US3319719A

US3319719A - Cam biased well anchor with detachable setting means

Info

Publication number: US3319719A
Application number: US375613A
Authority: US
Inventors: Perry J Decuir
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-06-16
Filing date: 1964-06-16
Publication date: 1967-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-16

Description

May 16, 1967 Filed June 16, 1964 P. J. DECUlR Pff CAM BIASED WELL ANCHOR WITH DETACHABLE SETTlNG MEANS 7 Sheets-Sheet l 1 maa@ a a as;

P19/ry c U/r INVENTOR.

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` A from/E VJ P. J. DECUIR May 16, 1967 CAM BIASED WELL ANCHOR WITH DETACHABLE SETTING MEANS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 16, 1964 R T m Cm m ew r MA d. my m P .Mgww y n F. J. DECUIR May 1s, 1967 CAM BIASED WELL ANCHOR WITH DETACHABLE SETTING MEANS Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 16, 1964 INVENTOR.

May 16, 1967 P. 1. DECUIR 331997@ CAM BIASED WELL ANCHOR WITH DETACHABLE SETTING MEANS Filed June 16, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 16, i967 P. .1. DECUIR 3,339,739

CAM BASED WELL ANCHOR WITH DETCHABLE SETTING MEANS Filed June 16, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 lgjll@ P. J. DECUIR May 16, 1967 CAM BIASED WELL ANCHOR WITH DETACHABLE SETTTNG MEANS 7 Sheets-Sheet e Filed June 16, 1964 May 16, 1967 P. J. DECUIR 3,319,719

CAM BIASED WELL ANCHOR WITH DETACHABLE SETTING MEANS Filed June 16, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 New Iberia, lLa. 7056) Filed June 16, 1964, Ser. No. 375,613 22 Claims. (Cl. 1166-217) This application is a continuation-in-part of two of my earlier tiled copending United States applications, the first entitled, Releasable Anchoring Device for Use in Well Pipes, filed Feb. 24, 1964, with Ser. No. 347,651, and now abandoned; and the second entitled, Well Tool, filed Apr. l, 1963, with Ser. No. 269,429, and now abandoned; both of which are continuing applications of an application entitled, Releasable Anchoring Device for Use in Well Pipes, tiled Aug. 22, 1960, and bearing Ser. No. 51,094, which is abandoned.

This invention relates to well tools and more particularly to a retrievabie well tool or anchor and a well setting tool or anchor carrier to be used in combination with the anchor and for securing the latter in a well. Specically, the invention relates to the novel arrangement of the parts within the anchor carrier and the anchor and the novel combination of the anchor carrier and the anchor whereby the anchor can be securely and retrievably anchored in a well.

Heretofore, there has been a need for a well tool which could be easily anchored in a well and conveniently thereafter retrieved. There has been a need for an anchor setting tool or anchor carrier which could easily and conveniently thereafter be removed. There has also been a need for an anchor setting tool or anchor carrier which could easily and conveniently set the anchor in the casing in a secure fashion, and if not secure, would show indications of an insecure setting immediately upon inspection. None of the prior art has provided these needs to the extent of the invention herein.

It is an object of this invention to provide a well anchor tool which has a simplicity of parts and which can be easily and securely anchored in a well casing and thereafter be readily removed therefrom.

It is another object of this invention to provide a well setting tool or anchor carrier for use in combination with an anchor, which carrier is arranged with a simplicity of parts and provides means whereby the operator can readily determine whether or not the anchor has been securely set.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a combination well tool comprising an anchor and an anchor carrier, which combination permits the operator thereof to easily and conveniently set the anchor in the well casing.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide anchoring mechanism for use in well pipes or tubing which may be anchored or released at a desired location solely by raising and lowering movements of the apparatus in the pipe or tubing.

These and other objectives of this invention will become apparent from the description of my invention by reference to the drawings wherein the same numerals refer to corresponding parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, partially in central vertical section, showing the well tool comprising the anchor carrier and the anchor secured together as a unit as they would appear after having been let in or lowered in a well casing to the desired depth.

FIG. 2 is a View similar to FIG. 1, but shows the well tool just prior to the setting of the anchor in the well casing.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but shows the anchor secured in the well casing after released by the anchor tice carrier but before the anchor carrier has been removed from the well casing.

FIG. 4A is an enlarged View of the anchor carrier as seen in FIG. 1, prior to the setting of the anchor.

FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of the anchor as seen in FIG. 1, prior to the setting thereof.

FIG. 5 is a View taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4A and shows the trigger assembly in greater detail.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view, partially in central ver tical section, showing another embodiment for the anchor,

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, cross-sectional View, on a reduced scale, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention and showing the relative positions of the parts of the mechanism during the insertion of the same in the well pipe or tubing;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7 showing the relative positions of the parts during a preliminary stage of the setting or anchoring operation of the mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7 showing the mechanism of the invention in another stage of the anchoring operation;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7 showing the mechanism achored in the well pipe and with the parts by which the setting of the mechanism is accomplished removed therefrom;

FIG. 1l is a view similar to that of FIG. 7, showing the means by which the anchoring mechanism is released from the well, the parts being shown in a preliminary stage of the releasing operation;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7, showing the mechanism as illustrated in FIG. 11, the parts being shown in their relative positions at the close of the releasing operation preparatory to the removal of the mechanism from the well pipe;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are fragmentary side elevational views, partly broken away and partly in cross-section, showing details of the invention, the parts being shown in the relative positions which they occupy at a preliminary stage of the anchorings of the mechanism in the well pipe, FIG. 13B being a downward continuation of FIG. 13A;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary side elevational view, similar to those of FIGS. 13A and 13B, showing a portion of the mechanism in a stage of the setting of the same somewhat later than the stage illustrated in FIGS. 13A and 13B;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 15-15 of FIG. 13A, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional View, taken along the line 16-16 of FIG. 13B, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 17- 17 of FIG. 13B, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is generally shown an embodiment of the invention where there is illustrated well casing 11 with a pipe joint 12 connected to adjoining pipe joints 13 by collars 14, thus forming annular recesses 16 which may be referred to singularly as a collar annulus from time to time.

The anchor carrier or anchor setting tool is comprised of a tubular support member and a cylindrical mandrel therein. The support member is formed by tube 17 having upper internal threads 18 and lower internal threads 19. Upper internal threads 18 en-gage the lower portion of head member 21 which is provided with an upper portion 22 for securing to a wire line or the like for letting the anchor carrier into and removing from the well, with the details of such letting in means not shown but are of conventional design.

Lower internal threads 19 are secured to base member 23 by connecting portion 24 having an upward abutment or spring seat 26. Base mem-ber 23 has a downward abutment or a-butting face 27, provided with an axial opening through which cylindrical connecting rod 28 projects.

Connectin-g rod 28 is part of the cylindrical mandrel and is provided at its lower end with locking groove 29 and at its upper end with connecting rod threads 31 to which is secured trigger block 32. Trigger block 32 is provided with a downward abutment or spring abutment 33 thus forming circumferential space 34 between spring seat 26, spring abutment 33, the external surface of connecting rod 28 and the internal surface of tube 17.

Expandable means in the form of either a compressible expansion means, a powder charge, or preferably a compression spring 36 is mounted in circumferential space 34 for urging the support member and the mandrel in opposite direction upon release of the expandable means.

Trigger means for releasing the expandable means at a predetermined time are provided in the form of a trigger assembly mounted in trigger Ablock 32. The trigger assembly comprises trigger arm 37 having a lower lug 38 and an upper lug 39. Lower lu-g 38 when in its lower or cocked position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4A, engages a pair of trigger locking balls 41, pressing them radially outward into the tube locking recesses 42 provided in tube 17, as best seen in FIG. 5. Trigger locking balls 41 are mounted in trigger block ball grooves 43 provided in trigger block 32.

The upper lug 39 of the trigger assembly is arranged to contact with a sensing means conveniently shown in the form of a rigid projecting member or collar pawl 44 pivotally mounted on trigger block 32 4by pivot pin 50 and provided with a pawl cam 46 for engaging upper lug 39, and with a pawl point 47 projectin-g through pawl slot 48 provided in tube 17, contacting well casing 11 and engaging collar annulus 16. A small clothespin-type spring (not shown) is secured around pivot pin 50, with one end contacting tube 17 and the other end secured to collar pawl 44, thus urging collar pawl very lightly in a counter-clockwise position is viewed in FIG. 4A. Thus, pawl cam 46 is urged very lightly into contact with upper lug 39, but not with sufficient force to trip the trigger assembly, which is secured by the resistance of trigger locking balls 41 against lower lug 38.

It will be observed that the cylindrical mandrel is telescopically mounted in the support member for relative movement therein within defined limits since base member 23 limits the mandrel movement downward and thereby secures the support member and the mandrel together so that they may be lowered in a well casing as a unit and not become accidentally parted. Thus, the foregoing generally describes the structure of the anchor setting tool.

The preferred form of the anchor is seen in FIGS. l, 2, 3 and 5. The anchor generally is formed with an internal tube and an external tube telescopically mounted thereon for relative movement therebetween within defined limits. The internal tube is formed by a hollow internal cylinder 49 which is provided with external threads 51 at its lower end, to which is secured anchor base member 52, which member may be designed for attachment to any tool which is to be secured in the well by the anchor and may be hollow to provide a fluid flow therethrough, if desired. It will be observed that anchor base member S2 is larger in diameter than the internal cylinder 49 and thus provides the internal tube with an enlarged lower portion. The upper end of anchor 'base member 52 is provided with inclined abutment 53 and annular setting groove 54.

The upper end of internal cylinder 49 is provided with external ange 56, and just below that, internal cylinder ball recesses 57 are formed radially therethrough and internal cylinder locking balls 58 are positioned for radial movement therein.

The external tube of the anchor is formed by a hollow external cylinder 59, which is provided with external cylinder threads 61. Setting means are carried by or attached to the external cylinder. In FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4B, these setting means are conveniently shown in the form of tapered setting arms 62, having an enlarged lower portion forming setting fingers 63 which are provided with setting finger recesses 64. A plurality of tapered setting arms 62 may be formed from a tube by making a series of cuts in an axial direction around the circumference of a tube. In the alternative, setting fingers 63 could be individually spring mounted on a complete cylinder without axial cuts.

External cylinder threads 61 are secured to hollow upper cylinder 66, which if formed at its upper end with internal flange 67, Ithus forming abutting ring face 68. Upper cylinder 66 has a larger internal diameter than external cylinder 59, thus, external cylinder 59 is provided with an abutting top portion 69, which is formed to abut with external liange S6. Thus, the external tube is telescopically mounted on the internal tube for relative movement therebetween within defined limits since the upward and downward movement of internal cylinder 49 is limited by internal flange 67 and abutting top portion 69.

In the initial letting in position, as shown in FIG. 1, the anchor is secured to the anchor carrier by having cylinder locking balls 58 forced radially inward by external cylinder 59 and engaging in lower locking groove 29 of connecting cylinder rod 28, thus, locking connecting rod 28 therein.

External cylinder 59, being axially slidable on internal cylinder 49, will be restricted in its downward movement relative thereto by setting fingers 63, which rest against inclined abutment 53.

Upper cylinder 66 is constructed so that abutting ring face 68 contacts abutting face 27 of base member 23, or may be, as shown, a few inches away to permit a build up of momentum when compression spring 36 is released and before abutting ring face 68 contacts abutting face 27, as will be described hereinafter. However, in some applications, it is more desirable to have ring face 68 contacting abutting face 27 so that if any obstructions are encountered during the letting in stage, any pressure on the lower end of the anchor will `be transmitted to abutting face 27, rather than to connecting rod 28 and the associated cylinder locking balls 58.

Also, during the letting in stage, compression spring 36 will be in compressed condition, and held there by trigger locking balls 41, which are locked in tube locking recess 42 of tube 17 by lower lug 38 of trigger arm 37.

During letting in, collar pawl 44 will be contacting well casing 11 and bouncing along thereon, and perhaps being occasionally rotated in a clockwise position as viewed in FIG. 4A.

Once the desired depth is reached, the downward decent of the tool is stopped, and the tool is then raised. Pawl point 47, being sharpened, will engage the first collar annulus encountered as shown in FIG. l, whereupon collar pawl 44 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction. Pawl cam 46 cams upper lug 39 of trigger arm 37 upward, which withdraws lower lug 38 from engagement with trigger locking balls 41, which are then permitted to move radially inward and out of engagement in tube locking recess 42.

At this point, trigger block 32 and connecting rod 28 are free to move, and compression spring 36 is actuated, thus, permitting the expanding compression spring 36 to force connecting rod 28 upward with respect to tube 17.

As connecting rod 28 moves upward, internal cylinder 49 of the anchor will be carried with it. Likewise, ex ternal cylinder 59 Will be carried with internal cylinder 49 until abutting ring face 68 contacts abutting face 27 of the anchor carrier.

The force created by expanding compression spring 36 will cause internal cylinder 49 to continue upward, thereby forcing inclined abutments 53 of anchor base member 52 under setting lingers 63 so that the setting fingers 63 are forced radially outward into a setting position in a collar annulus and are locked onto anchor base member 52 by setting finger recess 64 and setting groove 54.

The length of the anchor carrier and the anchor are so arranged that when the setting fingers are forced radially outward, they will be adjacent to a well casing collar annulus as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the anchor tool is secured in well casing 11 by the setting of setting iingers 63.

Simultaneous with the setting of setting fingers 63, internal cylinder locking balls 58 pass above top portion 69 where they may then move radially outward, at which point they no longer engage locking groove 29 of connecting rod 28.

Thus, the anchor is secured in well casing 11, and the anchor carrier is freed from the anchor and may then be removed. The anchor and any tool attached below it will remain in a secured position since setting fingers 63 are engaging both anchor base member 52 and a well collar annulus.

The anchor may be removed from the well casing by a fishing tool, which tool may be lowered in the well casing and secured to internal auge 67 of upper cylinder 66. Then with external cylinder 59 thus secured, another portion of the fishing tool is forced downwardly against internal cylinder 49 and continuing the downward movement thereof until anchor base member 52 is forced out from under setting fingers 63, which fingers then automatically spring radially inward and out of engagement with collar annulus 16. The anchor may then be removed as a unit.

The external diameter of the anchor base member 52 is such that there is only a small running space between it and the internal surface of well casing 11. Thus, if collar pawl 44 engages pipe scale or the like and prematurely releases compression 36, set-ting iingers 63 will not ride upon anchor base member 52 until a collar annulus is reached. Thus, the tool could be either lowered or raised until the setting iingers are secured in a collar annulus, since only the friction against the internal surface of well casing 11 will need to be overcome in moving upward or downward until a collar annulus is reached. This desirable feature permits other applications of the tool which will be discussed hereinafter.

Another particular advantage of the apparatus is that if collar pawl 44 engages pipe scale or the like and prematurely releases compression spring 36, and if setting fingers 63 should for some unknown reason become jammed in well casing 11 and not properly secured in a collar annulus, internal cylinder locking balls 58 will not properly disengage locking groove 29 of connecting rod 28. Thus, if the anchor is not properly set, but the anchor carrier is nevertheless withdrawn, internal cylinder locking balls 58 will score or disiigure the bottom portion of connecting rod 2S. By inspecting this portion, after the setting of the anchor, the operator can ascertain whether or not he has a good setting, which will lbe indicated by the absence of any scoring or disiiguration.

An alternate form of the anchor is shown in FIG. 6, which anchor is designed to be used with the same anchor carrier described above. An internal tube is formed with a hollow internal cylinder 72 having an enlarged lower portion 73 and slip camming abutment 74. The upper portion of internal cylinder 72 is likewise provided with internal cylinder ball recesses 76, in which are positioned locking balls 77 for radial movement therein.

Mounted telescopically on internal cylinder 72 is an external tube, which tube is formed by lower cylinder 78 having a threaded upper portion 79. Upper portion 79 has a smaller internal diameter than lower cylinder 78, thus forming abutment S1. Upper cylinder 82 is secured to upper portion 79 by internal threads 83. The upper end of upper cylinder 82 is formed with external liange 84, abutting face S6 and an annular groove on the inside forming annular ball recess 87.

Setting means in the form of slips 3S are mounted for radial movement in the external tube. They are held in retracted position by retaining springs (not shown) until ti activated by contact with enlarged lower portion 73 of internal cylinder 72.

Relative movement between the internal tube and the external tube is within defined 4limits since the downward movement of internal cylinder 72 relative to lower cylinder 73 is restricted by base 89 of lower portion 73 contacting sub 91, which, of course, may be provided with external threads for receiving another tool, such as the internally threaded end 92 of a conventional packer. The upward movement of internal cylinder 72 relative to upper cylinder 32 is restricted when abutment 31 contacts slip camming abutment 74.

`In operation the anchor just described works in a manner similar to the anchor shown in FIGS. l, 2, 3 and 4B, and is secured in the well by the same anchor carrier described above and likewise shown in connection with the first anchor. In the initial letting in stage, connecting rod Z is secured in internal cylinder 72 by locking balls 77. When compression spring 3d is activated by the trigger means, connecting rod 28 moves upward carrying with it internal cylinder 72 and upper cylinder 82 until upper cylinder S2 contacts abutting face 27 of the anchor carrier.

Whereupon internal cylinder 72 is carried upward relative to the external tube. Thus, slip ca mming abutment 74 of enlarged lower portion 73 rides up over slips 88 urging them radially outward into a setting position in a collar annulus.

Upward movement of the internal cylinder continues because of the force created by expanding compression spring 36, until locking balls 77 are adjacent to annular ball recess 87, at which point the balls are permitted to inove radially outward and disengage connecting rod 28. At this point base 89 of enlarged portion 73 will have moved above snap ring 93 secured on the internal diameter of lower cylinder 73. Thus, the anchor is secured in the well casing by the setting means or anchor slips S8.

This anchor can be removed by a iishing tool of the design disclosed in connection with the description of FIGS. l1 and 12 given below. In using a iishing tool, internal cylinder 72 is forced downward breaking snap ring 923 and disengaging the enlarged lower portion 73 from slips S8 and thereafter lifting upward on upper cylinder 82 by securing a retrieving means to external flange 84.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-l7, there is generally shown another embodiment of the invention where there is illustrated section of well pipe or tubing, which is provided at its ends with threaded portions, not shown, whereby the rSection may be connected into -a string of pipe or tubing in the usual manner for insertion in a well. Any number of such sections ".110 may be connected into the well pipe depending upon the location where it may be desired to support well apparatus in the pipe during some stage of the operation of the well.

The section 110 is provided with an upper internal, annular cavity 112 formed with an upwardly facing annular shoulder 114, and a lower, internal, annular recess 116, whose upper and lower extremities are formed with tapered

shoulders

118 and 120, respectively. The

recesses

112 and 116 are the means provided in the well tubing 110 with which the moving parts of the anchoring mechanisrn coact in the locating, setting and releasing of the mechanism.

The anchoring and supporting mechanism of the invention includes a tubular slip carrier 122 having lateral openings or windows within which slips 124 are movably positioned for radial movement, and which is adapted to be connected at its lower end to any desired well apparatus which is to be anchored and supported in the tubing, as by means of an externally threaded sub 126, whose upper end is screwed into the lower, internally threaded end of the carrier, and whose lower end may 4be screwed into the upper, internally threaded end of a tubular element 128, as best shown in FIG. 13.

At its upper end the slip carrier has a head section 130,

threadably connected thereto, which is provided with an externally reduced portion or neck 132 forming an external, annular, downwardly facing shoulder 134, positioned for coaction with a fishing tool for the purpose of removing the anchoring mechanism from the tubing, in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Suitable packing, such as an O-ring 136 may be carried by the carrier in an external groove provided therefor, by which a fluid tight seal is formed between the carrier and the tubing section 110 when the mechanism is anchored therein.

A tubular slip setting and releasing sleeve 138 is movably disposed within the carrier 122, which sleeve is formed with an externally reduced upper portion 140 forming an external, annular, upwardly facing, tapered, slip actuating shoulder 142 mediate the ends of the sleeve which shoulder lies below the slips 124 when the sleeve is in its lowermost position, to allow the slips to retract, and which engages the slips upon upward movement of the sleeve from said lowermost position to extend the slips radially outwardly. The sleeve 138 is releasably connected at its upper end to an externally reduced lower end extension 146 of a mandrel 148, as by means of balls 150 positioned in openings in the sleeve and which extend into an external, annular groove 152 in the extension 146. The head 130 of the carrier 122 is formed with an internal annular groove 154, into which the balls 150 may move when the sleeve 138 has moved upwardly to a position to move the groove 154 opposite the groove 152, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 14, to allow the extension 146 to be moved upwardly out of the sleeve to disconnect the mandrel from the sleeve.

The head 130 of the carrier 122 is also secured to the mandrel 148 above the extension 146 'by shear pins 156, as best seen in FIGS. 13 and 16 and which may be sheared to allow the mandrel to move upwardly away from the carrier.

The mandrel 148 has an external annular, downwardly facing shoulder 158 formed thereon which is positioned to coact with an intel'nal, annular, upwardly facing shoulder 160 on a tubular support member 162 surrounding the mandrel and in which the mandrel is longitudinally movable. The tubular support 162 has a longitudinally elongated side slot 164 in its upper portion, and the mandrel 148 is formed with lateral slot 166 in which a latch 168 is pivotally mounted as by means of a pivot pin 170. The latch 168 extends into the slot 164 of the support 162 and is shaped to position the lower end of the latch for engagement with the upwardly facing shoulder 114 of the recess 112 of the tubing section 110 upon rocking movement of the latch 168 in one direction to hold the mandrel 148 against downward movement relative to the tubing section 110, as best seen in FIG. 9. The latch 168 is urged toward latching position by a coil spring 172.

The support 162 is provided at its upper end with suitable means, such as the threaded connector 174, shown in FIG. 13A, threadably connected thereto, whereby the anchoring mechanism may be connected to a cable, r the like, for raising and lowering the mechanism and operating the same in the well tubing.

A latch retainer sleeve 176 surrounds the support 162 for longitudinal sliding movement thereon, and which is slotted longitudinally to form flexible fingers 178, best seen in FIGS. 13A and 14, having radially inwardly extending shoulders or hook portions 180 at their lower ends which may be engaged with a downwardly facing, external, annular shoulder 182 on the support. The latch retainer 176 is also provided with longitudinal slots 184 mediate its ends forming liexible portions, each of which has a radially outwardly extending projection 186 positioned to enter the internal recess 116 of the tubing section 110 and engageable with the shoulder 118 of the section to resist upward movement of the retainer with the support when the projections 186 are in the recess. The retainer sleeve 176 in its uppermost position on the support engages the 8 latch 168 to hold the latch in retracted or unlatched position, as seen in FIG. 13A, and upon upward movement of the support with the projections 186 in the recess 116, the retainer is held against upward movement to allow the latch to be moved out of the retainer to permit the latch to move to a position for engagement with the shoulder 114 in recess 112 to latch the mandrel 148 against downward movement relative to the tubing section 110.

Suitable packing, such as that shown at 188 in FIG. 13B may be positioned on the slip carrier 122, in an external groove provided for the same, in position to form a seal between the slip carrier and the well tubing section when the anchoring mechanism is in anchored position.

A snap ring 190, or the like, is positioned in the slip carrier 122, in an internal groove provided for the same, in position for engagement with the lower end of the slip actuating sleeve 138 when this sleeve has been moved into a position to set the slips to hold the sleeve in slip setting position until the slips are to be released. The snap ring 190 may be sheared by downward movement of the sleeve 138 to allow the sleeve to move to slip releasing position, as shown in FIG. 12, when it is desired to remove the mechanism from the tubing.

In making use of the invention, constructed as described above, the mechanism is lowered into the Well pipe or tubing with the desired well apparatus attached thereto and in the condition illustrated in FIG. 7, the latch retainer 176 `being in position to hold the latch 168 in its retracted position, and the slip actuating sleeve 138 being in its lowermost position to allow the slips 124 to remain in their retracted or releasing positions. The mechanism is thus lowered in the tubing until the retainer sleeve 176 reaches a position in which the projections 186 may enter the lower recess 116, whereupon the exible portions formed by the slots 184 will expand radially outwardly to position the projections 186 for engagement with the upper shoulder 118 of the recess 116. The support 162 is then moved upwardly while the retainer sleeve is held against upward movement by the projections 186 in engagement with the shoulder 118 until the latch 168 is moved out of the upper end of the retainer and the latch is positioned above the recess 112. The inward extensions or hooks of the flexible fingers of the sleeve 176 will then be in engagement with the shoulder 182 of the support 162 to hold the retainer in its latch releasing position, and the latch will be in position to move into engagement with the shoulder 114 of recess 112 upon downward movement of the support.

The support 162 is then again moved downwardly, whereupon the latch enters the recess 112 and engages the shoulder 114 to hold the mandrel 148, and the slip actuator sleeve 138 therewith, against further downward movement of the support with the latch thus engaged to hold the mandrel against downward movement results in shearing of the pins 156 and causes the slip carrier 122 to move `downwardly with the support 162 relative to the actuator 138 to engage the slips with the shoulder 142 to move the slips into the recess 116 in position for engagement with the

shoulders

118 or 120 of the tubing section 110 to anchor the mechanism in the tubing. It is to be noted that the

recesses

112 and 116 are so positioned and of .such lengths that when the latch is in engagement with shoulder 112 and the slip carrier is lowered with the support 162 to engage the slips :with shoulder 142, the slips will be in position to enter the recess 116.

Upon downward movement of the slip carrier with the support 162 `to engage the slips with the shoulder 142 of actuator 138, the snap ring will pass below the end of the sleeve 138 to hold the actuator sleeve `against downward movement in the carrier when the slips are set, so that the mechanism cannot become released by accidental downward movement of the actuator.

When the slips have been set in the manner described above, the shear pins 156 will already have been sheared upon the downward movement of the carrier 122, .and such downward movement of the carrier 122 will position the balls 15@ to move into the recess 154 of the carrier head 131i and out of the recess 152 of the extension 146 of the mandrel to release the mandrel from the actuator sleeve whereupon the support, mandrel and latch retainer sleeve may be removed from the tubing leaving the slip carriage, actuator sleeve and lwell apparatus anchored in the tubing, as shown in FIG. 10. With the mechanism thus anchored, circulation of liuid may take place through the tubing through the slip actuator sleeve 138.

It is also apparent that when the latch 168 is properly positioned in the slot 164 and the ball bearing is properly situated in the recess 154, the tool will be in the only position in which it can be locked in place. This will be evident to the operator by an examination of extension 146 of mandrel 148. If the ball bearing 150 has not been properly positioned in the recess 154, the mandrel extension will be scarred or marked `upon removal.

When it is desired to release the anchoring mechanism in order to recover the same with the well apparatus from the tubing, a suitable shing tool 192, such as that shown in FIGS. 1l and l2, is lowered into the tubing. The fishing tool 192 has at its lower end a reduced guide portion 194 shaped to enter the upper end of the actuator sleeve and forming an external, annular downwardly facing shoulder 196 on the tool above the guide portion which is positioned to engage the upper end of the actuator 138 to move the lactuator downwardly in the carrier 122, breaking the snap ring 19) and positioning the actuator as shown in FIG. 12 with the slips 124 opposite the reduced portion 140, so that the slips may move inwardly. The shing tool is also provided with spring latches or other suitable means, such as those shown at 198, positioned for engagement beneath the shoulder 134 of the head 130 of the carrier to permit the carrier and actuator with the well apparatus to be lifted from the tubing. Upon upward movement of the fishing tool 192 with the carrier 122 connected thereto as described, the slips 124 will be moved inwardly to their retracted positions by engagement with the tapered upper shoulder 118 of the recess 116, as seen in FIG. 12, to allow the mechanism to be removed from the tubing.

Thus, the well industry is provided with la novel anchor and anchor carrier, which may be used in combination to easily and safely secure a tool in a well casing, which anchor may be subsequently easily removed therefrom. While the foregoing structures are the preferred form of the invention, other alternatives are possible.

For example, the locking means provided in the internal tube of the :anchor and in the trigger block for embodiments in FIGS. l6 may take other forms than locking balls, for example, blocks or the like, which might be arranged to move radially in a similar fashion.

The setting means, which have been shown in the form of setting fingers and slips, may take other forms similarly so ylong as they are adapted for contact with means mounted on the internal tube, which means could be projections therefrom as well as the preferred enlarged lower portion described.

The expandable means mounted in the well setting tool or anchor carrier has been shown in FIGS. 1 5 in the form of a compression spring as the preferred form. Other means could be used for importing relative movement between the support member and the mandrel as an expandable fiuid or a pressurized fluid or a powder charge. The important thing is to have some expandable means in the anchor carrier to cause relative movement between the support member and the mandrel at a predetermined time.

While a mechanical trigger assembly has been shown in FIGS. 1-5 as the preferred trigger means, other trigger means could be used, as for example, electrical means could be arranged to release the expandable means at the proper time.

While the preferred form of the sensing means shown has been a mechanical structure attached to the mandrel, such sensing means could, of course, be attached to the support member and accomplish the same result, i.e., to actuate the trigger means at the desired time.

Because of the novel arrangement of the parts of the invention, a further modification and use is possible. Since setting fingers 63 will not, even when the trigger is actuated, secure the anchor in the well casing until they enga-ge a collar annulus or other locking recess, it is possible to use the anchor carrier for setting an anchor in a landing nipple in a well pipe, which nipple has a machined locking recess in the form 4of an annular groove. Thus, it is possible to trip the trigger assembly at a collar annular recess above the nipple and then lower the anchor. The locking fingers would slide along the internal surface of the pipe until they reach the annular groove of the landing nipple, at which point the locking fingers would engage in the nipple recess and the anchor carrier would lbe released.

When this form of the invention is used, it is not necessary to have the rlength of the anchor carrier and the anchor adjusted so that the distance between collar pawl 4liand setting ngers 63, when set, are equal to the distance between two collar annuluses, and in fact, can be much shorter.

Other modifications may he made in the invention as particularly described without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is to be construed illustratively only and is not to be construed as a limitation upon the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A well setting tool for luse in setting a well anchor in a well casing, said well setting tool comprising a tubular support member,

.a cylindrical mandrel telescopically mounted in said support member for lrelative movement therein within defined limits and having the lower portion thereof extending out of the lower end of said support member,

expandable means mounted in said well setting tool for causing relative movement between said support member and said mandrel,

`a trigger block mounted on the upper end of said mandrel and having a recess,

a plurality of locking balls disposed in said recess in said trigger block,

a trigger arrn in said trigger block and having a first lug for engaging said locking balls and a second lug, and

sensing means in said tool for engagement with said second lug of said trigger arm.

2. The tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the expandable means is in the form of a compression spring mounted in a circumferential space between said support member and said mandrel and adapted to urge said support member and said mandrel in opposite directions.

3. The tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing means is a rigid member pivotally mounted on said mandrel for engaging a collar annular recess in said well casing.

4. The tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing means is a rigid member pivotally mounted on said mandrel and extending at least partially through a slot in said support member for engaging a well casing collar annular recess to moving s-aid trigger arm.

5. Apparatus for setting a well tool within a well casing having longitudinally spaced annular recesses within the internal wall of the casing, comprising carrier means having an expandable portion for fitting into a first recess within the internal wall of the casing,

a mandrel having a depending portion telescopically 11 movable within and releasably secured to said carrier means,

radially expandable projection means attached to said mandrel for fitting into a second recess located above said rst recess within the internal wall of said casing,

a sleeve means telescopically slidably disposed about said mandrel adjacent said radially expandable projection means,

at least one external projection on said radially expandable projection means for engaging said first recess,

internal latching means for securing said sleeve means to said carrier means so that when said one external projection engages said first recess said mandrel can be moved upward with respect to said sleeve means allowing said latching means to latch said sleeve means to said carrier means and conditioning said radially expandable projection means to expand when positioned opposite a recess in the well casing, and

means for releasing7 said mandrel from said carrier means upon further upward movement of said mandrel when said expandable portion and said radially expandable projection means are positioned respectively within said first and second recesses.

`6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said dependingy portion of said mandrel includes a recess,

having longitudinally spaced annular recesses within the internal wall of said casing, comprising carrier means having an expandable portion for fitting into a first recess within the internal wall of the caslng,

a mandrel having a depending portion telescopically movable within and releasably secured to said carrier means,

radially expandable projection means attached to said mandrel for fitting into a second recess located above said first recess within the internal wall of said casing,

an outer tubular jacket attached to said mandrel having at least one internal recess therein,

an inner tubular jacket telescopically movable with said outer jacket and having at least one opening therein which at some point in the longitudinal movement of said inner jacket with respect to said outer jacket said opening becomes opposite said internal recess in said outer jacket,

a member located within said opening of slightly greater dimension than the wall of said inner jacket, and

a movable block inside said inner jacket and attached to said radially expandable projection means for pressing said member into said internal recess in said outer jacket to prevent said member from moving inwardly and to secure said outer jacket to said inner jacket,

said block being moved by the coaction of said radially expandable projection means land said second recess allowing said member to move inwardly and permitting said internal jacket to move with respect to said outer jacket, and

means for releasing said mandrel from said carrier means upon further movement of said mandrel when said expandable portion and said radially expandable 12 projection means are positioned respectively within said rst and second recesses in said well casing. 8. Apparatus for setting a well tool within a well casing having longitudinally spaced annular recesses within the internal wall of the casing, comprising carrier means having an expandable portion for fitting into a first recess within the internal wall of the casing,

a mandrel having a depending portion telescopically movable within said carrier means and having a recess,

radially expandable projection means attached to said mandrel for fitting into a second recess located above said first recess within the internal wall of the casing,

trigger means connected to said projection means conditioned upon upward movement of said mandrel,

a telescopically slidable jacket having an opening, and

a member disposed in said recess in said mandrel to fit in said opening in said jacket,

said member being outwardly movable upon upward movement of said depending portion of said mandrel and said jacket with respect to the remainder of said well tool to release said mandrel.

9. A well setting tool for use in setting a well anchor in a well casing, said well setting tool comprising a tubular support member provided with an upper portion for securing to a letting in means,

a cylindrical mandrel telescopically mounted in said support member for relative movement therein within defined limits and having a lower portion thereof extending out of the lower end of said support member,

a compression spring mounted in a space between said support member 4and said mandrel and adapted for urging said support member and said mandrel in opposite directions upon release o`f said compression spring,

a trigger assembly comprising a trigger block mounted on the upper end of said mandrel, and

a trigger arm positioned in said block and having an upper lug adapted for engaging a sensing means and a lower lug adapted for engaging locking balls mounted in recesses provided in said block,

said sensing means comprising a rigid member pivotally secured on said mandrel and having a projecting portion adapted for engaging a collar annular recess in said well casing at a predetermined time.

l0. A well tool combination comprising an anchor carrier comprising a tubular support member,

a cylindrical mandrel telescopically mounted in said support member' for relative movement therein within defined limits and having the lower portion thereof extending out of the lower end of said support member,

expandable means mounted in said anchor carrier adapted for causing relative movement between said support member and said mandrel,

trigger rneans mounted in said anchor carrier for actuating said expandable means, and

sensing means attached to said well setting tool and operably connected to said trigger means for releasing said trigger means at a predetermined time, and

an anchor releasably secured to said anchor carrier comprising an internal tube shaped for entry of a portion of said anchor carrier into the upper end thereof in a locking relationship,

locking means provided in said internal tube for locking said portion of said anchor carrier therein, said internal tube having an externally enlarged lower portion,

an external tube telescopically mounted on the outside of said internal tube for relative move ment therebetween 'within dened limits, and

setting means carried by said external tube and adapted for contact ywith and actuation by said externally enlarged lower portion of said internal tube.

11. A well tool combination comprising an anchor carrier comprising a tu'bular support member,

a cylindrical mandrel telescopically mounted in said support member for relative movement therein 'within defined limits and having a lower portion thereof extending out of the lower end of said support member,

a compression spring mounted in said anchor carrier adapted for effecting relative movement `between said 4support member and said mandrel,

a trigger assembly mounted on the upper portion of said mandrel for actuating said compression spring,

a projecting member attached to said anchor carrier and adapted for contacting said well casing and releasing said trigger assembly at a predetermined time, and

an anchor releasably secured to said anchor carrier comprising an internal tube shaped for entry of a portion of said anchor carrier into the upper portion thereof in a locking relationship,

locking balls mounted for radial movement in recesses in the upper portion of said internal tube for locking said portion of said anchor carrier therein, said internal tube having an externally enlarged lower portion,

an external tube telescopically mounted on the outside of said internal tube for relative movement therebetween within defined limits and having an upper portion shaped for abutting the lower end of said support member, and

`setting means mounted on said external tube and adapted for contact with and actuation into a setting position by said externally enlarged lower portion of said internal tube.

12. A lwell tool combination for use in a well casing comprising an anchor carrier comprising a tubular support member provided with an upper portion for securing a letting in means,

a cylindrical mandrel telescopically mounted in said support member for relative movement therein within deiined limits and having a lower portion thereof extending out of the lower end Iof said support member,

a compression spring mounted in a space between said support member and said mandrel and adapted for urging said support member and said mandrel in opposite directions upon release of said compression spring,

a trigger assembly having a trigger block mounted -on the upper portion of said mandrel, and

a projecting member attached to said mandrel and adapted for contacting said well casing and engaging a collar annular recess therein and there by releasing said trigger assembly, and

locking yballs mounted for radial movement in recesses in the upper portion of said internal tube for locking said portion of said anchor carrier therein, said internal tube having an externally enlarged lower portion,

an external tube telescopically mounted on the outside of said internal tube for relative move ment therebetween within defined limits and having an upper portion shaped for abutting the lower end of said support member, and

setting means mounted on said external tube and adapted for contact with and actuation into a setting position by said externally enlarged lower portion of said internal tube.

13. A well tool combination for use in a well casing comprising an anchor carrier comprising a tubular support member with an upper portion for securing a letting in means,

a cylindrical mandrel telescopically mounted in said support member for relative movement therein within dened limits and having a lower portion thereof extending out of the lower end of said support member,

a compression spring mounted in a space between said support member and said mandrel and adapted for urging said support member and said mandrel in opposite directions upon release of said compression spring, and

a trigger means comprising a trigger block mounted on the upper end of said mandrel, and

a trigger arm positioned in said block and having an upper lug adapted for engaging ya sensing means and a lower lug adapted for engaging locking balls mounted in recessess provided in said block,

said sensing means comprising a rigid member pivotally secured on said mandrel and having a projecting portion adapted for engaging a collar annular recess in said well casing at a predetermined time, and

an anchor releasably secured to said anchor carrier comprising an internal tube shaped for entry of said lower portion of said mandrel into the upper end thereof in a locking relationship,

locking balls mounted for radial movement in recesses in the upper portion of said internal tube for locking said lower portion of said mandrel therein, said internal tube having an externally enlarged lower portion,

an external tube telescopically mounted on the outside of said internal tube for relative movement therebetween within dened limits and having an upper portion shaped for abutting the lower end of said support member, and

14. A well tool combination comprising an anchor carrier comprising a tubular support member,

a cylindrical mandrel telescopically mounted in said support member for relative movement therein within define-d limits and having a lower portion thereof extending out of the lower end of said support member,

a compression spring mounted in said anchor carrier and adapted for effecting relative movement between said support member and said mandrel,

an external tube telescopically mounted on the outside of said internal tube for relative moveiment therebetween within dened limits and having an upper portion shaped for abutting the lower end of said support member, and

slips mounted in said external tube and adapted to be urged radially of said external tube into a setting position in said well casing.

15. A well tool combination comprising an anchor carrier comprising a tubular support member,

a compression spring mounted in said anchor carrier adapted for effecting relative movement between said support member and said mandrel,

setting lingers attached to said external tube and adapted to ride upon and engage the enlarged lower portion of said internal tube and thereby project into the well pipe collar annular recess in a setting position.

16. The combination with a well pipe having an internal annular cavity of anchoring mechanism adapted to be insented in the pipe, comprising a slip carrier,

slips movably mounted on said slip carrier for radial -movement relative thereto,

an actuator movable longitudinally relative to said slip carrier and shaped for coaction with said slips to move said slips radially 4outwardly upon downward movement of said slip carrier relative to said actuator,

.a mandrel connected to said actuator for movement therewith,

.a slotted tubular member around and longitudinally movable on said mandrel abutting said carrier to move said carrier downwardly relative to said actuator upon downward movement of said tubular member,

latching means on said mandrel capable of radially t5 passing through said slotted tubular member for coaction with the internal cavity of the pipe when said mandrel is in a predetermined location in the pipe to arrest downward movement of said mandrel to permit such downward movement of said tubular member relative to said mandrel, and

means on the pipe positioned for coaction with said slips upon such outward movement of said slips to hold said slip carrier against downward movement in the pipe.

17. The combination with a well pipe of anchoring mechanism adapted to be inserted in the pipe, comprising a slip carrier,

slips movably mounted on said slip carrier for radial movement relative thereto,

an actuator movable longitudinally relative to said slip carrier and shaped for coaction with said slips to move said slips radially outwardly upon downward movement of said carrier relative to said actuator,

a mandrel connected to said actuator for movement therewith,

latch means movably mounted on said mandrel for movement into and out of engagement with the pipe when said mandrel is moved to a predetermined first location in the pipe to arrest downward movement of said mandrel and said actuator in the pipe,

means for urging the latch means toward latching position,

a tubular element movably mounted Iaround said mandrel for longitudinal movement relative thereto and movable upwardly to a position in engagement with said latch -means to hold said latch means out of latching position and downwardly to a position out -of engagement with said latch means to allow said latch means to move to the latching position,

engaging means on said element and the pipe positioned to coact when said mandrel reaches a second location below said first location in the pipe to hold said element against upward movement to allow said mandrel to move upwardly relative to said element,

means movably mounted on said mandrel for longitudinal movement relative thereto for engagement with said carrier to move said carrier downwardly relative to said actuator when the downward movement of said actuator is arrested so that said slips are moved radially outward, and

means on the pipe positioned for coaction with said slips upon such outward movement of said slips to hold said carrier against downward movement in the pipe.

1S. The combination with a well pipe having an upper and a lower internal, annular recess for anchoring mechanism adapted to be inserted in the pipe, comprising a slip carrier,

a mandrel connected to said actuator for longitudinal movement therewith,

a member m-ovably mounted about said mandrel for longitudinal movement thereon and positioned to coaot with said carrier to move said carrier downwardly relative to said actuator upon downward movement of said member on said mandrel,

movable means mounted on said mandrel for movement int-o and out of a holding position in engagement with the pipe in the upper recess to hold the `mandrel against downward movement in the pipe,

whereby said carrier can be located to position said slips to enter the lower recess upon downward moveper and a lower intern-al annular recess, of anchoring mechanism adapted to be inserted in the pipe, comprising a slip carrier,

slips movably mounted on said carrier for radial movement relative thereto, an actuator within said carmier for longitudinal movement relative thereto and shaped for coaction with said slips to move said slips radially outwardly upon downward movement of the carrier relative to said actuator,

a mandrel connected to said actuator for longitudinal movement with said actuator,

a m-ovable member on said mandrel movable longitudinally thereon in position for engagement w-ith said carrier to move saidcarrier downwardly relative to said actua-tor upon downward movement f said movable member on said mandrel,

a latch movably mounted on said mandrel for movement into and out of a position for engagement with the pipe in the upper recess to hold said mandrel against downward movement in the pipe,

yieldable means positioned for coaction with said mandrel and said latch to yiel'dably urge said latch tow-ard latching position,

a movable element on said mandrel movable longitudinally relative thereto to an upper position in engagement with said latch to hold said latch in unlatching condition and to a lower position out of engagement with said latch to release said latch and including means positioned for engagement with the pipe in the lower recess when said latch is in a position below said upper recess to rallow said mandrel to be moved upwardly independently of said movable element to position said element to release said latch and to position said latch for engagement with the pipe in the upper recess.

20. The combination with a well pipe having an upper and lower internal annular recess, of -anchoring mechanism adapted to be inserted in the pipe, comprising a tubular member,

means for raising and lowering said tubular member in the pipe,

a mandrel carrier in and movable longitudinally relative to said member,

a slip carrier releasably connected to said mandrel and into which said mandrel may be moved downwardly when released from said carrier,

slips movably mounted on said carrier for radial movement relative thereto,

an actuator within said carrier for longitudinal movement relative thereto and shaped for coaction with said slips to move said .slips radially outwardly upon downward movement of said carrier relative to said actuator, said actuator being movable downwardly with said mandrel,

latch means movably mounted on said mandrel for movement into and out of a position for engagement with the pipe in the upper recess to hold said mandrel against downward movement in the pipe,

yieldable means positioned for coaction with said mandrel and latch to yieldingly urge said latch toward latching position,

a moveable element on said mandrel movable longitudinally relative thereto to an upper position in engagement with said latch to hold said latch in unlatching position and to a lower position out of such engagement to allow said latch to move to latching position and including means positioned for engagement with the pipe in the lower recess when said lat-ch is in a position below the upper recess to hold said element against upward movement to allow said mandrel tol ibe moved upwardly independently of said element to release said latch and to position said latch for engagement with the pipe in the upper recess to hold said mandrel and hence said actuator against downward movement, and means on said member positioned for engagement with said carrier upon downward movement of said member on said mandrel to move said carrier down-wardly relative to said actuator to move said slips into engagement with pipe in the lower recess. 21. The combination with a well pipe having an upper and a lower internal annular recess, of anchoring mechanism adapted to be inserted in the pipe, comprising a tubular member,

means for raising and lowering said member in the pipe,

a mandrel carried in and movable longitudinally relative to said member,

slips movably mounted on said carrier for radial movement relative thereto,

van actuator within said vcarrier for longitudinal movement relative thereto and shaped for coaction with said slips to move said slips radially outwardly -upon downward movement of said carrier relative to said actuator,

said acatuator being movable downwardly with said mandrel,

yieldable means positioned for coaction withsaid mandrel and latch to yieldingly urge said latch toward latching position,

a movable element on said mandrel movable longitudinally relative thereto to an upper position in engagement with said latch to hold said latch in unlatching position and to a lower position out of such engagement to allow said latch to move to latching position and including means positioned for engagement with the pipe in the lower recess vwhen said latch is in a position below the upper recess to hold said element against upward movement to allow said mandrel to be moved upwardly independently of said element to release said latch and to position said latch for engagement with the pipe in the upper recess to hold said mandrel and hence said actuator against downward movement,

means on said member positioned for engagement with said carrier upon downward movement of said member on said mandrel to move said carrier downwardly relative to said actuator to move said slips into engagement with the pipe in the lower recess, and

means for disconnecting said actuator from said mandrel when said slips are in engagement with the pipe.

22. A well tool comprising an anchor carrier comprising a tubular support member,

a cylindrical mandrel telescopically mounted in said support member for relative movement therein with dened limits and having this lower portion thereof extending out of said support mem-ber yand provided with locking means,

latch means attached to said mandrel for engaging an internal well pipe collar annulus, and

retaining means mounted externally on said tubular support member for retaining said latch means out of engagement with the well pipe, and an anchor releasably secured to said anchor carrier comprising an internal tube of a size suicient to accommodate entry of said cylindrical mandrel into the upper end thereof and having Llocking means provided in said internal tube for locking said mandrel therein, and an externally enlarged lower portion an external tube bing telescopically mounted on the outside of said internal tube for relative movement thereon within `defined limits and having an upper portion shaped for abutting the lower end of said tubular support member of said anchor carrier, and a setting means carried by said external tube being contacted and actuated'by said lower portion of said internal tube of said anchor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ERNEST R.

Turner 166--214 Knox 166-136 X Hooser 166-125 Boynton 166-125 Taylor 166-125 Baker 166-125 Wall et al 166-136 'Bostock et al. 166-125 X Dollison 166-125 Sizer 166-125 PURSER, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A WELL SETTING TOOL FOR USE IN SETTING A WELL ANCHOR IN A WELL CASING, SAID WELL SETTING TOOL COMPRISING A TUBULAR SUPPORT MEMBER, A CYLINDRICAL MANDREL TELESCOPICALLY MOUNTED IN SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT THEREIN WITHIN DEFINED LIMITS AND HAVING THE LOWER PORTION THEREOF EXTENDING OUT OF THE LOWER END OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, EXPANDABLE MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID WELL SETTING TOOL FOR CAUSING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND SAID MANDREL, A TRIGGER BLOCK MOUNTED ON THE UPPER END OF SAID MANDREL AND HAVING A RECESS, A PLURALITY OF LOCKING BALLS DISPOSED IN SAID RECESS IN SAID TRIGGER BLOCK, A TRIGGER ARM IN SAID TRIGGER BLOCK AND HAVING A FIRST LUG FOR ENGAGING SAID LOCKING BALLS AND A SECOND LUG, AND SENSING MEANS IN SAID TOOL FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SECOND LUG OF SAID TRIGGER ARM.