Well Packer

Abstract

This specification discloses a well packer for sealing off the bore of a well at a zone spaced above a pump in the well bore and which packer comprises a heavy circular flange formed integrally with the upper end of a pipe section connected to the pump, a threaded nipple on said section extending above the flange, a circular clamping plate of a diameter less than that of the flange and fitted onto the nipple, and a leather packing cup having a flat wall positioned between the flange and plate and a circular wall overlapping the periphery of the plate. The flange is formed with a boss on its lower face which has a threaded passage. The packing and clamping plate are formed with openings in alignment with this passage. A cable passes through the aligned passage and openings and its relation to the flange is rendered airtight by a packing gland assembly. The pipe section is deformed immediately below the flange to provide a bend which accommodates the packing gland assembly. The flange, packing cup and plate are formed with aligned apertures at a point diametrically opposite to the boss. The apertures in the flange and plate are threaded and a locking screw is received in these apertures. A coupling is screwed onto the nipple to connect the latter to a well pipe and when tightened clamps the packing between the flange and plate. The present invention relates to a well packer, and is concerned primarily with a new and improved packer including a rigid structure at the packing zone and a fluidtight seal which accommodates a cable passing through the packer.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At the present time, it is recognized as desirable, if not essential, to provide a well bore with a packer that is located in the bore an appropriate distance above the pump. The packer must be effective to provide an airtight seal with the well bore so that, as water is pumped from the space below the packer, a vacuum condition will be created in this space to draw water into the bore from the surrounding earth formation.

It is, of course, necessary to provide for the passage of water through the packer and, at the same time, it is highly desirable that the packer be of a sturdy construction to impart a long service life thereto.

It is common practice to have the pump operated by an electric motor. This motor is conventionally in close association with the pump and is therefore located below the packer. This means that a cable must be passed from the well bore, through the packer, and to the motor. The relation of the cable to the packer must be airtight so as not to impair the vacuum condition.

Known packers heretofore provided do not have the sturdy and rigid construction necessary for the long service life and have not been designed to accommodate a packing gland assembly which will provide an effective airtight seal for the cable.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

In view of the conditions outlined above, the present invention has in view the following objects:

1. To provide a well packer of a sturdy and rigid construction having a long service life.

2. To provide a packer which includes, as an essential and characteristic element, a pipe section having a bend and a heavy circular flange at the top end integral therewith. This flange is dimensioned to fit within the well bore with a fairly snug fit. The pipe section has a nipple on its upper end projecting above the flange.

3. To provide a clamping plate of a diameter less than that of the flange to which it is secured by a coupling threaded onto the nipple.

4. To provide a leather packing cup having a flat wall that is clamped between the flange and plate and a cylindrical wall that overlaps the periphery of the clamping plate. This cylindrical wall is dimensioned to snugly engage the well bore.

5. To form the flange with a boss or thickened portion immediately above the recess defined by the bend in the pipe section.

6. To provide the boss with a threaded passage and the flat wall of the packing cup and the clamping plate with holes in alignment with the passage.

7. To provide a packing gland assembly for a cable passing through the passage and aligned holes and which packing gland assembly is accommodated by the bend in the pipe section; and

8. To provide a locking screw passing through the flange, flat wall of the packing cup, and clamping plate at a location diametrically opposite to the boss.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention such as arise in connection with carrying out the above-noted ideas in a practical embodiment will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing objects are achieved by providing a well packer comprising a pipe section having a bend, a heavy flange integral with the upper end of the pipe section and integral with the flange and pipe section and extending above the flange centrally thereof, a leather packing cup having a flat wall engaging the upper face of the flange and having a central opening receiving the nipple and a cylindrical wall substantially coextensive with the flange, and a clamping plate engaging the upper face of the flat wall and a peripheral edge engaging the inner surface of the cylindrical wall. A coupling member is threaded onto the nipple and connects the pipe section to a well pipe and when tightened clamps the packing cup between the flange and plate.

The flange is formed with a boss above the recess defined by the bend. This boss has a threaded passage and the flat wall of the packing cup and clamping plate are formed with holes in alignment with this passage. A cable passes through the passage and aligned holes. Its relation to the flange is rendered airtight by a packing gland assembly that is accommodated by the bend recess. A locking screw is threaded into apertures in the flange, flat wall and clamping plate at a location diametrically opposite to the boss.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through a well bore and the earth formation contiguous thereto. It depicts a pump, packer, water pipe and cable in elevation;

FIG. 2 is a perspective illustrating the elements of the packer in exploded relation;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on an enlarged scale, through the packer as assembled;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the packer; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the packer.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, and first more particularly to FIG. 1, the well construction and mechanism installed therein are described as follows:

An earth formation 10 is shown as formed with a well bore 11 which is ordinarily cylindrical and may be provided with a lining or casing (not illustrated). Extending into bore 11 from ground surface 12 is a water pipe 13. At this point it is well to note that the subject packer is described in conjunction with a water pipe. This is not intended as a limitation on the invention as the packer is susceptible of use with other fluids such as oil.

Water pipe 13 will ordinarily be sectional and included therein is a packer that is identified in its entirety by the reference character P. Packer P defines a space 14 at the bottom of the bore and located in space 14 is a pump 15. Pump 15 is operated by an electric motor (not illustrated). A lower pipe section 18 extends from pump 15 to packer P. A cable 17 housing the necessary electrical conductors extends from the motor included in pump 15 through packer P and up through the well bore to ground surface 12.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, packer P is shown as including the pipe section 18 having a lower cylindrical end portion 19 that is internally threaded at 20. Immediately above end portion 19, pipe section 18 is deformed to provide a bend 21 which defines, on one side, a recess 22. Bend 21 terminates at its upper end in a heavy flange 23. The latter has a top face 24 and extending above face 24 is an externally threaded nipple 25.

Immediately above recess 22 flange 23 is thickened to provide a boss 26 and the latter is formed with a threaded passage 27. Diametrically opposite to boss 26 flange 23 is formed with a threaded aperture 28.

It is notable that flange 23 is dimensioned to be snugly received in well bore 11.

A leather packing cup is identified generally at C. It comprises a flat wall 29, the lower surface of which is in engagement with surface 24 of flange 23 and a cylindrical wall 30 integral with flat wall 29. The latter is formed with a central opening 31 through which nipple 25 passes, a hole 32 which aligns with passage 27, and an aperture 33 which aligns with aperture 28. Cylindrical wall 30 is dimensioned to snugly engage well bore 11 with an airtight fit.

A clamping plate 34 has a central opening 35 through which nipple 25 passes, a hole 36 in alignment with passage 27 and hole 32 and an aperture 37 in alignment with apertures 28 and 33.

The lower face of plate 34 is dimensioned to accurately fit within packing cup C. After being so positioned, a locking screw 38 is threaded through apertures 28, 33 and 37. Apertures 28 and 37 are threaded to receive locking screw 38. The lower end of the pipe section constituting a part of pipe 13 is externally threaded and this lower end is screwed into the internal threads 8 of a coupling 9. The lower end of the latter is also internally threaded at 7 and this end is screwed onto nipple 25. When the coupling 7 is tightened on nipple 25, packing cup C is securely clamped between flange 23 and plate 34.

A packing gland assembly is illustrated in the lower right hand portion of FIG. 2 and is identified in its entirety by the reference character A. It comprises a main body 39 having wrench engaging faces 40. Extending upwardly from body 39 is an externally threaded tubular member 41 which is screwed into threaded passage 27. Depending upwardly from body 39 is an externally threaded cylindrical extension 42 having a conical bore 43. A packing member 44 of rubber or a comparable elastomer material has an outer contour provided by a conical surface 46. It also has a cylindrical bore 47 and a flat top ringlike surface 48.

A metallic washer 49 bears against surface 48 and is forced thereagainst by a packing gland 50. The lower end of the latter is formed with an inturned lip 51 which engages washer 49. It also has a threaded bore 52 which is screwed onto cylindrical extension 42. The outer surface of gland 50 includes knurled portions 53 which facilitate its manipulation.

With body 39 anchored in boss 26 by extension 40 being screwed into passage 27 and cable 17 passing through the bore of packing member 44, gland 50 is tightened to deform packing member 50 and causes the bore thereof to closely grip the cable and thereby provide an airtight seal therewith.

It is evident that the foregoing structure provides a sturdy and rigid packer including a packing cup that is supported throughout its horizontal extent and the cylindrical wall of which is firmly held in airtight relation with the well bore. This cylindrical wall is expanded by the plate 34 when nipple 25 is tightened due to the edge of the plate engaging the curved corner which joins the flat and cylindrical walls of packing cup C. Moreover, a packing gland assembly for the cable is provided which is accommodated by the bend in the pipe section forming an element of the packer.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact constructions, mechanisms and devices illustrated and described because various modification of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice.

Claims

I claim:

1. For use in a well bore with a pump in the lower portion of the bore, a pipe extending upwardly from the pump through the bore and a cable extending upwardly from the pump through the bore, a well packer positioned in the well bore above the pump, said packer comprising:

a. a pipe section having a lower end portion that is threaded to provide means to connect it to said pump, a bend above said threaded portion defining a recess at one side of the pipe section, a heavy flange integral with the pipe section at the upper end of the bend, and a threaded nipple above said flange, said flange being formed with two diametrically opposed openings, one of which is above said recess;

b. a leather packing cup having a flat wall engaging said flange and a cylindrical wall snugly engageable with the bore of the well, said flat wall having two diametrically opposite openings in alignment with the openings in the flange;

c. a clamping plate having an opening receiving said nipple and two diametrically opposite openings in alignment with the openings in the flange and flat wall of the packing cup;

d. a locking screw passing through one set of aligned openings;

e. a coupling threaded onto said nipple and incorporating said pipe section into said pipe; and

f. a packing gland assembly mounted in the opening in the flange below said recess and operable to provide an airtight seal with a cable passing through the other set of openings; said coupling when tightened clamping the flat wall of the packing cup between the flange and clamping plate whereby the packing cup is supported by the flange and clamping plate substantially throughout its horizontal extent.

2. The well packer of claim 1 in which the flange is formed with a boss above the recess and the opening in the flange above the recess extends through the boss and is threaded to receive a threaded element of the packer gland assembly.

3. The well packer of claim 2 in which the packer gland assembly comprises a body having an upwardly extending threaded tubular extension received in the opening in the boss and a downwardly externally threaded extension having a conical bore, a deformable packing member having a conical portion received in said conical bore and a cylindrical bore, and a packing gland screwed onto said downward extension and having an internal lip operative upon rotation of said gland relative to said body to force the packing member into the conical bore to deform the packing member and cause its bore to grip a cable passing therethrough to provide an airtight seal therewith.

4. The well packer of claim 3 in which there is a metallic washer between an end of the packing member and the lip of the packing gland.

5. The well packer of claim 3 in which the packing member is of rubber.

6. The well packer of claim 1 in which the lower end of the pipe section is internally threaded and the nipple is externally threaded.