US2741313A - Wire line tester - Google Patents

Description

April 10, 1956 E. W. BAGNELI.

WIRE LINE TESTER 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 5. 1952 INVENTOR DGFIQ LU. BQGNLL MMM m'roQNeys April 10, 1956 E. w. BAGNELL WIRE LINE TESTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 3. 1952 INVENTOR. DECIR LU. B CIGNELL P12/Q. 7a.

nTToQnva April 10, 1956 E. w. BAGNELL WIRE LINE TESTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 s\ 1m l I INVENTOR DGQQ LU. BQGNLLL Filed May 3. 1952 MMM n'rToQNeal April 10, 1956 E. w. BAGNELL WIRE LINE TESTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 5, 1952 5 i may..

wl gai- S lll INVEN DGCIQ LU. BGG

April 10, 1956 E. W. BAGNELI.

WIRE LINE TESTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 3, 1952 INVENTR. DGQQ LU. BQGNLL.

United States Patent O gmx WIRE LINE TESTER Edgar W. Bagnell, Glendaie, Calif., assignor, by mestre assignments, to Johnston Testers, lne., Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application May 3, 1952, Serial No. 285,981

16 Ciaims. (Cl. 16e- 147) This invention relates to oil well tools and particularly to a formation uid testing tool. It is necessary in taking 2,741,313 Patented Apr. 10, 1956 housings, and the like, -to be described hereinafter, and

. which is adapted to be suspended from the lower end of housing 23, which is urged toward the upper end of a sample of formation fluid with the usual tool to set packers, open and close several valves, and operate various other parts. Heretofore, these operations were performed by suspending the tool from a drill string and rotating and/or raising or lowering the drill string to cause corresponding rotary and linear movements of parts of the tool as well as imposing part of the weight of the drill string on other parts to set packers,etc. Use of a string of pipe is not only expensive but time consuming since the section must be assembled when running in a well and then disassembled when running out of the hereinafter.

take a sample of the formation uid, thereby eliminating the expense and delay accompanying the use of a string of pipe. Another object of the present invention is to provide a formation testing tool as above described which utilizes the well fluid pressure to cause expansion of a pair of packers, and which packers can be collapsed by a pressure releasing arrangement actuated by an upward pullon the wire line.

Various other objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figs. la, 1b and lc illustrate successive sectional views of an oil well tool embodying the concepts of the present invention;

Figs. 2a, 2b and 2c are similar to views la, lb and lc,

respectively, but show the parts in a subsequent stage of operation;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary View more clearly showing the construction of the packers and the centrai packer head between said packers;

Fig. 4 is a still further enlarged view in section showing the internal construction of the central packer head;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the valve locking arrangement with the parts disposed in running-in condition;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 but with the parts disposed with the tool in packed condition;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing a subsequent condition of the other parts, namely, when the device is in condition for running out of the well;

Fig. 9 is a View similar to Fig. 4 but showing the formation uid valve in opened condition;

Fig'. l0 is a view similar to Figs. la and 2a but showing the parts in condition for running out of the well.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate similarparts throughout, the oil well tool disclosed includes a composite tool body,

generally entitled 15, made up of various subs, cylinders,

composite tool body 15 by a compression spring 25. Spring 25 surrounds an upwardly extending stem 27 on the upper end of body 15 and is contained between a nut 29 on the upper end of stem 27 and a ange 31 formed on the lower end of spring housing 23. Surrounding stem 27 is a stop sleeve 33 adapted to abut against nut 29 when the tool is suspended from wire line 17 because of the compression of spring 25 by the weight of the tool.

Included in composite tool body 15 is a valve sub 41 threadedly connected at its lower and upper ends to other housing parts to be described hereinafter. Valve subA 41 has formed therein well uid inlet passages 43 adapted to communicate with a central passage 45 which in turn communicates with the upper end of a low pressure piston 47, the latter being slidably received within a low pressure cylinder 49 threadedly secured to lower end of valve Sub 41. Passage of Well fluid through passages 43 into central passage 45 is controlled by a packer setting slide valve 51, said valve being a part of a compound valve member generally entitled 53 to be described in detail As shown in Fig. lb, slide valve 51 is disposed in a position to close ports 43 and prevent well uid from being effective on lower pressure piston 47. Throughout the specication, the term well fluid will mean Lhe uid found in the well Whether it be drilling fluid, water, ora combination of various fluids, whereas the term formation fluid or connate iluid will refer to the sample iiuid which is to be taken.

Low pressure piston 47 is formed integrally with a high pressure piston 54, the latter fitting within a high pressure cylinder 55 secured to the lower end of the low pressure cylinder 49. Suitable O rings are provided on the exterior of low pressure piston 47 and on the interior of high pressure cylinder 55 to provide a sealing engagement between the cylinders and the pistons. When valve 51 is moved to its opened position, and well iiuid becomes eiective against low pressure piston 47, a body of hydraulic fluid, contained in tool body 15 and generally entitled 57, is forced downwardly through passages 59 formed in a top packer head 61 and into an upper tubular mandrel 63. Mounted on upper mandrel 63 is an upper expansible packer, generally entitled 65, adapted to be expanded by the hydraulic fluid into engagement with the walls of the well bore to form a seal therewith. Tubular mandrel 63 has suitable ports 67 for ingress and egress of hydraulic fluid therethrough to cause expansion and allow contraction of expansible packer 65.

Top packer head 61 is secured to the lower end of high pressure cylinder 55 (see Fig. lb) and to the upper end of mandrel 63. The lower end of mandrel 63 is threadedly secured to a central packer head 69. There is provided a lower packer mandrel 71 secured at its upper end to central packer head 69 and at its lower end to a bottom packer head 73, said mandrel carrying therearound a lower expansible packer, generally entitled 75. Tubular mandrel 71 is also provided with lateral ports 77 for egress of hydraulic iluid outwardly another so that when high pressure piston 54 is forced downwardly by the effects of Well Huid pressure on low pressure piston 47, hydraulic uid under a pressure greater than that of the well fluid (to a degree proportional to the ratio of the diameters of the pistons) will be forced through passages 59 in the top packer head 61 and pass through mandrel ports 67 and 77 and cause expansion of packers 65 and 75 so that the packers will form a seal with the walls of the well bore and, therefore, provide an annular formation uid space around the enterior of central head 69 and between the packers.

Central packer head 69 has formation fluid passages 81 formed therein adapted to communicate with a formation uid test tube 33 through a test valve to be described more in detail hereinafter, said valve being opened by the pressureY of the hydraulic duid to allow connate uid to flow through passageways S1 down through test tube 83 and into a tail pipe $5 which forms a formation or test chamber for the reception of the test sample.

Fromthe above description it is apparent that when packer setting valve 51 is opened, well iiuid pressure will be effective to indirectly canse expansion of packers 65 and 75, to set the packers in the well bore, and also to indirectly cause opening of the test valve, in a manner to be described hereinafter, to allow formation iuid'to ow down into the tail pipe 35 for entrapment of a sample. Y Each of packers 65 and 75 is of similar construction and'therefore the details of only one packer'will be described. As best shown in Fig. 3, each packer comprises a hollow elongated resilient body 91 tightly tting at its ends on itsrmandrel and being restrained against end bulging by a plurality of fabric and rubber dome-shaped heads 93 fitted onto the mandrel of the particular packer in question and serving to' retain the packers against undue longitudinal expansion. The dome-shaped heads are adapted to be expanded axially into engagement with the walls of a well bore and against frusto-conical surfaces 95 formed on the packer heads, said surfaces serving to support the dome-shaped head after a predetermined amount of distortion thereof. Within each packer is an annular core 97 fitting onto the associated mandrel and being interiorly uted to permit fluid passage between the mandrel and core to the opposite ends of the core, and around the ends to expand the packer. The packers during their expansion move away from their respective cores. VEach packer is thick at its medial portion and thin at its ends so thatthe ends rst expand and force heads 93 into engagement with the walls of the well bore. The low pressure and the high pressure pistons 4'7 and 54`have a central air chamber 9S formed therein adapted to communicate through air ducts 93a with an annular air chamber 99 provided between the exterior of high pressure piston 54 and theeinterior of low pressure cylinder 49. There is a plug 1130 closing the upper end of air chamber 98. When low pressure piston 4.7 is forced downwardly, part of the air within the annular chamber 99 is forced through ducts 98a into air chamber 98 so that the air resistance to movement of piston 47 is reduced to an unobjectionable value.V

Packer setting valve 51 as previously mentioned forms a part of a compound valve member 53, the other valve of said compound valve member to be described hereinafter, At present, it suiiices to say that the compound valveA member is in a form of a rod having the lower end provided with a bore adapted to communicate with passages 43 by rports 101. Compound valve member 53 is connected to a connector rod 103 which slidably extends through a lock mechanism 105 to be presently described and into the lower end of a piston rod 197. Piston rod 107 is connected to a piston 169, the latter fitting within a piston housing 111. Piston 109 is adapted to be driven downwardly, thereby moving packer setting valve 51 to a position where the ports 101 thereof register with the passages 43, by means of the detonation cartridges 113 receiving sockets 137 formed therein.

carried by a cartridge carrier 115 mounted in the upper end of piston housing 11. For causing detonation of the cartridges 113, there is provided a clock and battery arrangement 117 wired to the cartridges by leads 119.VV The clock mechanism is such that a predetermined time after the tool has been lowered into the well, the clock mechanism will close a switch supplying current from the battery to cartridges 113 to cause a detonation thereof, to drive piston 109 downwardly and, therefore, drive packer setting valve 51 downwardly.

The clock and battery mechanism 117 and therefore compound valve 53 is spring urged upwardly by Van expansion spring 121. There is a releasing mandrel 123 extending from the upper end of the clock and battery mechanism 117 and through stem 27 Vand sub 22. Sub 22 contains a pair of spring pressed detents 125 adapted to snap into a groove 127 formed in releasing mandrel 123 to lock the mandrel to sub 22. Groove 127 is disposed beneath the detents, as shown in Fig. la, when the tool is being run into the well. The function of this releasing mandrel will be explained hereinafter.

It is apparent from the above description that after cartridges 113 have been tired it is necessary to hold packer setting valve 51 in registry with passages 43 against the resistance of spring 121. To perform this function, lock mechanism 105 previously mentionedis provided. Lock mechanism 105 isV best shown in Figs. 5 through 8 and is contained within a lock sub or housing 131, which is secured to the lower end Vof piston housing 111 and to the upper end of a vacant housing 133, which in turn is secured at its lower end to the upper end of valve sub 41. The lock mechanism as shown in the above Figures includes piston rod 167 and connector rod 103, said piston rod having a reduced lower end slidably tting within a bore provided in the upper end of connector rod 103, said reduced portion 135 having ball Sockets 137 are disposed as'the parts are depicted in Fig. 5 in registry with a pair of ports 139 formed in the upper end of connector rod 103. Surrounding the upper end of connector rod 103 is a locked housing 141 having a pair of locking balls 143 received within guides 145 formed in the locked housing. Locking balls 143 are urged mwardly by a circular coil tension spring 147. Y

It is apparent from the above construction that when the piston rod 107 is driven downwardly by the detonationrof cartridges 113, ports 139 andy sockets 137 are brought into registry with balls 143, said balls snapping into the ports and sockets to positively lock the connector rod against upward movement, and, therefore, locklng packer setting valve 51 in a position with its ports 101 in lateral registry with well uid inlet passages 43. Further operation of the locking mechanism will be explained hereinafter. For the present it is suicient to say that locking balls 143 only releasably hold .piston rod 107 against upward movement, and that said rod can be pulled upwardly, to the position shown in Fig. 8, to cam the locking balls 143 outwardly to release the connector rod for upward movement under the influence of a force to be described, said rod serving to further outwardly cam the locking balls.

A summary of the operations up to this point shows that after the tool has been run into the well, the clock mechanism, which has been set at the surface,` will close a switch at a predetermined time after the toot has been lowered into the well to supply electric current to cartridges 113, to cause detonation thereof to drive piston 199 downwardly and move packer setting valve 51 to open position. Well fluid under pressure will flow into the tool and be effective against low pressure piston 47 to force high pressure piston 51 downwardly, the latternamed piston forcing hydraulic fluid 57 through tubular mandrels 63 and 71 from whence the iiuid can ow out throughv ports 67 and 77 and cause expansion of packers 65 and 75. The locking mechanism 165 will be eective to lock valve 51 in its open position.

Setting of the packers in the well will relieve the weight of the tool from spring 25, said spring being effective, upon a slight slackening of line 17 to force sleeve 23 and therefore sub 22 downwardly to allow detents 125 to snap into groove 127 of releasing mandrel 123 (see Fig. 2a). Detents 125 are not inserted into place until the rest of the tool is suspended from wire line 17 to compress spring 25 and bring the detentv passages above groove 127 in releasing mandrel 123. Then, the detents are inserted into sub 22.

The construction of central packer head 69 and the construction and operation of the test valve, previously mentioned, will now be explained.V As previously indicated, central packer head 69 and the lower end of mandrel 63 are so formed that hydraulic uid can ow from tubular mandrel 63 into tubular mandrel 71. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the lower end of upper tubular mandrel 63 is solid and formed with passages 151 communicating with a passage 153 formed in a nipple 155, the latter being secured to the lower end of tubular mandrel 63. Nipple 155 rests on a nut 157 threaded into the upper end of a plug 159 which is disposed within a central bore provided in central packer head 69. Fluid flowing through passage 153 ilows into passages 161 formed in nut 157, plug 159 and central packer head 69, the lower end of passages 161 communicating with the interior of lower mandrel 71.

Test tube 83 previously mentioned lits within the lower end of plug 159 as shown in Fig. 4, said plug being centrally bored to receive a test valve 163 slidably tting therewithin. Valve 163 is provided with suitable O rings for sealing engagement with plug 159. Test valve 163 is spring urged upwardly by an expansion spring 165 and is provided with a central bore terminating in lateral ports 167 which are adapted to be brought into registry with a cavity 168 formed in plug 159, said cavity com` municating with previously mentioned formation test ports 81 (compare Figs. lc, 3 and 4). When ports 167 are disposed within cavity 168, formation or test uid can ilow in through passages 81, through ports 167, down through test tube 83 and into tail pipe 85 where the sample is collected.

Limiting upward movement of test valve 163 is a nipple 171 threaded into plug 159, said nipple having a bleed passageway or orifice 173 extending therethrough for applying hydraulic fluid to the top of test valve 163. A resilient sleeve 175 covers lateral ports 177 provided in nipple 171. Orice 173 is of such size that the hydraulic fluid can only bleed slowly therethrough so that packers 65 and 75 are fully expanded by the time that suicient fluid has bled through nipple 171 to cause test valve 163 to move into a position where the ports thereof are disposed within cavity 163. Therefore, the packers are set before test tiuid is allowed to pass down through test tube 83.

It is very desirous and in some operations necessary that the weight of drilling mud or well fluid not be im; posed on the upper packer 65 and, therefore, an equalizing passageway is provided in the tool so as to by-pass the packers and allow the well fluid below and above the well packers to equalize pressure during a test operation. Referring to Figs. 1c and 3, upper top packer head 61 has lateral passages 181 formed therein in communication with the upper end of an upper equalizing tube 132i, which is disposed within upper tubular mandrel`63 and has its lower end sealingly held within the lower solid end of said mandrel. Also formed within lower solid end of mandrel 63 are equalizing passages 135 communieating withV passages 156 formed in central packer head 169, passages 186, as best shown in Fig. 4, communicating with the interior of a lower equalizing tube 139, which is fixed at its upper end to plug 159 and at its lower end sealingly engages the interior of a reduced bore 191 formed in the lower end of tubular' mandrel 71. In com-f munication' with equalizing tube 189 are lateral equalizing passages 193 formed in bottom packer head 73. It is apparent from the above passageway construction that` well uid pressure can be equalized above and below packers' 65 and 75 at all times during testing operation thereby not imposing the weight of the drilling mud on the upper packer. The equalizing passages also insure that the mud pressure below the packer will be main` tained even though some mud is lost during a testing operation.

Reference is now made to several later steps in the operation of the tool. After sumcient time has elapsed to ensure the entrapment of an adequate sample, it is desired to remove the wire line tester from the well. To accomplish this, an upper pull on wire line 17 is e'tected to compress spring 25 and raise orlift releasing mandrel 123 (which is not locked to sub 22) upwardly to cam locking ball 143 out of sockets 1737 and raise stern 135 from the position shown in Fig. `6 to the position shown in Fig. S. The well uid pressure constantly urges rod 193 upwardly so that it follows the upward movement of stem 135, and further cams balls 143 outwardly to the positions shown in Fig. 8.

Compound valve 53 is carried upwardly by the upward movement of rod 163 to register lower ports 20G of a release valve 261 with passages V203 formed in valve sub 41, passages 293 communicating with the upper end of low pressure piston 47. Release valve 291 forms the second valve of compound valve member 573, valve 201 being formed by the provision of a bore 204 in the upper end of valve member 53, lateral ports 200 being adapted to communicate the bore with passages- 203 when the compound valve member 53 is raised from the position shown in Fig. 2b to the position shown in Fig. lb. There are upper lateral ports 257 communicating the interior of the bore 294 with the interior of vacant housing 133.

It is apparent from the above described parts that upon an upward pull on wire line 17, valve 51 is released from its locked position and under the inuence of the well pressure moves upwardly to its closed position to align the ports 260 of release valve 291 with passageways 203 to allow the trapped well uid under pressure in low pressure cylinder 49 to pass upwardly into the vacant housing 133. Low and high pressure pistons i7 and 53 are then free to move upwardly, under the influence of the pressure of the hydraulic uid, to their initial positions, thereby allowing collapse of packers 65 and 75. When the pressure of the hydraulic Huid is reduced bythe above operation, spring of test valve 163 causes the valve to move upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 9 to the position shown in Fig. 4 to close the test valve and thereby entrap the test sample within tail pipe S5.

When going into the well, the high pressure in the space above and on the outside of sleeve causes ports 177 to be closed, and therefore hydraulic iluid must pass only throughoritice 173. When'the packers are released, the low pressure on the outside of sleeve 175 permits fluid to escape through ports 177, thereby allowing valve 163V to close quickly under influence of spring 165.

T ail pipe 35 may contain a recorder if desired to shov'. the shut-in pressure when the tail pipe is completely filled.

By the present invention an oil well formation uid testing tool has been provided which can be suspended in a well by a wir-e line and operated to successfullyi set a pair of'packers and then take a sample, and thereafter the packers can be collapsed and the sample entrapped. lt will be appreciated that by providing a low pressure piston and a high pressure piston, the hydraulic fluid acted on by the high pressure piston will be under a pressure sufficiently higher than tliatof the well uid to hold the packersv against the well bore tocr'eate an effective seal. After the tool is brought to the surface the vtest parting from the spirit of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An oil well formation fluid tester comprising a tool body having spaced expansible packers thereon, said tool body having a sample chamber formed therein, a irst passage connecting the chamber with the exterior of the tool body at a point betwen the packers, a first valve in said tirst passage for controlling the iiow of formation iiuid therethrough, hydraulic means operatively connected to said packers and said first valve and adapted to be actuated by the hydrostatic pressure of the iiuid in the well bore to expand said packers and subsequently open said first valve, a second passage connecting said hydraulic means and the exterior of said tool body above said pack-V ers, a second valve for controlling the ow of well uid through said second passage, means for opening said second valve to permit the hydrostatic pressure of the uid in the well bore to actuate said hydraulic means, a

Vsecond sealed chamber in said tool body, a third passage connecting said second chamber with said hydraulic means, a third valve in said third passage, and meansv connected to said second and t .ird valves for subsequently closing said second valve and then opening said third valve to permit the well uid trapped in said hydraulic means by the closing of said second valve to enter said second chamber, thus permitting said first valve to close and subsequently said packers to collapse.

2. In'combination, wire line, tool body connected to the lower Vend of the wire line and adapted to be lowered into a well by said line, said body having spaced expansiblerpaclcers thereon, said tool body having a sample chamber formed therein, a first passage connecting the chamber with the exterior of the tool body at a point between the packers, a iirst valve in said first passage for controlling the flow of formation iluid therethrough, hydraulic means operatively connected to said packers and said first valve and adapted to be actuated bythe hydrostatic pressure of the fluid in the well bore to expand said packers and subsequently open said first valve, a second passage connecting said hydraulic means and the exterior of said tool body above said packers, a second valve for controlling the iiow of Well iiuid through said second passage, and means for opening said second valve to permit the hydrostaticV pressureof the iiuid in the well bore to actuate said hydraulic means. Y

3. ln combination, a wire line, a tool body connected to the lower end of the wire line and adapted to be lowered into a well by said line, said body having spaced Y expansible packers thereon, said tool body having a sample chamber formed therein, a iirst passage connecting Vthe chamber with the exterior of the tool body at a point draulic means operatively connected to said packers and said iirst valveland adapted to be actuated by the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid in the well bore to expand said packers and subsequently open said first valve, a second passage connecting said Yhydraulic means and the exterior of said tool body above said packers, a second valve for controlling lthe ow of well liuid through said second passage, means for opening said second valve to permit the hydrostatic pressure ofthe iiuid in the well bore to actnate said hydraulic means, a second sealed chamber in said tool body, a third passage connecting saidsecond chamber with saidhydraulic means, a third valve in said third passage, and meansA connected to said second and third valves for subsequently closing said second valve and then opening said third valve to permit the well tluid trapped l packers to collapse.

in said hydraulic means by the closingof said second valve to enter said second chamber, thus permitting said first valve to'close and subsequently said packers to collapse.

4. An oil well formation fluid tester comprising a tool body having spaced expansible packers thereon, a body of hydraulic uid in said tool body, a conduit connecting said body of iiuid with the interior of said packers, said tool body having a sample chamber formed therein, a first passage connecting the chamber with the exterior of the tool body at a point between the packers, a first valve in said iirst passage for controlling the flow of formation fluid therethrough, hydraulic means operatively connected to said packers and said first valve and adapted to be actuated by the hydrostatic pressure of the huid in the well bore to expand said packers and subsequently open said first valve, said hydraulic means comprising a low pressure piston adapted to be actuated by well :duid pressure, a high pressure piston connected to said low pressure piston for actuation thereby, said high pressure pistou being in communication with said body of Vhydraulic uid whereby a higher pressure than existing in the well uid is created to expand the packers ag instrthe walls of the well bore, a second passage in said tool body providing communication between said low pressure piston and the exterior or" said tool body above said packers, a second valve for controlling the iiow of well iiuidrthrough said second passage, and means for opening second valve to permit the hydrostatic pressure or the iiuid in the well Vbore to actuate said hydraulic means.

5. An oiltwell formation huid tester comprising a tool body having spaced expansible packers thereon, a body of hydraulic tiuid in said tool body, a conduit connecting said body of fluid with the interior of said packers, said tool body having a sample chamber formed therein, a first passage connecting the chamber with the exterior of the tool body at a point between the packers, a first valve in said first passage for controlling the `)flow of formation fluid therethrough, hydraulic means operatively connected to said packers and said iirst valve and adapted to be actuated by the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid in the well bore to expand said packers and subsequently open said iirst valve, said hydraulic means comprising a low pressure piston adapted to be actuated by well iiuid pressure, a high pressure piston connected to said low pressure piston for actuation thereby, said high pressure piston being in communication with said body of hydraulic fluid whereby a higher pressure than existing in the well fluid is created to expand the packers against the walls of the well bore, a second passage in said tool body providing communication between said low pressure piston and the exterior of said tool body above said packers, a second valve for controlling the iiow of well iiuid through said second passage, means for opening said second valve to permit the hydrostatic pressure of the duid in the well bore to actuate said hydraulic means, a secondY sealed chamber in said tool body, a third passage in said tool body connecting said second chamber with said hydraulic means, a third valve in said third passage, and means connected to said second and third valves for subsequently closing said second valve and then opening said third valve to permit the well iluid trapped in said hydraulic means by the closing of said second valve to enter said second chamber, thus per-v mitting said lirst valve to close and subsequently said 6. In combination, a wire line, a tool body connected to the lower end of the wire line and adapted to be lowered into a well by said line, said body having spaced expansible packers thereon,V a body of hydraulic uid inV said tool body, a conduit connecting said body of uid with the interior of said packers, said tool body having a sample chamber formed therein, a first passage connecting the chamber with the exterior of the tool body at a point between the packers, a rst valve in said rst passage for controlling the ow of formation iiuid therethrough, hydraulic means operatively connectedV to said packers 9 and said iirst valve and adapted to be actuated by the hydrostatic pressure of the uid in the well to expand said packers and subsequently open said iirst valve, said hydraulic means comprising a low pressure piston adapted to be actuated by Well uid pressure, a high pressure piston connected to said low pressure piston for actuation thereby, said high pressure piston being in communication with said body of hydraulic iiuid whereby a higher pressure than existing in the well uid is created to expand the packers against the walls of the well bore, a second passage in said tool body providing communication between said low pressure piston and the exterior of said tool body above said packers, a second valve for controlling the flow of well uid through said second passage, and means for opening said second valve to permit the hydrostatic pressure of the well bore to actuate said hydraulic means.

7. An oil well formation iiuid tester comprising a tool body having spaced expansible packers thereon, said tool body having a sample chamber formed therein, a iirst passage connecting the chamber with the exterior of the tool body at a point between the packers, a iirst valve in said iirst passage for controlling the iiow of formation uid therethrough, hydraulic means operatively connected to said packers and said iirst valve and adapted to be actuated by the hydrostatic pressure of the uid in the well to expand said packers and subsequently open said iirst valve, a second passage in said tool body providing communication between said hydraulic means and the exterior of said tool body above said packers, a second valve for controlling the flow of well uid through said second passage, means for opening said second valve to permit the hydrostatic pressure of the uid in the well bore to actuate said hydraulic means, said means for opening said second valve including a detonatable charge in the tool body operable when detonated to open said second valve.

8. In combination, a wire line, a tool body connected to the lower end of the wire line and adapted to be lowered into a well by said line, said body having spaced expansible packers thereon, said tool body having a sample chamber formed therein, a iirst passage connecting the chamber with the exterior of the tool body at a point between the packers, a iirst valve in said iirst passage for controlling the ow of formation uid therethrough, hydraulic means operatively connected to said packers and said rst valve and adapted to be actuated by the hydrostatic pressure of the uid in the well to expand said packers and subsequently open said rst valve, a second passage in said tool body providing communication between said hydraulic means and the exterior of said tool body above said packers, a second valve for controlling the ow of well iiuid through said second passage, means for opening said second valve to permit the hydrostatic pressure of the uid in the well bore to actuate said hydraulic means, said means for opening said second valve including a detonatable charge in the tool body operable when detonated to open said second valve.

9. An oil well formation uid tester comprising a tool body having spaced expansible packers thereon, said tool body having a sample chamber formed therein, a iirst passage connecting the chamber with the exterior of the tool body at a-point between the packers, a iirst valve in said rst passage for controlling the ow of formation uid therethrough, hydraulic means operatively connected to said packers and said iirst valve and adapted to be actuated by the hydrostatic pressure of the uid in the well to expand said packers and subsequently open said iirst valve, a second passage in said tool body providing communication between said hydraulic means and the exterior of said tool body above said packers, a second valve for controlling the ow of well uid through said second passage, means for opening said second valve to permit the hydrostatic pressure of the uid in the well bore to actuate said hydraulic means, a second sealed chamber in said tool body, said means for opening said second valve including a detonatable charge in the tool body operable when detonated to open said second valve, a third passage in said tool body connecting said second chamber with said hydraulic means, a third valve in said third passage, and means connected to said second and third valves for subsequently closing said second valve andthen opening said third valve 'to permit the well uidtrapped in said hydraulic means by closing of said second valve to enter said chamber, thus permitting said iirst valve to close and subsequently said packers to collapse.

l0. An oil well formation fluid tester comprising a tool body having spaced expansible packers thereon, said tool body having a sample chamber formed therein, a rst passage connecting the chamber with the exterior of the tool body at a point between the packers, a iirst valve in said iirst passage for controlling the ow of formation fluid therethrough, hydraulic means operatively connect` ed to said packers and said iirst valve and adapted to be actuated by the hydrostatic pressure of the iiuid in the Well to expand said packers and subsequently open said iirst valve, a second passage in said tool body providing communication between said hydraulic means and the exterior of said tool body above said packers, a second valve for controlling the flow of well fluid through said second passage, means for opening said second valve to permit the hydrostatic pressure of the iluid in the Well bore to actuate said hydraulic means, said means for opening said second valve including a detonatable charge in the tool body operable when detonated to open said second valve, and a clock mechanism in ,said tool body operable to detonate said charge after a predetermined interval of time.

ll. In combination, a wire line, a tool body connected to the lower end of the wire line and adapted to be lowered into a well by said line, said body having spaced expansible packers thereon, said tool body having a sample chamber formed therein, a iirst passage connect ing the chamber with the 'exterior of the tool body at a point between the packers, a iirst valve in said iirst passage for controlling the ow of formation uid therethrough, hydraulic means operatively connected to said packers and said iirst valve and adapted to be actuated by the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid in the well to expand said packers and subsequently open said first valve, a second passage in said tool body providing communication between said hydraulic means and the exterior of said tool body above said packers, a second valve for controlhng the iiow of well fluid through said second passage, means for opening said second'valve to permit'the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid in the well bore to actuate said hydraulic means, said means for opening said second valve including a detonatable charge in the tool body operable when detonated to open said secL ond valve, and a clock mechanism in said tool body operable to detonate said charge after a predetermined n-v terval of time.

12. ln combination, a wire line, a tool body connected to the lower end of the wire line and adapted to be lowered into a well by 'said line, said body having spaced expansible packers thereon, said tool body having a sample chamber formed therein, a iirst passage connect# ing the chamber with the exterior of the tool body at a point between the packers, a iirstvalve in said iirst passage for controlling the iiow of formation liuid therethrough,- hydraulic means operatively connected to said packers and said iirst valve and adapted to be actuated by the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid in the well to ex= pand said packers and subsequently open said iirst valve, a .second passage in said tool body providing communication between said hydraulic means and the exterior of said tool body above said packers, a second valve for controlling the ow of well liuid through said second passage, means for opening said second valve to permit the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid in the well bore to actuate said hydraulic means, said means for opening said second valve including a detonatable charge in the ond valve to enter said chamber, thus permitting said iirst valve to close and subsequently said packers to collapse.

13. An oil well formation tluid tester comprising a tool body having spaced expansible packers thereon, said tool body having a sample chamber formed therein, a iirst passage yconnecting the chamber with the exterior of the tool body at a point between the packers, a rst valve in said rst passage for controlling the ow of formation fluid therethrough, hydraulic means operatively connected to said packers and said first valve and adapted to be actuated by the hydrostatic pressure of the liuid in the well to expand said packers and subsequently open said lirst valve, a second passage in said tool body providing communication between said hydraulic means andthe exterior of said tool bodyabove said packers, a second valve for controlling the ow of well uid through said second passage, means for opening said second valve to permit the hydrostatic pressure of the uid in the well bore to actuate said hydraulic means, and a uid by-pass passage in said body communicating with the exterior of the tool body at points above and below the upper and lower packers, respectively,whereby the weight of the column of weil fluid in the Wellris Vnot imposed on the packers when iset.

14. In combination, a wire line, a tool body connected to the lower end of the wire line and adapted to be lowered into the wellV by said line, said body having spaced expansible packers thereon, said tool body having a sample chamber formed therein, a rst passage connecting the chamber with the exterior of the tool body at a point between the packers, a rst valve in said rst passage for controlling the ow of formation uid therethrough, hydraulic means operatively connected to said packers and said tirst valve and adapted to be actuated by the hydrostatic pressure of the liuid in the Well to expand said packers and subsequently open said first valve, a second passage in said tool body providing communication between said hydraulic means and the exterior of said body above said packers, a second valve for controlling the dow of well :liuid through said second passage, means for opening said second valve to permit the hydrostatic pressure of the tluid inthe well bore to actuate said hydraulic means, and a uid by-pass passage in said body communicating with the exterior of the tool body at points above and below the upper and lower packers, respectively, whereby the weight of the column of well fluid in the well is not imposed on the packers when set.

l5. An oil well formation fluid tester comprising a tool body having spaced expansible packers thereon, said tool body having a sample chamber Yformed therein, a first passage connecting the chamber with the exterior of the tool body at a point between the packers, atirst valve in said iirst passage for controlling the ow of formation fluid therethrough, hydraulic means operatively connected to said packers and said first valve and adapted to be actuated by the hydrostatic pressure of the 12 V fluid in the well to expand said packers and subsequently open said rst valve, a second passage in said tool body providing communication between said hydraulic means and the exterior of said tool body above said packers, a

second valve for controlling the ilow of well iluid through said second passage, means for opening second valve to permit the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid in the well bore to actuate said hydraulic means, a-

uid by-pass passage in said body communicating with the exterior of the tool body at points above and below the upper and lower packers, respectively, whereby the weight of the column of well fluid in the well is not imposed on the packers when set, a second sealed chamber in said tool body, a third passage in said tool body connecting said second chamber with said hydraulic means, a third valve in said third passage, and means connected to said second and third valves for subsequently closing said second valve and then opening said third valve to permit the well fluid trapped in said hydraulic means by closing of said second valve to .enter said chamber, thus permitting said first valve to close and subsequently said packers to collapse.k

16. An oil well formation iiuid tester comprising a tool body having spaced expansible packers thereon, said tool body having a sample chamber formed therein, a rst passage connecting the chamber with the exterior of the tool body at a point between the packers, a rst valve in said first passage for controlling the flow of formation liuid therethrough, hydraulic means operatively connected to said packers and said first valve and adapted to be actuated by the hydrostatic pressure of the duid in the well to expand said packers and subsequently open said lirst valve, a second passage in said tool body providing communication between said hydraulic means and the exterior of said tool body above said packers, a second valve for controlling theV iiow of well uid through said second passage, means for opening said second valve to permit the hydrostatic pressure ofthe tluid in the well bore to actuate said hydraulic means, said means for opening saidsecond valve including a detonatable charge in the tool body operable when detonated to open said second valve, a clock mechanism in said tool body operable to detonate said charge after a predetermined interval of time, a tluid by-pass passage in said body communicating with the exterior of the tool body at points above and below the upper and lover packers, respectively, whereby the weight of the column of well uid in the well is not imposed on the packers when set, a second sealed chamber in said tool body, a third passage in said tool body connecting said second chamber with said hydraulic means, a thirdvalve in said third passage, and means connected to said second and third valves for subsequently closing said second valve and then opening said third valve to permit the well huid trapped in said hydraulic means by closing of said second valve to enter said chamber, thus permitting said iirst valve to close and subsequently said packers to collapse.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES VPATENTS Y

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