US1683629A - Well tubing - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 1l, 1928.

, J. G. ROBINSON WELL TUBING Filed Aug. 9, 1926 J. G. ROBINSON l Spt.'-11-, 192s.

WELL TUBI NG Filed Aug.' 9, 192e 5 sheets-sheet 2 /N VENTO/e YJoh/7 (EFQM/7 0/7.

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. ll, 1928.

uNlTEDisTAT-ES `JOHN e. ROBINSON, onBLACkWELn"OKLAHOMA WELL TUBING.

Application uedAu'gustB, 19.26(A Serial .,NO. 128,032..

. `invention relates to welldtubing and more particularly to a sectional welltubing mounting thesections in the.

\ and means for well. y f `It is a p tubing withinawell `casing so thatlth'e .entire weight of the tubing is not supported from the .topof the wellbut-isfsupported at inter` Y mediate points. In Order to accomplish thisi purpose the tubing isgpreferably provided with means engaging ythe Vcasing. at f. spaced` points lalong thelength thereof-Wherefrom theftubingg; is'supported. y j y 5 More particularly, itis apurpose ofmy invention to provide `a well tubing that` is made up of sections,` each ofl which isoprovded with means engagingfthewell casing` from which said section is supported. Preferably each section is. suspended from-the supg porting means and` iscohnected `with. an adjoining section so asytdform `a continuousv conduit from fthewlower to` the upperend;

thereof. f More particularly my invention ,preferably comprises tubinggsections each havingmeans for connecting .the same with an adloiningV section. Said connecting means being provided 4with gripping members lengagingftho 3" wellcasing and reach `connecting'meansliaving a tubing section suspended therefrom' and anotherr tubing section extending into the same.; but movable `lengthwise relative thereto The grippingv4 means preferably ment in thecasing and gripping means adapted to holdr the connecting means from upward movement in 'ther casing'.` The gripare wedged into'engagement withthe casing and which are movableA out `ofi engagement:

therewith` toy release the: gripping `members when it is desired ,to Aremove the tubing-sections` from thev well. `lilsuitable packing` is i also provided between theconnecting means associated with one tubing section `and the adjoining tubingsection` extending into said i connecting means. 1|() from a single supporting member atlthe top i ai ofthe well, which `causes breakagefand the' urpose ofwmy invention tol pro-'i videnew and improvedmeans for mounting comprises gripping members adaptedto hold, the lconnectingmeans from. downward move- 1y ping meanspreferably comprises jaws which "It .is particularly @desirable to provide means supporting-the tubing in: sections, asl

the long stringof tubingusedinrdeep wellsI Y is often of excessivefweight. whenifsupported droppingofthe tubing also frequently oc-.l

curs due todestruction of the support 'at the.

ever the tubingy in a welll` drops, .considerable;` damage is done thereto,an d byy .providing topofvthefwell due to fires or storms.. ,Whenl.

independentrmeansfor supportingI each of by gas pressure and thus furthermore preventsdamage.; to the tubing. andj other voil well apparatus. It will be obvious that with;`

y my invention ,tliedepth of awellislnotflim* ited by the vamount of tubing ywhiclrcan be supported from asingle supporting mem-l f ber, as the weight of the tubing; issd'ivided am bers.

Other object i ventionivill` appear asthe description of the,

accompanying drawingsy4 proceeds; 'pI-Iowav ever, I desire to have it distinctly understood tha-tl do not intendto limit myself tothe exact details shown orl described, "but `that I intendto includezas part, of: my invention. all such obvious changes and modifications of parts as would occur toapersonfskilledin. this art and asl would fall, within tliescopeofthe claims. "fr .y f

. Inthedrawings: c

Figgl is a vertical se broken 'awa-y, through an'oil welliishov'ving? the casingandtubing mounted therein.`

.Figy2 is asimilai'fview Yshowing one'ofl; the tubing sections inposition in the well.

Fig. '8 is a vertical 'sectional view through a portion'of theoil well, showingthe-.con'nectl 1 'Jing means for-the tubingsectionsand they means carried thereby.engagingy the-casing,` on alarger scale. 1 l Fig. 4 is :a view/.partlyE in elevationfand y partly in section showing arportion ofthe oil'V Well casing and the- Lipper :portionf of one Lof` the tubingunits as the i same is Vbeing lowered intovthe well. l i f Fig; 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of 1 the upper end portion of one of theconnect- Ain'gmembers. i

"Fig. 6"is a similar viewof the lower' end-1V thereof. Y. v i

Fig. 7 is a s ction taken onhtlieline 7.47 of'` j Fig. 8` isa. perspective view of fone of the gripping members'.

. Fig 9 isa'pers'pective view; partlybrokenfctional View., partly f 'ill lln

1 of Fig. l0.

Fig. is a similar view of the lower stull-v ing box member and the gripping means asso-` ciated therewith. f

Fig. 11 is a similar view of the intermediate stuliing box member. t

Fig. l2 is a section taken on the l1ne12-'12 "Fig, -13 is a fragmentary perspective view of the coupling member at the lower end pori tionl of the connecting means' from which the tubingsection supportedby the'connecting thereto. Thus the springsact not only to means vis suspended. Y

Fig. -14 is a `fragmentaryfperspective view of the lower stufng box membershowing one of the jawfretaining pawls .separated therefrom.

` Fig.-15 is a perspective view` of one ofthe pawls, and y Fig. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view of the Vupper limiting stop member.

Referring indetail to the drawings In Figs. 1- to `4 inclusive `is'shown an oil well provided with a casing 20 which extends from the cap rock 21, which" overlies the `oil sandv 22, to vthe 'casing head 23.

"3' hole 24 is provided in the oil sand ,23 in which sections 27 alternating with'connecting 1nemthe oil-collectsand from which'the same is drawn through a lstraining member that'is attached tothe lower end' of t-Yhetubing, said tubing extending from the strainer 25 to the casing headl 23 and preferablycomprises a cured toene of the similar sections 27 of tub in byfmea'ns of a coupling member 28.V The tuinglofthe well `comprises a plurality of bers 29'which also serve to support the tubing in the casing 20 as will be pointed out below.

Each of the connecting members 29 is provided withacoupliug member 30 (Fig. 13)

which' has an 'internally threaded lower end [all portion 31 with4 which the tubing section 27 associated therewith A`is screw-threadedly connected.v Anannular flange 32 is provided on the member 30 adjacent the lower end thereof and said member 30 is further thickened as Slidablymounted on the member 30ibe tween the member 35 andthe flange 32 is a collar 36 from whichthe flexiblearms37 extend upwardly, said arms 37 having-the liaws V i 38 provided on the upper ends thereof, there being-one jaw provided on each of the members 37, said jaws 38 collectively forming an' annular gripping means adapted to engage the inner wall of the casing 20.V The jaws 38 are provided for. gripping the casing 20to hold the connecting member from downward movement relative to the casing,ratchet teeth The i usuall 39 'being' provided on the members 38 for this purpose. The' members 38 are preferably slightly spaced when in their contracted position so as to assurefreedom of movement thereof, as will be evident from Fig. 10. Se.

the curved end portions 43 which engage with the members '37, the springs 41 lying opposite the members 37 and corresponding in number frictionally engage the wall of the casing but also to hold the jaws 38 in theircontracted position? v ff The conical wedging member 35 is provided with an opening extending through the same, which is internally threaded as indicated at 44 at one end thereof and which is provided wit-han inwardly directed annular flange 0r' made cylindrical as indicated at 49. The lower end portion of the member 35 is pref` erably provided withapluralitylof grooves 50 which have deeperportions 51A and sha-llower portions 42that'are connected by means of the inclined portions 53. Mounted in the deeper portions` 51 of each of the grooves 50 are vthe body portions of the'fingers 54 which 'have the beveled end portions 55 andare provided with olfset portions 56 for receiving the springs 57 which are secured in thelshallower portions 52 of the grooves by means of the securing members 58, said" sprinffs being slightly offset as at 59 `to throw tie lowery ends thereof outwardly from the secured ends thereof. 'The lingers 55`are adapted to resiliently grip the reduced upper end portions 60 of the members 38 which are provided with beveled extremities .61 adapted to co-operate vwith, the beveled ends 55 ofthe members 54 to move the members 38 outwardly into einbracingv relation to the member 35 upon relative movementof the members 35 and 36 toward each other. 'When the connecting device is being inserted in the well, the members 35and 36 are assembled with the fingers .54 engaging the outer sides of the reduced end portions 60 ofthe members 38, vand upon insertion of the connectingmember withits tubular mcm' ber 27 attached thereto into the well and after. the same lhas reached its desired position withinthe. well, the member 35 is moved u`pwardly away vfrom the member 36 so as to disengage the lingers 54 from the members 38.

igesegeae Then `the member` A is again moved downvwardly, causing the "'beveledendsl 55 of the fingers 54`t0 cam themembers 38 'outwardly into engagement'with the innenwall` of the casing' 201 This is accomplished due to the fact that the `springs 41 at the bowed outpor-l tions 42 thereof frictionally engage-with the I casing Q0, thus causing the member 36 tobe retarded in its movement upon an upward pullon the member 35, levinggthe member 36 behind the `member 35 in `such upward movement and causing separation of thej aws 38 `andthe fingers 54.` 'Upon downward movement of themember 35 thespringsV 41 again actto ret-ard the movement of themember 367` thus causing the fingers' 54 to enga-ge with the beveled faces 61 on the members 38 forcing the same outwardly andeventually engaging the teeth 39 with the inner Wallof' the casing 20." 1

Engaging the internal threads 46on` the member 35-are the external threads 62 on the packing gland member 63, said packing gland `member being provided with a tubular sleeve wardly so that theupward pressure ofthe gas in the Apassage in the memberl 8O and the mem-` ber 435,1 will cause said kgaskets to more closely adhere 'tothe wall portionsof the member 35 and` theftubinggmember 27V of the next higher section of tubing, which-is mounted within the same when the parts are in assembled relay tion.` The member`63 is providedwith suitable openings66 in the upper end wall thereof orengagement by asuitable tool torotate the member 63 whereby the sameis threaded into the member 35 to adjust the members63 a and 35 relativeto each other.

tionof the member 63 opposite the vprojecting,

sleevedike member-f 641s enlarged" aswill be evident from Fig.` 10, and is provided with internal screw `threads 67, it being, of course,

understood th at there is an opening extending throughfthe member 63 Afrom end toend thereof; v Y f Engaging with the internal ,threads 67 are the'threads 68 on the externally threaded 'coupling member 69, said member being also provided with threads 7 on the opposite end thereof which v engage with Ythe :internal threads 71 on the stufiing box member 7 2.

TheV stufing box member 72 has an externally threaded end portion'73 and isr provided i' withsuijtable fiat faces, as will be 'evident from 11 for engagement of thesame byasuit-j able tool such asa wrench, whereby the member l 72` 'mayflbe rotated; TheV externally i threaded end portion 73 of the memberv 7 2 en* gages with the internal threads 74 at oneend of the stufling box sleeve 75, said sleeve being provided with internalthreads 76 at the opposite en'd5thereof.` "Thef threads 76 "are sof greater extent jthan the 'threadsV 74,-and` ani' externallythreaded member 77 is engaged with the threads 76 so as to provide an abutment inthe sleeve-memberVY `between the endsthereof;` Suitable gaskets -7 8 are insertl edbetween' the member 77 and theV externally threaded e'ndportion 7 3 of themember 72 Saidmenn.

being compressed therebetween. bers 78 are also preferably-Ulshaped 1n cross ',sectionfan'd have thegrooved sides thereof extending 'upwardly-so that the weight of the liquid in the tubing willt'end'to` expand the same against the walls of the member 27fjandV a i .p80 v the member 75. Y

A L packing glandcomprising Athe sleeve member 79 having the annular flange 8O at oneV end thereof and havinganfenlarged,opening 81 in the same which is internally threaded as at 82 and which is further providedwith 8 the internally threadediportion 83 o f reduceddiameter providingtheinternal shoulder 84,A

is also provided embracing the tubular mem*` ber 27.."Saidfpacliinggland further com` prises the member 85 having the tubular ex-v tension 86 of'reduced diameter havingthreads. l

vthereon cti-operating withV the threaded por-f `tient-i2 forfcompressing the gaskets87`be tween itself and the shoulderV 84. Themember 85 is provided with flattened faces 87 for engagen'ient by a suitable'tool to rotate said member for adjusting the samerelative' to the member 79, and isconnected Withvtlie sleeve? lilrememberi' 5 of the'intermediatepacking! gland by means of 'the tubular member 88` having `thescrew threadedjend portion 89 en-` f y gaging with the internal screw threads 90 in,L the member 85, and the screw 1threads91 engaging with the vthreads 76 provided inthe member 75. Thelga'slrrets 87 are arranged in the same manner as'the gaskets 78.' i

` Engaging'with the'internal threads 83'0f themember 79ris" the externally threaded lower end portion 92 yof 'the stop sleeve-93 which is provided with aesitop flange 94 at the upper end/thereof. The ange 94-lisadapted to; slideV longitudinally withinfthe4 INV bore 95 provided in theupper wedging member 96, said-wedging member being provided with a reduced bore 97 `providing astop shoulder 98 within the same adjacent `the upper end thereof and is further provided-with a p stop ring 99 screw threadedlyengaging with the threaded lowerend portion y100 offthe bore-95 to limit the movement ofthe sleeve93 A inthe opposite direction.

The wedgingmember96 is provided with ,af

conical outer wedginglface101 nv'hich has the dovetailed grooves 102therein for receiving the dovetailed ribs 103 on the g"ripping 'gmem-e bersv104, said gripping' members being pro# vidednvith ratchet teeth y105 which'are in-l clined so as to hold the jaws 104 from upward 'movement' in-:t'he casing 2O "when engaged* therewith, said :laws bemgadapted toenJ lim gage with the flange 8O to limitthe downward movement thereof. Thus as the wedgj ing member 96 is moved downwardly relative to the member 79, the aws 104 will be wedged .outwardlytoward the inner wall of the cas ing 20. The upper end of the wedging member 96 is provided with a tapering opening 106 which leads tothe opening 97 and thus Tinto the opening 95. |01

In inserting'the connecting members carrying theI tubing sections 27 into; the vwelha tool which has a stein portion 107 isprovided, the 4tool, 1,08 having pawls 109 thereon which are gadapted to be `projectedand retracted by suitable mechanism which is not shown in detail in the drawing, and being inthe projected position as shown in Fig. 4, `thus engagingwith the shoulder 98. The ,distance between' thesleeve 99 and the shoulder 98 is such that the flange 94 of the member 93 will be in such a position, Vasthe connecting means and the tubing section are being low ered into the well, that there will be suticient room in the bore 95 tor the projecting end portion 110 ot" the tool 108. After the tubingscction 27 carried by theconnecting means at the lower end thereof has reached the desired position in the well, the flexible supporting means 111 carrying the tool 108 is manipulated so as to canse the jaws 38 to engage" with the inner wall ot' the 'casing 20.

This, as previously stated, is done` by first moving the flexible member 111 upwardly to disengage the members 54 from the jaws 38 and after this has been done, lthe flexible f member 111 is moved downwardly tocause the jaws38 to move outwardly due to the action of the wedging member35 and into engagement with the casing 20, This having f been done, the further downward movement of themembcr 111 will cause the wedging member. 96 to move downwardly relative to the jaws 104, wedging these jaws outwardly into engagement with `the casing 20. In orderto rmly en agethe jaws 38 with the casing 20, the we ging member 35 may be` rammed downwardly by suitable jarring ap-z paratus provided in the line 111 of the usual construction. 'Ihejar is transmitted to the jaws 38 and 104 by means of the beveled shoulder 112 provided on the tool 108 that engages with the beveled surface 106 on the wedging member 96.

The next higher section of tubing 27 is in-` serted in the well inra similar manner and each section is provided with a beveled lower end portion 113 which is adapted to engage with the beveled or tapered wall 106 of the member 96 to guide the member 27 into the connecting,memberprovided at the upper end of the next lower section 27; Furthermore each tubingfseotion is provided withy a coupling member 114 which has a convex outer wall portion 115 providing a lateral enlargement inthe tubing section27 adapted to engage with the beveled end wall 106 of" the member 96. In placing the tubing sections 27 in position, the member 114 is permitted to engage withthe end wall 106 to determine kthe position of the next lower scction of tubing 27 j, whereupon thesamc is drawnv upwardly so as to space the member 114 from the member 96. vWhen the inembers 114 and 96 are thus separated, the next higher section 27 will not be supported in any manner bythe connectingimeans carriedby the ncxtlower section 27,'but `will be independentlysupported Vby its connectin means located' at the upperend thereof. t is,.ot course, understood 'that the tubing section 27 extends upwardly to the next higher coupling member 30 where the Same apparatus as shown in Fig. 9 is again piovided,the connecting means shown in Fig. 3 andthe tubing' sections 27 alternating throughout the lengt-h of the casing. The tubing sections are of such length that the same can be readily supported by the gripping jaws 38 engag-` ing the casing, and will beheld from upward movement due to gas pressure by means of the jaws 104 engaging the casing. It is, of course, to be `understood that th pawls 109 are withdrawn by proper inanipw lation ot' the tool 108 after tlietubing sec tion 27 that has been lowered into the well is in its linal position secured to the inner walt ot the casing 20, and the tool 108 is thereupon moved' upwardly by upwardmovement of the iiiexible member 111 so as to be disengaged trom the member 96, and this is repeated for the succeeding sections 27. When it is de sired to remove the sections 27, the 'reverse operation is performed, the tool 108 being inserted in the uppermost one of the members 96, the pawls 109 then projected, engaging, with the shoulder 98 whereupon the tool 108.

necting member 29, and after the connecting,

member 29 previously referred to andthe tubing 27 carried thereby are removed `from the well, the operation is repeated for the next section by engaging again with ,the con-` necting member 29 by means of the tool 108, the pawls 109 engaging with the shoulder 98 on tlienext lower member 96 and this Ais continued until all or any dcsirednumber` of the sections of` tubing are removed.

IVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a well casing of f tubing mounted therein, said tubingcomprising a plurality of sections `collectivel7 formingl a continuous conduit,land means on each of said sections `for suspending said section from said casing independently otthe'other sections and means on each oi' said sections engaging said casing for holding the same against upward movement in said casing.

2. Thecombination with a well casing of tubing .mounted therein, said tubing cmjnpris-v with an adjoining section, said means each' being provided with means engaging said casino' to hold said connectinir means fromV C? l b downward movement in said casing,

4. The combinationwitha well casing of tubing mounted therein, said tubing comprising a plurality of sections collectively :torming a continuous conduit, each of said sections comprising means for connecting said section with an adjoining section, said means each being. provided with means engaging said casing to holdvsaid connecting means from downward movement in said casing and means for holding said connecting means from upward movement in said casino. l

5. The combination with a well casing of tubing mounted therein, said tubing comprising tubing sections and ,coupling devices, one of said coupling devices being associated with each of said sections and the section associated therewith being suspendedlfrom its coupling device and extending into the next lowercoupling device, and casing gripping means on eachof said coupling devices. Y

6. The combination with a well casing of tubing mounted therein, said tubing comprising tubing sections and coupling devices, one of said coupling devices being associated with-each of said sections and the section associated therewith being suspended fromV its coupling device and-extending into the `next lower coupling device, and casing gripping means on each of said coupling devices, said gripping means comprising gripping members engaging said casing to hold said coupling device from downward movement in said casing and gripping members engaging said casing tohold said coupling device :from'upward movement in said casino'.

7. The combination with a well casing ot tubing mounted therein, said tubing comprising tubing sections and coupling devices, one

cf said coupling devices being associated with each of said sections and the sectionr associated therewith being suspended from its coupling 'device and extending into the next lower coupling device, and casing gripping means on each ot said coupling devices. said gripping means comprising gripping' members engaging` said casing to hold saio coupling device from downward movement in said casing and means for holding said gripping members out of engagement with said casing as the tubing section with which the samev is associated is being lowered into position in said casing. y f

8.,"i`he combination with a well casing of tubing mounted therein, said tubing compris-- ing tubinosections and coupling devices, one ot saidconpling devices being associatedwith each rd sections and the section associated therewith being suspended from its coupling device and extending into the next lower coupling device, and casing grippingl means on each oit said couplingdevices, said gripping means comprising gripping meml bers engaging said casing to hold said coupling device i'rom downward movement in said casing, means for holding said gripping members out oiiengagement with said casing as the tubing section with which the same is associated is being lowered into position in said casing, and means forV moving said,

gripping members into engagement with said casing. l i

9. The combination with a well casing` of tubing mounted therein, said tubing comprising tubing sections and coupling,- devices, one oi' said coupling devices being associated with each of said sections and the section associated therewitlibeing suspended from its coupling device and extending into the next lowercoupling device, and casing gripping means on each oi' said coupling devices, said veach oi said sections and the section associated therewith being suspended from its coupling device and extending into the next.

lower coupling device, and "casing gripping means on each oi' said coupling devices, said gripping means comprising gripping vmemi bers engaging said casing to holdl said coupling device trom downward movement 1n saidcasmg, gripping members engaging said casing to hold saidcoupling device from upward movement in said casing and wedging means for moving said gripping members into engagement with said casing.`

11. The combination with a well casingA of gripping means comprising gripping memyus said Veasing, said wedging means having ay limited movement lengthwise of said coupli ng device. f

12. The combination with a well casing of tubing mounted therein, said tubing comprising tubing sections and coupling devices, one of said coupling devices being associated with each of said sections and the section associated' therewithbeing .suspended from its coupling device and extending into the n ext lower coupling device, and casing gripping .means on each of Said coupling devices, said gripping means .comprising grippingmembers engaging said casmg tohold said coupllng device from downward movement in .n said casing, gripping members engaging said casing to hold said coupling device from upward movement in said casing and wedging means for moving said gripping members into engagement with said casing, each of saidwclging means having a limited movement lengthwise of said coupling device.

13. The combination with a well casing of tubing mounted therein, said tubing comprising tubing sections and coupling devices, one

. of said coupling devices being associated with each of said sections and the section asso- Leeaeae p ciatcd therewith being suspended from its coupling device and extending into the next lower coupling device, and casing gripping means on each of said coupling devices, said gripping means comprising gripping members engagingfsaid casing to hold said coupling device from downward movement in said casing and wedging means for moving said gripping members into engagement with said casing, said wedging means having resilient casing engaging means associated therewith. i Y

14. The combination with a well casing of tubing mounted therein, said Jtubing comprising tubing sections and coupling devices, one of said coupling devices being associated with each of said sections and the section associated therewith being suspended from its coupling device and extending into the next lower coupling device, and casing gripping means on each of said coupling devices, said coupling device slidably receiving an adjoining section ot' said tubing.

15. The combination with a well casing of tubing mounted therein, said tubing comprising tubing sections and coupling devices, one ot' said coupling devices being associated with each ot' said sections and the section associated therewith beingy suspended from its coupling device and extending into the next lower coupling device, and casing gripping means on cach of said coupling devices, said coupling device slidably receiving an adjoining section of said tubing and having means therein providing a liquid tight joint between said coupling device and said last men tioned section. p

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN G. ROBINSON.

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