US3500908A

US3500908A - Apparatus and method for freeing well pipe

Info

Publication number: US3500908A
Application number: US683395A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dennis S Barler
Original assignee: DENNIS S BARLER
Current assignee: DENNIS S BARLER
Priority date: 1967-11-14
Filing date: 1967-11-14
Publication date: 1970-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 1987-03-17

Description

March 17, 1970 D. s. BARLER 3,500,908

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FREEING WELL PIPE Filed NOV. 14, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

\Q Dew/v/s .5. B/QIQL 2 ATTORNEY March 17, 1970 u. s. BARLER 3,500,908

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FREEING WELL PIPE Filed Nov. 14, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 KEZEli A V EE -i 4 F l G 7 DEN/W376. BHRLEE ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,500,908 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FREEING WELL PIPE Dennis S. Barler, 12031 Blackmer, Garden Grove, Calif. 92641 Filed Nov. 14, 1967, Ser. No. 683,395 Int. Cl. E21b 23/00 US. Cl. 166--77.5 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus including a number of rotatable powerdriven eccentrics which are connected to an elongate member such as a drill pipe that is stuck in an oil well bore hole, and to a resiliently movable support suspended from the traveling block on an oil derrick. When the power-driven eccentrics are operated, the elongate member is subjected to vertically directed forces to free it from the stuck position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention Apparatus and method of using same to free an elongate, rigid member which has become stuck in an oil well bore.

Description of the prior art In the drilling of an oil well, a drill string may become stuck in a bore hole at a location that may range from a position adjacent the bit to a position intermediate the bit and the ground surface. Heretofore, the prevailing practice for freeing such stuck pipe has been to use special crews employing an overshot reamer and wash pipe to remove the earth formation surrounding the stuck pipe portion. Such an operation is time-consuming and expensive, and by no means assures total freeing and freeing of the entire string from the bore hole.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method of using same by which pulsed, longitudinally directed forces are exerted on the stuck drill string to free the same, which operation is adapted to be carried out by a regular drilling crew at a relatively low cost, in contrast to the expensive, time-consuming methods previously available for achieving the same result.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An apparatus in which at least one horizontally disposed pair of heavy, eccentrically loaded, synchronously driven bodies are rotated in a rigidly coupled condition relative to a stuck drill pipe to impart pulsed, longitudinally directed forces thereto and free said pipe in an oil well bore.

A major object of the present invention is to provide a power driven piece of equipment that may be supported from a traveling block, which, when rigidly coupled to a stuck drill pipe may be employed to free the latter.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that is simple and easy to use, may be operated by a regular drilling crew, and which minimizes the costs and inconvenience encountered in the use of previously available equipment used for such purpose.

A still further object of the invention is to furnish a method of freeing a stuck elongate member located in an oil well bore hole that overcomes the operational disadvantages of prior apparatus and methods used for this purpose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 1 is a side elevational View of the poweroperated vibrating unit removably supported from a traveling block which is rigidly coupled to a stuck drill string;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged end elevational view of the apparatus;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the apparatus;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of one of the spring assemblies used in said apparatus;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, vertical, cross-sectional view of the unit, taken on the line 5--5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, vertical, cross-sectional view of the apparatus, taken on the line 6-6 of FIG- URE 2; and

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the unit, taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The oil well tubular member freeing apparatus A, as can best be seen in FIGURES 1 to 3, includes a support B that can be removably affixed to a traveling block C to hold an upper rigid frame D at a desired elevation above a rotary table E of an oil well F. An elongate, rigid mem ber G, such as a string of drill pipe, or the like, is stuck in well F. Member G projects upwardly above rotary table B.

One or more spring assemblies H depend from upper frame D, each of which assemblies resiliently support a lower frame I. In FIGURE 2, applicants apparatus is illustrated as having three spring assemblies H. However, it is possible to use either more or less of these Spring assemblies H, and still provide an operative apparatus A.

A heavy, rectangular, closed frame K depends from lower frame I which serves as a support for one or more pairs of heavy, power-driven, eccentrically loaded, rotatable bodies L. The bodies L are connected by gears M in such a manner that the eccentrically loaded portions thereof reach their uppermost and lowermost positions in unison. When the bodies L are rotated in unison, the frame K tends to reciprocate upwardly and downwardly. The frequency at which frame K reciprocates upwardly and downwardly is, of course, determined by the speed at which the bodies L rotate.

An internally threaded socket N is rigidly secured to the lower portion of frame K. Socket N is threadedly engaged by an elongate rigid connector 0 that rotatably supports an internally threaded cup P on an enlarged lower end thereof; as shown in FIGURE 5. Cup P engages the upper threaded end of a heavy tubular inverted Y-shaped fitting Q, which fitting Q, as may best be seen in FIGURE 2, is threadedly connected to the upper end of the elongate member G, normally a string of drill pipe, that is stuck in oil well F.

A flexible hose -R extends from a mud pump (not shown) to a tubular leg 10 of fitting Q. The upper end 12 of leg 14 of fitting Q is sealed, in the manner shown in FIGURE 5, whereby mud pumped into the fitting Q is caused to flow downwardly through a leg 16 thereof into the member G. When mud enters the member G it passes downwardly therein to discharge through a bit (not shown) connected to the lower end of the elongate 3 iember. Thereafter, the mud passes upwardly through 11 annulus-shaped space 18 (FIGURE 1) defined beween the elongate member G and bore hole of oil well F 3 act as a lubricant.

Traveling block C is caused to move upwardly to place n upwardly directed force on the member G. Rotatable odies L are then caused to rotate in unison by means to e explained, and due to the eccentric loading of these odies, the lower frame I, frame K, connector 0, and fiting Q tend to reciprocate upwardly and downwardly to npart spaced pulses of upwardly and downwardly diected forces to the stuck elongate member G. These lulsed oppositely directed forces, in combination with the ubricating action of the mud flowing around the stuck rortion of member G, will gradually work the stuck porion of the member loose and permit it to be retrieved mm the well. The frequency of the pulses of force on he member G is controlled by varying the rate at which he eccentrically loaded bodies L rotate.

In detail, the support B comprises an elongate rigid )ody 20, the upper end of which is so shaped as to renovably receive a hook 22 that forms a part of the raveling block C. A downwardly extending recess 24 3 formed in the lower end of body 22 and removably eceives an inverted milk-bottle-shaped, rigid member 26 hat extends upwardly from the center of upper frame D. rame D (FIGURE 2) includes two rigid arms 28 which lepend downwardly and outwardly in opposing directions rom body 26, and the outer extremities of these arms ire joined by a rigid crosspiece 30. A number of longiudinally spaced clevises 32 depend from crosspiece 30, md a number of reinforcing members 31 extend between he arms 28 and crosspiece, as may also be seen in FIG- JRE 2.

By means of a pin 34, each of the clevises 32 is secured o a lug 36 projecting upwardly from a first plate 38 'orming a part of one of the spring assemblies H. Each tssembly H also includes second and third plates 40 and I2 that are in spaced relationship situated below first )late 38. The second and

third plates

40 and 42 of each ipring assembly H are connected by a number of cylinlrical shells 44, as illustrated in FIGURE 4.

A piston 46 is slidably mounted in each shell 44, and :ach piston 46 is connected to the lower end of the shank 18 of a bolt 50 provided with a head 52. The shanks 48 :xtend through pairs of vertically aligned bores 54 Formed in the first end

second plates

38 and 40 respec- ;ively, as shown in FIGURE 4, A heavy coiled spring 56 is disposed in each shell 44, with the lower end of :his spring resting on one of the pistons 46 and the upper and of the spring abutting against the lower surfaceof me of the second plates 40.

Lugs 58 extend downwardly from the third plates 42, and by pins 60 these lugs are connected to clevises 62 :hat project upwardly from a crossbar 64 forming a part of lower frame I. The frame I also includes two arms 56 that extend downwardly and inwardly towards one another from the outer extremities of crossbar 64 and merge at a junction 68. A number of reinforcing members 67 extend between arms 66 and crossbar 64.

Frame K (FIGURE 3) includes two parallel, laterally spaced side pieces 70', a bottom piece 72 and top piece 74. A bolt 76 extends through a transverse bore 78 in junction 68 to engage a clevis 80 located at the center of top piece 74 that is preferably formed as an integral part thereof, all of which may be seen in FIGURE 3.

Bottom piece 72 supports horizontal rectangular,

rigid housings

84, 86, 88 and 90, open at the top and bottom, which are stacked one upon the other within the confines of frame K, with the lowermost housing 90 resting on platform 82. Apertured

lugs

84a, 86a, 88a and 90a extend outwardly from

housings

84, 86, 88 and 90, as also shown in FIGURE 3.

Four rods 92 are provided, the upper and lower ends of which are threaded. The rods (FIGURE 3) pass 4 through

lugs

84a, 86a, 88a and a and bores 82a. Nuts 94 engage the threaded ends of rods 92 to clamp the

housings

84, 86, 88 and 90 together and secure the housings as an integral unit to the platform 82.

In abutting edges of the

housings

84, 86, 88 and 90, transversely aligned semi-circular recesses 84b, 86b, 88b and 90 are formed that grip shafts 95 (FIGURE 3) of squirrel cage type motors having stators which rotate rela tive to the shafts, which stators comprise the bodies L. Portions of the bodies L are removed resulting in eccentrically loaded portions 96 of the bodies, as shown in FIGURE 6. The bodies L receive electrical energy from cables 97 by conventional means (not shown). The gears M are rigidly secured to bodies L, and these gears mesh in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6. Bodies L rotate in the directions indicated by the arrows 98 in FIGURE 6.

Due to the gears M, the bodies L must rotate at the same speed and in unison, with the eccentric loadings 96 reaching their innermost and outermost positions at the same time, and in so doing, cancelling out sidewise thrusts resulting from the rotation of the individual bodies. The eccentric loadings 96 all reach their uppermost and lowermost positions in unison, thereby developing intermittently spaced pulses of upwardly and downwardly directed forces which are imparted to the rigid member G to shake it loose from its stuck position as described herein. The pulses of upwardly and downwardly directed forces so developed cause the

plates

40 and 42 and shells 44 to reciprocate vertically relative to the springs 56 and pistons 46, as well as the lower frame I, but with no reciprocating movement being transmitted to the upper frame D.

During the time the eccentrically loaded bodies L are caused to rotate, mud is pumped downwardly through the stuck member G as described, to lubricate the stuck portion of the member and facilitate freeing thereof. Threads 100 are formed on the lower exterior surface of leg 16 which threadedly engage a tapped upper end 102 of elongate tubular member G, as best seen in FIGURE 3.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a tubular member stuck within an oil well, which member has a threaded upper end, an apparatus for freeing said member, including:

(a) upper and lower rigid frames;

(b) resilient means for supporting said lower frame from said upper frame, which means includes:

(1) a first horizontal plate supported from said upper frame and situated therebelow,

(2) second and third vertically spaced, horizontal plates positioned below said first plate and in vertical alignment therewith,

(3) a plurality of parallel cylindrical shells extending between said second and third plates and rigidly secured thereto, with the interior of said shells being in communication with a plurality of vertical bores formed in said second plate, which bores are smaller in transverse cross section of said shells,

(4) a plurality of pistons slidably mounted in said shells,

(5) a plurality of shanks depending from said first plate and extending through said bores in said second plate, with the lower ends of said shanks being secured to said pistons,

(6) a plurality of helical springs disposed between said pistons and said second plate within said shells, and

(7) means for securing said third plate to said lower frame;

(c) first means for adjustably supporting said upper frame at a desired elevation above said well;

(d) at least one pair of heavy, eccentrically loaded, power-driven bodies that are transversely spaced a fixed distance in a horizontal plane and rotate in opposite directions, with the eccentric loading on said bodies being so predetermined that said bodies alternately exert an upward and downward force only, during rotation thereof;

(e) rigid frame means for supporting said powerdriven bodies;

(f) second means for connecting said frame means to said lower frame; and

(g) third means for rigidly connecting frame means to said upper threaded end of said tubular member, with said tubular member being alternately subjected to upwardly and downwardly directed forces as said eccentrically loaded bodies rotate to free said tubular member from said stuck position.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said eccentrically loaded, power-driven bodies comprise portions of electric motors.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said eccentrically loaded power-driven bodies comprise stators of electric motors that rotate about shafts forming parts of said motors, which apparatus further includes:

(h) means for holding said shafts in fixed stationary positions in said frame means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 ERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.