U.S. patent number 3,651,867 [Application Number 05/077,920] was granted by the patent office on 1972-03-28 for combination well clean-out tool and jar.
Invention is credited to August B. Baumstimler.
United States Patent |
3,651,867 |
Baumstimler |
March 28, 1972 |
COMBINATION WELL CLEAN-OUT TOOL AND JAR
Abstract
A well cleanout tool for retrieving junk or debris from the
bottom of a borehole. The tool may be run into an oil well on the
end of a wire line or sand line. Included within the tool are
various chambers for retrieving or holding junk which flows
thereinto when a valve is actuated. A combination valve actuator
and jar mechanism is manipulated by the wire line and facilitates
removal of the tool from the borehole when it becomes stuck
therein. An improved releaf valve in the form of a resilient
one-way check valve progressively reduces the internal pressure of
the tool after it has been actuated and is traveling uphole. A
second jar mechanism is optionally provided at the lower extremity
of the tool.
Inventors: |
Baumstimler; August B. (Odessa,
TX) |
Family
ID: |
22140797 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/077,920 |
Filed: |
October 5, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/99; 166/100;
166/326 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
27/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
27/00 (20060101); E21b 031/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;166/99,100,224 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Leppink; James A.
Claims
I claim:
1. A well clean out tool having an inlet and an outlet; with the
outlet being connected to a pipe forming chamber which is adapted
to be supported by means such as a wire rope, comprising, in
combination:
means forming a passageway through said tool with said passageway
connecting the inlet to the outlet;
a combination jar and valve unit, a relief check valve, and a trap
means, each spaced apart from one another and in communication with
said passageway;
said jar and valve unit including a valve element and a valve stem,
means by which said stem is connected to move said valve element; a
valve seat assembly having a face thereon which cooperates with
said element to permit fluid flow through said passageway when
moved to a flow permitting position, and to normally prevent fluid
flow when moved to a flow preventing position; said valve unit
being disposed within said tool and near the outlet; said valve
seat forming a portion of said passageway;
a valve actuator means, said actuator means adapted to move the
valve stem to cause the valve element to move from the closed to
the opened position, and vice versa, in accordance with the
relative position of the support means with respect to the tool;
said actuator having means forming a flow path therethrough which
is a continuation of said passageway;
a jar means connected to said valve actuator means, said jar being
in the form of a piston; a connecting rod, said piston being
connected to said actuator and to said connecting rod; said
connecting rod being affixed to said pipe forming chamber;
means forming a cylinder between said valve unit and said outlet,
stop means defining the length of said cylinder, said piston being
reciprocatingly received within said cylinder and adapted to be
reciprocated between the limits of said stop means to thereby
provide a jarring action; whereby:
the clean out tool can be set on bottom, thereby causing said valve
unit to be moved to the opened position, and the clean out tool can
be lifted to thereby cause a jarring action to occur.
2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said relief check valve is
disposed between said jar and said trap means, said relief check
valve includes a cylindrical rubber member, apertures formed in
said tool and communicating the interior of the tool so as to
enable outward flow therefrom, said rubber cylinder being slidably
received about said apertures to thereby form the recited relief
check valve.
3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said relief check valve
includes a portion of the passageway which is disposed in
underlying relationship with respect to said valve element;
said relief check valve being in the form of a sub-assembly which
interconnects said valve assembly to said trap means;
said sub-assembly having a circumferentially extending bore defined
by two spaced apart shoulders, means forming apertures through said
sub-assembly for enabling flow of fluid from the interior of the
tool with said apertures being spaced apart from said bore, said
rubber cylinder having an inside peripheral wall surface which is
slidably received over the apertured portion of said sub-assembly
and further including an outwardly directed enlargement which is
received within said bore.
4. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said trap means
includes a check valve located within said passageway and spaced
apart from and below said relief check valve so as to enable flow
of fluid and debris from said inlet toward said outlet while
precluding flow of fluid in an opposite direction.
5. The combination of claim 4 and further including a junk basket
spaced apart from said trap means to thereby provide a junk
containing chamber between said junk basket and said trap means, a
second debris containing chamber between said trap and said relief
check valve, a third chamber between said relief check valve and
the valve unit, and another chamber located in the upper extremity
of the tool; each recited chamber forming a portion of said
passageway.
6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said cylinder and said
connecting rod are of a length which provides a range of between 6
to 18 inches of piston travel.
7. The combination of claim 1 and further including means forming a
second jar which is interposed between said trap and said
inlet.
8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said relief check valve is an
elongated cylinder of rubber having means by which it is attached
to a marginal length of the outside peripheral surface of the tool,
means forming an aperture through a wall of the tool; said aperture
being aligned with the inside peripheral surface of said cylinder
of rubber.
9. The combination of claim 1, and further including means forming
a passageway through a side wall of said tool near the upper stop
means to enable fluid to flow outwardly from said cylinder as said
piston is reciprocated in an upward direction.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Reference is made to my previous U.S. Pat. No. 3,406,757 issued
Oct. 22, 1968 , for additional background of the present invention.
In running the tool of my previous invention into a borehole on a
sand line, the pressure differential between the formation fluid
and the tool interior causes a violent flow of debris into the tool
when the valve is opened. This surge of fluid is of a sufficient
magnitude to cause the tool to suck itself down into a layer of
debris where it sometimes becomes stuck or caught. Heretofore it
has been necessary to employ a jar which is incorporated into the
tool string so as to enable removal of the tool from its stuck
position. After the tool has been jarred loose from the bottom of
the borehole and retrieved by the wire line, it has been found that
the differential in internal pressure as the tool is brought out of
the formation fluids creates a hazard to workmen when the tool is
subsequently emptied of debris and made ready for the next trip
into the hole.
Accordingly, it is desirable to be able to progressively relieve
the pressure differential existent between the tool interior and
the borehole annulus as the tool is brought uphole in a manner
which is fool-proof and reliable. Furthermore it is desirable to be
able to incorporate a jar into the tool without suffering the
weight penalty occasioned by adding additional tools in series with
the basic tool string.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprehends a well clean-out tool having a
valve unit at the upper extremity thereof which can be directly
actuated by reciprocatory motion of the wire line to which the tool
is attached. The reciprocatory motion of the wire line also
actuates a jar apparatus which enables the tool to be removed from
a borehole when it becomes stuck therein. The internal pressure of
the tool is controlled by a novel relief check valve which
cooperates with the valve unit in a manner which equalizes the
pressure differential between the interior of the tool and the
ambient.
The novel features of the present invention lies in the combination
of a valve unit which is actuated by a valve stem, wherein the
valve stem forms part of a jar mechanism, whereby reciprocation of
the wire line from the surface enables the valve to be moved to the
opened position so as to fill the tool with debris, and wherein
further manipulative action of the wire line actuates the jar
mechanism to thereby provide impact force which drives the tool in
an upward direction. Another novel feature of the tool lies in a
relief check valve which permits outward flow or equalization of
internal tool pressure, but which precludes inward flow
therethrough. The relief check valve cooperates with the valve unit
in a manner to maintain the pressure differential across the tool
substantially equal as the tool is brought out of the hole.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to
provide a well clean-out tool which is actuated in response to
movement of a wire line or a drill string to which the tool may be
attached.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of an
improved relief check valve assembly for a well clean-out tool.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a
well clean-out tool which is fabricated into a number of
subcomponents which enables rapid assembly and disassembly thereof
to expedite cleaning the tool after it has been used in removing
debris from a well.
A still further object of the present invention is the provision of
a well clean-out tool having means associated therewith which
functions in a manner to improve the operation of the tool as well
as to protect the various components of the tool from the high
pressures associated with a deep well.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of a well
clean-out tool having a combination jar and valve assembly
associated therewith which can be actuated by a wire line.
A still further object of the present invention is the provision of
a lost motion coupling which enables reciprocatory or longitudinal
motion of a supporting means to upset a valve means, while at the
same time it permits the supporting means to impart a jarring
action into the tool.
The above objects are attained in accordance with the present
invention by the provision of a well clean-out tool which is
fabricated from a number of subcomponents to provide a junk
catching section, a smaller section having a check valve interposed
between the junk section and the main valve section, and a main
valve section having a valve element therein which is upset to the
open or closed position by the action of the wire line. The
internal pressure of the tool is determined by a relief check valve
element. The valve unit includes a lost-motion coupling located
between the valve assembly and support means which enables a
jarring action to be imparted into the tool by the wire line.
These and other objects of the invention are made possible by the
provision of a well cleanout tool made in accordance with the above
summary. Various other objects and advantages of this invention
will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon
reading the following detailed description and by referring to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a general view of a well clean-out tool made in
accordance with the present invention, with some parts thereof
being broken away and removed in order to better illustrate in a
general manner the entire device;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, more detailed representation of
a portion of the device seen in FIG. 1, with some parts thereof
being broken away and removed so as to better disclose various
details of the device, and other parts being broken away and shown
in section in order to better describe the details thereof;
FIG. 3 is also an enlarged fragmentary representation of part of
the device seen in FIG. 1, with some parts being broken away and
shown in section in order to better illustrate the details
thereof;
FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively, are enlarged cross-sectional views
taken along lines 4-- 4 and 5--5, respectively, of FIG. 3;
FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively, are enlarged cross-sectional views
taken along lines 6--6 and 7--7, respectively, of FIG. 8;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged part cross-sectional view of a part of the
apparatus seen in FIG. 3; and
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary part cross-sectional view of part of the
apparatus disclosed in FIGS 1 and 2.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1 the arrow at numeral 10 generally illustrates an oil well
tool made in accordance with the present invention. A swivel 11
attached at the upper extremity of the tool is connected to a wire
rope, such as a sand line 12. Tubing can be substituted for the
sand line if desired. The swivel supports several joints of tubing
13. Connected to the lower extremity of the tubing is a combination
jar and valve section 14. Tubing 15, which can be of any length,
can be interposed between the valve section and an orifice section
16. A relief check valve 17, which includes a reduced diameter
tubing 18 having a resilient valve element 19 disposed thereabout,
is arranged above tubing 20 which forms one of several chambers. A
second jar 21 is optionally connected between chamber 20 and a junk
section 22. As seen in FIG. 2, the junk section can take on several
different forms but preferably is comprised of an enlarged tubing
having a junk catcher 22' therein. The lower terminal end 24 forms
an inlet into the tool.
Looking now to the details of FIGS. 2 and 3 in conjunction with all
of the remaining figures, sub 25 is seen to be connected to the
lower end of tubing 13 by means of threads 26. This sub includes
threads 27 which engages a shaft 28 of the combination jar and
valve actuator. The shaft is preferably of a length which will
provide six to 18 inches in effective travel, with 12 inches being
considered an optimum value.
Piston 29 is received within jar housing 30 and reciprocates within
chamber 31. Downwardly depending from and forming an integral
portion of the piston there is disposed a hollow valve actuating
member 32.
The upper extremity of the jar section is provided with several
radially spaced apart vertically disposed passageways 133. The side
wall of cylinder 30 is provided with a multiplicity of radially
spaced apart holes 233.
A sub assembly 34 has a stop member 36 and packing gland 37
associated therewith, and includes a central bore 39 for
reciprocatingly receiving the lower depending end 38 of the hollow
valve actuator.
Housing 40 is connected to the sub by means of threads 41. Valve
stem 42 forms a Maltese Cross when viewed in cross-section, and has
an end portion which actuates valve element 43. The valve element
is free to reciprocate within chamber 44 and against spring 48. The
reduced passageway 45 provides a shoulder against which the spring
is compressed. Sub 46 reduces in diameter at 18 to form the before
mentioned relief check valve, the details of which will be
discussed later on.
Orifice 49 enables a controlled flow of fluid to occur into chamber
44. The details of the orifice and the valve unit are set forth in
greater detail in my before mentioned issued patent.
Sub 50 is connected to tubing 51 and tubing 51 is connected to sub
52 by means of threads 53. Sub 52 has a chamber 54 therein which
inwardly and downwardly converges to form a valve seat 55 which
receives check valve element 56 thereon. The check valve is shown
in the opened position, but it should be understood that the valve
is normally closed. Chamber 57 is formed interiorally of member 58
with the last named member being threadedly connected to the
lowermost jar by means of sub 60.
Sub 60 has a shaft rigidly affixed thereto which is reduced in
diameter as seen at 61. The shaft is slidably received within
member 62. Member 62 is connected to junk chamber 63.
Looking in detail now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper extremity of the
jar is seen to be provided with radially spaced apart vertically
disposed apertures 133 and radially spaced apart apertures 233
which communicate the internal upper portion of cylinder chamber 31
above piston 29 with the exterior of the tool. The valve actuator
28 is seen to be in a hexagon form, although other types of splined
and unsplined connections could be substituted for this particular
geometrical configuration.
Looking now to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, the resilient check valve 17 is
seen to be comprised of the before mentioned reduced diameter
portion 18 which threadedly engages member 50 by means of the
threaded connection at numeral 150. Member 50 is provided with a
groove 64 which forms an inwardly directed boss at 65 and a lower
shoulder 66 all of which cooperate with the resilient valve member
19 so as to effectively anchor the lower marginal end portion of
the element to the inside peripheral wall surface of member 50. The
element 19 terminates at 68 at a location which is spaced apart
from apertures 118 so as to place the inside peripheral wall
surface of the member in intimate contact with the apertures.
As seen in FIG. 9, in conjunction with FIG. 2, the lower jar 21 has
the before mentioned shaft 61 which is slidably received within
member 62. The shaft terminates in an enlargement 70 having an
upper face 72, which abuts stop means 73. Apertures 74, 75, similar
to the apertures of FIGS. 4 and 5, exhaust fluid from annulus 71
when the jar is actuated. Counterbore 69 reduces in diameter to
form lower stop member 76 and flow communicates with passageway 77
and 78.
OPERATION
The well clean-out tool, when attached to support means such as the
illustrated sand line of FIG. 1, can be run into a borehole when
assembled in the manner of FIG. 1. For proper operation of the
tool, it is necessary to have an appreciable hydrostatic head in
the bottom of the well bore and for this reason it is sometime
necessary to flow several barrels of water into the well prior to
traveling downhole and actuating the tool in order to remove debris
therefrom.
As the tool is submerged below the well fluid, a pressure
differential occurs therebetween with fluid flow occurring inwardly
of the tool. As the hydrostatic head of the tool increases, the
liquid flows into the inlet 24, through passageway 78 of the lower
jar, through the lower check valve 56, and into tubing 51 as the
air within the tool is compressed. Fluid cannot flow past valve
element 43 for the reason that the pressure differential across the
valve maintains the face of the valve tightly adjacent to its seat.
However, flow can occur from the interior of tubing 51 and through
the resilient check valve 17 for the reason that fluid pressure
effected at passageway 118 presses or urges the resilient member 19
outwardly away from the outer peripheral wall surface of member 18
so as to permit escape of compressed fluid from the interface near
numeral 68.
The above described action fills the tool with clean well fluid as
the tool descends through the liquid column toward the debris
located on the bottom of the borehole. As inlet 24 strikes the
bottom of the borehole, or a packer, the valve actuator 36 will
telescope into chamber 39 and continue in a downward direction
until the terminal end 38 abuts the upper terminal end of valve
stem 42. This action causes the valve stem to move in a downward
direction against valve spring 48 which unseats valve element 43
from the seat face thereby permitting fluid to flow into tubing 13,
as is explained in my previously issued patent. The pressure
differential between the bottom hole and the pipe forming chamber
enables a surge of fluid along with debris contained therein to
enter the inlet at 24 and flow past junk basket 22.
The well fluid and some of the junk flows through the check valve
56 and into the passageway provided within member 51. Junk
consisting of large debris is caught and retained in the junk
section or basket 22. The reduced diameter at 55 increases the
velocity of fluid flow to cause smaller debris which failed to
separate from the fluid to continue to flow along with the fluid
into member 51 where some of the debris remains due to the presence
of check valve 56, depending upon the size and density of the
junk.
The still further reduced diameter passageway between members 40
and 51 impart additional velocity into the flow of fluid, with the
fluid pressure differential being primarily regulated by the size
of orifice 49.
The resilient relief check valve precludes flow of fluid from the
innerface near 68 towards apertures 118 for the reason that the
pressure differential thereacross now tends to firmly maintain the
resilient member urged against the outside peripheral surface of
member 18.
The fluid flowing into the chamber forming tubing 13 is the clean
well fluid which heretofore was located below valve unit 43. As
equilibrium is established across the unit, compressible fluid
located at the upper extremity of the tool, that is adjacent the
swivel, will be approximately equivalent to the hydrostatic head.
As the fluid surges into tubing 13 a partial reversal in its travel
will occur as a result of its momentum. This action causes check
valve 56 to be moved to the closed position while valve element 43
of the valve unit is seated because of the presence of spring
48.
The rubber cylinder 19 of the resilient relief check valve is
seated against apertures 118 with a force which is proportional to
the tolerance given the respective surfaces as well as the inherent
resilience of the rubber or rubber-like material. Accordingly, the
maximum allowable pressure within chamber 54 is controlled by the
relief check valve, and is proportional to the pressure
differential across the tool. The primary purpose of the relief
valve is to relieve the internal pressure of the tool as the tool
is removed from the borehole and to fill the lower portion of the
tool with clean well fluid. This is especially important in high
pressure or deep wells. It should be noted that fluid trapped
within tubing 51 cannot flow back past the lower check valve 56.
However, fluid trapped within tubing 13 will upset valve element 43
and flow through the resilient check valve 17 when the pressure
differential across the valve 17 becomes great enough.
As the tool is removed from the borehole, the hydrostatic head of
the well fluid continually decreases. This action causes the clean
fluid from tubing 13 to flow past valve element 43, past the
orifice and out of the tool by means of passageway 118.
Accordingly, when the tool reaches the surface the internal
pressure of the entire tool interior is essentially ambient and
therefore the tool can be safely disassembled and serviced with no
danger of injury from a high pressure fluid source.
When the tool is run into the hole on a sand line and actuated
control of the tool depth is difficult because the line elongates
sufficiently to permit the tool to decend into the debris where it
becomes stuck in the well. When this occurs, the jar at 14 is
cycled or reciprocated by cyclicly actuating the wire line drum
above the ground. The impact of piston 29 against the massive upper
stop member causes the tool to be driven out of the layer of
debris, whereby the tool can then be returned to the surface and
serviced.
It is important that the weight of the tool above jar 14 be
approximately equal to the weight of the tool below the jar so as
to advantageously take advantage of the relationship MV.sup.2 ,
that is, to provide sufficient force of impact by dividing the
weight between the movable and the stuck portions of the tool. The
use of tandem jars 14 and 21 have obvious advantages over a single
jar when the weight distribution of the tool is considered.
* * * * *