U.S. patent number 3,648,777 [Application Number 04/813,428] was granted by the patent office on 1972-03-14 for well bore circulating tool including positioning method by casing annulus fluid stretching tubing string.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Roy L. Arterbury. Invention is credited to Bryant P. Arterbury, Thomas C. Burroughs.
United States Patent |
3,648,777 |
Arterbury , et al. |
March 14, 1972 |
WELL BORE CIRCULATING TOOL INCLUDING POSITIONING METHOD BY CASING
ANNULUS FLUID STRETCHING TUBING STRING
Abstract
The tool disclosed equalizes fluid pressure around an upper pair
of oppositely facing, cup-type packers on an upper mandrel carried
sleeve associated with a drag element assembly, and bypasses fluid
pressure through a lower mandrel channel around a lower pair of
oppositely facing, cup-type packers carried on a lower mandrel, the
mandrels being rigidly connected, and the lower mandrel carrying a
sleeve providing a circulating port and carrying a drag assembly.
The mandrel may be rotated 180.degree. with relation to sleeves to
close equalizing ports and circulating ports, and then circulating
fluid can be pumped down casing annulus to set second packer to
stretch tubing string to place squeeze port in lower mandrel
straddle casing perforations and to set squeeze packers.
Inventors: |
Arterbury; Bryant P. (Houston,
TX), Burroughs; Thomas C. (Houston, TX) |
Assignee: |
Arterbury; Roy L. (Houston,
TX)
|
Family
ID: |
25212342 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/813,428 |
Filed: |
April 4, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/312; 166/147;
166/202; 166/150 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
41/00 (20130101); E21B 33/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
33/12 (20060101); E21B 41/00 (20060101); E21b
021/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;166/147,202,303,311,312,150 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Leppink; James A.
Claims
We claim:
1. In combination with a well tubing string insertable into a
casing providing perforations therein at at least one substantially
predetermined location, a well tool comprising a hollow mandrel
having an open lower end and connected upwardly to the tubing
string lower end, said mandrel providing openings successively
longitudinally spaced apart therebelow, namely: a longitudinally
extending, outwardly opening, equalizing passage, also a
circulating opening from the hollow mandrel, also a bypass port
into a bypass channel communicating with the mandrel open lower
end, and a squeeze port from said hollow mandrel above said lower
end with a pair of oppositely facing cup type packers on said
mandrel, one downwardly facing above, and the other upwardly facing
below said squeeze port, said mandrel also having a lower sleeve
thereon clutch engageable therewith, said lower sleeve also having
a lower, yieldably, outwardly urged friction means thereon and a
circulating port therethrough at circulating opening level, an
upper sleeve on said mandrel clutch engageable therewith and
mounting downwardly facing cup type packer means thereon, with
equalizing ports in said upper sleeve disposed one above and one
below said cup type packer means, said mandrel also having an
upper, yieldably outwardly urged friction means thereon, clutch
engageable with said upper sleeve and spaced below said cup-type
packer means, upon relative rotation between mandrel and upper
sleeve in one direction said equalizing ports communicating with
said equalizing passage and said circulating opening communicating
with said circulating port, and upon relative rotation between
mandrel and upper sleeve in the opposite direction, said equalizing
ports and said circulating ports being closed, whereby service
fluid from squeeze port may set said lower pair of packers, wash
through said perforations and upwardly and back into the casing
annulus and upwardly to set said downwardly facing cup-type packer
on said upper sleeve.
2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, in which said cup-typer
packer means at least comprises an upwardly opening packer whereby
pressurized circulating fluid applied downwardly in the casing
annulus may set the comprised upwardly opening packer to dam the
casing annulus so that the application of the pressurized
circulating fluid may stretch the tubing string in length to extend
downwardly from a substantially predetermined position above the
casing perforations to dispose said squeeze port at elevation to
deliver service fluid pumped down the tubing string and hollow
mandrel to wash through the uppermost casing perforation.
3. The combination as claimed in claim 1, in which said cup type
packer means at least comprises a downwardly opening packer
whereby, with said tool disposed to deliver service fluid through
said squeeze port and lower perforations to pass back through
perforations thereabove into the casing annulus, said downwardly
opening packer sets to dam the casing annulus against further
expansion of the service space and consequent loss of service space
pressure.
4. The combination as claimed in claim 1, in which said cup type
packer means comprises an upper, downwardly opening, cup type
packer and a lower, upwardly opening, cup type packer.
5. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said hollow
mandrel includes a lower threaded end and hollow extension means of
selective length threadably engageable with said lower end and
adapted to have the lower, upwardly opening packer of said pair
mounted thereon at level to establish a predetermined distance
between the packers of said pair whereby to establish a
predetermined casing annulus service space through which to service
the perforations.
6. The method of servicing down well casing perforations with a
well tool on the end of a tubing string, comprising the steps of
lowering the tool into the casing, with fluid circulation
therethrough equalized, to a selective position above an upper
perforation, pressurizing the casing annulus fluid against a first
dam provided on the tool thereby to stretch the tubing string, as
it is held at the top of the well, to dispose the tool in squeeze
position with relation to the upper perforation, and pumping
service fluid under pressure down the tubing string and out from
the tool into a limited area whereby the pressurized fluid reacts
against tool parts to establish a dam above and below the squeeze
port and straddling the said upper perforation, whereby to wash
service fluid outwardly therethrough, and successively lowering the
tubing string predetermined distances between successively lower
perforations as the casing annulus fluid against the first dam
holds the tubing string stretched, thereby to service successive
perforations.
7. The method of servicing an extent of vertical area of a
perforated well casing comprising the steps of, lowering a well
tool on the lower end of a tubing string into the well bore and
circulating service fluid down the well tubing string and out
through the tool into the casing annulus to cooperate with the tool
to establish substantially spaced apart dams across the casing
annulus above and below the fluid outlet from the tool, urging the
circulated service fluid to wash outwardly through the perforations
and passing part of the urged service fluid upwardly and back
through previously serviced perforations into the casing annulus
and upwardly to cooperate with the tool to establish an upper
barrier for the circulated fluid, thus to delimit total pressurized
service space and thereby limiting the applied pressure
thereof.
8. The method of back servicing through an extent of vertical area
of a perforated well casing comprising the steps of lowering a well
tool on the lower end of a tubing string into the well bore and
within the perforated area of the perforated well casing,
delivering a circulating fluid down the casing annulus to cooperate
with the tool to establish an upper dam across the annulus,
bypassing part of the circulating fluid from above the first dam
and out the lower end of the tool to cooperate with the tool to
establish a lower dam across the annulus, the circulating fluid
from above the upper dam and from below the lower dam being urged
outwardly of perforations and respectively downwardly and upwardly
to return through previously serviced perforations into the cased
well bore to set the dams across the casing annulus that are
disposed intermediate the aforesaid intermediate dams and thus to
urge the service fluid from between the intermediate dams back up
the tool and the tubing string.
9. In combination with a well tubing string insertable into a
casing providing perforations therein at at least one substantially
predetermined location, a well tool comprising a hollow mandrel
having an open lower end and connected upwardly to the tubing
string lower end, said mandrel providing openings successively
longitudinally spaced apart therebelow, namely: a longitudinally
extending, outwardly opening, equalizing passage, also a
circulating opening from the hollow mandrel, also a bypass port
into a bypass channel communicating with the mandrel open lower
end, and a squeeze port from said hollow mandrel above said lower
end, a tubular extension connected to communicate with said mandrel
lower end to extend therebelow, a lower pair of oppositely facing
cup type packers, one on said mandrel between bypass port and
squeeze port and facing downwardly, the other on said tubular
extension above the lower end thereof and facing upwardly, said
mandrel also having a lower sleeve thereon clutch engageable
therewith, said lower sleeve also having a lower, yieldably,
outwardly urged friction means thereon and a circulating port
therethrough at circulating opening level, an upper sleeve on said
mandrel clutch engageable therewith and mounting downwardly facing
cup type packer means thereon, an equalizing port in said upper
sleeve above and below said cup type packer means, said mandrel
also having an upper, yieldably outwardly urged friction means
thereon, clutch engageable with said upper sleeve and spaced below
said cup type packer means, upon relative rotation between mandrel
and upper sleeve in one direction said circulating opening
communicating with said circulating port, and upon relative
rotation between mandrel and upper sleeve in the opposite
direction, said equalizing ports and said circulating ports being
closed, whereby service fluid from squeeze port may set said lower
pair of packers, wash through said perforations and upwardly and
back into the casing annulus and upwardly to set said downwardly
facing cup type packer on said upper sleeve.
10. In combination with a cased well bore tubing string insertable
into a casing providing perforations therein over a predetermined
vertical range, a well tool comprising a hollow mandrel having an
open lower end and connected upwardly to the tubing string lower
end, said mandrel providing openings successively longitudinally
spaced apart therebelow, namely: a bypass port into a bypass
channel communicating with the mandrel open lower end, also an
upper pair of back-to-back, cup-type packers, the upper packer of
the pair opening upwardly, and the lower packer of the pair opening
downwardly, also a squeeze port into a squeeze channel
communicating with the tubing string interior thereabove, and a
lower pair of back-to-back, cup type packers below said squeeze
port and above said mandrel open lower end, the upper packer of the
pair opening upwardly, and the lower packer of the pair opening
downwardly, whereby with perforations opposite, above and below
said packers, circulating fluid may be pumped down the casing
annulus around the tubing string and well tool to set the upper
packer of the upper pair, to circulate from casing annulus through
perforations and downwardly and back through perforations into the
casing annulus to set oppositely facing intermediate packers and to
urge service fluid recovery back into said squeeze port and the
squeeze channel upwardly through the tubing string, also to
circulate into the by-pass port and down the bypass channel to set
the lower packer of the upper pair, also to circulate outwardly
through perforations and upwardly and back through perforations
into the casing annulus to set oppositely facing intermediate
packers and to urge service fluid recovery as aforesaid.
Description
The invention relates to well tools, and has as an important object
the provision of a well tool adapted to stretch the tubing string
from a position above and proximate an upper perforation to a
position with lower or squeeze packers straddle such upper
perforation.
It is also a further and important object of this invention to
provide a tool of this class which has a lower mandrel adapted to
be used separately, with two packers reversed, to serve in the
recovery of service fluid up the squeeze bore and tubing
string.
It is also an important object of the invention to provide a tool
of this class and method of use, when not under stretch that
extends distance between squeeze packers to service a substantial
vertical distance of perforations, with the tool providing an
uppermost downwardly opening, cup type packer to delimit service
fluid space as to such fluid which returns through upper serviced
perforations into the well bore.
It is yet an additional and salient object of the invention to
provide a well tool and service method, whereby the tool may be
converted from a fluid equalized, well entering position, to a
closed port position, simply by rotating mandrel (or tubing string)
180.degree. with relation to port sleeves, as held by drag assembly
contact.
It is also a definite and most important object of the invention to
provide a tool adapted to have parallel packer bypass and service
fluid delivery channels through the mandrel.
It is still another and further object of the invention to provide
a tool of this class which is readily adapted to various usages by
the simple expedient of changing parts.
Other and further objects will be apparent when the specification
is considered in connection with the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a tool comprising an embodiment of
the invention in position in an oil well casing shown in section;
the two upper sleeve equalizing ports (in dotted lines) being in
communication through the mandrel exterior, the circulating port
(in lower sleeve), and the squeeze port (between lower pair of
packers) being open;
FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the tool shown in FIG. 1 after the
tubing string has been stretched by the weight of circulating fluid
pumped down casing annulus to set the lower cup type packer of the
upper pair thereof, thus disposing the lower pair of cup type
packers straddle an uppermost perforation with "squeeze" port open
for pressurized service fluid down mandrel to wash the perforation;
the two equalizing ports and the circulating port being shown open;
also an open bypass port (through lower end of mandrel) is shown in
this position;
FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view of the tool shown in FIG. 1
after the tubing string has been lowered to dispose the lower pair
of cup type packers to straddle a lower perforation; the tool being
in condition for service as in FIG. 2;
FIGS. 4A, 4B, 7A and 7B, are hereinbelow described, considering the
tool to have been rotated 90.degree. to right from the position
shown in FIG. 1, as follows:
FIG. 4A is a sectional elevational view of the upper parts of the
upper portion of tool shown in FIGS. 1-3, inclusive;
FIG. 4B is an elevational view of the lower parts of the upper
portion of the tool shown in FIGS. 1-3, inclusive;
FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional plan view, taken along line 5--5
of FIG. 4A and along line 5--5 of FIG. 4B;
FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional plan view taken along line 6--6 of
FIG. 4A;
FIG. 7A is a sectional elevational view of the upper parts of the
lower portion of the tool shown in FIGS. 1-3, inclusive;
FIG. 7B is a sectional elevational view of the lower parts of the
lower portion of the tool shown in FIGS. 1-3, inclusive;
FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional plan view taken along line 8--8 of
FIG. 7A;
FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional plan view taken along line 9--9 of
FIG. 7B;
FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional plan view taken along line 10--10
of FIG. 7B;
FIG. 10A is a transverse sectional plan view taken along line
10A--10A of FIG. 7A;
FIG. 11 is an alternate usage view, showing the parts shown in FIG.
7B, (lower parts of lower portion), but with the lower cup-type
packer of the lower pair of packers removed;
FIG. 12 is a lower continuation of the alternate usage shown in
FIG. 11, with the lower cup-type packer of the lower pair of
packers shown installed on a lower extension mandrel;
FIG. 13 is a transverse sectional plan view taken along line 13--13
of FIG. 11, indicating in dotted lines the removal of the lower cup
type packer of the lower pair of packers;
FIG. 14 is a transverse sectional plan view taken along line 14--14
of FIG. 12, showing the lower cup packer of the lower pair of
packers as installed on the lower extension mandrel; and
FIG. 15 is a small scale sectional elevational view of the
construction of the lower portion of the tool as employed alone for
an alternate usage.
Referring now in detail to the drawings, in which like reference
numerals are assigned to like elements in the various views, a well
tubing string 10 is shown in FIG. 1 in a well casing 11 in position
in a cased well bore 12 which has been cemented in the bore by
cement 13 with a fluid negotiable space 14 being indicated just
outwardly of the casing as that requiring service with the general
formation of the earth further outwardly being indicated by the
reference numeral 15. Below the tubing string 10 the tool 16 is
connected upwardly to the tubing string lower end by a clutch sub
or connection member 17, forming part of an upper mandrel 25. An
upper sleeve 18 is shown immediately below the clutch sub 17, the
upper sleeve 18 and clutch 17 being relatively rotatable, as
indicated by the clutch jaw 21 forming part of the clutch sub 17,
and to be further described hereinbelow in relation to a stop jaw
on the upper sleeve 18, not shown in FIGS. 1-3, inclusive.
An upper equalizing port 31 is shown to be on the reverse side of
the upper sleeve 18 in FIG. 1, and therebelow on such sleeve a pair
of cup-type, oppositely facing packers are mounted, with upper
packer 19 opening downwardly, and lower packer 20 opening upwardly.
Then, in the upper sleeve 18, below the lower packer 20, a lower
equalizing port 32 is provided to communicate with the upper port
31 by means of a longitudinally extending slot in the mandrel outer
surface, to be hereinbelow described. Also a key 23 is indicated on
the reverse side in FIG. 1 for the purpose of connecting the upper
sleeve 18 against rotating with the mandrel, as the friction pad or
drag assembly 24, on the upper sleeve 18 bears frictionally against
the inner wall of the casing 11.
Below the friction pad assembly 24 there appears a larger diameter
upper mandrel member or sub 26, and there is indication in FIG. 1
that the lower surface of the friction unit 24 and the upper
surface of this sub 26 move relatively slidably over each other as
when the mandrel may be rotated.
A tubing or tubular member 27, which may be of substantial length,
is shown connecting the lower member or sub 26 of the upper mandrel
section 25 with a sub 28, comprising an upper member of the lower
mandrel 30. The aforesaid tubing member 27 may be considered
optionally as part of either the upper mandrel section 25; also as
part of the lower mandrel section 30, as indicated in FIGS. 1-3,
and in FIG. 4B.
The lower mandrel sub 28 is clutch connected by means of clutch jaw
43, engageable with a stop member (not shown in FIGS. 1-3) which
upstands from the head or upper member 29 of a lower sleeve 35,
whereby it may be known whether or not a circulating port 33, shown
in full lines in FIG. 1, communicates with a matching lower mandrel
port (open position) or occludes such matching port, (closed
position). A friction assembly or drag unit 34 is also carried by
the lower sleeve 35 to bear against the casing inner wall to
prevent the lower sleeve 35 from turning when the tubing string
with mandrel, carrying lower sleeve 35 thereon, is rotated, as to
change port positions from those shown in FIG. 1 to those shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3.
Below the friction pad assembly, or friction or drag unit 34, an
enlarged diameter, lower mandrel section sub or member 36 is shown
in FIG. 1, with the lower surface of the friction unit 34 being
shown to indicate that this surface and the upper surface of the
lower mandrel sub or member 36 move relatively slidably over each
other responsive to mandrel rotation.
Below the lower mandrel sub 36, the lower mandrel continues as a
reduced diameter member 37 with a bypass port 38, indicated on the
reverse side in FIG. 1, being provided to bypass circulating fluid
a round a pair of cup-type, oppositely facing packers 39, 40, upper
packers opening downwardly and lower packer opening upwardly. The
bypass route, not indicated, is preferably through a separate bore
in the mandrel lower end to the port 38. Below the lower packer 39,
the lower mandrel section 30 continues as a sub 41 and terminates
in an open or hollow bull plug 42.
A port termed the squeeze port 45 is provided in the lower mandrel
member 37 below the bypass port 38 and between the packers 39, 40,
the functioning of this squeeze port 45 being the most important
and salient usage of the tool 16. In FIG. 1, the tool is shown as
lowered into the well bore 12 with the ports 31, 32, open to bypass
well bore fluid around packers 19, 20; also the circulating port 33
between well bore and mandrel interior is open in this
position.
Additionally, the continuously open bypass port 38 permits well
bore fluid passage around the packers 39, 40 through a passage in
the mandrel separate from the hollow service fluid path
therethrough, while the continuously open squeeze port 45 is open
so that the lowered tool may provide fluid passage through this
port. In this condition the packers 19, 20 and 39, 40, formed and
installed in unset position, remain unset because of the aforesaid
open condition of all of the ports.
The tool 16 has been lowered in FIG. 1, as determined by
measurement of payout against known pipe tally, to a position or
elevation calculated to be just above known uppermost perforations
46 in a perforated casing area. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the
tubing string 10 has been rotated to the right, as viewed looking
down from the top of the well 12, whereby the upper mandrel 25 is
rotated 180.degree. with relation to the upper sleeve 18, as it is
held against rotation by the upper drag assembly 24; also the lower
mandrel 30, rigidly connected to the upper mandrel 25, is rotated
180.degree. with relation to the lower sleeve 35, as it is held
against rotation by the lower drag assembly 34.
Thus, in FIG. 2 the respective upper and lower mandrel clutch jaws
21 and 43 are shown to have been moved 180.degree. counterclockwise
or to the right, as viewed looking down from the top of the well.
In like manner the equalizing ports 31, 32 are now shown in full
line position, the circulating port 33 and the squeeze port 45 are
shown in dotted position, while the bypass port 38 is shown in full
line position.
After the tubing string 10 has been rotated, as aforesaid, to close
the equalizing ports 31, 32 and circulating port 33, conventional
circulating fluid is pumped down the casing annulus to set the
upwardly facing or opening packer 20, and pressure is kept up on
the circulating fluid with the consequence that the tubing string
is stretched to move the tool 16, including the lower pair of
packers 39, 40 downwardly. Also, service fluid is pumped down the
tubing string 10 and the bore or hollow passage through the mandrel
sections 25, 30, to pass out the squeeze port 45 and set the lower
packers 39, 40.
Then, when the lower packer 40 has been moved far enough downwardly
to uncover an upper perforation 46, a drop in the service fluid
gauge at the top of the well will indicate that upper perforation
46 is being served by the service fluid washing through the
perforations into the loose or relatively open service space 14.
The pressure upon the service fluid down the tubing string 10 may
then be increased as dictated by the "squeeze" service which may be
required to completely wash through the perforations and otherwise
service the well bore 12.
As shown in FIG. 3 the tubing string 10 and tool 16 thereon, have
been lowered from the top of the well bore to dispose the tool in
the next lowest perforation level to service the perforations 47.
As it is known from the perforation record what distance there was
between perforations, it is a simple matter to effectuate these
short changes, which ordinarily require simply lowering the tubing
string -0 the short known distance between perforations. Also,
indication is given by the lower packer 40 being lowered to uncover
a next lower perforation 47, as there will be a pressure drop
indicated in the service pressure fluid gauge at the top of the
well bore, as the "squeeze" pressure is relieved by fluid passing
out the perforations 47 not selected for service.
An alternative construction is indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 2,
which shows a clutch stop 48 extended downwardly as part of the
upper sleeve 18, and a clutch jaw 49 on upper mandrel 25 having
been rotated to the right or into counterclockwise stop contact
with the aforesaid clutch stop 48. Such a clutch arrangement may be
employed in place of the upper mandrel clutch jaw 21, and its stop,
not shown, FIGS. 1-3. Also the clutch arrangement 48, 49 may be
employed as an additional arrangement.
The construction of the tool 16 shown in FIGS. 1-3, inclusive, may
be set forth in detail hereinbelow, as the tool 16 is disclosed in
FIGS. 4A through FIG. 10A, inclusive. In FIG. 4A the lower end of
the tubing string 10 is shown connected to a sub 17 which has been
modified by relieving the lower end part to provide the clutch jaw
21, which is rotated to the left, (clockwise), to stop position
(FIG. 6) against a stop jaw or lug 22, thus to place the tool 16 in
best condition to be lowered into the well bore with the equalizing
ports 31, 32 open, as shown in FIG. 1. A roller bearing assembly or
antifriction unit 50 is shown in FIG. 4A interposed between the
clutch sub 17 and clutch head 51 of the upper sleeve 18, thereby to
facilitate relative rotation therebetween.
The tubing string 10 is shown in FIG. 4A as having a conventional
concentric bore 52 therethrough while the clutch sub 17 has
concentricly therein a bore 53 and an enlarged diameter counterbore
54. The upper mandrel clutch sub 17 has threaded thereinto the
upper mandrel central tubular member 57 having an eccentricly
disposed main bore 56 therein which communicates upwardly with the
clutch sub counterbore 54. A longitudinally extending slot 58 has
to be provided in the upper mandrel central member 57 to establish
fluid communication between the upper equalizing port 31 and the
lower equalizing port 32 (FIG. 4B) in the upper sleeve 18 below the
clutch head 51. Thus the well bore fluid has an equalizing passage
around the upper, downwardly facing, cup-type packer 19 thereon,
and also around the lower, upwardly facing, cup-type packer 20. The
respective packers 19, 20 are fixedly positioned on the upper
sleeve portion 59, below the sleeve clutch head 51 by respective
pairs of lock nuts 60a, 60b threaded respectively downwardly and
upwardly on the sleeve portion 59, with the nuts 60a to bear
against the respective packers 19, 20, as the packers are stopped
by respective shoulders 61a, 61b provided on the sleeve portion
59.
The upper sleeve 18 terminates, below the lower equalizing port 32,
in the key 23 which engages in a conventional key slot provided
therefor in the uppermost part of the head 62 of the friction
element mounting sleeve or body 63 of the upper drag assembly or
friction unit 24. Such sleeve or body 63 is received upon the lower
portion of the upper mandrel central member 57, which is shown in
FIG. 4B as having been drilled concentricly from its lower end to
provide a lower, enlarged concentric bore 64. Obviously, the
expedient of drilling the central member 57 eccentricly from the
top for a necessary distance permits stock in which the
longitudinally extending groove or slot 58 may be formed as an
equalizing or bypass channel between ports 31, 32 above and below
the upper set of packers 19, 20.
The upper drag assembly 24, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, is shown
in FIG. 4B (and in plan view in FIG. 8) as comprising a plurality
of friction elements or drag members 65 disposed in equally,
angularly spaced apart slots 66 in the body 63 to be urged
outwardly by leaf springs 67 within respective slots 66 and thus
under each drag member 65. A retainer ring or band 68a holds the
upper foot 69a of each drag member 65 to limited outward movement
and a corresponding band 68b restrains the lower foot 69b of each
drag member 65.
The lower end portion 70 of the upper drag assembly 24 is
counterbored upwardly to receive therein the reduced diameter head
of the upper mandrel lower sub 26 of the upper mandrel 25, such
mandrel sub 26 being internally threaded from its upper end to be
threaded full up on the lower end portion of the upper mandrel
central member 57 to restrain a roller bearing antifriction unit 50
between the lower portion 70 of the drag assembly body 63 and the
top surface of the aforesaid upper mandrel lower sub 26.
The lower sub 26 of the upper mandrel 25 is connected to the upper
sub 28 of the lower mandrel 30 by means of the tubing or tubular
member 27. Considering FIG. 7A in connection with FIG. 10A, a
portion of the lower end part of the lower mandrel upper sub 28 is
cut away over approximately 240.degree., leaving a downwardly
extending clutch jaw 43 (FIG. 10A) of approximately 120.degree..
The condition is as indicated in FIG. 1 in that the lowe mandrel 30
has been rotated to the left (clockwise) to abut the upstanding
clutch stop or lug 44 comprising part of the head 29 of the sleeve
or body 71 on which is mounted the lower drag assembly 34 (FIGS. 1,
2, 3).
The lower mandrel 30 includes a central tubular member 72 on which
the body or sleeve 71 of the lower drag assembly 34 is mounted, the
lower drag assembly 34 being identical in parts and reference
numeral assignment with the upper drag assembly 24 shown in FIG.
4B. Also the drag assembly body 71 includes a lower member 73
having its upper part constructed identically with the construction
of the lower end portion 70 of the upper drag body 63. The lower
mandrel central tubular member 72 passes through the aforesaid
lower member 73 of the drag assembly body 71, and a lower mandrel
sub 36 has its upper end portion threadably engaged upon the end
portion of the central tubular member 72, whereby to complete
assembly of the lower mandrel 30 with the drag assembly 34 in
position thereon whereby the drag assembly lower member 73 may
remain stationary as the mandrel 30 is rotated with relation
thereto.
The drag assembly body 71 of the drag assembly 34 provides a
circulating port 33 therein, which is in communication with a
circulating port 75 in the lower mandrel tubular member 72, whereby
as the tool 16 is lowered into a well bore defined in tubular
member bore 74 and in the casing annulus are in communication.
The lower mandrel lower tubular member 76, (FIG. 7B and FIG. 9),
has a main bore 77 eccentrically disposed therein which
communicates through the sub 36 with the bore 74 through the lower
mandrel central tubular member 72. This eccentric bore 77 extends
downwardly for a substantial distance in the lower tubular member
76 and terminates in the squeeze port 45 through the wall
thereof.
A pair of lower cup-type oppositely facing packers 39, 40, upper
packer opening downwardly, lower packer opening upwardly, are
provided on the lower tubular member 76, with this pair of packers
being of substantially identical construction and dimension as the
aforesaid upper pair of packers 19, 20. This pair of packers is
installed on the lower tubular member 76 with upper packer 39
disposed below the bypass port 38 therein which communicates with a
longitudinally extending bore 78 drilled upwardly therein from the
lower end thereof. Such packers are fixedly positioned upon the
lower tubular member 76 by lock nuts 60a, 60b disposing the packers
to bear against shoulders 61a, 61b in correspondence with the
manner in which the packers 19, 20, hereinabove described, are
mounted on the upper sleeve member 59 in FIG. 4A. Below the
lock-nut 60b, FIG. 7B, a terminal lower mandrel sub 79 is threaded
upon the lower tubular member 76 to complete the mandrel assembly.
Also, in FIG. 7B an extension 41 of the tool from the lower mandrel
assembly 30, is shown in the form of a tubular member threaded into
the lower mandrel lower sub 79, and a hollow bull plug 42 (FIGS. 1
and 2) may be installed on this member 41, as in many conventional
practices.
The usages and positions of the tool 16 have been described
hereinabove with relation to the disclosure of FIGS. 1-3,
inclusive, and as made more obvious by the detailed disclosure set
forth in FIG. 4A through FIG. 10A, inclusive. Furthermore, an
especial service that the tool 16 may render if the lower mandrel
30 hereinabove described is extended in length, as the lower
mandrel 30a, FIGS. 11-14, inclusive. The object of increasing the
length of the lower mandrel to the length disclosed is to space the
packers 39, 40, substantially apart to increase the length of the
"squeeze" space so as to serve some plurality of perforations. In
such a case the tool on the lower end of the tubing string 10, is
lowered into a well bore into the proximity of a perforated area of
casing 11, (FIG. 3, perforations 46, 47, 80), and without setting
the packer 20 to stretch the tubing string 10, the packers 39, 40
are first set in unperforated casing by pumping service fluid down
the tubing string and tool and out the squeeze port 45. Then, with
this test as a comparison the tubing string is lowered until it is
indicated that at least one perforation or level of perforation is
between the packers 39, 40, by the falling off of the service fluid
pressure gauge at the top of the well. With this information the
elevation of the tool may be adjusted in the well bore until it
straddles a perforated area of casing length to be serviced. Then
the service fluid is applied out of the squeeze port 45 to apply
against the whole perforated area, the packers 39 and 40 being
set.
With the tool disposed at a level in perforated casing where some
perforations fall between the set packers 39, 40 and some are above
the packer 39, the service fluid can pass out through the
perforations between packers and move up the space 14 outwardly of
the cement 13, and pass back into the cased well bore 11 through
the perforations above the aforesaid packer 39, and rise in the
casing annulus above the packer 39. Thus the upwardly opening,
lower packer 20 of the upper pair of packers would remain unset,
but the rising service fluid pressure will set the downwardly
opening upper packer 19. The setting of the upper packer 19 thus
establishes an upper barrier for the service fluid so as to limit
the expansion of the total service fluid area now pressurized,
whereby the casing wall between lower packers 39, 40, does not have
to withstand service fluid pressure acting through a limited space,
which a weak casing 11 might not be strong enough to sustain
Rather, the area over which the force of the service fluid pump is
applied, will be substantially increased, so that the service fluid
pressure per square inch over such area can drop to a figure which
does not jeopardize the well casing 11.
It often is the practice to reenforce the cup-type packers so that
not one but a pair of downwardly facing or opening packers will be
upwardly in tandem and not one but a pair of upwardly facing or
opening packers will be downwardly in tandem. Such an arrangement
can require a lower mandrel lower tubular member of greater length
that the lower mandrel lower tubular member 76 (FIG. 7B), because
of mounting four packers, but as above described, the tool
functions as aforesaid.
Having a tandem, doubled, or reenforced packer arrangement as
immediately hereinabove described, it is possible to convert the
recover service fluid, by connecting a mandrel portion 81, FIG. 15,
(corresponding in structure with a modified member 76, as shown in
FIG. 7B), by means of a connecting mandrel sub 36, (also shown in
FIG. 7B), directly to the lower end of a tubing string 10, as shown
in FIG. 4A. In this arrangement the packer 40a is reversed to open
upwardly, and a spacer or assembly ring 82 is installed on the
mandrel 81 above the upper packer 40a. Then, when the lock nut 60a
is threaded upon the mandrel 81 to bear upon the top surface of the
spacer ring 82, the packer 39 therebelow, (the downwardly opening
squeeze packer), bears upon the mandrel shoulder 61a, and the
packers 40a, 39 are restrained in assembled position. It follows
that threading the lock-nut 60b up on the mandrel 81 to abut the
lock-nut 60a, assures locking of the assembly.
In similar manner the lower packer 39a is reversed to open
downwardly, a spacer ring 82 being installed on the mandrel 81
below the lower packer 39a, with the lock-nut 60a being threaded
upwardly on the mandrel 81 to bear upon the lower surface of the
spacer ring 82. The packer 40 thereabove then bears upon the
mandrel shoulder 61b, the packers 39a, 40 are thus restrained in
assembled position, and when the lock-nut 60b is threaded up on the
mandrel 81 to abut the lock-nut 60a, the lower pair of packers 40,
39a are locked in assembled position.
Now, obviously, if the tool 81 should be lowered by the tubing
string to an area or length of perforated casing, if circulating
fluid is pumped down the casing annulus, some will go to set the
upward facing, upper packer 40a, some will pass into the bypass
port 38 and down the bypass bore 78a, and into the well bore
therebelow to set the lowermost, downwardly facing packer 39a, and
some will pass from the casing annulus through upper perforations,
and downwardly and back through perforations in areas opposite the
squeeze port 45 and thereabove and therebelow, to set the
oppositely facing, upper and lower squeeze packers 39, 40. Also,
part of the circulating fluid that passages downwardly through the
bore 78a will wash out through perforations therebelow in the
casing, and then will pass upwardly and back into the casing
annulus through perforations generally opposite the squeeze port
45, to participate with the fluid from above, and hereinabove
described, in setting the squeeze packers 39, 40. Also it can be
seen that the circulating fluid, as thus applied under pressure,
can urge upon service fluid previously applied down the tubing
string, and force this service fluid, through the port 45, to rise
in the squeeze bore 77 and in the tubing string to the top of the
well.
The construction of the mandrel 81 is shown as divided into an
upper part 81a, a central part 81b, and a lower part 81c for ease
and practicality of assembly. Also, various changes in machine
design and shop practice may be made, and the tool may be designed
in other ways in practicality with the broad accomplishments of the
tool, and the extensive method steps at which it may be used
successfully.
* * * * *