US3330357A

US3330357A - Mechanically set high temperature well packer

Info

Publication number: US3330357A
Application number: US392175A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas L Elliston
Original assignee: Otis Engineering Corp
Current assignee: Otis Engineering Corp
Priority date: 1964-08-26
Filing date: 1964-08-26
Publication date: 1967-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 1984-07-11

Description

y 11, 1967 'r. L. ELLISTON 3,

MECHANICALLY SET HIGH TEMPERATURE WELL PACKER Filed Aug. 26, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR THOMAS L. ELLISTON ATTQ July 11, 1967 T. L. ELLISTON 3,330,357

MECHANICALLY SET HIGH TEMPERATURE WELL PACKER Filed Aug. 26, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 15s A I52.

INVENTOR THOMAS L. ELLISTON BY I v (WV W 6 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,330,357 NLECHANICALLY SET HIGH TED/HERATURE WELL PACKER Thomas L. Elliston, Dallas, Tex., assignor to Otis Engineering Corporation, Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 392,175 13 Claims. (Cl. 166-134) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A Well packer having a high temperature sealing element mechanically initially internally expanded outwardly and subsequently compressed longitudinally into sealing position between an upper and lower sets of setting assemblies, initially, the packing assembly being initially protected against undesired premature expansion during lowering prior to setting.

This invention relates to well tools and more particularly to a well packer.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved well packer connectable to an inner flow conductor, such as a string of tubing, to constitute a section thereof and having packing or sealing means for closing the annulus between the string of tubing and an outer flow conductor, such as a casing, in which the inner flow conductor is positionable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well packer which after it is set in operative position in a well casing will not be movable by either an upwardly or downwardly acting pressure differential thereacross.

Still another object is to provide a well packer having a high temperature resistance packing which can not be expanded radially outwardly by circumferential stretching thereof, the packer including means for initially expanding a packing element radially outwardly by increasing the diameters of its coils and simultaneously decreasing their number, and means for thereafter compressing the packing longitudinally and expanding it into sealing engagement between the inner and outer flow conductors.

A further object of the invention is to provide a packer which is settable in an outer flow conductor simply by an initial rotational movement imparted to the string of tubing to which the packer is connected and then by longitudinal upward movement of the tubing.

A still further object is to provide a packer having anchor and packing setting assemblies disposed on a mandrel above and below a packing assembly, wherein the upper anchor and setting assembly has latch means releasable upon rotational movement of the mandrel to permit the upper packing assembly to move into anchoring engagement with a well casing to prevent its upward movement therein whereupon upward longitudinal movement of the mandrel causes expansion of the packing assembly and subsequent engagement of the lower anchor and setting assembly with the well casing holding it against downward movement therein whereby the packing assembly is thereafter held in its expanded position sealing between the mandrel and the casing by the anchor and setting assemblies.

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The invention, therefore, has to do with a mechanically set well packer having a temperature resistant packing element thereon between upper and lower packing setting elements which are adapted to engage the wall of the well casing or flow conductor in which the packer is set for use in expanding the packer and for holding the packing in expanded position. The packing element is initially protected against undesired premature setting or expansion until after the upper packer setting assembly has been engaged with the casing, whereupon the protector is released and the packing is initially internally mechanically expanded by an expander member on the mandrel and is subsequently longitudinally compressed and further distended or expanded between the packer setting assemblies above and below the packing sleeve, and means is provided for positively holding the packing in the expanded sealing position and preventing undesired movement of the packer setting assemblies toward releasing positions.

It will further be seen that the upper anchor and setting assembly includes a lock means or mechanism having a drag spring engageable with a well casing to cause the latch means to release the anchor and setting assembly upon rotation of the mandrel relative to the latch mechanism.

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

FIGURE 1 is a vertical, partly sectional view of the upper portions of the well packer of the invention, the packing being shown in its initial inoperative position;

FIGURE 2 is a View similar to FIGURE 1, being a continuation thereof, and showing the lower portions of the Well packer;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical, partly sectional view of the upper portions of the packer showing the packer in its anchored and setting position in a well casing;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, being a continuation thereof, and showing the lower portions of the packer;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional View taken on line 66 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of an expander of the packer.

Referring now to the drawings, the well packer includes an elongate tubular mandrel 21 on whose upper end is threaded a retainer nut 22 provided with external threads 23 of relatively large pitch. A coupling 24 is threaded into the upper enlarged end portion 25 of the retainer nut. The packer may be connected by means of the coupling to an inner flow conductor, such as a string of tubing, to constitute a section thereof. The well packer is lowerable with the inner flow conductor through another outer flow conductor, such as the well casing C. An upper anchor and packing setting assembly 27, a packing assembly 28 and a lower anchor and packing setting assembly 29 are mounted on the mandrel.

The upper anchor and packing setting assembly includes a tubular drag spring carrier 30 provided at its upper end with internal threads 31 which are engageable with the threads 23 of the retainer nut. The co-engageable threads of the spring carrier and the retainer nut'are left hand threads, and the threads of the threaded connectors of the retainer nut with the mandrel at the coupling, and of any threaded connector of the tubing string, are right hand threads. The spring carrier is held against rotation in one direction relative to the retainer nut which would result in upward movement of the spring carrier on. the mandrel by the engagement of its upstanding lug 33 with the downwardly extending lug 34 of the retainer nut. The drag or bow strings 35 have flat lower end portions 36 disposed in longitudinal slots 37 in the lower external annular flange 38 of the spring carrier and rigidly secured to the spring carrier by screws 39. The upper flat end portions 40 of the drag springs are receivable in the longitudinal slots 41 of the upper external flange 42 of the spring carrier and are slidable on the external surfaces of the, spring carrier defining the inner therefore the balls tend to fall or move out of the recess sides of the slots. A retainer ring 43 is disposed in a circumferential recess 44 of the upper external flange 42 and spans the slots 41 to hold the upper end portions of the drag springs against outward displacement from the slots. a

It will be apparent that as the well packer is inserted and moved downwardly through the well casing, the intermediate outwardly bowed portions 45 of the bow springs engage the internal surfaces of the well casing and the spring is flexed inwardly, the upper end portion of the spring sliding upwardly on the mandrel to accommodate such inward flexure of the bow springs. The frictional engagement of'the drag springs' with the internal surfaces of the casing resists longitudinal and rotational movement of the spring carrier in the well casing so that the mandrel may be rotated relative to the spring carrier to disengage the threads of the retainer nut and the i spring carrier and thereafter permit upward longitudinal movement of the mandrel relative to the Spring carrier.

Arlatch sleeve has an upper end portion telescoped over the lower end portion of the spring carrier and is secured thereto against longitudinal displacement by a resilient split lock ring 51 which is receivable in the when free to do so. 7

The slip carrier has an external annular recess 66 adjacent its lower end in which are receivable the'inwardly extending flanges 'or hooks 67 of a plurality of slips 68 disposed about the mandrel. Upward movement of the slips relative to the slip carrier is limited by the engagement of their top end surfaces or shoulders 70 with the downwardly facing annular shoulder 71 of the slip carrier while their downward movement relative to the slip carrier is limited'by the engagement of the lower surfaces 72 of their hooks 67 with the upwardly facing annular shoulder 74 of'the slip carrier defining the lower side internal recess 66. The slips are initially held in their inner retracted position illustrated in FIGURE 1 by a frangible or yieldabIe' 'wire 76 wound about the slip and.- .disposed in 'the circumferentially aligned external recesses 78 of the slips. The slips have internal arcuate downwardly and outwardly extending cam surfaces '79 which are engageable with the annular upwardly and inwardly extending or beveled cam o-r expander surface,80 of a tubular expander 82 whereby upon upward movement 'of the tubular expander relative to the slips, the camming engagement of the slip cam surfaces 79 with the expander surface 80 moves the slips outwardly against the resistance offered by the retainer wire 76 which breaks or stretches to permit such outward movement of the slips. The slips are, of course, provided'with external upwardly facing teeth 84 which engage or bite into the internal surfaces of the casing to prevent upward movement of the slips and.

the expander 82 in the casing. V The expander 82 is initially held in the'uppermost po:

sition on the mandrel illustrated in FIGURE 1 by a plu-' rality of lock pins 85 which extend through'suitable lat- .eral bores 86 of the expander into outwardly opening recesses of the mandrel. The expander is held against upward movement relative to the mandrel, by a plurality'of aligned

recesses

52 and 53 of the latch sleeve and the tolock the latch sleeve to the spring carrier.

The lower end portion of the latch sleeve below its internal annular recess 52 is telescoped over the upper reduced end portion of a tubular slip carrier 57 having one or more. lateral apertures 58 in each of which a latch ball 59 is movably disposed. In the initial position of the packer, the inner portions of each latch ball extend into an arcuate outer recess 60 of the mandrel 21 and the latch ba-ll held against outward displacement from the recess by the stop or latch surface 62 of the upper slip carrier 57 which engages its outer surface. The slip carrier 57 is held against movement relative to the mandrel'as long as it is in the lowermost position relative to the latch sleeve illustrated in FIGURE 1. Longitudinal upward movement of the mandrel relative to the slip carrier can occur only after the slip carrier has moved upwardly relative to the latch slip and the outer portion of surface 56 and above the lower annular shoulder 64 defining the lower end of'the internal recess 55 of the the lock ring 51 is expanded holds the dogs against outward movement. The protector sleeve is rigidly but releasably secured to'the dogs by latch sleeve whereupon the latch balls are moved out,

wardly intothe recess 55 to release the slip carrier for longitudinal movement relative to the mandrel. Less than one-half of each'latch ball is inits arcuate recess and arcuate lock wedges or slips 87 disposed about the mandrel and in the internal annular-recess 88:0f the expander. The upwardly facing teeth 89 of the wedge slips are engageable with the external serrations 90 of the mandrel when the mandrel is moved upwardly relative to the expander to the'position illustrated in. FIGURE 4. The,

wedge segments 87 have external arcuate downwardly and inwardly inclined surfaces 91 which are engageable with the downwardly and inwardly inclined internal annular surface 92 of the expander'defining the outer side of the recess 88. The wedge segments are biased downwardly and therefore inwardly and toward engagement with theex ternal surface of the mandrel by a wave spring 94 which engages the upper end shoulders or surfaces 95 of the wedge segments and the downwardly facing annular shoulder 96 defining the upper end of the internal recess 88.

The expander sleeve below its internal recess 88 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced. longitudinal slots 100 whose lower ends are defined by the stop shoulders 101 and whose upper ends are defined by the stop shoulders 102. A plurality of dogs 104 are connected to the mandrel in circumferentially. spaced relationship thereabout. The inner end portions of the dogs 104 extend into suitable external recesses 106 of the mandrel and may be press fitted therein. A packing element protector sleeve 107 is telescoped over the lower end portion of the expander and over the external surfaces. 108 of the dogs and thus shear screws 109 which extend through suitable apertures in the protector sleeve into threaded bores 110 of the dogs; Upward movement of the protector sleeve over the dogs is limited by the engagement of its top annular shoulder or surface 111 with the "downward facing shoulders 112 provided by the external flange 113 of the dog. Upward telescoping movement of the protector sleeve over the expander is limited by the engagement of its top end surface 111 with the downwardly annular shoulder 114 of the expander.

The packing assembly 28 is disposed about the mandrel below the dogs 113 and the expander and includes a packing element formed of a plurality of coils 115 of high temperature resistant sealing substance such as asbestos which is reinforced with wires of a metal which has high strength under high temperature, such as Monel metal. The packing element cannot stretch longitudinally but can expand outwardly either due to the increase in the diameter of its coils and also due to the longitudinal compression of its coils. The top and bottom extrusion or backup rings 116 and 117 of the packing assembly are disposed above and below the packing element and may be formed of braided copper wire or the like. The backup rings are capable of radial expansion. The packing element and the backup rings are initially held in the upper position on the mandrel illustrated in FIGURE 2 by the frictional engagement of the backup rings with the mandrel. Upward movement of the packing assembly on the mandrel is limited by the downwardly facing annular bottom end shoulder or surface 120 of the expander 19%.

The mandrel below the packing assembly is provided with an external annular expander flange 125 which has a downwardly and outwardly expanding annular top shoulder 126 and an upwardly and outwardly extending annular bottom shoulder 127. When the mandrel is moved upwardly relative to the packing assembly, the expander flange expands the packing assembly radially outwardly by causing the coils of the packing element to enlarge in diameter with, of course, a consequent shortening of the longitudinal length of the packing element and decrease in the number of its coils.

The bottom anchoring and packing setting assembly 29 includes an expander ring 13!) disposed about the lower end portion of the expander flange 125 of the mandrel and releasably secured to the mandrel by one or more shear screws 131 which extend through suitable threaded bores of the expander ring into aligned threaded bores 133 of the mandrel. A slip carrier 135 is threaded on the lower end of the mandrel, as at 136, and has an external annular recess 157 at its upper end in which are receivable the lower internal flanges or hooks 133 of a plurality of slips 140 disposed circumferentially about the mandrel. Downward movement of the slips relative to the slip carrier 135 is limited by the engagement of the bottom end surfaces or shoulders 141 of the slips with the upwardly facing annular shoulder 142 of the slip carrier when they are held in the retracted position illustrated in FIGURE 2. Upward movement of the slips relative to the slip carrier is limited by the engagement of the upwardly facing shoulders or surfaces 143 of their hooks with the downwardly facing annular shoulder 144 of the slip carrier defining the top of the recess 137. The slips have upwardly and outwardly inclined arcuate internal cam surfaces 146 which engage the similarly inclined bottom shoulder 127 of the mandrel expander flange 125 and the annular upwardly and inwardly inclined annular cam or expander surface 148 of the expander ring. The slips 146 are held in their inner retracted positions illustrated in FIGURE 2 by a frangible or yieldable wire 149 which is wound about the slips and disposed in circumferentially aligned recesses 150 of the slips. The downwardly facing teeth 151 of the slips, when the slips are moved to expanded position, engage the internal surfaces of the casing and prevent downward movement of the slips, and therefore of the expander ring, in the casing.

In use, when the packer is to be installed in a well casing C to close the annulus between a string of tubing and the casing, the packer 26 is connected to the lower end of the packing by means of the coupling 24. The operative elements of the packer are now in the positions illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawing wherein the drag spring carrier 39 of the upper anchor- 5 against longitudinal movement relative to the mandrel.

The engagement of the

lugs

33 and 34 of the spring carrier and the retainer nut 25 prevents the slip carrier from rotating during the movement of the mandrel of the packer through the well casing in such direction that it would tend to unscrew downwardly off the retainer nut. The upper and

lower slips

68 and 140 are now held in their retracted positions by the retainer wires 76 and 149, respectively, and will therefore not tend to move outwardly into engagement with the internal surfaces of the well casing. The packing assembly 28 is now in its retracted position illustrated in FIGURE 2 and is protected by the protector sleeve 167 from contact with any internal surfaces or obstructions of the casing as it moves therepast. The protector sleeve also prevents any accidental unwinding of the coils of the packing element 15. The expander 82 is held in the uppermost position illustrated in the drawings in FIGURES 1 and 2 by the lock or shear pins 35 and the expander ring is held in its upper most position on the mandrel by the sleeve screw 131.

When the packer has been lowered to the position in the casing at which it is to be set, the string of tubing is rotated in a clockwise manner as seen from above. During such rotation of the mandrel, the spring carrier 30 is held against rotation due to the frictional engagement of its drag springs with the internal surfaces of the well casing. The length of overlap of the

lugs

33 and 34, when the spring carrier is in its uppermost position on the retainer nut, is such that one complete revo- 35 lution of the retainer nut relative to the slip carrier,

during which the slip carrier moves downwardly on the retainer nut, will cause the lug 34 of the retainer nut to clear the lug 33 of the spring carrier so that rotation of the tubing string can continue for as many complete rotations as required to disengage the slip carrier from the retainer nut and move the latch sleeve 50 downwardly relative to the slip carrier 57 and its stop or latch surface 62 out of engagement with the latch balls. The latch balls are thus freed to move outwardly into the internal recess 55. When the threads of the spring carrier have been disengaged from the threads of the retainer nut, the string of tubing is moved upwardly and, since the drag springs on the spring carrier now resist upward movement of both the spring carrier and the latch sleeve connected thereto, the upward movement imparted to the mandrel now causes the expander 82 to tend to move upwardly relative to the upper slips 68. Since the slips are now held against outward movement by the retainer wire 76, the engagement of the cam surfaces 79 of the slips with the expander surface of the expander tends to move the slips and the slip carrier 57 upwardly relative to the latch sleeve until the top end surface 155 of the slip carrier engages the bottom annular end surface 155 of the spring carrier. The latch balls 59 are now 60 positioned out of alignment with the latch surface 62 of the latch sleeve and move outwardly into the internal recess 55 thus freeing the mandrel for upward movement relative to the slips 68 and the slip carrier 57. Continued upward movement of the mandrel and the expander, now moves the slips outwardly since further upward movement of the slip carrier and slips is resisted by the frictional engagement of the drag springs, with the internal surfaces of the casing. The slip retainer wire 76 yields or breaks to permit such outward movement of the slips. The slips are moved outwardly to their expanded positions wherein their upwardly facing teeth engage the internal surfaces of the casing and thus prevents further upward movement of the slips and also of 7 the slip carrier in the casing.

ment to anchoring or expanded position. Upward movement of' the mandrel relative to the expander now moves the protector sleeve 1G7 upwardly to free the packing assembly for radial outward expansion, the dogs 1G4 moving upwardly in the slots 100 of the expander. During such upward movement of the mandrel relative to the expander, the lower end of the protector sleeve moves V successively abovethe bottom backup ring 117, the coils of the packing element 115 and the top backup ring 116, V

and the mandrel expander flange 125 moves inwardly thereof and progressively expands the bottom backup ring, the packing element and the top backup ring. During such radial outward expansion of the packing element 115, its coils increase in diameter, and thus decrease the number of coils, to permit such expansion of the packing element which is not stretchable longitudinally. This initial radial expansion of the packing assembly is not caused byits longitudinal compression.

During this upward movement, the expander ring 13% of the lower anchor and packing setting assembly moves upwardly with the mandrel and engages the bottom backup ring when the packing assembly is telescoped on the expander flange. At this time the lower end of the protector sleeve has moved above the upper end surface of the top backup ring 116, and, as the upward movement of the mandrel is continued the engagement of the top annular end surface of the expander ring 130 with the annular bottom end surface of the bottom backup ring now causes the backup rings and the packing elebe expanded by longitudinal compression and move the packing'element into sealing engagement with the mandrel and the internal surfaces of the casing to close, the annular space therebetween, the top backup ring to bridge the annular space between the protector sleeve and the'casing, and thus prevent upward extrusion of the packing element therebetween, and the bottom backup ring to bridge the annular space between the lower expander ring 13% and the casing to prevent downward extrusion of the packing element therebetween.

' Upward movement of the mandrel continues until the packing assembly has been compressed by a force predetermined by the shear strength of the shear screw 131,

and, as the mandrel is moved upwardly, the upward movement of the expander ring is arrested as the shear screw'131shears, The mandrel is then moved upwardly relative tothe expander ring moving the lower slips 140 upwardly therewith. As the mandrel continues to move upwardly, the camming engagement of the internal sur- 7 faces 146 of the slips with the expander surface 148 of the expander ring moves them outwardly and causes their downwardly facing teeth 151 to move into engagement with the internal surfaces of the casing. The retainer wire 7 149 fails or yields to permit such outward movement of the slips. The lower slips 140 now hold the expander ring against downward movement in the well casing. Downward movement of the mandrel relative to the expander is now prevented by the engagement of the upwardly facing teeth of the wedge slips 87 with the external serrations 90 of the mandrel.

Thepacker is now set and prevents fluid flow through the annulus between the packer mandrel and the casing and therefore between the string of tubing of which the packer mandrel now constitutes a section, and the casing.

, Upward movement of the packer due to an upwardly act-' ing pressure differential thereacross is now' prevented by the upper anchoring and packing setting assembly 27 whose slips 68 prevent such upwardmovement of the packer in the casing. Downward movement of the packer due to a downwardly acting pressure differential is now prevented by the lower anchoring and packing setting assembly 29 whose slips 140 prevent downward movement of the packer in the casing since any downward movement of the mandrel would now also result in downward movement of the expander 82 because the wedge slips 87 now prevent downward movement of the mandrel relative to the expander 82. v

' It will now be seen that the packer 20 includes a mandrel, a packing assembly and upper and lower anchoring and packing setting'assemblies mounted on the mandrel above and below the packing assembly, that the upper anchor and packing setting assembly has means holding it in retracted or inoperative position and is releasable upon rotation of the mandrel'in a predetermined direction formo'vement to its operative position, and that once the upper anchor and packing setting assembly, is released it is movable into' engagement with the internal surfaces of a flow conductor, such as a well casing, toprevent its further upward movement in the casing and permit upward movement of the mandrel relative to the upper pack.- ing setting assembly to expand the packing assembly and therein cause the lower anchor and setting assembly to engage the casing and lock the lower assembly against downward movement in the casing. V i

It will further be seen that the anchor and setting assemblies includes tubular members, such as the ex;

pander 82'and the expander ring 130, which are engageable with opposite ends of the packing assembly and with means movable outwardly to engage the well casing by such tubular member upon longitudinal movement of such means relative to the tubular members.

It will further be seen that the packer includes a protector sleeve initially disposed about the packing assembly which is movable with the mandrel relative to the upper anchor'and setting assembly to expose the packing assembly for expansion into sealing engagement with the flow conductor.

It, will further be seen that the mandrel is provided with a means, such as the expander flange 125, for expanding the packing assembly initially radially outwardly and with a means, such as the expander ring 130 of the lower anchor and packing assembly 29 and the expander 82 of the upper anchor and setting assembly, for longitudinally compressing the packing assembly after its initial radial expansion and expanding it into sealing engage-- ment with the mandrel and the casing. V

It will also be seen that the'lower anchor 'and packing assembly is movable into operative anchoring engagement 3 with the casing to prevent downward movement of the expander ring after the packing has been compressed.

It will further be seen that-the expander 82 of the upper anchoring and packing assembly and the mandrel have co-engageable'means, such as the wedge slips 87, for preventing downward movement of the mandrel relative to the expander 82 whereby the packer once it is set is held in anchored sealing position regardless of the direction of the force of pressure difierential exerted thereacross. y p a i It will now be seen that the packer is easily set by a rotational and then continuous upward movement of the mandrel whereby the operation of setting the "mandrel is easily and surely performed.

It will further be seen that the packer is of relative ly simple, economical construction and is easily anchored and set in a predetermined location inthe casing.

It will further be seen that the packing elements of the I expander are initially of relatively small ext ernal'diameter" and protected by'a protecton sleeve againstaccidcntal' engagement with the internal surfaces of the casing and a that the crossasectional' dimension of the packer is not increased by the packing assembly due to the provision of the means for initially radially outwardly expanding the packing assembly prior to the compression thereof iuto sealing engagement with the mandrel' and the well casing.

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

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

1. A well packer adapted to be set in the longitudinal flow passage of the flow conductor, said well packer including: an elongate tubular mandrel; normally retracted upper slip means and normally retracted lower slip means on said mandrel; packing means on said mandrel between said upper and lower slip means; upper expander means and lower expander means on said mandrel between said upper and lower slip means and above and below said packing means, said upper and lower expander means being engageable with said upper and lower slip means, respectively, for expanding said slip means outwardly into anchoring engagement with the flow conductor, said upper expander means being releasably secured to said mandrel and movable longitudinally therewith relative to said slip means to move said upper slip means into expanded position and anchoring engagement with the flow conductor wherein said upper slip means arrest upward movement of said upper expander means in the fiow conductor, said lower expander being releasably secured to said mandrel, said expander means compressing said packing means longitudinally and moving it into sealing engagement with said mandrel and the flow conductor upon upward movement of said mandrel and said lower expander means after upward movement of said upper expander means in the flow conductor is arrested, said lower slips being engageable with said lower expander means and movable outwardly into anchoring engagement with the flow conductor to prevent downward movement of the lower expander means upon upward movement of the mandrel relative to said lower expander means after said packing assembly has been moved into sealing engagement with the flow conductor and said mandrel; protector means carried by said mandrel initially surrounding said packing means and movable longitudinally with the mandrel out of protecting enclosing position when said mandrel is moved upwardly to move said upper expander member upwardly to set the upper slips; and enlarged expander means on said mandrel movable with said mandrel into said packing means to internally expand said packer outwardly toward sealing position prior to compression of the packing by the packing expanders.

2. A well packer adapted to be set in the longitudinal flow passage of the flow conductor, said well packer ineluding: an elongate tubular mandrel; a packing means on said mandrel; normally retracted upper slip means and normally retracted lower slip means on said mandrel; upper expander means and lower expander means on said mandrel between said upper and lower slip means and above and below said packing means, said upper and lower expander means being engageable with said upper and lower slip means, respectively, for expanding said slip means outwardly into anchoring engagement with the flow conductor, said upper expander means being releasably secured to said mandrel and movable longitudinally therewith relative to said slip means to move said upper slip means into expanded position and anchoring engagement with the flow conductor wherein said upper slip means arrest upward movement of said upper expander means in the flow conductor, means carried by said mandrel and initially enclosing said packing means and movable with said mandrel longitudinally of said packing means out of enclosin engagement with said packing means to permit radial expansion of said packing means; said lower expander being releasably secured to said mandrel, said expander means compressing said packing means longitudinally and moving it into sealing engagement with said mandrel and the flow conductor upon upward movement of said mandrel and said lower expander means after upward movement of said expander means in the flow conductor is arrested, said lower slips being engageable with said lower expander means and movable outwardly into anchoring engagement with the flow conductor to prevent downward movement of the lower expander means upon upward movement of the mandrel relative to said lower expander means after said packing assembly has been moved into sealing engagement with the flow conductor and said mandrel, and means operatively associated with said upper expander means and said mandrel for preventing downward movement of said mandrel relative to said expander.

3. A Well packer adapted to be set in the longitudinal flow passage of the flow conductor, said well packer including: an elongate tubular mandrel; a packing means on said mandrel; normally retracted upper slip means and normally retracted lower slip means on said mandrel; upper expander means and lower expander means on said mandrel between said upper and lower slip means and above and below said packing means, said upper and lower expander means being engageable with said upper and lower slip means, respectively, for expanding said slip means outwardly into anchoring engagement with the flow conductor, said upper expander means being releasably secured to said mandrel and movable longitudinally there with relative to said slip means to move said upper slip means into expanded position and anchoring engagement with the flow conductor wherein said upper slip means arrest upward movement of said upper expander means in the flow conductor, said lower expander being releasably secured to said mandrel, said expander means compressing said packing means longitudinally and moving it into sealing engagement with said mandrel and the flow conductor upon upward movement of said mandrel and said lower expander means after upward movement of said upper expander means in the flow conductor is arrested, said lower slips being engageable with said lower expander means and movable outwardly into anchoring engagement with the flow conductor to prevent downward movement of the lower expander means upon upward movement of the mandrel relative to said lower expander means after said packing assembly has been moved into sealing engagement with the flow conductor and said mandrel, said mandrel having protector means thereon extending about said packing means and movable upwardly with said mandrel relative to said expander and said packing assembly to permit radial expansion of said packing when upward movement of said upper expander is arrested.

4. A well packer adapted to be set in the longitudinal flow passage of the flow conductor, said well packer including: an elongate tubular mandrel; a packing means on said mandrel; normally retracted upper slip means and normally retracted lower slip means on said mandrel; upper expander means and lower expander means on said mandrel between said upper and lower slip means and above and below said packing means, said upper and lower expander means being engageable with said upper and lower slip means, respectively, for expanding said slip means outwardly into anchoring engagement with the flow conductor, said upper expander means being releasably secured to said mandrel and movable longitudinally therewith relative to said slip means to move said upper slip means into expanded position and anchoring engagement with the flow conductor wherein said upper slip means arrest upward movement of said upper expander means in the flow conductor, said lower expander being releasably secured to said mandrel, said expander means compressing said packing means longitudinally and moving it into sealing engagement with said mandrel and the flow conductor upon upward movement of said mandrel and said lower expander means after upward movement of said upper expander means in the flow conductor is arrested, said lower slips being engageable with said 1 1 lower expander means and movable outwardly into anchoring engagement with the flow conductor to prevent downward movement of the lower expander means upon upward movement of the mandrel relative, to said lower expander means after said packing assembly has been moved into sealing engagement withtthe flow conductor and said mandrel, and expander means on'said mandrel below said packer movable upwardly with said mandrel into said packing means to expand said packing radially outwardly before said upper and lower expander means compress said packing means.

5. A well packer adapted to set in'the longitudinal flow passage of the flow conductor, said Well packer including:

an elongate tubular mandrel; a packing means on said said upper slip means into expanded position and anchoring engagement with the flow conductor wherein said upper slip means arrest upward movement of said upper expander-means in the flow conductor, said lower expander being releasably secured to said mandrel, said expander means compressing said packing means longitudinally and moving it into sealing engagement with said mandrel and the flow conductor upon upward movement of saidmandrel and said lower expander means after upward movement of said upper expander means in the flow conductor'is' arrested, said lower slips being engageable with said lower expander means and movable outwardly into anchoring engagement with the flow conductor to prevent downward movement of the lower expander means upon upward movement of the mandrel relative to said lower expander means after said packing assembly has been moved into sealing engagement with the fiow conductor and said mandrel, means operatively 1 2 expander means and movable outwardly into anchoring engagement with the flow conductor to prevent downward V movement of the lower expander means upon upward associated with said upper expander means and said man- 1 drel for preventing downward movement of said mandrel relative to said expander, and'expander means on said mandrel below said packer movable upwardly with said mandrel into said packing means to expand said packing radially outwardly before said upper and lower expander means compress said packing means.-

. 6. A well packer adapted to be set in the longitudinal flow passage of the flow conductor, said well packer including: an elongate tubular mandrel; a packing means on said mandrel; normally retracted upper slip means and normally retracted lower slip means on said mandrel; upper expander means and lower expander means 'on said 'mandrel between said upper and lower slip means and above and below said packing means, said upper and lower expander means being engageable with said upper and lower slip means, respectively, for expanding said slip means outwardly into anchoring engagement with the flow conductor, said upper expander means being releasably secured to'said mandrel and movable longitudinally therewith relative to said slip meansto move said upper slip means into expanded position and anchoring engagemeans arrest upward movement of said upper expander means in the flow conductor, said lower expander being releasably secured to said mandrel, said expander means compressing said packing means longitudinally and moving it into sealing engagement with said mandrel and the flow conductor upon upward movement of said mandrel and said lower expander means after upward movement of said upper expander means in the flow conductor is arrested, said lower slips being engageable with said lower ment with the flow conductor wherein said upper slip 7 movement of the mandrel relative to said lower expander means after said packing assembly has been moved into sealing engagement with the flow conductor and said mandrel, said mandrel having protector means thereon ex-' tending about said packingmeans and movable upwardly with said mandrel relative to said expander and said packing assembly to permit radial expansion of said packing when upward movement of said upper expander is arrested, and expander means on said mandrel below said packer movable upwardly with said mandrel into said engageable with the flow conductor for releasing said upper assembly for movement to operative position in engagement with said flow conductor upon rotational movement of said mandrel relative to said latch means to' cause said upper anchor and setting assembly to be held against longitudinal upward'movement in the flow conductor, said packing means being movable to expanded sealing position and said lower anchor and setting ast sembly being moved to its operative anchoring position in engagement with said flow conductor preventing downward movement of said packing means upon subsequent upward movement imparted to said mandrel relative to said packing means and said upper anchor and setting asembly; and protector means initially surrounding said packing means'preventing expanding movement of said packing means and movable with said mandrel longitudinally upwardly out of engagement with said packing means to permit said packing means to be expanded to scaling position. v

8. A packer settable in the flow passage of a flow con: ductor, said packer including: a mandrel; an expandable packing means disposed on said mandrel, upper and lower packing setting'assemblies mounted on said mandrel in initially inoperative positions above and below said packing means, said upper assembly having latch means including means engageable with said flow conductor, said latch means releasing said upper assembly for movement to operative position in which said upper assembly is engagement with and anchored'against upward movement in the How conductor upon rotational movement of said mandrel relative to said latch means, said upper assembly, including packing protector means releasably secured to said mandrel and movable upwardly therewithuntil said mandrel and engageable with said packing means for longitudinally compressing said packing means and expanding it into sealing engagement with said mandrel and the fiow conductor upon upward movement of said mandrel and said packing setting means relative to said pack- 3 ing means, and latch means expandable outwardly into engagement with said flow conductor to prevent downj ward movement of said packing means after said packing means has been moved into said sealing engagement.

9. A packer settable in the flow passage of a flow conductor, said packer including: a mandrel; an expandable packing means disposed on said mandrel, upper and lower packing setting assemblies mounted on said mandrel in initially inoperative positions above and below said packing means, said upper assembly having latch means comprising means engageable with said flow conductor, said latch means releasing said upper assembly for movement to operative position in which said upper assembly is in engagement with and anchored against upward movement in the flow conductor upon rotational movement of said mandrel relative to said latch means, said upper assembly including protector means initially surrounding said packing means releasably secured to said mandrel and movable upwardly therewith until said upper assembly engages the flow conductor and is anchored against upward movement therein, said packing protector means being movable out of surrounding protecting position with respect to said packing means upon such upward movement with said mandrel, said mandrel having expander means below said packing means movable into said packing means to expand said packing means radially outwardly upon upward movement of said mandrel after said protector means has been moved upwardly out of engagement with said packing means and upward movement of said packing means has been arrested by said upper assembly.

10. A packer settable in the flow passage of a flow conductor, said packer including: a mandrel; an expandable packing means disposed on said mandrel, upper and lower packing setting assemblies mounted on said mandrel in initially inoperative positions above and below said packing means, said upper assembly having latch means including means engageable with said flow conductor, said latch means releasing said upper assembly for movement to operative position in which said upper assembly is in engagement with and anchored against upward movement in the flow conductor upon rotational movement of said mandrel relative to said latch means, and protector means connected to said mandrel and disposed about said packing means, said protector means being movable upwardly with said mandrel relative to said packing means to free said packing means for radial outward expansion when said upper assembly is in said operative position.

11. A packer settable in the flow passage of a flow conductor, said packer including: a mandrel; an expandable packing means disposed on said mandrel, upper and lower packing setting assemblies mounted on said mandrel in initially inoperative positions above and below said packing means, said upper assembly having latch means comprising means engageable with said flow conductor, said latch means releasing said upper assembly for movement to operative position in which said upper assembly is in engagement with and anchored against upward movement in the flow conductor upon rotational movement of said mandrel relative to said latch means, protector means connected to said mandrel and initially disposed about said packing means to prevent premature expansion thereof until said mandrel has been moved upwardly sufliciently to move said protector means from position about said packing means; and expander means on said mandrel movable within said packing to expand the same from interiorly upon such upward movement of the mandrel after the protector means has released the packing means for expansion, said expanding means initially laterally expanding said packing means; and means on said upper and lower packing setting assemblies engaging and compressing said packing means therebetween upon further upward longitudinal movement of said mandrel relative to said packing means to compress the same into sealing engagement with the mandrel and with the flow conductor.

12. A packer settable in the flow passage of a flow conductor, said packer including: a tubular mandrel; an upper anchoring and setting assembly including a spring carrier disposed about said mandrel, said spring carrier and said mandrel having co-engageable means holding said spring carrier in an upper position on said mandrel and releasable upon rotational movement of said mandrel relative to said spring carrier to permit upward movement of said mandrel relative to said spring carrier, said spring carrier having a plurality of yieldable outwardly extending means engageable with a flow conductor in whose flow passage said packer is movable for resisting movement of said spring carrier in the flow conductor, a slip carrier, a plurality of outwardly movable slips carried by said slip carrier, said mandrel and said spring carrier having latch means releasably holding said mandrel against upward movement relative to said slip carrier and said slips, said latch means being releasable upon upward movement of said mandrel relative to said spring carrier, an upper expander disposed about said mandrel and releasably secured thereto, said upper expander and said upper slips having co-engageable surfaces for moving said slips outwardly into anchoring engagement with the flow conductor upon upward movement of said mandrel and said upper expander relative to said slips to anchor said upper expander against upward movement in the flow conductor; packing means disposed about said mandrel and below said upper expander, said upper expander being engageable with said packing means to prevent upward movement of said packing means with said mandrel; a protector sleeve disposed about said packing means and releasably connected to said mandrel, said protector sleeve being movable upwardly with said mandrel and over said upper expander, said sleeve and said expander having coengageable means arresting upward movement of said protector sleeve relative to said expander when the lower end of said protector sleeve is disposed immediately above said packing means, said mandrel having an annular expander means of enlarged external diameter below said packing means and movable upwardly with said mandrel into said packing means to expand said packing means radially outwardly upon upward movement of said mandrel relative to said packing means; and a lower anchor and setting means including a lower expander releasably secured to said mandrel and extending about said mandrel expander means, said lower expander being engageable with said packing means upon upward movement of said mandrel relative to said packing means whereby said packing means is compressed longitudinally between said upper and lower expanders, said mandrel being movable upwardly relative to said lower expander when said packing means is compressed longitudinally into sealing engagement with and between the mandrel and the flow conductor, and a plurality of lower slips movable upwardly with said mandrel and engageable with said lower expander, said lower slips being movable outwardly upon upward movement relative to the lower expander to anchoring engagement with the flow conductor to prevent downward movement of the lower expander in said flow conductor.

13. A packer settable in the flow passage of a flow conductor, said packer including; a tubular mandrel; packing means on said mandrel, an upper anchoring and setting assembly on said mandrel above said packing means; a lower anchoring and setting assembly on said mandrel below said packing means; packing protector means initially surrounding said packing means to prevent lateral expanding movement thereof, said protector means being operatively connected with said mandrel and movable longitudinally therewith out of engagement with said mandrel; annular enlarged expander means on the mandrel below the packing means and above said lower anchoring and setting assembly and movable with said mandrel upwardly into engagement with said packing means to initially laterally expand said packing means after said protector means has been moved out of engagement therewith; means on said mandrel and said upper anchoring and setting assembly for moving said anchoring and setting assembly into engagement with said well flow conductor to prevent upward movement of said packing means; means on said mandrel and said lower anchoring and setting assembly for moving said lower anchoring and setting assembly into engagement with said flow conductor after said packing means has been compressed between said upper and lower anchoring and setting assemblies to prevent downward movement of said packing assembly, and means on said mandrel and said packing assemblies co-engageablefor preventing movement of said mandrel with respect to said anchoring and setting assemblies.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 925,906 5/1909 Heeter 166" 196 X 2,970,650 2/1961 Baker 166-134 X 16 Clark et a1. 166 134 Myers 166 -134 Muse et a1. 166--123 Carter et a1 166-139 X Thrane 166139 X Cox 7 166-134 CHARLES E. O?CONNELL, Primary Examiner. 1G ERNEST R PURSER, Examiner.

D. H. BROWN, Assistant Examinen