US3379257A

US3379257A - Anchoring devices for well tools

Info

Publication number: US3379257A
Application number: US495910A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jack W Tamplen
Original assignee: Otis Engineering Corp
Current assignee: Otis Engineering Corp
Priority date: 1965-10-14
Filing date: 1965-10-14
Publication date: 1968-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 1985-04-23

Description

April 23, 1958 1. W. TAMPLl-:N 3,379,257

ANCHORING DEVICES FOR WELL TOOLS Filed oct. 14, 1965 s sheets-sheet 1 v ao 151 f 1//60 /g /153 192 192 -152 193v` 143- --mo 4L i 141/ 190. 1 1412 16u 1U1 f a 1142/n U 2" 11d- 191 1 v 2o? l4\' 11a [20 l/5 121: H3 22 53 nl {2/9 [32` I 104 L g1? 131 13o; */112 5- 24 /00 ,l ,02 l

94`d I 3s 40 1 24 @1 f y 2'/ 4/\a I 1 l I 2o- I #ZL I F19. i-A

INVENTOR M Jack W. Tumplen v BY l M f April 23, 1968 Filed Oct.. y 14, 1965 .1. W4-TAMPLEN ANCHORING DEVICES FOR WELL TOOLS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.4

. INVENTOR Jock W. Tamplen Fig.5

April 23, 1968 J. w. TAMPLl-:N

ANCHORING DEVICES FOR WELL TOOLS s sheets-sheet 's Filed Oct. 14, 1965 n m M D. O mWVw O A T W.

May

Unit

3,379,257 ANCHGRENG DEJECES FUR WELL TGGLS Sack W. Tamplen, Celina, Tex., assigner to (itis Engineering Corporation, Dallas, rliex., a corporation of Delawr "e Filed (let. i4, i965, Ser. No. 495,910 14 Claims. (Cl. 16o- 137) ABSTRACT F THE DlSCLQSURE This invention relates to well tools and more particularly relates to an lanchoring device for locking a body against movement within a flow conductor.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved anchoring device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved anchoring and sealing device.

It is a particularly important object of the invention to provide an anchoring device having pressure energized slips which are both expandable into tighter engagement with and are releasable from a surrounding surface by forces exerted in the same direction.

lt is another object of the invention to provide an an- Chorin@7 device having a locking slip assembly including members having adjacent fragmentary conical surfaces which are in full engagement or fully seated against each other when the slips are fully expanded and which are only partially seated with each other when the slips are contracted to their normal inward positions.

lt is another object of the invention to provide an anchoring device including interconnected slips and Slip shoes which move longitudinally as a unit during the initial phases of locking while the slips move laterally or radially independent of the slip shoes during the latter phases of locking.

It is another object of the invention to provide an anchoring device having slip operators which when moved longitudinally toward the slips initially move the Slips and slip shoes as a uni* then laterally expand the slips independently of the slip shoes, and when moved away from the slips are withdrawn from within the slips to ermit inward retraction of the slips.

lt is another object of the invention to provide an anchoring device including expandable slips held around a frusto-conical expanding surface by first lateral springs connected between the slips positioned on opposite sides of the expanding surface and urged toward the base of the surface by a second longitudinally compressible and expandable spring.

lt is a further object of the invention to provide an anchoring device having slips which are forced into tighter engagement with a surrounding surface by upward force on the mandrels of the device and are releasable by an upward force applied to the fishing neck ofthe device.

It is another object of the invention to provide an anchoring and sealing device having an annular sealing element which after an initial seal is established with a surrounding surface is further expanded by .a fluid pressure applied either above or below the element.

lt is another object of the invention to provide an anchoring and sealing device for sealing above a well device in a tubing section and holding such well device against upward movement within the tubing.

d States Patent O icc It is still a further object of the invention to provide an anchoring and sealing device useful as a member of a pack-off assembly for isolating leaks in a section of tubing to reestablish flow through the tubing.

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:

FlGURES l and 1A taken together constitute a longitudinal view partially in section and partially in elevation of an anchoring and sealing devi-ce constructed in accordance with the invention;

FGURE 2 is a slightly reduced exploded perspective view of a slip, a slip operator, and a slip expander used in the device of FIGURES l and lA;

FGURE 2A is a perspective view of a slip retainer spring used in the anchoring and sealing device;

FIGURE 3 is a view in section along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FiGURE 4 is a reduced fragmentary side view in elevation illustrating a slip, a slip operator, and a slip shoe as viewed through a side window in the locking sleeve of the anchoring and sealing device;

FIGURE 5 is a reduced fragmentary longitudinal view partially in section and partially in elevation illustrating a running tool engaged on the upper mandrel and fishing neck of the anchoring and sealing device;

FIGURE 6 is a reduced fragmentary view in section illustrating the anchoring and sealing device at `an intermediate state in its operation showing the sealing element expanded and a slip expanded to a position of initial contact with a surrounding surface; and

FIGURE 7 is a reduced fragmentary view in section similar to FIGURE 6 showing the fully expanded position of one of the slips.

Referring to the drawings, the anchoring and sealing device 20 embodying the invention includes a. mandrel 20a comprising an upper mandrel section 21, a middle mandrel section 22 th-readed on a lower end section 23 of the upper mandrel section, and a bottom mandrel section 24 threaded on a lower end section 25 of the section 22. A slip assembly 28 is supported on the mandrel 20a for lateral expansion and contraction to releasably engage the anchoring and sealing device with a surrounding surface such as an inner wall 29 of a tubing section 3l). An annular seal assembly 3l is supported `on the middle mandrel section for radial expansion to seal with the tubing wall around the device. A longitudinal bore 32 extends through the mandrel to allow fluid flow throughout the entire length of the device. A tubular sleeve shaped fishing neck 33 fits in sliding relationship around the upper mandrel section for supporting the device during its installation and removal and for expanding and releasing the slip assembly. The threaded lower end section 34 of the bottom section serves to connect the device with a well tool or object which the device serves to seal above and hold against upward movement within the tubing Sil.

The slip assembly 28 includes two laterally expandable and contractable slips 35 which are yielda-by interconnected by two hairpin shaped transversely acting springs 40, Each of the slips is supported on a slip shoe il and a slip operator 42. The slips and their respective slip shoes and operators are positioned in ISO-degree circumferentially spaced relationship on the cylindrical outer surface of the upper Vmandrel section 21 and a frusto-conical expander surface 43 of the upper end section 44 of the middle mandrel section. Each of the slips is laterally or radially movable through a side window 45 formed in an operator sleeve Sil which is threaded on a lower reduced end section 51 of the fishing neck 33 end extends downwardly over portions of the upper and middle mandrel sections.

Each slip shoe 41 has an upper inner fragmentary cylindrical sur-face 52 corresponding to the outer surface of the upper mandrel section 21 and a lower inner fragmentary conical surface 53 corresponding to the outer frusto-conical expander surface 43 on the middle mandrel section. As shown in FIGURE 2, two

fragmentary frange sections

54 and 55 are formed on the lower end of the slip shoe in spaced-apart relationship to provide a slot 60 to receive a portion of a slip to interlock the slip shoe with its slip as will be explained in more detail hereinafter. The outer surface 61 of each slip shoe is a fragmentary conical surface which lies parallel to the inner fragmentary conical surface 53 of the slip shoe.

The upper portion 62 of the inner surface of each operator 42 is a fragmentary cylindrical surface corresponding with the outer surface of the upper mandrel 21 while the llower inner surface portion 63 of the operator is a fragmentary conical surface corresponding with the surface 61 on the slip shoe. An upper end flange 64 is formed on each operator providing an upper end surface 65 which is engagea-ble by the upper surface 70 of the operator sleeve 50 defining the upper end of the window 45 `in which the operator is positioned. The opposite ends of the flange 64 extend outwardly from the main body of the operator to form the lateral ears or lugs T1 and 72- which are received in the lateral end recess

portions

73 and 74, respectively, of the window 45 to limit longitudinal and rotational movement of the slip operators relative to the operator sleeve. The outer surface 75 of each. slip operator is a fragmentary conical surface corresponding to the fragmentary conical inner surface 80 of each of the slips 35. The outer portion of each of the slips is provided with a plurality of horizontal teeth 81 which are formed in a fragmentary cylindrical surface so that when the slips are expanded the edge of each tooth will fully engage the inside cylindrical surface 29 of the tubing 30. A downwardly extending lug or tongue 82 formed on the lower end of each of the slips is received in the slot 60 of the supporting slip shoe. An inwardly extending lip or boss 83 on the lug 82 hooks over the lower end of the slip shoe within the slot 60 to hold the slip against upward movement relative to the slip shoe. Similarly, each slip is held against downward movement on its shoe by the

ange sections

54 and 55 which engage the lower end of the slip on each side of the lug 82. The vertical side edges of each of the slips has a horizontal blind hole 84 which receives a hooked or bent end 85 on one of the springs 40 for interconnecting the spring and the slip.

Each of the hairpin springs 40 comprises an upwardly extending V or a bight section 90 having an apex 91, horizontal sections 92, and the end sections 85 which are bent perpendicular to the sections 92 into a horizontal plane which extends perpendicular to a plane passing through the V-section 90. Each of the two springs is positioned along corresponding side edges of the oppositely located slips 35 with an end section 85 received in each hole 84 of the slips and the V-portion 90 of each spring extending substantially longitudinally along the outer surface of the mandrel section 21 spanning the space between the slips so that the combined action of the two springs 40 holds each slip and its respective slip operator and shoe on the outer surface of the upper mandrel section and the conical expander surface of the middle mandrel section. The operator sleeve 50 is concentrically positioned around and spaced from the upper mandrel a suicient distance to provide a fragmentary annular space 93 within the sleeve around the mandrel above the expander surface 43 on the sides of the slip. Each space 93 accommodates the

portions

90, 91, and 92 of one of the springs 40. A portion of each section 92 of each spring 40 adjacent to and connecting with an end section S of the spring is positioned within an enlarged seetien or side recess 94 fic of its window 45 allowing both longitudinal and lateral movement of the springs 40 during expansion and contraction of the slips. The inward force applied to the slips by the springs 40 biases each slip and `its operator and shoe inwardly and upward-ly along thc sloping expander surface 43.

The frusto-conical surface 43 along with the fragmentary conical surfaces on the Slip shoes, slip operators, and slips are all so shaped that when the slips are fully expanded as in FIGURE 7, the adjacent contacting conical surfaces are fully engaged with each other. For example, the inner conical surface 53 of each slip shoe engages the conical expander surface 43 and the inner conical surface 63 of each slip operator engages the outer conical surface 61 of the adjacent slip shoe as do adjacent surfaces of the slips and operators. Obviously, with these conical surfaces so contoured that they are in full en gagernent with each other when the slip assembly is fully expanded the surfaces are out of register or do not fully Contact each other when the slips are in the retracted position as illustrated in FIGURE l. This lack of registry between the conical surfaces on the different portions of the slip assembly results from the fact that inthe retracted position surfaces having unequal radii are aligned while in the fully expanded position the conical surfaces are so aligned that each set of contacting adjacent conical surfaces have equal radii and thus will fully seat with or engage each other. Such relationship of adjacent surfaces of the various slip assembly components is desirable when the slips are fully expanded so that there is an essentially solid connection provided between the mandrels ofthe anchoring and sealing device and the inside surface of the tubing to provide better support for holding the tool against upward movement.

The bore 95 through the fishing neck 33 is enlarged along a lower end section 96 `forming a downwardly opening annular recess 100 around the upper mandrel section 21 to receive a spring 101 which is closed and ground at its lower end 102. The apex 91 of each spring 40 extends into the annulus 100 to engage the lower end 102 of the spring 101 and compress the spring so that the force of the spring bears against the upper end of each of the springs 40 to bias them and the slips in a downward direction relative to the mandrels and the frusto-conical surface 43. The relative strengths of the spring 101 and the springs 40 are such that while the springs 40 bias the slips inwardly and upwardly along the expander surface 43, the spring 101 acting through the springs 40` overcomes the springs 40 to an extent sufcient to maintain the lower ends of the slip lugs 82` against the surfaces 102 of the operator sleeve defining the lower ends of the windows 45 until the slips move into contact with the inner surface 29 of the tubing 30.

The seal assembly 31 includes an annular flexible sealing element 103 of synthetic rubber or other suitable material moulded around upper and lower ring-shaped anti-extrusion members 104.The `sealing element has a normal outside diameter somewhat smaller than the internal diameter of the tubing string so that it will pass readily through the bore of a tubing string in which the anchoring and sealing device is to be installed. The sealing element is generally tubular in shape having a bore 105 which is enlarged along its central portion to provide an internal annular recess 106. The upper end of the bore of the sealing element is flared outwardly at and the lower end of the bore is likewise flared outwardly at 111. The sealing element is conned on the middle mandrel section 22 between an upper end section 112 of the bottom mandrel section 24 and an external annular flange 113 of an expander sleeve 114 which fits in sliding relationship around the middle section 22 extending above the sealing element into the operator sleeve 50. The expander sleeve has a plurality of upwardly extending fingers 1146i which are sufficiently flexible to spring inwardly to facilitate engagement of the expander sleeve within the operator sleeve.

An internal annular recess 115 is formed within the flange 113 to receive an O-ring 126 and a spacer ring 121 which has at least one radially or laterally extending ilow passage 121e to permit fluid to flow from around the mandrel into the annuiar recess 115 around the outside of the O-ring 120 so `that fluid pressure around the mandrel below the O-ring is communicated to the outer surfaces of the O-ring and tends to force the O-ring inwardly around the mandrel elfecting a seal between the mandrel and the yupper end surface of the recess 115 to prevent upward fluid flow past the O-ring along the mandrel. Pressure along the mandrel above the O-ring, however, tends to displace the O-ring outwardly farther into the annular recess 115. Fluid may thus flow downwardly past the O-ring 120 when the pressure above the O-ring exceeds the pressure therebelow but may not flow upwardly along the mandrel past the O-ring when the pressure below the O-ring exceeds the pressure thereabove.

The lower end outer surface 122 of the liange 113 is inclined inwardly and downwardly connecting with an annular frusto-conical depending wedge surface 1113 on the lower end section of the expander 114 to engage the upwardly and outwardly flared surface 111i of the sealing element 1G39 whereby liuid pressure from above the sealing element may displace the upper portion of the element outwardly and liow within the bore of the element into its annular recess e.

An internal annular recess 124 is formed within the upper end section 112 of the bottom sub 2d to receive the O-ring 125 and the spacer ring 136. The spacer ring has at least one radially extending passage 131e whereby the combination with the O-ring 125 functioning in the same way as the O-ring 121i and the spacer ring 121 prevents downward flow along the external surface of the lower mandrel past the O-ring while upward flow from below the O-ring along `the surface of the mandrel is permitted.

The upper end surface 131 of the bottom section is inclined upwardly and inwardly connecting with an upwardly extending annular frusto-conical wedge surface 132 on the upper end section 112 of the bottom section which engages the iiared surface 111 of the sealing element 103 to allow fluid flow from below the sealing element to displace the lower portion of the sealing element outwardly and flow into internal annular recess 166 of the sealing element. When pressure below the sealing element exceeds the pressure thereabove, pressure from below the sealing element 163 enters the bottom mandrel section through a lateral port 133, passes upwardly through an annular space 13d between the bottom mandrel and the middle mandrel section above the port 133. The uid lpressure from below the sealing element 163 displaces the O-ring 125 away from the lower mandrel and is communicated past the ruste-conical section .132 into the internal annular recess 106 expanding the sealing element against the surface surrounding the sealing element. Similarly, when pressure above the sealing element exceeds the pressure therebelow, the pressure thereabove, which is communicated to the upper inner surfaces of the upper O-ring 12) through any spaces between the mandrel and the expander sleeve 11d, moves the O-ring out of sealing engagement with the mandrel. The iiuid pressure is thus communicated past the frusto-conical surface 123 into the annular recess 106 and expands the sealing element. The sealing element is thereby adapted to seal against a iiuid pressure differential across the element with a higher pressure either above or -below the element tending to improve its sealing relationship with an adjacent surrounding surface with which it is sealing. The seal assembly 31 is described, illustrated, and claimed in a copending United States patent application of the inventor, Ser. No. 374,046.

Each of the upwardly extending flexible fingers 114a of the expander sleeve 114- ha-s an external boss 14) at its free end providing a downwardly facing external shoulder 141 which is engageable with an internal annular ange 142 Iformed at the lower end of the operator sleeve 50 to hold the expander sleeve 114 against downward movement relative to the operator sleeve. Each of the ngers 11de also is provided with an internal upwardly and inwardly facinnr shoulder .143 engageable with an external annular shoulder 144 `formed around the middle section 22 to limit the upward movement of the expander sleeve on the mandrel. The flexibility of the lingers 114:1 permits them to be cammed inwardly so that the bosses 14) pass within the internal flange 142 to facilitate engaging the expander sleeve within the operator sleeve.

The operator sleeve 56 is telescoped over the middle mandrel section 22 and the expander sleeve .114 and is provided with an internal annular fiange 15Go providing an upwardly facing shoulder 145 which is engageable with an external downwardly facing annular shoulder around the middle mandrel section to limit the upward movement of the operator sleeve relative to the mandrel. An internal annular recess 151 is formed in the bore of the operator sleeve below the flange 1594 and communicates with a larger internal annular recess 152. The internal annular upwardly and inwardly extending cam shoulder 153 defines the upper end of the recess 152 between the connecting

recesses

151 and 152.

A plurality of lock segments 154 are confined within the annular recess 152 between the annular shoulder 153 and the upper end 155 of the expander sleeve 114. The lock segments are substantially rigid members which may be either metal balls or short segments of a metal ring having an internal diameter approximately equal to the external diameter of the middle mandrel below the shoulder 144 and an external diameter slightly less than the diameter of the annular recess `151. The lock segments are circumferentially spaced around the mandrel with a sufficient number vbeing employed to permit even application of force from the operator sleeve Sti to the upl er end of the expander sleeve 114 through the lock segments. The lock segments are held radially outwardly in the recess 152 by the outer surface 161) of the middle mandrel and are confined longitudinally between the cam shoulder `153 of the operator sleeve and the upper ends 15'5 of the fingers 11da. The internal annular flange 142 of the operator sleeve is engaged with the downwardly facing shoulders 141 of the lingers 11d-a. The operator sleeve and the expander sleeve are thus longitudinally interlocked with each other. The operator sleeve, the lock segments, and the expander sleeve move downwardly together until the lock segments reach the shoulder 144 whereupon the lock segments are cammed inwardly -by the shoulder 153 around the smaller diameter middle mandrel surface 161 releasing the operator sleeve to telescope farther downwardly over the expander sleeve with the internal surface of the operator sleeve defining the recess 151 passing downwardly over the lock segments to hold them around the surface 161.

The operator sleeve `Sii is provided with two access holes 1.7i) circumferentially spaced apart degrees around the sleeve to correspond with the circumferentially spaced blind radial holes 171 extending into the middle ysection 22. During assembly of the anchoring and sealing device a suitable Spanner wrench, not shown, having an inwardly extending lug is engaged on the operator sleeve with its lug extending through one of the holes 1711 and into one of the blind holes 171 to hold the middle mandrel section against rotation relative to the operator sleeve to facilitate making the necessary threaded connections for assembly of the device.

The fishing neck 33 is provided at its upper end with an external annular iiange 180 forming a downwardly facing external annular shoulder 181 for engagement of a suitable fishing tool utilized in unlocking and removing the device from a tubing string, as will be explained hereinafter. An upper end section 18u of the upper mandrel section 21 is enlarged providing a downwardly .facing external annular shoulder 191. External tangentially extending recesses 192 are formed in the upper end section of the upper mandrel to receive .shear pins employed in the connection of a running tool with the anchoring and sealing device. The bore of the upper mandrel is enlarged along an upper end section i913 providing an upwardly facing internal annular shoulder 194 which provides a seat surface to limit downward movement of a well tool, such as a choke or similar apparatus, not shown, which may be supported by the device 20 during its operation within a well.

FIGURE illustrates a running tool 2&0 which is secured in telescopic relationship over the fishing neck 33 and the upper end section 190 of the upper mandrel 23. `for supporting the device during installation and for actuatingy the slip assembly 2S and the seal assembly 31 to engage the device in la tubing section. The running tool has an upper threaded pin section 201 for securing the tool in the lower end of a wire line tool string as illustrated and described at page 3742 of the Composite Catalog of Oilfield Equipment & Services, 1964-65 edition, published -by World Oil, Houston, Texas. The running tool includes a sleeve section 202 which is provided with a downwardly opening bore having an upper section 203 adapted to t in sliding relationship over the upper end section 190 of the upper mandrel of lthe device y2() and a larger lower bore section Ztl-'l which tits in sliding relationship over the external annular flange 13G of the lfishing neck 33 on the device 20. An internal annular downwardly and inwardly facing shoulder ZtiS is formed within the sleeve 202 at the junction of the bore sections 203 and 204. The lower end surface 2@ of the sleeve 2d?. is engageable with the upwardly facing external annular shoulder 33a around the fishing neck to limit the downward movement of the sleeve 262 over the fishing neck. An internal annular shoulder 211 is formed within the sleeve 262 at the upper end of the bore section 263 to engage the upper end 19th: of the upper mandrel 21. to limit the downward movement of the sleeve over the mandrel. The sleeve 262 is provided with two tangentially extending holes 212 which are circumferentially spaced 180 degrees around the sleeve yfrom each other and intersect the bore section 2&3 forming two internal tangential recesses 213 each of which receives a shear pin 214 to interlock the ruiming tool with the device 2G. Each shear pin is inserted through a tangential hole 212 of the operator sleeve and extends through a recess i213 of the operator sleeve and a tangential recess 192 in the upper end section of the upper mandrel 21 for locking the running tool on the upper end section in telescopic relationship over the anchoring and sealing tool 2t! as shown in FIGURE 5. The holes 215 extend through the sleeve 262 of the running tool downwardly and inwardly from the base of the reduced head section 220 into the bore section 203 to permit iluid connmunication through the running tool with the bore 32 of the device 20 for relieving any pressure dierential which might develop across the anchoring and sealing device when inserting the device into and removing it from a fluid-tilted tubing string.

One application of the anchoring and sealing device 2i) is as a component of a pack-oli anchor assembly within a tubing string to straddle and pack-od a hole or holes in the tubing so that fluid-now may be continued through the tubing without removing and replacing the tubing. One such pack-oil assembly is illustrated and described at page 3673 of the Composite Catalog and Oileld Equipment & Services, supra. ln the installation shown in the reference the anchoring and sealing tool 26 is substituted for the top type G Otis pack-ofi assembly. The type D Otis collar stop lock is first run into the well on a suitable Wire line tool string and locked in the first collar connection within the tubing string below the holes to lbe isolated by the pack-off assembly. The bottom type G Otis pack-off assembly is then connected on the lower end of the spacer pipe and the anchoring and sealing device {Zt} is secured on the upper end of the spacer pipe by a suitable pipe coupling threaded on the lower end of section 34 of the bottom mandrel section 24 of the device 29. The running tool 2% shown in FIGURE 5 is then telescopically engaged over the upper mandrel section 21 and the lis'hing neck 33 until the lower end 210 of the running tool sleeve engages the upper shoulder 33a of the fishing neck. The shear pins 214 are inserted through the holes 212 and the recesses 213 within the running tool sleeve and 192 of the upper end section of the upper mandrel 2'1 to interlock the ruiming tool and the device Ztl.

The running tool is connected by means of the threaded pin 201 to a suitable wireline tool string and lowered in the tubing string 3l?. During the lowering or the device 2G' the fishing neck 33 remains in the upper position. illustratcd -in FIGURE, 1 due to the operative interconnection betwen `the running tool and the upper mandrel 21 'which is held against longitudinal movement in the running tool by the shear pins 214. The lower end of the sealing element N3 now bears against the upper end of the bottom mandrel section. The expander sleeve lil/ is resiliently supported against downward movement by the upper end of the sealing element 1183 while the operator sleeve 5t) is interconnected with the expander sleeve by the lock segments 154. The shing neck is threaded into the upper end of the operator sleeve holding the fishing neck in its upper position since the Weight of the expander sleeve, the operator sleeve, and the shing neck. is not Suliicient to compress the sealing element.

The slip assembly 28 is held in the retracted position shown in FIGURE Il by the engagement of the lower end of each slip tongue S2 with the operator sleeve surface 102 dening the lo 'er end of its respective lateral window 45. The operator sleeve is supported in an upper position as described above. The hairpin springs 40 hold the slips, the slip operators 42, and the slip shoes 41 inwardly around the upper 4mandrel 21 and the expander surface 43 while the spring 161 bearing against the upper ends 91 of the springs `ad bias the slips and associated members downwardly along the mandrel and expander surfaces with the slips being held against the surfaces 1102.

The assembly including the anchoring and sealing device 20, the spacer pipe, and the bottom type G Otis pack-olf assembly -is lowered on the wireline tool string until the lower end collet fingers of the bottom pack-ofi assembly engage the internal shing neck in the upper end of the collar stop lock. When the bottom pack-off assembly is engaged with the collar stock lock the bottom pack-off assembly is held by the stop lock against downward movement so that` further downward force exerted by the wireline tool string theretoithrough the mandrel 2da of the device 20 expands the sealing element of the bottom pack-off assembly. The seating of the :bottom pack-off assembly against the stop lock holds the pack-ofi assembly against downward movement while the force is being exerted by the tool string against the.

runnin gtool 29? to sever the sl ear pins 214. The mandrel 2da is now held against downward movement by virtue of its rigid connection with the spacer pipe which is held against downward movement by the bottom pack-oli assembly engaged with the collar stop lock.

After the pins 21d have been sheared, the mandrel or' the tool 20 remains held against downward movement for the reasons just explained while the released sleeve 262 of the running tool 266 telescopes downwardly over the upper mandrel section 21 and the lower end 210 of the running tool engages the shoulder 33a on the fishing neck 33 forcing the shing neck in a downward direction relative to the upper mandrel section. As the shing neck moves downwardly, the operator sleeve Si) is also forced downwardly. The interconnection of the expander sleeve 114 and the operator sleeve Sil through the lock segments 154 causes the expander sleeve to move downwardly with the operator sleeve. As the expander sleeve 114 moves downwardly the lower end surface 122 of the sleeve engages the upper end of the sealing element 163 to compress the element and expand it radially while its lower end is held by engagement with the -upper end surface 131 of the bottom sub 24. The outer surface of the sealing element engages and seals with the inner surface 29 of Ithe tubing 3ft as shown in FIGURE 6.

The operator sleeve 5) acting though the lock segments 154 forces the expander sleeve downwardly until the lock segments reach the annular shoulde` 144 on the lower mandrel at which time the annular cam shoulder 153 of the operator sleeve cams the lock segments inwardly around the surface 161 of the middle mandrel and out of the internal annular recess 152 releasing the operator sleeve for downward movement over the expander sleeve and locking the expander sleeve in the lower position shown in FIGURE 6. ri`he sealing element 103 is expanded sufciently to effect a fluid tight seal with the tubing but is not overcompressed or overexpanded. The inner surface of the operator sleeve defining the recess 151 holds the lock segments radially inwardly around thc reduced section 161 of the middle section 22 and the segments are confined longitudinally between the downwardly facing annular shoulder 144 on the middle section and the upper ends 155 of the expander sleeve fingers 11M holding the expander sleeve against upward movement and locking the sealing element 1113 in radially expanded sealing relationship with the tubing inner surface 29.

Preferably, the slip assembly 2% and the seal assembly 31 are so interrelated that when the lock segments 154 move out of the recess 152 the sealing element is in fluid tight engagement with the tubing surface and the slips 35 are expanded laterally suiciently to make initial contact with the tubing surface. When the above described downward movement of the locking sleeve 5@ is initiated, the surface 7 0 defining the upper end of the window 45 in the operator sleeve engages the upper end 65:' of each slip operator d2 to move the operator downwardly with the operator sleeve. The springs it? bias the slips inwardly with sufficient force that the frictional resistance against sliding between adjacent surfaces of each slip and its operator and slip shoe causes them to move simultaneously as a unit downwardly and outwardly along the expander surface 43 until the slip teeth Contact the tubing surface. The areas of the adjacent contacting surfaces of the slip operators and the slips and slip shoes are greater than the contact areas between the slip shoes and the expander surface 43 so that the smaller area of surface contact between each slip shoe and the expander surface permits each slip shoe to slide along the expander surface with no relative longitudinal motion occurring between each slip and its operator and slip shoe. During initial expansion of the slips until they engage the tubing surface the spring 161 is not compressed since there is no relative longitudinal movement between the operator sleeve and each slip. During the initial movement of the slip assembly in its expansion from the position shown in FIGURE l to the position of FIGURE 6 the lower end of each slip remains in engagement with the surface 1G?. defining the lower end of the window 45 in the operator sleeve 513. As the operator sleeve moves downwardly, the inner conical surface of each slip shoe moves along the expander surface 43 to move each shoe and its operator and slip radially outwardly. With the lateral expansion of each shoe, operator, and slip, the fragmentary

cylindrical surfaces

52 and 62 of each slip shoe and operator, respectively, move laterally away from the outer surface of lthe upper mandrel 21 to the spaced apart position shown in FIGURE 6. Thus, when the initial phase of the downward movement of the operator sleeve 523 is completed, the slips are expanded outwardly into initial Contact with the inner wall of the tubing and the sealing element 103 is expanded and locked in expanded position by the lock segments 154 which are held between the shoulder 144 and the upper ends of the lingers 114:1 on the expander sleeve 114.

With the lock segments 154 cammed inwardly by the surface 153 releasing the operator sleeve Si) to move farther downwardly, a further downward force .transmitted from the running tool through its lower end 210 against the upper shoulder 33a of the fishing neck 33 forces the operator sleeve farther downwardly to continue the expansion of the slips into locking engagement with the tubing. The downward force applied to the operator sleeve is transmitted to the upper end 65 of each slip operator d2 through the respective surface '70 of the operator sleeve defining the upper end of the window 45 in which the operator is positioned. The downward force of the operator sleeve wedges eac-h slip operator between the back surface of its slip and the outer surface of its slip shoe. The teeth 81 on each slip engage the Wall of the tubing holding the slips against downward movement lalong the tubing as the resistance against downward movement of the slips due to the teeth biting into the tubing wall is greater Ithan the friction between each slip and its operator while the operator is wedged between the slip and the slip shoe. Therefore, each slip openator is driven downwardly between its slip and slip shoe expanding each slip farther outwardly to firmly engage the tubing. The downward movement of the operator sleeve Si) over the mandrel sections is limited by the running tool Zut?. The running tool forces the shing neck 33 downwardly about the upper mandrel section until the internal `annular shoulder 211 within the running tool sleeve 24.12 engages the upper end 19% of the upper mandrel section. As the operator sleeve and the slip operators move downwardly and each slip is held against downward movement wedging its operator between it `and its slip shoe, the operator sleeve thus moves downwardly relative to the slips so that the lower end surface 102 of the operator sleeve window 45 moves downwardly to a position below the lower ends of the slips as illustrated in FIGURE 7. The lip 83 on each slip engages its respective slip shoe to hold the shoe against downward movement as its slip operator is wedged between the slip and the shoe. The wedging of the operator member between the slip and the shoe effects the lateral expansion of the slip moving the slip farther away from the slip shoe as shown by comparison of FIGURES 6 and 7. The longitudinal space between the upper end of each slip and the ange 64 on its operator is substantially closed by the downward movement of the operator relative to the slip. The length of each slip operator is preferably such that its slip will be fully expanded prior to engagement between the flange 64 on the operator and the upper end of the slip.

As the operator sleeve 50 moves downwardly after release by the inward movement of the lock segments, the operator sleeve telescopes downwardly over the expander sleeve to the position shown in FIGURE 7. The lower end of the operator sleeve does not engage the flange 113 on the expander sleeve and therefore does not move the expander sleeve downwardly. The seal element 1113 thus is mechanically expanded .and locked in the expanded state when the lock segments release the operator sleeve.

During Ithe downward movement of the iishing neck and the operator sleeve 5i? between the positions of FI"- URES 6 and 7 while the operator members are being wedged behind the slips and the slips are held against longitudinal movement, lthe fishing neck telescopes farther downwardly over the upper end 91 of each spring 49 compressing to the `spring 101 farther into the annulus 10E'. In its compressed state as shown in FIGURE 7 spring 101 supplies a substantial downward force to the springs 4) biasing the slips downwardly and outwardly along the outer surfaces 75 of the slip operator members providing a constant expanding force to t-he slips to resist 11 any tendency for them to disengage from the tubing surface.

FIGURE 7 illustrates both the slip assemblies 23 land the sealing assembly 31 in their fully expanded positions within the tubing. An upward force exerted against the bottom sub 24, the sealing assembly, or the mandrel, is transmitted to the slip assembly wedging the slips into tighter engagement with .the tubing. The frusto-conical expander surface 43 on the middle section transmits the upward force lto the downwardly and inwardly sloping fragmentary conical surfaces on the slip shoes, the slip operators and the inner surfaces of the slips forcing the slips outwardly more tightly against the tubing. Simultaneously, the force from the compressed spring 101 acting through the hairpin springs urges the slips along the downwardly and outwardly tapered surfaces of the slip operators into tighter engagement with the tubing wall.

Fluid pressure below the sealing element 163 is applied through the port 133 into the annular space 134 displacing the O-ring 125 outwardly in the recess 124 allowing the pressure to pass upwardly into the annular recess 166 of the sealing element 163 further expanding the sealing element against the inner tubing surface 29. The pressure from below the sealing element also is transmitted along the middle mandrel upwardly through the bore lti of the sealing element7 within the flange 113, and outwardly into the annular recess through the radial flow passages in the spacer ring 121. The pressure in the recess 115 forces the O-ring 120 inwardly and upwardly and against the mandrel and the annular surface of the expander sleeve defining the upper end of the recess 115 to seal the space between the mandrel and the bore through the expander sleeve 114. Thus, when the pressure below the sealing element exceeds the pressure above it the sealing element is further expanded and the pressure is transmitted only up to the O-ring 124i.

When the pressure above the sealing element 193 exceeds the pressure below the element the pressure passes the O-ring into the annular recess 166 within the sealing element to further expand the element outwardly against the tubing wall. The higher pressure from above the sealing element is prevented from moving downwardly along the middle mandrel beyond the O-ring 125 as the pressure moves through the lateral passages in the spacer ring to urge the O-ring inwardly around the middle mandrel sealing between the mandrel and the bore through the upper end section of the bottom mandrel.

The seal assembly 31 is therefore effective to seal against a pressure differential from either above or below the seal asembly while the slip asembly 33 is self-energizing in that a force increase against the seal and the mandrels tending to move them upwardly tends to further expand the slips against the wall of the tubing.

When the expansion of the seal assembly 31 and the slip assembly 28 is completed in the above described manner the wireline tool string is lifted in the tubing string raising the ruiming tool 20G from the top of the tool 2). Since the pins 214 were sheared prior to expansion of the seal element 193 and the setting of the slips of the tool, the sleeve 202 of the running tool is not held against upward movement relative to the device 29 and thus may easily be lifted from the top of the device. The device 20 then remains locked within the tubing until it is desired to remove it.

To remove the device 20 from the tubing, a suitable pulling tool such as an Otis type PJ pulling tool shown at page 3746 of the Composite Catalog of Giliield Equipment & Services, supra, is engaged on a wireline tool string. The pulling tool engages the shoulder 181 of the fishing neck 33 so that an upward movement imparted to the pulling tool causes the fishing neck to move upwardly to lift the operator sleeve 5G which initially moves upwardly from the position shown in FIGURE 7. When the lower end of the recess 151 moves above the lock segments 154 they are cammed outwardly into the recess 152 due to their engagement with the upwardly and out wardly extending shoulder 144 of the middle mandrel section by the upward force applied from the compresed sealing element 193 acting through the expander sleeve 114. The upper ends of the fingers 114a force the lock segments against the upwardly and outwardly sloping shoulder 141i causing the lock segments to be cammed outwardly into the recess 152 ywhich has now moved into alignment with the lock segments with the shoulder 153 being slightly above the lock. segments so that the segments may move radially outwardly into the recess 152. At about the same time, the upwardly facing shoulder provided by the internal tiange 142 of the operator sleeve 50 engages the downwardly facing shoulder 141 0n the fingers 114.1 and further lifting of the operator sleeve 55.9 lifts the expander sleeve 114 allowing the sealing element 103 to expand longitudinally and contract radially inwardly away from the tubing wall. Fluid trapped in the cavity of the seal 133 escapes between the seal and the frusto-

conical surfaces

123 or 132.

As the locking sleeve is lifted to relieve the force on the seal element 1&3, the slip assembly 28 is also being retracted from the tubing. The

lugs

71 and 72 on each of the slip operators are received, respectively, in the recesses 73 and '74 of the side windows in the operator sleeve so that upward movement of the sleeve lifts each of the slip operators to disengage them from their wedged position between the slips andthe slip shoes. When the operator sleeve is at the longitudinal position that the lock segments 154 are cammed outwardly into the recess 152 to release the seal element 163,` the slip operators are lifted to the position illustrated in FIGURE 6. The lifting of the fishing neck 33 by the fishing tool also raises the internal shoulder 33h at the upper end of the annulus 1li@ allowing the spring 101 to expand reducing the force of the spring 101 against the upper ends of the hairpin springs 4G so that the hairpin springs may retract the slips inwardly to the positions shown in FiGURE 6. When the fishing neck and the operator sleeve have been moved upwardly to the position of FIGURE 6, the slips are retracted sufficiently that they are either just slightly touching the wall of the tubing or are spaced apart from the wall and no longer in locltin'1r relationship with the tubing. The lower end surfaces 162 of the window 45 of the operator sleeve are each engaging the lower end of its respective slip. The upward force applied by the fishing tool on the fishing neck is continued, lifting the fishing neck and the operator sleeve upwardly until the upwardly facing shoulder of the operator sleeve 5@ engages the annular shoulder of the middle mandrel section 22 as shown in FGURE 1. The upward movement of the operator sleeve from the position shown in FIGURE 6 back to the position of FIGURE l forces the slips and their operators and shoes upwardly along the expander surface 43 and the springs is@ move them to the positions of FIGURE 1 so that the slips are fully `retracted into the side windows of the operator sleeve and the anchoring and sealing device 20 is completely released from'the tubing and may be lifted by the fishing tool back to the surface. With the device 2t) thus released from the tubing, the force on the fishing tool will lift the device, the spacer pipe, and the bottom paclooli assembly upwardly, the seal assembly of the bottom pack-olf Vassembly relaxing away from the tubing wall and the collet lingers of the bottom pack-oli assembly and the collar stop locl: disengaging so that the entire assembly from the device 20 down through the bottom pack-off assembly is lifted at the same time to the surface leaving the collar stop lool; engaged in the tubing.

It will now be seen that a new and improved anchor-V ing and sealing device has been illustrated and described.

It will also be seen that the device includes pressureenergized slips'which arerexpandable into tighter relationship with a surrounding engaged surface by a force acting in the same direction as a force employed to release the slips from the surrounding surface.

it will also be seen that the anchoring and sealing device includes a slip assembly having members with adjacent fragmentary conical surfaces which are fully seated with each other when the slips are expanded to the maximum extent permitted by the surrounding surface with which they are engaged.

It will also be seen that the fragmentary conical surfaces of the components of the slip assembly are only partially seated with each other when the slips are retracted to the normal position at which they are located for inserting the device into and removing it from a tubing section.

It will additionally be seen that each slip along with its slip operator and slip shoe moves longitudinally as a unit during the initial phases of locking the anchoring and sealing device within a tubing section while the slips are expanded laterally or radially away from the slip shoes during the latter phases of locking the device in the tubing.

It will also be seen that the slip assembly of the anchor ing and sealing device includes slip operators which are initially moved longitudinally to simultaneously move each slip and its slip shoe along an expander surface, are wedged longitudinally between each slip and its shoe to laterally expand each slip away from its shoe to complete the locking of the device with a surrounding surface, and when longitudinally withdrawn from wedging engagement between each slip and its shoe permits lateral retraction of the slips by hairpin retainer springs.

It will be further seen that the slip assembly of the anchoring and sealing device includes expandable slips which are supported on a frusto-conical expanding surface by laterally operable hairpin springs connected between the slips and biased toward the expanding surface by a longitudinally operable spring.

it will additionally be seen that the anchoring and sealing devices includes a slip assembly having slips which are expanded into tighter engagement with a surrounding surface by an upward force on the mandrel supporting the slip assembly and also are released by an upward force applied to the fishing neck of the device.

lt will be further seen that the anchoring and sealing device includes an annular sealing element which is initially mechanically expanded into sealing relationship with a surrounding surface and which subsequently is further expanded by liuid pressure applied either above or below the sealing element.

It will be also seen that the anchoring and sealing device may serve as a -component of a pack-off assembly for isolating leaks in a section of tubing to reestablish fluid flow through the tubing to bypass the leaking section.

it will also be seen that the anchoring and sealing device may function to limit the upward movement of and seal above a well tool secured to the lower end of the anchoring and sealing device.

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. An anchoring and sealing device comprising: lmandrel means; external annular sealing means supported on said mandrel means for radial expansion to seal with a surface surrounding said mandrel means responsive to longitudinal force applied to said sealing means, said sealing means being adapted to be initially mechanically expanded radially to engage said surface and subsequently to be further expanded hydraulically responsive and proportional to fluid pressure applied longitudinally to said seal element from above or below said element; and slip means supported on said mandrel means for releasably engaging said surrounding surface to hold said device against longitudinal movement relative to said surface against a force applied to said mandrel means in a first direction, said slip means being adapted to expand into tighter locking relationship with said surface responsive to a force applied to said mandrel means in said first direction, said slip means including means adapted for longitudinal movement responsive to a force applied in said first direction; and means supported on said mandrel means for longitudinal movement for expanding and contracting said slip means and actuating said sealing means.

2. An anchoring and sealing device comprising: mandrel means; external annular sealing means supported on said mandrel means for radial expansion responsive to longitudinal mechanical force and uid pressure applied across said means from above or below said means to seal with a surface surrounding said mandrel means; slip means supported on said mandrel means for releasably engaging said surrounding surface to hold said device against longitudinal movement in a first direction relative to said surface, said slip means being adapted to be urged into tighter locking engagement with said surrounding surface responsive to a force on said mandrel means in said first direction; retainer means for yieldably holding said slip means radially inwardly around said mandrel means; and yieldable compressible means adapted to bias said slip retainer means in a direction to expand said slips.

3. An anchoring and sealing device comprising: mandrel means having a slip expander surface sloping inwardly in a first direction toward said mandrel means; slip means supported on said expander surface for longitudinal movement along said expander surface for releasably engaging a surface surrounding said device to releasably hold said device against longitudinal movement relative to said surrounding surface; yieldable retainer means for holding said slip means on said expander surface; means operatively engaged with said retainer means for biasing said slip means in a second longitudinal direction along said expander surface; slip operator means for expanding said slips responsive to a force applied in said second direction and for retracting said slips to release said device from said surrounding surface responsive to a force applied in said first direction; and external annular sealing means adapted for radial expansion responsive to longitudinal mechanical force and iiuid pressure applied across said sealing means from above or below said means.

4. An anchoring and saling device comprising: mandrel means; external annular sealing means supported on said mandrel means for radial expansion to seal with a surface surrounding said mandrel means; said mandrel means having a slip expander surface sloping in a first direction inwardly toward said mandrel means; longitudinally slidable slip means supported on said expander surface for releasably engaging said surface surrounding said mandrel means to lock said device against longitudinal movement relative to said surrounding surface; means for supporting said slips on said expander surface and for biasing said slips toward said expander surface; means for biasing said slips along said expander surface in a second direction; slip operator means operatively engaged with said slip means for moving said slip means in said second direction along said expander surface, said operator means being movable in said first direction to release said slip means from said surrounding surface; and sleeve means slida'bly supported around said mandrel means engageable with said slip operator means, said slip means, and said sealing means for expanding and releasing said sealing means and for expanding and contracting said slip means.

5. An anchoring and ealing device comprising: mandrel means having a slip expander surface sloping inwardly in a first direction; external annular sealing means supported on said mandrel means for radial expansion to seal with a surrounding surface around said mandrel means; slip means supported on said expander surface for longitudinal movement relative thereto to rcleasably engage said device with said surrounding surface to hold said device against longitudinal movement relative to said surface; first spring means connected with said slip means for biasing said slip means inwardly around said expander surface; second spring means operatively engageable with said first spring means for biasing said slip means along said expander surface away from said mandrel means; operator means adapted for longitudinal movement relative to Said mandrel means for moving said slip means along said expander surface away from said mandrel means and releasing said slip means for inward movement toward said expander surface; and sleeve means slidably supported on said mandrel means operatively engageable with said seal means for expanding end permitting retraction of said seal means and engageable with said operator means for expanding and retracting said slip means.

6. An anchoring and sealing device comprising: mandrel means; external annular sealing means supported on said mandrel means for radial expansion to seal with a surface surrounding said mandrel means, said scaling means being adapted for mechanical expansion to effect an initial fluid tight seal with said surrounding surface and for further expansion responsive to a iiuid pressure differential applied across said sealing means from above or below said means; said mandrel means having an expander surface sloping in a first direction toward said mandrel means; slip means supported on said expander surface for movement in a first longitudinal direction for retracting said slips and for movement in a second direction for expanding said slips into releasable engagement with said surrounding surface; spring retainer means operatively engaged with said slip means for supporting said slip means on said expander surface and biasing said slip means inwardly toward said surface; second spring means operatively engaged with said first spring means for biasing said slip means along said expander surface in said second direction; operator means engaged between said slip means and said mandrel means for movement in said second direction to expand said slip means and for movement in said first direction to release said slip means from locking relationship with said surrounding surface; and sleeve means longitudinally slidably supported around said mandrel means for engagement with said sealing means to expand said sealing means and release said sealing means for contraction around said mandrel means, said sleeve means being engageable with said operator means and said slip means for expanding and contracting said slip means.

7. An anchoring and sealing device comprising: a mandrel; an external annular sealing element supported around said mandrel to seal with a surface surrounding said mandrel, said sealing element being adapted to be initially mechanically expanded into fluid tight relationship with said surrounding surface and subsequently further expanded by a fluid pressure differential applied across said sealing element from above or below said element; said mandrel having an expander surface sloping toward the longitudinal axis of said mandrel away from said sealing element; a plurality of slip shoes supported around said mandrel for longitudinal movement along said expander surface; a slip operator supported on each of said slip shoes for longitudinal movement relative thereto; a slip supported over each slip operator and slip shoe for movement relative to said operator and said shoe for releasably engaging said surrounding surface to hold said device against longitudinal movement thereto; laterally operable retainer springs engaged between said slips for holding said slips on said expander surface and biasing said slip, said operators, and said slip shoes toward said expander surface; a longitudinally operable spring operatively associated with said slip retainer springs for biasing said slips along said expander surface toward an expanded condition; and sleeve means supported on said mandrel for longitudinal movement relative thereto, said sleeve means being operatively engageable with said annular sealing element for expanding said sealing element and releasing said elemcnt and being engageable with said slip operators and said slips for expanding and contracting said slips along said expander surface on said mandrel.

8. An anchoring and sealing device comprising: a mandrel having .an upwardly and inwardly sloping slip expander surface; an external annular sealing element supported on said mandrel below said expander surface; a plurality of slip shoes supported `on said expander surface for longitudinal movement relative thereto; a slip operator supported on each of said slip shoes for longitudinal movement with and relative to each said slip shoe; a slip supported on each slip operator and corresponding slip shoe; laterally operable retainer springs connected between corresponding sides of said slips for retaining said slips with corresponding slip operators and slip shoes on said expander surface; a longitudinally operable spring positioned around said mandrel having a lower end engaged with said retainer springs for biasing said retainer springs downwardly relative to said expander surface; a sleeve positioned around said mandrel; means operatively connected with said sleeve and engageable with said annular sealing element for expanding and permitting contraction of said sealing element around said mandrel, said sleeve having lateral windows for receiving said slips, slip operators, and slip shoes to permit lateral expansion of said slips through said window, the surface defining the upper end of each of said windows `being engageable with the upper end of the slip operator positioned within said window for moving said operator downwardly relative to said mandrel to expand the slip associated with said operator and the surface dening the lower end of each of said lateral windows of said sleeve being engageable with the lower end of the slip positioned within said window for engaging and moving said slip upwardly along said expander surface to retract said slip; and a fishing neck slidably engaged over said mandrel, said fishing neck. being connected with the upper end of said sleeve and being provided with an internal downwardly opening annular recess for receiving said longitudinally operable spring.

9. An anchoring and sealing device comprising: an upper mandrel section; a middle mandrel section connected on a lower end section of said upper mandrel section, said middle mandrel section having au external upwardly and inwardly sloping frusto-conical expander surface along an upper end section thereof; a lower mandrel section secured on a lower end section of said middle section, an external annular sealing element positioned on said middle and lower mandrel sections below said ex- -pandcr surface, said sealing element being held against downward movement on said mandrel section and being adapted to be longitudinally compressed for radial expension to seal with a surface surrounding said mandrel; an expander sleeve slidably positioned on said middle mandrel section above said sealing element for applying a longitudinal downward force to the upper end of said sealing element to expand said sealing element; a plurality of slip shoes supported around said upper mandrel section and said expander surface of said middle mandrel section for sliding movement downwardly along said expander surface; a slip operator supported on each of said slip shoes for sliding movement relative to said slip shoe; a slip having an external toothed surface supported on each of said slip operators and its associated slip shoe for releasably engaging a surface surrounding said mandrels; laterally operable slip retainer springs secured between said slips for retaining each of said slips and its associated slip operator Aand slip shoe on ysaid expander surface and said upper mandrel, each of said springs extending between corresponding sides of said slips; a longitudinally operable spring positioned around said upper mandrel having a lower end engaged with said slip retainer springs for biasing said ret-ainer springs downwardly; an operator sleeve positioned around ysaid 4ripper and middle mandrel sections adapted to move longitudinally over said mandrel sections; locking means operatively interconnecting the lower end of said operator sleeve and said expander sleeve for expanding said sealing element responsive to downward movement of said operator sleeve and for locking said sealing element in expanded relationship after downward movement of said operator sleeve a predetermined distance; said operator sleeve having lateral windows each of which receives one of said slips and an associated slip operator and slip shoe to permit lateral expansion and contraction of said slips I'around said mandrels through said windows; a surface defining the upper end of each of said lateral windows in said operator sleeve engageable with the upper end of the slip operator p-ositioned within said window for moving said slip operator downwardly responsive to downward movement of said operator sleeve; a lower surface defining the lower end of each of said lateral windows engageab'le with the lower end of the slip positioned within said window for moving each of said sli-ps upwardly and inwardly along said expander surface responsive to upward movement of said sleeve; and a shing neck slidably positioned over said upper mandrel connected with the upper end of said operator sleeve, said fishing neck having a downwardly opening internal annular recess to receive said longitudinally operable spring, the upper end of said spring being engageable with a downwardly facing surface defining the upper end of said internal annul-ar recess for compressing said spring responsive to downward movement of said fishing neck and said operator sleeve to vbias said slip retainer springs downwardly.

1f). An anchoring and sealing device in accordance with claim 9 wherein adjacent mating surfaces of said slip expander surface, said slip shoes, said slip operators and said slips are frusto-conical in shape and formed to fully mate each with the other when said slips are fully expanded into engagement with a surface surrounding said device and said surfaces are mismated from each other when said slips are in retracted position.

11. An anchoring device comprising: a mandrel having an external upwardly and inwardly sloping frusto-conical expander surface, said mandrel having an upper section having a substantially cylindrical outer surface above and connecting with said expander surface; a plurality of slip shoes supported around said expander surface for longitudinal movement along said surface between a retracted and an expanded position, each of said slip shoes having an upper inner fragmentary cylindrical surface connecting with a lower inner fragmentary frusta-conical surface, said fragmentary cylindrical surface mating with said cylindrical surface on said mandrel above said expander surface when each of said slip shoes is in retracted position, said inner frusto-conical surface of each of said slip shoes mating with said expander surface when each of said slip shoes is in expanded position, each of said slip shoes having a lower end outwardly extending flange provided with a longitudinally and radially extending recess for receiving a slip lug; a slip operator positioned on each of said slip shoes for longitudinal movement relative to said mandrel and said slip shoe, each said slip operator having an upper internal cylindrical surface adapted to mate with said cylindrical surface on said mandrel above said expander surface, each said slip operator having a lower inner fragmentary frusto-conical surface adapted to mate with the outer frusto-conical surface of said slip shoe when said slip operator is in a fully expanded position, each said slip operator having an outer fragmentary frusto-conical surface, each said slip operator having an upper end outwardly extending ilange, said flange having lug end sections each protruding beyond the adjacent edge of said slip operator; a slip positioned for longitudinal movement on the outer surface of each of said slip shoes and a supporting slip opcrator positioned partially between said slip shoe and Said slip, each said slip having an outer substantially cylindrical toothed surface and an inner fragmentary frusto-conical surface mating with the outer surface of the supporting slip operator when said slip operator and said slip are in fully expanded positions with said slip operator wedged downwardly between said slip shoe and said slip, each said slip having a lower end lng section received within said longitudinally and radially extending recess in said lower end flange on the supporting slip shoe, said lug section on said slip having an inwardly extending lip engaged over the lower end of said supporting slip shoe within said recess of said lower end flange of said shoe interlocking said shoe and said slip to limit relative longitudinal movement between said shoe and said slip; laterally operalble slip retainer springs interconnected between corresponding sides of said slips extending laterally across said mandrel for holding said slips around said mandrel biasing said slips inwardly toward said expander surface and said cylindrical surface on said mandrel above said expander surface; a tubular fishing neck slidably engaged over said mandrel above said expander surface, said fishing neck having an internal downwardly opening annular recess around said cylindrical surface on said mandrel abovek Said expander surface; each of said retainer springs having an upper end apex section extending into said annular recess of said fishing neck; a longitudinally operable spring positioned within said internal annular recess of said fishing neck, the upper end of said longitudinally operable spring being engaged with an upper end surface of said fishing neck dening the upper end of said internal annular recess of said fishing neck and the lower end of said longitudinally operable spring being engaged with the upper end apex sections of said retainer springs for biasing said springs downwardly; a tubular operator sleeve supported concentrically around said mandrel engaged Valong an upper end section with a lower end section of said fishing neck, said operator sleeve extending downwardly around said mandrel below the lower end of said expander surface on said mandrel, said operator sleeve having lateral windows each receiving and permitting lateral expansion of one slip shoe, slip operator, and slip unit to permit lateral expansion and contraction of said slips for releasably engaging a surface around said anchoring device; said operator sleeve having a surface defining the upper end of each of said lateral windows, said surface being engageable with the upper end of the operator sleeve positioned within said window for moving said operator sleeve longitudinally downwardly; said operator sleeve having surfaces defining lateral upper end side edges of each of said lateral windows forming lateral end recesses for receiving said laterally extending lugs on each of said operator members for holding each of said operator memlbers within its lateral window against longitudinal movement relative to said operator sleeve; said operator sleeve having surfaces defining the lower end of each of said lateral windows for engaging the lower end of each of said lower end lugs on each of said slips for moving each of said slips longitudinally upwardly responsive to upward movement of said operator sleeve for retracting said slips; and locking means interconnected between said operator sleeve and said mandrel below said expander surface for releasably holding said operator sleeve at a lower end position for holding said slips in radially expanded positions.

12. A well tool in accordance with claim 11, including an external annular radially expandable Seal supported around said mandrel below said operator sleeve, said seal being expandable and lockable in an expanded position responsive to longitudinal movement of said operator sleeve.

13. An anchoring device for wells comprising: mandrel means; slip means supported on said mandrel means for releasably engaging a Surface surrounding said anchoring device to hold said anchoring device against longitudinal movement in a first direction relative to said surface; said slip means being adapted to be urged into tighter locking engagement with said surrounding surface responsive to a force on said mandrel in said first direction; retainer means for yieldably holding said slip means radially inwardly around said mandrel means; expander means on said mandrel and cooperating expander means carried by said slip retainer means engageable with said slip means to expand said slips to locking engagement with said surrounding surface; and yieldable compressible means adapted to bias said slip retainer means in a direction to expand said slips.

14. An anchoring device for wells comprising: mandrel means; said mandrel means having an expander surface sloping inwardly in a first direction toward said mandrel means; slip means supported on said expander surface for movement in said first longitudinal direction for retraeting said slips and for movement in a second longitudinal direction for expanding said slips into releasable engagement with a surface surrounding said device; first spring means operatively engaged with said slip means for supporting said slip means on said expander surface and biasing said slip means inwardly toward said surface; second spring means operatively engaged with said first spring means for biasing said slip means along said expander surface in said second direction; slip operator means engaged between said slip means and said mandrel means for movement in said second direction to expand said slip means and for movement in said first direction to release said slip means from locking relationship with said surrounding surface; and sleeve means longitudinally slidably supported around said mandrel means for engagement with said operator means and said slip means for expanding and contracting said slip means, said slip means being urged into tighter relationship with said surrounding surface by an upward force on said mandrel means and being releasable from said surrounding surface by an upward force on said sleeve means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,384,192 9/1945 Otis et al. 166-124 2,814,348 11/1957 Schram 166--140 2,884,073 4/1959 BostOCk et al. 166-217 2,901,046 8/1959 Webber 166-140 X 2,942,665 6/1960 Davis et al. 166-215 X 2,944,604 7/1960 Baker 166-137 X 3,057,407 10/1962 Grimmer 166-214 X CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

DAVID H. BROWN, Examiner-