US1651537A - Controlling apparatus for oil wells - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 6, 1927.

G. A. MONTGOMERY ET AL CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR OIL WELLS Filed Aug. 28, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l w fifW Tfi-mafl Z I W w w w a r A M 1 MM fl ..Hl ..l a, w y m Dec. 6, 1927.

G. A. MONTGOMERY ET AL CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR OIL WELLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 28, 1924 Ira/0:117:21; 06 .EM, M 4m Patented Dec. 6, 1927. L

UNITED STATES y 1. 51. 1 PATENT OFF-ICE.

evs'rAvus A. uonreoun'mr; or TI'IJUSVILLE, rnNnsYLv NIA, AND nnnms 1.. parscom, or ALHAMBRA, cALn'onNIA, ASSIGNOBS ro rrrnsvrnm roses COMPANY, or 'rrrusvrnm, PENNSYLVANIA, AconroaA'rron F MARYLAND.

CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR OIL WELLS.-

/ Application filed August 28, 1924. Serial No. 734,744.

This invention relates to a controlling apparatus designed more particularl for u'se in connection with oil and gas wel drlll ng.

Its chief object is to provide an eflicient I and reliable apparatus of this character which will prevent the oil and gas from shooting out at the mouth of the well during drilling operations and bringing m a well. Another object of the inventlon is to so construct the apparatus that it will prevent the accidental displacement or forcing of the oil-pipe or string out of the well should undue oil or gas pressure be encountered during drilling, and thereby provide a safeguard against accidents and injury to the workmen.

A still further object is the provision of a comparatively simple and adjustable apparatus of this character which is so organized that additional sections may be added to the oil-string from time to time as the drilling operations proceed without interfering or in any way obstructing the circulation of mud laden fluid through the drill string.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the improved apparatus shown in position in an oil well, Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the oil string control head and associated parts. Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sec tional elevation of the drill-string control penetrate one or more strata of oil sands,-

which have a relatively high pressure flow of oil or gas, before encountering the main oil sand where the well is to be finished. During the time while these thin oil sands are being passed and when the well is finally finished, it is necessary to control the flow of oil and gas so that the operations can proceed without interfering with the men working at the well. For this purpose, we provide suitable controlling devices between the water-string, oil string and drill-string which prevent the oil and gas from shooting out at the mouth of the well and which direct these elements into appropriate receptacles or sump holes where they can be taken care of in any approved manner.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 indicates the floor of the derrick upon which the rotary drilling mechanism (not shown) is mounted and 11 indicates the collar of the. well in which our improved controlling apparatus is mounted. r

12 indicates the well casing or water string which may be made up of a plurality of p1pe-sections in the usual manner and which is cemented at its bottom as shown at 13, in the well-hole to exclude the flow of water into the bottom of the Well. Extending into the well casing is the customary oil-string 14 and passing through the latter is the drillstring 15 having a suitable drilling tool 16 attached to its lower end. The oil and drill strings may likewise be constructed of pipe sections and may be coupled by suitable collars, such for instance, as shown at 17 in Fig. 2.

Applied to the upper section of the water string 12 is a control casing head 18 which is provided at its upper and lower ends with alining screw-threaded bores 19 and 20, respectively, the lower bore engaging the threaded upper end of said water string. Intermediate these bores, the casing head has a plurality of transverse outlets 21 in its side for directing the oil and gas through lead pipes 22 to storage tanks, not shown. Screwed into the upper bore 19 is a clamping member or sleeve 23 having a tapered seat 24 in the upper portion of its bore for receiving slips 25 from which the oil string 14 is suspended, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower portion of the casing head bore 19 is unthreaded as shown at 26, Fig. 2, and terminates at its bottom in a downwardlybeveled seat 27, while the opposing bottom end of the sleeve 23 which terminates above said seat 27, has an opposing upwardlybeveled seat 28. Fitted in the resulting space or chamber between these two seats is an annular packing or gasket 29 of rubber or other appropriate material which is shaped to fit properly in such space and which is preferably split transversely, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. The bores 19, 20 of the casing head are connected by an opening or passage 31 through which the oil strlng 14: extends, the diameters of said bores and also the lower portion 32 of: the sleeve bore being somewhat larger in diameter than the oil-string to provide a clearance and ermit the ready insertion and removal or such string, together with its coupling-collars 17, into and out of the casing head. As shown in Fig. 2, the packing 29 extends into this clearance and tits snugly against the exterior of the oil string to prevent the flow of oil and gas above the same. By screwing down on the sleeve 28, this packing is compressed tightly between the opposing seats 27, 28, and is thereby reliably held against vertical movement relative to the oil strin Means are also employed for adjusting thepacking 29 radially into firm gripping engagement with the oil string. For this purpose, said packing has an annular undercut groove or recess 33 for the receptlon of a sectional ring consisting of a plurality of removable segments 34, four of such segments being shown in the drawings. The casing head 18 carries a corresponding number of radial adjusting screws 35, one for each packing-segment, the outer portions of these screws engaging threaded openings 36 in said casing head while their inner ends or portions are unthreaded and free to turn in openings 37 in the respective segments. The front end of each adjusting screw is provided with a circumferential groove 38 with which a locking pin 39 secured to the corresponding segment 34 is adapted to engage. By this construction, the screws 35 are free to turn in the segments, but the latter are compelled to move lengthwise with said screws for bringing the packing 29 intoor out of engagement with the oil strin Aside from the advantage of affording a reliable seal for preventing the oil and gas from shooting out at the mouth of the well during drilling operations, the lower face 40 of the packing 29 constitutes a stop or shoulder for guarding against upward displacement of the oil string 14 beyond it, under undue oil and gas pressure encountered while drilling. Under these conditions, should the oil string be projected above its supporting slips 25, the coupling collar 17 below the acking will contact with the lower face. ot the latter and obstruct the further upward movement of the string, thus avoiding (possible damage to the well mechanism an injury to workmen.

In attaching additional sections of the oil string from time to time as the drilling proceeds, the sleeve 23 is unscrewed and the packing 29 is released from gripping engagement with the string by unscrewing the adjusting screws 35 sufliciently to bring the bore of the packing clear of the coupling nearest collars 17. This will then permit the collars above the packing to freely pass through the same when the string is lowered with the additional section attached. Furthermore, this change can be effected without loss of circulation of the customary mudladen fluid through the drill string 15.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 8, a similar casing head ll is attached to the upper end of the oil'string for preventing the drill strin 15 from being accidently forced by gas and oil pressure out of the well. This is identical in construction with that previously dealt with and further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Contained in the upper end of the drill string and carried by a couplin collar 42, shown in Fig. 3, is a downwar ly opening valve 43 to which a spring 44: is applied for normally holding it in closed position. This valve, while permitting the tree circulation of the mud-laden fluid downwardly through the drill-string, prevents the oil from shooting out through the top of the well.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a well-drilling mechanism, the combination with two strings of pipe arranged one within the other, of a casing head applied to the end of the outer string and having an opening therein terminating at its bottom in a seat, a packing member arranged in said casing head about the inner string and resting on said seat, means for withdrawing said packing member clear of said inner pipestring, and a clamping sleeve adjustably mounted in said casing head-opening for movement toward and from the upper side of said packing member.

2. In a well-drilling mechanism, the combination with two strings of pipe arranged one within the other, of a casing head applied to the end of the outer string, a flexible packing member arranged in said casing head and surrounding said inner string, said packing havin an annular undercut groove in its outer race, and radially-adjustable means interlocked with the groove of the packing member for bringin it into engagement with or expanding it ell; pipe-string.

3. In a well-drilling mechanism, the combination with two strings of pipe arranged one within the other, of a casing head applied to the end of the outer string, a flexible packing member arran ed in said casin head and surrounding t e inner string 0% pipe, said packing member having an annular undercut groove in its outer face, means for holding said packing member against displacement lengthwise of the casing head, a. sectional ring interlocking with the groove of said packing member and having radial openings therein, and radial ad'usting screws mounted on said casing bee and having their inner ends engaging the corresponding er of the innerpacking member toward and from the inner pipe-string.

4. In a well drilling mechanism, the combination with two strings of pipe arranged me within the other, of a casing head applied to the end of the outer string, and having an opening therein terminating at its bottom in a seat, a com ressible packing member arranged in said casing head about the inner string and resting on said seat, radiall adjustable means interlocked with said pac ing member for bringing it into engagement with or expanding it clear of the inner pipestring, a longitudinally-adjustable clamping sleeve mounted in said casing head-openin for engagement with the upper side of sai packing member, said sleeve having a tapered seat in the upper portion of its bore, and pipe-engagin slips for the inner pipe string arran ed in the tapered seat of said sleeve.

ENNIS L. DRISCOLL. GUSTAVUS A. MONTGOMERY.

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