US2640543A - Hydraulically operable valve controlled well tool - Google Patents

Description

s 5 efA y 3 0.a.. WF. m 3. MM 4m m 6 @f 6 N0 T 9S F /M 2 w o m F, L y m D E u, ov c wv. sR4 Rmw.. EC D afp wl H Hmm. 6.1 A; hmm?, 2 Rmm o m. T.. A C I m R D m June 2, 1953 Patented June 2, 1953 HYDRAULICALLY OPERABLE. VALVE CONTROLLED WELL TOOL Roscoe 0. Childers, Norman, Okla., assignor to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Vernon, Calif., a corporation of California Application August 18, 1947, Serial No. 769,273

(Cl. 16S- 4) 16 Claims.

The present invention relates to well tools, and more particularly to sub-surface well tools employable in the testing, cementing, acidizing, washing, etc., of well bores.

It is an object of the invention to provide a tool capable of use for making water shut-off tests, production tests, and the like, as well as squeeze cementing, plastic plugging, acidizing, and similar :operations following or prior to such tests, without withdrawing the tool from the Well bore.

Another object `of the invention is to provide a Well apparatus adapted to perform both production testing and squeeze cementing operations without danger of the apparatus being forced up the well bore during the squeeze cementing operation. l

Still another object of the invention is to provide a well tool embodying a valve operable hydraulically by manipulation of the running-in string attached to the well tool.

This invention has other objects which will become apparent from a consideration of the apparatus shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. This apparatus will be described in detail to illustrate the general principles of the invention, but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limited sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional and elevation view of a well casing and a well tool operable therewithin.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, of the valve mechanism,

Fig.v3 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, of the valve mechanism disclosed in Fig. l, with the valve in open position.

As disclosed in the drawings, the apparatus includes a lower well packer A and an upper valve mechanism B adapted to be run iny a well casing C on a tubular string D to a desired setting or operating point. The well packer is particularly designed for anchoring in packed-ofi' condition against longitudinal movement within the casing in an upward direction. For this purpose, the mandrel or body Ill of the packer, which is of the retrievable type, has a lower abutment II secured thereto and a sleeve type of packing I2, of rubber or corresponding material, disposed above the abutment and around the body. The upper end of the packing engages the lower end of a slip expander I3 having upwardly and inwardly tapering expander surfaces 14 engageable with companion surfaces on slips I5 which are suitably coupled to a sleeve I6 forming part of a drag device I'I. The drag device consists of a plurality of drag springs I8 fricti-onally engaging the wall of the well casing C, with their lower ends connected to the upper end of the sleeve IB and their upper ends to a collar I9 slidably mounted upon the mandrel I0 of the tool.

The well packer A shownis of the retrievabley type, specifically illustrated vand described in the patent of Reuben C. Baker, No. 2,368,400, patented January 30, 1945, to which reference may be had for further particulars. For purposes of understanding the present invention, it is suicient to state that the retrievable packer is run in the well casing with its slips I5 and packing I2 in retracted positions, and that whenever the packer is to be set, anupward pull is taken on its mandrel I0 to move the slips I5 radially outward in rm anchoring engagement with the casing C, and to expand the packing I2 into leakproof engagernent with the Wall of the casing. Conversely, lowering of the tubular mandrel II! effects retraction of the slips and packing, whereupon these elements vcan be locked in such retracted positions by a suitable lock device 20 (details not shown) to enable the packer to be moved upwardly and retrieved from the well casing. One form of lock is disclosed inthe patent referred to above. p

The valve mechanism B is connected to the upper end of the tubular packer mandrel ror body It through the agency of a suitable coupling or collar 2l threaded thereon. The other end of the coupling 2| is threaded on the lower portion 22 of a tubular valve body 23, telescopically arranged within a cylinder 24 threaded to the lower end 'of the tubular string D running to the top of the well bore, by means of which the entire apparatus isv moved longitudinally within the well casing. The ytubular body 23 is disclosed as being made in two sections, including the lower section 22 threaded into the coupling collar, and also threadedly attached to an. upper body section 26, which, in turn, is threaded into a piston 21 having a central passage 28 therethrough. This piston carries suitable side seals 29 lon its periphery for slidable sealing engagement with the wall of the cylinder 24 to prevent leakage `of iluids therebetween in bothV longitudinal directions. The cylinder 24 is also provided with a lower cylinder head 3B threaded into its skirt 25, and having inner side seals 3| slidably engaging the exterior of the body 23 to prevent leakage therej between in both longitudinal directions.

The lower end of the upper body member 26 is formed as a valve seat 32 adapted to be engaged by a valve head 33 secured on a valve stem or pis- -ton rod 34 extending upwardly within the upper body member into an inner cylinder 35 disposed in the latter. This cylinder is of substan- -tially smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the upper body section 26 vto provide a substantial annulaispa-ce 36 therebetween through which fluids may now. This annular space is communicable with the central passage 28 in the upper piston 21.

The upper end of the Valve stem or piston rod 34 is secured to a piston 31 having suitable packings or piston rings 38 engageable with the wall of the inner cylinder 35, to preventiiuid leakage therebetween in both longitudinal directions. The piston 31 and the valve head 4v33 connected thereto are urged in an upward direction, to tend to maintain the latter in engagement with the seat 32, by a compressed helical spring 3S, whose lowerfend engages a .retainerdt threaded into the .lower vend of the cylinder 3,5 and through which the rod 3e extends, and whose upper end engages the `,piston 31.

rI-he piston 3l is moved downwardly to eect corresponding downward movement of the valve head :33 from its-.seat 32 by hydraulically operable means. The upper end .of the cylinder 35 is communicable with v4lateral passage 4I formed in a generally 'If-shaped member 42 suitably secured to the ypiston 21 `and extending across rits central passage 28. The outer ends of the lateral branches A-I' of the T-shaped member are communicable withlongitudinal .passages 153 .cX-

tending downwardly through the piston 21 and.

communicating with theannular .cylinder space 44 between the cylinder 24 .and valve body 23. It is ,to be vnoted .that there is no iluid communication `between the central piston passage 28, or the annular valve-passage .36, and` the inner cylinder space'd above the piston .3.1, the T-shaped member lateral iiuid .passages Al, and the annular `chamber .M betweenthe outer cylinder and tool body. In fact, these last-mentioned elements are enclosed finorder toconiine a liquid 46, such as light oil, therein, fora purpose to be later described. Such oil Vmay be `introduced into the chamber throughaller hole 41eXtending longitudinally :through the lower cylinder head 39 and closed by a suitable plug 48 threaded into the lower. end of the latter.

When it is desired Yto eiect opening of the valve by moving the valve head ,33 downwardly from its cooperable seat `32, the tubular string D ismoved upwardly to move thefoutercylinder 24, including its attached cylinder head 30, upwardly with respect to the valve body 23 and upper `piston 21. .Suchmotion imposes a pressure upon the oil 4B in the .chamber "it, fluid passages '43, T-connection-llz and inner cylinder space '45, exerting adownward force on the piston 31 and its attached valve Astem 34 which, when suiicient, overcomes the force'oi the Spring 39 and vmoves the -valve head :33 downwardly fromfits seat `32, whichfthen enables fluid topass in both longitudinal directionsbetween the tubularstring D kand the 'lower lsection -22 of the valve body, such fluid flowing -throughthe valve seat `32, annular space 36 and central piston passage28. ofcourse, as the cylinder head is moved upwardly .toward the piston 21, the light oil 4t or other 'fluid 'pressure transmitting medium is moved into the upper inner cylinder space 45 and forces the piston 31 downwardly in the manner described.

Conversely, when the valve is to be closed, the tubular string D and attached outer cylinder 213 are moved downwardly relative to the piston 21 and valve body 23, which enables the spring 3Q to move the inner piston 31 upwardly and force the oil 4B back into the chamber @4, also reengaging the valve head with its yseat 32 t0 prevent upward movement of fluid through the valve seat 32, annular passage 35 and central ,piston passage 28.

`In effect, the outer cylinder 24, body 23 and large piston `2i' .constitute a iiuid pump, and the inner cylinder 35 and piston 31 a iiuid motor communicable .with the pump through the T- memberdzand longitudinal passages All.

The yalvemechanism B and packer A attached thereto have a variety of uses, including performanceV of -a `water shut-oil or production test followed by a squeeze cementing operation, without moving the equipment within the Well casing C. If it is desired to determine the efficaoy of va cement j ob disposed behind the Vcasing, theapparatus is lowered to a location immediately above'the point at which the cementitious material had been ejected from the well casing, as immediately above a shoe or collar (not shown). The tubular string D is dry, v'since the valve vengages its seat 32 during the runningin operation and prevents anyiuid in the well casing fromflowing upwardly through the valve mechanism. No pressure is imposed on the oil d6 in the chamber lift during the running-in operation, since the direction of the longitudinal force on the cylinder 24 is downward, which will not result in the transmission of any effort to the inner piston '31 through Vthe vintervening rhydraulic medium 46. In lowering the tool through the well casing, the downward telescoping ofthe cylinder 24 and its head 3 0 over the piston'body 2351s limited by engagement of the upper end of the piston 21 with ashoulder 49 at the upper end of the cylinder 2 4.

When it isdesired to determine the effectiveness of the c ementng operation, an upward strain vis taken on Ythe tubular string D, which nrst causes -the vtapered expander i3 to anchor theslips 1.5 rmly againstthecasing C, and then causes the packing l2 to be compressed between the lower `abutment Il .and expander I3 vand expanded into firm sealing engagement with the well casing, thereby preventing the hydrostatic head of iuid m the annulus above the packing lhandbetween the casing C `and rtubing .string D, from being subjected upon :the formation. A continuation of the upward pull or strain on the tubular string D engages the packing t2 and slips i5 more firmly with ithe casing, and also causesadisplacementof `*the oil .46 in the charnber JM, passages .43 kand T member 42 into `the inner cylinder 35, the pressure incident to such displacement forcing .the piston 31 downwardly and moving the valve -head 33 downwardly :from its Aseat 32, thus effecting communication betweenthe formation and-theinterior of the tubing string D, which, as indicated above, is initially devoid of fluid and is, accordingly, at atmospheric pressure.

If Vthe cement job disposed -behind the casing is defective, water or gas, as 'the case may be, passes-upwardly through the unobstructedtubular'body or mandrelv I0 of `the well packer A, through the lower 4valve body Asection 22, and through the open valve 32,33 into the annular passage'36 around the inner cylinder 26, moving upwardlythrough the central piston passageZ `into the tubular string'D. After opening of the valve has been permitted to continue for any desired time, the tubing string may be lowered, which enables the spring 39 to shiftl the piston 3l upwardly and engage the valve head 33 with its seat 32, thus preventing any further upward flow of fluid through the apparatus. The spring 39 is preferably made relatively strong so as to prevent any fiuid that may be contained within the tubular string D from imposing suicient downward force on the valve head 33 to effect its opening as the tool is withdrawn from the well casing. Accordingly, the valve remains closed and the fluid sample within the tubular string is withdrawn to the top of the well bore, if the apparatus is then removed from the well casing C. Y

In the event the cement deposited behind the casing has not effected a proper water or gas shut-off, the tool may be allowed to remain in the same location. If the downward movement of the tubular string D to reclose the valve has effected retraction of the slipsv I 5 and packing I2, they may again be expanded against the casing C by the taking of an upward pull on the tubular string, which may or may not be suicient to create sufcient pressure in the chamber 44 to displace the oil 46 downwardly in the cylinder 35 to move the valve member 33 to open position. During subsequent pumping of cement slurry through the tubing string D to recement the casing, uid pressure need not necessarily be produced, since the valve head 33 can be forced from its seat 32 against the action of the spring 39 by the pressure imposed on the cement slurry and displacement fluid within the tubular string. This charge of slurry is pumped down the tubular string flowing 'downwardly through the tool and discharging from the lower end of the packer body I0, thence passing outwardly of the casing C to fill the voids or channels that might have existed in the previous hardened cement deposited behind the well casing. After the desired squeeze pressure has been built up and sufficient additional cement has been placed behind the casing C, the bleeding off of the pressure in the tubular string D allows the valve head 33 to reengage its seat 32 and prevent return iiow of the cement slurry into the casing. The tubular string D may then be lowered to effect retraction of the slips I5 and packing I2 from the well casing, such elements being locked in their retracted positions, and the entire apparatus withdrawn from the well bore.

It is, accordingly, apparent that an apparatus has been provided which is capable of resisting pressures, including comparatively high pressures, acting upwardly on the well packer A and tending to pump it up the hole, and which also has a valve mechanism B which can be controlled through movement of the tubular string D in the same direction as is required for anchoring the packer in packed-off condition against the well casing C. The apparatus lendsitself to both formation testing and squeeze cementing without the necessity for running a separate tool in the well bore for each operation at separate times, thus effecting substantial economies in both testing and squeeze cementing the formation.

The valve mechanism B itself is operable through the simple expedient of moving the tubular string D, and may be used with other devices than the well packer A disclosed and may be used alone, if desired. It is to be noted that,y

6! in a more limited sense, it effects opening of a valve in one direction upon movement of its control and operating devices in the opposite direction.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. Well apparatus, including inner and outer members telescopically arranged with respect to each other and defining an annular uid pressure chamber therebetween, means providing a passage non-communicating with said chamber, said passage being communicable with a region externally of the apparatus, a fluid medium in said chamber, a valve device in said inner member controlling iiuid flow through said passage, and means in said inner member communicable with said chamber and engaging said vvalve device for operating said valve device in response to pressure imposed on said fluid medium upon telescopic movement between said members.

2. Well apparatus, including a body having a fluid passage, an outer cylinder around said body and spaced therefrom to form an annular fluid pressure chamber therewith, a valve seat on said body surrounding said passage, an inner cylinder within said body, a valve head engageable with said seat to close said passage, means engaging said head and including a piston in said inner cylinder, and means providing a iiuid passage communicating with said chamber and inner cylinder. l

3. Well apparatus, including a tubular body, an outer cylinder around said body and spaced therefrom to form an annular fluid pressure chamber therewith, an inner cylinder within said body and spaced therefrom to form an annular passage, a valve seat on said body surrounding said passage, a valve head engageable with said seat to close said passage, means engaging said head and including a piston in said inner cylinder, spring means for urging said head in one direction into` engagement with said seat, a fluid medium in said chamber, and means providing a iiuid passage communicating with said chamber and inner cylinder to enable relative movement between said body and outer cylinder to generate pressure in said fiuid medium and impose such fluid pressure medium on said A piston to urge said head from engagement with said seat'.

4. Well apparatus, including first and second members movable with respect to each other and cooperatively providing an expansible fluid pressure chamber, means providing a passage non-communicating with said chamber, said passage being communicable with a region eX- ternally of the apparatus, said passage having a valve seat therein, a valve head engageable with said seat, a cylinder communicating with said chamber, means engaging said head and including a piston slidable in said cylinder, and a fluid medium in and between said chamber and cylinder, said medium having pressure imposed upon it in response to relative movement between said members to cause said uid pressure medium to pass into said cylinder to shift said piston and head relative to said valve seat.

5. Well apparatus adapted to be lowered in a well bore on a running-in string, including a 7 passagehaving a valve seat, a valve V.head en sageable with said seat, fluid pressure operable means engageablewith said head for moving said head with respect to said seat, and means ate tachable to said running-in string and operable by said running-in string when said runningin .string is moved for generating fluid pressure that is `non-communeating with said passage and for imposing such iiuid pressure upon said iiuid pressure operable means.

6. Well apparatus adapted to be lowered in a well bore on a running-in string, yincluding a well tool having normally retracted means movable laterally outwardly in response to movement `of said running-in :string in one longitudinal direc". tion,.said well tool 'having a passage for the flow of fiuid'through the tool from the exterior thereof, a valve for controlling fluid flow through said passage and movable to open position in a longitudinal direction which is opposite to the longitudinal `direction in .which the running-in string is moved when said normally retracted means is moved outwardly, and means -operable by `mcvcn'ient of said running-in string in said one rlongitudinal direction for moving said valve in said opposite ltmgitudinal direction to open position.

7. Well apparatus .adapted to be lowered in a well .bore .on a running-in string, including a well tool having normally retracted means movable laterally outward in response to upward movement of said running-in string, said well tool having .a passage for the flow of iiuid through the tool from the exterior thereof, a downwardly opening valve for controlling fluid iiow through said tool passage, .and means connectible to the running-in string and operable by the running-in string when the running-in string is moved upwardly relative to the well tool to `move said valve downwardly to open position.

8. Well apparatus adapted to be lowered 4in a well bore on a running-in string, including awell tool having normally retracted means movable laterally outward in response to upward movement of the running-in string, said well tooi having a passage for the flow of fluid through the tool from the exterior thereof, a valve device for controlling fluid flow through the tool from the exterior thereof, a valve device for controlling `uid flow through said tool passage, a pump device connected to the well tooland conneotible to the running-'in string and oper-.- able by the running-in string when the runningin string is moved upwardly relative to :the well tool to generate pressure in fluid in said pump device, and means for conducting said uid under pressure to said valve device to operate the same.

19. Well :apparatus adapted to be lowered in a well bore on arunning-in string, including .a well too'l having normally retracted means movable laterally outward in response to movement of the running-:in string, ,said well tool having a passage for the iiow of fluid 4through the tool from the exterior-thereof, a Yvalve device for controlling fluid flow through said passage and into 'the running-in string, :a pump device connected to the well tool and conneoti'ble to the running-in string and operable by the runningin string "when the running-'in string is moved relative Ato the well tool vto generate pressure in fluid in said pump device, and means for conducting said vfluid under pressure to said valve device to operate 4the same.

lOLWell apparatus adapted to be lowered a well conduit on a running-in string, including a packer adapted to be anchored to the conduit in response to longitudinal movement of the running-in string, said packer having a passage for the ilow of iiuid through the packer from the exterior thereof, a normally closed valve device for controlling iiow of fluid through said packer passage and into the running-in string. a pump device connected to the packer and connectible to the running-in string and operable by the running-in string when the running-in string is moved longitudinally relative to the packer to subject uid in said pump device to pressure, and means for conducting said fluid under pressure to said valve device to open the same.

il. Well apparatus adapted to be lowered in a well conduit on a running-in string, including a packer adapted to be anchored to the conduit against upward movement in response to upward movement .of the running-in string, said packer having a passage for the flow of fluid through the packer from the .exterior thereof, a normally closed valve device for controlling flow of fluid through said packer passage and into the running-in string, a pump device connected to the packer `and connectible to the running-in string and operable by the running-in string when the running-in string is moved upwardly relative to the packer to subject fluid in said pump device to pressure, and means for conducting said pum-p fluid under pressure to said valve device to .shift the same downwardly to open position.

l2. Well apparatus, including a tubular bod-y, an outer cylinder around said body -in .slidable sealing engagement therewith to form an .annular fluid Ypressure chamber, an inner cylinder within said body and .spaced therefrom to vform an annular passage non-communicating with said chamber, a valve seat on said body sur.- rounding said passage, a valve head engageable with said seat to close said passage, means engaging said head and including a piston in sai-d inner cylinder, and means providing a iluid passage communicating with said chamber and inner cylinder to enable fluid under pressure to act upon said piston to urge said valve 'head in one direction with respect to said seat.

13. Well apparatus, lincluding inner and outer members movable with respect to each other and cooperatively dening a fluid pressure chamber therebetween, one of said members having a .passage therethrough non-communicating with said chamber but communica-ble with a region .externally of said .one member, a valve lfor closing said passage, a fluid medium in said chamber pressurized 4upon relative movement between said members tending to reduce the volume of said chamber, and fluid operable means engageable with said valve and communicable with said chamber, in order that said fluid operable means is 'subject tothe pressure of said iiuid medium to operate 4said valve.

14. Well apparatus, including inner and outer members telescopically arranged with respect -to each other and cooperatively defining a fluid pressure chamber therebetween, said inner member 'having .-a passage therethrough non-communicating with said chamber but communicable with a -region externally of said inner member, a '.valve for yclosing said passage, a fluid medium in said chamber pressurized upon relative -longi tudinal movement between said Amembers tending to lreduce :the volume Aof `said chamber, and

fluid operable means engageable with said Valve and communicable with said chamber, in order that said fluid operable means is subject to the pressure of said fluid medium to operate said valve.

15. Well apparatus, including a tubular body having a piston, an outer cylinder slidable along said piston and having a head slidable along said body, said body and cylinder forming an annular chamber therebetween, an inner cylinder within said body and spaced therefrom to form an annular passage non-communicating with said chamber, a valve seat on said body surrounding said passage, a valve head engageable with said seat to close said passage, means engaging said valve head and including a piston in said inner cylinder, and means providing a uid passage communicating with said chamber and inner cylinder to enable uid under pressure to act upon said piston to urge said valve head in one direction with respect to said seat.

16. A well tool adapted to be lowered in a well bore on a running-in string, including relatively movable parts cooperable with each other to perform a function in said Well bore, a uid motor engageable with one of said parts to move the same, and a fluid pump communicable with said motor and operable by manipulation of said running-in string.

ROSCOE O. CHILDERS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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