US2274740A - Working barrel support - Google Patents

Description

March 3, 1942. J. H. REYNOLDS WORKING BARRELSUPPORT Filed Dec. 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 dose hH Qe nolds Gnu MM; v

March 3, 1942.

JJH. REYNOLDS WORKING BARREL SUPPORT Filed Dec. 1,' 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a in a a m 7W w v vv vvv W M M 12 M I J 5 l 7 C r h "H a h r m 5 o AAQ yd a fw a m m m E 6 A We M J F N v r F x J March 3,1942. J. H. REYNOLDS 2,274,740

wpgxme BARRELSUPPORT Filed Dec. 1, 1957 s shets sheet s 5 Maw Law a m v 3 m d E g E Patented Mar. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE WORKING BAR ItEL SUPPORT Joseph H. Reynolds, Cisco, Tex.

Application December 1, 1937, Serial No. 177,394

7 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in working barrel supports.

It is the usual practice in pumping wells, to attach a packer to the working barrel of the pump, whereby the packer is lowered into the well casing with said barrel. When the barrel is properly located in the casing, the packer is set and the pumping operation begun. As is well known the pump plunger or piston carries a traveling valve, while a standing valve is disposed in the lower end of the working barrel. Through usage, these valves, as well as the plunger or piston become worn and require repair or replacement and in order to accomplish such repair or replacement it is necessary to remove the working barrel from the well casing. Since the packer is attached to the barrel, removal of the packer is also necessitated each time the barrel is removed. Usually, removal of the packer is difficult due to the fact that said packer has adhered to the wall of the well casing, this being particularly true when the packer has been set for some time. Not only is removal difiicult because of the failure of the packer to return to a normal unexpanded position to disengage from the casing wall, thereby resulting in a swabbing action as said packer moves upwardly, but also said packer is damaged by the joints of the easing since the exterior surface of the packer contacts said joints in its upward travel. After the valves and plunger of therworkingbarrel have been repaired, it is usually necessary to also replace the packer which had been damaged upon its removal from the casing.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide improved means for supporting a working barrel within a well casing, in cooperation with a well packer, which means is so constructed that the working barrel may be set within or removed from the well casing without disturbing the packer, whereby the working barrel may be removed for repairs or replacement at any time without removing the packer.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved support for a working barrel which includes a seat element associated with the well packer which packer is arranged to be set within the well casing, and a complementary member adapted to rest upon and be supported by said seat element, with means for securing a working barrel to said complementary member, whereby the well may be pumped without tubing, the casing acting as the fluid conductor, and also whereby the working barrel and member may be readily removed from the casing at any time without dislodging or disturbing the seat element and 'carried by the well packer'assembly; the nipple being so constructed that a working barrel may be connected to either end of the nipple so as to either extend upwardly or depend downwardly therefrom; such arrangement permitting the use of working barrels of different diameters, whereby a working barrel of the proper size, as determined by the well conditions, may be employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved support, of the character described, which includes a seating collar adapted to be supported in the well casing and a nipple arranged to seat within said collar, with sealing means for engaging the inner 'wall of the well casing to prevent sand, or other extraneous matter, above the nipple and collar from fallingdownwardly thereby; means also being provided for by-passing free gas from below the support, whereby such gas in not trapped therebeneath.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of a support constructed in accordance with'the invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view Figure 3 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view,v

taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a transverse, sertical, sectional view,

showing the supporting collar supported within.

the well casing,

Figure 6 is a similar view, with the seating nipple within the collar and having the working barrel depending therefrom,

Figure 7 is a view, similar to Figure 6, with the working barrel extending upwardly from the nipple,

Figure 8 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of the seating nipple, showing the by-pass ports p u Figure 9 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of a modified form of seating nipple, and

Figure 10 is an enlarged, sectional detail of one of the check valves.

In the drawings, the numeral l designates an elongate collar which is formed with an axial bore II. The lower end of the bore is provided with screw threads l2, and above the threaded portion the bore is enlarged to form an internal, annular, beveled seat l3. Immediately above the seat, the wall of the bore is inclined or flared outwardly, whereby an elongate inclined seating surface or bowl M is provided. Above the bowl I4, the wall of the bore is substantially vertical.

The outer diameter of the collar is slightly less than the internal diameter of the well casing A into which said collar is lowered. The collar is screwed onto the upper end of a section of pipe or tubing l5 and this section is shown as having its lower end secured to a packer assembly 16, whereby both the packer and the collar are carried thereby. When it is desired to pump the well, the packer l8, pipe [5 and collar Ill are lowered into the well casing A and said packer is set so as to engage the casing wall at a desired elevation. The packer, when in a set position, will seal off the annular space between the casing A and pipe section [-5. If desired, a section of pipe I!- may depend from the packer.

It is pointed out that the collar is shown and described as fastened to the packer assembly by means of the pipe 15, but it is not essential that the assembly l6 be fastened to the pipe. The packer assembly could be a separate unit and after it is properly set therein, the collar and pipe l5 secured thereto, may be lowered and suitably supported above the packer.

After the packer has been set, the collar I8 is supported within the well casing A in the manner shown in Figure 1. A seating nipple I8 which is arranged to be attached to a working barrel B, as will be explained, is adapted to enter the upper end of the bore ll of the collar l0 so as to be supported therein. The nipple has an axial bore l9 which is internally screw-threaded substantially throughout its length. The lower end of the outer surface of the nipple is tapered inwardly to form a taperedseating surface 2!], the inclination of the surface 20 being complementary to the inclinedsurface or bowl [4 of the bore'of the collar 10. The extreme lower end of the nipple is beveled at El and when said nipple is inserted within the bore of the collar, the annular bevel 2| rests upon the internal,v beveled seat I3, while the tapered surface 20 of said nipple engages the inclined bowl M of the bore, whereby the nipple is firmly supported within the collar. When the nipple is in position within the collar, the lower edge of said nipple extends into the bore of the collar (Figure 1),.

The upper end of a working barrel B is adapted to be screw-threaded into the lower edge of the bore l9 and is, of course, lowered through the well casing as tha nipple is lowered. After the nipple is seated with the collar, as has been explained, the working barrel depends axially through the pipe section is. It is preferable, although not essential, that the pipe section I5 be longer than the Working barrel so that said barrel does not extend into the mandrel of the packing assembly. Due to the fact, that the bore I9 of the nipple is of less diameter than the bore ll of the collar, an annular space 22 is present between the outer surface of the working barrel B and the bore of the pipe IS.

The working, barrel B may be of any desired construction and includes the usual standing 3 sleeve.

with radial openings 34 whereby communication valve 23, which is secured within its lower end. A pump plunger 24, having the usual traveling valve 25 thereon, is movable vertically within the bore of the barrel B, said plunger being actuated by pump rods 26 which extend axially through the casing from the surface of the well. As the plunger is reciprocated within the working barrel, the fluid is drawn from the bottom of the well, which is below the packer l6, and into the working barrel. The fluid passes through the traveling valve 25 upon each downstroke of the plunger, and upon each upstroke of said plunger is lifted upwardly into the well casing above the nipple and then to the surface. This is the usual operation of a well pump and the particular structure of the working barrel and plunger forms no part of the present invention and is, therefore, subject to variation.

Under certain well conditions, there might be free gas present in the well and this gas would naturally flow upwardly into the annular. space 22 surrounding the working barrel. This trapped gas would continue to. accumulate until suflicient pressure was built up to lift the traveling valve 23, which is undesirable as it might interfere with the operation of the pump. In orderto permit the escape of gas which might accumulate in the annular space 22, the nipple I8 is provided with a plurality of vertical passages 21, which passages are preferably spaced equally around the nipple. Each passage extends from the lower edge of the nipple to the top thereof a d the upper portion of each passage is enlarged, where.- by an. annular shoulder or seat 28 is formed within each, passage. A ball 29 is arranged to engage the seat and is normally held thereon: by its own weight. A tubular sleeve 30' extends axially throughthe passage and has its lower end spaced from the ball. This sleeve is preferably made integral with the shank of a screw 3| which is threaded in the upper end of the passage. The screw 3| is provided with an angular head 32 and.

an axial bore 33- which extends through the head and. shank communicates with the bore of the The lower end of the sleeve is-formed between the passage above the ball 29' and the interior of the sleeve is established.

Normally, theballs 29 within the passages .21

' are resting on their respective seats 28Jto close said passages, the weight of said ball holding it in such position. When sufiicient gas has accumulated in the annular space 22 to..overcome the weight of said balls, the latter are raised and i the gas flows into each passage. Zlabove the ball therein. From the passage, the gas passes through the radial openings 34 and into themterior of the sleeve, from where it escapes upwardly through the bore 33. of the screw and into the casing above the nipple. The gas must flow through the radial openings 34' as itcannot, enter the lower end of the sleeve bore as the ball 25,;

upon being raised, engages. saidlower end. The lower end of the sleeve thus serves as astop for limiting the upward movement of the ball 29.

When the pump is operating, the well fiuidis,

lifted upwardly in the well casing to the surface. It has been found that sand, or other extraneous matter, may be pumped upwardly through'the working barrel-B with the fluid,-Whereby said sand is carried into the casing A abovethe-nipple l8 and collar lilL, Since there is a slight.

clearance between the exterior of the. collar 1'0 and. the well casingA, this sand falls downwardly .thereby and onto. the well packer l6, Whichis To-prevent this sand, or other ex-' undesirable. traneous matter, from falling, or otherwise passing around the exterior-of the collar ill, a flexible sealing ring 35 may be mounted on the top of the nipple I8. This ring rests on the top of the nipple and has perforations 36 therein, through which the shanks of the screws 3| extend. The outer periphery of the ring is reduced to arelatively thin edge and this portion overhangs the space between collar-and casing, with the periphery of said ring engaging the casing wall. A metallic confining ring 31 overlies the sealing ring and also has perforations through which the screws 3| extend and the outer periphery of the confining ringdoes not extend beyond the exterior of the nipple I8. The heads of the screws 3| engage th ring 3T and with such arrangement, the rings 31 and 35 are confined between the headsof the screws and the top of the nipple. The peripheral portion of the flexible ring 35 which overhangs the space between the collar l and casing provides a positive seal which prevents sand, or other extraneous matter from falling downwardly past the collar.

Under certain well conditions where a relatively small amount of free gas is present, the by-pass passages 21 are not necessary. In such instances, the upper end of the passages may be pluggedby solid headed screws 3|, which are substituted for the screws 3|, as is clearly shown in Figure 8. If desired, the passages could be entirely eliminated with the nipple [8 being constructed as shown in Figure 9. Regardless of whether or not the passages 21 are provided or used, the nipple supports the working barrel within the well.

The nipple I8, to which the working barrelB is attached, is entirely separate from the supporting collar and therefore, the nipple and barrel may be removed at any time without disturbing the packer. The barrel may be removed to repair or replace the valves or plunger and then returned to its operating position within the well. Once set, the packer may remain in the well permanently and any damage to the packer, which would result from its removal, is obviated.

In Figure 6, the nipple has been shown as having the working barrel B screwed into its lower end, whereby the barrel depends through the pipe section. This mounting of the barrel is satisfactory and desirable where conditions are such that this size working barrel will handle the production. However, in many instances it is necessary to employ a larger working barrel and. in such case, the barrel is mounted, as shown in Figure '7. A swaged nipple or collar 40 is screwed into the upper end of the nipple l8 and the upper diameter of the collar 40 may be any size up to the internal diameter of the well casing A. The lower end of a working barrel B is threaded into the collar 40 and manifestly, the size of this barrel may be larger than the size of the barrel B in Figure 6, as the latter is limited in its diameter by the internal diameter of the pipe section 15. Therefore, by connecting the barrel B to the upper end of the collar 40, a working barrel of a much larger diameter may be employed, whereby more fluid may be handled. When the barrel B extends upwardly from the nipple l8, the pipe section l5 may be shortened or eliminated entirely, with the packing assembly l6 secured to the lower end of the supporting collar l0. Radially extending guide lugs, or other means (not shown) may be provided at the upper end of the working barrel B to hold the same in axial alinement with the casing A. It is pointed out that in both forms herein described, the weight of the working barrel on the nipple I8 is sufficient to hold said nipple in its seated position within the collar ID and the well may be pumped without the use of tubing. Any suitable means may be employed for lowering and raising the nipple and barrel through the casing.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A support for a working barrel including, a well casing, a supporting collar, means for anchoring said collar within the well casing and having an internal seat therein, a working barrel, a seating member having a seat portion arranged to engage said seat and having a threaded bore for receiving the working barrel, whereby said barrel is supported by the member and is removable therewith from the casing without disturbing the collar, and means at the top of the collar and arranged to engage the casing wall for preventing extraneous matter present in the well fluid from falling downwardly between the collar and casing.

2. A support for a working barrel including,

a well casing, a supporting collar, means for anchoring said collar within the well casing and having an internal seat therein, a working barrel, a seating member having'a seat portion arranged to engage said seat and having a threaded bore for receiving the working barrel, whereby said barrel is supported by the member and is removable therewith from the casing without disturbing the collar, means for by-passing free gas below the collar and member, whereby said gas does not pass through the barrel, and means at the top of the collar and arranged to engage the casing wall for preventing extraneous matter present in the well fluid from falling downwardly between the collar and easing.

3. A support for a working barrel including, a well casing, a supporting collar adapted to be mounted within the well casing and having an internal bowl therein, aworking barrel, a seating member having a seat portion arranged to engage said bowl and having a threaded bore for receiving the working barrel, whereby said barrel is supported by the member and is removable therewith from the casing without disturbing the collar, said member having a vertical by-pass passage extending therethrough for-byv passing free gas below the member, valve means within the passage for controlling the flow therethrough, and means at the top of the collar and arranged to engage the casing wall for preventing extraneous matter present in the well fluid from falling downwardly between the collar and casing.

4. A support for a working barrel including, a well casing, a supporting collar adapted to be mounted within the well casing and having an internal seat therein, a working barrel, a seating member arranged to engage said seat and having a threaded bore for receiving the working barrel, whereby said barrel is supported by the member and is removable therewith from the casing without disturbing the collar, and a flexible sealing ring secured to the top of the member and having its periphery engaging the casing wall, whereby the peripheral portion of said ring overhangs the annular space between the collar and casing to prevent foreign matter in the well fluid above the collar from falling downwardly through this annular space.

5. A support for a working barrel including,

a well casing, a well packer, a supporting collar associated with the well packer and adapted to be mounted in the well casing when the packer is set therein, said collar being elongate and having an axial bore extending therethrough, the upper portion of said bore being of a constant diameter, an elongate amplified seat within the bore immediately below the constant diameter portion, a seating member insertable within the collar and having the lower portion of its outer surface inclined complementary to the seat and the upper portion of its outer surface of a constant diameter, whereby when the member is seated within the collar its straight upper portion is contiguous to the straight portion of the bore of the collar and said member is confined against lateral movement therein, a working barrel, and means for attaching the working barrel to said member, whereby said barrel is carried by and removable with said member without disturbing the collar and packer.

6. A support for a working barrel including,

a well casing, a well packer, a supporting collar associated with the well packer and adapted to be mounted in the well casing when the packer in set therein, said collar being elongate and having an axial bore extending therethrough, the upper portion of said bore being of a constant diameter, an elongate amplified seat within the bore immediately below the constant diameter portion, a seating member insertable within the collar and having the lower portion of its outer surface inclined complementary to the seatand the upper portion of its outer surface of a constant diameter, whereby. when the member is seated within the collar its straight upper portion is contiguous to the straight portion of the bore of the collar and said member is confined against lateral movement therein, a working barrel, the seating member having an axial screw-threaded bore extending entirely therethrough, whereby the working barrel may be connected in the bore to extend upwardly or depend downwardly therefrom.

7. A support for a working barrel in a well ineluding, a well casing, a supporting element adapted to be anchored. in said casing at a desired elevation and having an axial bore extending therethrough, an elongate inclined seat formed in the bore and spaced from the top of the element, that portion of the bore above said seat being of a constant diameter, a complementary member having an external seat portion at its lower end and having its outer surface of a constant diameter abovethe seat portion insertable within the element, so as to be supported thereby and held against lateral displacement therein, said member having a bore, and means at each end of the bore for attaching a working barrel-to the memben'whereby said barrel may be supported in a position either above or below said member.

JOSEPH H. REYNOLDS.

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