U.S. patent number 3,669,190 [Application Number 05/099,889] was granted by the patent office on 1972-06-13 for methods of completing a well.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Otis Engineering Corporation. Invention is credited to Harry E. Schwegman, Phillip S. Sizer.
United States Patent |
3,669,190 |
Sizer , et al. |
June 13, 1972 |
METHODS OF COMPLETING A WELL
Abstract
A method of completing a well by installing in the well a flow
conductor, performing various operations such as cementing the flow
conductor in the well bore, drilling out excess cement from the
flow conductor, perforating the casing at desired locations, and
the like, installing a liner in the flow conductor of smaller
internal diameter than the internal diameter of the flow conductor
to provide an internal seal surface and oppositely facing stop
shoulders in the flow conductor, setting a packer in the liner, and
then installing an inner production flow conductor in the well and
securing it to the packer. A setting tool for simultaneously
locating a liner and a packer in a flow conductor, expanding the
liner into sealing and anchored engagement in the flow conductor
and then setting the packer in the liner.
Inventors: |
Sizer; Phillip S. (Dallas,
TX), Schwegman; Harry E. (Carrollton, TX) |
Assignee: |
Otis Engineering Corporation
(Dallas, TX)
|
Family
ID: |
22277113 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/099,889 |
Filed: |
December 21, 1970 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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803507 |
Dec 24, 1968 |
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605870 |
Dec 29, 1966 |
3498376 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
166/387; 166/115;
166/207 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
43/105 (20130101); E21B 23/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
23/06 (20060101); E21B 23/00 (20060101); E21B
43/10 (20060101); E21B 43/02 (20060101); E21b
043/00 (); E21b 043/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;166/115,207,315,277 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Leppink; James A.
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.
803,507 filed Dec. 24, 1968, now abandoned, and which latter
application is a division of application Ser. No. 605,870, filed
Dec. 29, 1966, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,498,376.
Claims
What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:
1. A method of completing a well comprising: installing a flow
conductor of substantially unrestricted internal passage in a well
bore; performing operations on the well by movement of substances
and well tools through the flow conductor; locating and fixing a
landing section liner sleeve at a predetermined location in the
flow conductor which provides internal seal surface of smaller
diameter than the passage of the flow conductor and oppositely
facing stop shoulders; and setting a well tool in said landing
section liner sleeve having means engageable with the opposed stop
shoulders to limit longitudinal movement of said well tool in the
landing section liner sleeve and having seal means engageable with
the seal surface for sealing therebetween.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said well tool is a packer, and
installing a second well tool in the packer.
3. A method of completing a well comprising: installing in a well a
well casing formed of sections connected by coupling collars which
provide spaced internal collar recesses; moving into said well
casing a well tool assembly including a setting tool carrying a
liner and a packer and a collar recess detector for locating the
liner at a predetermined position in the well casing by means of
signals transmitted from the detector to an indicator at the
surface of the well to which the detector transmits a signal each
time it passes a collar recess, expanding the liner outwardly
progressively upwardly by moving the setting tool upwardly relative
to the liner, and then installing the well packer in the expanded
liner by continued upward movement of the setting tool.
4. The method of claim 3, and releasing the setting tool from the
packer when the packer has been installed in the liner.
5. A method of completing a well installation in a well having a
well flow conductor having no internal restrictions therein in the
bore of said well, said method including: performing operations on
the well by means of said unrestricted passage of said flow
conductor; moving a packer, a packer setting tool, an expansible
packer housing sleeve in contracted condition and an expander for
said housing sleeve simultaneously through the well flow conductor
to a desired location therein; holding the top end portion of said
unexpanded expansible packer housing sleeve against movement in the
flow conductor while moving said expander through said housing
sleeve to expand said packer housing sleeve into expanded gripping
and sealing engagement with the flow conductor; releasing said
expander from said housing sleeve after completion of the expansion
of said housing sleeve; securing said packer in locked sealing
engagement with said housing sleeve; releasing said setting tool
from said packer; and removing said setting tool and said expander
from the well through the flow conductor.
6. The method of claim 5 and the additional step of securing a
tubing string to said packer in said housing sleeve.
7. A method of completing a well comprising: installing a flow
conductor of substantially unrestricted internal passage in a well
bore; performing well completion and testing operations on the well
by movement of substances and well tools inserted through the
conductor into the well, and withdrawing said tools; locating a
landing section liner sleeve in the flow conductor at a
predetermined location therein, expanding said liner sleeve into
gripping sealing engagement with the bore wall of the flow
conductor to provide internal opposed stop shoulders and an
internal seal surface of smaller diameter than the passage of the
flow conductor; and setting a well tool in said landing section
liner sleeve having means engageable with the stop shoulders of
said liner to limit longitudinal movement of said well tool in the
liner sleeve and having seal means thereon engageable with the seal
surface in the bore of said liner sleeve for sealing
therebetween.
8. A method of treating a well having therein a flow conductor
having a substantially unrestricted internal passage, comprising:
performing well testing and completion operations on the well by
movement of substances and well tools through the flow conductor in
place in the well; supporting a packer in the well flow conductor
adjacent a desired location; supporting an unexpanded expansible
locating and locking sleeve in the well conductor above the packer;
expanding the locating and locking sleeve at said position in said
well conductor to grip the wall of the flow conductor at such
location to provide a seal surface of reduced bore in the flow
conductor having opposed lock and stop shoulders at its opposite
ends; moving the packer upwardly in the flow conductor into locking
and sealing engagement with said locating and locking sleeve;
releasing the support from the locating and locking sleeve;
releasing the support from the packer and removing the supports
from the well bore leaving the packer in anchored sealing position
in the locating and locking sleeve.
9. In the method set forth in claim 8 the additional step of
lowering a tubing string into the well flow conductor and
connecting the lower end of said tubing string to the packer
anchored in place in the locating and locking sleeve to provide a
flow course from the packer to the surface.
10. A method of treating a well having a well casing therein formed
of sections connected by coupling collars and having a
substantially uniform unrestricted bore therethrough, said method
comprising: moving a well tool assembly including a setting tool
carrying an expansible packer housing sleeve and a packer into the
well casing from the surface; locating a position in the well
casing at which it is desired to anchor the packer housing sleeve
and packer in sealing engagement in the well casing; expanding the
packer housing sleeve at such location by moving the assembly
upwardly; and installing the well packer in the expanded housing
sleeve by continued upward movement of the well tool assembly to
lock the packer in anchored sealing engagement with the housing
sleeve in the casing.
11. The method of claim 10 and the additional steps of releasing
the setting tool from the packer housing sleeve and from the packer
when the packer has been installed in the housing sleeve; and
removing the setting tool from the well casing.
12. A method of completing a well installation in a well having a
well casing therein with a substantially uniform unrestricted bore
extending therethrough, said method comprising: moving into the
well casing a setting tool having a packer mounted thereon at its
lower end in an unexpanded non-sealing, non-gripping condition, so
as to be supported by said setting tool in such condition in the
well casing; supporting an unexpanded expansible packer landing
housing sleeve on the setting tool above an expander carried by the
setting tool below the packer housing sleeve; positioning the
setting tool in the well at a desired depth therein at which it is
desired to support the packer landing housing sleeve in sealing
engagement with the casing; moving the setting tool to move the
expander member through the packer landing housing sleeve to expand
said landing housing sleeve into gripping engagement with the inner
surface of the casing; disconnecting the setting tool from the
packer landing housing sleeve after the landing housing sleeve has
been expanded into gripping engagement with the inner surface of
the casing; moving the setting tool upwardly in the well casing to
move the packer into position to engage the landing housing sleeve
in locked sealing engagement therewith against movement in either
direction; disconnecting the setting tool from the packer and
removing the setting tool from the well leaving the packer in
anchored sealing engagement in the packer landing housing
sleeve.
13. A method of the character set forth in claim 12 including: the
additional steps of sensing the position in the well at which the
packer landing housing sleeve is to be set by means of locating the
coupling recesses between adjacent joints of casing in the well;
and expanding the packer landing housing sleeve into gripping
engagement with the well casing at the position so located.
14. The method of claim 12 including the additional step of
lowering a tubing string into the well casing; connecting the lower
end of the tubing in sealing anchored engagement to the packer
anchored in the packer landing housing sleeve in the casing for
conducting fluids flowing from the well below the packer through
the packer into the tubing string and to the surface.
15. A method of completing a well having a flow conductor of
substantially unrestricted internal passage therein comprising:
moving into the flow conductor a setting tool having an unexpanded
expansible packer landing housing sleeve and an expander carried by
the setting tool engageable with the packer housing sleeve;
positioning the setting tool in the flow conductor at a depth
therein at which it is desired to dispose the packer landing
housing sleeve in gripping sealing engagement with the casing;
moving the setting tool to move the expander member to expand said
landing housing sleeve into gripping sealing engagement with the
inner wall surface of the flow conductor to provide a smooth
internal sealing surface wall of reduced diameter in the flow
conductor having opposed stop shoulders at its ends; disconnecting
the setting tool from the packer landing housing sleeve after the
same has been expanded into gripping sealing engagement with the
inner wall surface of the flow conductor; removing the setting tool
from within the flow conductor; then inserting a tubular conductor
having a packing assembly thereon into the flow conductor; moving
the packing assembly downwardly in the flow conductor to position
the same in sealing engagement with the inner surface wall of the
packer landing housing sleeve; and supporting the packer assembly
in place in such sleeve to provide a seal between the flow
conductor and the tubular conductor at the packer housing landing
sleeve.
16. A method as set forth in claim 15 including: the additional
step of holding the packer assembly in place in the packer landing
housing sleeve against longitudinal movement with respect thereto
by engaging the packer assembly with at least one of the stop
shoulders of said sleeve.
17. A method as set forth in claim 15 including: the additional
step of holding the packer assembly in place in the packer landing
housing sleeve against downward longitudinal movement with respect
thereto by engagement of the packer assembly with the stop shoulder
on the upper end of said sleeve.
18. A method as set forth in claim 15 including: the additional
step of holding the packer assembly in place in the packer landing
housing sleeve against upward longitudinal movement with respect
thereto by engaging the packer assembly with the stop shoulder at
the lower end of said sleeve.
19. A method as set forth in claim 15 including: the additional
step of holding the packer assembly in place in the packer landing
housing sleeve against longitudinal movement in either direction
with respect thereto by engaging the packer assembly with the
opposed stop shoulders of said sleeve.
20. A method as set forth in claim 18 including: the additional
step of releasing the packer assembly from engagement with the stop
shoulder at the lower end of the landing housing sleeve for removal
of the packer assembly from the flow conductor.
21. A method as set forth in claim 19 including: the additional
step of releasing the packer assembly from holding engagement with
the stop shoulder at the lower end of the landing housing sleeve
for removal of the packer assembly from the flow conductor.
22. A method of completing a well having a flow conductor with an
unrestricted substantially uniform bore disposed therein, which
includes: moving into the flow conductor a contracted expansible
packer landing housing sleeve to a point in the flow conductor at
which it is desired to locate the same; expanding the contracted
expansible packer landing housing sleeve into gripping sealing
engagement with the bore wall of the flow conductor at such
location in the flow conductor to provide a smooth internal sealing
surface wall of diameter smaller than the bore of the flow
conductor and having stop shoulders at its opposite ends; inserting
a tubing string having a sealing packer assembly thereon into the
first flow conductor; moving the tubing string downwardly in the
first flow conductor to position the packer assembly in sealing
engagement with the internal reduced sealing surface wall of the
packer landing housing sleeve; and holding the packer assembly in
sealing engagement with the internal sealing surface wall of said
packer housing sleeve for sealing between the tubing string and the
first flow conductor at such point.
23. In the method set forth in claim 22, the further step of
holding the packer assembly in place in said packer landing housing
sleeve against longitudinal movement with respect to said sleeve by
engagement of the packer assembly with at least one of the
shoulders of the sleeve.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of holding the packer
assembly in place in the landing housing sleeve is directed to
preventing downward movement of the packer assembly with respect to
the sleeve.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of holding the packer
assembly in place in the landing housing sleeve is directed to
preventing upward movement of the packer assembly with respect to
the sleeve.
26. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of holding the packer
assembly in place in the landing housing sleeve is directed toward
positively holding the packer assembly against movement in either
direction longitudinally with respect to the sleeve.
27. A method of treating a well having therein a flow conductor
having a substantially unrestricted internal passage, including:
inserting a packer landing housing sleeve into the flow conductor
on a setting tool lowerable from the surface of the well; moving
the sleeve to a desired point in the flow conductor; actuating the
setting tool to expand the packer landing housing sleeve into
gripping sealing engagement with the bore wall of the flow
conductor at the selected point; removing the setting tool from the
flow conductor; installing a packer assembly connected with a
second flow conductor in the well into sealing engagement with the
bore wall of the packer landing housing sleeve in place therein and
sealing between the second conductor and the packer landing housing
sleeve by means of said packer assembly.
Description
This invention relates to a method of completing a well and to well
tools usable in completing wells.
An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved method
of completing a well by installing a flow conductor, such as a well
casing, in the bore of a well, wherein the casing has no internal
restrictions to interfere with the movement of fluids in its
longitudinal passage and providing a restriction in the casing to
provide the well casing at a desired location with an internal seal
surface of smaller diameter than the passage of the well casing and
oppositely facing stop shoulders, the stop shoulders being
engageable by means of a well tool which is installable in the well
casing at such restriction.
Another object is to provide a method of completing a well which
includes the additional step of installing a well tool in the well
casing which has seal means which engages the seal surfaces and
latch means engageable with the stop shoulders provided by the
restriction to secure the well tool in the flow conductor.
Another object is to provide a method of completing a well wherein
the restriction at the predetermined location is provided by moving
a longitudinally corrugated liner into the flow conductor and then
expanding the liner into anchored and sealing engagement with the
well casing, the opposite end surfaces of the liner providing the
oppositely facing stop shoulders and its internal surface providing
the seal surface.
Still another object is to provide a method of completing a well
which includes the step of simultaneously with the movement of the
liner into the casing also moving a packer and then setting the
packer in the liner after it has been expanded in the well
casing.
Another object is to provide a method of completing the well which
includes the step of mounting the liner on a setting tool to whose
lower end is secured a packer, the setting tool having an expander
means between the packer and the liner whereby upward movement of
the setting tool while the liner is held against upward movement in
the flow conductor will expand the liner into anchored and sealing
engagement with the casing and then set the packer in the expanded
liner.
Still another object is to provide a new and improved method of
locating and securing a liner in a predetermined location in a well
casing having sections secured by collars which provide internal
annular recesses at known locations in the well casing, which
includes moving a well tool assembly including a collar recess
locator and the setting tool carrying an unexpanded liner and a
packer through the well casing and locating the liner at a
predetermined location by means of the recess locator; expanding
the liner into anchored and sealing engagement in the well casing
by operation of the setting tool, and setting the packer in the
expander liner.
A main object of the invention is to provide a new and improved
setting tool for positioning a longitudinally corrugated liner in a
flow conductor, such as a well casing, which has means for
expanding the liner into sealing and anchored engagement with the
well casing at a desired location therein.
Another object is to provide a setting tool which has means
operative by fluid pressure for holding the liner against upward
movement in the flow conductor and an expander movable upwardly
relative to the liner, when it is held against upward movement, for
expanding the liner into sealing and anchored engagement with the
well casing.
Still another object is to provide a setting tool wherein the means
for holding the liner includes anchor means movable into engagement
with the well casing by fluid pressure applied thereto and a hold
down means releasably secured against upward movement relative to
the anchor means for holding the liner against upward movement in
the well casing while the expander is moved upwardly thereinto.
A further object is to provide a setting tool of the type described
wherein the operative fluid pressure may be provided to the setting
tool through a flow conductor by means of which the setting tool is
movable into the well casing.
A still further object is to provide a setting tool wherein the
operative fluid pressure is provided by a gas generating means of
the setting tool whose actuation is controllable from the surface
of the well.
Another object is to provide a setting tool wherein the setting
tool has means for holding the hold down means against upward
movement relative to the anchor means until the expander of the
setting tool has been moved upwardly a predetermined distance
relative to the hold down means.
Another object is to provide a new and improved packer, which is
releasably connectable to the lower end of a liner expanding tool
which has a bottom stop shoulder engageable with a bottom end
surface of an expanded liner and a latch releasably held in
retracted position by the setting tool which expands when the
setting tool is released from the packer to engage the top end
surface of the expanded liner to limit its downward movement
relative to the liner.
Still another object is to provide a packer having seal means
engageable with the internal surface of the liner and with latch
means engageable with another well tool, such as a latch mandrel
connectable to the lower end of a string of tubing.
A particular object of the invention is to provide a method of
installing in a well conductor a liner sleeve having a reduced
diameter to provide a smooth sealing surface in the conductor
disposed to be engaged by a sealing element positioned in the flow
conductor.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a method of
installing in a well flow conductor a liner sleeve member providing
a smooth sealing surface in its bore having a diameter smaller than
the bore of the flow conductor and providing a pair of opposed stop
shoulders on opposite ends of the sealing surface.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and
improved method of locating and securing a liner sleeve in a
predetermined location in a well flow conductor to provide a
sealing surface of reduced diameter in the bore of the flow
conductor having opposed stop and lock shoulders on opposite ends
of the sealing surface, and inserting a packer member into the well
flow conductor having a sealing assembly thereon engageable with
the sealing surface for sealing therewith.
Still another object is to provide a method of the character set
forth which includes holding the packer member in place in sealing
engagement with the liner sleeve.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily
apparent from the reading of the following description of a device
constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the
accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:
FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D are vertical sectional views of a setting
tool embodying the invention carrying an expanded liner and a
packer connected thereto during the movement of the setting tool
through a well casing, FIGS. 1B, 1C, and 1D being continuations of
FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, respectively;
FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D are vertical sectional views of the
setting tool showing the liner in an expanded and anchored position
in the well casing and the packer set in the liner, the elements of
the setting tool being shown in the positions assumed thereby
during the removal of the setting tool from the well, FIGS. 2B, 2C,
and 2D being continuations of FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C,
respectively;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 -- 3 of FIG. 1C;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 -- 4 of FIG. 1C;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5 -- 5 of FIG. 2B;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6 -- 6 of FIG. 2C;
FIG. 7 is a vertical partly sectional view showing a latch mandrel
on the lower end of a production flow conductor extending through
the packer and releasably secured thereto;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8 -- 8 of FIG. 7;
FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D are vertical partly sectional views of a
modified form of the setting tool embodying the invention and
showing an expanded liner and packer secured thereto, FIGS. 9B, 9C,
and 9D being continuations of FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C,
respectively;
FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a well tool assembly including the
setting tool illustrated in FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D, being lowered
through a well casing and carrying a liner and packer;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on line 11 -- 11 of FIG. 9B;
FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a wire line tool assembly, including
a setting tool embodying the invention, by means of which the
setting tool and the liner and packer carried thereby are movable
in the well casing;
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view of a packer tool connectable to a
tubing string and having sealing members thereon in sealing
engagement with the liner sleeve;
FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 showing the packer tool having
a stop for positioning the sealing assembly in the liner sleeve and
holding the same against downward movement through the sleeve;
FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 showing a packer tool having a
stop shoulder thereon engageable with the lower end of the liner
sleeve only to prevent upward movement of the packer tool through
the sleeve;
FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15 showing the lower stop
shoulder of the packer tool released to permit removal of the
packer tool from the sleeve; and,
FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 15 showing a packer tool having
stop shoulders thereon engageable with the opposite ends of the
liner sleeve for positively holding the packer tool in place in the
liner sleeve.
Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 through 8 of the drawings,
the setting tool 20 for expanding and setting a liner 21 in a flow
conductor, such as a well casing C, and then setting a packer 22 in
the liner includes a mandrel 25 having a top section 26 connectable
by a coupling 27 to the lower end of a string of pipe P by means of
which the setting tool is movable into the well casing and through
which fluid under pressure may be introduced into the top
longitudinal passage 28 of the mandrel. The mandrel has a middle
port section 29 whose upper end is threaded, as at 30, in the lower
end portion of the top section and a bottom section 31 whose
reduced top end portion 32 is threaded in the lower end of the
middle section. The tubular body 33 of the packer is connected to
the bottom mandrel section by a shear sleeve 34 whose upper end is
threaded, as at 35, in the dependent annular extension 36 of the
bottom mandrel section and whose lower end is threaded in the
enlarged portion 37 of the bore of the packer body. The shear
sleeve has a weakened middle section which will fail when a
predetermined upward pull is exerted on the setting tool mandrel
while the packer body is held against upward movement.
The setting tool also includes a latch sleeve 38 threaded on the
dependent extension 36 of the bottom mandrel section and telescoped
over the upper end of the packer body for holding a splitlock ring
40 of the packer in its inner retracted inoperative position, as
will be described in greater detail below.
A liner expander 44 is threaded on the lower end portion of the
middle mandrel section. The expander has an upper annular reduced
top end portion 45 over which telescopes the lower end portion of
the longitudinally corrugated liner 21, an outwardly and downwardly
inclined or beveled annular top expander surface 46 on which rest
the bottom edges of the inner corrugations 21a of the liner, a
middle expander surface or shoulder 48 inclined at a smaller angle
from the vertical than the top expander shoulder, and a plurality
of dependent annular collet fingers 50 whose lower ends are
provided with external bosses 52 whose downwardly and outwardly
inclined top shoulders provide a bottom expander surface 54. The
diameter of the top expander surface 46 is somewhat less than the
internal diameter of the unexpanded liner at its outer corrugations
21b so that upon upward movement of the expander relative to the
liner, first the top expander surface and then sequentially the
middle and bottom expander surfaces engage the liner and
progressively and sequentially expand the liner into cylindrical
form and into anchored position in the casing. The outward force
exerted on the liner and the casing by the collet bosses as they
move upwardly through the liner is determined by the force with
which the collet fingers resist inward flexing of their lower ends,
and the collet bosses in passing through the liner smooth the
internal surface thereof. The exterior of the liner may be coated
with a sealing and gripping substance which further tends to anchor
the expander liner in the casing and also insures a good fluid
tight seal therebetween.
During the expansion of the liner it is held against upward
movement in the casing by a hold down sleeve 60 of the setting tool
releasably secured in the upper position relative to the mandrel
illustrated in FIGS. 1B and 1C of the drawings by a shear pin 61
which extends through suitable aligned apertures in the lower end
portion of the sleeve and the mandrel. The sleeve has an external
flange 62 at its lower end which provides an annular downwardly
facing shoulder 63 which engages the top end or edge surface of the
liner.
To facilitate the assembly of the setting tool, the hold down
sleeve may be formed of several sections threaded to one another.
As illustrated, the hold down sleeve may include a bottom section
66 whose top end portion is threaded in the bottom end of a middle
section 67, and a top section 68 threaded on the top end of the
middle section. The hold down sleeve is telescoped inwardly into a
cylinder 70 and the lower end of the middle sleeve section has an
external flange 71 which is disposed in he bottom section 72 of the
cylinder between the bottom internal flange 74 of the bottom
cylinder section and an internal annular flange 75 of the middle
cylinder section 76, threadedly connected to the top end of the
bottom section. The sleeve flange 71 is provided with external
annular recesses in which are disposed O-rings 78 which seal
between the flange and the internal surface of the middle cylinder
section and similarly the cylinder flange 75 has internal recesses
in which O-rings 79 are disposed which seal between the middle
sleeve and the cylinder sections. The bottom flange 74 of the
cylinder also has O-rings 80 disposed in internal recesses of the
flange which seal between the bottom sleeve and cylinder
sections.
The top sleeve section 68 is disposed in the middle cylinder
section 76 between its internal flange 75 and the bottom end of the
top cylinder section 82 whose reduced lower end portion 83 is
threaded in the upper end of the middle cylinder section. The top
sleeve section has an external flange 84 provided with O-rings 85
which seal between the sleeve and cylinder top sections.
The hold down sleeve and its external flanges together with the
cylinder provide annular chamgers 86, 87, 88 and 89. The pressure
from the exterior of the cylinder is communicated to the chambers
87 and 88 through the ports 91 and 92, respectively, in the bottom
and middle cylinder sections, respectively. Pressure from the
exterior of the cylinder in the chamber 87 acting on the upwardly
facing area of the sleeve between the line of sealing engagement of
the O-rings 78 with the bottom cylinder section and the line of
sealing engagement of the O-ring 79 with the middle sleeve section
exerts a force on the sleeve tending to move it downwardly in the
cylinder and such pressure in the chamber 88 acting on the
downwardly facing area of the sleeve between the line of sealing
engagement of the O-rings 85 with the middle cylinder section and
the line of sealing engagement of the O-rings 79 with the middle
sleeve section exerts a force on the sleeve tending to move it
upwardly. The pressure from the exterior also acting on the
downwardly facing surfaces of the sleeve between the line of
sealing engagement of the O-ring 96 with the mandrel and the line
of sealing engagement of the O-ring 80 with the sleeve exerts an
upward force on the sleeve.
The areas of the upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces of the
sleeve exposed to the pressure exteriorly may be made equal so that
the upward and downward forces exerted on the sleeve by the
exterior pressure are equal or preferably so that the areas of the
upwardly facing surfaces is greater than that of the downwardly
facing surfaces and an effective downward force is exerted by the
exterior pressure on the sleeve.
The bottom, middle, and top sleeve sections have internal annular
flanges 93, 94 and 95, respectively, in whose internal annular
recesses are disposed O-rings 96, 97 and 98, respectively, which
seal between the mandrel and the hold down sleeve. The O-rings 96
and 97 are disposed above and below, respectively, lateral ports
101 of the sleeve which provide communication between the lower
outer chamber 86 and the exterior of the sleeve. When the sleeve is
in its initial position illustrated in FIG. 1-B the outer chamber
86 is closed since the mandrel between the locations of the O-rings
96 and 97 does not have any ports.
The O-rings 97 and 98, when the sleeve is in the position
illustrated in FIG. 1, are disposed above and below the ports 102
of the mandrel which open to its bottom longitudinal passage 103.
The mandrel has ports 104 which, when the sleeve is in the position
illustrated in FIG. 1B provide communication between the top
passage of the mandrel and the outer chamber 89. The mandrel also
has bottom ports 105 which, when the sleeve is in the position
illustrated in FIG. 1B, are below the O-ring 96 of the sleeve. The
bottom ports 105 communicate with the bottom longitudinal passage
of the mandrel which is in communication with the exterior of the
setting tool at the lower end of the bottom passage through aligned
ports 106 and 107 in the middle mandrel section and the expander,
respectively.
Fluid pressure introduced into the string of pipe P at the surface
is communicated through the top mandrel passage 28 and its ports
104 to the top outer chamber 89 and this pressure will exert a
downward force on the hold down sleeve over the upwardly facing
areas of the top sleeve section 68 between the line of sealing
engagement of the O-rings 85 with the top cylinder section and the
line of sealing engagement of the O-rings 98 with the mandrel.
The top cylinder section 82 has an internal annular flange 110 in
whose internal annular recesses are disposed O-rings 111 which seal
between the top cylinder section and the mandrel between the ports
104 of the middle mandrel section and its top ports 112 which, when
the mandrel and the cylinder are in the positions illustrated in
FIGS. 1A and 1B, open below the bottom enlarged end portion 114 of
the top mandrel section into an annular chamber 115 provided by the
mandrel and the top cylinder section. The top mandrel section has
O-rings 118 disposed in external annular recesses thereof which
seal between the top mandrel and cylinder sections.
The top cylinder section with a plurality of outwardly opening
recesses 120 in which are slidably mounted dogs or buttons 121
whose external surfaces are provided with downwardly facing teeth
or serrations 122. The dogs are provided with external annular
recesses in which are disposed O-rings 124 which seal between the
anchor body and the dogs. The top cylinder section has ports 125
which communicate with the chamber 115 and the dog recesses 120 so
that when the pressure within the chamber 115 is increased the
force thereof exerted on the inner surfaces of the dogs will move
the dogs radially outwardly to engage the well casing and prevent
downward movement of the cylinder therein.
A closure ring 130 is threaded in the upper end of the top cylinder
section and has a pair of internal annular recesses in which
O-rings 131 are disposed to seal between the closure ring and the
top mandrel section. An annular closed chamber 133 is thus formed
by the mandrel, the cylinder and its closure ring in which air is
trapped. The air compresses upon any upward movement of the mandrel
relative to the cylinder sleeve and thus yields to permit such
relative movement between the mandrel and the cylinder.
If desired, a shear pin 135 may be provided which extends through a
suitable aperture of the closure ring into an outwardly opening
recess 136 of the top mandrel section to releasably hold the
cylinder in its upper position on the mandrel illustrated in FIG.
1A.
The packer body 33 has an external annular recess 140 defined by
top and bottom annular shoulders 141 and 142 which extend
perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the body and by a lower
cylindrical surface 143 which extends upwardly from bottom
shoulder, an expander surface 144 which extends upwardly and
outwardly from the lower surface, and a cylindrical lock surface
145 which extends from the expander surface to the top shoulder.
The shoulders limit movement of the packer body relative to the
lock ring 40. The expander surface serves to expand the lock ring
upon downward movement of the packer body relative to the lock ring
if the lock ring is not in fully expanded position, and the lock
surface locks the ring in its expanded position against movement to
its retracted position when the packer body is in its lowermost
position relative to the lock ring wherein the top shoulder 141 is
in engagement with the top surface of the lock ring.
The packer body also has an internal seal surface 147 and a
plurality of inwardly extending latch lugs 148 below the seal
surface which coact with latch means of other tools which are
telescopical in the packer body, as will be explained below, to
releasably lock such well tools in the packer body. The packer body
has a seal assembly 150 mounted thereon whose upward movement is
limited by the external annular flange 151 of the packer body and
whose downward movement is limited by the top end surface of a
retainer ring 152 threaded on the packer body. The retainer ring
has an external annular flange 154 which provides an upwardly
facing stop shoulder 155.
In use, the packer is secured to the bottom section 31 of the
mandrel by the shear sleeve 34 as illustrated in FIG. 1C and its
lock ring 40 is then held in retracted position on the lower
portion of its latch lock recess 140 by the latch sleeve 38. The
elements of the setting tool and of the packer are then in the
positions illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D. Air under
atmospheric pressure is then trapped in the outer chambers 133 and
86 of the setting tool. The buttons or dogs 121 are held in their
retracted position since pressure in the casing is greater than
that in the passage 28. The hold down sleeve is releasably held in
the lower position illustrated in FIG. 1B by the shear pin 61 and
the cylinder is held in the position illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B
by the pressure external of the device being greater than that on
the inside thereof and by the shear pin 135.
The setting tool with the packer mounted thereon is then lowered to
a location in the well casing at which it is desired to locate the
packer by means of the string of pipe P and when it is located at
such location, the pressure within the top passage 28 of the
mandrel is increased, as by introducing fluid under pressure into
the upper end of the string of pipe P. This operative fluid
pressure communicated through the ports 112 to the chamber 115 and
thus to the dog recesses 120 of the cylinder causes the dogs 121 to
move outwardly and engage the well casing. The dog teeth grip the
internal surfaces of the casing to prevent movement of the cylinder
in the casing. At this time, the operative fluid pressure in the
chamber 115 exerts a downward force over the upwardly facing
surfaces of the cylinder between the line of sealing engagement of
the O-rings 111 with the mandrel and the line of sealing engagement
of the O-rings 118 with the cylinder. The operative fluid pressure
from the mandrel top passage 28 is also communicated to the chamber
89 and exerts a downward force on the hold down sleeve 60 and,
since the bottom end of the top sleeve section 68 engages the top
surface of the internal flange 75 of the middle cylinder section,
it also exerts a downward force on the cylinder which however is
balanced by the upward force exerted by the operative fluid
pressure in the chamber 89 on the downwardly facing surface of the
cylinder between the line of sealing engagement of the O-rings 111
with the mandrel and the line of sealing engagement of the O-rings
85 with the cylinder. As a result, the force of the operative fluid
pressure produces an effective downward force on the cylinder.
Simultaneously, the force of the operative fluid pressure in the
chamber 115 acting on the downwardly facing surfaces of the mandrel
between the line of sealing engagement of the O-rings 111 with the
mandrel and the line of sealing engagement of the O-rings 118 with
the cylinder exerts an effective upward force on the mandrel, the
other upwardly facing surfaces of the mandrel, the connector sub,
and the pipe P exposed to the operative fluid pressure having a
combined total area equal to or only slightly greater than the
combined total area of the other downwardly facing surfaces of the
mandrel, the connector sub, and the pipe also exposed to the
operative fluid pressure. As a result the operative fluid pressure
tends to move the mandrel and the pipe upwardly relative to the
cylinder.
It will thus be apparent that no upward or downward movement of the
cylinder can then take place and the sleeve and the liner are very
accurately positioned within the well casing against upward
movement whenever operative fluid pressure is introduced into the
top mandrel passage 28 and the dogs move outwardly into gripping
engagement with the well casing.
The operative fluid pressure tends to move the mandrel and the pipe
upwardly and the pipe may also be pulled upwardly at the surface to
move the mandrel and the packer upwardly relative to the cylinder,
the hold down sleeve and the liner. The pins 61 and 135 are caused
to shear to permit such upward movement of the mandrel relative to
the hold down sleeve and the cylinder when a predetermined upward
force is exerted on the mandrel. As the mandrel moves upwardly, the
expander 44 progressively, from the bottom toward the top, expands
the longitudinal corrugations of the liner radially outwardly in
the manner described above.
After the mandrel has been moved an upward distance sufficiently
great that the expander 44 has moved upwardly through the liner and
the liner has been fully expanded and anchored in the well casing
so that it is no longer necessary for the hold down sleeve to hold
the liner against upward movement in the casing, the mandrel ports
104 move upwardly past the O-rings 111 and fluid communication
between the top longitudinal passage 28 and the outer chamber 89 is
thus terminated. At this time the ports 102 have not been moved
upwardly of the O-rings 98 of the top sleeve section so that the
pressure trapped in the chamber 89 still exerts a downward force on
the hold down sleeve and no fluid flow can take place from the top
longitudinal passage 28 to the bottom longitudinal passage through
the outer chamber 89. As the ports 102 are thereafter moved above
the O-rings 98, communication is established between the outer
chamber 89 and the casing through the bottom longitudinal passage
103 of the mandrel and the ports 106 and 107. The downward force
with which the hold down sleeve is biased downwardly is thus
reduced.
A downward force, however, is still exerted on the hold down sleeve
by the well casing pressure since the area of the upwardly facing
surfaces of the sleeve within the chambers 89 and 87 is
considerably greater than the downwardly facing area of the sleeve
within the outer chamber 86 which is still at atmospheric pressure
which is of considerably smaller value than the casing pressure. As
upward movement of the mandrel is continued, the ports 105 move
upwardly past the O-ring 96 thus admitting the casing pressure into
the chamber 86 through the lower longitudinal passage 103 and the
mandrel ports 105 and the sleeve ports 101. The pressure across the
hold down sleeve is thus equalized, all surfaces of the sleeve now
being exposed to the casing pressure.
The reduced upper end portion 45 of the expander now enters into
the downwardly opening recess 160 of the hold down sleeve and its
top end surface 161 engages the downwardly facing annular shoulder
162 of the sheeve so that further upward movement of the mandrel
will now cause upward movement of the hold down sleeve and the
shoulder 63 of the sleeve is moved out of engagement with the top
edge surface of the liner.
After the liner is completely expanded, the expander moves upwardly
of the liner, and the sleeve has been released for upward movement
with the mandrel, the ports 102 move above the O-rings 111 and the
pressure in the chamber 115 is released. The dogs are thus freed to
move inwardly, and, since their teeth face downwardly, will now not
prevent upward movement of the cylinder. The cylinder is then moved
upwardly with the mandrel and the sleeve when the stop shoulder 165
of the sleeve engages the bottom end surface 166 of the cylinder.
If desired, the pressure in the passage 28 may be released
immediately prior to the movement of the ports 102 past the O-ring
111 in order that the casing pressure move the dogs to their
rectracted positions.
Thereafter the packer moves upwardly through the now expanded liner
which provides a smooth internal seal surface until its upward
movement is arrested due to the engagement of the stop shoulder 155
of the packer retainer ring 152 with the bottom edge surface 168 of
the liner. A further upward force exerted by means of the string of
pipe P on the mandrel and, therefore, on the shear sleeve 34 causes
the shear sleeve to fail and as the latch sleeve 38 moves upwardly
relative to the packer body and out of engagement with the lock
ring 40, the lock ring, which is then positioned above the top end
shoulder 169 of the liner, expands outwardly until it engages the
well casing. The packer will now tend to remain in the upper
position illustrated in FIG. 2C due to the frictional engagement of
its packing or seal means 150 with the internal surfaces of the
liner which it sealingly engages. Should any downward force be
exerted on the packer body tending to cause it to move downwardly,
the engagement of the top shoulder 141 of the packer body with the
top surface of the lock ring and the engagement of the lock ring
with the top end surface 169 of the liner will limit its downward
movement so that the packer will remain latched to the liner.
If it is then desired to connect a well tool to the packer, such as
a string of tubing T through which well fluids may be produced to
the surface, the lower end of the tubing is provided with a latch
mandrel 170 whose upper reduced end portion is threaded in a
downwardly opening recess or enlargement, as at 171, of a connector
sub 172 in whose upper end is threaded the reduced lower end
portion 173 of the bottom end of the string of tubing. A seal
assembly 175 is mounted on the upper portion of the latch mandrel,
its downward movement on the latch mandrel being limited by the
upwardly facing annular shoulder 176 of the latch mandrel and its
upward movement being limited by the downwardly facing annular end
shoulder or surface 177 of the connector sub 172. The latch mandrel
has a pair of opposed inverted J-slots 180 which have downwardly
opening leg portions 181, connector portions 182, and latch
portions 183. As the latch mandrel is moved into the packer body,
the downwardly opening leg portions 181 of its J-slots receive the
latch lugs 148 of the packer body. The latch mandrel is then
rotated in a counterclockwise manner, FIGS. 8 and 9, to move the
latch portions 183 of the J-slots in alignment with the lugs,
whereupon upward movement of the string of tubing will cause the
lugs to be received in the latch portions of the J-slots and upward
movement of the latch mandrel relative to the packer body will then
be limited by the engagement of the latch lugs with the upwardly
facing shoulders 184 of the latch mandrel defining the lower ends
of the latch portions of the J-slots.
The mandrel has a reduced dependent extension 185 whose lower end
may be beveled, as at 186, to provide a cam surface which
facilitates or guides its downward movement into the packer
body.
The tubing may be easily released for removal from the well
thereafter by merely lowering the string of tubing to cause the
latch lugs to be in the upper connector portions of the J-slots,
rotating the tubing in a clockwise direction to cause the lugs to
be placed in alignment with the downwardly opening leg portions 181
of the J-slots, and then moving the tubing upwardly.
It will now be apparent that the setting tool 20 may be used to
expand a liner in a flow conductor such as a well casing and
thereafter set a packer in such liner, both the liner and the
packer being movable into such flow conductor simultaneously by
means of the setting tool and that the sequential expansion of the
liner and the setting of the packer in the expander liner is
accomplished by a simple upward movement imparted to the means by
which the setting tool is lowered into the well casing after the
pressure in the pipe at the surface has been increased to move the
dogs 121 of the cylinder outwardly into gripping engagement with
the well casing to hold the cylinder anchored in the casing to
accurately position and hold the liner against upward movement in
the casing.
It will further be seen that cylinder constitutes an anchor means
and that the cylinder, the mandrel, and the hold down sleeve have
cooperable fluid pressure operable means for holding the hold down
sleeve against upward movement, after the cylinder has been
anchored to the casing, until the mandrel has moved a predetermined
upward distance relative to the sleeve and the cylinder and the
expander has expanded the lower portion of the liner into anchored
engagement with the well casing.
It will further be seen that the upper portions of the liner are
expanded after the hold down sleeve has been released for upward
movement so that the hold down sleeve does not frictionally engage
the top end of the liner and impede the expansion of the top
portion of the liner.
Referring now particularly to FIGS. 9 through 11 of the drawings,
the setting tool 200 embodying the invention includes a mandrel 201
having a top connector section 203 which may be connected by a
suitable coupling 204 to the lower end of another well tool, such
as a casing collar recess locator 205, of an assembly of wireline
tools. The assembly of tools is movable through a flow conductor,
such as the well casing C, by the usual flexible member or cable
207 which has a plurality of pairs of electric conductors 210 and
211 extending therethrough through one pair of which the electric
signals from the collar recess locator, which may be of the well
known neutron detector type, may be transmitted to a suitable
indicator or recorder device 212 and through another pair of which
an electric current may be transmitted to an igniter device 214 of
the setting tool to cause ignition of a powder charge 215 located
in a chamber 217 of the mandrel. The igniter and power charge may
be of the type illustrated in the U.S. Letters Pat. to Baker, No.
2,640,546. The top section 203 of the mandrel has a reduced portion
219 threaded in the upper end of a chamber section 220 of the
mandrel and is provided with an O-ring 220 for sealing
therebetween. The top mandrel section has a downwardly opening bore
221 into which the explosive charge extends and in whose upper
reduced end portion 222 is rigidly secured the igniter device
214.
The powder charge 215 is supported in its upper position in the
chamber 217 illustrated in FIG. 9A by a piston 224 disposed in the
chamber mandrel section 220. The piston has a rod 226 which extends
downwardly from the chamber through the longitudinal passage 228 of
a mandrel section 229 whose enlarged upper end portion 230 is
threaded in the lower end of the chamber mandrel section. An O-ring
231 disposed in an external annular recess of the mandrel section
seals between it and the chamber section and an O-ring 232 disposed
in an internal recess of the mandrel section 230 seals between it
and the piston rod 226. The piston rod extends downwardly into a
longitudinal slot 235 of the mandrel section 229 and is rigidly
secured to a tubular extension 237 disposed about the mandrel by a
pin 238 which extends through aligned apertures in the extension
and the piston rod.
The mandrel also includes a tubular section 240 whose upper reduced
end portion 241 is threaded in a downwardly opening bore of the
section 229 and a bottom section 30a whose upper reduced threaded
end portion 32a is threaded in the lower end of the tubular mandrel
portion 240. An expander 44a is threaded on the bottom end of the
tubular mandrel section and a packer 22a is secured to the bottom
mandrel section.
The bottom mandrel section 30a, the expander 44a, and the packer
22a being identical to the expander 44, the bottom section 30 and
packer 22 of the setting tool 20, their elements have been so
provided with the same reference numerals, to which the subscript
"a" has been added, as the corresponding elements of the bottom
mandrel section 30, the expander 44 and the packer 22.
A hold down sleeve 245 is releasably secured to the mandrel by a
shear pin 246, or, alternatively, it may be supported against
downward movement on the mandrel by the liner 21a whose inner
corrugations engage and rest upon the top expander surface 46a. The
mandrel at its upper end portion has longitudinal upwardly opening
slots 248 which define a plurality of resilient collet fingers 249
provided adjacent their upper ends with external bosses 250 which
are received in an internal annular recess 251 of a cylinder 254.
The engagement of the top shoulders 252 of the external bosses with
the annular downwardly and outwardly inclined annular shoulder 255
defining the top end of the annular recess limits downward movement
of the cylinder relative to the hold down sleeve and the mandrel.
The collet fingers also have inner bosses 258 which engage the
mandrel lock surface 259 above the external annular groove 260 of
the tubular mandrel section 240 and are receivable therein when the
mandrel is moved upwardly a predetermined distance relative to the
sleeve. The top ends of the collect fingers are engageable with the
downwardly facing internal annular shoulder 263 of the cylinder to
limit upward movement of the hold down sleeve relative to the
cylinder.
The cylinder is provided with a plurality of external recesses 266
in which dogs or buttons 267 are movably disposed. The dogs have
external annular recesses in which O-rings 268 are disposed which
seal between the dogs and the cylinder. The dogs have downwardly
facing teeth or serrations 269. The cylinder has ports 271 which
provide communication between the recesses 266 and an annular
chamber 272 which is closed at its lower end by the O-rings 274
disposed in internal annular recesses of the cylinder which seal
between the cylinder and the mandrel. The upper end of the chamber
272 is closed by a piston sleeve 275 which extends into the
enlarged upper portion of the bore of the cylinder and is provided
with O-rings 276 disposed in an external annular recess thereof
which seal between the piston sleeve and the cylinder and the
O-rings 277 disposed in internal annular recesses thereof which
seal between the piston sleeve and the mandrel. The piston sleeve
is held in the upper position illustrated in FIG. 9B by a liquid,
such as oil, trapped in the closed chamber 272. The area of the
piston sleeve between the lines of sealing engagement of its
O-rings 276 and 277 with the cylinder and the mandrel is equal to
or less than the combined areas of the dogs within the lines of the
sealing engagement of their O-rings 268 wit the cylinder in order
that the hydrostatic pressure in the casing does not move the
piston sleeve downwardly and thus cause premature outward movement
of the dogs. It will be apparent that when the piston sleeve 275 is
moved downwardly, the pressure of the liquid trapped in the closed
chamber 272 is applied to the inner surfaces of the dogs 267 and
causes the dogs to move outwardly to engage the internal surfaces
of a flow conductor, such as a well casing C, to anchor the
cylinder against downward movement in the well casing.
The liquid in the chamber is allowed to escape from the chamber to
the longitudinal passage 280 of the mandrel through ports 281
thereof when the mandrel is moved a predetermined distance upwardly
relative to the cylinder.
In use, the setting tool 200 with its elements in the position
illustrated in FIG. 10 and with the liner 21a and packer 220
secured thereto, is connected by the coupling collar 204 to the
lower end of a collar recess detector 205 which, in turn, is
connected by a usual connector head 284 to the cable 207. The
collar log of the well casing is of course available to the
operator who, as he lowers the string of tools through the well
casing, by means of the collar recess detector and the indicator
device 212 which produces a signal each time the locator moves past
a collar recess can determine very precisely and accurately the
location of the liner 21a in the casing. When the liner is located
at a desired location in the well casing, an electric current is
transmitted through a pair of electric conductors to the igniter
device 214 which ignites the powder charge 215. The powder when it
ignites generates a large volume of gas. The expanding gas thus
generated in the chamber tends to move the piston 224 downwardly
relative to the mandrel and the mandrel upwardly.
As the piston moves downwardly, it moves its rod extension 237
downwardly which, in turn, moves the piston sleeve 275 downwardly
relative to the cylinder which is now held against downward
movement relative to the hold down sleeve 245 by the collet finger
bosses 250. The hold down sleeve, in turn, is held against downward
movement relative to the mandrel by the liner 21a and the shear pin
246. As the piston sleeve 275 moves downwardly, the liquid in the
chamber 272 is placed under pressure thereby and the force of this
liquid pressure moves the digs outwardly into gripping engagement
with the well casing.
Once the cylinder is anchored in the well casing, the force of the
expanding gas moves the mandrel upwardly relative to the cylinder,
the pin 246 shearing when a predetermined upward force is exerted
on the mandrel, while the hold down sleeve is held against upward
movement due to the engagement of the top shoulders of the external
bosses 250 of its collet fingers 249 with the internal shoulder 255
of the cylinder. As the mandrel moves upwardly relative to the
liner, the liner is expanded into sealing and anchoring engagement
with the well casing. After the expander 44a has moved through the
liner so that the liner is expanded and anchored in the well casing
against upward movement, and prior to the engagement of the top
shoulder 161a of the expander with the shoulder 255 of the hold
down sleeve, the mandrel recess 260 moves into alignment with the
internal collet finger bosses 258 so that the hold down sleeve is
freed for upward movement relative to the cylinder, the collet
fingers being moved resiliently inwardly due to the camming action
between the outwardly and downwardly inclined cam shoulders 252 of
the external bosses 250 with the shoulder 255 defining the top end
of the latch recess 251. As the upward movement of the mandrel
continues, and prior to the engagement of the top end surfaces of
the collet fingers with the downwardly facing shoulder 263 of the
cylinder, the port 281 of the mandrel moves upwardly of the O-rings
274 so that the liquid pressure within the chamber 272 is released
and the pressure across the buttons or dogs is equalized and they
are not longer biased outwardly with great force. As a result,
since the dog teeth face downwardly, the cylinder moves upwardly
with the mandrel and the piston sleeve when the top ends of the
collet fingers engage the shoulder 263 of the cylinder. The upward
movement of the mandrel may now be continued by pulling upwardly on
the cable 207 at the surface. As the upward movement of the setting
tool is continued, the packer 22a is moved upwardly through the
expanded liner until its stop shoulder 155a engages the bottom edge
of the liner whereupon an upward force exerted by means of the
cable on the mandrel causes the shear sleeve 34a to fail and the
packer means 150a is left positioned in the liner with its seal or
packing means 150a sealing between the packer body and the liner.
The latch sleeve 38a, of course, moves upwardly and out of
engagement with the lock ring 40a so that the lock ring 40a expands
and thereafter limits downward movement of the packer relative to
the liner. A string of tubing may then be releasably secured to the
packer by means of a latch mandrel, such as the one illustrated in
FIG. 8.
If desired, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the operative fluid pressure
for the setting tool 20 may also be provided by any suitable gas
generator device or assembly 300 connected to the top end of its
top mandrel section 26 by means of the connector sub 27. The gas
generator assembly 300 includes a tubular member 302 having an
internal chamber 303 closed at its top end and whose lower tubular
reduced end portion 305 is threaded in the upper end portion of the
connector sub 27 so that the pressure of the gas generated by the
ignition of the powder charge 306 in the chamber will be
transmitted into the top passage 28 of the mandrel 25. An insulated
pair of electric conductors 211 of a cable 207 extend into the
chamber through a suitable sealed aperture to operate a suitable
means 309 for igniting the powder charge. When the setting tool 20
is provided with such gas generating assembly it may be lowered and
moved through a well casing by means of the flexible cable 207 and
be connected in a string of wireline tools which may also include a
casing collar recess locator such as the locator 205 in the same
manner as the setting tool 200. The setting tool is operated by
providing an electric current to the igniting device 309 through a
pair of insulated conductors 211 of the cable 207 when by use of
the collar recess locator 205 and an indicator device such as the
device 212 it is determined that the liner is at the desired
location in the well casing. When the powder charge 306 is ignited
the generated gas provides the operative fluid pressure to the top
longitudinal passage 28 and the expander will then be moved
upwardly into the liner carried by the tool 20, the dogs of the
cylinder 70 will be moved to their outer expanded positions locking
the cylinder to the well casing, the mandrel 25 will be moved
upwardly to cause the expander to expand the liner and thereafter
the hold down sleeve will be released for upward movement as
described above in connection with the operation of the setting
tool 20, as when it is lowered into the well casing by means of a
pipe P and the operative fluid pressure is transmitted through the
pipe P into the top longitudinal passage. When the ports 102 of the
mandrel move above the O-rings 111, the mandrel is moved to the
position illustrated in FIG. 2B relative to the cylinder, the
operative fluid pressure in the chamber 115 and the passage and
therefore the chamber 313 is released to the bottom longitudinal
passage 103 of the mandrel and the pressure across the dogs 121 is
equalized. Since the dogs have downwardly facing teeth, they will
not resist upward movement of the mandrel through the well casing
and the setting tool may be moved upwardly in the well casing to
set the packer in the expanded liner and removed from the well.
It will be apparent that, if desired, the setting tool 200 may be
operated by fluid pressure delivered from the surface to the
chamber 217 above the piston 225 by means of a string of pipe
instead of by gas produced by a gas generating means carried off
the tool. In this case, the chamber section 220 is connected
directly to the lower end of the string of pipe so that fluid
pressure from the pipe is communicated to the chamber 217 above the
piston.
It is further believed readily apparent that the liner 421 may be
set in the casing C by means of the setting tool and expander 20 in
the manner previously described, without having the packer attached
to the lower end of the setting tool for anchoring in sealing
position in the expander liner when the setting tool is
disconnected from the packer.
Instead, as shown in FIGS. 13 through 17, it is believed readily
apparent that the liner sleeve 421 may be disposed in expanded
position in the casing C and the setting tool and expander removed
from within the casing leaving the liner in place. Thereafter, a
string of well tubing T having a packer or seal assembly 400
connected therein by threads, as shown in FIG. 13, may be lowered
into the well casing and the packing assembly 400 disposed within
the bore of the liner sleeve with the sealing elements or rings 402
mounted on the mandrel 401 of the packing assembly positioned in
sealing engagement with the bore wall of the liner sleeve. The
tubing may move slightly longitudinally within the bore of the
sleeve, if desired, to accommodate changes in length of the tubing
string, while the smooth interior wall surface 422 of the liner
sleeve, being smaller than the bore wall of the casing C will
receive the sealing elements 402 in sealing engagement after the
seal assembly has been moved downwardly in the well casing to
position the sealing elements thereon within the liner sleeve. This
liner provides an improved sealing surface or reduced diameter
within the bore of the casing which may be engaged by the sealing
elements 402 of the packer assembly 400 without damaging the
sealing elements during their lowering through the casing
string.
If desired, as shown in FIG. 14, a packer 440 having a mandrel 441
with sealing elements or rings 442 thereon identical to those of
the form first described may be lowered into the well. The mandrel
441 is provided at its upper end with an external annular flange
443 which is of a diameter greater than the bore 422 through the
liner sleeve, so that the downwardly facing shoulder 444 on the
flange will engage the upwardly facing stop shoulder 424 at the
upper end of the liner sleeve 421. Thus, the tubing may be
supported on the shoulder 424 of the liner sleeve with the packing
rings 442 positively positioned in registry in the bore of the
liner for sealing engagement with the bore wall 422 of the liner
sleeve.
It is also believed readily apparent that, if desired, as shown in
FIGS. 15 and 16, a packer assembly 500 having a mandrel 501
provided with sealing rings 502 on its exterior for engaging and
sealing against the bore wall of the liner sleeve 521 may be
lowered into the casing C into sealing engagement with the liner
sleeve. The mandrel 501 is provided with a normally expanded split
locking ring 531 which is slidable on an external annular recess or
reduced portion 532 is formed on the exterior of the mandrel below
an external annular flange 537 on the mandrel below the packing
rings, which limits upward movement of the locking ring on the
mandrel. The reduced portion or annular recess 532 accommodates the
split locking ring 531 to permit the same to be cammed inwardly to
pass through the bore of the liner sleeve 521 to a position below
the sleeve. Since the split ring is of the type that is normally
biased outwardly to expanded position, being of a normal diameter
larger than the bore of the liner sleeve 521, when the locking ring
moves below the liner sleeve the ring will expand and be disposed
to engage the downwardly facing stop shoulder or lock shoulder 523
at the lower end of the liner sleeve 521 to be moved downwardly
upon an enlarged external annular locking surface 533 formed on the
mandrel below the reduced section or recess 532 on the mandrel.
A supporting ring sleeve 534 is secured to the mandrel by shear
pins 535 and held in place thereon with its upper end engaging the
downwardly facing shoulder 536 at the lower end of the expander
surface 533, whereby the upper end of the supporting ring 534
engages the lower end of the locking split locking ring 531, as
shown in FIG. 15, to support the same in expanded locking position.
The upper beveled edge 531a of the split locking ring will thus
engage the downwardly facing lock shoulder 523 of the liner sleeve,
to prevent upward movement of the packer assembly in the liner.
It is readily apparent that, when desired, the packer may be
retrieved from the well casing C by an upward pull, shearing the
pin 535, as shown in FIG. 16, to permit the sleeve 534 to move
downwardly and the split ring 531 to likewise be moved downwardly
below the external annular expander surface 533, until the lower
end of the sleeve 534 engages and is supported on the upwardly
facing shoulder 506 at the upper end of the coupling sub 505 on the
lower end of the packer mandrel 501, as shown in FIG. 16.
The cam surface 531b at the upper edge of the split ring will now
engage the lower shoulder 523 of the liner sleeve as the packer
assembly is lifted upwardly and cam the locking ring inwardly to
permit it to pass through the liner sleeve and the packer assembly
to be removed from the well casing.
A further slight variation of the packer assembly is shown in FIG.
17, wherein the packer assembly 600 is provided with a mandrel 601
substantially identical in all respects in its lower portion to the
mandrel 501 of the form just described and shown in FIGS. 15 and
16. However, an external annular stop shoulder or flange 643 is
formed at the upper end of the mandrel 601, and this flange or stop
shoulder is adapted to engage the upwardly facing stop shoulder 624
at the upper end of the liner sleeve 621 in the same manner as the
flange or stop shoulder 443 of the form of FIG. 14. The expansible
split locking ring 631 will engage the downwardly facing lock
shoulder 623 of the liner sleeve and so positively lock the packer
assembly against upward movement in the base of the liner while the
flange 643 prevents downward movement. Thus, the packer assembly is
locked in place in the base of the liner sleeve with the seal rings
602 in sealing engagement with the smooth inner sealing surface 622
of the bore wall of the liner sleeve.
This packer assembly may be removed from the casing in the same
manner as the form of FIGS. 15 and 16 by an upward pull shearing
the pins 635 to permit the supporting sleeve 634 and locking ring
631 to move downwardly on the mandrel below the expander surface
633 and the locking ring to be cammed inwardly below the expander
surface 633 by the camming engagement of the beveled upper edges
631b on the locking ring with the lower end 623 of the liner
sleeve, whereby the locking ring may pass upwardly through the
mandrel.
It will be seen, therefore, that the liner sleeve may be utilized
to provide a sealing surface for a packing assembly supported on a
tubing string to effect a more satisfactory seal between the tubing
and the casing. The packing assembly may have an external diameter
smaller than the bore of the casing and yet be of a diameter which
will tightly engage and seal against the smooth bore wall of the
liner sleeve. Also, it will be readily apparent that the method of
installing a liner sleeve in the wall casing to provide a smooth
sealing surface in the bore of the casing having a diameter smaller
than the bore of the casing and providing a pair of opposed stop
shoulders on opposite ends of the sealing surface permits use of
the liner to position packing assemblies in the well casing in
effective sealing engagement therewith after having been moved
through the length of the casing to position them in the liner
sleeve. Also, there has been set forth a method of locating a liner
sleeve in a well casing, then locating a packer assembly on a well
tubing string in the liner sleeve in sealing engagement therewith;
and, further, holding the packer assembly against downward movement
or against upward movement, or against both downward and upward
movements, with respect to the liner sleeve, and wherein the
packing assembly is removable from sealing engagement the liner
sleeve when desired.
It will now be seen that several forms of a new and improved
setting tool for expanding a liner into sealing and anchored
engagement in a well casing have been illustrated and described and
that the expanded liner provides a seal surface of smaller diameter
than the well casing and top and bottom stop surfaces engageable by
a stop means of a packer for securing the packer against
displacement from the liner after it is installed by means of the
setting tool in the expanded liner.
It will further be seen that if several liners and packers are to
be set in the casing at vertically spaced locations therein, the
lowermost liner and packer are installed first, then the next upper
packer and liner, and so on. As a result, the seal means of the
packers are not worn due to engagement with the restrictors in the
casing above the location at which they are to be mounted.
It will further be seen that the well casing at the time of its
installation in a well bore does not have to have any landing
nipples of restricted internal diameter connected therein in and to
which other well tools such as packers may thereafter be installed
or releasably secured, and that, since the well casing has no such
restrictions, various tools and fluids may be moved through the
casing without passing restrictions in the casing which would
impede their movement or cause undue wear to the components of such
tools.
It will further be seen that due to factors beyond the control of
the operator, such as the elongation of the well casing due to
tension as a long length thereof is installed in the well, changes
in temperature and variations in the lengths of the sections of the
well casing or the degree to which their threaded end portions
extend into coupling collars which connect adjacent casing
sections, the locations of the landing nipples cannot be precisely
predetermined at the time of the making up of the well casing so
that, when the casing is installed in the well bore, the landing
nipples will be at desired locations in the well. By use of
suitable surface equipment, such as a collar recess detector and a
cable length measuring device, the liners may be located very
precisely at desired locations in the well casing.
It will further be seen that the setting tools embodying the
invention may be movable downwardly into a casing by means of a
string of pipe through which an operative fluid pressure may be
introduced to operate the setting tools or, if desired, the setting
tools may be operable by fluid pressure generated by gas generating
means of setting tool.
It will further be seen that a new and improved method of
completing a well has been described and illustrated which includes
the steps of installing in the well bore a flow conductor, such as
a well casing, performing various operations on the well by means
of the unrestricted passage of the flow conductor, and then
providing a restriction in the flow conductor of smaller internal
diameter than the internal diameter of the flow conductor to
provide an internal seal surface and oppositely facing stop
shoulders in order that a well tool may be secured in sealed
relation in the flow conductor at such restriction.
It will further be seen that the restriction may be provided by
locating a liner in the flow conductor at a desired position,
expanding the liner into sealing and anchored position in the flow
conductor, and thereafter securing a packer in such expanded
liner.
It will further be seen that the method may include simultaneously
locating the liner and a packer in a flow conductor, expanding the
liner into sealing and anchored engagement in the flow conductor,
and then moving the packer into the liner, and that preferably the
expansion of the liner and the setting of the packer is
accomplished by moving an expander upwardly through the liner and
then moving the packer upwardly into he liner so that the setting
tool and expander may thereafter be easily removed from the
well.
It will also be seen that a new and improved packer has been
illustrated and described which is connectable to a setting tool
having means for expanding a liner in a well casing and which is
movable by the setting tool into the liner after it has been
expanded, and that the packer has a body provided with a stop
shoulder engageable with the bottom end surface of the expanded
liner and a latch releasably held in retracted position which
expands when the setting tool is released from the packer to engage
the top end surface of the expanded liner to limit its downward
movement relative to the packer.
It will further be seen that the packer body is provided with
external seal means for sealing between the body and the liner and
with an internal seal surface engageable by seal means of another
well tool positionable in the packer and with latch means
engageable with such another well tool for releasably connecting
such tool to the packer body.
It will also be apparent that, if the tools 20 and 200 are secured
into the well casing on a pipe, a collar recess locator is mounted
on the pipe above the setting tool and will be operated to
determine the location of a liner carried by the setting tool in
the well casing.
The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and
changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made
by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended
claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.
* * * * *