US2532408A - Casing head - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 5, 1950 G. D. JQHNSON CASING HEAD Original Filed Dec. 22, 1945 mn A JIIIILIJIIII Patented Dec. 5, 1950 E'ASINGi HEAD Glenn D. Johnson, Comptpn, ,-Ga 1i;f.,,assignon,,to 'Baa'sh-Ross Tool Companwllos Angeles, Calif.,

a corporation of California Original application Decemdicr 22,vl9a3;ySerialzNfl.

515,223,. Dividedl and thgiS applicat on :DfiFfilfl- This invention relates 'to a casing head and it is ageneral object of the'inventionto provide an improved, simple, inexpensive andpractical casing head constructionj'for use on wells.

This application is adivision of my co-pending application entitled fCasing "Head',1'serial No. 5115223, filedDecem ber 22,111943, now 'Patent No. 8,!7 g an ediMay I0, "1

'A wide variety of structures'have been proposed and usedin the finishing of wells, these devices being commonly termed casing heads. In many situations it has been found desirable and practical to use certain .weldedconstructions in such situations. However, such constructions have presented certain limitations and difficulties.

It'is an object of the present invention to provide .a casing head construction particularly applicable for use where welded constructions are employed, it being a; feature of the invention to provide ,a head wherein welded joints are employed so 'that'they are most efficient, dependable, .and are accessible.

Another object of my invention is to provide improvementsin'the base construction ofa casing head. "By my present invention I provide a 'base applicable'to ,acasing head sothat it not only formsan effective support for the headbut also a tie between'the head and casing. Another feature of ,'the' base provided ;by my invention is *theconstruction whereby they'base can be effectively applied to 'thei'head without, in any way interfering with'the other parts of the head whichmust he reached.

A further obj ect' of the present invention 'is to provide improvements -in a casing"head of the character referredto-which'results in;a compact arrangement of parts and which will accommodate an'ordinary :or standard companion flange of 'a-fittin;g, or the like, that maybe applied to thehead. *Heretoforein welded head constructionsit has "been rcommon-"to ,employ arrangements and combinations ;of parts which ,made special companionflanges necessary on :parts to be attached to'the head.

:The various objects and features of my invention will be'fully'understood from thejfollowing detailed description ,ofa typical preferred form thereof, throughout which description reference is made to the laccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view-of al head construction embodying the present invention, the parts shown at 'theleft of the figure being :in section and those rat, the right of the figure beinglin elevation. Fig.3 is a ,perspective View of the shoulder for the inner -casing,.,-,showing it ,indet l e dl .wnne q w h't body l9. an a ingjl shonlder-means lffl adapted tozbea plied toan inner casing M arranged through the bod aus qrt i i' a fi e f heb v' 'tq 1 p s ou der 713 pa kina een T f e ing' betweenthe inner casing- 41 "and there-body and various other featuresthe details of which will 'bejhereinafterdescribed.

:T bod .15 ,iedapte i' b secure ath upper end offthe casing l-ljto project slightly ahovegthe casing and in 'its'preferred form it has a n la tip fden ndm s v ion 1 whichis tubular in form and dependsdownwardly to receivefthe upper end portion pithe casingfll Th t t ighfly a -th ca n 'xeferi ta di ta ls b' a ti llv h wnj h i wm aSffiisfiljlglliShfid fibm aninfinite distance such as might be represented by -a pipe-pr like structure. A bore or; cavity -l8 extends "downwardly into -the body from its upperend {to accommodate otherparts, -as-will be hereinaftendescribed. "The cavity 18 terminates ina-;s eat "[9 which carries the support I 5,; A hange -20 1's :provided, at "the upper-end -of 1the bod-y-to proiect radially beyond the other gparts andfto serveas apmeansgwhereby t ir s: sa fz e, ouple w th, other. a -tslb ffl ting i h tima be an i d fih f ead he bod haspne rm reifl i d Q lDQQF QB YTZ' jlpcagtflilmmediatelyfbelpwtheffihll fii' fl an communc tio warri helca ity i sk T-. 3 l9W@ T,113m i thab q $1. has alib re,.,2.2g .,to receive HD1281. end por on oifth o ten well asin fil The bore terminates in,,a,1 i1 'b es e quld rrzs ,whichFl mits t e ns tion ,o fthe jlcaslng jinto .th s irt. ,Incaccordan elWii h the sentinventi nl l mn o lw l in to join ,or., connect thc ,body 10 e and casing ill ndcas aiie ture of t e-m nt ml emmo ltw en r l indepe dentea s we oelgb -Q wh vhl xienden ine. r n theeonne ed'n r and .each,,of .whicbdis andpf itself aa secure, dep nded lcon eefii semeem .Qne. of,the; welded connections is an extenior weld and is provided at 24 and joins the lowe end it ejsh rtl r sleeved w hithflfififiliifillhp th well casing II. It will be seen from the drawings that the lower end of the sleeve i7 is fully exposed at the exterior of the head so it can be readily reached with standard welding equipment. The other welded connection is an interior weld and is provided at '25 between the upper end of the well casing ii and the interior of the skirt l1. Both welds extend continuously and entirely around the casing and skirt.

In accordance with my invention I form the skirt ll so that it has a thin or light wall. It is preferred to form it so that its wall is about equal in thickness to that of the casing II. This proportioning of the skirt ll is important as it greatly facilitates the obtaining of proper welds 24 and 25. Heretofore, in constructions of this general character, attempts have been made to weld casing to bodies or heads of substantial mass and the results have not been altogether satisfactory. Parts such as a casing heador body are usuallymade. of materials that do not lend themselves readily to welding, and if an attempt is made to weld a thin-walled part to a thick-walled body the welding dlificulties are aggravated. By providing a thin-walledskirt H I am able to obtain dependable and satisfactory welds 24 and 25.

It is preferred, in practice, to provide one or more openings 2e in the skirt ii to communicate with the bore 22 between the welds 24 and 25 so that tests can be made to determine whether or not the welds are tight. Tests can be made at any time through the openings 2'6 and if necessary suitable plastic packing can be inserted through the openings 26 to seal between skirt ll and well casing H to eliminate any slight leakage that may occur should the welds prove defective. To facilitate the application of packing an annular channel 2? may be provided between the skirt and casing to carry packing.

The base i2 provided by my invention is in the nature of an attachment to be applied to the other parts and may or may not be used as circumstances-require. invention "is the fact that the base is a simple construction readily applicable to the other parts andwhen applied serves as an efiective tie between the body H) and easing ll.

1 In its preferred form the base l2 includes a base plate 30 which may be a flat member arranged around the casing l I and designed to rest on the floor of the cellar or on any other suitable support. The plate has a central annular por tionthe opening of which passes the casing H. I prefer to fit the central annular portion of the base plate 36 closely around the casing H and to provide said portion of the plate with a top or upper (and suitable for the reception of welds 3i between the base plate and the casing ll. Throughthis, construction the base'plate 30 is independently and eilectively joined with 'the casing ii at the desired point; I further provide upstanding ribs 32 on the peripheral portion of the base plate 30 which projects radially from the central annular portion and which may be thinner than the central annular portion as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The ribs are designed to engage under overhanging or downwardly facing parts of the body Ill and their upper ends are joined with such parts by welding 33. In the particular construction illustratedsome of the ribs 32 engage under the flange 20 and are welded thereto while others engage under the flanges 2| and are welded thereto.

Inaccordance with my present invention the A feature of'the present 4- ribs 32 are spaced outwardly from the skirt ll of the body it leaving a substantial space 70 between adjacent ribs and the skirt. This construction allows free access entirely around the skirt ii to facilitate convenient welding of the lower end of the skirt to the casing H.

In practice the base construction hereinabove described can be welded to the body 56 in a shop when it is known that the base is desired, in which case the welds 3i are the only operations required at the well, or, if convenient, the body iii and base 52 can be handled as separate parts and the welds 3i and 33 can both be made at the well.

The shoulder means i3 is normally located within the body it? and is an element which is secured to the inner casing it. The shoulder means it is preferably in the form of a split ring having two sections A and B. The sections A and B are divided longitudinally of the head and form halves of an annular shoulder to be engaged around the casing i l. I prefer to se cure the sections A and B in assembled position through welding. In practice I provide an upwardly projecting flange 35 on the means 53 to be welded to the exterior of the casing it. The upper edge of the flange is preferably collapsed to materially lengthen the welded connection and thereby add to its strength.

The shoulder means i3 is fixed on the inner casing i i so that when the casing is is in the desired'vertical position in the body ii"; it is located at or in a position to be supported by the support it carried on'the seat id. The shoulder means it is proportioned to freely pass through the body it and it may also be made to pass I through the'casing ii if desired. The exterior or outer face of the shoulder means its is tapered to cooperate with the support it. As shown in the drawings the exterior of the shoulder is is tapered downwardly and inwardly.

The support it is provided to carry the shoulder means l3 and is in the form of an annular ring designed to rest on the seat is in the body and its bore or inner surface 37 is tapered to correspond to the surface 36 of the shoulder and is adapted to receive the shoulder.

The means i5 may be a split ring construction to facilitate insertion into or removal from opcrating position in the body around parts arranged in the body. In the case illustrated the seat it is shown downwardly and inwardly tapered and, therefore, the exterior of the support l5 has a downwardly and inwardly tapered part 36 designed to fit the seat iii.

Longitudinal channels it are formed in the inner portion of the support it and similar channels ii are formed in the exterior of the shoulder The channels til and il'are made of. sufficient circumferential extent and are made deep enough so that the shoulder l3 can be rotatively positioned with refe ence to the support it, so that the shoulder can be passed through the support. When the shoulder and support are rotatively related, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the exterior faces 35 of the shoulder will rest on the interior faces 3? of the support, but the parts can be rotated to a position where the faces 38 and M will not register but rather the channels it and M will allow free passage of the shoulder through the support. It is'to be noted that whenthe surfaces 36 and 3? of'the shoulder and support are fully engaged the channels M3 and ll register or are in corresponding rotative positions so 'that"there are vertical shoulder and support, so that fluid from the H (itti'r 'pass *tl'pward-ly through the struct'iire -andr ly dischairge f-rom the body H3 th-roii gh the fluid conneetions fl, openings 43 of which'open i-nto the cavity' lB at apoint above me-seael e' which oariiesf the support l5.

stock meanshormall olds-the shoulder- 3 against --r otation relative o the support l 5 such 'a'sywould disengage-thesurfaces-3B and 3l. The lock means may immae-oneer more arms 45 projecting-radially from the shoulder l3 to en'- gage-between lugs 46projecting-upwardly from the support 15.

throngs-the sup-part. When it is desired move'theshoulderthrough the support the arms 45 are removed by disengaging the screws 41.

The packingmeans"liiinayinclude a plate 53 designed to rest on the inner peripheral portion of the body flange as having an opening 5| receiving the upper end of the casing M. A recess 52 is provided in t-he plate 5| to "carry packing and a port 54 extends from the recess 52 to-the marginal portion of the plateillso thata test canbe made to determine whether or not the packing inthe recess is leaking or so that plastic packing material can beinserted if desired.

In- =the 'caseillustrated spaced bodies of packing 55'-are carried in the recess at either side of a spindle ring fit and a gland 5lis carried-by the plate operable by screws 58 to compress the packing in the recess 52. It 'is"toben'oted that the plate 58 'is shaped so that it extends downwardly into the "cavity l8 in the -bodyflll and that-the various parts just described are arranged and related so that they are all confined between the upper and lower extremities of the plate 5i].

The plate 50 is preferably sealed to the body Ii) by a sealing ring 59 arranged between the plate and the top of the flange 20. In a similar manner the upper end of the plate 50 may be sealed to the flange 60 of a fitting applied to the head through a sealing ring 6!, as shown in Fig. 1.

In practice various fittings or attachments may be applied to the head. In the drawings I have shown a typical fitting applied to the head and including the companion flange 60 which is adapted to be secured to the flange 2d of the body H] by bolts 65. Particular attention is called to the fact that the companion flange 60 is a plain, straight flange and that the construction which I have provided makes it unnecessary to recess or specially form the flange Gil to accommodate other parts.

In practice the body I is applied to the casing I I through the exterior and interior welds 24 and 25 and, if desired, the base I2 is applied to the body and to the casing II. The support 1 is arranged in the body It and the shoulder I3 is assembled around the upper end portion of the casing l4, and is then welded at the desired point along the casing M. The casing i4 is trimmed or cut so that a suitable length thereof projects above the shoulder I3 to receive the packing means l6.

During normal operation the faces 36 and 31 of the shoulder and support are in cooperative engagement and the lock means hold the parts in that position. Fluid from the casing II is ne ro 'fiow'ulb through the registering channels loans 4 todischar'ge through thefluid conh'edtions-H. The packing means id is held in place in connection with the body it by means of the bolts as which clamp theflange toward thefiange 20, the plate 58 being clamped between the flanges and the packin-gs- 59 and ti serving to-preventleakag-e between the plate stand the flanges. The packing means it is made tight around the-upper or projectingend-oi the casing H and serves to prevent lealrage between the casing andthe plate.

Whenit is desired to disengage the inner casing 'fromthe head or body ill for any reason, as for instance, when the well-is being dismantled, a spear or other tool may be inserted in the upper 'end-portion of theinner casing i i and the arms '45 beingremov'ed the shoulder is can be lifted slightly from'thesupport l5 whereupon the support can be freely rota-ted so that the surfaces 36 an'd 3T aredisengag-ed and the channels 'and ll -positioned to-allow the shoulder 53 to pass through the support 15. This operation can be performed either to allow the casing id to belowered in the head or to allow the body Iii to be lifted up oil? the casing l4.

"Having described only a typical preferred form of my invention, I do not wish to be limited'or restrio'tedto the specific details herein set'forth, but to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled 'in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

-Having described my invention, I claim:

51. .A head applicable to a well casing including, a base plate witha casing opening, atubular body spaced above the plate and including a sleeve portion directly over the casing opening, theupper. end-of the casing extending upwardly through the opening in the plate, the lower end of the sleeve portion being fully exposed at the exterior of the head and being a substantial distance above the plate for the reception of a weld to weld the sleeve portion on the casing, and means spaced from the lower end of the sleeve connecting the plate and body.

2. A head applicable to a well casing including, a base plate with a casing opening, a tubular body spaced above the base plate and including a sleeve portion directl over the casing opening in the plate and enga-geable over the end of the casing, the upper end of the casing extending upwardly through the opening in the plate, the lower end of the sleeve portion being fully exposed at the exterior of the head and being a substantial distance above the plate for reception of Welding entirely around the casing engaged in the sleeve, and means connecting the base and body including ribs spaced from the lower end portion of the sleeve.

3. A head applicable to a well casing including, a base with a casing opening, a tubular body supported above the base and including a sleeve portion directl over the casing opening in the plate and engageable over the end of the casing, the upper end of the casing extending upwardly through the opening in the plate, the lower end of the sleeve portion being fully exposed at the exterior of the head a substantial distance above the plate, welding material joining the lower end of the sleeve portion to the casing, the base being spaced from the body by connecting ribs and having an edge spaced from the sleeve and spaced below the lower end of the body engageable with the casing for reception of welding on the casing.

4. A head applicable to a well casing including, a base plate with a casing opening, a tubular body spaced above the base plate and including a depending sleeve portion directly over the casing opening in the plate and engageable over the end of a casing, the upper end of the casiilg extendin upwardly through the opening in the plate, the lower end of the sleeve portion being fully exposed at the exterior of the head and being a substantial distance above the plate for reception of welding to weld the sleeve portion on the casing, and means connecting the base and body including vertically disposed ribs spaced apart circumferentially of the head and spaced radially from the casing and the said end of the sleeve.

5. In combination twoelements, one a tubular body applicable to the upper end portion of a casing and having a downwardly facing portion fully exposed at the exterior of the body for welding to the casing, the other a base plate having a casing opening and engageable around the casing at a point spaced below the body, one element having vertical ribs projecting to the other element, and welding material joining the elements spaced one from the other.

6. A head applicable to a well casing including, a base plate with a casing opening, a tubular body spaced above the plate and including a sleeve portion directly over the casing opening in the plate and engageable over the end of a casing, the upper end of the casing extending upwardly through the openin in the plate, the lower end of the sleeve portion being fully exposed at the exterior f the head a substantial distance above the plate for welding to the casing, and means connecting the base and body including vertical ribs projecting upwardly from the base and welded to the body and spaced from the casing and from the lower end portion of sleeve. e

'7. A head applicable to a well casing including, a base plate with a casing opening, a tubular body spaced above the plate and having a sleeve portion directly over the casing opening in the plate and engageable over the end portion of the casing, the upper end of the casing extending upwardly through the opening in the plate, the

the

lower end of the sleeve portion being fully ex-' REFERENCES CITED 'lhe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Bouslog June 12, 1934 Yancey July 9, 1940 Minor Apr. 8, 1941 Putnam June 24, 1941 Minor June 2, 1942 Leman Sept. 5, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Nov. 5, 1945 Number Johnson Apr. 30, .918

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