US3713483A

US3713483A - Well servicing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3713483A
Application number: US00114831A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Robicheaux
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Halliburton Co
Priority date: 1971-02-12
Filing date: 1971-02-12
Publication date: 1973-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-30

Abstract

Well servicing apparatus in the form of an improved tubing section for wells, in the form of an improved tool for servicing wells, and in the form of the combination of an improved tubing section and tool. Cooperating conformations on the tubing and tool permit orientation of the tool and longitudinal positioning of the tool relative to the tubing in response to force applied longitudinally of the tool. The tool and tubing are arranged so that, having reached predefined orientation and position, the tool is locked in place. It comprises at least two main parts and it is one of those parts that is locked in place. The other is relatively movable to that locked part and a work mechanism included within the tool accomplishes its work as an incident to that relative movement. After a predefined amount of movement, the main parts of the tool are locked against relative movement and the tool responds to increased force to become unlocked from the tubing to permit its withdrawal. The example selected for illustration is arranged to install and remove gas valves from side pocket tubing sections.

Description

United States Patent 1 Robicheaux 111 3,713,483 1 Jan.30, 1973 [54] WELL SERVICING APPARATUS Primary Examinerlames A. Leppink Attorney-Nienow & Frater [57] ABSTRACT Well servicing apparatus in the form of an improved tubing section for wells, in the form of an improved tool for servicing wells, and in the form of the combination of an improved tubing section and tool. Cooperating conformations on the tubing and tool permit orientation of the tool and longitudinal positioning of the tool relative to the tubing in response to force applied longitudinally of the tool. The tool and tubing are arranged so that, having reached predefined orientation and position, the tool is locked in place. lt comprises at least two main parts and it is one of those parts that is locked in place. The other is relatively movable to that locked part and a work mechanism included within the tool accomplishes its work as an incident to that relative movement. After a predefined amount of movement, the main parts of the tool are locked against relative movement and the tool responds to increased force to become unlocked from the tubing to permit its withdrawal. The example selected for illustration is arranged to install and remove gas valves from side pocket tubing sections.

12 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 30 I973 sum 1 or 8 INVENTOR RONALD J ROB CHEAUX I x\ is BY 40:

PATENIEDJMOIQB 3.713.483

SHEET 2 BF 8 INVENTOR RONALD 3 Roelcfifiux I ATTORNEYS PATENTED JAN 30 I973 SHEET 3 OF 8 m mm r m/ro \k w J +|l|l1m A 7/ \\& \VS

ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJMI 30 m5 SHEET 7 OF 8 INVENTAOR RONALD J. ROBICHEAUX ATTORNEYS TIE-- E U INVENTOR RONALD d ROBICHEAUX PAIENTEUmao I975 saw 8 OF 8 WELL SERVICING APPARATUS This invention relates to improvements in accessory apparatus for wells. Certain kinds of wells, principally oil wells, utilize a flow tubing within an outer casing. The material to be withdrawn from the well is made to flow upwardly through the tubing. Sometimes it is desirable to incorporate flow control valves and other kinds of apparatus within that tubing. Certain kinds of that apparatus is best installed out of the primary flow path through the tubing.

The invention relates to tubing sections in which that kind of apparatus is housed and to tools for installing, manipulating and removing apparatus in and from such tubing sections. For example, it is sometimes advantageous to admit gas to the interior of the tubing from the space surrounding it in the casing to aerate the fluid within the casing and reduce its density. When that is done, upward flow is facilitated. The inlet opening for gas is controlled by a valve and it is one current practice to locate such gas inlet valves in protrusions formed at one side of a section of the tubing string. It is an object of the invention to provide improvements in the portion of the tubing string that includes such a protrusion and to provide an improved tool by which to install and remove and manipulate apparatus that is housed or is to be housed in that section of the tubing.

A number of such sections may be included in a tubing string. They may be located many thousands of feet below the well head where the direction of the protrusion from the tubing axis may not be known. Moreover, the tubing section may be located in a portion of the well that is not vertical whereby its axis extends obliquely at a large angle from the vertical. In that circumstance, the protrusion may lie at any angle from directly above the tubing axis to directly below it. Prior art tubing sections with protrusions, and the prior art tools available for working in those protrusions, have proven to be impossible to work with in many cases and very difficult to work with in many more cases. An object of the invention is to overcome that difficulty by providing a tubing section and a tool, and a combination of tubing section and tool, whose utility is independent of tubing orientation and which is useful at any point in the well and whose use greatly facilitates wire line operation and operations in which tools are moved through the casing hydraulically.

[t is an object of the invention to provide a tubing section of the kind that incorporates a protrusion on one side extending over a' length of the section and which incorporates a means by which the direction of the protrusion can be determined without probing for the protrusion per se and by which its position along the tubing can be determined without probing for the protrusion per se. Another object is to provide a tool which cooperates with such a tubing section so that it can be oriented with respect to the protrusion by movement of the tool in the direction of the length of the tubing. ln addition, it is an object to provide a tool and tubing section combination which will permit accurate positioning of the tool lengthwise of the tubing and its protrusion without need to probe for the protrusion itself. Thus, it is an object to provide a tubing section and tool combination such that the tool can be accurately placed within the tubing section, in terms of distance along the tubing and in rotational position relative to the tubing, at great distances from the tubing section by forces applied or controlled along the length of the tubmg.

Prior art combinations of tubing sections with protrusions and the tools related to those protrusions have been limited to arrangements in which the tool was deflected from the axis of the tubing section so that an end of the tool would enter the protrusion. The invention provides a tool and tubing arrangement in which that kind of deflection is unnecessary. Instead, the tool is oriented and fixed in position relative to the protrusion prior to any entry into it. Entry into the protrusion and withdrawal from it are accomplished as actions independent of movement of the tool along the tubing string. The tool employs relatively movable parts, one of which is fixed in position within the tubing and others of which are capable of relative movement in predetermined degree from the fixed part. The result is that it is unnecessary to rely upon chance and operator judgment in a trial and error probing exercise to locate the tool opposite the protrusion and also to orient the tool with respect to the protrusion. Analytically it is possible to identify a wide variety of physical circumstances within the well in which the intended operation of the tool is physically impossible and which circumstance cannot be identified from the well head. It is probable that many of the cut and try efforts that have been conducted using the prior art apparatus, and which were not successful, could never have been successful. It is an object of the invention to eliminate that probability and to greatly reduce the amount of cut and try effort involved in installing and removing and servicing tools in and from the protrusions or side pockets of tubing strings.

In the invention, the portion of the tool that accomplishe's the work, that inserts or removes a valve or other component in the protrusion or that performs some other function, can be made to move laterally into and out of the protrusion. Motion of the work portion lengthwise of the protrusion is also possible but the fact that lateral motion is possible permits the use of valve openings and holding devices and other fixtures on the side walls of the protrusion rather than only at the ends of the protrusion. To provide this advantage is another object of the invention.

The invention is not limited to use in oil and gas wells but the greatest need for it lies in that application. Accordingly, an oil well has been selected as the setting for detailed description of the invention. A particularly difficult situation is presented by the well which is located under water and whose casing terminates under water with the tubing string extended along the bottom to a pumping station on shore or on a remote platform above the water. It is a goal in the design of such oil wells, and in the apparatus used to service them, that operation be satisfactory even though the bend in the tubing at the point of emergence from the casing has a radius as little as five feet. Stated more generally, it is a design goal that the well be operative and serviceable even though the tubing string include a round turn on a diameter as small as ten feet. One of the objects of the invention is to provide a tool capable of working in a tubing section protrusion which will pass through a tubing which has such a round turn. In the case of such a tubing, the tool would be inserted and removed hydraulically rather than with wire line. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tool that can be operated by either hydraulic or wire line methods.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of two offshore oil wells both of whose tubing string includes sections with side protrusions, one of which includes a round turn of small radius, and an extension to a pumping station near the shore;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views each taken through a selected tubing section of FIG. 1 that includes the protrusion and each showing a tool embodying the invention in a different one of three operating conditions;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are partly cross-sectional and partly fragmented views of the upper region of the tubing section and tool in the operating conditions depicted in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, respectively;

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are partly fragmented and partly cross-sectional views depicting the central section of the units depicted in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, respectively;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are partly fragmented and partly cross-sectional views depicting the lower section of the units depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary and partially sectioned view of the lever and lever actuating mechanism which is shown at the upper end of FIG. 8;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are cross-sectional views taken on line 14-14 and line 15-15 of FIG. 13, respectively;

FIG. 16 is a partly fragmented and partly cross-sectioned pictorial view of the lever system and drive block structure;

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the drive block structure assembled for use in installing a gas valve in the protrusion of a tubing section;

FIG. 18 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a gas valve;

FIG. 19 is a pictorial view of that portion of a tubing protrusion on which the female portion of the gas valve clamp is located;

FIG. 20 is a pictorial view of one end of the gas valve illustrated in FIG. 18 showing the male portions of the gas valve clamp; and

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 21- 21 of FIG. 18.

In FIG. 1 the right side of platform 10 is the upper terminus of a well whose casing 12 extends downwardly into the ocean l4 and along its bottom 16, finally turning downwardly into and through the ocean floor 18 to a lower terminus in an oil pool 20. The arrangement represents an extreme case in well design because the casing includes a round turn 22 at the point in which it begins its descent into the ocean floor. The head of a second well whose casing 13 also extends down through the ocean bottom to the pool 20 is shown at the left of platform 10. The casing 13 is much straighter than is the casing 12. In the case of both wells, oil from the pool 20 is withdrawn through a tubing string that extends upwardly from the pool 20 through the casing to the well head. Tubing string 24 is housed in casing 12 and tubing string 15 is housed in casing 13. The tubing string 24 includes a section 26 that is fitted with an elongate protrusion 17a extending laterally from one side over a substantial portion of its length. A similar section 17 is included in the tubing string 15.

A variety of tools must be lowered down through the tubing string by which to conduct cementing and other well completion operations. Some of those tools remain in the well and others are withdrawn. During the lifetime of the well, it may be necessary to conduct sand bailing and other operations that require the lowering of tools down into the well which are subsequently withdrawn. Also, various safety valves and flow control valves may be inserted in the tubing string at points along its length and it may be necessary to remove or replace or repair those valves. In addition to valves that control flow along the length of the tubing string, it is often desirable to insert valves to admit gas from the casing into the tubing string at various points along the string. That gas aerates the oil, reduces its density and facilitates its upward flow.

The invention is useful for installing and removing and servicing a wide variety of tools in the tubing string and is not limited to use in installing and removing and repairing gas valves. Nonetheless, working with gas valves has proven to be a particularly difficult problem. That problem is made much less difficult by the invention and for this reason that application has been selected as the setting for description of the invention.

In the case of the well at the right in FIG. 1, an hydraulic line extends downwardly from the well head inside the casing alongside the tubing string. It extends to a point of connection with the tubing string deep in the well. That arrangement completes an hydraulic circuit which permits tools to be lowered into the tubing string and withdrawn from it using hydraulic pressure, so that the round turn 22 imposes no limitation on servicing of the well, providing that the tools are sufficiently flexible or short to negotiate the turn. One of the advantages of the invention is that it permits the use of much shorter tools for gas valve servicing than have been possible in the past. It permits the use of tools that can negotiate a five foot radius turn. The well at the left is much straighter and can be serviced by wire line procedures in which tools are lowered into the tubing string and withdrawn by a wire attached to the tool. The invention is also applicable to that kind of well.

The two

sections

17 and 26 are similar. Section 17 is the one shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawing. It comprises an elongate tube having a sideward extension or protrusion which extends laterally from one side over a substantial portion of its length. Such sections are sometimes called side pocket sections and the protrusion is sometimes called a side pocket. Turning to FIG. 8, a gas valve 19 is carried in a cavity within the tool which extends above and below the protrusion 21 of the side pocket section 17. By means of a lever system which forms part of the tool, the gas valve 19 is moved sidewardly into the protrusion or side pocket 21 where male clamping members 23 of the gas valve are interfitted with a female clamp 25 mounted on the protrusion wall. This arrangement is depicted in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 illustrates a condition in which the gas valve 19 has been attached to the wall of the protrusion 21 and the lever system of the tool has been retracted. The tool itself has been retracted sufficiently in FIG. 9 so that its lower end has been drawn up into view.

It will be apparent that a prerequisite to attachment of the valve to the protrusion wall is that the tool be lowered into the tubing string and into the side pocket section in exactly the right degree. Moreover, it is necessary for the tool to be oriented rotationally relative to the side pocket section and its protrusion. The side pocket section may be many thousands of feet below the well head where its axis may extend at a very substantial angle from the vertical and where its rotational orientation relative to that axis may be unknown. In FIG. 1, the side pocket section 17 has its axis nearly vertical and its protrusion extends to the right. The axis of side pocket section 17a makes almost a 45 angle with the vertical and its protrusion is at the upward side. It will be apparent from an examination of FIG. 1 that gravitational force cannot be relied on either to identify the side pocket section or the direction of the side pocket.

MEANS FOR LOCATING AND ORIENTING TOOLS WITHIN THE SIDE POCKET SECTION The locating and orienting means comprises coacting conformations on the exterior of a tool and on the interior of the tubing section. Those conformations have the form of surfaces extending inwardly from the tubing wall and outwardly from the tool and they coact in the sense that a surface of the tubing engages a surface of the tool. One set of those surfaces is arranged so that one of the set acts as a cam and the other acts as a cam follower whereby the surface of the tool, and therefore the whole tool, is cammed to a predetermined rotational position when the protrusion of the tool is forced against the surface of the tubing. A variety of constructions are possible. In this one a protrusion at the inside of the tubing is formed so that its lower surface lies in a plane extending obliquely to the axis of the tubing. In this case, an element carried by the tool has a complementally formed upper face. That face on the tool element extends obliquely to the axis of the tool at the same angle at which the face of the conformation of the tubing extends obliquely to its axis.

In FIG. 5, the side pocket tubing section 17 is provided with an inwardly projecting protrusion 27 which terminates in an obliquely extending lower shoulder 28. The protrusion is called an orienting profile. The tool includes an element 29 called a shoe whose upper face 30 complements shoulder 28 in that it extends obliquely to the axis of the tool 31 and tubing 17 at the same angle at which the shoulder 28 extends to that axis. For the sake of clarity in FIG. 2, the tool 31 has been given a rotational orientation relative to the tubing so that the plane of shoulder 28 and the plane of surface 30 are parallel. In this position the tool 31 has proper orientation so that the gas valve 19 that it carries is exactly opposite the female section 25 of the gas valve clamp.

The tool ends at its upper end at a portion 32 which is connected by a swivel joint 33 to a wire line, not shown. That connection ordinarily includes a jar which permits application of force to the tool either by pulling or by hammering. The tool 31 can have any rotational orientation to the side pocket section when it is first lowered into the tubing section past the protrusion 27 and conformation or shoulder 28. Member 29 is precluded from rotation relative to the remainder of the tool and it expands after being lowered to a position below profile 27. Therefore, if the tool is pulled upwardly, surface or conformation 30 will be forced into engagement with shoulder or conformation 28 and, if the force is sufficiently great, the tool will be caused to rotate by cam action until it has the orientation shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 relative to the tubing. In FIG. 3 the tool has been pulled upwardly until the upper surface or conformation of member 29 abuts the shoulder 28 of conformation 27.

Two sets of conformations are employed to locate the tool lengthwise along the tubing section and to fix it in a predetermined position within the tubing. Each set includes a conformation formed on the inner surface of the tubing and a complementary conformation on the exterior of the tool. Those conformations are arranged so that both conformations of a set are in abutting relationship at the same time whereby the tool is prevented from upward movement and from downward movement relative to the tubing. They are positioned so that the tool has the desired location relative to the tubing when the conformations are engaged. Conformations 28 and 30 form the upper set in this embodiment. The lower set is located below the bulge or pocket 21. The conformation on the tubing is formed by the lower shoulder 35 of an annular groove formed in the interior wall of the tubing. The conformation on the tool is formed by a lock bolt 36 which projects outwardly from the lower end of the tool as best shown in FIGS. 3, 11 and 12. Three sets of conformations are employed. One set orients and two sets position. Upward positioning is more important and it is possible to omit the set that prevents downward movement. Further, as in this embodiment the orienting set may serve double duty as a positioning set.

When conformation 30 engages conformation 28 and conformation 36 engages conformation 35, the tool is precluded from upward movement and from downward movement relative to the tubing. It makes no difference to this result whether the conformation 28 extends inwardly from the innermost surface of the tubing or whether it extends inwardly from a recessed surface. Stated another way, it makes no difference whether the shoulder 28 is formed at the bottom of an inwardly extending protrusion or at the top of an outwardly formed annular recess. The same alternative is possible at the other sets of conformations. At the other end, it makes no difference to the locating function whether the bolt 36 extends outwardly from the tool into a recess in the tubing or inwardly from the tubing into a recess of the tool. However, whichever arrangement is selected, some means must be provided by which the conformations of the tool are permitted to pass by thecooperating conformations of the tubing so that the tool can be lowered to a point below those conformations from which it can be pulled upwardly into contact with the conformations that cause the tool to rotate relative to the tubing until it has the desired orientation. In addition, the structure must be arranged so that the means by which the tool is fixed lengthwise in position relative to the tubing section can be overpowered at some higher value of force than is required to fix it in position initially so that the tool can be withdrawn from the tubing after its work is done. In this embodiment, the tool is arranged with movable parts that collapse or are retracted to permit the tool to be lowered past the profile 27. It is provided with parts, already described, which respond to upward force to rotate the tool to desired rotational position and, when so positioned, to be locked in place lengthwise. The locking elements are sufficiently strong so that they remain locked until a high level of upward force is employed. The tool includes other elements which respond to intermediate values of force to accomplish the work of the tool.

Accordingly, it is necessary to understand the operation of the tool when subjected to three different force levels. FIG. 1 shows the condition of tool and tubing section prior to application of the lowest value of force, although the tool has been purposely oriented to show how it is arranged just prior to application of the first force level. FIG. 3 illustrates the condition of the tool and tubing upon the application of the intermediate value of force. In this view, the tool 31 is fixed in position lengthwise of the tubing with proper rotational orientation. The working parts, particularly the lever system 37, has been operated to cause the tool to do its work. FIG. 4 shows the condition of the tool and tubing shortly after the application of the maximum amount of force which is a force sufficient to disengage the tool from its locked position in the tubing. The tool has just begun its upward movement.

OPERATION OF THE TOOL LOCKING AND RELEASE MECHANISM FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 show the condition at the upper end of the tool during initial location of the tool, at the time that the tool is called upon to do its work, and at the time the tool is being removed, respectively. Before turning to those figures, it is explained that the tool comprises two main parts, one of which is locked in position in the tubing and the other of which is capable of controlled movement relative to the locked part in response to pulling and jarring to do the tools work. In this case the movable part of the tool comprises an elongate central shaft 40. The upper end of that shaft is the section 32 that was described earlier. It extends downwardly from that section through the shoe 29 and an outer sleeve 41. The sleeve is the locked part of the tool. The side wall of the sleeve is cut out at 42 so that the gas valve and the lever system can be moved from a position within the tool as shown in FIG. 2 to a position without the tool as shown in FIG. 3. The central portion of shaft is cut outor recessed so that the gas valve 19 fits within it. This feature is best shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. Over a substantial portion of its length, the central rod is provided with a through slot. The lever system 37 is accommodated in that slot. In FIG. 9 that slot has its lower end at point 43 and its upper end is the curved surface 44 visible in FIGS. 8 and 13.

The shoe 29 is movable both longitudinally and radially relative to the central shaft 40. It comprises two

sections

45 and 46 which are held together by a pair of springs 47 that encompass both of the sections in a groove whose depth is sufficient so that the spring does not engage the inner wall of the tubing. A means 48 is included which permits the two

sections

45 and 46 to move longitudinally along the shaft '40 and to move radially outward and inward in small degree while preventing relative rotation between the shoe 29 and the rod 40. That means is not shown in complete detail but it comprises an arrangement of T-shaped slots and L-shaped ears. A portion of section 45 is broken away to disclose the shape of the interior wall of that section, and section 46 which is similar. The shape of the exterior of rod 40 within the shoe 29 is also visible.

When the tool is first lowered into the hole, spring 49 presses at its upper end against the lower shoulder of section 50 of shaft 40. The lower end of spring 48 bears down upon a shoulder 51 which is formed on the interior surface of

sections

45 and 46. That spring 49 holds the shoe 29 downwardly against the upper end of sleeve 21. In this position the inner protrusion or lockout profile 52 on the inner surface of

shoe sections

45 and 46 are disposed opposite the large diameter section 53 of the shaft 40, resulting in radially outward extension of the

sections

45 and 46.

When the tool is first inserted into the tubing section 17, the lower shoulder 54 of the two

shoe sections

45 and 46 engage the sloping shoulder 55 at the upper end of the inward protrusion 27 of the tubing. Spring 49 is light relative to the weight of the tool and wire line so that the shaft 40 continues downwardly in the tubing although downward progress of the shoe 29 is impeded by the shoulder 55. Thus, the rod 40 moves down and the shoe does not. However, when the rod has moved downwardly an amount sufficient to carry section 53 of the rod below inward protrusion 52 of the shoe, then the smaller diameter section 57 will be positioned opposite protrusion 52 permitting springs 47 to collapse

shoe sections

45 and 46 inwardly. The shoe then has smaller outside diameter and can pass by the inwardly extending protrusion 27 of the tubing. As soon as it has passed by that protrusion, spring 49 bearing on shoulder 51 will push the shoe downwardly against the upper end of sleeve 21 to the position shown in FIG. 5. In that position, the inner protrusion 52 of the shoe is again disposed opposite the larger diameter section 53 of rod 40 and the

shoe sections

45 and 46 are forced outwardly so that their outside diameter is greater than the inside diameter of protrusion 27. Thereafter, if the tool is drawn upwardly, conformation 30 formed by the upper surface of shoe 29 will engage conformation or shoulder 28 of the tubing section causing the tool to be cammed to proper rotational position as previously described.

Just below the shoe in FIG. 5 the rod 40 has been shown in section, and the sleeve 21 has been shown in section, to reveal that the tubing section is fixed to the rod 40 by small shear pins 59. Those pins will shear upon the application of a force greater than the force required to orient the tool. The force is applied through the jar to the center shaft 40. The shaft moves up but the sleeve 21 is prevented from moving up because it bears against the lower end of shoe 29 whose upper end bears against the shoulder 28. As a consequence, there is relative movement between the shaft 40 and the sleeve 21. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the shaft profile in the region of the shoe is such as to maintain the shoe locked in its radially outward position so that it cannot move upwardly past surface 28. The shaft 40 can be moved upwardly but the sleeve 21 cannot. After a small degree of upward motion of the shaft relative to the sleeve, a second set of shear pins is sheared to release a kickout spring 60. The kickout spring encompasses a reduced diameter section 61 of the center rod 40. This spring bears at its upper end against a pair of laterally movable dogs 62 and it bears at its lower end against a washer 63 that encompasses section 61 of the center rod. The shearpins 64 are shown intact at the upper end of FIG. 8. They are shown after being sheared at the lower end of FIG. 6. That portion of the pin which remains in the washer is designated 64a whereas that portion which remains with the sleeve is designated 64b.

Release of the kickout spring initiates the work phase of the tools manipulation. However, discussion of that operation is postponed to permit completion of the description of the manner in which the tool is locked against downward movement relative to the tubing.

The lower end of the tubing section and the lower end of the tool are shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 11 shows the relative position of these elements which corresponds to the relative position depicted in FIGS. and 8. Thus, the lower end section 66 of center rod 40 is shown fully seated downwardly in the sleeve or cylinder 21. The sleeve wall is indented at the left to accommodate the pivot pin assembly 67 which forms part of the pivotal lower lock conformation 36. Bolt 36 is carried on a shaft that can pivot around pivot pin assembly 67 and can also be extended laterally away from the pivot assembly upon withdrawal of the lower end of shaft section 66 and its keeper stop 68. When the shear pins 59 are sheared and the center shaft moves upwardly relative to the sleeve 21, the keeper 68 is withdrawn andthe bolt 36 is free to move outwardly under the influence of bias spring 69. It is prevented from rotating by a shear pin 70 so that it can move only straight outwardly in FIG. 11 as it is shown to have done in FIG. 12.

In FIG. 12, the tool and the tubing section have a relative position corresponding to that depicted in FIGS. 6 and 9. In this condition, the tool has been oriented and the cylinder and shoe have been pulled to an upward position before shearing of the pins 59. In that position, the bolt 36 was opposite the groove that forms the shoulder or conformation 35. As soon as the shear pins broke and the center rod moved upwardly relative to the cylinder, the keeper 68 was removed and bolt 36 was forced into the position it is shown to occupy in FIG. 12. The sleeve is prevented from downward movement relative to the tubing section by the cooperation between

elements

35 and 36. Motion of the cylinder 21-upwardly relative to the tubing section is precluded by engagement of the upper end of the cylinder with the lower end of the shoe and engagement of the upper end of the shoe with the conformation 28 of the orienting profile 27.

At the left side in FIGS. 11 and 12, toward the lower end of the lower section 66 of shaft 40, there is a locking device 71 which is shown to be retracted in a recess of the lower section. A bias spring 72 urges it out of that recess but it is prevented from outward movement by the section 73 of the wall sleeve 21 which is formed inwardly and against the lower section 66 of shaft- 40. The locking device 71 moves upwardly with the shaft. Eventually, when the shaft is moved up sufficiently, that locking device will clear the upper end 74 of the indented portion 73 of the sleeve wall. As soon as the locking device moves past that upper end 74, it will be propelled outwardly by the bias spring 72 and its outer end will be engaged in the locking hole 75 formed in the left side of the cylinder wall just above the offset 74. When that happens, relative movement between the shaft 40 and the sleeve 21 will be precluded. Thereafter, continued application of upward force or hammering on the shaft will result in upward motion of both elements. Such upward movement occurs in the withdrawal phase of the operation. Several events occur during that phase.

One of those events can be understood by examination of FIG. 12. When the sleeve 2] begins to move upwardly, bolt 36 will be moved upwardly along with it until its upper surface engages the upper surface 77 of the recess in which it is lodged. Its surface slopes whereby it is caused to cam inwardly against the bias of spring 69. It will be retracted sufficiently to permit upward movement of the cylinder and tool. If for any reason it should fail to retract at this point or at any point higher in the tubing string, upward force on the tool will cause the bolt 36 to shear off the pin 70. When that happens, the pivot pin assembly is arranged so that it will cause bolt 36 to be rotated downwardly within the sleeve 21 to the position it is shown to occupy at the lower end of FIG. 10. FIG. 10 also shows how locking member 71 secures the shaft and the sleeve together.

At the upper end of the tool there is a mechanism that cooperates with conformations in the wall of the tubing section to obviate the need to recompress the kickout spring 60 before withdrawing the tool from the tubing. Toward the lower end of FIGS. 5 and 6, the upper end of kickout spring 60 is shown to bear against the lower surface of a pair of spring extended retaining dogs 62. The upper outer surface of those dogs slopes outwardly and downwardly. They are disposed in slots formed in the center rod 40 and move relatively to the cylinder or sleeve 21 along with the shaft. The wall thickness of the cylinder or sleeve 21 is increased at the interior of the sleeve at its upper end in the region designated 80 in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. When the shaft 40 has been moved upwardly relative to cylinder or sleeve 21 so that locking member 71 is engaged in the locking hole 75 (see FIG. 10), then the dogs 62 will have to be raised to a position within section of the sleeve and they will have been cammed inwardly so that their lower ends no longer serve as stops for the upper end of spring 60. The upper end of the spring is then permitted to move upwardly past the lower end of the dogs 62 whereby compression of the spring is relieved and no force is applied by that spring to washer 63 whereby no force is applied to the lever system 37 which remains retracted by magnetic attraction between portions of that lever system and portions of the shaft 40.

Examination of the upper end of FIG. 7 and FIG. 10 will show that when the shaft 40 is moved upwardly relative to sleeve 21 to reach the final or withdrawal position shown, in that position the two are locked together by locking device 71 and the shaft 40 has moved upwardly relative to shoe 29 such that the lockout projection 52 of the shoe is positioned opposite a reduced diameter section 83 of the shaft. That permits collapse of the

shoe sections

45 and 46 under the influence of spring 47 (see FIG. 5). The shoe having been collapsed, it will pass by the orienting profile 27 of the inner tubing surface and the tool may be withdrawn from the tubing section by pulling on the wire line, if the wire line is used as in the case of the lefthand well in FIG. 1, or by application of hydraulic pressure from below against the sealed end 84 of the tool (see FIGS. 11 and 12) in the case of a hydraulically serviced well like the one shown at the right in FIG. 1.

PERFORMANCE OF THE TOOLS WORK It has been explained that the tool and tubing are arranged so that the tool is lowered past the point at which it will be fixed when it does its work. Thereafter, a small upward force is effective to fix the tool in position lengthwise and rotationally. Stated another way, the tool is arranged so that no matter how great a force is applied to it the tools first response is to orient itself and fix itself in position. The following increment of force is effective to overcome the means, in this case shear pins 59, by which the main elements of the tool are held against relative movement during the setting procedure. The next increment of force results in relative movement between one part of the tool that is fixed against movement relative to the casing and another part of the tool that is not. That relative movement is made to accomplish the work of the tool. After a predetermined amount of relative movement, the two main parts of the tool are again locked together and the next increment of force is utilized to withdraw the tool from the tubing. We are now concerned with that phase of tool operation in which the two primary sections of the tool, the sleeve and center rod, move relatively to one another. That relative motion is utilized to do work off at the side of the tool in the side pocket 17a of the tubing section. The work is accomplished by an element called a drive block. The drive block is carried on a lever system which makes it move laterally into and out of the side pocket as an incident to relative movement between the two primary sections (in this case the sleeve and the shaft of the tool). That relative movement can be either rotational or longitudinal. In this embodiment, only longitudinal movement is employed and the cylinder and center shaft are fixed against relative rotation.

In this embodiment the lever system 37 comprises a hinge. The hinge is formed of two

arms

90 and 91 which are hinged together by a hinge pin 92. This same pin 92 also extends through trunions (one of which is partly visible in FIG. 16) which extend from the rear of the drive block 93. The lower end of the lower arm 91 is connected by a pivot pin 94 to the center shaft 40 of the tool. This is best shown in FIG. 16. The upper end of the upper arm 90 carries a pin 95. That pin does not have a fixed connection to the shaft 40. Instead, it is free to reciprocate in a slot 96 formed at the lower side, in FIG. 16, of the shaft. When the drive block 93 is retracted, the

lever arms

91 and 90 lie in a slot formed lengthwise in the shaft. One face of that slot is visible in FIG. 16 where it is identified by the reference numeral 97; the other face is visible in FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 13 where it is designated 98. (See FIG. also.) In this embodiment the upper side, in FIG. 16, of the center rod is hollowed out to permit retraction of the drive block 93 within its outlines. The surface at the bottom of that cutout is visible in FIGS. 7, l3 and others where it is identified by the reference numeral a.

The center rod 40 is encompassed by the sleeve except that a section of its side wall is cut away at 42 to permit lateral extension of the lever system and the drive block 93. The invention includes a means by which movement of the working apparatus, here the lever system 37 and drive block 93, is controlled by relative lengthwise movement of the shaft and the sleeve. In this embodiment, there is also a means to preclude any but lengthwise relative movement between the shaft and sleeve. In this case, a single structural arrangement comprises both of those means. The lower arm 91 of the lever system carries two pins 99 which extend transversely to the arm in opposite directions. Those pins extend into respectively associated guide slots on opposite sides of the sleeve. One of those guide slots is visible in FIG. 16 where it is identified by the reference numeral 100. That slot can also be seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. In FIG. 2, pin 99 is at the lower end of the guide slot; in FIG. 3, the guide pin has been moved upwardly in the slot to an intermediate position, and in FIG. 4, the guide pin 99 has been moved to the extreme upper end of the guide slot. Neglecting its lower arm 200, the slot 100 is generally U-shaped. In an initial part of the working phase of the tool, arm 91 swings toward the side pocket lifting the pin 99 from one end to the other of one arm of the U. Thereafter, the pin 99 is carried upwardly across the bottom end of the U as an incident to longitudinal relative movement between the shaft 40 and the sleeve 21. The other leg of the U slopes upwardly to provide a cam action in which the margins of the upper arm of the U serve as the cam for the pin 99 which acts as a cam follower. Further, motion of the center rod 40 upwardly in the sleeve 21 forces lever 91 back to retracted position within the rod. As the arm 91 moves outwardly, upwardly, and then inwardly, so, too, does the drive block move outwardly, upwardly, and inwardly. The drive block is arranged so that it will accomplish its intended work task during that operation.

It is the kickout spring that moves the arm 91 and the pin 99 outwardly to carry the drive block toward the side pocket. The lower end of the kickout spring bears against the washer 63. That washer is initially pinned to the sleeve 21 by pins 64 as best shown in FIG. 13. These pins are held firmly in the sleeve 21 and they extend in the slot in the washer 63. This arrangement ensures that the pins 64 will be shared by relative mo tion between the sleeve and center rod 40 before the pins 102 are sheared to release the compressive force of spring 60. When the pins are sheared the washer 63 is driven downwardly against the upper end 104 of arm 90. The washer pushes against the eccentrically shaped upper surface 104 forcing a rotation of the arm counterclockwise in FIG. 13 to ensure that the hinged joint at pin 92, see FIG. 16, is moved off of dead center. The pin 95 moves downwardly in the slot 96 of the shaft 40. The shape of the center rod is rather complex in this region because it is here that the cutout to accommodate the drive block and the slot to accommodate the lever system have their origin.

Cross-sectional views

14 and 15 have been shown and their several parts identified by reference numerals to permit comparison with and greater understanding of FIGS. 13 and 16. Examination of FIG. 9 will show that the arm is substantially shorter than the arm 91. Only a small degree of downward motion of washer 63 and the upper end of arm 90 is required to move the drive block 93 and the guide pins 99 outwardly. Thus, the spring rate of spring 60 is made high and its initial degree of compression is made small. Once the drive block is propelled sidewardly into the side pocket, its movement in and out of the side pocket is controlled by the camming action between the cam slot 100 and the cam follower pin 99 rather than by compression of the spring 60. The fact that the spring is compressed only a short distance accounts for the fact that its compression is entirely relieved when its upward end is released from the lower end of the dogs 62.

THE DRIVE BLOCK The drive block selected for illustration in this embodiment is depicted in FIGS. 16 and 17. In both instances it is only partially prepared for the task of installing a gas valve in the side pocket of the tubing section. The tube clamps 109 are used only in removing the gas valve and must be removed for the valve-setting operation. They are provided with projections that fit in notches in the body of the drive block so that they are capped in place unless manipulated to compress the springs 110. The projection and slot arrangement is not visible in the drawings. The same is generally true of the work cams 111 and 112. The work cam 111 and its loading springs 113 are repositioned into the two slots 114 when it is desired to remove the gas valve from the side pocket. For that operation the drive cam 112 and its loading spring 115 are moved forwardly to the notches 116. These cams and their loading springs can also be removed and installed by hand because of interfitting projections and recesses not visible in FIG. 17 and partly visible at 119 in FIG. 16. Initially the gas valve is placed on the drive block and it is held there by four small shear pins, one of which is designated 120 for identification. Those pins are sheared off immediately after the valve is set in position at the female section of the valve clamp.

The female section of the valve clamp is best shown in FIG. 19. It comprises a block fixed to the wall of side pocket 1711. It has a central opening which extends through the block in alignment with an opening in the wall of side pocket 17a. This is the hole that affords communication from the casing surrounding the tubing to the interior of the tubing and it is identified by the reference numeral 121. There are two T-shaped slots one above and one below the opening 121. The stem portion 122 of the upper slot and the stem portion 123 of the lower slot open to the interior of the tubing both at the broad innerface 124 of the block and at its side edges. The cross-bar section 125 of the upper T-slot and the cross-bar section 126 of the lower T-slot do not open to thebroad face of the clamp block. They open only at the edges of that block.

The male portion of the clamp is mounted on the gas valve and is divided into two sections. One of those sections includes an element that will fit within the T-slot 122,125 and it has another section which fits within the other T-slot. Both of these male clamp sections are mounted on the gas valve and are made independently rotatable with respect to the valve. The upper male sec- .tion is generally designated 130. It comprises a sleeve 131 which encompasses the gas valve as best shown in FIGS. 18 and 20 and is freely rotatable. The actual clamp extends outwardly from that sleeve and halfway around the sleeve through an arc of 90. The male clamp is T-shaped but the cross-bar of the T, although thick at one end, becomes progressively less thick so that it terminates after extending one-quarter of the way around the sleeve. This feature is best shown in FIG. 21. The dotted line in that figure represents the inner surface of the rotatable sleeve 131. The outward and upward projection from that sleeve comprises two sections, one, 136, of which has a width corresponding to the width of slot 122 of the female portion of the clamp, and portion 137 of which has a width corresponding to the width of the cross-bar slot 125 of the female section. The separation between the sleeve and the male section 137 is such as to permit it to enter into the slot 125.

The other male clamp section is generally designated 139 in FIG. and is shown to comprise a sleeve 140, a narrow section 141 which will fit within the slot 123 of the female clamp section. It also comprises a cross-bar section 142 which will fit within the cross-bar slot 126. The

sections

137 and 142 are of the opposite hand and must be rotated in opposite directions to accomplish the task of insertion. The male clamp members are initially oriented on the gas valve as shown in FIG. 20 and in FIG. 14. The gas valve in pinned by the shear pins to the drive block such that cam 111 engages a corner of the clamp section 137 and so that cam 112 engages a corner of the male clamp section 142 and so that

sections

136 and 141 extend in the direction away from the lever system.

When spring 60 is released it pushes upon washer 63 driving down arm 90 and driving the drive block laterally toward the side pocket 17a. The gas valve which is mounted on the drive block moves laterally toward the female clamping section 25. The drive block is fixed to the lever system and the lever system is fixed to the center rod. The relative position of the center rod and cylinder 21 is fixed by slot 100 and pin 99 and the cylinder or sleeve 21 is fixed longitudinally relative to the tubing section and female clamp section by

conformations

27 and 28 above and

conformations

36 and 35 below. As the valve moves outwardly toward the female clamping section,

male clamp sections

136 and 141 enter directly into

slots

122, and 123, respectively, of the clamp section 25. As soon as that happens, relative longitudinal movement between the gas valves and the tubing section is precluded. Force applied to the center shaft to move it upwardly relative to the sleeve 21 breaks the shear pins by which the gas valve was connected to the drive block. The drive block moves upwardly but the gas valve does not. The drive block cannot retract back toward the shaft and sleeve because the pins 99 are confined to slot 100. The drive block remains in its extended position as the center rod is pulled upwardly to carry pins 99 across the bottom section of the U-shaped slot 100. Upward motion of the drive block forces the cams 111 and 112 against their respectively associated male clamping sections. Those sections are forced to rotate and carry the T-shaped

sections

137 and 142 into the

cross-bar slots

125 and 126. The valve is clamped tightly against the female clamping section with the gasket 150 forced tightly against the gas in the opening 121. Continued upward movement of the center rod carries pins 99 into the return leg of the U-shaped slot 100 whereby the lever system and drive block are retracted back into the tool.

To remove the gas valve, it is necessary only to move the cams 111 and 112 to their alternate positions and re-install the clamps 109. It will be apparent that if the operation described above is repeated, the cams 111 and 112 will be in position to bear against

sections

136 and 141, of the male clamping member rather than against

sections

137 and 142. The result is that the male clamping members are rotated in the opposite direction to release the valve which is held by magnetic l attraction to the drive block to be withdrawn back into the tool when the drive block is drawn back. The clamp members 109 are shaped so that they extend more than halfway around the valve and assist in withdrawing it from the female clamp block 25.

The U-shaped section 100 includes a rearwardly and downwardly extending leg 200 that permits the center shaft to be driven downwardly after the tool is locked in place if it proves to be impossible for the tool to do its work by upward movement of the shaft relative to the sleeve. In that case, the center shaft is driven downwardly so that pin 99 moves back into slot 200. At the upper end of the tool, the smaller diameter section 57 of the shaft will be lodged below lockout profile 52 of the shoe whereby the shoe is collapsed to permit raising the tool past the orienting profile of the tubing. The bias spring is not operative to return the shoe to locked out position because the locking member 71 engages the bolt hole 201 in the sleeve wall when the shaft is driven down (see FIGS. 11 and 12).

Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof are possible, including modifications in which the tubing section to be serviced is not fitted with a side pocket. My invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art.

I claim:

1. Well servicing apparatus, comprising:

a tubing section having a lateral protrusion on one side over a portion of its length;

orienting means for rotationally orienting an element within said tubing section comprising an orienting shoulder fixed on the interior wall of said section and having a surface extending in a direction partly lengthwise of said tubing and partly circumferentially ofit; and

locking means for locking an element within said tubing against lengthwise movement within said tubing section and comprising two opposed locking shoulders formed on the interior wall of said tubing and extending in a direction having a component transverse to the length of said tubing at least one of which is a shoulder different from said orienting shoulder.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 which further comprises an orientable tool capable of passing through said tubing and comprising:

an orienting portion including a first shoulder having shape to complement the orienting shoulder of the tubing and adapted to engage that orienting shoulder of the tubing and said tool being rotatable whereby said orienting portion is rotated relative to said tubing by cam action when said orienting portion of the tool is forced against said orienting portion of the tubing; and

a pair of opposed locking shoulders formed on the tool and spaced to engage respectfully associated ones of said locking shoulders of the tubing when the tool has been cammed to a predefined rotational position relative to the tubing.

3. The invention defined in claim 2 in which said tool further comprises a work portion and work portion moving means for moving said work portion laterally into the protrusion of the tubing section; and

locking means for preventing operation of said work portion moving means unless said tool is oriented to said predefined rotational position and is locked against movement relative to said tubing section.

4. In combination:

a tubing section having a protrusion at one side extending along a portion of its length and a multiple portion tool, including a working portion, movable within and along said tubing;

orienting and locking means in the form of complementally formed surfaces on the tool and tubing for orienting the tool to predefined rotational position within the tubing and for locking it in position lengthwise of the tubing in response to movement of the tool lengthwise of the tubing; and

means comprising another portion of said tool which is movable relative to said the locked portion for forcing said working portion to move laterally into said protrusion and being further movable relative to said working portion for forcing said working portion to move laterally from said protrusion.

5. The invention defined in claim 4 in which said other part of said tool comprises first, second and third relatively movable elements, first locking means for locking said first and second relatively movable elements against relative motion from an initial relative position, a second locking means for locking said second and third relatively movable elements against relative motion from a second relative position as an incident to violation of said first locking means, and a third locking means for locking said second and third elements against relative motion from a third relative position following violation of said first locking means, said first and second locking means being violatable in response to forces insufficient to violate said third locking means; and

said tool further comprising means for extending said working portion'laterally into said protrusion in response to violation of said first locking means and for retracting that working portion laterally from said protrusion in response to violation of said second locking means.

6. Well servicing apparatus, comprising:

a tubing section; and

a tool capable of passing through said section and including a first part and a second part said tool further including orienting and locking means for orienting the first part rotationally and positioning it longitudinally in the tubing section and for locking it against rotation and position change in response to longitudinally applied force,

said tool further including work control means responsive to further longitudinally applied force for imparting motion to said second part relative to said first part in predetermined degree;

a lever pivoted on said first part;

a drive block capable of holding a gas valve pivoted on the lever; and

means for causing the lever to pivot in response to still further longitudinally applied force, whereby said drive block is translated laterally.

7. The invention defined in claim 6 in which said tool further includes unlocking means for unlocking said first part from said tubing and for preventing relative longitudinal motion between said first and second parts in response to still greater further longitudinally applied force.

8. The invention defined in claim 7 in which said drive block comprises cam surfaces for accomplishing work as an incident to relative movement between said first and second parts as an incident to application of even greater further longitudinally applied force.

9. Well servicing apparatus, comprising:

a tubing section; and

unlocking means for unlocking said first part from said tubing and for preventing relative longitudinal motion between said first and second parts in response to still further longitudinally applied force;

working means for accomplishing work as an incident to relative movement between said first and second parts;

said working means including a work member capable of acting in response to released spring force, and a spring, and means for trapping the spring in a condition in which it stores force, and release means responsive to relative movement between said first and second parts for releasing the spring from trapped condition;

said working member comprising a lever pivotally connected to one of said first and second parts, and cam means comprising a cooperating cam and cam surface one of which is mounted on said lever and the other of which is mounted on the other of said first and second parts for altering the position of the lever relative to both of said parts as an incident to relative motion between them.

10. The invention defined in claim 9 in which said tubing is provided with a side pocket and a clamp mounted in said side pocket;

said invention further comprising an element fitted with clamp members adapted for attachment to the clamp of said side pocket; and

said working member further comprising means carried by said lever for clamping the clamping members of said element to said clamp.

l 1. Well servicing apparatus comprising: a side pocket tubing section in which the side pocket is formed laterally from the tubing bore and extends over part of the length of the tubing section, a work station located at a given position at the interior of said side pocket,

orienting and locating means for orienting and locating tools in the tubing bore relative to the work station, including a shoulder formed on the interior of the tubing wall and extending at least partly around the inner periphery of said wall, said shoulder comprising surfaces lying in a plane extending obliquely to the axis of the tubing bore;

said shoulder being formed on a portion of the interior wall of the tubing removed longitudinally from the side pocket, said shoulder extending substantially entirely around the inner periphery of the tubing;

said tubing section being fitted with an inwardly extending protrusion and in which said shoulder is formed at one end of said protrusion; and

said well servicing apparatus further comprising an elongate tool capable of passing longitudinally through the bore of said tubing, said tool comprising adjacent sections along its length one of which has greater outside diameter than the other and the other having smaller outside diameter than the one, the tool further comprising a multipart shoe encompassing said shaft and including means for biasing the shoe parts inwardly against the shaft, said shoe having outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the protrusion of the tubing when collapsed about the smaller diameter section of said shaft and having outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of said protrusion of the tubing when positioned opposite the larger diameter section of the shaft, means comprising a spring extending between the shoe and shaft said spring normally biasing said shoe to a position opposite the larger diameter section of the shaft, and means carried by the shoe and engagable with said protrusion for moving said shoe relative to said shaft against the bias of said spring until said shoe is displaced to a position opposite said smaller diameter portion of said shaft.

12. The invention defined in claim 11 in which said side pocket tubing section comprises an inlet opening and fastening elements fixed to said side pocket tubing section adjacent to said inlet opening;

said well servicing apparatus further comprising a gas valve having movable mounting elements carried on its outer surface and shaped to engage the fastening elements of the side pocket tubing section;

said tool comprising means for effecting engagement and disengagement of the fastening element of the gas valve and of the side pocket tubing section as an incident to longitudinal movement of said elongate tool relative to said side pocket tubing section.

Claims

1. Well servicing apparatus, comprising: a tubing section having a lateral protrusion on one Side over a portion of its length; orienting means for rotationally orienting an element within said tubing section comprising an orienting shoulder fixed on the interior wall of said section and having a surface extending in a direction partly lengthwise of said tubing and partly circumferentially of it; and locking means for locking an element within said tubing against lengthwise movement within said tubing section and comprising two opposed locking shoulders formed on the interior wall of said tubing and extending in a direction having a component transverse to the length of said tubing at least one of which is a shoulder different from said orienting shoulder.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 which further comprises an orientable tool capable of passing through said tubing and comprising: an orienting portion including a first shoulder having shape to complement the orienting shoulder of the tubing and adapted to engage that orienting shoulder of the tubing and said tool being rotatable whereby said orienting portion is rotated relative to said tubing by cam action when said orienting portion of the tool is forced against said orienting portion of the tubing; and a pair of opposed locking shoulders formed on the tool and spaced to engage respectfully associated ones of said locking shoulders of the tubing when the tool has been cammed to a predefined rotational position relative to the tubing.

3. The invention defined in claim 2 in which said tool further comprises a work portion and work portion moving means for moving said work portion laterally into the protrusion of the tubing section; and locking means for preventing operation of said work portion moving means unless said tool is oriented to said predefined rotational position and is locked against movement relative to said tubing section.

4. In combination: a tubing section having a protrusion at one side extending along a portion of its length and a multiple portion tool, including a working portion, movable within and along said tubing; orienting and locking means in the form of complementally formed surfaces on the tool and tubing for orienting the tool to predefined rotational position within the tubing and for locking it in position lengthwise of the tubing in response to movement of the tool lengthwise of the tubing; and means comprising another portion of said tool which is movable relative to said the locked portion for forcing said working portion to move laterally into said protrusion and being further movable relative to said working portion for forcing said working portion to move laterally from said protrusion.

5. The invention defined in claim 4 in which said other part of said tool comprises first, second and third relatively movable elements, first locking means for locking said first and second relatively movable elements against relative motion from an initial relative position, a second locking means for locking said second and third relatively movable elements against relative motion from a second relative position as an incident to violation of said first locking means, and a third locking means for locking said second and third elements against relative motion from a third relative position following violation of said first locking means, said first and second locking means being violatable in response to forces insufficient to violate said third locking means; and said tool further comprising means for extending said working portion laterally into said protrusion in response to violation of said first locking means and for retracting that working portion laterally from said protrusion in response to violation of said second locking means.

6. Well servicing apparatus, comprising: a tubing section; and a tool capable of passing through said section and including a first part and a second part said tool further including orienting and locking means for orienting the first part rotationally and positioninG it longitudinally in the tubing section and for locking it against rotation and position change in response to longitudinally applied force, said tool further including work control means responsive to further longitudinally applied force for imparting motion to said second part relative to said first part in predetermined degree; a lever pivoted on said first part; a drive block capable of holding a gas valve pivoted on the lever; and means for causing the lever to pivot in response to still further longitudinally applied force, whereby said drive block is translated laterally.

9. Well servicing apparatus, comprising: a tubing section; and a tool capable of passing through said section and including a first part and a second part said tool further including orienting and locking means for orienting the first part rotationally and positioning it longitudinally in the tubing section and for locking it against rotation and position change in response to longitudinally applied force, said tool further including work control means responsive to further longitudinally applied force for imparting motion to said second part relative to said first part in predetermined degree; unlocking means for unlocking said first part from said tubing and for preventing relative longitudinal motion between said first and second parts in response to still further longitudinally applied force; working means for accomplishing work as an incident to relative movement between said first and second parts; said working means including a work member capable of acting in response to released spring force, and a spring, and means for trapping the spring in a condition in which it stores force, and release means responsive to relative movement between said first and second parts for releasing the spring from trapped condition; said working member comprising a lever pivotally connected to one of said first and second parts, and cam means comprising a cooperating cam and cam surface one of which is mounted on said lever and the other of which is mounted on the other of said first and second parts for altering the position of the lever relative to both of said parts as an incident to relative motion between them.

10. The invention defined in claim 9 in which said tubing is provided with a side pocket and a clamp mounted in said side pocket; said invention further comprising an element fitted with clamp members adapted for attachment to the clamp of said side pocket; and said working member further comprising means carried by said lever for clamping the clamping members of said element to said clamp.

11. Well servicing apparatus comprising: a side pocket tubing section in which the side pocket is formed laterally from the tubing bore and extends over part of the length of the tubing section, a work station located at a given position at the interior of said side pocket, orienting and locating means for orienting and locating tools in the tubing bore relative to the work station, including a shoulder formed on the interior of the tubing wall and extending at least partly around the inner periphery of said wall, said shoulder comprising surfaces lying in a plane extending obliquely to the axis of the tubing bore; said shoulder being formed on a portion of the interior wall of the tubing removed longitudinally from the side pocket, said shoulder extending substantially entireLy around the inner periphery of the tubing; said tubing section being fitted with an inwardly extending protrusion and in which said shoulder is formed at one end of said protrusion; and said well servicing apparatus further comprising an elongate tool capable of passing longitudinally through the bore of said tubing, said tool comprising adjacent sections along its length one of which has greater outside diameter than the other and the other having smaller outside diameter than the one, the tool further comprising a multipart shoe encompassing said shaft and including means for biasing the shoe parts inwardly against the shaft, said shoe having outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the protrusion of the tubing when collapsed about the smaller diameter section of said shaft and having outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of said protrusion of the tubing when positioned opposite the larger diameter section of the shaft, means comprising a spring extending between the shoe and shaft said spring normally biasing said shoe to a position opposite the larger diameter section of the shaft, and means carried by the shoe and engagable with said protrusion for moving said shoe relative to said shaft against the bias of said spring until said shoe is displaced to a position opposite said smaller diameter portion of said shaft.