US3433303A - Rotationally set well packer - Google Patents

Description

March 18, 1969 E. H. CLARK, JR., ET AL ROTATIONALLY SET WELL PACKER Filed Nov. 7. 1966 TTOQNEV.

3,433,303 ROTATIONALLY SET WELL PACKER Earnest H. Clark, Jr., Downey, John F. De Rochemont,

La Habra, and Julian D. Keithahn, Downey, Calif., as-

sgnors to Baker Gil Tools, Inc., City of Commerce,

Calif., a corporation of California Filed Nov. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 592,628

U.S. Cl. 166-184 12 Claims Int. Cl. E21b 33/12 ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A rotationally set Well packer in which upper and lower telescopic bodies have abutments movable toward and away from one another upon telescopic movement of the bodies, a resilient packer sleeve being disposed between the abutments for expansion and retraction responsive to such telescopic movement of the bodies, and in which telescopic movement of the bodies is effected by a pin on one body engaged in a compound slot in the other body including axially and circumferentially spaced slot portions disposed on planes normal to the axis of the bodies and an inclined slot interconnecting said slot portions, rotation of one body relative to the other effecting telescopic movement of the bodies by the ca-mming action of the pin and inclined Slot. Such a packer in which the `bodies have cooperable valve means openable upon telescopic extension of said bodies and closable upon telescopic contraction of said bodies.

The Apresent invention relates to well packers adapted to be lowered in well casing and set at desired locations therewithin, and more particularly to well packers of the retrievable type.

' More particularly, the present invention provides a rotationally set well tool having expansible means thereon in a normally retracted condition, the tool being adapted to be run into a well bore on a tubing string, and the tool having rotatably and telescopically coengaged inner and outer bodies adapted to effect expansion of the expansible means responsive to telescopic movement of the bodies in one direction and to effect retraction of the expansible means responsive to telescopic movement of the bodies in the other direction. Such telescopic movement of the bodies in either direction is elfected by a cam slot disposed on an incline and leading lbetween upper and lower arcuately extended slot portions spaced axially of the bodies, a pin being slidable in the slot and preventing telescopic movement of said bodies when in the upper and lower slot portions, but causing the telescopic movement of the bodies in response to relative rotation of the bodies, as said pin moves in the inclined cam slot. In addition, the invention provides valve means closable and openable upon expansion and retraction of the expansible means to provide a lateral passage leading between the interior and the exterior of the bodies.

An object of the present invention is to provide a well packer adapted to be run in a well bore on a tubular string and to be set therewithin through the application of a low torque applied to the well packer through the tubular string, the well packer being readily set through the application of a turning elort to the tubing string and also released from its set condition in response to a nted States Patent C) rotary motion applied to the well packer through the tubing string.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well packer which is relatively easily set in the well casing through the application of rotary elfort applied to the Well packer by the tubing string, the tubing string thereafter being maintained in either a neutral, compressed or tensioned condition, as desired.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a well packer which has its parts readily retained in a retracted position during longitudinal movement of the well packer in the Well bore, which is set as a result of rotary eir'ort applied through the tubing string to the well packer, and in which the well packer cannot be inadvertently released from its set condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a well packer having an initially retracted packing device eX- panded against the well casing in response to rotary effort applied to the well packer through the tubular string, and -in which a predetermined degree of expansion of the packing element cannot be exceeded.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more `clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not t0 be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE l is a longitudinal section through a Well packer embodying the invention disposed in a well casing, with certain of its parts in retracted condition;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, with the packer set in the well casing; and

FIG. 3 is an isometric projection of the slot portion of the locking and actuation device of the well packer.

The well packer A illustrated in the drawings is connectible to a tubular string B, such as a string of tubing extending to the top of a well bore, the Well packer being movable longitudinally through a string of well casing C within the well bore to the desired location at which it is to be set therewithin. The specilic tool illustrated in the drawings is intended to be used with other equipment in the well bore, such as a lower well packer (not shown), which will have previously been set or anchored in the well casing at a desired point therewithin.

The Well packer A includes an upper or outer tubular body 10 telescoped over a lower or inner body 11, which has a normally retracted packing device thereon, specically -illustrated as a packing element or packing sleeve 12 made of pliant, elastic material, such as a rubber or rubber-like material. The lower end of this pliant, elastic packing sleeve engages a lower gauge ring or abutment 13 threadedly or otherwise suitably secured to the inner body 11, its upper end engaging an upper guide, gauge ring or abutment 14 threadedly secured to the lower portion of the upper or -outer body 10. In effect, the lower abutment 13 and upper abutment 14 constitute parts of the -inner and outer bodies 11, 10, respectively.

The lower or inner body 11 has a threaded portion 15 such as a threaded pin, adapted for connection to a lower portion 16 of the tubing string B, which is secured to the lower packer (not shown) adapted to be anchored in packed-off condition at a desired location in the well casing C. The upper or outer body has an upper threaded portion 17, such as a threaded box, threadedly secured to the tubular string B that extends upwardly through the casing to the top of the well bore.

The downward telescoping of the upper body 10 along the lower body 11 will shift the upper abutment 14 toward the lower abutment 13 to shorten the packing sleeve 12 and effect its expansion into firm sealing engagement with the wall of the well casing C, as well as against the periphery of the lower or inner body 11 and against the upper and lower abutments or gauge rings. As further assurance against leakage of fluid through the interior of the packing sleeve 12, the upper and lower gauge rings 14, 13 may have seal rings 18 Vmounted thereon adapted to engage the inner body 11.

The packing sleeve 12 itself is shortened or compressed with a relatively low longitudinal force imposed thereon. In this connection, the packing sleeve is of the type specifically illustrated in United States Patent` No. 2,988,148, and includes ports 19 extending through its mid-portion, which mid-portion opens outwardly through the inherently cylindrical periphery 20 of the packing sleeve and into a cavity 21 in the packing sleeve. As explained in the above patent, such packing sleeve, in effect, provides two opposed cup-shaped packing elements when expanded against the well casing, so that a fluid pressure differential below the well packer can pass through the ports 19 and expand the upper portion of the packing sleeve outwardly against the well casing, a fluid pressure differential in the casing above the packing passing downwardly around the exterior of the packing sleeve and in through the ports 19 to its interior to expand the lower portion of the packing sleeve outwardly against the well casing. The specific packing sleeve per se forms no part of the present invention, and is presented merely to illustrate a type of packing element than can be packed off against the Awell casing with the application of a lower force applied thereto than if the packing sleeve were a solid annular sleeve, one which is devoid of the intermediate ports 19.

The well packer A is lowered in the well casing with the packing sleeve 12 in its inherent retracted condition, such as disclosed in FIG. l. When in this condition, the upper body 10 is disposed in an upper position along the lower body 11 by a lock and cam mechanism 25 acting between the upper and lower bodies. When the upper body 10 is shifted downwardly along the lower body 11 to expand the packing sleeve 1-2 against the wall of the well casing, it is also retained or locked in such expanded position by the locking and expansion device 25. This locking and expansion device also includes a mechanism for converting rotary motion of the tubular string B and the upper Ibody 10 into axial movement of the upper body along the lower or inner body 11 to effect expansion of the packing sleeve 12, as well as to permit its subsequent retraction, in the event that such retraction is desired.

As specifically disclosed, the locking and packing actuating device 25 includes a pin 26 extending through an aperture or hole 27 in the upper body 10 and into a slot or groove structure 28 formed in the lower or inner body 11 above the location of the packing sleeve 12. The pin 26 is retained in position by a retaining cover or sleeve 29 surrounding the xbody, its upper end being engageable with a downwardly facing shoulder 30 on the upper body, and its lower end with the upper guide or gauge ring 14. The slot or groove structure 2S includes an upper retaining slot portion 31 normal to the axis of the upper and lower bodies, and a lower retainer or slot portion 32 normal to the axis of the tubular bodies 10, 11, these slot portions being both longitudinally and arcuately spaced from one another. They are interconnected by an inclined slot portion or axial cam 33 extending downwardly from the upper slot portion 31 to the lower slot portion 32.

This inclined or axial cam 33 has parallel upper and lower sides 34, 35 that merge into the upper and lower sides 36, 37 of the upper retainer slot 31 and also into the upper and lower sides 38, 39 of the lower retainer slot portion 32.

When the lock pin 26 is in the upper or horizontal slot portion 31, the upper body 10 is retained in an elevated position with respect to the lower body 11, and the packing element or sleeve 12 is in its inherently retracted position, as shown in FIG. l. When the upper body 10 has been shifted to locate the pin 26 in the lower slot portion 32, the packing sleeve 12 has been expanded against the well casing C (FIG. 2). The transfer of the lock pin 26 between the upper and lower slot portions 31, 32 occurs as a result of rotary motion or turning effort of the upper or outer body 10` by the tubing string B and with respect to the lower or inner body 11, the pin being caused to shift through the inclined slot portion or axial cam 33, and, in so doing, will produce longitudinal movement of the upper 'body 10 along the lower body 11.

The well packer A is run in the well casing C on the tubing string B, and usually with a lower packer (not shown) connected to the lower or inner body 11 either directly or through a required length of tubing 16. The lock pin `26 is then disposed in the upper lock portion 31 and will retain the packer parts in their retracted position. Inadvertent turning of the upper body 10 on the lower body 11 is prevented initially by a shear screw 40 on the upper body extending into a socket 41 in the lower body 11. When the location in the well casing is reached at which the packers are to be set, the tubing string B and upper packer A are appropriately manipulated to set the lower packer (not shown) in a known manner; whereupon left-hand or counterclockwise torque is applied to the tubing string and the upper body 10, which will disrupt the shear screw 40 and effect a turning of the lock pin 26 from the upper slot portion 31 into the inclined or axial cam slot portion 33, such cam 33 causing the upper body 10 to shift downwardly along the lower body 11 and move the upper abutment 14 toward the lower abutment 13 to shorten the packing element or sleeve 12 and expand it outwardly against the wall of the well casing C. The application of the left-hand torque will continue until the pin 26 rides down through the entire length of the inclined slot portion 33 and into the lower slot portion 32, which is normal to the axis of the tubular bodies 10, 11. When such lower slot portion 32 is entered, no further axial movement between the upper and lower bodies can occur, such bodies being effectively locked in their contracted condition to thereby retain the packing sleeve 12 in its expanded condition. Such expanded condition will be retained despite the imposition o-f tension on the tubing string B, its being placed in compression, or its being retained in a neutral condition, since the parts of the well packer cannot move longitudinally relative to one another as a result of longitudinal forces imposed thereon by the tubing string, the lock pin 26 remaining in the lower retainer portion 32 of the tool, which will maintain the packing element 12 in its expanded or set condtion against the well casing.

In the event the well packer A is to be released, the tubing string B is merely turned to the right, or in a clockwise direction, which will effect turning of the upper body 10 along the lower body 11, shifting the lock pin 26 from the lower slot portion 32 into the inclined or axial Cam portion 33 of the slot structure, the pin riding upwardly along the lower side 35 of the inclined slot or groove portion, and effecting an upward shifting of the outer body 10 along the inner body 11, to move the upper abutment 14 further away from the lower abutment 13, allowing the packing sleeve 12 to return inherently to its retracted condition, the full retraction being obtained when the lock pin 26 shifts into the upper or normal groove or slot portion 3l, which is a position in which the packer parts are again retained in their initial or retracted condition.

The well packer A can now be moved longitudinally in the well casing, or elevated therewithin and removed entirely therefrom, if desired, the parts remaining in their locked, retracted condition.

The specific well packer disclosed in the drawings incorporates an equalizing valve 50 therein. Thus, the upper or outer body has a plurality of side ports 51 in its upper portion above which is located a cylindrical valve seat 52. A tubular valve head 53 is threadedly secured to the upper portion of the inner body 11, and may be deemed to constitute a part thereof, this valve head carrying a suitable seal ring or rings 54 on its periphery adapted to engage the valve seat 52.

When the well packer is in its retracted condition, as disclosed in FIG. l, the ports 51 are disposed above the upper end 55 of the inner body 11, and the cylindrical valve seat S2 is located above the tubular valve head 53 and its seal ring or rings 54. The valve portion 50 of the packer is then in the open condition, to permit fluid to pass between the interior of the bodies 10, 11 and the tubing string B, on the one hand, and the tubing-casing annulus D surrounding the well packer A and tubing B, on the other hand. When the upper body 10 is shifted downwardly to effect expansion of the packing sleeve 12 and setting of the packer in the well casing, as described above, the cylindrical valve seat 52 is shifted downwardly and over the seal rings 54 of the tubular valve head 53, closing the side ports 51 to the ow of fluid therethrough.

It is evident that the equalizing valve 50 is in its open condition when the packing sleeve 12 is retracted and with the lock pin 26 in the upper groove portion 31, and that the valve is automatically shifted to a condition closing the side ports 51 when the upper body 10 is shifted downwardly along the lower body 11 to expand the packing sleeve 12 outwardly against the well casing. The subsequent elevation of the outer body 10 along the lower body 11 in response to right-hand torque applied through the tubin-g string A to the outer body 10 will not only permit the packing sleeve 12 to retract inherently from its expanded condition, but will efect simultaneous opening of the upper valve portion 50 of the well packer.

The well packer disclosed will remain positively locked with its valve portion 50 in open condition and its packing sleeve 12 retracted during longitudinal movement of the packer A through the well casing C. The packing sleeve 12 can be expanded outwardly solely through the application of turning effort or torque to the tubing string A and the upper body 10, the tubing string being maintained in a neutral condition during such application of torque. As an example, the applying of about 450 ft. lbs. of lefthand torque is sufiicient to secure a firm and leakproof pack-off or seal of the packing element or sleeve 12 against the well casing C, as Well as against the upper and lower abutments 14, 13 and the lower or inner body 11 of the well packer. Such turning effort also closes the valve 50. The application of right-hand torque will first achieve opening of the valve 50, during which the compressive force on the packing sleeve 12 is partially relieved, after which the completion of the right-hand turning of the upper body 10 to relocate the lock pin 26 in its upper slot portion 31 will insure full release or retraction of the packing sleeve from the well casing.

We claim:

1. In a well tool adapted to be lowered in a well bore on a tubular string: an inner body; an outer body telescoped over said inner body; means on one of said bodies for connecting said one body to the tubular string; normally retracted means on said inner body engageable with abutment means on said inner and outer bodies; and actuating means interconnecting said inner and outer bodies and responsive to turning of said one of said bodies by the tubular string for shifting said abutment means on said inner and outer bodies toward each other to expand said normally retracted means laterally outwardly; said actuating means comprising a slotted region on one of said bodies having upper and lower longitudinally and arcuately spaced retaining slot portions and an intermediate inclined slot portion interconnecting said upper and lower slot portions, said actuating means further comprising a pin on the other of said bodies shiftable in and between said upper, intermediate and lower slot port1ons to etect said expansion of said normally retracted means, said pin preventing longitudinal movement between said bodies when disposed in said upper slot portion and lower slot portion.

2. In a well tool as defined in claim 1; said normally retracted means comprising pliant, elastic packing means.

3. In a well tool as defined in claim 1; said upper and lower slot portions being extended arcuately on planes substantially normal to the axis of said bodies.

4. In a well tool as defined in claim 1; said upper and lower slot portions being extended arcuately on planes substantially normal to the axis of said bodies; said normally retracted means comprising pliant, elastic packing means.

5. In a well tool as defined in claim 1; said connecting means and pin being on said outer body, said slotted region being on said inner body.

6. In a well tool as defined in claim 1; said connecting means and pin being on said outer body, said slotted region being on said inner body; said upper and lower slot portions being extended arcuately on planes substantially normal to the axis of said bodies.

7. In a well tool as defined in claim 1; said connecting means and pin being on said outer body, said slotted region being on said inner body; said upper and lower slot portions being extended arcuately on planes substantially normal to the axis of Said bodies; said normally retracted means comprising pliant, elastic packing means.

8. In a well tool as defined in claim 1; said bodies providing a passage for the flow of fluid between the interior and exterior of said bodies; and coengageable and disengageable valve means on said bodies for closing and opening said passage upon relative longitudinal movement of said bodies in one direction in expanding said normally retracted means and upon relative longitudinal movement of said bodies in the opposite longitudinal direction to enable said normally retracted means to retract.

9. In a well tool as defined in claim 1; said upper and lower slot portions being substantially normal to the axis of said bodies; said normally retracted means comprising pliant, elastic packing means; sai-d bodies providing a passage for the flow of fluid between the interior and exterior of said bodies; and coengageable and disengageable valve means on said bodies for closing and opening said passage upon relative longitudinal movement of said bodies in one direction in expanding said normally retracted means and upon relative longitudinal movement of said bodies in the opposite longitudinal direction to enable said normally retracted means to retract.

10. In a well tool as defined in claim 1; said connecting means and pin being on said outer body, said slotted region being on said inner body; said upper and lower slot por tions being substantially normal to the axis of said bodies; said normally retracted means comprising pliant, elastic packing means; said bodies providing a passage for the flow of uid between the interior and exterior of said bodies; and coengageable and disengageable valve means on said bodies for closing and opening said passage upon relative longitudinal movement of said bodies in one direction in expanding said normally retracted means and upon relative longitudinal movement of said bodies in the opposite longitudinal direction to enable said normally retracted means to retract.

11. In a well tool as defined in claim 1; releasable means for initially preventing operation of said actuating means.

12. In a well tool as defined in claim 1; releasable means for initially preventing operation of said actuating means including a shearable element interengaged with said bodies and initially maintaining said pin in said upper slot portion, said shearable element being sheared upon initial turning of said one of said bodies.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Boer 166-196 X 8 2,940,524 6/1960 Miller 277-116.S X 3,260,310 7/1966 Brown 166-131 3,352,362 11/1967 Lebourg 166-240 X CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

I. A. CALVERT, Assisfant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

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