US2108605A - Tubing stop - Google Patents

Description

Feh 15, 1938. c. F. MOSELEY 2,108,605

- TUBING STOP Filed June 26, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 CHI/05:15)

IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Feb. 15, 1938.

" c. F. MOSELEY TUBING STOP Fil xed June 26, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 2 WQM w? A TTORNEYS.

Feb. 15, 1938. 1 MOSIELEY 2,108,605

TUBING STOP Fi-led June 26, 1936 K 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A TTORNEYS.

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Patented Feb. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TUBING STOP Charles F. Moseley, Bartlesville,.0kla.

Application June 26,

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus for use in oil or water wells and relates particularly to improved tubing catchersor tubing stops.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved form of tubing stop which will permit tubing to be .anchored in a well casing at any desired point and which will permit ready disengagement of the device from the sides of the well casing wheneverit is desired to remove or reset the tubing. a

In most, if not all, of the tubing catchers or stops now in use, a solid cone or mandrel mounted on the tubing is used to spread collapsible slips so that they may engage the walls of the 5.5 well casing at the desired point, the weight of the tubing then acting on the cone to retain the slips in their spread position. The use of such devices is subject'to at least one major difficulty which it is the purpose of my invention to over- When the tubing hasbeen set" and the cone pressed against the slips causing teeth on the slips to engage the casing walls, such cones, because of the relatively large surface area. thereof which is in contact with the back of'the .25 slips and after remaining in the well fora-long period of time subject to the corrosive and rusting action of well fluid, are: wont to freeze to the slips. and oppose efiort to withdraw same from engagement with the slips so that the slips may be collapsed to permit the entire structure to be "removed from the well or to be reset at another point in. the well casing, 1

It is a principal object of my invention to provide a form of collapsible cone formed in segments on-which the slips are slidablean'd which are in turn acted upon by a spreader plate or mandrel to force the teeth on the slips: into engagement with the well casing; Said spreader plate or mandrel is in the form. of a'relatively flat frustum of a cone, the outside of which may be smooth or formed in a series ofsteps or shoulders, or otherwise, so that the total amount of the surface of the mandrel contacting the corresponding surfaces of the collapsible cone segments is relatively much less than in the case of the solid cones hitherto in use, and the danger of freezing to the slips will thereby be greatly minimized.

Another object of my invention is to provide a tubing stop constructed generallyas above described which when used in inverted position will function as a highly eificient. fishing tool for withdrawal of casing or tubing from a well and 55 one which may be readily disengaged from the or on) 1936, Serial No. 87,579

casing or tubing when down below the surface of the ground.

Other objects and advantages of my new invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partially sectional, of a form of my invention showing slips in the collapsed position for free movement within the well casing;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device in opera.- tive position anchored within the well casing;

Fig. 3 is a detail of the latching slot for holding the slips in the collapsed or engaging position;

Fig. 4 is a detail of one of the segments: of the collapsible cone;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are sections taken along lines 5-5, 66 and 11, respectively, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional elevation showing, in collapsed position, a modified form of my. device when used as a fishing tool; and

Fig. 9 isa view similar to that shown in Fig. 8 but showing the slips and cone in operative or engaging relationship with well casing.

Like numbers indicate like parts in the several drawings.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a section of well bore or casing l 0 in which is inserted a section of well string or tubing ll adapted to be set or anchored in casing in on which is mounted the device of my invention, which consists of an elongated sleeve member l2 surrounding tubing Hand spaced therefrom a. suitable distance so as to form a generally annular chamber between tubing H and sleeve l2. Extending from the inner wall of sleeve l2 toward tubing H is a ring I3 encompassing tubing II but not in contact therewith. Ring l3 divides the annular space between tubing H and sleeve I2 into a lower chamber 84 and an upper chamber l5. In the lower chamber I4 is a coil spring l6 surrounding tubing I l and held in place against ring 13 by a follower I! which is fixedly mounted on tubing H and extends into the lower end of chamber I4. The outer surface of chamber I4 is of angular contour, as in the form of a square, and the outer surface of follower I1 is complementary in shape (see Fig. 7) to permit telescoping of follower I! into chamber I l while preventing turning of sleeve l2 relative to follower I! and to thereby cause sleeve [2 to turn with tubing ll since follower I1 is fixedly attached to tubing l I. A cage I8 on which are mounted bow springs l9 surrounds the lower portion of sleeve l2 and lugs. 20 extend inwardly from the upper edge of cage l8 and engage L shaped slots 2! (Fig 3) located in about the center of sleeve l2 and serve to hold cage I8 in engagement with sleeve l2, and slots 2| cooperate with lugs 28 to limit the vertical and lateral movement of cage l8 with relation: to sleeve l2. Bow springs I9 are adapted to frictionally engage the inner walls of casing ID, the tension of bow springs l9 being sufficient to support the weightof cage I8 by frictional pressure exerted by springs l9 against the walls of casing H].

The upper end of sleeve |2 terminates in a U shaped member 22, the opening of the U pointing upward. The outer prong of the U turns inwardly toward tubing forming an annular lip 23 tending to partially close the opening of the U thus forming an annular slot 24 in the upper end of sleeve |2, said slot 24 opening upwardly. A series of are shaped plates 25 forming a collapsible cone are mounted in slots 24 by means of tongues 26 having outwardly turned lips 21 which engage the inwardly extending lips 23 forming hinge type joints which permit plates 25 to swing toward or away from casing ||l. Plates25 are spaced apart from each other va sufiicient distance to permit of movement of plates 25 towards each other when they move in a direction away from the walls of casing H1 in assuming the collapsed position of Fig. 1. All of the plates 25 together form the collapsible cone which is one of the principal featuresvof my invention. The maximum spread of plates 25 is regulated by means of straps 28, each of which has one end fixedly attached to one of plates 25 by means of a bolt 29 and the other end attached to an adjacent plate 25 by means of another bolt 30 which is slidably engaged in a slot 3| in strap 28. (Fig. 4.) By this means plates 25 may swing inwardly toward tubing H to the extent permitted by slots 3| in straps 28 and outwardly toward casing ID to the same extent. The maximum outward movement of plates 25 is such that the maximum outside diameter of the cone formed by plates 25 in their most extended position will be less than the inside diameter of casing Ill.

The upper edges of plates 25 are tapered upwardly and outwardly in a series of circular steps or seats 32. A mandrel 33 fixedly attached to tubing above the plates 25, is formed in the shape of a frustum of a cone, the outer surface of which is tapered inwardly and downwardly in a series of circular steps or shoulders 34 adapted to be seated in seats 32 when mandrel 33 is brought into contact with plates 25. As noted above, the upper edges of plates 25 may form a smooth conical seat and the outer surface of mandrel 33 may have a corresponding shape. The taper of the upper edges of plates 25 may be greater than that of mandrel 33 so that the points of contact of plates 25 with mandrel 33 will form a narrow ring, or in the case of the step-wise taper illustrated, will form a series of concentric contact rings. The chief point to be noted is that the total surface thus in contact between plates 25 and mandrel 33 is kept very small for reasons to be more fully explained hereinafter.

A metal ring 35 encompasses sleeve l2 between cage l8 and the U shaped end 22 of sleeve l2 and is slidable on sleeve l2 between these points. Attached to ring 35 by resilient arms 36 and extending thereabove are arc-shaped slips 31 on the outer faces of which are teeth 38. The inner faces of slips 31 form surfaces tapering upwardly and complementary in shape to the outer faces of plates 25, with which they are in slidable engagement. Lugs 39 extend from the inner faces of slips 31 through elongated slots 40 formed in plates 25 which limit the movement of slips 31 over plates 25 to a vertical direction. Slots 40 are of sufficient length to permit the maximum required amount of such movement. Heads 4| on lugs 39 prevent disengagement of slips 31 from plates 25.

The manner in which the above described device functions is as follows:

The device, in the collapsed position illustrated in Fig. l, is inserted in casing In. In this position lugs 20 are engaged in the lateral arms of L shaped slots 2| and in this position slips 31 will be located toward the lower ends of plates 25 which are seated against mandrel 33 by the tension of spring |6 which is designed to hold plates 25 in this seated engagement. When the device has reached the desired point in casing Ill, tubing II is turned so as to disengage lugs 2|! from the lateral arms of slots 2|. The frictional engagement of bow springs |9 will hold cage l8 and lugs 20 in position so this turning movement may be effected. When the turning movement has reached the point where lugs 2|] will enter the vertical arms of slots 2|, cage l8 will remain stationary and tubing II with sleeve l2 and its attached elements will be permitted to continue downward whereupon ring 35 will come in contact with the upper end of cage 8 and acting through arms 36 will force slips 31 to move upwardly and outwardly over the outward faces of plates 25 until teeth 38 engage and bite into the walls of easing H! as shown in Fig. 2. The continued downward movement of tubing II will continue to apply increasing pressure as more of the weight of tubing II on mandrel 33 is applied through plates 25 to slips 31 until teeth 38 are firmly imbedded in casing l and tubing II will then be firmly anchored, as long as the weight of the tubing rests on plates 25 in the manner described.

When it becomes necessary to remove the tubing from the well or to change its position within the casing, an upward pull is applied to the tubing II at the mouth of the well, in the usual manner, whereupon follower |1 will act to compress spring |6 sufiiciently to permit mandrel 33 to be lifted out of engagement with seats 32 on plates 25, thereupon permitting plates 25 to collapse inwardly toward tubing sufficiently to permit teeth 38 on slips 31 to spring out of engagement with casing l0 whereupon spring l6 will expand forcing plates 25 upwardly into proper seating engagement with mandrel 33 and as a result of this movement slips 31 will move downwardly over plates 25 and will again reach the position shown in Fig. 1, whereupon lugs 20 will again be in register with the lateral arms of slots 2| and a turn of tubing U will bring lugs 23 into the lateral arms of slots 2| thus locking slips 31 in their collapsed position and permitting the device together with the tubing to be withdrawn from the casing ID or to be moved to another position therein.

It will be evident that by means of my device I utilize a principle of applying the weight of tubing II to a relatively small area such as the small circular contact areas between seats 32 and shoulders 34, and in this way, there can be no large cone surfaces to freeze to the slips. Even if we assume that slips 31 freeze to plates 25,

when the weight of tubing II is lifted from seats 32 of plates 25, the tension in the walls of casing II] which naturally resists the outward pressure of slips 31 when pressure due to the weight of tubing i I is appliedthereto, will causeslips 31- and plates 25 to springinwardly and bring teeth 38 out of'engagement with casing l0. The great advantage of my form of tubing anchor or stop over present forms will be clearly evident when it is noted that the present forms of tubing anchors employ solid cones fixedly attached to the tubing or other support means, and that said cones bear directly against the slips. In such devices the only way to lift the Weight of the tubing from the slips is to pull the cones out of engagement with the slips and, as pointed out above, when freezing has set in over the relatively large contact surfaces between such cones and slips, it becomes, in many cases, impossible to accomplish this separation with the result that the tubing is frequently pulled in two in the effort to release the tubing stop.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have illustrated a slightly modified form of my invention whereby the device may be utilized as a fishing tool or casing spear. This is accomplished by inverting the device and making one simple mechanical change in the structure above described.

The numbers on Figs. 8 and 9 denote the same elements in their same relative relationship as designated by these same numbers in the preceding figures with the following slight modifications:

In the device illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, ring 35 to which is attached arms 36 carrying slips 3! and the end of cage it from which lugs 20 extend into slots 2! in sleeve l2 are modified in form, overthat shown in the above described device, so as to be joined together to form a swivel joint 52, and on mandrel 33 is mounted a spear point 53 to aid in guiding the device into casing Hi. When the device of my invention is to be used as a fishing tool it is inserted'into the casing or tubing to be pulled in the inverted position shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

When used as a fishing tool the device functions in the following manner:

When the device is in the collapsed position of Fig. 8, lugs 20 are engaged in the lateral arms of slots 2! in which position the slips 3'! are positioned on plates 25 at a point closest to the end member 22 of sleeve 12. When the device has been inserted in casing If! to the desired position therein, tubing H is turned to disengage lugs 20 from the lateral arms of slots 2| and lugs 28 are thereby moved into the vertical arms of slots 2!, whereupon a lift or pull is taken on tubing II. The upward movement of tubing II will cause plates 25 to move up over slips 31 and the outward taper of plates 25 will force slips 3? toward the walls of casing l until teeth 38 bite into the walls of casing 55. The continued upward movement of tubing It will bring pressureto bear through mandrel 33 on the contact surfaces of plates 25 and will thus act to firmly press teeth 38 on slips 3'! into the walls of casing ill and will hold the slips in firm engagement with casing I ll as long as the pull is exerted on tubing ll. When it is desired to release the hold of the device on casing it], the pullon tubing I l is slackened and tubing H is permitted to start downward into casing iii, whereupon follower I! will act upon spring 16 compressing it sufficiently to permit mandrel 33 to move downward out of engagement with seats 32 on plates 25. Thereupon plates 25 slips 3'! are shown as flat bars.

will collapse permitting slips 3'!- to spring inwardly pulling teeth 38 out of engagement with casing ID. Spring [6 will then expand forcing plates 25 down over slips 3! and bring seats 32 again into contact with shoulders 34 on mandrel 33 and will at the same time bring lugs 20 up ward in slots 2| until lugs 20 register with the lateral arms of slots 2| whereupon tubing H is turned sufiiciently to engage lugs 20 in the lateral arms-of slots 21 locking'slips 31 in the collapsed or inoperative position in exactly the same manner as described above. The entire device may then be withdrawn from casing Ill.

Here again it will be evident that even though plates 25 may tend to freeze to slips 31, compression of spring IE will permit mandrel 33 to move out of contact with seats 32 a distance sufficiently great to permit slips 3! and plates 25 to collapse inwardly toward tubing II as a result of the tension in the walls of casing I!) and thus free slips 3'! from the walls of casing ll].

It will be evident that numerous modifications may be made in the elements of my device. For example, mandrel '33, instead of being solid as shown, may be in the form of a spider with spaces between the arms thereof to permit ready passage of well fluids therethrough. In this form there may be one or more arms of the spider in contact with each of the plates 25 in which case the area of contact between the spider arms and plates 25 will consist of a series of arcs. From a practical standpoint it is only necessary that the arms of the spider shaped mandrel be sufficiently strong to support the weight of the tubing and sufficiently stiff to prevent the tension in the walls of casing if] from forcing plates 25 inwardly by overcoming the resistance of the spider arms to such movement.

The number of slips 37 and cone segments or plates 25 may be varied as desired depending upon the size of the casing in which the tubing is to be anchored.

When the device is used as a fishing tool, tubing ll may be replacedby a solid metal member to obtain greater strength. i p

In the forms of my new device illustratedherein, arms 36 attached to rings 35 and supporting These may be spring steel to allow sufiicient outward spring of slips 3! in order that slips 31 may engage casing iii and also to assist in causing slips 3'! to pull out of engagement with casing l0 when the pressure of the tubing is removed. Also arms 36, instead of being solidly attached to ring 35 as shown, may be attached thereto by a hinge device.

Various other modifications in shape, size and form of the elements of the device will nodoubt be apparent to those skilled in the art without occasioning a departure from the scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that my new device may be combined with packers in the manner well understood in this particular art. By providing automatic means for unlatching the slips my device may be readily converted intoa true tubing catcher rather than the tubing stop herein described in detail.

The fishing tool shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is claimed specifically in my divisional application Serial No. 160,923, filed August 25, 1937.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a well string, a collapsible cone comprising segmental members supported by said string, slips slidably engaging said cone, and means on the well string for holding said cone in expanded condition, said means being movable axially of the well string away from the cone to allow the latter to collapse toward the well string.

2. In a device of the character described, a well string, a collapsible cone comprising segmental members supported by said string, slips slidably engaging said cone, and means on the well string for holding said cone in expanded condition, said means being movable away from the cone to allow the latter to collapse toward the well string, the last mentioned means including a substantially disk-shaped mandrel engageable with one end portion of each of the segmental members. I

3. In a device of the character described, a well string, a. collapsible cone comp-rising segmental members supported by said string, slips slidably engaging said members and adapted to interlock with the bore of a well, and means movable axially of the well string into and out of engagement with one end portion of each of said segmental members for holding the cone in expanded condition.

4. In a device of the character described, a well string, a collapsible cone comprising segmental members supported by said string, slips slidably engaging said members and adapted to interlock with the bore of a well, means movable axially of the well string into and out of engagement with one end portion of each of said segmental members for holding the cone in expanded condition, and means actuated by movement of the string relatively to said members for setting and releasing said slips. I

5. A tubing stop including a tubing, a collapsible cone comprising segmental members supported by said tubing, slips slidably engaged on said members, and weight carrying means attached to said tubing and contacting said members whereby pressure is applied to said members to force said slips into anchoring engagement with a casing.

6. A tubing stop as claimed in claim 5, wherein the contacting surfaces between said weight carrying means and said members are line contacts.

'7. In a device of the character described, a well string, a follower supported thereby, a sleeve slidably mounted on the string, a spring coacting with the sleeve and follower for normally urging the sleeve in a direction away from the follower, a cage mounted on the sleeve and provided with friction means engageable with the bore of a well for holding the cage in a fixed position while the sleeve is moved relatively thereto, a slip assembly cooperating with the cage, a collapsible cone supported by the sleeve and including segental members slidably engaging the slips, and means supported by the well string for holding the cone in expanded condition, the last mentioned means being movable axially of the well string away from the cone to allow the latter to collapse.

8. In a structure of the character described, a well string, a member supported by the well string, a collapsible cone including segmental members hingedly connected at one end to the first mentioned member, a slip assembly having slips slidably engaging the segmental members and adapted to interlock with well casing, and a substantially disk-shaped mandrel engageable with the other ends of the segmental members for normally holding the cone in expanded condition,

said mandrel being movable away from the cone to allow the latter to collapse.

9. In a structure of the character described, a well string, a member supported by the string, a collapsible cone including segmental members, each having one of its ends hingedly connected to the first mentioned member, toothed slips slidably engaging the cone and adapted to grip the bore of well casing, and a substantially diskshaped mandrel having a relatively short annular surface engageable with the opposite end portions of the segmental members for normally holding the cone in expanded condition, said mandrel being movable away from the segmental members to allow the cone to collapse.

10. In a structure of the character described, a well string, a sleeve supported by the string, a collapsible cone including segmental members, each having one of its ends hinged to the sleeve, toothed slips slidably engaging the segmental members, slot and pin connections joining the slips to said members, means mounted on the sleeve and adapted to frictionally engage the bore of a well for setting and releasing said slips, a substantially disk-shaped mandrel engaging the opposite ends of the segmental members for normally holding the cone in expanded condition, said mandrel being movable with the well string relatively to said cone for releasing the mandrel from the cone to permit collapsing of the latter.

11. In a structure of the character described, a well string, a sleeve supported thereby and movably arranged relatively to the well string, a cage, a slot and pin connection joining the cage to the sleeve, friction means carried by the cage and engageable with the bore of a well for holding the cage in a fixed position while the sleeve moves relatively thereto, a slip assembly engageable with the cage, toothed slips forming part of said assembly and adapted to be set by movement of the sleeve relatively to the cage and slip assembly, a collapsible cone including segmental members, each having one of its ends hingedly connected to the sleeve, said slips slidably engaging said segmental members, and a substantially diskshaped mandrel supported by the well string and engageable with the opposite end portions of the segmental members for normally holding the cone in expanded condition.

12. In a structure of the character described, a well string, a sleeve supported by and movably arranged relatively to the well string, a cage, a slot and pin connection joining the cage to the sleeve, friction means carried by the cage and engageable with the bore of a well for holding the cage in a fixed position while the sleeve moves relatively thereto, a slip assembly engageable with the cage, toothed slips forming part of said assembly and adapted to be set by movement of the sleeve relatively to the cage and slip assembly, a collapsible cone including segmental members, each having one of its ends hingedly connected to the sleeve, said slips slidably engaging said segmental members, and a substantially disk shaped mandrel supported by the well string and engageable with the opposite end portions of the segmental members for normally holding the cone in expanded condition.

13. In a structure of the character described, a well string, a sleeve supported by and movably arranged relatively to the well string, a cage, a slot and pin connection joining the cage to the sleeve, friction means carried by the cage and engageable with the bore of a well for holding the cage in a fixed position ,while the sleeve moves relatively thereto, a slip assembly engageable with the cage, toothed slips forming part of said assembly and adapted to be set by movement of the sleeve relatively tothe cage and slip assembly, a collapsible cone including segmental members, each having one of its ends hingedly conected to the sleeve, said slips slidably engaging said segmental members, a substantially diskshaped mandrel supported by the well string and engageable with the opposite end portions of the segmental members for normally holding the cone in expanded condition, and means for limiting the expanding movement of the segmental members.

14. A device of the character described, comprising a well string, a collapsible cone supported by the string and comprising segmental members, means hingedly supporting said members from the lower ends thereof, toothed slips slidably engaging said members, means arranged below the members for setting said slips, and a relatively short mandrel engageable with the upper end portions of said members for normally holding the cone in expanded condition.

CHARLES F. MOSELEY.

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