US2595014A - Hydrostatic pulling tool for wells - Google Patents

Description

April 29, 1952 w. SMITH ET AL 2,595,014

HYDROSTATIC PULLING TOOL FOR WELLS Filed Nov. 28, 1949 -2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 ll 42 H H 58 55 96 I 26 2 5,5 m 59 I HI i; a 5 F g I 62 3 l l as J \/1 24 H 78.

f '79 l i 59 75 I I I I 1; 76 I l I Fl .6 3e 9 8/ 3 LESTER. w SMITH LE STER W.-5M|TH,J1:

April 29, 1952 L; w. SMITH ET AL 2,595,014

HYDROSTATIC PULLING TOOL FOR WELLS Filed NOV. 28, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 I H iiii Fig.9

awn/Mom LESTERMSMITH LESTER W.$MlTH,Jr.

Fig.8 f )6 Patented Apr. 29, 1952 U N I TED IS TAT'ES .TEN T OF E ICE Lester W. Smith and Lester'W. Smith, J12, Corpus Christi, Tex.

Appiication November 28, 1949, Serial No. 129,863

'8 Claims. '1

This invention relates to a pulling tool which is adapted'to be anchored inthe casing of a well bore and which is adapted to pullupwardon a fishing tool connected to the lower end of the pulling tool when the fishing tool inturn is connected to a lodged object in the well.

It is an object of this invention to provide a pulling tool which is adapted to be anchored in the casing of a well bore and which may'have a fishing tool connected ,to the lower end thereof and whichmay pull on the fishing tool, which, inturn, is connected to 'alodged object.

It is another object of this invention to :providea pulling tool of this class which employs the hydrostatic pressure of the Well to abet the pulling operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a pulling toolof this class which'is adapted for connection to a tubular .string thereabove, so that the upward movement .of the tubular string may create a vacuum .within the pulling tool to be opposed by-the hydrostatic pressure'in the Well.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a pulling tool of thisclass which may be designed so that the pull exerted on a lodged .object thereby is multiplied by the pull exerted at the top of the well upon the tubular string to whichthe pulling tool is connected.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pulling tool ,of this class which has :slips therein adapted to anchor the tool in the well casing and which is adapted to break the contact of the slips with the casing when it may be desired to move the tool.

It is another object of this invention to provide a pulling tool of this class which is adapted for connection to a lifting means thereabove, so that upward movement of the lifting means may create a vacuum within the pulling tool to be opposed by the hydrostatic pressure in the well.

It is stilla further object of this invention to provide a pulling tool of this class which utilizes the contraction of a stretched pipe string to provide an excessive up-jarring force to dislodge an object connected therebe'low when the vacuum in the tool is broken.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a pulling tool of this class which is adapted to be employed with .a grapple, spear, or any other type of fishing tool which may be employed to grasp a lodged object.

Other and further objects of this invention will be obvious when the specification is considered in connection with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation, partinsection; showing the upper :part of the tool as it is lowered Fig. 5 is ascctional plan view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig.6 is 'a-sectionalplan view-taken along line 6-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is an elevation, part :in section, of the upper part of the tool showing'it in the process of lifting;

Fig. 8 is anelevation of the central portion of the tool, part in section, showing it in the process of lifting;

Fig. 9 is an elevation, part in section, showing the lower part of the tool and aspear attached thereto in the process of lifting.

The tool I is adapted for connection to a tubular string 2 by means of the cap 3, which is threadable onto the end 4 of the tubular string and which has'a'threaded box 5 therein to receive the threaded end 6 of a hexagonal piston rod I. The piston rod 5 has a hollow bore '8 therethrough, and a check valve H9 in the bore 8 at the upper end thereof, and a piston IE on the lower end thereof. This piston rod 1 is slidable in the cap I l of the body l2 of the tool, which has the housing 2! as the upper element thereof; the cap 1 I hasa hole l3 therethrough, of hexagonal cross section, to receive the rod 1.

The housing 2i has ports M through its walls centrally thereof, and additional ports [5 through the walls thereof substantially adjacent the cap II. The housing 2i, in turn, is connected to a plug ll, as by threads Hi. The plug H has a bore t8 therethrough and is threaded at H? to receive the threaded pin 2t, which is the upper element of the mandrel assembly. Below the pin 29 and connected thereto, there is a threaded section 24 which terminates in the collar 25; and below the collar 2% the tube 21' extends to the collar 2%. The sleeve 2H3, comprising the wedge segments 3i and 3-2 and the base segment 33, is fitted around the tube 2'! and rigidly connected between the collars 26 and 28.

The compartmented cylinder 35 is threaded at 36 to thebase segment 33, and this cylinder comprises in sequence the tube section 31, which forms the compartment 38; the tube section 39, which is threaded into the tube section 31 and which forms the compartment 4|; and the tube section 42, which is threaded into the tube section 39 and which forms the compartment 43. The base plug 44 is threaded onto the tube section 42 to close the cylinder 35.

A piston rod 45, which has the bore 46 therethrough, has the piston 5| thereon within the compartment 38; the piston 52 thereon, within the compartment 4|; and the piston 53 thereon, within the compartment 43. There is a passage 51 in the piston 52 which places the compartment 4| in communication with the bore 46; and the passage 58 in the piston 53 places the compartment 43 in communication with the bore 4'5. The shaft 59, of hexagonal cross section, is rigidly connected to the under side of the piston 53 and extends through the hole 6| in the base plug 44 to its termination at the collar 02 and the pin 63.

A cage 65 extends around the sleeve 30, and, as shown in Fig. 4, has the slots 66 therein into which are fitted the slip segments 61, which have the jaws G8 thereon. Retainer plates, as shown at 69, are mounted on the cage 65 to restrain the slip segments 61 to limited outward motion, as shown in Fig. 8. The cage 65 has slots 69 and 10 therein to receive the ears 1| of the wing nut 12 which bear against the sides of the slots and restrain the wing nut 12 from rotation as the threaded section 24 may be rotated therein.

Any type of fishing tool, as a grapple, spear, or overshot, may be threaded onto the pin 63; and in Fig. 3 a conventional spear 15 is shown. This type of spear is expanded by rotating the mandrel 11 thereof to the left so that the lug 18 thereon passes to the end of the horizontal leg 19 of the J-slot 80. Then the downward drop of the weighted sleeve 5| permits the vertical leg' 02 of the J-slot to pass downward around the lug 18, with the result that the slips are moved outwardly, in a well known and conventional manner, to grasp the sides of an object, as shown in Fig. 9.

In operation, the tubular string 2 with the tool I thereon is lowered into the well, the body I2 being suspended from the piston I3, as shown in Fig. 1. During this descent the pistons 5|, 52, and 53 substantially rest on the horizontal bulkheads ISS and I59 and the base plug 44, respectively.

If a spear 15 is employed, as shown in Fig. 3, the lug 18 thereof should ride in the horizontal leg 19 of the J-slot as the spear descends. When the shoulder 94 of the spear mandrel 11 strikes an object, as the top of the lodged object 95, shown broken off in Fig. 9, this indicates to the operator at the top of the well that the spear 15 might be put into engagement with this object which it is sought to retrieve. Left-hand rotation is then imparted to the tubular string 2 at the top of the well, and this rotation moves the spear mandrel 11 and the lug 10 thereon to the bottom of the vertical leg 82 of the J-slot 80, and permits the spear sleeve 8| to drop downwardly, as shown in Fig. 9, to set the slips 15, as has been hereinabove described.

This left-hand rotation also moves the wing nut 1| upwardly on the threaded section 24 as the ears 1| thereof ride in the slots 63 and 10, and brings the top surfaces 95 of the ears 1| into contact with the cage shoulders 91 at the top of the slots 59 and 10. Further left-hand rotation moves the wing nut 1| upward on the threaded 4 section 24, and this lifts the cage so that slip segments 61 carried thereby are moved outwardly along the wedge segments 3| and 32 to set the slips to firmly grip the casing I00.

With the body I2 anchored in the casing I00 and with the spear slips 10 set in the fish or lodged object, the tubular string 2 is then lowered to position the piston I0 on the rod 1 at substantially the bottom of the chamber IOI within the housing 2|. The hydrostatic fluid in the chamber IOI below the ports I4, as well as the fluid in the compartmented cylinder 35 therebelow, is generally forced upwardly through the bores 46, I8, and 8, and through the check valve ||0 into the tubular string 2.

When the piston I0 rests substantially on the top I04 of the plug H the tubular string 2 is raised and the piston I0 moves upwardly and begins to create a vacuum in the chamber IDI below the piston I0. This upward movement also creates vacuum in the compartment 38 above the piston 5|, and as passages 51 and 58 communicate with the bore 46, upward motion of the piston I0 also creates vacuum in the compartments 4| and 43.

The openings I05, I06, and I03 through the walls of tube sections 31, 39, and 42, respectively, permit hydrostatic fluid from the well, exterior of the tool, to enter into the compartments, and the pressure of this hydrostatic fluid acts on the lower sides of the pistons 5|, 52, and 53. Ohviously, since there is only a vacuum or partial vacuum acting upon the upper side of these pistons to oppose the force of the hydrostatic pressure fluid, the piston moves upwardly with great lifting force. This force measured in pressure in pounds per square inch multiplied by the areas of the under sides of pistons 5| and 52 plus the total cross section area of the piston 53 amounts to a tremendous total lift in pounds.

It should be noticed that as the piston I0 moves upwardly, hydrostatic fluid which passes into the chamber IOI through the ports I4 and I5 above the piston acts downwardly on the annular area surrounding the rod I1 on the top side of the piston I0. The reading of the weight indicator at the top of the well then is determined by the weight of the tubular string 2 plus the rod I and piston I0, plus the friction of the piston I0 within the housing 2|, and plus the hydrostatic pressure multiplied by the cross-sectional area in inches of the annular area I01.

As the area I01, in design, may bear a definite ratio to the effective areas of the pistons 5|, 52, and 53, against which hydrostatic pressure works, it can be seen that the total lifting force exerted by the tandem of pistons on the piston rod 45 may be a function or multiple of the lift indicated on the weight indicator at the top of the well.

This multiplied lifting force may loosen the fish or lodged object to which the spear 15 is connected, in which case the tubular string 2, with the tool I, spear 15, and fish suspended therefrom, may be lifted from the well bore.

However, in case the lifting of the string 2 does not loosen the fish, the string 2 may then be rotated to the right to move the nut 1| downwardly to the bottom of slots 69 and 10, and further rotation causes it to push the cage 65 downwardly to loosen the contact of the slip jaws 68 of the slip segments 61 with the casing I00. This right hand rotation should also loosen the slip jaws 1B of the spear 15 from the fish.

In cases where the slip jaws 68 have become stuck to the casing 100 so that the "slip. segments '61 do notretraet when the not ll gpushea the cage '65 downwardly, then a furtherupward pull may be exerted "on thestring 2 on-til the piston In uncovers the parts in to break the vacuum in the chamber m .and in :the upper parts :of compartments :38, 4:1, and 3. .Duringithe-npplication of lifting stereo to ithezstring 2, o consider.-

able stretchingot the pipe thereof :willihave been accomplished. When the vacuum :is broken, the pipe of the string -2 will immediately :undergo :a cont-inactive reaction and this will result dunner.- ing the piston .10 =upwardly against :the cap-=15! of the housing 21 with-a violentiimpact.

This impact, and the possible '-;contmned contraction of the pipe offline-string '21., "will tchf ittt the mandrel and wedge sections 3"! and 3! thereof upwardl to withdraw the slip segments .657 and jaws ":58 from the eating all!!! so that they may dro dqwfi its the position or .iig. :2 under own weight. A A

After :the vacuum I is roken, an additim'ialiiapring effect is obtained by the impact {of 118 pistons 5.1, 52,, and-53, on *themartitififis 408 and 1-09 and theba'se plugw-gzrespeotiitely.

It is herein nomted out that whereas in the specification hereinabovc. =:a itublila-r stxi'ng considered as the means "below which "the tool is connected, this invention is not thus limi d, and 'a lifting means '2 need -not =neoessarilybe tubules and may :be solid above the men-t it! where he fluid from the bore 8 discharges nto'the space I I2 within the liftingmeans.

Broadly this invention considers saprilling tool whereby the list appl ed at the'top of the well to release an object lodged therein maybemuitiplied by the employment iof'zthe' hydnest-atioduid pressure :of the well when such is oppo d by created vacuum spaces.

Whatds claimed a tubular string employed in bones; tool comprising, a "housing, connection means between :Sa-id housing and :said string and zrotat able therewith, a hollow :mandnel connected to the lower rend of said housing, a compattmen ed cylinder connected to the lower end of said mandrel, hollow pistonmeans including a piston operable in each compartment and providing communication between the piston means bore and each compantmenteabove the piston therein, said piston means extending below said cylinder for connection to means for grasping an object lodgedin the well, an opening in each comparti ment to admit pressure fluid from the well bore, slip means on said mandrel operable upon rotation of said string to extend and grasp said well bore wall, said connection means including hollow piston means operable within said housing upon the lifting of said string to pull vacuum in the upper part of each compartment while pressure fluid enters each compartment through "i said openings opposite the vacuum side of each compartment whereby the liftingforce applied to said string at the top of the well is multiplied in the lifting force applied to the lodged object.

2. A pulling tool for operation with and below a tubular string employed in well bores, said tool comprising, a body, connection means between said body and said string and rotatable therewith, compartments in the lower end of said body, hollow piston means including a piston operable in each compartment and providing communication between the piston means bore and each compartment above the piston therein,

said piston means extending below saidcbody dorconnection to means for grasping an object lodged in the well here, an opening in each com- ;partment to :admit pressure :fiuld from the well 1 fiboregslip means on said body operable upon rotation .or said string to grasp said well bore-wall, g'said connection means including hollow piston :means operable within aid housing upon the lifting of said string to pull vacuum in the upper 10 part of each compartment while pressure fluid ,aenters each compartment through said opening opposite the vacuum vside of each compartment whereby the lifting force applied to -said str ing "T atthe top of the well is multiplied in the lifting 1 :forceapplied to the lodged object.

M :3. .Apnlling tool for operation with and below 5a tubularstring employed in well bores,-said tool *homprising, .a :body, connection means between '{lsaid body and said string and rotatable there with, compartments in the lower end of saidbody, fhollow zpiston means including a piston operable "ineach compartment and providing communicate -,tion between the piston means bore and each compartment above-the piston therein, said piston means extending :below :said body for connection itoameans for grasping an object lodged the wwell here, :an opening in each compartment admit pressure fluid from :the well bore, slip jmeans -.0n said body operable upon rotation of 1said strlng to grasp said well :bore wall, a check fva-ltre inisaid connection-means to permitpressure fiuid topass :therethrough into said string, said connection .means including hollow piston means cperaible within said housing upon the lifting of '5""said;string;to pull vacuum :in the upper part ot achzcompartment while pressure -fiuid renters each ompartment through said opening pnosite the fvacu-um side of each compartment whereby the lifting force applied to said string at thettop of .,-the avellisimul-ti lied in the liftin force an lied 1- ipuiling tool foroperation with -:and below p g to the lodged :obiect.

' pulling tool for operation with and below atubularstring employed in well ibores, said tool licomprlsing, :a body, connection means between saidfbody and said string and rotatable there "hollow piston means including-a piston operable ineach compartment and providing communica- ,tion between the piston means bore and each 5 compartment above the piston thereinsaldpiston means extending ibelow said body for connection to means for grasping an object lodged in the well bore, an opening in ,each compartment to admit pressure fluid from the well bore, slip means on said body operable upon rotation of 'said string to grasp said well bore wall, said connection means including hollow piston means 1 operable within said housing upon the lifting of said string to pull vacuum in the upper part of 0 each compartment while pressure fluid enters each compartment through said opening opposite the vacuum side of each compartment whereby a the lifting force applied to said string at the top of the well is multiplied in the lifting force applied to the lodged object, there being ports in said body wall to break the vacuum when said second hollow piston means is lifted thereabove. 5. A pulling tool for operation with and below a tubular string employed in well bores, said tool 7Q comprising, a body, connection means between said body and said string and rotatable therewith, compartments in the lower end of said body,

in each compartment and providing communication'bctwee'n the piston -means bore and each with, compartments in the "lower end of :said body,

hollow piston means including a piston operable compartment above the piston therein, said piston means extending below said body for connection to means for grasping an object lodged in the well bore, an opening in each compartment to admit pressure fluid from the well bore, slip means on said body operable upon rotation of said string to grasp said well bore wall, means on said body operable upon rotation of said'string after said slips have been set to actuate the retraction of said slips, said connection means including hollow piston means operable within said housing upon the lifting of said string to pull vacuum in the upper part of each compartment while pressure fluid enters each compartment through said opening opposite'the vacuum side of each compartment whereby the lifting force applied to said string at the top of the well is multiplied in the lifting force applied to the lodged object.

6. A pulling tool for operation with and below a lifting means employed in well bores; said tool comprising, a body, connection means between said body and said lifting means and-rotatable therewith, compartments in the lower end of said body, hollow piston means including a piston operable in each compartment and providing communication between the piston means bore and each compartment above the piston therein, said piston means extending below said body for connection to means for grasping an object lodged in the well bore, an opening in each compartment to admit pressure fluid from the well bore, means on said body operable upon rotation of said lifting means to grasp said'well bore wall, said connection means including hollow piston means operable within said housing upon the lifting of said lifting means to pull vacuum-in the upper part of each compartment while pressure fluid enters each compartment through said opening opposite the vacuum side of each compartment whereby the lifting force applied to'said lifting means at the top of the well is multiplied in the lifting force applied to the lodged object.

'7. A pulling tool for operati'cn'with. and below a lifting means employed in well bores, said tool comprising, a body, connection means between said body and said lifting means and rotatable therewith, compartments in the lower end of said body, hollow piston means including a piston operable in each compartment and providing communication between the piston means bore and each compartment above the piston therein, said piston means extendingbelow said body for connection to means for grasping an object lodged in the well bore, an opening in each compartment to admit pressure fluid from the well bore, slip means-0n said body operable upon rotation ofsaid lifting means tograsp said well bore wall, said connection means including hollow piston-means operable within said housing, the lowering of-xsaid lifting means after the setting of said slip means/forcing said hollow piston means downwardly in saidhousing to transfer fluid upwardly'into'said' lifting means, valve means for preventing the return of fluid thus transferred upon the lifting of said lifting means, the lifting of said'lifting means thereafter creating vacuum in the upper part of each compartment while pressure fluid enters each compartment through said openingopposite the vacuum side of each compartment whereby the lifting force applied to said lifting means at the top of the well is multiplied 'in the lifting force applied to the lodged object.

8. pulling tool for operation with and below a tubular string employed in well bores, said tool comprising, a body, connection means between said body and said string and rotatable therewith, compartment means in the lower end of said body, hollow piston means including a piston operable in said compartment means, means providing communication between the piston means bore and said compartment means above the piston therein, said piston means extending below said body forconnection to means for grasping an object lodged in'the well bore,- opening means in said'comp'artnfent' means to admit pressure fluid from the welllbore, slip means on said body operably upon rotationof "said string to grasp said well bore wall, said connection means including hollowpiston means operable within said housing upon the lifting of said'string to pull vacuum in the upper part "of each compartment while pressure fluid enters said compartment means through said opening means opposite the vacuum side thereof wliereby the lifting force applied to said string at-th'e top of the well is multiplied in the lifting" force applied to the lodged object.

' LESTER W. SMITH.

LESTER w. SMITH, JR.

No references cited.

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