USRE20497E

USRE20497E - Pressure head for oil wells

Info

Publication number: USRE20497E
Authority: US
Publication date: 1937-09-07

Description

' E.l A. JOHNSON PRESSURE'HEAD FOR IL WELLS ffm' MVS Reissued Sept. 7, 1,937

Re. 20,497 .o

PRESSURE HEAD FOR OIL WELLS Edwin A. Johnson, Houston, Tex., assigner, by

mesne assignments, to Hinderliter Tool Company, Tulsa, Okla., a corporation o! Oklahoma Original No. 2,001,684, dated May 14, 1935, Serial No. 460,855, June 13, 1930. Renewed August 5, 1931. Application for reissue May 13, 1937, Se-

rial No. 142,404

39 Claims.

My invention relates to lan attachment for csing heads employed in oil well operations.

The object of the' invention is to provide a. means to seal the space inside the casing head and between the same and a pipe concentric therewith, such as the drill-stem employed in drilling or the tubing employed in pumping operations.

-In the handling of oil wells, either in drilling or pumping, where gas pressures are present in the well, provision must be made for preventingV the gas from blowing out of the casing and wasting the oil or gas and damaging the apparatus.

An object of my invention is to provide a particular construction of pressurehead to be placed within the casing head and to form an effective seal under high pressure. I desire so to form the sealing'device that it will be rendered effective through the pressure of the fluid in the well.

I also desire so to form the sealing device that the weight of the pipe within the casing may be employed in compressing the packing more effectively.

I also have as an object so to construct my pressure head that pipe may be introduced into the well but its removal from the well under pressure will be prevented. i

This invention is an improvement upon the structure shown in my copending application for patent, Serial No. 432,050, led February V28, 1930.

Referring to the drawing herewith,

Figure 1 is a side view partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating a casing head equipped with my invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective detail illustrating the packing member employed with my device.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the plane 3-3 of Figure 1.

I have shown my device as employed upon a casing head I having the usual lateral outlets 2. The upper end of thel casing head is threaded externally at 3 for attachment to-a clamping ring 4; The interior of the upper end may be provided with a downwardly tapered seat V5to receive the pressure head.

The clamping ring 4 has its upper end reduced somewhat in diameter and threaded at B for attachment to any extension which may be desired thereon. The interior face of the clamping ring is toothed at 1 with downwardly inclined ratchet teeth to cooperate with the latching dogs 8 upon the pressure head.

The pressure head is made up of an upper plate or ring 9, which is preferably of Steel, a

packing member, and a lower plate or ring. Its upper end is provided with an upwardly extending flange I0'to form a support for the bushing or slip bowl I I. The lower side of the ring is slightly tapered and is formed with a downwardly ex- -tending flange I2 adjacent the outer margin to engage over the upper end I3 of the packing member I4. 'Ihe ring 9 has on its outer face a radial recess I5 in which the latching dogs I6 are housed. As will be seen from Figure 3, said latching dogs are arcuate in shape and are held within the recesses I5 by pins I1. Said pins iit within radial slots I8 in the dogs, allowing said dogs a limited ,radial movement, as will be clear from the drawing. Springs I9 housed within the inner sides of the dogs and bearing against the inner wall of the recesses tend to hold said latching dogs resiliently outwardly. The outer faces of the dogs are formed with teeth 20 adapted to engage within the teeth 1 of the clamping ring.

The lower ring 2| is of smaller diameter, its upper end being cylindrical and flanged at 22 to engage about the lower end of the packing member I4. Adjacent the lower end it is tapered at 23 to engage the seat 5.

Provided on the lower ring 2l are a series of dogs 24 pivoted upon horizontally extending pins 25 in the ring and adapted to have a limited rotative movement thereon. The outer end of each dog has an upper shoulder 26, which may contact with a spring 21, which tends to limit the upward movement of the shoulder 26 and to move the dog into horizontal position. The inner limits the upward,l movement of the pipe. The upper side of the ldog contacts with a -shoulder 3l, which limits itsupward movement to the horizontal position shown in Figure 1.

The lower ring and the upper ring are adapted to clamp between them the packing member I4 which may be of rubber or any similar compressible material forming-the sealing member of my pressure head. ThisV packing member or gasket I4 may be tapered downwardly at 32 on its outer face to t the seat 5. Bolts or pins 33 extending throughthe lower ring and upwardly through the gasket are screwed within the upper ring 9, thus holding the ring against the gasket at each end. and it be observed that the lower ring may move slidably upward along the bolts 33 when pressure is exerted thereon. The positioning of these bolts 33 may be reversed if desired. The packing gasket I4 is formed on its inner face with undercut recesses 35. I have shown three such recesses, the object of which is to provide downwardly directed lips 36, which may be compressed against the pipe 30 and form a seal therewith. The lips thus formed tend to be compressed against the pipe by the escape of pressure fluid from below into the pockets or recesses 35 on the inner face of the gasket.

The pressure head including the upper and lower ring with the gasket between them are longitudinally divided so as to be quickly engaged about the pipe 30 when desired. With attention to Figure 3, it will be seen that the pressure head is divided along the line 31. On one side of the bushing is a hinge member 38 which is made up of a link pivotally connected at 38 to each of the halves of the pressure head. On the lopposite side of the pressure head is a latch 4U, which is pivoted at 4| to one half and has a catch 42 engaging about a pin 43 on the adjacent half of the bushing. It will be obvious that my device maybe swung open and latched quickly about the pipe and moved downwardly into the tapered seat 5, the latching dogs I6 automatically engaging in the clamping ring to prevent removal of the device.

The rubber gasket I4 is formed in two halves to allow for the longitudinal splitting of the bushing. As will be seen from Figure 2, a wall 44 is provided adjacent the line of division to prevent escape of the pressure fluid along this division line. It should be noted that the rings 9 and 2| have openings therein of suiiicient diameter to pass a coupling or tool joint such as 29 is desired, so that the drill pipe or tubingy adapter Il is a hinged ring adapted to latch`y about the pipe and has an inwardly-tapered seat 46 to receive the jaws 45. The lower end of the ring is supported as previously noted uponv the,

ange I0 of the upper ring.

The advantages of my device lie in the fact that the device may be inserted in position for use quickly and latched in sealing engagement with little difficulty or delay. 'I'he device is adapted to seal more effectively through pressure on either the upper or lower plate, and where pressure iiuid from below tends to escape past the device, it compresses the lips 3B more rmly against the pipe and prevents escape of fluid.

The further objects and advantages of the device will be obvious to those Vskilled in the art.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention: f

1. A pressure head for wells including a `well casing, a casing head thereon having a downwardly tapered seat, a packing member therein adapted to t said seat and seal about an inner pipe, said member including upper and lower rings having openings suiciently large to permit the -passage of a pipe coupling, a rubber gasket passage of a pipe coupling, a rubber gasket between said rings, said gasket having annular undercut recesses on its inner surface to provide downwardly curved lips to engage said pipe, means to secure said rings to said gasket, and means to hold said packing member in said seat.

3. A pressure head for wells including a well casing, a casing head thereon having a seat, a packing member therein adapted to lt said seat and seal about an inner pipe, said member including upper and lower rings of suiiicient diameter to permit the passage of a pipe coupling therethrough, a rubber gasket between said rings, said gasket having annular undercut recesses on its inner surface to provide downwardly curved lips to engage said pipe, andrneans to secure said rings to said gasket, said rings and gasket being split longitudinally and hinged together in the manner stated.

4. A pressure head for wells including a well casing, a casing head thereon having a downwardly tapered seat, a ,packing member therein adapted to fit said seat and seal about an inner pipe, said member including upper and lower 5. A device to close 'the space between a well casing and an inner concentric pipe including a casing head having a seat, a. clamping ring on said casing head, a packing member comprising upper and lower rings having inner openings of suicient size to accommodate pipe couplings, a packing gasket between said rings, said gasket and lower ring being shaped to t said seat, and

downwardly extending lips on the inner surface of said gasket to engage said pipe andform a seal therewith.

6. A device to close the space between a well casing and an inner concentric pipe including a casing head having a downwardly tapered seat, a clamping ring on said casing head, a packing member comprising upper and lower rings sumciently large to permit the passage of a pipe coupling therethrough, a packing gasket between said rings, said gasket and lower ring being shaped to t said seat, and downwardly extending'. lips on the inner surface of said gasket to engagesaid pipe and form a seal therewith and means Clamping ring on said casing head, a packing.

member comprising upper and lower rings each s ufliciently large to permit the passage of a pipe said rings, said gasket and lower ring being shaped to t said seat, downwardly extending lips on said gasket to engage said pipe, said lips having fluid receiving chambers below' them to aid them to form a seal with said pipe, means supported on said packing member to engage and support said pipe, the weight of the pipe thereby forcing said packing member into said seat, and means on said member engaging said clamping ring to hold said member from upward movement in said seat.

8. A device to close the space between a well casing `and an inner concentric pipeincluding a said casing head, a packing member comprising upper and lower rings each suiciently large to permit the passage of a pipe coupling theregasket and lower ring being shaped to iit said seat, downwardly extending lips on the interior face of said gasket to engage said pipe and to be compressed by the iluid pressure and form a seal therewith, and means to preventl upward movement of pipe couplings through said mem- 4 ber.

9. A device of the character described including a well casing, a casing head thereon having 4a downwardly tapered seat thereon, an inner concentric pipe, a packing member including upper and lower rings, a packing gasket between said rings shaped to engage said seat, and a dog on said lower ring pivoted to allow downward movement of pipe couplings therethrough but to prevent the upward movement of said couplings.

10. A device of the character described including a well casing, a casing head thereon having a seat thereon, an inner concentric pipe, a packing member including upper and lower rings, a packing gasket between said rings shaped to engage said seat, means on said upper ring to latch said member in said seat, and a dog on said lower ring pivoted to allow downward movement of pipe couplings therethrough but to prevent the upward movement of said couplings.

11. Adevice of the character described including a well casing, a casing head thereon having a downwardly vtapered seat thereon, an inner concentric pipe, a packing member including upper and lower rings, a packing gasket between said rings shaped to engage said seat, downwardly extending lips on said gasket to engage said pipe, and a dog on said lower ring pivoted to allow downward movement of pipe couplings therethrough but to -prevent the upward movement of said couplings.

12. A casing head having a removable unit adapted tok seal about a pipe passing therethrough, said unit includingVV a packing element, flexible means thereon to seal about the pipe, said Ilexible` unit being of such diameter that a coupling may pass therethrough, a downwardly directed lip on said flexible means to form a seal and means on said unitv to apply the weight of the string of pipe to compress the packing element.

13. A casing head adapted to seal about a pipe passing therethrough including a packing element adapted to pass a pipe coupling, exible means thereon to seal about the pipe, means to apply the weight of the string of pipe to compress the'packing element, and additional means to stop the upward movement of a collar on the inner pipe when it reaches said element.

14. In combination with a casing head, a sealing unit adapted to be dropped into position in coupling therethrough, a packing gasket between` casing head having a seat, a clamping ring on through, apacking gasket between said rings,'said said casing head, automatic latch means to catch said unit and hold it in said casing head, and a. slip bowl adapted to be passed around a pipe in the casing head and to thereafter seat on said sealing unit.

15. In combination with a casing head, a sealing unit adapted to be dropped into position in said casing head, automatic latch means to catch said unit and hold it in said casing head, and a slip bowl adapted to be passed around a pipe in the casing head and to thereafter seat on said sealing unit, whereby slips may be positioned in ,said bowl and support the pipe in the casing.

16. In combination with a casing head, a sealing unit adapted Yto be dropped into position in said casing head, automatic latch means to catch said unit and hold it in said casing head, and a slip bowl adapted to-be passed around a pipe in the casing head and thereafter to seat on said sealing unit whereby slips may be positioned in said bowl and support the pipe in the casing, and thus apply the weight of the pipe to said sealing unit.

17. A casing head adapted to seal about a pipe passing therethrough including a tapered seat, a packing element, flexible sealing means thereon, a downwardly directed lip on the inner face ofy said means tn engage and seal about the pipe, said element being of suiiicient size and said lip being sufficiently displaceable to permit the passage therethrough of a pipe coupling, means to engage said pipe and support the weight of said pipe to compress said packing element by the weight of the pipe, and means to hold said packing to withstand a predetermined pressure.

18. In a casing head, a vertically disposed extension thereon for surrounding a pipe passing therethrough, supporting means in said extension, a packing assembly on said supporting means, said packing assembly comprising an annular resilient packing element disposed for engageme'nt with the pipe and including a depending skirt portion on its inner edge, and means for urging downwardly on said packing assembly to depress the same and form a high pressure seal between the pipe and said extension.

19. In a casing head, a vertically disposed extension thereon for surrounding a pipe passing therethrough, supporting means in said extension,

a packing assembly on said supporting means, said packing assembly comprising an annular packing element disposed to surround the pipe, and including a ilexible depending flange on the inner edge for engagement with the pipe, and means for urging downwardly on said packing assembly to depress the same and form a high pressure seal between the pipe and said extension.

20. In a casing head, a vertically disposed extension thereon for surrounding a pipe passing therethrough, supporting means in said extension, a packing assembly on said supporting means, said packing assembly comprising an annular packing element disposed to surround the pipe, said element having a groove in its lower edge providing an annular pocket spaced fromv the inner edge, and a depending ange on the inner edge of said packing element to increase the `pressure resistance of the packing, and means for urging downwardly on said packing assembly to depress the same and form a high pressure seal between the pipe and said extension.

21. In a casing head, a vertically disposed extension thereon -for surrounding a pipe passing therethrough, supporting means in said extension, a packing assembly on said supporting means, said packing assembly comprising a packingy element with its outer edge engaging the innersurface of said extension, said extension having its inner surface tapered upwardly and outwardly away from said packing element, and

means for urging downwardly on `said packing element to depress the same and to form a high pressure seal between the pipe and said extension.

22. ,In a casing head, a vertically disposed extension thereon forsurrounding a pipe passing therethrough, supporting means on said extension, i a packing assembly on said supporting means, and means supported by said packing assembly adapted to hold the weight of the pipe for compressing the packing andi forming a high pressure seal, said packing assembly comprising an annular resilient packing element disposed for engagement with the pipe and including a A depending skirt portion on its lower edge.

the pipe, and including a flexible depending iiange on theinner edge for engagement with the pipe.

24. In a casing head, sealing means for disposition around pipe extending through said casing head and comprising a ring having its internal surface radially urged into engagement with said pipe and formed hollow to yield internally and radially from and toward the pipe as the pipe and its couplings are passed through the casing head so as to maintain continuously a fluidtight seal about the pipe, and means for exerting a downward 'pressure on said sealing means to force it into effective sealing position.

25. In a casing head, a blowout preventer comprising an annular -packer sleeve for disposition around and in sealing engagement with pipe extending through the head and having upper and lower edges spaced from the pipe and held in relatively -xed positions, said sleev'e having an annular inner projection for sealing contact with the pipe and which proiectionis offset down- `wardly relative to said edges so as to provide an which have opposite annular pockets for receiving and holding said upper and lower edges of the sleeve in relatively fixed positions, said sleeve having an inner and downwardly projecting annular portion for contacting said pipe and which portion is offset downwardly relative to said `edges of `said ring for enhancing the sealing effect of the packer sleeve when in use. y

2'7. In a casing head, sealing means comprising an annular packing sleeve for disposition around and in sealing engagement .with pipe extending through the head and having upper and lower spaced annular flanges and an intermediate annular extension projecting from between ysaid flanges and offset downwardly for contact with the'pipe, and means, one of which is adjustable, for accommodating and holding said annular flanges in properly spaced position in the casing head.

28. In a casing head, a sealing means comprising a packer ring for disposition around pipe extending through said head and having an inner unbroken cylindrical surface radially urged into engagement withsaid pipe and formed to yield radially from and toward the pipe as the pipe and its couplings are passed through the casing head into effective sealing position to maintain continuously a fluidtight seal about the pipe, and means for subjecting the ring to endwise compressive force for deiiecting the ring laterally into said effective sealing position.

' 29. In a casing head, a sealing means comprising a packer ring for disposition around pipe extending through said head and having an inner unbroken cylindrical surface radially urged into engagement with said pipe and formed to yield radially from and toward the pipe as the pipe and its couplings are passed through the casing head into eifective sealing position to maintain continuously a fiuidtight seal abouti the pipe, an adapter ring in said head above ysaid sealing means formed to accommodate slips for anchoring the pipe to said head, and means for subjecting the p-acker ring to an endwise compressive force to deflect the ring laterally into said effective sealing position.

30. In a casing head structure, a flexible packing element arrangedl'to effect a seal about a pipe l passing therethrough and being of suflicent size to permit the passage therethrough of a pipe coupling, "a downwardly directed lip on said element to engage4 the pipe, and supporting means for a string of pipe arranged to transfer a subi 31. In ak casing head structure, a flexible packer f element foreffecting a seal about a pipe extending therethrough, means providing a seat for said element, said element being so formed as to be displaceable sufficiently to permit the passage of a pipe coupling therethrough, and supporting means for a string of pipe arranged to transfer a substantial part of the Weight of such a string of pipe onto said element to distort the element Yinto sealing engagement with the pipe.

32. In a ca sing head structure, a hinged packer unit, latch means to hold said unit about a pipe extending therethrough, said unit being of sufficient diameter to permit the passage of a pipe coupling therethrough, a flexible packer element included in said unit and formed to provide sufficient distortion to .permit the passage therethrough of a pipe. coupling with said latch means closed, andsupporting means arranged to hold a string of pipe and transfer a substantial part of the weight of the pipe string onto said element to distort the same into sealing engagement with the pipe.

33. In a casing head structure, a flexible packer element foreffecting a seal about a pipe extending therethrough, means providing a seat for said element, said element being so formed as to be displaceable sumciently to permit the passage of a pipe coupling therethrough, supporting means for a string of pipe arranged to transfer a substantial part of the weight of such a string of pipe onto said element to distort the element into sealing engagement with the pipe, and relatively rigid reinforcing means in said element disposed so as not to interfere with suicient distortion of said element to permit the passage of a pipe coupling. f

34. In a Well pipe head, sealing means for disposition around pipe extending through said Well pipe head and comprising a ring having its internal surface radially urged into engagement with said pipe and formed hollow to` yield internally and radially from and toward the pipe so as to maintain continuously a fluidtight seal about the pipe, and means for exerting an endwise pressure on said sealing means to force it into eiective sealing position and spaced from said pipe to l allow exterior pipe couplings to pass through said means.

35. In a well pipe head, sealing means for dispipe head and comprising a ring having its internal surface radially urged into engagement with said pipe and formed hollow to yield internallyand radially from and toward the pipe so as to maintain continuously a fluidtight seal about the pipe, and means for exerting an endwise pressure on said sealing means to 4forceiit into effective sealing position and spaced from said pipe to allow exterior'` pipe couplings 'to pass through said means, said ring having a pressure responsive depending lip for sealing engagement with pipe extending therethrough.

36. In a well pipe head, a seat for sealing means, sealing means on said seat for disposition around pipe extending through said Well pipe head and comprising `a ring having its internal y surface radially urged into engagement with said pipe and formed hollow to yield internally and radi'- ally from and toward the pipe so 'as to maintain continuously a uidtight seal about the pipe, and means for exerting an end/wise pressure on said sealingmeans to force it into effective sealing extending bolt-like element having one 4end anchored to said ring and having its other end secured to a member associated with an end of the ring, so that said ring is tied to said member,

position around pipe extending through said well position, said sealing means includinga verticallyV said ring including an outer annular substantially solid portion confined tightly in position by said bolt element for sealing engagement with said seat.

3'?. Ina pipe head for wells, a resilient packing of annular formation having a central pipe-engaging surface deectable to permit pipe couplings to pass therethrough While still maintaining a seal about the pipe, a rigid member asociated with one end of the packing, and a fastening element having a shank projecting out of and fastened to said packing for tying said packing to said member, said packing including a depending lip responsive to fluid pressure for aiding in maintaining a seal about the pipe extending through the packing.

38. In a pipe head for wells, a packing seat, a rubber packing of annular configuration disposed inside said seat and having a central pipeengaging surface delectable about and into sealing engagement with the surface of pipe extending therethrough, bolt means projecting from said packing, and a member to which said packing is secured by said bolt means, said packing including a depending pressure responsive lip for engagement with the pipe extending therethrough and an exterior solid portion held tightly against said seat by said bolt means, said member being formed to be spaced from vthe pipe to allow pipe couplings to pass therethrough, and said depending lip extending into thev space between the pipe and said member.

39. In a pipe head for wells, a packing seat, a rubber packing of annular configuration disposed inside said seat and having a central pipeengaging portion formed hollow to yield radially as the pipe and its couplings are passed therethrough, bolt means projecting from said packin g, and a member to which said packing is secured by said bolt means, said packing including a depending pressure responsive lip for engagement with the pipe extending therethrough, andv an exterior solid portion held tightly against said seat by said bolt means.

EDWIN A. JOHNSON.