as another important object, the invention sets out to provide a drag and slip assembly in which the slip segments each include oppositely biting slip jaws on integrally connected slip segments.

Additionally, as another and particular object, the invention sets out to provide slips of this class having antifriction or drag elements for each anti-friction segment which include two abutting parts with hold-down means therefor.

3,295,606 Patented Jan. 3, 1967 Additionally, as another and further object, the invention sets out to add as an improvement a drag member sleeve fabricated to include anti-friction mounting means as an integral part thereof.

Other and further objects will be apparent when the specification herein is considered with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a packer embodying the invention being lowered into a well bore, slip assembly drag elements being omitted for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the packer disclosed in FIG. 1 with the upper packer assembly set so that the packer may be employed as a low pressure or production tool;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the packer shown in FIG. 2 in relative position with relation to its disposition in FIG. 2, when the lower packer assembly has been set and the tool is used for squeezing or high pressure operations; the friction or drag elements which engage the casing being omitted in FIGS. 1-3 for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 4A is a sectional elevation of the upper part of the tool shown in FIGS. 1-3, inclusive;

FIG. 4B is a sectional elevation of the central part of the packer shown in FIGS. 1-3, inclusive;

FIG. 4C is a sectional elevation of the lower part of the packer shown in FIGS. 1-3, inclusive;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional plan view of slip and drag details, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4B, and shown to larger scale;

FIG. 6 is a sectional elevation taken along line 66 of FIG. 5, the slip mandrel being omitted;

FIG. 7 'is an enlarged sectional elevational view of packing spacer and port details, shown to larger scale thin in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 8 is a development view of position shifting lug and slot positions, as viewed from positions indicated along line 88 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a sectional bottom view of a slip and drag assembly taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 10, to be hereinbelow described;

FIG. 10 is a sectional elevational View taken along line 1010 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view taken along line 1111 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is an elevational view, part in section, of a preferred form of slip and drag assembly, comprised by a part of this application setting forth additional matter not included in the original application; the view being taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 14 to be hereinbelow described;

FIG. 14 is a sectional plan view taken along line 1414 of FIG. 13; e

FIG. 15 is an elevational view taken along line 1515 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an elevational view, part in section, of an improved packer upper mandrel, sleeve, and valve, shown with valve occluded; and

FIG. 17 is a sectional fragmentary view of a tool, with longitudinal axis horizontal, as equipped at the top of the well -to operate as a packer assembly with an upper.

nected to the lower end of a tubing string 14. A pin 16 is shown in a valve sleeve which comprises the lower part of the valve 12, the pin 16 sliding in a slot, not shown, in a valve element 19'underneath the valve sleeve 15, to establish slidable, but relatively non-rotatable relationship between the valve sleeve 15 and such valve element 19, a lower end ring or flange 36 of the valve element 19 being visible in FIG. 1. The valve sleeve 15 and valve element 19 cooperate to establish communication between valve ports 17 in the valve sleeve 15, and ports inwardly thereof, as will be hereinbelow described. Spring fingers 18 engage with the valve element 19 thereof, to establish the port engagement aforesaid.

A hold-down flange or ring 20 is slidably mounted on an upper tubular member, not visible in FIGS. 1-3, such ring 20 seating upon the top of a packer assembly 21 therebelow which is also slidable upon such tubular member which comprises part of a mandrel assembly to be more fully described in details to be set forth hereinbelow.

The upper packer assembly 21 is shown including alternatively resilient packer elements 22, as of rubber, and metallic spacer rings 23, these being slidably mounted upon, to extend for a considerable length along the aforesaid upper tubular member, not shown.

Immediately below the upper packer assembly 21, a downwardly and inwardly tapered slip mandrel segment 24, as viewed from above, is slidable upon such upper tubular member, not shown, and seats upon the top of a slip mandrel 25 which is connected upwardly to said upper tubular member, not shown, and downwardly to a lower tubular member, also not shown, but on which a downwardly and outwardly tapered slip material segment, as viewed from above, is installed. A packer assembly 27 is installed on such lower tubular member below the slip mandrel segment 26 and comprises alternately packer segments 22 and spaced rings 23. Finally, at the lower end of such lower tubular member, an assembly nut 28 is connected to complete the mandrel assembly 35, and to retain the lower packer assembly 27.

A slip and drag assembly 60, is mounted on the slip mandrel 25, to slide thereon in movements determined by lug and slot or special J-slot arrangements, not shown, by which the assembly 60 and slip mandrel 25 are connected, as will be explained in detail hereinbelow.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, it can be seen that the tubing string 14 is threadably connected to the internally threaded upper end 29 of the valve body member 13 and an inner sleeve 30 is externally threaded into the lower end of the valve body member 13. In turn the valve sleeve 15 is internally threaded onto the lower end of the valve body member 13. Thus the inner sleeve 30 is concentric with the valve sleeve 15 outwardly thereof and an annular space is left thereinbetween into which is inserted the valve element 19 comprising the uppermost member of the mandrel or mandrel assembly, referred to hereinabove, which may be generally designated by the reference numeral 35.

The valve element 19 has a slot 31 therein into which extends the pin 16 from the valve sleeve 15, whereby the mandrel assembly and valve 12 may move relatively longitudinally but are keyed together against relative rotation therebetween.

Spaced below the slot 31 the valve element 19 has ports 32 therein, and spaced below the ports 32 two longitudinally spaced apart grooves 33, 34 are provided in the valve element 19, the lowermost groove 34 being immediately above the terminal ring or flange 36 at the bottom of the valve sleeve 19, such flange 36 being that part of the valve element 19 of the mandrel assembly 35 which is visible in FIG. 1.

The spring fingers 18 are formed by cutting angularly spaced apart, longitudinally extending slots 37 in the lower end portion of the valve sleeve 15. with inwardly extending beads or latch fingers 3.9 being brazed to, welded. to, or formed integrally within the lower inner periphery of the valve sleeve fingers 18. The valve element grooves 33, 34 are of cross-sectional contour, as shown, to latchably receive the latch fingers 39 therein,

and the outer diameter of the upper part 38 of the holddown ring 20 is less than the outer diameter of the ring or flange 36 at the bottom of valve element 19. Thus if the valve sleeve 15 should be moved downwardly with relation to the valve element 19 from the position shown in FIG. 4A, the latch fingers 39 may latch under the flange 36. Also, if the valve sleeve 15 should be moved upwardly from the position shown in FIG. 4A, and with relation to the valve element 19, the latch fingers can latch in the valve element upper groove 33.

The slot 31 is of length with relation to the spacing between the grooves 33, 34 and the operative latch width of the flange 36, that the pin 16 contacts the lower end of the slot 31 when the tubing string 14 is to urge valve 12 and valve element 13 downwardly together, or the upper end of the slot 31 when the tubing string 14 is to lift the valve element 19 therewith. Also the space 41, as shown in FIG. 4A, is greater than the distance between the grooves 33, 34.

As shown in FIG. 4A the valve element ports 32 are in vertical alignment with the valve sleeve ports 17,

and since the slot 31 is only wide enough to receive the pin 16 slidably therein, these ports must maintain angular alignment in all positions. However, it is obvious that upward movement of the valve sleeve 15 with relation to the valve element 19, and downward movement of the valve sleeve 15 with relation to the valve element 19, will place the valve element ports 32, respectively, below and above the valve sleeve ports 17.

There is necessity to seal between the valve element 19 and the inner sleeve 30 to prevent the fluids within the inner sleeve, which may be under excessive hydrostatic pressures, from escaping outwardly at this elevation. For this reason the upper end of the valve element 19 is counterbored to provide space for a seal assembly 40 which must also include a means for placing the valve element ports 32 in fluid communication with the interior of the inner sleeve through ports 42 provided in the inner sleeve 19 at the same elevation as, and in angular alignment with the valve sleeve ports 17. Also since the packing which may best be employed for the space provided therefor, and for the service to be undergone, is packing of the chevron type, as shown in FIG. 4A, well adapted to withstand longitudinal compression but not adapted to withstand great pressures which can react transversely or radially outwardly, it is necessary to provide short lengths of such packing interspersed with spacer means which will also maintain the seal required.

These above set forth requirements are met by the seal or packing assembly 40. In detail such seal assembly 40 includes as its uppermost member an externally thread ed top closure nut 43 threaded into the top of the valve element 19 to substantially the full length of the nut, and with tight sealing fit tolerance between it and the outer surface of the inner sleeve 30 upon which it is slidably mounted. An upper packing ring 44a of the aforesaid chevron type is provided immediately below the closure nut 43, and a metallic spacer ring 46 separates the upper packing ring 44a from a corresponding intermediate packing ring. 44b therebelow, it being required that the spacer ring 46 fit with tight sealing tolerance with the valve element 19 outwardly thereof and with the inner sleeve 30 inwardly thereof.

A metallic spacer spool 45 shown to large scale in FIG. 7, is provided between the intermediate packing face of the inner sleeve 30 upon which is is slidably mounted and hasupper and lower flanges 47 of outer diameter to fit with tight sealing fit clearance within the counterbored inner surface of the valve element 19-.

The spacer spool 45 has ports 48 through the body wall 49 thereof which wall is disposed to extend between the upper and lower flanges 47 intermediate the peripheries of such flanges. Thus the spacer spool 45 provides annular grooves or flow passages 51, 51' on opposed sides of body wall 49 so that the spacer spool ports 48 do not have to be in angular alignment with the valve element ports 32 outwardly thereof, nor with the inner sleeve ports 42 inwardly thereof.

The packing or seal assembly 40 includes a bottom ring 52 around the lower end portion of the sleeve 30, and in the lowermost position of the valve body member 13 with relation to the rvalve element 19, the lower end face of the bottom ring 52 seats upon the shoulder. 53 provided as the base of the counterbore within the valve element 19. Thus a reliable seal can be maintained between inner sleeve 30 and valve element 19 with minor adjustment in tightness being possible in degree, as to compensate for wear of the packings 44a, 44b and 440 since tightening or loosening of the top closure nut 43 can accomplish this in ample degree without upsetting port alignment.

The valve element 19 comprises the upper member of the mandrel assembly 35, so termed since such assembly comprises the inner tubular member on which outer elements slide and take position. Such mandrel assembly 35 includes the upper tubular member 50 as the second uppermost element, which is externally threaded upwardly for connection to the internally threaded lower end of the valve element 19 and which has the same inner diameter or bore as the bore through the lower end of the valve element and as the bores through the valve sleeve 30 and valve body 13 thereabove.

The upper tubular member 50 of the mandrel assembly 35 has the upper end of the slip mandrel 25 threadably connected thereto. This slip mandrel 25 in turn has a lower tubular member 54 threadably connected thereto which terminates in the retaining nut 28. This retaining nut 28 is threadably connected externally to the lower end of the lower tubular member 54 to complete the mandrel assembly 35, and is of larger diameter than the tubular member 54 to provide a retaining shoulder 56 on which sets the. lowermost packer element 22 of the lower packer assembly 27.

The inner diameter of the lower part of the nut 28 and the bores of the lower tubular member 54 and of the slip mandrel 25 are equal, and are the same as the bore of the upper tubular member 50 and of the elements thereabove.

The lower packer assembly 27 isslidably mounted on the lower tubular member 54 and seats downwardly on the shoulder 56 of the retaining nut 28 and bears upwardly against the downwardly and outwardly tapered mandrel segment 26 so that it, in turn bears against the lower end face 57 of the slip mandrel 25.

Above the slip mandrel "25, the upper tapered slip mandrel segment 24, which is tapered downwardly and inwardly, as viewed from above, is slidably mounted on the upper tubular member 50, and thus its lower end face bears against the upper end face 58 of the slip mandrel 25. The hold-down or spacer ring 20, which seats on top of the uppermost packer element 22 of the upper packer assembly 21, is also slid-able on the upper tubular member 50, and can be said to function at least in part similarly to the packer assembly spacers 23 in addition to serving as the inner stop for the fingers 39 when the valve sleeve 15 is in lowermost position.

The slip and drag assembly 60, as best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, comprises a device which serves as a conventional drag or friction element which can frictionally engage the well casing whereby the mandrel assembly 35 carrying the valve element 19 and slip mandrel 25 thereon, may move with relation to the slip and drag assembly 60, as when a lug projects inwardly from the drag and slip assembly 60 into a vertical leg of a special J-slot arrangement in the slip mandrel 25.

In construction the slip and drag assembly 60 has its contact elements mounted on a composite sleeve 61 (shown modified in FIGS. 1-3 to have tapered upper and lower end portions), such composite sleeve 61 including an inner ring 62 and two outer rings 63 of le% than half the axial or longitudinal length of the inner ring 62. The inner ring 62 is recessed centrally of the length thereof along a plurality of equally angularly spaced apart, horizontally extending, chordal axes to provide the pivot spaces 64 to receive pivots therein, pref erably in the form of short cylinders 64 and connecting webs or gusset member 65 extend outwardly through the space left open centrally between the outer rings 63 to connect each pivot 64 to a slip segment 66 supported thereby.

The composite sleeve 61 mounts four slip segements 66 and four drag members 67, alternately disposed, in angularly, equally spaced apart relationship. Thus, as best seen in FIG. 5, and as described generally hereinabove, in particular detail the inner ring 62 is relieved or recessed, as by milling, to provide four axis recesses or spaces 64a along chords subtending 45 degrees in which are disposed pivots 64, shown in form similar to short cylinders. Connecting webs, plate, or support gussets 65 extend from the pivots 64 to connect them to the underside of the slip segments 66 centrally thereof. The pivots 64 and connecting webs 65 may be integrally formed with the slip segments or the webs may be rigidly connected thereto by any conventional means.

The slip segments 66, as shown in FIG. 4B and FIG. 6, overextend the composite sleeve 61 at either end thereof and have serrations or teeth 71 in the outer upper and lower portions, which are oppositely tapered with segment at full thickness centrally and tapering down to thinnest dimensions at upper and lower ends of the slip segment, the teeth at either end portion thus forming the upper and lower slip jaws 70, 70. The teeth 71 in the slip jaws 70, 70' are of triangular cross-section with the short bases of the triangles nearest the slip pivot axis for both ends of the slip. Thus the upper and lower slip jaws 70, 70 are oppositely disposed as to the way they bite, so that the teeth of the upper slip jaw 70 bite angularly downwardly and the teeth of the lower slip jaw 70 bite angularly upwardly.

The slip segments 66 are normally held parallel to the packed axis by coil springs 72, 72' equally spaced apart above and below the horizontal slip pivot 64 to seat in bores or recesses 73 in the outer rings 63 as the outer parts of the outer rings 63 are beveled at 83 to accommodate the slip segments when set, the outer springs 72' must have fewer coils than the inner springs 72.

The drag members 67 disposed between the slip segments 66 are comprised of friction elements 68 and end guide plates 69 at either end of the friction elements whereby the drag members 67 are guidably disposed to move inwardly and outwardly, as will be hereinbelow explained. The outer ring 63 and the inner ring 62 provide respective recesses 59', 59 therein, at either ends thereof, such recesses 59, 59' being in depth equal to the thickness of the end guide plate 69, whereby the outer surfaces of the guide plate ends extend substantially flush with the unrecessed ends of the respective inner and outer rings 62, 63, and also the inner surfaces of the guide plate ends slide over the substantially flush, recessed end portions of the respective inner and outer rings 62, 63.

Flat head screws 74 pass through drilled and countersunk holes 76 at spaced apart distances through the friction element 68 and through holes in the outer rings 63 and are threaded for predetermined distances into the inner ring 62. These screws 74 pass through coil springs 75 which seat upon the outer rings 63 and urge outwardly against the underside of the friction element 68 7 normally to maintain it in firm contact with the tapered sides of thet heads of the screws 74 as the springs 75 thus urge the friction element 68 out to maximum position. As the countersunk holes 76 are of some depth, at this maximum position the heads of the screws 75 are at a predetermined distance below the outer surface of the friction element 68 greater than any variation in casing Wall thickness, from the thinnest wall to be encountered just slightly less than normally urged maximum position, to the thickest wall encountered when the flat heads of the screws 75 are slightly short of flush with the friction element outer surface.

The description of the drag and slip assembly 60 is completed by reference to a lug or pin 77 shown extending radially inwardly from the inner ring 62 in FIGS. 4B, 5 and 6, and shown in FIG. 4B in the upper end of a short slot A in the slip mandrel 25. This lug or pin 77 connects the drag and slip assembly 35, and by virtue of the J-slot system 55 in the slip mandrel 25 the packer is movable relative to the drag and slip assembly 60 as the drag or friction elements 68 frictionally engage the well bore casing 11. The lug 77 and J-slot system 55 bear the relationship shown to the right in FIG. 8 when the packer 10 is being lowered into a cased well bore and in such position the valve sleeve ports 17, valve element ports 32, and inner sleeve ports 42 are in alignment, as shown in FIG. 4A, and through the spacer spool 45 there is equalization of hydrostatic pressure and established fluid communication between fluid within the packer bore 78 and within the casing annulus 79 externally of the packer 10, as shown in FIG. 1.

Also it is pointed out that since the packer 10 is designed to have a full bore or equal inner diameter through all its parts, the packer can be lowered into the well bore without having to overcome the resistance to downward movement otherwise offered by having to force the packer downwardly against the frictional re sistance of the fluid having to pass through reduced inner diameter parts or inner bore restrictions.

The J-slot system 55 formed in the slip mandrel 25 is best seen in FIG. 8 when considered in connection with FIG. 4B, and includes the slot A shown in FIG. 4B, 21 horizontally extending slot H extending to theright of the slot A, as viewed along line 88, a vertical slot B extending vertically upwardly from centrally of the horizontal slot H, and a vertical slot C extending both up wardly and downwardly from the right end of the hori zontal slot H. As the friction elements 68 hold the slip and drag assembly 60 by friction with the casing 11, the tubing string 14 may be moved with relation thereto, as dictated by the slots of the I-slot system 55.

Thus if it is desired to set the upper packer assembly 21 to seal off the casing annulus 79 above the slips 66, as for low pressure production, and so that production flow may be received from a greater vertical length of well bore, it is only necessary to raise the tubing string 14 slightly to position the slot H even with the slip mandrel lug 77.

Then rotation to the right a predetermined angular distance, as determined by'the designing the J-slot system 55, say90 degrees, will position the slip mandrel slot B directly above the lug 77. The tubing string may then be lowered and first the mandrel segment 24 will contact the upper, inner corner of the slip segments 66, and the upper parts of the slip segments 66 will then be urged outwardly as the tapered mandrel segment is moved downwardly.

Upon contact with the casing wall 11, the teeth 71 of the upper sip jaws 70 begin biting into the casing, engaging successively from uppermost tooth downwardly, until all of the teeth are engaged over the vertical area desig-.

nated 80a in FIGS. 2 and 6. At this point the top of the slot B engages the lug 77 and resistance to further down Ward movement of the tubing string 14 indicates that the slips are fully set in the selected position.

When the tubing string 14 is lowered with the spring fingers 18 latched in lower groove 34 or neutral position, any resistance to downward movement of the tubing string 14 will first cause it to force the spring fingers 18 over the lower flange 36 of the valve element 19 so that the latch fingers 39 shoulder upwardly against bottom of the flange 36 and inwardly against the reduced diameter upper part 38 of the hold-down ring 20. This movement places the inner sleeve ports 42 and valve sleeve ports 17 below the spacer spool 45 and the valve element ports 32 to disestablish equalization of fluid flow between the casing annulus 79, indicated in FIGS. 1-3, inclusive, and the packer bore 78, shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C. As this occurs the pin 16 engages the lower end of the slot 31 so that any further tubing string downward movement is directly imparted to the mandrel assembly 35.

Thus as the slip segments 66 set and offer further resistance to the downward movement of the tubing string 14, the mandrel assembly 35, including the upper tubular member 50, is moved downwardly as the inner surface of the set slip segments 66 retard any downward movement of the mandrel segment 24. It follows that the mandrel segment 24 slides upwardly on the tubular member 50 to urge the packer assembly 21 upwardly while the upper packer element 22 bears against the downwardly urged hold-down ring 20.

The movements hereinabove described result in setting the upper packer assembly 21 as shown in FIG. 2, with the length of the set packer assembly 21 bearing a similar length to an unextended three packer element packing assembly as indicated in such figure, the relative positions of elements being predicated on the lug '77 within the slip if set upwardly, can be unset by lifting the tubing string 14 1 upwardly until the bottom of the B slot comes into contact with the lug 77, as shown in the central diagram in FIG. 8. Then further upward lifting will urge upwardly on the drag and slip assembly 60 to unset the slip segments 66 so that the upper packer assembly 21 may retract radially and expand longitudinally to return the upper tapered mandrel segment 24 to seat upon the upper shoulder 58 of the slip mandrel 25. Also, if it is desired to maintain equalization of fluid pressures by establishing fluidcommunications between ports 17 and 42 during transfer to a new elevation of operation, the tubing string 14 may be rotated to the left until the side of the A slot contacts the lug 77, and then forceful upward lifting may be applied when the bottom of the A slot is brought in contact with the lug 77 to unset slip segments 66 at this point. In either of the above cases, with the upper packer assembly 21 now returned to original form, the packer 10-may be moved upwardly or downwardly to a new location. Upon arriving at the newly selected elevation at which the packer 10 is to be set, whether the lug 77 is now in contact with the bottom of the A slot, or with the bottom of the B slot, it is only necessary to lower slightly to place the H slot and lug 77 at the same level and then rotate to the right until the side of the C slot contacts the lug 77, as shown in the left diagram in FIG. 8. Then the tubing string 14 may be lifted until the bottom of the C slotrcontacts the lug 77. Then the tubing string 14 may be lifted while the friction or drag members 67 maintain frictional contact with the casing and hold the drag and slip assembly 60 in place. This brings the lowered tapered mandrel segment 26 into contact with the lower inner surfaces 82 of the slip segments 66 and urges the lower slip jaws 70 outwardly to bite into the wall of the casing 11 at b, as indicated in FIG.' 3. Further lifting, termed setting a strain on the tubing string 14, now tightly set the lower packer assembly 27 as the retaining nut 28 urges upwardly on the packer segments 22 of the lower packer assembly 27 while the set slip jaws 70' prevent the tapered mandrel segment 26 from moving upwardly. See FIG. 3 as to this condition with relation to the cased well bore in elevation.

In this position the lower set slip jaws 70 are immediately above the lower packer assembly which seals off the casing annulus and are thus protected from any excessive well bore pressures that might unseat them were they below the lower packer assembly 27. This is the desired condition for operations involving pumping fluid at higher pressures down the tubing string 14 to pass out into a restricted area, as to wash a perforated section of the casing, or for other specialized well service operations, since a packer which can be set at the bottom of the tubing string permits a more selective or more specialized area of isolation and at the same time the slips are protected by being above the set packer.

In case of the lower packer assembly 27 being set and it becomes desirable to displace or circulate operating fluid, the lower packer assembly 27 can be unset and the upper packer assembly 21 set, all in one vertical movement, by lowering the tubing string 14 to move the slot C downwardly until the top of the slot C strikes the lug 77. This automatically unsets the lower packer assembly 27 and sets the upper packer assembly 21. Then the neutral position may be obtained by lifting upwardly on the tubing string 14 while maintaining under a torsional strain thereon which would tend to turn it to the left. Upon arrival at the H slot level the tubing string will be able to be turned to the left about the lug 77 until the side of the A slot contacts the lug 77.

The invention hereinabove described offers a decided improvement in the trade in that shift can be made from a high pressure to a low pressure operation, or vice versa, without having to pull the tubing string out of the well.

Also the invention has great merit in that the slips are so constructed that it is not necessary to have two sets of slips since with the slip segments centrally transversely pivoted, the lower slip jaw may be formed on the lower portion of a slip segment and the upper slip jaw may be formed on the upper portion of the same slip segment so that great versatility is provided with a minimum amount of material.

A form of slip and drag assembly 60' is disclosed in FIGS. 9-12, inclusive, and described as a part of the invention added to the original parent application. Such assembly 60 comprises a composite sleeve 61' which includes in assembly an upper ring section 100a and a lower ring section 10% which abut in end to end relation. Each upper ring section 100a has three drag members 67a and one drag member 67c formed therein, and each lower section 10% has three drag members 67b and one drag member 67d therein. In each of upper section 100a andlower section 100b there are four slip segment slots 62 formed therein, the slots being alternately disposed between drag members. With the upper and lower ring sections 100a, 1001: in aligned abutment, the four slip segment slots 62 of the section 100a are brought into abutment in assembly with the four slip segment slots 62' of the section 1001), the abutting faces being complementally relieved to provide pivot spaces 63 to receive the pivots 64' and the webs 65' by which the pivots 64' are rigidly connected to the under side of the slip segment 66'.

The opposed single drag members 670 and 67d are complementally recessed respectively at 82', 83' to receive the shank end of a bolt 77' and the slip mandrel 25' is recessed in T-slot cross-section to receive the head of the bolt 77 and outwardly to receive the centralpart of the bolt shank, the head of the bolt 77' thus being restrained to move in T-slots corresponding in length and disposition to the slots A, H, B and C hereinabove described and best disclosed in FIG. 8. The contour 10 of the T-slot construction preferred for the slots is best seen in FIG. 10 and indicated as slot C' (vertical) and H horizontal.

The composite sleeve sections 1000 and 1001) are assembled about the slip pivots 64' and about the bolt 77' by means of four bolts 96 having tapered heads 97 which are received in recesses 97' in the drag members 67a, 67c, the bolt shanks extending through aligned bores 96 in the respective members 67a, 67b and 67c, 67d and assembly is completed by threading nuts 98 on the threaded ends of such bolts 96 as they extend into recesses 99 provided in the end faces of the members 67b, 67d.

The drag members 67a, 67b and 67c, 67d are thus paired to provide complemental spaces 101, 102 into which are received drag or friction elements 86 which maintain frictional contact with the cased well bore. The paired drag members 67a, 67b and 67c, 67d each has a shallow bore in the outer surface thereof in which seats a spring 93, and the two spaced apart springs of each pair urges upwardly in an opposed bore 94 in the under surface of the drag element 86 therea-bove and thereby the drag element 86 is urged outwardly.

Each drag member 67a, 67c is milled down to provide a ledge or shoulder 84 on which is mounted a keeper plate 89 by means of a machine screw 90 passing through the keeper plate 89 and threaded into the drag member therehelow. Thus, the upper part 88 of the drag element 86 is insertable under the keeper plate 89 to be retained in assembly. Also each drag member 67b, 67d is machined to provide an overextendiug ledge or flange 85 against which is urged a foot or flange 87 on the lower part of its drag element 86. In this manner the drag elements 86 are mounted to be frictionally urged against pipe or casing of the largest inner diameter that the slip and drag assemblies 60' are designed to serve.

As a further reseraint against the drag elements 86, and to urge a restraint against the slip segments 66, a spring 92 extends around the assembly 60 and fits in grooves 91 provided outwardly in the drag elements 86 and in grooves 104 provided in the slip segments 66 outwardly centrally thereof.

The slip segments 66' shown in FIGS. 9-12, inclusive are constructed generally after the manner in which the slips shown in FIGS. 1-8, inclusive, are constructed. As such, the slip segments 66' overextend the composite sleeve 60' at either end thereof and have serrations or teeth 71 in the outer upper and lower portions, the teeth in the respective portions being oppositely tapered as in 'the case of the slip jaws 70, 70 shown in the form of invention described hereinabove. Between the slip jaws 7 0, 70' shown in FIG. 10, the slip segments 66' are recessed or relieved as indicated at 103, thereby providing for greater clearance over the extent of metal between the teeth. Centrally each slip segment 66' has in the outer surface thereof a groove 104 to receive the spring 92 therein as hereinabove described.

In construction the pivot 64' is a substantial cylinder as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 and the composite sleeve sections a, 10% are relieved to receive these pivot pins (v i-"therein and are complementally slotted outwardly of thecomplemental space for the pivot pin cylinders to receive the web or gusset =65 therethrough which rigidly connects the pivot pins 64' to the under side of the slip segments 66'.

The slip segments 66 are normally urged inwardly bythe spring 92 in the grooves 104 and normally this force urges the bottom surface of the pivots 64' against the inner wall of the complemental slot 105 provided therefor by the composite sleeve sections 100:: and 100b. When the slip segments 66' are set, as'best shown in FIG. 10, the under surfaces 106 of the slip jaws, which are tapered to the same taper as the taper 107 of the mandrel segment 24', must follow the taper of the mandrel segment the teeth 71 of the upper slip jaw 70, as shown,

bite into the casing wall 11 to firmly set the slip segments 66'. For uniformity of biting depth the slip teeth 71 are tapered over the length of the slip jaw 70, to a slight degree. Also the teeth 17 of the slip jaw 70 on the outer end of the slip segments 71 are correspondingly tapered. It thus results, as the slip segments set, the pivots 64 may be lifted slightly out of contact with the bottom or radially innermost surfaces of the slot 105, as seen to small scale in FIG. 10.

The mandrel segment or section 24' is counterbored to provide a shoulder at 108 and thus the upper end face 109 of the slip mandrel 25 may shoulder against the shoulder 108 when the slip segments 66' are set. In the form of invention shown in FIGS. 9l2, inclusive, the operation with relation to the slots corresponding with the slots A", B and C is stated to be the same as for these slots A, B and C shown in FIG. 8, and consequently it is not here necessary to repeat the sequence of slip setting operations.

In the preferred form of slip and drag assembly 110 shown in FIGS. 13l5, inclusive, which constitutes the other part of the continuation-in-part disclosure added to the original or co-pending disclosure, a unitary sleeve 111 is designed to provide peripherally spaced apart, alternately disposed slip and drag recesses 112 and 113 which receive therein, respectively, the leaf springs 114 which are connected to the composite sleeve 111 by screws 115, and which yieldably carry upper and lower slip segments 116a, 116b, and the drag member 117. The slip segments 116a and 116b have teeth 71 which are pointed to bite downwardly on the slip segments 116a and which are pointed to bite upwardly on the slip segments 116b. Such slip segments 116a, 116b are connected to each leaf spring 114 by means of set screws 90 which pass through slots 118 in the opposed ends of the leaf spring 114 and then into the respective slip segments 116a, 116b. The slip segments 116a and 11617 have opposed ears 119 which form the inner, transversely extending ends of the slip segments. A connecting part 120 connects the opposed ears 119 to a respective slip segment, the ears 119 being received in appropriate slots 121 and the connecting parts 120 being received in appropriate slots 122 in the composite sleeve 111. Thus, there can be slight play in the slips, with relation to the composite sleeve 111 so that the slip segments 116a, 116b can pivot inwardly and outwardly responsive to contact With the slip mandrel segments 27 as hereinbefore described. As the inner surfaces 123 of the slip segments 116a, 116b are tapered, and since the teeth 71' of each slip segment may also have their teeth tapered, when the slip segments 116a, 116b are set, they will be disposed outwardly at an angle which will position the teeth 71' into substantially even biting contact, tooth by tooth, with the inner wall of a casing 11, as best seen in FIG. 15.

Each drag element 117 has a foot 124a, 12419 at the respective ends thereof, the foot 124a being inserted under an overextending lip 125 provided in the composite sleeve 111 while the other foot 12% extends under a hold-down plate 126 which is connected into an end recess 127 provided in each drag recess 113, a set screw 128 passing through the plate 126 and into the composite sleeve metal therebelow.

Within the drag elements 117 three longitudinally spaced apart bores 129 are provided to receive springs 130 therein which bear outwardly in the bases of the drag element bores 129 and inwardly against the bottoms of the recesses 113 in the composite sleeve 111.

This assembly 110 of drag elements and slips is of a special advantage in that all of the parts can be put together on the composite sleeve 111 with a minimum of effort, the component parts being readily accessible for interchangeability and service. Also, it is of special advantage to have the slips mounted in manner that they are integrally assembled together with downwardly biting upper slip segment teeth and upwardly biting lower slip segment teeth being rigidly connected intermediately by lieved on opposite sides 131a thereof at 131b as indicated in FIGS. 14 and 15, thereby facilitating the movement of the slip segments 116a, 116b.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1315,

inclusive, connection is made between the composite sleeve 111 and the J-slot pattern of the slip mandrel 25 indicated by the letters A, H, B, and C in FIG. 14, and corresponding with the slots A, H, B, and C shown in in FIG. 8,

and for this purpose a lug 77 is threaded into a threaded bore 133 such lug 77 being shown in FIG. 14 as located in the composite sleeve 111 intermediate in drag element recess 113 and a slip recess 112 with inner end of the lug to extend inwardly into the .l-slot pattern.

As a feature of construction bores 134 are provided in the slip mandrel segments 24 and 26, to permit any deposit, as sand, entering between the slip mandrel segments and slip mandrel 25 to be worked out through the bores 134 to the exterior.

The slot pattern shown in FIG. 8 and hereinabove described is a preferred Way of controlling the setting of the lower packer, the setting of the upper packer, and the lowering of the tool in neutral position, but obviously other J-slot arrangements can be employed, as when the tool may be used in manner that it is not necessary to carry out all of the steps with safeguards, as hereinabove de scribed.

A variation of construction of the upper part of the tool is shown in FIG. 16 in which the packing employed between the inner sleeve and valve element may be eliminated and O-rings substituted therefor. Thus, three vertically spaced apart O-rings 135a are shown in the inner.

sleeve 30' in FIG. 16, as spaced above the valve element ports 32, and three vertically spaced apart O-rings 135k are provided in the inner sleeve 30' and spaced below the valve element ports 32 and above the inner sleeve ports 42.

Also, three vertically spaced apart O-rings 153d are provided in the inner sleeve 30' as spaced immediately below the inner sleeve ports 42, and as further safeguards against leakage, three vertically spaced apart O-rings 135f are provided in the inner sleeve 30' slightly above the lower end thereof to avoid against leakage or pressure fluid from within the full bore 136 through the tool 10.

Also, an O-ring 135c is provided in the sleeve 15' above the valve sleeve ports 17 therein and an O-ring 135a is provided within the valve sleeve 15' below the ports 17 therein. Additionally, an O-ring 135g is provided within the valve sleeve 15' spaced below the O-ring 135a and above the slots 37 as further prevention against leakage.

The invention hereinabove described is obviously susceptible to be practiced by the use of structures other than those shown in the disclosure. For instance, as shown in FIG. 16, connection against relative rotation between the valve sleeve 15' and the valve element 19' need not be affected by the pin and slot construction best shown in FIG. 4A, but other constructions can be used to carry out this function. Thus, splines 137 are provided to extend radially outwardly from the outer diameter of the valve element 19' to slide up and down in grooves 31"provided in the valve sleeve 15'. Then, when the latch fingers 39 are in lowermost latched position, the valve body member 13 is substantially in contact wth the top of the splines 137 while the spline and groove contact prevents relative rotation.

As shown in FIG. 17, where the tool 10X has its axis extending horizontally, the tool parts above the mandrel section 50 and hold-down ring 20 are omitted, and a collar 140 connects the mandrel section 50 and the tubing string 13 14, while at the same time the lower face of the collar 140 bears upon the top of the hold-down ring 20 to restrain the upper packer assembly 21. In this form of the invention the valve functions are omitted and the tool may be employed simply as a packer to be set by appropriate relative rotation between mandrel and slip and drag assembly, as aforesaid, to set the upper and lower packer, as required.

The invention is thus not limited to the variations, embodiments and forms thereof shown in the drawings and hereinabove described, but other forms, variations and embodiments are considered as long as such may fall within the broad spirit of the invention, and within the broad scope of interpretation claimed for and merited by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A slip and drag assembly comprising a mounting sleeve friction drag elements to grasp the well bore and yieldably urged outwardly by resilient means against included stop means said assembly also including slip segments alternately angularly disposed between said friction drag elements and including upper and lower slip jaws having teeth formed in the opposed outer surface end portions respectively to present downwardly biting upper teeth and upwardly biting lower teeth, and leaf spring means rigidly connected axially centrally to said mounting sleeve axially centrally thereof and providing radially outwardly, yieldably extending upper and lower ends, and means axially adjustable to connect said yieldably extending upper and lower ends respectively to the respective upper slip jaw lower end and lower slip jaw upper end, each leaf spring thereby providing a transverse pivot axis about which each slip jaw may pivot independently of the other slip jaw of a segment.

2. A slip and drag assembly as claimed in claim 1, which additionally includes a lug extending radially in wardly from said mounting sleeve for engagement in slot means provided in the slip mandrel of a well tool on which said mounting sleeve is mounted.

3. A slip and drag assembly comprising a mounting sleeve comprised of oomplemental abutting mounting rings, friction drag elements to grasp the well bore and yieldably urged outwardly by resilient means against stop means included by said mounting rings, said assembly also including integrally formed slip segments alternately angularly disposed between said friction drag elements and including slip jaws integrally connected and having teeth formed in the opposed outer surface end portions thereof to present downwardly biting upper teeth and upwardly biting lower teeth, and connection means also integrally formed with each segment and included a pivot complementally enclosed by said mounting rings to pviotally mount said segment to pivot about an axis transverse to the vertical axis of the well.

4.A slip and drag assembly comprising a tubular mounting sleeve having slip segments and drag members alternately mounted therearound, said sleeve being adapted to slide on a tubular slip mandrel grooved to provide a Lslot system in its periphery and mounting means to set'said slip segments selectively upwardly and downwardly in accordance with selective relative slidable movement between said mounting sleeve and said slip mandrel, said mounting sleeve' providing, alternately disposed around the periphery thereof, recesses forming drag member cavities and hold-down lips overextending said cavities to restrain said drag members, and recesses to receive pivot means carried by said slip segments, resilient means in each drag member cavity to urge a repective drag member outwardly toward a respective hold-down lip, each slip segment including upper and lower slip jaws with upper slip jaw teeth biting downwardly and lower slip jaw teeth biting upwardly, each slip segment including connection means adapted to hold the respective slip jaws and pivot means in integrated assembly, and lug means provided by said mounting sleeve to extend inwardly into said grooved J-slot system to connect said slip and drag assembly for selective relative movement with relation to said slip mandrel whereby to pivot said upper slip jaws outwardly to downwardly biting position upon said slip mandrel being moved downwardly with relation to said slip and drag assembly and to pivot said lower slip jaws outwardly to upwardly biting position upon said slip mandrel being moved upwardly with relation to said slip and drag assembly.

5. A slip and drag assembly as claimed in claim 4, in which each drag member hold-down lip comprises at one end a foot provided by said mounting sleeve and overextending the drag member cavity and at the other end a removable hold-down tab threadably connected to said mounting sleeve.

6. A slip and drag assembly as claimed in claim 4, in which said lug means comprises an outer part threadably connected into mounting sleeve and an inner part of enlarged diameter to extend into the grooved J-slot system of said mandrel.

7. A combination squeeze and full bore packer comprising a tubular valve body providing wall port means therein and having an upper end adapted for connection to a tubular member, as to a well bore tubing in a cased well bore, a tubular mandrel assembly including uppermost a tubular valve element providing wall port means therein, and also providing cooperatively with said valve body a latch means selectivity, relatively vertically movable to releasably latch said valve element to said valve body in an upper position of said valve body with the valve element port means occluded, in a neutral position with said valve body wall port means and said valve element wall port means in communication, and in a lower position of said valve body with the valve element port means occluded, said mandrel assembly including below said valve element a tubular slip mandrel having centrally an enlarged diameter portion providing an upper, upwardly facing shoulder, and a lower, downwardly facing shoulder, and having an enlarged diameter part on the lower end thereof to provide an upwardly facing, retaining shoulder, said mandrel assembly having mounted thereon an upper packer assembly including an inwardly and downwardly tapered mandrel segment at its lower end with its smaller diameter in confronting relationship with said upper shoulder, and a lower packer assembly including an inwardly and upwardly tapered mandrel segment at its upper end with its smaller diameter bearing against said lower shoulder, a drag and slip assembly mounted on said enlarged diameter portion including drag elements to yieldably frictionally engage the casing wall and slip segments alternately disposed therebetween with each having a centrally located, transversely extending pivot, each slip segment also having 'upper and lower slip jaws and connection means positively connecting said jaws, teeth being formed in said upper and lower jaws, respectively, whereby when said slip segments are in upper set position the upper jaw teeth bite downwardly, and in lower set position the lower jaw teeth bite upwardly, and means cooperatively provided in said enlarged diameter portion and in said slip and drag assembly whereby selective relative rotation and axial movement therebetween sets said upper slip jaws and expands said upper packer assembly in said lower position of said valve body and sets said lower slip jaws and expands said lower packer assembly in said upper position of said valve body.

8. A combination squeeze and full bore type packer. as claimed in claim 7 in which each drag element is slidable with relation to a stop means connecting it to said slip and drag assembly and against which said drag element, as yieldably urged, may be stopped.

9. A combination squeeze and full bore type packer as claimed in claim 7, in which said slip segments and drag elements are retained by resilient means extending therearound centrally of the axial length thereof.

10. A combination squeeze and full bore packer as claimed in claim 7 in which said drag and slip assembly includes a mounting sleeve on which said drag elements and slip segments are alternately disposed, and in which said cooperatively provided means includes a lug extending inwardly from said mounting sleeve and a grooved J-slot system provided in the periphery of said enlarged diameter portion, in which each drag element includes stop shoes at the ends thereof and resilient means thereunder to :bear inwardly against said mounting sleeve and by which said drag element is yiel'dably urged outwardly, as aforesaid, and in which said pivots pivotally connect said slip segments to said mounting sleeve to pivot about a transverse axis with relation to the longitudinal axis of said mounting sleeve and of said slip mandrel.

11. A combination squeeze and full bore production packer as claimed in claim 7, in which said drag and slip assembly includes a mountnig sleeve providing chordally extending recesses therein in which said slip segment pivots are disposed.

12. A combination squeeze and full bore production packer comprising a tubular valve body uppermost with its upper end adapted for connection to a tubular member, as to a well bore tubing in a cased well, said valve body including a tubular inner sleeve and a tubular valve sleeve concentrically outwardly thereof and having inwardly projecting spring fingers below, and providing wall port means thereabove aligned with wall port means provided in said inner sleeve, a mandrel assembly including uppermost a tubular valve element, cooperating means provided by said valve body and said valve element to slidably connect them against relative rotation, said valve element having a pair of vertically spaced grooves lowermost, said valve element extending sealably, slidably between said inner sleeve and said valve sleeve and including wall port means spaced thereabove therein and positionable in a neutral position to establish fluid communication between said wall port means of said valve sleeve and of said inner sleeve as said spring fingers engage in the lowermost of said spaced grooves, positionable in a second position to occlude its wall port means above the wall port means of said valve sleeve and of said inner sleeve as said spring fingers engage below the lower end of said valve sleeve, and positionable in a third position to occlude its wall port means below the wall port means of said valve sleeve and of said inner sleeve as said spring fingers engage in the uppermost of said spaced grooves, said mandrel assembly including below said valve element, a tubular slip mandrel having an enlarged diameter central portion and aa retaining nut threadable upon its lower end, thereby successively providing downwardly, an upwardly facing, upper shoulder, a downwardly facing lower shoulder, and an upwardly facing, nut provided, retaining shoulder; a drag, slip and packer assembly slidable upon said slip mandrel including successively from top to bottom an upper packer assembly of lesser outer diameter at the top than the inner diameter of said spring fingers whereby said spring fingers may latch in said second position,

an inwardly and downwardly tapered mandrel segment with large diameter upwardly, a drag and slip assembly, an inwardly and upwardly tapered mandrel segment with large diameter downwardly, and a lower packer assembly retained by said retaining shoulder, said drag and slip assembly including drag elements angularly spaced apart, and thereinbetween slip segments, each slip segment having a centrally located pivot and having oppositely biting connected upper and lower slip jaws tapered with thinnest jaw at segment end, lug and slot means cooperative between slip mandrel and drag and slip assembly, whereby,

when said packer is lowered with said valve element Wall port means in said neutral position, selective rotation and lowering of said tubing string then setting said upper slip jaws to bite into saidv casing with said packer expanded and with said valve element wall port means in said second position, selective rotation, lifting, and straining on said tubing string setting said lower slip jaws to bite into said casing with said lower packer expanded and with said valve element wall port means in said third position.

13. A combination squeeze and full bore production packer comprising a tubular valve body uppermost with its upper end adapted for connection to a tubular member, as to a well bore tubing providing wall port means therein, a mandrel assembly including uppermost a tubular v-alve element providing wall port means therein, said,

valve element being longitudinally slidable within said valve body, at least one of said valve body and said valve element carrying seal means to seal therebetween, at least one of said valve body, said seal means, and said valve element providing means to complete communication between said valve body wall port means and said valve element wall port means, cooperative means provided by said valve body and said valve element to slidably connect them against relative rotation and cooperative means provided by said valve body and said valve element to releasably latch said valve body said valve element in a neutral, second and third position, respectively, to place said valve body wall port means and said valve element wall port means in communication, to dispose said valve element wall port means occluded above said valve body wall port means, and to dispose said valve element wall port means occluded and below said valve body wall port means, said mandrel assembly including successively spaced below said valve element, a tubular slip mandrel having an enlarged diameter central portion, and a retaining nut threadable upon its lower end, thereby successively providing downwardly, an upwardly facing, upper shoulder, a downwardly facing lower shoulder, and an upwardly facing, retaining shoulder, said mandrel assembly having successively mounted thereon below said valve body, an upper packer assembly including an inwardly and downwardly tapered mandrel segment at its lower end having its smaller diameter in confronting relationship with said upper shoulder, a drag and slip assembly on said slip mandrel, a lower packer assembly including an inwardly and upwardly tapered mandrel segment at its upper end with its smaller diameter bearing against said lower shoulder, said drag and slip assembly including drag elements angularly spaced apart to frictionally engage said casing, and thereinbetween slip segments, each slip segment having a centrally located pivot and having integrally formed therewith reversely tapered, upper, downwardly biting, and lower, upwardly biting slip jaws to bite into said casing respectively in said second and third positions, lug and slot means cooperative between slip mandrel and said drag and slip assembly whereby from neutral position the selective rotation and lowering of said well bore tubing to said second position will set said upper slip jaws with said upper packer assembly expanded, and whereby from neutral position, selective rotation, lifting, and straining on to said third position will set said'lower slip jaws with said lower packer assembly expanded.

14. A combination squeeze and full bore production packer comprising a tubular valve body With upper end adapted for connection to a tubular member, as to the lower end of a well bore tubing in a cased well bore, a

tubular mandrel assembly including uppermost a tubut lar valve element sealably, relatively slidably, and nonrotably engageable with said valve body, and therebelow a tubular slip mandrel having an enlarged diameter entral portion to provide respective upper, upwardly facing, and lower, downwardly facing shoulders, said slip mandrel having a nut threadably connected to the lower end thereof to provide an upwardly facing retaining shoulder, said slip mandrel having slidably mounted thereon between said valve body and said retaining shoulder, an upper packer assembly including lowermost an inwardly and, downwardly tapered. mandrel segment with its smaller diameter to confront said upper shoulder, and a lower packer assembly between said lower shoulder and said retaining shoulder including uppermost an inwardly and upwardly tapered mandrel segment with smaller diameter at its upper end to bear against said lower shoulder, a drag and slip assembly mounted 'on said slip mandrel including drag elements to yieldably frictionally engage the casing wall and slip segments alternately disposed therebetween, each having a centrally located, transversely extending pivot and having connected upper and lower slip jaws, and formed with upper jaws to bite downwardly and lower jaws to bite upwardly, wall port means provided in said valve sleeve and wall port means provided in said valve element, also latching means being cooperatively provided by said valve body and said valve element, whereby, selective relative axial movement between said valve body and said valve element to releasably latch them together in a first, intermediate or neutral position with thin wall port means in communication, and in a second and a third position with said valve element wall port means occluded respectively above and below said valve body wall port means, and lug and slot means being cooperatively provided in said slip mandrel and in said drag and slip assembly whereby selective relative rotation and axial movement therebetween sets said upper jaws and expands said upper packer assembly in said second position and sets said lower slip jaws and expands said lower packer assembly in said third position.

15. The combination of a slip assembly and a drag assembly, said combination including a mounting sleeve adapted to be slidably mounted on a tubular element, as on a well bore tubing in a cased well bore, said drag assembly including angularly spaced apart friction members, each friction member including a friction element, as to grasp the well bore casing, also resilient means between said mounting sleeve and said friction element to yieldably urge said friction element outwardly, and stop means connected to said mounting sleeve and with relation to which said friction element is slidable and providing a stop for said friction element when said friction element is urged to outermost position, said slip assembly including slip segments alternately angularly disposed between said friction members, said mounting sleeve having chordally extending recesses angularly disposed between said friction members, said slip segments each including a centrally located pivot mounted transversely within each chordally extending recess, said slip segments each having slip jaws formed in the opposed outer surface end portions with downwardly biting upper teeth and upwardly biting lower teeth forming said slip jaws, whereby said slip segments may serve selectively, as to set packers thereabove and therebelow.

16. A drag and slip assembly comprising a mounting ring including an inner ring and a pair of outer rings of substantially equal axial length, said outer rings being slightly spaced apart and each being of slightly less than half the axial length of said inner ring, a lug projecting inwardly from said inner ring, as into the slot system of a slip mandrel by which tools are set in cased well bores, said drag and slip assembly also comprising alternate slip segments disposed with slight angular space in between said inner ring providing chordally extending recesses therein equally angularly spaced apart therearound and disposed centrally of the axial length thereof, each slip segment having a connection web transversely of the axial length thereof to extend through the space between said outer rings and each web having a transversely extending pivot member connected thereto and disposed in one of said recesses, slip jaws formed on the opposed outer end portions of said slip segments with parallel teeth oppositely pitched with the biting edges of each slip jaw toward the longitudinal center of the slip segment, axially aligned recesses through said outer rings equally axially spaced apart on either side of the axis of the respective pivot and having spring means therein to urge outwardly against the underside of said slip segment normally to maintain it in axial alignment with said drag and slip assembly axis, said friction drag elements each including a guide plate at either end thereof extendable at right angles to said elements into relieved spaces provided'therefor in the inner and outer ring ends, said friction drag elements also providing countersunk head hold-down screws through said elements and threadable into said outer rings and spring means seated on said outer rings and surrounding said hold-down screws to urge said friction drag elements outwardly as guided by said guide plates.

17. A combination squeeze and full bore packer comprising a tubular valve body providing wall port means therein and having an upper end adapted for connection to a tubular member, as to a well bore tubing in a cased well bore, a tubular mandrel assembly including uppermost a tubular valve element providing wall port means therein, and also providing cooperatively with said valve body a latch means selectively, relatively vertically movable to releasably latch said valve element to said valve body in an upper position of said valve body with the valve element port means occluded, in a neutral position with said valve body wall port means and said valve element wall port means in communication, and in a lower position of said valve body with the valve element port means occluded, said mandrel assembly including below said valve element a tubular slip mandrel having centrally an enlarged diameter portion providing an upper, upwardly facing shoulder, and a lower, downwardly facing shoulder, and having an enlarged diameter part on to the lower end thereof to provide an upwardly facing, retaining shoulder, said mandrel assembly having mounted thereon an upper packer assembly including an inwardly and downwardly tapered mandrel segment at its lower end with its smaller diameter in confronting relationship with said upper shoulder, and a lower packer assembly including an inwardly and upwardly tapered mandrel segment at its upper end with its smaller diameter bearing against said lower shoulder, a drag and slip assembly including a mounting sleeve slidably mounted on said enlarged diameter portion including drag elements to yieldably frictionally engage the casing wall and slip segments alternately disposed therebetween, said mounting sleeve providing an axially extending recess for each slip segment and each slip segment including an axially extending leaf spring centrally anchored centrally of its respective recess with upper and lower ends free and having respective upper and lower slip jaws connected thereto, teeth being formed in said upper and lower jaws, respectively, whereby when said slip segments are in upper set position the upper jaw teeth bite downwardly, and in lower set position the lower jaw teeth bite upwardly, and means cooperatively provided in said enlarged diameter portion and in said slip and drag assembly whereby selective relative rotation and axial movement therebetween sets said upper slip jaws and expands said upper packer assembly in said lower position of said valve body and sets said lower slip jaws and expands said lower packer assembly in said upper position of said valve body.

18. A slip and drag assembly comprising a tubular mounting sleeve having slip segments and drag members alternately mounted therearound, said sleeve being adapted to slide on a tubular slip mandrel grooved to provide a J-slot system in its periphery and mounting means to set said slip segment selectively upwardly and downwardly in accordance with selective relative slidable movement between said mounting sleeve and said slip mandrel, said mounting sleeve provided alternately disposed around the periphery thereof, recesses forming drag member cavities and hold-down lips over-extending said cavities to restrain said drag members, and axially extending recesses to receive axially extending leaf springs included by said slip 19 segments with a leaf spring anchored centrally of a re spective recess and with upper and lower ends to swing free, resilient means in each drag member cavity to urge a respective drag member outwardly toward a respective hold-down lip, each slip segment including upper and lower slip jaws adjustably axially slidably connected respectively to the upper and lower free ends of said leaf springs with upper slip jaw teeth biting downwardly and lower slip jaw teeth biting upwardly, and lug means provided by said mounting sleeve to extend inwardly into said grooved J-slot system to connect said slip and drag assembly for selective relative movement with relation to said slip mandrel whereby to swingably urge said upper slip jaws outwardly to downwardly biting position upon said slip mandrel being moved downwardly with relation 15 to said slip and drag assembly and to swingably urge said lower slip jaws outwardly to upwardly biting position upontsaid slip mandrel being moved upwardly with relation to said slip and drag assembly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,376,605 5/1945 Lawrence 166133 X r 2,383,453 8/1945 Crickmer 166216.' 2,578,900 12/1951 Ragan 1661 19 2,715,441 8/1955 Bouvier 166217X 2,799,346 7/1957 Baker et al 166138 X 2,906,344 9/1959 Clark 166-216 X 3,026,941 3/1962 Muse 166-216 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner,

BENJAMIN HERSH, Examiner. D H. BROWN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 3. A SLIP AND DRAG ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A MOUNTING SLEEVE COMPRISED OF COMPLEMENTAL ABUTTING MOUNTING RINGS, FRICTION DRAG ELEMENTS TO GRASP THE WELL BORE AND YIELDABLY URGED OUTWARDLY BY RESILIENT MEANS AGAINST STOP MEANS INCLUDED BY SAID MOUNTING RINGS, SAID ASSEMBLY ALSO INCLUDING INTEGRALLY FORMED SLIP SEGMENTS ALTERNATELY ANGULARLY DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID FRICTION DRAG ELEMENTS AND INCLUDING SLIP JAWS INTEGRALLY CONNECTED AND HAVING TEETH FORMED IN THE OPPOSED OUTER SURFACE END PORTIONS THEREOF TO PRESENT DOWNWARDLY BITING UPPER TEETH AND UPWARDLY BITING LOWER TEETH, AND CONNECTION MEANS ALSO INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH EACH SEGMENT AND INCLUDED A PIVOT COMPLEMENTALLY ENCLOSED BY SAID MOUNTING RINGS TO PIVOTALLY MOUNT SAID SEGMENT TO PIVOT ABOUT AN AXIS TRANSVERSE TO THE VERTICAL AXIS OF THE WELL.

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