US2302567A - Method and means of perforating well casing and the like - Google Patents

Description

Nov. ,17, l942. F. E 0;NE|| L 2,302,567

ME'IHOD AND MEANS OF PERFORATING WELL CASING AND THE LIKE Filed'Deo. 13, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l l 29 IJ Z9 52 a y ATTORNEY Nov. 17, 1942. F. E. o'NElLL 2,302,567

MTHOD AND MEANS OF PERFORATING WELL CASING AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 13, 1937 2 Sheets-SheetI 2 l r 39 ,67 i EE 6d- 406 3 6V s! j' W i? A ma O $4,454.42/ 50 v /ZIlN/c/ ff INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1942 METHOD AND MEANS F PERFORATING WELL CASING AND THE LIKE Frenk E. o'Neill, Glendale, Calif., assigner te 1 Edith L. oNelll, Glendale, calli.

Application December 13, 1937, Serial No. 179,576.

' 19 claims. (cl. 16s-1) 'This invention relates to oil well production operations, and particularly pertains to a method and means of perforating well casing and the like.

Heretofore the common methods of perforating well casing have been by th'e use of mechanical perforating means and by the use of explosive perforating means. In my Patent No. 2,034,768, entitled Method and means of perforating casing, issued March 24, 1936, reissued as Re. 21,085 on May 16, 1939, the released pressure of well drilling iiuid was utilized to directly or indirectly produceA a perforating action through a well pipe. My present invention is concerned with the use of abrasive fluid forced downwardly into a well and directed laterally thereof against the well casing to create an abrasive action which is continued until the well casing is perforated and a suitable depth of the surrounding geological formation is opened up to well fluid flow. It is the principal object of the present invention therefor to provide a method and means of perforating a well casing or treatthe casing may be severedfwhen the fluid under pressure is discharged therefrom.

It is to be understood in this specification that the terms abrading and eroding are being used interchangeably as referring to the action -1 brought about by a jet of fluid, carrying susing th'e same by the use of a uid mixed with a chemical or containing suspended abrasive solids which will act to erode ,the wall of the well casing against which it impinges, and to clean the mud cake from the wall of the well or to perforate the wall or casing, the said iiuid being delivered to the ejecting nozzle under pressure and being directed against the area to be acted upon by means responsive to fluid pressure, 'whereby the eduction end of the ejecting nozzle will be disposed in close proximity to the surface to be acted upon by the eroding fluid, the said method and means acting to concentrate a perforating action in certain spots on the wall of the casing, or the like, whereby a direct perforation will be made through the casing, or in directing the 'abrading stream of material along a path of travel whereby the casing may be slotted or cutl in two.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a string of pipe 'in connection with which a pump or other suitable means for delivering uid under pressure thereto is provided, and whereby an abrading or eroding iiuid may be forced down the string of pipes to suitable nozzle means, the nozzle means in one instance being in the form of a reciprocatingelement which will act under pressure of the iiuid passing therethrough to be projected outwardly from its housing and into close proximity to the casing to be perforated thereby, the nozzle in another form of the invention being a movable element by which pended particles or including a. chemical agent, impinging against a surface in a well bore, whether that surface be the wall of a, metal well casing or the mud sheath which forms upon the wall of a well bore and which must be removed to permit free flow of cognate uid from the geological formation.

Th'e invention is illustrated by way of exarrple in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in diagram illustrating one manner of installing the perforating structure Within a well casing and operating the same.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in section and elevation showing one form of the perforating unit as seen on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in central section through ene form of the perforating unit as seen on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and discloses the structural details of a nozzle unit.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in central section through one of the perforating nozzles indicating it in a retracted position and designating it extended by dotted lines.

Fig. 5 is a view in vertical section and elevation showing a form of the invention in which a rotary nozzle is provided for severing the pipe transversely of its longitudinal axis.

Fig. 6 is a view in transverse section through the cutting structure as seen on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation showing the modiiication of the means for holding the piston in a retracted position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings I0 indicates fluid pump, such for example as the mud pump in a well, said pump being provided to deliver iiuid under pressure through a conduit I I to a head I2. The head I2 is mounted upon a string of tubing or drill pipe I3 which is led downwardly through' a well casing I4 and with its lower end into the producing area of the well. This pipe may carry a liner I5 which is subsequently to be perforated.

I rl the form of the invention shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings this perforation is accomplished by producing and projecting lateral jets of fluid from a perforating head generally indicated at I6, and which jets or fluid are directed against the liner I5 or casing Il to produce an abrasive or erosive action. The perforating head structure I6 may be held in the well by slips which may be applied at the top of the well or may be `carried by the perforating head itself as particularly indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In Fig. 2 of the drawings itwill be seen that the lower portion of the perforating head comprises a pointed member I1 which has threaded connection with a fluid inlet sub I8. This inlet sub is formed with a plurality of perforatlons I9 communicating with a central opening 20. Threaded into the upper end of the opening 20 of inlet sub I8 is a valve seat element 2| having a threaded portion 2i' extending upwardly into a valve sub 22. A uid duct 23 is formed through the valve seat element 2| and is normally closed by a valve ball 24 disposed in an opening 22' of valve sub 22. This valve ball is held on its seat by a spring 25 and is adapted to be lifted from its seat when external fluid pressure is applied for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. The sub 22 has a i central passageway through it leading from opening 22' and is in communication with a tube 21. Mounted upon the tube 21 as illustrated in Fig.' l of the drawings is a lower collar 23 to which bow springs 29 are secured at their lower ends.

These springs are secured at their upper ends to a sleeve 3i) which is slidable upon the tube 21 and which carries a pin 3| operating in a bayonet slot 32 by which the sleeve 30 is normally held in its uppermost position. lPivotally mounted to thev sleeve are' arms 33 which carry slips 34. The slips engage an operating cone 35 by which the slips may be moved outwardly upon relative movement of the cone with relation to the slips. At the upper end of the cone lstructure is a threaded pin 35 which engages a barrel section 31 of the perforating unit. This barrel section carries a plurality of nozzle units, one of which is particularly disclosed in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Here it will be seen that upper and lower longitudinally extending ducts 33 are formed through the barrel 35 and they communicate with cylinder bores 39 disposed transversely of the barrel. Each of these cylinder bores is fitted with a piston' structure 40 carrying a nozzle 4|. The nozzle extends longitudinally of the bore and has a tubular portion 42 terminating in an outwardly flared conical end portion 43. An outwardly tapered throat 44 is formed in the conical end 43 of the nozzle v4| and communicates with a central cylindrical passageway 45 which extends through the tubular portion 42. tubular portion 42 is formed with projecting lugs 46 which are adapted to bear against the wall of the casing when the nozzle 4| is in its extreme outermost position, and will provide a ow space outwardly through which the fluid may flow after it has impinged against the casing surface. y The outer end of the tubular portion 42 of the nozzle 4| is guided through a threaded disc 41 which substantially closes the rightward end of the cylinder bore 39. This threaded disc may be formed with .perforations 48 which would allow circulation of fluid through the disc. The conical end 43 of nozzle 4| is mounted with a seat member 49 of the piston 40. The seat member has a The outer end of the hub 50 through which the tubular portion 42 of nozzle 4| extends and a disc portion 5| agreeing substantially in diameter with the diameter of the bore 39. A reduced threaded portion 52 "receives a packing ring 53 and a piston ring 54.

ternal threaded portion 54' of the ring 54 also receives a strainerplate 55. This plate is formed with a plurality of ducts 58 therethrough which are 'preferably disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the bore 45 of the nozzle 4| so the fluid under pressure which is forced through the ducts 56 of plate 55 and into the nozzle 4| will be controlled in its direction of "flow ang will not create eddy currents in the throat 44of the nozzle which would tend to abrade the nozzle 4I. It is to be understood that the nozzle is made of alloy metal of vrelatively great hardness and toughness and that the design and the arrangement of the throat 44 of the nozzle member 4| and the ducts 55 through the ,plate 55 will be such as to conduct fluid into the passageway 45 with the least amount of uid ldisi turbance. A stop shoulder, or other limiting means, such as an internal sleeve 51 may be used to limit the leftwardor retracted position of the,

piston 40 and the nozzle 4|. The piston assembly 40 is held in retracted position by a spring 58 which is interposed between the disc 41 andthe front face of the disc portion 5| of the piston or may be held in its retracted position by a spring 59 secured at one end to a bracket 59 on the piston and at its opposite end to a closing disc 50 which is threaded into the rear opened end of the cylinder bore 39 as shown in Fig. 3. It is to be understood that the nozzle 4| and the piston assembly 40 here described may be duplicated throughout the length of the barrel section 31 and that the cylinder bores 39 may be arranged with their longitudinal axes in different radial directions with referenceto the longitudinal center of the barrel, thus making it possible to cut a number of perforations simultaneously at different points aroundthe circumference and in the length of a casing or tubing. l

Referring particularly to Fig. 5 of the drawings, it will be understood that a sub structure, including the hook wall mechanism as substantially the same1as that shown and described with reference to Fig. 1 may be used. In this particular device itis intended to utilize the abrasive or erosive fluids in severing the pipe entirely. The structure includes a sub 6| which is threaded onto the upper end ofthe hook wall unit 42. Mounted within a longitudinal bore 5| this sub is the lower shaft portion 63 of a nozzle unit 64. The nozzle unit 64 is provided with an upwardly extending shaft portion 65 which is mounted in a longitudinal bore 65' within a cylinder member 66 carried by the well string or other support for the structure. Suitable stulng glands 61 are provided to pack the shaft members 63 and 45 and retaining collars 88 and 59 are mounted upon the ends of shaft sections 63 and 65, respectively. These collars 68 and 69 are adapted to hold the entire structure in assembled relationandpermit the nozzle G4 to revolve on the central vertical axis of the structure. The rotating nozzle 44 as shown in Fig. 6 is formed with a plurality of radially disposed arms 10 which are curved at their ends so as to provide jet elements 1|, which are disposed at a tangent to the rotating axis of the nozzle unit 64 and will act under fluid impulse to cause the nozzle structure 64 to rotate and direct the fluid from the nozzle jets 1|' in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the structure is assembled as there disclosed and may be lowered into a wel to a desired depth. When thus lowered the 'springs 29 of the hook wall structure will frictionally engage the casing I4. When a suitable depth has been reached the drill string structure is rotated to move the pin 3| out of the hooked Cil end of the bayonet slot 32 and to allow the weight y of the drill string to act to move the cone 35 downward with reference to the slips 34 as a pin 3| travels downward in bayonet-slot 32, thereby causing the slips toengage the casing and become set. Fluid under pressure is then forced downwardly through the drill string I3 from the pump I 0. This fluid may be the fluid present in wells at the time of drilling and known as drilling fluid, which would have certain abrasive-characteristics due to the suspended solids carried from the well, or it may be a specially prepared fluid, including a liquid within which special abrasive material in flnely divided forml l is placed. Such a material maybe clean beach or river sand. In some instances it may be deemed desirable to use a fluid within which erosive material is mixed, such for example as suitable acids in liquid form in which cases these materials may be used for directly cleaning the mud cake from the walls of the well or cleaningv perforations in the well casing, as well as forming perforations in the wall or vthrough the casing. In any event the pressure fluid is forced downwardly through the pipe I3 by the pump I and eventually it is forced into the passageway 38 which communicates with the various cylinder bores 39. The pistons 40 at such times arev in their rearmost positions with the tubular nozzle portions 42 retracted within the discs 41 until their forward ends are within a shielded position. As the fluid pressure is delivered the fluid will act upon the end face ofthe piston 40 and specifically against the face of lthe piston ring 54 and the strainer disc 55. This will force the piston with the tubular jet 42 longitudinally of the cylinder bore 39 against the compression action of spring 58 or the tension of spring 59. This action will move the tubular stem of the nozzle outwardly until the lugs 46 on its end face abut against the inner surface of the casing or liner or until the shoulder 50 on the piston abuts against the disc 41. In the event that the space between the inner face of the casing, or liner, is sufiiciently narrow to cause the end of the nozzle jet 4| to rest against this fac'e the lugs 46 will provide a space through which the fluid may flow radially as it produces its abrasive action. This will insure that a perforation 80 will be formed having a diameter somewhat greater than the diameter of the tubular portion 42 of the nozzle so that the nozzle 4I will follow into the opening 80 and will thus maintain intimate relationship between the end of the nozzle and the metal being abraded. The point of the nozzle may also be forced through the perforation B0 so as to form an opening in the surrounding formation. It will also be evident that directly at the end of the nozzle 4I a crater 8| will be cut which will be of smaller diameter and which will be formed in advance of the larger recess 80. If theabrading or eroding action is continued the cavities 30 and BI will be extended through the piece of metal being acted upon and a perforation will be formed. Further continuation of this action will cause fluid to pass through the perforations and into the geological It is evident that suspended granular solids of a degree of flneness may be used in making an abrasive fluid which would be suitable for packing the area of the well around the casing or liner being perforated so that when this material is carried through the perforations made by the abrasion the granular material will tend to pack the cavity and act as a lter for the fluids which pass from the formation of the well bore and through the perforations into the casing or lining.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, the fluid is used to sever the casing. The structure is set within. the casing in the usual manner and is then supplied with abrasive fluid under pressure, as previously described, which fluid isy ejected from the nozzle tips 'II of the arms 'I0 and will give an impulse rotation to the structure 64. The fluid will then impinge against the casing as the structure 64 revolves.

In the event that for any reason it is necessary to establish circulation within the well bore, such for example as when an emergency might arise due to the fact that the accumulation of abrasive material within the casing and around the perforating device had caused the structure to be lodged in place, then circulation could be established through the valve structure 2|. This is done by delivering fluid pressure to the upper end of the casing I4 and around the drill string I3, and then forcing the fluid downwardly and inwardly through the passageways I9 to the duct 23. The upward force will then lift the valve 24 allowing the fluid to pass upwardly through the passageway 26 and then through the passageways 38 to the drill string. Normally it will be recognized that the valve 24 is seated so that the force of fluid within the drill string must act against the pistons 40 'and move the jets 4| outwardly and deliver the force of the fluid through the nozzles. A length of casing represented by the length of the perforating head may be perforated, at onetime after which the head may be moved to another position and other perforations cut until the desired length of casing is perforated.

It is to be understood that the valve 24 may be eliminated in some instances' and then the fluid pressure within the casing and around the perforating structure may be utilized to force the nozzles back to their 'retracted positions.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides suitable means, and a suitable method, whereby a well casing or the like may be perforated by the use of fluid under pressure and that this fluid will havea direct abrasive action which will perforate the casing without depositing objectionable'material in the well bore and making it possible -for the structure to be used in cutting off pipe, perforating the same, conditioning the well, by perforating or removing the mud cake on the Walls of the well bore, treating it with chemicals and supplying it with filter packing materials.

While the apparatus is here shown as used with abrasive fluid it is evident that a suitable acid solution might be used at high velocity and pressure as a solvent and eroding agent to clean the perforations or to clean the walls of the well and open up the formation.

While I have shown the preferred form of the invention, and the preferred method of practicing the same, it is to be understood that various changes might be made in the combination, construction, and arrangement of parts, and in the steps of the method, without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of conditioning a well which consists in placing a casing in a well, thereafter lowering a string of tubing into the well, said string of tubing carrying a laterally projecting nozzle, then forcing a liquid carrying abrasive solids downwardly through said string of tubing and outwardly through said nozzle whereby the abrasive liquid will erode an opening through the wall of the casing and then continuing the flow of said abrasive liquid outwardly through the nozzle and the opening in the casing thus formed until the abrasive elements in the liquid have accumulated within the well bore around the casing to form a filter pack through which fluid from the geological formation may be filtered as it flows into the casing through the eroded perforations.

2. A device for perforating well casing and the like, comprising a string of tubing adapted to be lowered into the casing and connected with a source of abrasive liquid under pressure, and a nozzle carried by and in communication with said string of tubing whereby a jet of fluid under pressure may be directed downwardly through said string of tubing and outwardly through said nozzle to impinge against the surrounding wall of the Well.

3. A device for perforating casing and the like. comprising a string of tubing to be lowered into a well casing, friction means carried by the string of tubing for holding said tubing in set position relative to said casing, a perforating unit carried by said string of tubing adjacent to said friction means and communicating with the string of tubing and mounted to project a stream of fluid laterally from the string of tubing against the wall of the casing, and means for forcing liquid downwardly through the string of tubing and outwardly through said perforating unit, whereby said liquid will erode an'opening through the casing against which it impinges.

4. A device for perforating casing and the like, comprising a string of tubing to be lowered into a well casing, friction means carried by the string of tubing for holding said tubing in a selected position relative to said casing, a perforating unit carried by the string of tubingadjacent to the friction means and communicating with the string of tubing and mounted to project a stream of fluid laterally from the string of tubing against the wall of the casing, and means for forcing a liquid downwardly through the string of tubing and outwardly through said perforating unit,

whereby said liquid will erode an opening through the casing against which it impinges, said perforating unit including a laterally disposed nozzle.

5. A device for perforating casing and the like, comprising a string of tubing to be lowered into a well casing, friction means carried by the string of tubing for holding said tubing in position relative to said casing, a perforating unit carried by the string of tubing adjacent to said friction means and communicating with the string of tubing and mounted to project a stream of fluid laterally from the string of tubing against the Wall of the-casing, means for forcing a liquid downwardly through the string of tubing and outwardly through said perforating unit whereby said liquid will erode an opening through the casing against which it impinges, said perforating unit including a laterally disposed nozzle, and means within said perforating unit for supporting said nozzle, whereby said nozzle will be moved outwardly from the side of the perforating unit to a projecting position relative to said casing.

6. A device for perforating casing and the like, comprising a string of tubing to be lowered into a well casing, friction means carried by the string of tubing for holding said tubing vin position relative to said casing, a perforating unit carried by said string of tubing adjacent said friction means and communicating with the string of tubing and mounted to project a. stream of fluid laterally from the string of tubing against the wall of the casing, means for forcing a liquid downwardly through the string of tubing and outwardly through said perforating unit, whereby said liquid will erode an opening through the casing against which it impinges, said perforating unit including a laterally disposed nozzle, means within said perforating unit for supporting said nozzle, whereby the nozzle will be moved outi wardly from the side of the perforating unit to a projecting position relative to said casing, and means for retracting the no'zzle when fluid pressure is relieved.

7. A perforating unit adapted to be lowered into a well casing on a string of pipe, at the upper end of which fluid under pressure is delivered, said perforating unit comprising a barrel having a fluid passageway downwardly therethrough, a lateral opening in said barrel in communication with said fluid passageway, and a nozzle mounted to reciprocate within said lateral opening and through which a pressure fluid is forced.

8. A perforating unit adapted to be lowered into a well casing on a stringof pipe, at the upper end of which fluid under pressure is delivered, said perforating unit comprising a barrel having a fluid passageway downwardly therethrough, a lateral opening in said barrel in communication with said fluid passageway, a nozzle mounted to reciprocate within said lateral opening and having a passageway through which a pressure fluid is forced, and a mounting for said nozzle acting to permit reciprocaiion of the nozzle, whereby the pressure of the fluid delivered to the nozzle'will tend to force the nozzle outwardly toward the object against which its fluid jet impinges.

9. A perforating unit adapted to be lowered into a well casing on a drill string, at the upper end of which fluid under pressure is. delivered. said perforating unit comprising a barrel having a fiuidpassageway downwardly therethrough, a

vlateral opening in said barrel in communication `with said fluid passageway, a nozzle mounted to cation of the nozzle whereby the pressure of the fluid delivered to the nozzle will tend to` force the nozzle outwardlytoward the object against which its fluid jet impinges, and means for holding said nozzle in a retracted position.

l0. A perforating head for casing and the like, adapted to be mounted upon the lower end of a string of tubing and in communication therewith, the upper end of said string of tubing being in communication with a source of fluid under pressure, said `head comprising a barrel having a passageway therein in communication with the tubing, and a lateral bore therein in communication with the passageway within the barrel, closures for the opposite ends of said lateral bore, a piston reciprocating within said lateral bore, a nozzle carried by the piston and projecting through an opening in one of said closures,

' whereby when fluid is forced into the cylinder bore and through the nozzle the piston and the nczzlc will be moved longitudinally of the bore to project the end of the nozzle outwardly and toward the surface of the object to be perforated.

11. A perforating head for casing and the like. adapted to be mounted upon the lower end of a string of tubing and in communication therewith,

the upper end of said string of tubing being in communication with a source of fluid under pressure, said head comprising a barrel having a passageway therein in communication with the tubing, and a lateral bore therein in communication with the passageway within the barrel, closures for the opposite ends of said lateral bore, a piston reciprocating within said lateral bore, a nozzle carried by the piston and projecting through an opening in one of said closures, whereby when fluid is forced into the cylinder bore and through the nozzle the piston and the nozzle will be moved longitudinally of the bore 'to project the end of the nozzle outwardly and toward the surface of the object to be perforated, and means for retracting the piston and nozzle when the fluid pressure is relieved.

12. A perforating head for casing and the like, adapted to be mounted upon the lower end of a string of tubing and in communication therewith, the upper end of said string of tubing being in communication with a source of fluid under pressure, said head comprising a barrel having a passageway therein in communication with the tubing, and a lateral bore therein in communication with the passageway within the barrel, closures for the opposite ends of said lateral bore, a piston reciprocating within said lateral bore, a nozzle carried by the piston and projecting through an opening in one of said closures whereby when fluid is forced into the cylinder bore and through the nozzle the piston and the nozzle will be moved longitudinally of the bore to project the end of the nozzle outwardly and toward the surface of the object to be perforated, and spacing means on the end of the nozzle for contactingthe surface to be perforated and to hold the nozzle in spaced relation thereto whereby the flow of fluid may pass from the nozzle. y

13. A perforating unit adapted to be lowered into a well casing on a drill string, at the upper end of which fluid` under pressure is delivered, said unit including a barrel having a fluid passage extending downwardly therethrough, walls forming a lateral opening in said barrel communicating` with said Afluid passage, a piston mounted to reciprocate in said lateral opening,

and a nozzle carried by said piston and through which fluid under pressure is forced in a manner t0 move said nozzle relativo to said casina.

14. A perforating unit adapted to be lowered into awell casing on a drill string, at the upper end of which fluid under pressure is delivered, said unit including a barrel having a fluid passage extending downwardly therethrough, walls forming a lateral opening in said barrel' communicating with said fluid passage, a piston mounted in said lateral opening, a nczzle carried by said piston, and means for actuating said piston to cause said nozzle to move outwardly from said barrel and into different positions relative to said casing.

15. A perfor-ating unit adapted to be lowered into a. well casing on a string of drill pipe at the upper end of which fluid under pressure is delivered, a barrel associated with said unit having a fluid passageway in alignment with Asaid drill pipe, walls forming a lateral opening in said barrel communicating with said fluid passageway, a piston adapted to reciprocate in said lateral opening, and a nozzle carried by said piston and adapted to move outwardly from said opening under the pressure of fluid against said piston and deliver a flow of fluid against the surrounding wall of the well casing. y

16. The method of cutting casing within a Well t bore which comprises; positioning a nozzle within the casing, adjacent the place where the cut is desired, and forcing abrasive material from the top of the well through the nozzle against the tubular member extending down into the well to the area to be perforated, means for closing the lower end of the member against downward ow of liquid therethrough, and nozzles in said member opening outwardly, therefrom to direct against localized areas of the casing and adjacent formation an abrading liquid pumped downwardly within the tubular member, said nozzles having outwardly converging openings whereby the pressure head of the abrading liquid is converted to velocity head to increase the abrading action of the liquid.

19. The method of severing casing within a bore hole comprising the steps of lowering into the casing a tubing string having an outwardly directed nozzle therein, charging a circulating fluid with abrasive particles, pumping the charged fluid downwardly within the tubing string and outwardly through such nozzle to impinge upon a localized area of the casing, and rotating the tubing string so that the casing will be severed by the abrading action of the uid.

FRANK E. ONEILL.

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