US2464713A - Packer for wells - Google Patents

Description

March 15, 194v. A. J. PENI'CK 2,464,713

PACKER FOR WELLS Filed Oct. 5, 1944 s Shets$heet 1 Filed Oct. 5, 1944 March 15, 1949. 3 J. PENiCK 2,464,713

Q 'PACKER FOR WELLS 3 SheetsSheet 2 gvwmm March 15, 1949. A, J. PENICK PACKER FOR WELLS s Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed OCT,- 5, 1944 Patented Mar. 15, 1949 PACKER FOR WELLS Arthur J. Penick, Houston, Tex, assignor to Oil Center 'Tool Company, Houston, 'Tex., a corporation of'Texas Application October 5, 1944, Serial No. 557,324

8 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to a packer for wells.

Anobject 'ofthe invention'is to provide a packer 'for forming -a-seal between an outer pipe and-an inner-pipe in a well bore and which embodies a sleeve iik'epackin'g element formed of lead or similar soft material with novel means for causing'a'n effective expansion of the sleeve so as to form an effective seal between the sleeve and the outer pipe.

'Theiinvention' also embodies novel construction whereby the expansive .force .on the sleeve may be relieved to permit contraction of the sleeve should it be desired to release and remove the packer;

The invention embodies upper and lower telescoping sections connected into the inner pipe forming a packer body with .means for anchoring the lower section to the outer pipe, said anc'horing means including wedge shaped slips and a' slip expander with novel means for maintaining the slips in inactive position so that the slips cannot be prematurely expanded and engaged with the outer pipe until the packer has been lowered to the selected place where it is to be set.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particular relation to-ceitain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which isgiven in thi'sspeci'fication and illustrated in the accompany'ing drawings, wherein- Eigure l shows a side elevation of the upper portion of the packer shown partly in section with the packer .sleeve collapsed Figure 2 shows a side view, partly in section, of .an intermediate portion thereof.

Figure 3 shows a side view, partly in section, of the lower end'thereof.

Figures shows a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 shows a cross sectional view taken on the" line 55 of' Figure 2.

Figure 6 shows a side e'levat'ional view of the complet'epacker'showing the packer sleeve expanded;

Figure? shows a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of the packer body and the packer sleeve 'thBIG'Oh' in collapsed position.

Figure-8 shows a similar view showing the packer-"sleeve expanded;

Figure 9 shows a fragmentary, vertical, sectiorial view taken on the'linetfl-B of Figure '2.

'Figurefio' shows" an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevation: and

Figure 11" shows a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view showing the expansible'v sleeve and packer body in the position that it will occupy when the sleeve has been released preparatory to withdrawing the packer.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate the same parts in each of the figures, the numeral 1 designates an outer casing set in a well and the numeral 2 designates the inner pipe.

end of the lower, tubular section 4 forming part of the body. Around this body there is a packer sleeve 5 formed of lead or other soft material whose upper end is dovetailed into the upper section 3 and. whose lower end is dovetailed into the lower section d as .shown more accurately in Figure '7. The upper end of the section 4 is tapered upwardly, forming an expander 4a which fits within the lower end of the sleeve 5.

Embedded within the sleeve 5 there are the upper and lower rings 6 and l. The upper and lower margins of the rings 6 and l are tapered to thin edges as shown in Figures 7 and 8. These rings are formed of steel or other similar material and they are provided with perforations as 8 and 9 so that the material of the packer sleeve 5 may be molded therethrough. When the sleeve 5 is subjected to endwise compression, as hereinafter explained, to expand the same the rings 6 and 1 will cause a more uniform expansion of the packer'sleeve all the way around so as to cause the maximum contact of the external area thereof against the outer pipe as shown in Figure 4 and they will also cause the packer sleeve to maintain close contact with the external area of the body section 3 to prevent leakage between the sleeve 5 and the body section 3. As clearly shown in Figures 7, 8 and 11 the external surface of the body section 3, within the packer sleeve 5 is tapered downwardly thus forming an expander. The taper, however, is not a straight taper but rather a stepped taper as shown in said Figures 7 and 8; that is, the external surface of said expanderhas the taperin faces In with the straight faces I-l between them, the circumference of said faces decreasing from above downwardly as shown. It has been found in actual practice that this form of expander will be moreeffective' in expanding the packer sleeve and will allow the expander to be. more readily released from. the pac'kers'lieeve when the same is pulled upwardly to release and remove the packer. The inside of the packer sleeve is correspondingly shaped, or stepped, so as to conform with the shape of and closely fit around the expander which it surrounds.

The lower portion of the upper section 3 of the packer body is cylindrical in shape and extends beneath the lower end of the lower section 4 of said packer body. Screwed onto the lower end of said upper section 3 there is an external collar i2 of a transverse diameter to engage the lower end of the lower section 4, as shown in Figure 1, upon upward movement of the upper section relative to the lower section so as to prevent their complete separation.

When the packer body and sleeve are asembled to be lowered into the well as shown in Figure 1 the upper and lower sections are pinned together by means of a frangible pin I3 as shown in Figure 1 so that the packer sleeve will not be liable to be prematurely expanded while the packer is being lowered. The lower end of the section 4 has an inside vertical keyway I4 extending to its lower end and the section 3 has an external spline, or key I5 which fits into said keyway so that the sections will be keyed together against independent rotation but this will allow the upper section 3 to move downwardly independent of the lower section 4 to expand the packing sleeve in the manner hereinafter explained.

The bottom end 2a of the inner string is screwed onto the lower end of the lower body section 4 and extends on down into the well as more clearly shown in Figure 6. This lower end 2a of the inner string has a downwardly tapering slip expander I6 formed thereon and around this slip expander are a plurality of wedge shaped slips I! as shown in Figures 2, 4 and 6. The outer surfaces of slips have the downwardly pitched circumferential teeth I8 to engage the outer pipe, when the slips are expanded, as shown in Figure 6. Their inner surfaces are curved to approximate the outside curvature of the expander I6. The slips have the dovetailed grooves I9 leading from their lower ends upwardly and set screws 26 are threaded into the expander I6 and they extend outwardly through said grooves and have enlarged heads in the grooves to retain the slips assembled about the expander I6.

Around the lower end 2a of the inner pipe are the upper and lower sleeves 2|, 22 to which the upper and lower ends of the outwardly bowed wiper springs 23 are secured. Between the upper and lower sleeves 2| and 22 there is a supporting ban-d 24 which surrounds the pipe 2a and between this band and the springs 23 are the coil springs 25 which reinforce the wiper springs 23,

The upper end of the sleeve 2! has a swivelling connection with a coupling 26. This coupling surrounds the lower pipe 2a and is provided with the inverted T slots 21. The lower ends of the slips I l are formed with the depending T shaped arms 28 which fit loosely into the slots 2'! and surrounding the coupling 26 there is a retainer band 29 whose lower end may be welded to the coupling 26. In assembly the slips Il may be first mounted in the coupling 26 and the band 29 then welded in place before the slip assembly is passed upwardly over the pipe 2a and the coupling 26 may be formed of two half round sections and assembled with the sleeve 2| before the band 29 is fitted thereover and welded thereto. When theslips I! are mounted as hereinbefore explained they will have the required freedom of movement so that they may be moved outwardly by the expander I6 as said expander is lowered relative thereto.

The lower end of the sleeve 22 is extended downwardly and formed with a transverse J-slot 39 terminating in a downwardly extended notch 3| and the lower pipe 2:; has an outwardly extended stud 32 which may be attached to said pipe in any preferred manner as by threading it into the pipe. When the packer is assembled to be lowered down into the well the stud 32 is seated in the notch 3I and this will hold the slips IT in their lower position relative to the expander l6. As the packer is lowered the outwardly bowed springs 23 will be in frictional engagement with the inside of the casing I as shown in Figure 6. When the point has been reached where it is desired to set the packer the pipe 2 may be slight- 1y elevated to unseat the stud 32 from the notch 3| and then turned to the left. The sections 3 and 4 being keyed together the lower pipe 2a will be caused to turn to carry the stud 32 out of the J-slot 30 and the pipe 2 may then be lowered carrying the expander I6 downwardly with it. The springs 23, however, will hold the slip assembly stationary and the expander I6 will expand the slips into engagement with the casing I as shown in Figure 6 and upon further downward movement of the pipe 2 the expander section 3 will move downwardly relative to section 4 of the packer body thus exerting endwise compressive force on the packer sleeve 5 and expanding it outwardly into contact with the casing I as shown in Figures 6 and 8 as well as inwardly intosealing relationship with the expander section 3 thus forming a fluid tight seal between the outer casing I and the inner pipe 2.

The numerals 33 designate tie bars whose ends are countersunk into the respective upper and lower sleeves 2!, 22. The upper ends of these tie bars are securely fastened to the sleeve 2I but their lower ends have the vertical slots 34 with the rivets 35 passing therethrough and fastened to the sleeve 22 as shown more clearly in Figures 9 and 10. In lowering the packer into a deep well the friction of the wiper springs 23 against the casing sometimes causes said springs to wear in two and were it not for the tie bars 33, in such event, the expander I6 would move on down relative to the slips and prematurely set the slips. The inside diameter of the casing is not always uniform so that the bow springs 23 should be free to bend or flex in accordance with the contour of said casing and the slots 34 have been provided to permit this.

When compression is applied to the sleeve 5 to expand the same the metal will flow each way between the inner pipe and outer pipe. This is indicated in Figure 8. It has been found that by knurling, or roughening, the outer surface of the packer body adjacent the upper and lower ends of the packer sleeve that this flow will be retarded. Accordingly the knurled areas 36 and 37, around the external surfaces of the sections 3 and 4, of the body, have been provided as shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 6. These areas retard the longitudinal flow of the metal in the packer sleeve so that there will not be any con-, siderable loss, at least not suificient to prevent the formation of an effective seal. Without this roughened surface it has been found that the soft metal will flow an indefinite distance upwardly and downwardly between the outer pipe and innerpipe thus materially reducing the sealing effect of the packer sleeve 5. i

Should it be desired to withdraw the packer from the well the pipe 2 may be pulled upwardly and the expanding position of the body section 3 will be withdrawn upwardly relative to the sleeve 5 assuming the position shown in Figure 11. This will allow the sleeve to contract and the collar l2 will engage the lower end of the body section 4 and the entire assembly may be withdrawn or relocated. By elevating the inner pipe to bring the stud 32 into alignment with th J-slot 30 and then turning it to the right the stud 32 may be again seated in a notch 3| and the packer may then be relocated and reset as before.

What I claim is:

1. In a packer for wells a tubular packer body formed of telescoping sections which are longitudinally movable relative to each other, a packer sleeve around the body formed of soft metal, such as lead, means on said sections for applying endwise compressive force to the packer, and a hard metal ring embedded in said sleeve whose upper and lower margins are tapered to sharp edges to cause expansion of the sleeve upon application of endwise compressive force to the sleeve.

2. In a packer for wells a tubular packer body formed of telescoping sections which are longitudinally movable relative to each other, a packer sleeve around the body formed of soft metal, such as lead, and a perforated hard metal band-like ring embedded in said sleeve and whose margins are tapered and formed into annular edges to cause the sleeve to expand upon application of endwise compressive force to the sleeve, and means on the body to apply such force upon ap propriate longitudinal movement of the sections relative to each other.

3. In a packer for wells a tubular packer body formed of relatively movable, telescoping sections, a packer sleeve around said body formed of soft metal, a plurality of hard metal rings embedded in, and completely enclosed by, said sleeve and spaced apart and whose margins are formed into sharp, annular, edges and means on the sections for applying an endwise compressive force to the sleeve to expand it upon movement of the sections toward each other.

4. In a packer for wells, a tubular packer body formed of relatively movable, telescoping sections, a packer sleeve around the sections of said body and formed of soft metal, the external surface of one of said sections being formed of alternately arranged annular tapering faces and annular cylindrical faces, between the tapering faces said faces being closely surrounded by the packer sleeve, and means on the sections for applying endwise compressive force to the sleeve to exmind it upon movement of the sections toward each other.

5. In a packer for wells, a tubular packer body formed of relatively movable, telescoping sections, a packer sleeve around said body formed of soft metal, the external surface of one of said sections within the sleeve being formed of alternately arranged annular tapering faces and annular cylindrical faces, between the tapering faces, said faces being reduced in diameter from above downwardly and means on the body for applying endwise compressive force to the sleeve to expand the sleeve.

6, In a packer for wells, having a packer body and supporting means including casing engaging slips for supporting the body in the casing; a slip support to which the slips are connected and comprising, upper and lower sleeves, outwardly bowed springs whose ends are connected to said sleeves, tie bars attached, at one end, to one of the sleeves and having slip joint connections with the other sleeve.

7. In a packer for wells, having a packer body and supporting means including casing engaging slips for supporting the body in the casing; a slip support to which the slips are connected and comprising, upper and lower sleeves, outwardly bowed springs whose ends are connected to said sleeves, tie bars attached, at one end, to one of the sleeves and having slip joint connections with the other sleeve, an annular supporting band between the sleeves and resilient members between said band and said springs.

8. In a packer for Wells, a tubular packer body formed of telescoping sections which are axially movable relative to each other, a packer sleeve around the sections of said body and whose ends have dovetailed connections with the respective sections, said sleeve being formed of soft metal, the external surface of one of said sections being formed of alternately arranged tapering faces and annular cylindrical faces between the tapering faces, said faces being closely surrounded by the packer sleeve, upper and lower rings of rigid material embedded within the sleeve, said rings being provided with perforations spaced about therearound so that the material of the packer sleeve may be molded therethrough, the upper and lower margins of the rings being tapered to thin edges whereby to expand the sleeve uniformly all the way around when the sleeve is subjected to an endwise compressive force, the dovetailed connections of the sleeve with the sections forming means for subjecting said sleeve to an endwise compressive force when the sections are moved axially relative to each other.

ARTHUR J. PENICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 218,282 La Foy et al. Aug. 5, 1879 1,173,387 Robinson Feb. 29, 1916 1,994,816 Gray et al Mar. 19, 1935 2,075,947 Kennedy Apr. 6, 1937 2,137,997 Bendeler Nov. 29, 1938 2,160,804 Hall et a1 May 30, 1939

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