US3714984A - Well tools and gripping members therefor - Google Patents

Well tools and gripping members therefor Download PDF

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Publication number
US3714984A
US3714984A US00209744A US3714984DA US3714984A US 3714984 A US3714984 A US 3714984A US 00209744 A US00209744 A US 00209744A US 3714984D A US3714984D A US 3714984DA US 3714984 A US3714984 A US 3714984A
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United States
Prior art keywords
slip
gripping member
tool
well
abutment
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US00209744A
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English (en)
Inventor
N Read
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Dresser Industries Inc
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Dresser Industries Inc
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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B23/00—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells
    • E21B23/01—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells for anchoring the tools or the like
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
    • E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
    • E21B33/129—Packers; Plugs with mechanical slips for hooking into the casing
    • E21B33/1291—Packers; Plugs with mechanical slips for hooking into the casing anchor set by wedge or cam in combination with frictional effect, using so-called drag-blocks
    • E21B33/1292—Packers; Plugs with mechanical slips for hooking into the casing anchor set by wedge or cam in combination with frictional effect, using so-called drag-blocks with means for anchoring against downward and upward movement

Definitions

  • the slip is pivotally located on the well tool and is provided with wall engaging teeth on relatively opposite sides therein adjacent each end.
  • the slip is positioned between relatively moveable abutments that are moved together to engage the ends of the slip and pivot the slip into and out of engagement with the well bore wall.
  • One end of the slip referred to as the active end, is provided with a plurality of spaced points or surfaces with each being arranged to engage the adjacent abutment whereby the optimum force will be exerted on the slip to move the slip teeth into holding engagement with the well bore wall.
  • the opposite end of the slip referred to as the passive end, is similarly provided with a plurality of points or surfaces that are arranged to engage the other abutment and are located in such a position as to cause the slip teeth to move relatively away from the well bore wall.
  • the points or surfaces on each end of the slip are arranged to maintain a relatively constant ratio between the distance from each operative points on the active and passive ends and the adjacent well bore wall thereby permitting the predetermination of the force that is exerted on the slip during setting of the well tool.
  • This invention relates generally to improved well tools and to improved slips or gripping members for use on such well tools. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, this invention relates to an improved slip of unitary construction that is pivotally mounted on the improved well tool and that is arranged to be moved by abutments on the well tool into holding engagement with the well bore wall.
  • This invention is an improvement to the slip or gripping member described and claimed in the US. Pat. No. 3,548,936, issued Dec. 22, 1970.
  • the manufacturers of oil tools generally manufacture tools for use in 7" nominal casing of several sizes or a single size tool that has the interchangeable parts of appropriate sizes.
  • a single tool that will operate in all the various sizes will considerably reduce inventory, costs, warehousing and supply problems.
  • a well packer or anchor incorporating slips or gripping members constructed in accordance with this invention can, for the most part, be utilized in most casing weights for a given nominal outside diameter.
  • one object of the invention is to provide an improved well tool having an improved gripping member that can be utilized over a relatively large range of casing Weights.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide an improved gripping for well tools wherein such tools can be utilized in a plurality of well bore diameters or casing weights.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide an improved well tool and gripping member for such well tools that permits a substantial reduction in parts and tool inventory.
  • One other object of the invention is to provide an improved gripping member for well tools that is arranged whereby the setting force exerted on the gripping member can be predetermined.
  • this invention provides an improved gripping member for well tools that can be used in conduits having a preselected range of inside diameters.
  • the tool includes an elongated tool 'body, spaced first and second abutments moveably carried by the tool body and means for moving the a-butments relatively together and apart.
  • the improved gripping member includes a unitary body member arranged to encircle a portion of the tool body between the abutments and pivotal thereon between set and unset positions.
  • the body member includes first and second ends engageable with the abutments to pivot the gripping member and a plurality of spaced conduit engaging portions located adjacent each end and on opposite sides of the body member.
  • Each of the conduit engaging portions is engageable with at least one of the conduits having an inside diameter within the preselected range.
  • the unitary body member also includes a plurality of spaced surface portions located on the first end. A respective one of the surface portions engages the first abutment when a corresponding conduit engaging portion is in engagement with the conduit.
  • this invention contemplates an improved well tool for use in conduits having a preselected range of inside diameters.
  • the improved tool comprises elongated body means, spaced first and second abutment means carried on the body means, means for moving the abutments relatively toward and away from each other, and a unitary gripping member that encircles a portion of the body means between the abutment and that is pivotal relative to the body means between set and unset positions.
  • the unitary gripping member is constructed as mentioned hereinbefore.
  • FIGS. 1A and 1B are views, partly in cross section and partly in elevation, of an improved tool constructed in accordance with the invention.
  • the tool is illustrated with the various components in the positions they occupy as the tool is run through the conduit.
  • FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the tool of FIGS. 1A and 1B in the set position in a well casing or conduit.
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the well tool of FIG. 1A that more clearly illustrates the construction and arrangement of the improved gripping member when the tool is set in a relatively lightweight conduit.
  • FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrates the improved gripping member set in a heavier weight conduit having the same nominal outside diameter.
  • FIG. 5 is another view similar to FIG. 3 but illustratmg the improved gripping member set in still a heavier weight conduit having the same nominal outside diameter.
  • the well tool includes an elongated tool body 12 that 15 comprised of a plurality of components that are threadedly connected to facilitate the manufacture of the tool body 12.
  • the tool body 12 is provided with a thread 14 for connecting the tool 10 with tub1ng (not shown) that is used to run the well tool 10 into a well bore.
  • the tool body 12 is also provided with threads 16 that may be utilized to connect additional tools or other apparatus to the lower end of the well tool 10.
  • Mounted on the exterior of the tool body 12 is a housing 18 that extends coaxially along a portion of the tool body 12 and terminates at its lower end in an inwardly extending flange 20 forming a downwardly facing abutment 22.
  • a slip or gripping member sleeve 24 encircles a portion of the tool body 12 in sliding relationship thereto.
  • the slip sleeve 24 is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 26 that is arranged to engage the flange 20 on the housing 18 for purposes that will become more apparent hereinafter.
  • a lug 27 on the sleeve 24 is arranged to engage surface 29 on the gripping member 30 to exert an unsetting force on the gripping member 30 during release of the tool 10.
  • Disposed within the housing 18 is a helical compression spring 28 that has its upper end engaging the tool body 12 and its lower end engaging the flange 26 on the slip sleeve 24.
  • the slip sleeve 24 extends through a unitary gripping member 30 that is arranged for pivotal movement on the tool body 12 and the slip sleeve 24.
  • the gripping member 30 is provided with an upper or passive end 32 that is engageable with the abutment 22.
  • the configuration of the upper end 32 will be described in detail hereinafter in connection with a discussion of FIGS. 3 through 5.
  • the gripping member 30 also includes upper wall engaging portion 34 and a lower wall engaging portion 36.
  • a spring 38 mounted on the gripping member 30 has one end in engagement with the slip sleeve 24 to bias the gripping member 30 toward the retracted position as illustrated in FIG. 1A.
  • the gripping member 30 also includes a lower or active end 40 that is engageable with an upwardly facing abutment 42 that comprises a portion of an upper packer thimble 44. The lower end 40 and the wall engaging portions of the gripping member 30 will also be described more fully in connection with FIGS. 3 through 5.
  • the upper packer thimble 44 slidingly encircles the tool body 12 below the gripping member 30 and includes a lower abutment 46 that is in engagement with the uppermost of a plurality of resilient packing rings 48.
  • the lowermost of the packing rings 48 is in engagement with an annular abutment 50 that forms the upper end of a lower packer thimble 52.
  • the lower packer thimble 52 is also slidingly disposed on the tool body 12 and terminates at its lower end in a downwardly facing abutment 54.
  • a lower slip sleeve 56 slidingly encircles the tool body 12 and has an outwardly extending annular flange 58 on its upper end that is disposed within and engages the interior of the lower thimble 52.
  • the slip sleeve 56 ex tends through a lower gripping member 60 that is constructed similar to the gripping member 30 except that it is inverted on the well tool 10.
  • the gripping member 60 includes springs 62 that have one end in engagement with the slip sleeve 56 to aid in urging the gripping member 60 toward the retracted position as illustrated in FIG. 1B.
  • the gripping member 60 includes an upper or active end 64 and a lower or passive end 66.
  • the upper end 64 is engageable with the abutment 54 while the lower end 66 is engageable with and upwardly facing abutment 68 on a drag block assembly 70.
  • the upper and lower ends 64 and 66 of the lower gripping member 60 are also constructed as will be described in connection with the gripping member 30 which is illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 5.
  • the lower end of the slip sleeve 56 is formed into an exterior flange 72 that is disposed within the drag block assembly 70.
  • the drag block 70 is moveably positioned on the tool body 12 for both their rotational and longitudinal movement. Such movement is controlled by a shear pin 74 that operates within a J-slot 76 formed in the tool body 12.
  • a plurality of spring loaded drag blocks 78 are located in openings in the body of the drag block assembly.
  • the drag blocks 78 are arranged to frictionally engage the interior wall of the conduit or casing 80 (see FIG. 2B) as the Well tool 10 travels therethrough so that relative movement can be accomplished between various moveable components of the tool 10 as is well known in the oil tool art.
  • the well tool 10 is shown therein in the set position in a casing 80, which will normally be disposed in a well bore (not shown).
  • a tubing (not shown) connected to the upper end of the tool is rotated to the right and lowered so that the J-slot 76 formed in the tool body 12 moves downwardly with respect to the shear pin 74 that is mounted in the drag block assembly 70. Due to the frictional engagement of the drag blocks 78 with the conduit 80, the drag block assembly 70 and the lower gripping member 60 remain in a relatively fixed position.
  • the upper gripping member 30, the upper thimble 44, the packing rings 48, and the lower thimble 52 move downwardly with the tool body 12.
  • the downward movement brings the downwardly facing abutment 54 into engagement with the upper or active end 64 of the lower gripping member 60, causing the lower gripping member 60 to rotate into the set position as illustrated in FIG. 2B.
  • the upper gripping member 30 has also moved relatively downwardly with its lower or active end 40 in engagement with the upwardly facing abutment 42 on the upper thimble 44.
  • the upper gripping member 30 is rotated toward the set position, but is not firmly set.
  • the upper gripping member 30 has, in a manner of speaking, ratcheted downwardly in the conduit 80 under the influence of the downwardly facing abutment 22 on the housing 18 which is in engagement with the passive end 32 of the upper gripping member 30.
  • the force exerted on the upper gripping member 30 to cause the setting thereof and deformation of the packing ring 48 is determined by the dilference in the lever arms or couples acting on the gripping member.
  • the upper or passive end 32 of the gripping member 30 and, similarly, lower end 66 of the lower gripping member 60 are provided with discrete abutment engaging portions 32a, 32b and 320.
  • the lower or active end 40 of the gripping member 3G is also provided with discrete abutment engaging portions 40a, 40b and 400.
  • the upper end 64 of the lower gripping member 60 will be provided with such contact engaging portions.
  • the active end 40 of the upper gripping member 30 is provided with a contact or set-out portion 41 near the periphery thereof and adjacent the wall engaging portion 36.
  • the set-out portion is located to provide an initial contact point with the abutment 42 that has maximum torque upon engagement to quickly and easily initiate the pivotal movement of the gripping member 30 toward its set position.
  • the lever arms previously referred to are identified in FIG. 3 as A1 and A-2, in FIG. 4 as B-1 and B-2, and in FIG. 5 as C-1 and C-2.
  • the lever arms are created due to the engagement of the teeth or conduit engaging portions adjacent the passive ends of the gripping members 30 and 60.
  • the provision of the discrete contact portions on the active and passive ends of the gripping members and, thus, the control of the length of the lever arms permits the predetermination of the force that will be exerted in setting the gripping members.
  • the lever arm A-l is the distance from the wall of the conduit 80a to the contact portion 32a on the gripping member 30 which is in engagement with the downwardly facing abutment 22 on the housing 18.
  • lever arm A-2 extends from the wall of the conduit 80a to the contact portion 40a which is in engagement with the upwardly facing abutment 42 on the upper thimble 44.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates the gripping member 30 in the set position in a conduit 8% which has the same nominal outside diameter as the conduit 80a but has a smaller inside diameter.
  • the gripping member 30 has been constructed so that the lever arms B-1 and B-2 have substantially the same ratio as did the lever arms A-1 and A-2 with the gripping member 30 set in the conduit 80a.
  • the forces on the gripping member 30 can be controlled so that the same setting force is attained.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates the gripping member 30 set in a conduit 800 having still a smaller inside diameter than did the conduit 80b.
  • the contact portions 320 and 46c are in engagement with the downwardly facing abutment 22 and the upwardly facing abutment 42, respectively, providing lever arms 0-1 and C-2 that have the same ratio or substantially the same ratio as did the lever arms A-l, A-2 and 13-1, B-2.
  • the setting force exerted on the gripping member 30 in the casing 80c will be substantially the same as that on the gripping member 30 when set in the casing 80a or 80b.
  • the wall engaging portion 36 and similarly the wall engaging portion 34 on the gripping member 30 are provided with arcuate configurations.
  • the wall engaging portions are roughly divided into wall engaging portions 36a, 36b and 360 as illustrated in FIG. 3. Although there may be some overlap in the wall engaging portions, it can be seen that the wall engaging portion 36a is in secure holding engagement with the conduit a as shown in FIG. 3, the wall engaging portion 36b is in secure holding engagement with the conduit 80b as shown in FIG. 4, and the wall engaging portion 36c is in secure holding engagement with the conduit 800 as illustrated in FIG. 5.
  • the well tool 10 illustrated is a retrievable tool, that is the well tool can be unset and removed from the conduit 80 when desired. Retrieval is accomplished by rotating the tubing (not shown) and the tool body 12 to the right and raising the tubing and tool body. As the tool body 12 rotates, the shear pin 74 moves into a portion of the J-slot 76 that permits the tool body 12. to be moved upwardly relative to the drag block assembly 70.
  • An improved gripping member for well tools that are useful in conduits having a preselected range of inside diameters, the tool including an elongated tool body spaced first and second abutments movably carried by the tool body and means for moving the abutments relatively together, said gripping member comprising:
  • a unitary body member arranged to encircle a portion of the tool body between the abutments and pivotal relative thereto between set and unset positions, said body member having first and second ends engageable with the abutments to pivot said gripping member,
  • each said conduit engaging portion being engageable with at least one of said conduits having an inside diameter within the preselected range
  • An improved well tool for use in conduits having a preselected range of inside diameters comprising:
  • elongated body means having a longitudinal axis
  • first and second abutment means carried by said body means
  • a unitary gripping member encircling a portion of said body means between said abutment means and pivota1 relative to said body means between set and unset positions, said gripping member having first and second ends engageable with said first and second abutment means, respectively, to pivot said gripping member,
  • each said conduit engaging portion being engageable with at least one of said conduits having an inside diameter within the preselected range
  • the improved well tool of claim 4 and also including a plurality of spaced surface portions on said second end located to pivot said gripping member toward the unset position, one of the surface portions on said second end being engageable with said second abutment means when a respective one of the surface portions on said first end is in engagement with said first abutment means.
  • packing means encircling a portion of said body means between said first and third abutment means, said packing means being deformable to form a seal between said body means and the conduit;
  • said means for causing relative movement of said first and second abutment means also includes means for moving said first and third abutment means toward and away from each other to deform and to release said packing means.
  • said means for causing relative movement of said first and third abutment means includes:
  • a second gripping member pivotal with respect to said body means between set and unset positions and located on said body means between said third and fourth abutment means, said second gripping member having first and second ends with a plurality of spaced surface portions on said first end located for engagement with said third abutment means in respective set positions of said second gripping member and with at least one surface portion on the second end of said second end arranged to engage said fourth abutment means to pivot said second gripping member toward the unset position.
  • An improved gripping member for well tools that are useful in conduits having a preselected range of inside diameters, the tool including an elongated tool body, spaced first and second abutments movably carried by the tool body and means for moving the abutments relatively together, said gripping member comprising:
  • a unitary body member arranged to encircle a portion of the tool body between the abutments and pivotal relative thereto between set and unset positions, said body member having first and second ends engageable with the abutments to pivot said gripping member,
  • each said conduit engaging portion being engageable with at least one of said conduits having an inside diameter within the preselected range
  • a contact portion on said first end located proximate the conduit engaging portion adjacent said first end and engageable with the first abutment to initiate pivotal movement of said gripping member to the set position.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Jigs For Machine Tools (AREA)
US00209744A 1971-12-20 1971-12-20 Well tools and gripping members therefor Expired - Lifetime US3714984A (en)

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US20974471A 1971-12-20 1971-12-20

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US3714984A true US3714984A (en) 1973-02-06

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US00209744A Expired - Lifetime US3714984A (en) 1971-12-20 1971-12-20 Well tools and gripping members therefor

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US (1) US3714984A (xx)
AR (1) AR209574A1 (xx)
AU (1) AU4915772A (xx)
CA (1) CA947646A (xx)
DE (1) DE2263195C3 (xx)
FR (1) FR2164747B1 (xx)
GB (1) GB1395014A (xx)
NL (1) NL7217266A (xx)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3804164A (en) * 1973-04-09 1974-04-16 Dresser Ind Well packer apparatus having improved hydraulically-actuated anchor assembly
US3818987A (en) * 1972-11-17 1974-06-25 Dresser Ind Well packer and retriever
US3851705A (en) * 1973-11-02 1974-12-03 Dresser Ind Dual hydraulically actuated oil well packer
US3851707A (en) * 1973-11-02 1974-12-03 Dresser Ind Uni-directional unitary anchor slip
US3858648A (en) * 1973-11-02 1975-01-07 Dresser Ind Dual string hydraulically actuated oil well packer
US3976134A (en) * 1973-11-01 1976-08-24 Dresser Industries, Inc. Mandrel locking sleeve
US4018273A (en) * 1975-05-22 1977-04-19 Dresser Industries, Inc. Mandrel locking sleeve
US4029147A (en) * 1975-10-23 1977-06-14 Dresser Industries, Inc. Gripping member for well packer
US4151876A (en) * 1977-10-25 1979-05-01 Dresser Industries, Inc. Single string retrievable well packers
US20120261116A1 (en) * 2011-04-18 2012-10-18 Baker Hughes Incorporated Expandable Liner Hanger with Helically Shaped Slips

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3818987A (en) * 1972-11-17 1974-06-25 Dresser Ind Well packer and retriever
US3804164A (en) * 1973-04-09 1974-04-16 Dresser Ind Well packer apparatus having improved hydraulically-actuated anchor assembly
US3976134A (en) * 1973-11-01 1976-08-24 Dresser Industries, Inc. Mandrel locking sleeve
US3851705A (en) * 1973-11-02 1974-12-03 Dresser Ind Dual hydraulically actuated oil well packer
US3851707A (en) * 1973-11-02 1974-12-03 Dresser Ind Uni-directional unitary anchor slip
US3858648A (en) * 1973-11-02 1975-01-07 Dresser Ind Dual string hydraulically actuated oil well packer
US4018273A (en) * 1975-05-22 1977-04-19 Dresser Industries, Inc. Mandrel locking sleeve
US4029147A (en) * 1975-10-23 1977-06-14 Dresser Industries, Inc. Gripping member for well packer
US4151876A (en) * 1977-10-25 1979-05-01 Dresser Industries, Inc. Single string retrievable well packers
US20120261116A1 (en) * 2011-04-18 2012-10-18 Baker Hughes Incorporated Expandable Liner Hanger with Helically Shaped Slips
US8678083B2 (en) * 2011-04-18 2014-03-25 Baker Hughes Incorporated Expandable liner hanger with helically shaped slips

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Publication number Publication date
DE2263195C3 (de) 1979-09-13
CA947646A (en) 1974-05-21
GB1395014A (en) 1975-05-21
AU4915772A (en) 1974-05-23
NL7217266A (xx) 1973-06-22
DE2263195A1 (de) 1973-07-05
AR209574A1 (es) 1977-05-13
FR2164747A1 (xx) 1973-08-03
DE2263195B2 (de) 1979-01-18
FR2164747B1 (xx) 1977-02-04

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