US2868297A - Packer - Google Patents

Description

F'IG. 5

`ATTORNE J. L. LAMBERSON, JR

` PACKER Filed Aug. 29, 1956 FIG. 2.

Jan. 13, 1959 FIG.

United States Patent() PACKER Jack L. Lamberson, Jr., Baytown, Tex., assigner, by

mesne assignments, to Jersey Production Research Company, Tulsa, Okla., a corporation of Delaware This invention relates to a` packing assembly.` More particularly, the present inventionis directed toa packing assembly for independently supporting an oil well tool in atstring of pipe positioned in the boreholeof a well traversing a` subsurface earthen formation. p p

This application contains subject matter common to application Ser. No. 606,915 filed of an even date herewith by Roy E. Anderson et al.` entitled"1`esting Tool.

Anobject of the present inventionisthe` provision of a packer assembly for supporting a tool` in a string of pipe positionedin the borehole of a well traversing aniearthen formation. p

Another object is the provision of a packer assembly which `may be utilized to positively position and independently support a` tool in a pipe positioned in the borehole of a well traversing a subsurface earthen formation.

rlhese and other objects are attained, `in general, through the; provision ot an assembly comprising an oil` well tool, a deformable `packing member carried by said tool, said packing'member having a deformable lip spaced from the body of said tool, and holding means Xed to the outer surface of said packing member below said lip.

'Ehe invention will be further illustrated and` described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:`

Fig. 1 is an elevational View, partly in section, showing one embodiment of the present invention in an unset position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, partly showing the device of Fig. l in a set position;

Fig. 3 is a side` elevational View, partly in section, showing one embodiment ot' the present invention as applied to a Wire line tool for testing the soundness of a string of pipe positioned `in a well bore penetrating the earths surface; and

Fig. 4 is a` fragmentary side elevational view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

Turning now to Figs. 1 `and 2, there is shown a string of pipe designated generally by the numeral 10, such string of pipe comprising a plurality of pipe sections 12 and 12 interconnected by means of a collar` 14 whereby a collar recess 16 is formed between the spaced ends of adjacent sections of pipe 12 and 12. It will be understood that the pipe 10 may comprise a string of casing, a string of tubing positioned within the casing, etc.

InFigs.` 1 and 2 there is schematically shown a body portion 18 of an oilwell tool such` as a sand washing tool, a gun perforating assembly, an extension hanger, a gas lift assembly, a logging assembly, and the like.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an expansible deformable cup-shaped packing member 20. The packing member 20 may be` formed of any suitable material` such as hard rubber, etc. The packing member 20 may face upwardly, as shown, or may, when desired, be faced in a downward position. The packing member 2t) is secured to the body 18 ofV an oil well tool by any suitable packer securing means; Thus, for example, a retaining ring 22 may be provided to which the cup-shaped packing member 20 is preferably in section,

positively secured by means of a cementing composition (not shown); the retaining ring 22 being xed to the body member 18 by any suitable means such as by means of a weld 24. It will be understood that the retaining ring 22 or similar packer securing device may be secured to the body member 18` by other means such as by means or` threads, shear pins, etc. or may, if desired, be formed integrally with the body member 18. it will be noted that the packing member 20 is provided with a lip 26 which is normally spaced from the body portion t8. A suitable holding means 28 is bonded or otherwise positively secured to the outersurface of the packing member below the lip 26.

The holding means 28 may comprise, tor example, a split ring as is shown in Figs. l to 3 or other suitable structure. For example, a plurality of independent ring segments 29 may be secured to the packing member 20 as is shown in Fig. 4.

With this construction, the body member 1S of an oil well tool may be lowered through the string of pipe 10 by any suitable means (not shown) such as a wire line until such body member is at a desired depth. Thereafter, a positive downwardly directed pressure may be applied to fluid material present' in the pipe string 10 (e. g., drilling mud, Water, petroleum crude oil, etc.) whereby the split ring 28 is forced outwardly into contact with the inner wall of the pipe section 12 due to expansion of the packing member 20 and the lip 26 thereof. This will normally be insutlicient in and of itself to positively set the packing member 20. However, on the continued application of downwardly directed pressure, the expanded split ring 28 will slide downwardly along the inner surface of the pipe section 12 until it is opposite the collar recess i6, at which time the split ring 28 will be further expanded and positively seated in the collar recess 16. When this happens the packing member 20 will be positively positioned against movement. Moreover, the lip.26 will be forced` into positive sealing engagement with the inner wall of the pipe member 12 to prevent duid material in the bore of the pipe string 1t) from bypassing the packing member 20.

With reference to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the split ring 28 has a width which is less than but substantially equal to the width of the collar recess 16 whereby a tight it is obtained. While this is a preferred form of con@ struction, the split ring 2S may, if desired, be of a width which is substantially less than the width of the collar recess 16 in which instance the split ring 28, when seated, will rest upon and be supported by the upper end of pipe section` 12'.

It is to be further observed that the lip 26 extends above the split ring 28 a distance suliicient to permit the lip 26 to be positively seated against the wall of the pipe section 12 on expansion oi the packing member 26.

After the split ring has been set the supporting means (not shown) for the body member i8 may, it desired, be released and when this is done the body member 18 will be supported by the split ring 28 and the expanded packing member 20.

When it is desired to release the packing member 2t), pressure may be relieved above such packing member 20 whereby the split ring 28 and the deformable packing member 20 will contract to permit the assembly to be moved upwardly or downwardiy in the bore ot` the pipe string 10.

While the body member i8 of the oil well tooi may ne supported by any suitable means, the apparatus ofA the present invention linds particular utility in situations wherein the body member 18 is supported by a wire line. Thus, in Fig. 3 there is shown a specic embodiment of the present invention wherein a wire line-carried tool for testing the soundness of a string of pipe is provided with a packing device of the present invention.

With reference to Fig. 3, there is shown a length of pipe, such as a length of tubing comprising tubing sections 12a and 12b interconnected by means of collar 200, whereby a collar recess 202 is defined between the opposed ends of the tubing sections 12a and 12b. A tubing testing tool 204 comprising a deformable packing member 20a constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown in the string of tubing. The tool 204 comprises a body portion 206 having an upper cupshaped opening 208 defined by a cylindrical wall segment 210. The opening 208 is provided with a suitable flow port 212 in the bottom'thereof. The body portion 206 also preferably comprises a sinker rod section 214 to provide weight for the tool 204. A deformable upwardly outwardly extending rubber packing member 20a is secured to the upper end of the cylindrical wall segment 210 and a metallic expansion ring 28a is iixed to the outer surface of the lip 26a of the packing member 20a. There is also provided a cylindrically shaped fish neck 220 having a spider 222 fixed to the same adjacent the lower end thereof. The portion of the fish neck 220 having the spider 222 affixed thereto is mounted in the opening 208 and secured therein by means of a retaining ring 224 fixed to the interior surface of the cylindrical wall segment 210 adjacent the top thereof. The lower end of the fish neck 220 is rounded at 226 to dene a valve surface and a valve seat 228 formed of any suitable material such as hard rubber is provided therefor and mounted in the bottom of the opening 208 about the ow port 212.

Operation of the resting tool f Fig. 3

In operation, the testing tool 204 is lowered within a length of tubing by means of a fishing tool wire line combination (not shown) to a desired depth.

While the testing tool 204 is being lowered, fluent material is bypassed by flow about'the testing tool 204 and also by means of upward flow through the port 212 and the opening 208 in the body portion 206. Thus, for example, the tool 204 may be lowered to a point wherein the deformable packing member a is above and adjacent the collar recess 202 defined by the collar 200 and the tubing sections 12a and l2b.

Next, fluid pressure is directed downwardly through the length of tubing and at the same time the wire line (not shown) is suddenly slacked off. As a result, the deformable packing member 20a` is forced outwardly into engagement with the wall of the tubing section 12a and the iish neck 220 is caused to drop relative to the body portion 206 whereby the rounded end thereof is firmly seated in the valve seat 228. The continued application of downwardly directed fluid pressure will cause the thus.

partially set testing tool 201i to slowly descend until the ring 28a of the packing member 20a is seated in the collar recess 202, at which time thetesting tool 204 will be positively positioned between the tubing sections 12a and 12b. When the testing tool 4 is thus positively seated in the indicated manner, it will be apparent that the portion of the length of tubing above the collar recess 202 will be isolated from the4 portion therebelow. A substantially constant pressure may be positively applied to the said isolated upper portion of the string of tubing and the pressure in such upper portion of the tubing may then be measured. If, on measurement, it is found that there is a decline in pressure with the passage of time,

this will be a positive indication that there is a leak in` such upper portion of the string of tubing. If the pressure remains substantially constant, this will provide a positive indication that such upper portion is sound. After testing the soundness of such upper portion, it may be desired to lower the testing tool 204 through the string 4 of tubing to test the soundness of another lower portion of the string of tubing.

When it is desired to lower the testing tool 204 still further, pressure is equalized above and below the tool 204 and tension is applied to the iish neck 220 by means of the wire line-fishing tool combination (not shown) in order to raise the fish neck 220 from the valve seat 228. As a consequence, pressure is equalized above and below the testing tool 204 and the tool 204 may be lowered to a further depth.

lt will be manifest that when it is desired to raise the tubing testing tool 204, the upward pull on the fish neck 220 will maintain the spider 222 in bearingiengagement with the retaining ring 224 whereby fluent material may be bypassed by downward flow through the opening 208 and the port 212.

What is claimed is:

l. An assembly for use in a well containing a string of collared pipe sections having inner annular collar recesses, said assembly comprising an oil well tool having a body portion, said tool having a diameter less than the diameter of said pipe, a packer assembly comprising a hollow resilient normally contracted outwardly deformable packing member having an opening communicating with the said hollow portion thereof, said packing member being liuidly expansible into contact with the inner surface of said pipe on application of fluid pressure, means for securing said packing member to the body portion of said tool, and support means fixed to the outer surface of said deformable packing member for nesting engagement within a collar recess on expansion of said packingI member through the application of fluid pressure, said support means having a vertical width less than the width of said collar recesses, whereby the outer surfaces of said deformable member on expansion thereof will be forced into sealing engagement with the inner surface of said pipe adjacent said support means.

2. An assembly as in claim 1 wherein said support means is a split ring.

3. An assembly for use ina well containing a string of collared pipe sections having inner annular collar recesses, said assembly comprising an oil well tool having a body portion, said tool having a diameter less than the diameter of said pipe, a packer assembly comprising a normally contracted outwardly deformable packing cup formed of a non-metallic resilient material, said cupped packing member being expansible into contact with the inner surface of said pipe on the application of uid pressure intermediate said body portion and inner surface of said cup, means for securing said packing member to the body portion of said tool, and support means fixed to the outer surface of said cup adjacent the rim thereof for nesting engagement with a collar recess on expansion 0f said cup member, said support means having a vertical width less than but substantially equal tothe width of the collar recess whereby the rim of said packing member on expansion thereof will be forced into fluid-tight sealing engagement with the inner surface `of said pipe adjacent,said support means.

4. An assembly for use in a well containing a string of collared pipe sections having inner annular collar recesses, said assembly comprising an oil well tool having a body portion, said tool having a diameter less than the diameter of said pipe, a packer assembly, means for securing said packer assembly to the body portion of said tool, said packer assembly comprising a normally contracted outwardly deformable packing cup member formed of a non-metallic resilient material, the rim section `of said cup member being spaced from the body portion of said tool, said rim member being outwardly deformable into contact with the inner wall of said pipe on the application of uid pressure intermediate said body portion and said rim section, the outer surface of said rim section having a width greater than the width of said collar recess, a split ring fixed to said rim sec-V tion for resting engagement with a collar recess on expansion of said cup member, said split ring having a vertical width less than but substantially equal to the width of said collar recess, whereby said rim of said cup member on expansion thereof will be forced into sealing engagement with the surface of said pipe on opposite sides of said split ring.

6 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cameron Feb. 3, 1925 Boynton Feb. 19, 1946 Ragan Mar. 10, 195.3 Connolly Oct. 12, 1954

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