US2603293A - Lynes - Google Patents

Description

July 15, 1952 J. LYNES MEANS FOR SEALING OFF WELL FORMATIONS 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Original Filed Sept. v2O, 1944 2. SHEETS-SHEET 2 O G O C G O G G O O O O G G O INVENTOR.

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/QT'O/VEV J. LYNES MEANS FOR SEALING OFF WELL. FORMATIONS original Filed sept. 2o, 1944 July 15, 1952 'iS-5 JOHN LYNES.

Patented `Iuly 15, 1952 MEANS Fon SEALING oFF WEL FORMATIONS John Lynes, Houston, Tex., assignor to. Lynes,

Inc., a corporation of Texas Continuation of application "Serial No. 554,943, September 20, 1944. This application May 17, 1950, Serial N0. 162,469

2 claims. (C1. 16s-11) 'I'he invention relates Ato means vfor sealing and isolating well formations.

This application is a continuation of my prior copending application Serial Number 554,943, led September 20, 1944, now abandoned, and isf entitled to the benefit of the ling date thereo `In the drilling, completing and producing of wells either by flowing or pumping, it is desirable to exclude the flow from certain formations in order to obtain uncontaminated production from other formations. Great diicultv has been encountered in the cementing and sealing of the well casings and pipe, and in sealing off some formations to the exclusion of others.

n the usual practice ofcementing, the cement is pumped down through the casing and upwardlyarou'nd the outside thereof in the hope that a complete seal will be obtained between the outside of the casing and the face ofthe formation or well bore. Very often the pipe is not centered in the well bore and the cement does not penetrate entirely around the pipe for forming a complete seal. yVery often the cement channels through the drilling fluid in the well. The result is that no proper seal is obtained and contamination of the production from the well results.

The term cementing is used generally in describing the present invention and contemplates any material'which can be introduced in liquid or semi-liquid form and which will solidify after being -deposited in the proper position. The

term cement'is therefore'contemplaterl as inl cluding any suitable materials, be they the usual and' well known cementing materials, plastics, chemical compositions or any combination of materials by which a seal can be formed.

It is one of the obiects of the present invention to provide an apparatus which seals welll formations by creating a seal by the introduction of a liquid material which will be vsuitably confined so as to solidify.

Another object of the invention is to provide an.' inflatable packer or packers which can be set vtoprovide a seal at any desired location in the well where thematerial used vfor inflating the packers will solidify to form a permanent or semipermanent installation.

Another objectV of the invention is to provide a hydraulically inflated packer of a type and constructionwhich will constitute a permanent installation inthe well bore `when inflated with Va material which solidifies.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for cementin'g a wjell by conning the cement within an inflatable sleeve or 'conii'lning member.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for inating hydraulicpackers, with a cementing material by introducing thecement in a retrievable container, and vdischarge;`

ing'the cement by hydraulic pressure into theV packers. l y A v.

Still another object of the invention is to pro vide an apparatus for completing wells by sealing the 'tubing or production pipe in position while eliminating the use of casing.

Still another object ofthe invention is to isolate a productive formation by providingpack ing seals in position above and below the forma-vr tion. Y y l Still another object of the invention is -to cement a casing in position by` packers inflated with cement slurry.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for sealing a casing in a well bore by attaching an inflatable packer tothe lower end of the casing.

Still another object of the inventiony is to pro= duce a well through a tubing and ilow pipe eX tending through a cemented packer. y Y* Other and further objects ofthe inventionrwillbe readily apparent when the following descrip-i tion is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: a;

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a produc-l tive formation which has been Iisolatedz-byth setting of cement inflated packers.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of struction of Fig. 1 where the packers have been set, the inating liquid container retrieved, andthe tubing or ow string arranged in position. y

Fig. 3 shows the well' completed wher-ev the casing has been omitted andthe tubing cementedA in position with the cemented packers; Y v

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View 'showingthegv use of one cemented packer to seal the lower end of the casing.

Fig. 5 shows the construction of Fig. 4 with the inflating liquid container retrieved and the tubing.

be oil, gas, water, sulphur, or any material which is to be removed.:

Such formation is'shown 'in Figs.A l-1. andnZfa-s; being spaced above the lower end of thewell the con- 2 hasnend and attempt to fill the annular space 6*',

therearound to prevent any pressureinthe. pro-V ductive formation from escaping except through..

the casing and to exclude other fluids from above the productive formation. Suchga cementingop eration involves considerable difficulty, expense;

and the present invention contemplates that the, lower end of the string of pipe* 5 willhaveattacliedjf thereto a sealing assembly l0. If a seal is to be obtained, both above and below the productive formation 4, then this assembly l will be-made up of the upper packer -ll and a lower packer I2;A If fthe 4seal is` to .-be. abovei the; formation asa seenuin"Figs; 4: and5; then only onefpacker ll will be used.

Thaassemblyv I0, as seen in Fig. 1embodies a lieadillthreadedf at |5 into the lower` end lof the casing. Thishead hasftheV mandrel or body.. |.1

threaded into it andfth'isV mandreLserves asa support for both thepackersr Il andV I2fwhich are made up by a collar I8 threaded intothe head. I4 and supporting'n the resilient packing sleeve 2l. The lower end of each packer includes another collar 21 and the fitting or nipple 22 threaded thereon. The packing sleevev2tl-may-beA affixed-'in anydesired'manner to the-collar 2| and may-:have a retainer-band 24-y to assist 1in con- T'he fitting 2.2i may have the packing rings 25 therein to provideY flningtheresilientY material.

a-seal with A-the mandrel because when the packing' sleeve! llisiniiatedit lwill contract longitudinally as it increases in diameterfandthe- fitting 2,2/ is. arranged to slide-along 'thef mandrel when such action-occurs.

While -thepacking sleeve'v 201' is shown` as acylinder of resilient material'inthedrawings, iti-isf to be-understoodthatfit will be aslthin asfpcssible-sc that it-will allow afmaximumin'-V ation withcement l' but will have sufficient strengthi'to retain' the applied pressures and may b'e-'lconstructedwith suitable =reenforcingto insure itability to withstand high pressures. Such a packer is disclosed: in my copendingappli'cation,V Serial Number 473928,' filed J anuar-y 29. 1943, for AHigh Pressure Hydraulically VInflatable Packer and Assembly-.for 'I'e'sting-v and .1"reating- Wells, now; abandoned,l and reled: as application SerialNumbei` 65,843-, filed December 17, 1948.

It-isv to beunderstoodithat J-thesepackers. may be set and reset-at'willdependingIon conditions and may beeof anydesiredVV length to provide the desired seal. of formation 4againstwhich the packerris. to be set,-the depth ofthe1well', or the-.pressures Aand type of Vpacker beingfset. Generallysuch .lengthmay be from five to twenty feet.

Thegeneral description of a vpacker given above can be applied to the Vupper packer Il and the lower packer |2-ofl Figs; 1' and2'orthe single packers-'showniny Figs. 4 and .5;

'Iliedowerend-1 ofthe -mandrel or body I1is preferably closed Withla shoe 3l. Arranged in thiamandrel I1 arethe-.ports 36 which are: disposedf-at'adesired elevation withinthe inflatable sleeve 20 so that a fluid materialmaybeforced into the packersto inflate them asY seen in the drawing.-

The .length mayy varyv with; the 1 type f the static pressure in the well bore.

Intermediate to the two packers as seen in Fig. 1 and below the single packer as seen in Figs. 4 and 5, a series of inlet ports 31 have been shown. These ports are arranged to admit fluid from the formation 4 into the tool so that it mayl iiow: upwardly in the well.

Inorder to. inflate the packers H and I2, a container 40 has been devised which is in the form of a cylindrical member adapted to be filled at the surface with the material which is to bef.,forced^into the packers through the ports 38i As previously stated, this material is preferablyfa'liquid or semi-liquid or suitable chemical whichwil'l` solidify in the form of a solid block of material 39 inside of each of the packers.

This* Containern-will preferably have the openings 4l byl which pressure might be applied in order to discharge the filler material from the container. A plurality of openings 42 are arranged in the wall of the container to permit such dischargeandthe container will be soconstructed and arrangedY withanipple 43-.threaded into the lowerend thereof first to closethecontainer'ebody and'second:` to space the openings 42 in alignment or at the elevation of the/,ports vleading into the packers. This nipple :4-3 will cause the container to stop at the desired elevation.

Thefhollowbody ofI the. container forms. a chamber 44 whichcontains thefller or cemen titious material 45. v

Inorder that-the containerv will be suitably sealed against the` inner peripheryof the mandrelY or' body ll1, aeplurality of packings-Gf-have e been disposed in. the surface ofthe container both aboveand'fbelowthe.openings.42. In this manner thefcement will be prevented' from flow ing` along I the 1 container inside of the mandrel. Similarpackings maybe placed above vandvlbelowthel ilow ports 31 In operation, the tool; I0! will be attached to the: lower end of the operating pipe'i which may; be fthe` casingwhichis :tobe set'in -the -well. The" entireassembly will then'be lowered into'thewell exceptthat -the container dll-may not bey in po'-v sition:L It will, be understood that the' well boreY 2l is filled witha liquid' 33` which' may be thedrilling fluid or any uid which has flowed into or pumpedinto the well; The -packersrwill-beideiiated'and the ports-31'will beropen so that as'the` casing is lowered; theV well fluid may owixr through the ports` 31 into the tool and such liquid inside of' the toolv and thecasing is, indicated 'atV 41'. The assemblycan thus be lowered to the elevation where the'packers are to beset.

In some instances, however, where the operating pipe 5' creasing has a tremendous weight. it is desirable -to float it into the well liquid 43 and in such aninstance the casing could be'lowered a suitable distance tov allow the inflow of some ofthewell' fluid and'then when the string of thecasing became heavier and the -floatation effect was achieved as desired, a tool .similar-to theY container 40 could be lowered finto place so as to close or cover-the ports 31 and prevent anyA furtherv inflow 'ofA liquid. Subsequentv lowering of the casing `would develop additional floating efA-L fect.: Itnis desirable-to allowthe-liquid'tofiow, into the casing so as to prevent collapse duetoA When. the casing*V islanded in the desired. positionif the shoe 3| restsV upon the bottom ofthe well, then. thisclosure sleeve couldbe removed so asto allow the pressure to equalize on the 'insider and1 the outside of the. casing:

The container 40 would then be filled with cementitiou's material and lowered or dropped into the casing so that it would move to the position shown in Fig. '1. The application of pressure to the liquid 41 inside of the casing would thus create a predominant pressure inside the casing and the container 40 which would exceed the pressure of the static column of liquid 33 in the well bore. This predominant pressure would cause the liquid to be forced out of the container through the ports 42 and 36 to innate the packers and form a body of material inside of the packers.

It seems clear that any desired pressure could be applied in this manner so that the packers would be definitely inflated and so that the periphery 49 of the packing sleeves 20 would be forced against the surface or face of the well bore with considerable pressure and the face of such formation could actually be deformed or compressed as shown at 50. The inside or interior 48 of the packers would preferably be completely filled with the material except for possibly a small amount of liquid which might have seeped in during the lowering operation.

When the pressure has been applied and the packers inflated, such pressure may be maintained on the casing to keep the packers inflated until the cementitious material solidies or takes a permanent set. An alternative method would be to lower a suitable grappling tool into the well which would engage the spear head 5l on the container 40 and by a slight upward movement, the ports 42 would be moved out of alignment with the ports 3B and the packing ring which was previously just below the ports 35 would be moved thereabove and the next lower packing ring 4B would then be below the ports 36 so that such ports would be sealed ofi' between the two packings and the material in the packers would thus be locked in position so that the discharging pressure need not be maintained on the casing. The container could be held in this posi- 4tion until the material became solid and then it is preferably removed or retrieved by raising the grappling tool and container. The container is thus removed from the well. If desired the spring flap or check valves 4B can be used to lock the cement in the packers. A

In this manner the packers are inated and form a permanent seal with the wall of the well bore. These seals will prevent the uid from above moving downward into the formation 4 or for any pressure in the formation to escape upward around the outside of the casing 5. When the container 40 is removed, if there is a predominant pressure in the formation 4, there will be a voluntary flow into the well. If there is no such flow, of course the liquid 41 inside of the casing can be bailed or pumped out so as to allow an inflow of fluid from the formation.

It is the usual practice to produce the liquid from a formation through a pipe of smaller diameter than the casing and Fig. 2 shows a string of tubing or pipe 53 as having been lowered down through the casing into the mandrel so that the lower end 54 engages the shoe 3l and this pipe is shown as carrying a strainer or perforated section 55 which is disposed at the elevation of the inlet ports 31. This section may have the sealing rings 51 thereon above and below the screen portion 55 so that the inside of the mandrel is sealed and the ow will be directed through the tubing. The well may flow voluntarily or suitabe run andfset ining of the packers is the same except that thecontainer 40 has been lowered and retrieved through the tubing 53. Suitable wellhead f1ttings 59'have been attached to the tubing and the well is now ready to produce by any means whatsoever.

The open bore hole 60 above the packers and sealing assembly may remain full of liquid 6l which may be the drilling fluid or any other fluid introduced into the Well. An arrangement of this sort is a permanent or semi-permanent installation and even if the wall does cave in, no damage will occur. If the well is to be later abandoned, the tubing can be salvaged, leaving the sealing assembly in the well bore.

Figs. 4 and 5 show an arrangement where only a singlepacker 10 is to be positioned and instead of the lower packer assembly being connected to the lower end of the mandrel, the shoe 3| has been connected to the upper portion of the mandrel so that the packer forms a seal directly above the productive formation 4. The container 40 will be somewhat shorter and the nipple 43 will be somewhat longer, so as to properly proportion the parts. An assembly of this sort may be run where the productive formation 4 is closely adjacent the bottom of the well bore or where no salt water or other objectionable material is lpresent in the bottom of the Well.

Fig. 5 shows the tubing and strainer arrangement as having been run into the mandrel after the sealing material has been deposited in the packer.

With the foregoing process, it seems clear that a minimum quantity of the cementing material 45 will be used because only a sufficient quantity to inflate the packers is required. A very small quantity of cement may therefore be employed and the introduction of it into the packers assures that it is positioned in the proper location, and it assures the centering of the pipe, and insures a permanent seal.

Broadly, the invention contemplates an apparatus for sealing well formations which permits a substantial reduction in the amount of sealing material required, permits the production of a well Without any casing, and permits the creation of a permanent seal without anchoring the entire casing in the well bore.

What is claimed is:

1. A cementing structure for well casing comprising a perforate casing section, an inatable packer on the casing above the perforated section to provide a seal with the open well bore wall, and means including a liquid plastics carrying container to be positioned in said casing adjacent said packer, means in said container for admitting pressure fluid into said container to discharge plastic material therefrom under pressure to inflate said packer to seal with the well bore wall, ports in said casing and container alignable to discharge said plastic material into said packer, and sealing means to seal between said container and casing above and below the aligned ports.

2. A cement retainer for pipe in wells, comprising a pipe to be cemented in the well bore, a flexible inflatable packer carried by and dispese@ around said pipe,...a .port-,through -said..pip e. into the packer. a plastics materiaicarrierftabe lledat the surface and inserted into and movable through. the. pipe 1 tothe elevation of said packer, discharge port ill-said carrier, meansin the-'pipe and 0n`said carrier to-algnithe. carrier onsaid-carriertoseal with. the inside of said pipe abovev and be1owsaidportsto retain. the

material.

JOHN LYNES.

8 REFERENCES CITED The@foliwing` references-'are of record n` the le of-thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,177,601. Smith Oct. 24, 1939 2,187,480I Baker Jan.. 16, 1940 2,201,096" Kerman May 14, 1940 Baker V Mar. 141. 1944V

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