Otis Engineering Corporation

Shell Western E&p Inc.

John R Setterberg, Jr

Pat M White

Robert D Harrison, Jr

Henry Louis Restarick

Charles W Pleasants

Ronald J Fischer

Dhirajlal C Patel

Frank Giusti, Jr

A packing assembly which is connectable to reeled tubing and which can be inserted in and pushed through a wellbore tube by the reeled tubing. The packing assembly is hydraulically set in a locking and sealing position in the wellbore by fluid introduced from the reeled tubing and, after use, is hydraulically released and removed from the wellbore. An actuating apparatus is provided for hydraulically actuating the packing assembly and can be converted in a manner to pull the packing assembly from the wellbore. Prior to the removal of the packing assembly from the wellbore, the wellbore fluid pressure is equalized across the packing assembly.

Packing assembly for use with reeled tubing and method of operating and

A compact, retrievable packer has a unitary mandrel body which is intersected by one or more longitudinal bores. The effective running length of the packer is reduced by an improved arrangement of packer components which serve multiple functions. The hydraulic actuator includes a cylinder housing which also serves as an internal slip housing, a lower element retainer, a piston extension, and a part of the release apparatus. A release sleeve serves as a part of the release apparatus, as a mandrel for engaging a locking slip, and forms a fixed boundary of the hydraulic pressure chamber. The effective running length of the packer is further reduced by making the upper wedge for reacting the setting forces as an integral part of the packer mandrel body.

Compact, retrievable packer

A well packer for sealing an annular space within a well bore around a tubing string including a tubular mandrel, an expandable seal assembly on the mandrel for sealing around the mandrel with a well bore wall, a slip assembly on the mandrel for releasably locking the packer with the well bore wall, a drag spring and slip carrier assembly around the slip assembly, and an interlock assembly for selectively coupling the drag spring and slip carrier assembly with the mandrel for operating the packer through running, set, and release modes. The interlock assembly includes running segments movable a limited distance on the mandrel to prevent jamming of the packer parts in response to mandrel rotation in a non-setting direction. The interlock assembly also includes locking segments having structure to fully seat the segments on the mandrel under load and to minimize packer element compression loss during setting. The packer has an emergency release feature for releasing the packer in the event that well obstructions or other problems prevent normal rotation of the tubing string and mandrel to operate the interlock assembly.

Well packer

A latching seal unit for use on a tubing string in a well bore for connecting the tubing string into a well packer having a receiving head provided with one or more latching lugs, the seal unit including a top sub connectable on a tubing string, a tubular locator body connected with the top sub, a latching collet cage having straight-slots mounted on the locator body formed of circumferentially spaced collet fingers defining longitudinal slots and guide surfaces providing entrances into the slots and a latching recess along each of the longitudinal slots, the longitudinal slots being sized to form an interference fit with the latching lugs in the well packer, and the latching recesses being sized to receive the latching lugs, a tubular seal body connected with the locator body, annular seal elements assemblies on the seal body for sealing with a packer bore, and a mule-shoe guide on the seal body below the seal element assemblies. The collet cage may be free to rotate or locked against rotation on the seal unit body. The coaction between the collet cage and packer lugs provides a surface detectable indication of proper landing of the unit in a packer. The seal unit is useable with prior art packers and has the advantages of both collet and straight-slot type prior art seal units.

Latching seal unit

A dual string well packer which is anchored at a downhole location within the bore of a well casing string by relative longitudinal movement between the primary tubing string and the secondary tubing string. The well packer is set by applying tension via the secondary string. The well packer is released from its downhole location by applying tension via the primary string. The invention is particularly adapted for use in well completions that are subject to thermocycling such as steam injection wells. However, the anchoring and releasing mechanism of the present invention can be readily adapted for use with any dual string well packer. The present invention includes an improved method for well completion, minimizing tubing handling requirements during the installation and removal of the production tubing strings and associated dual string well packer.

Dual string tension-set, tension-release well packer

A well tubing extension joint including a trash barrier. A top sub having an internal locking recess is connected on the upper end of a well packer mandrel. A trash barrier is connected on the lower end of an upper tubing string for releaseably engaging the top sub to permit the upper tubing string to move longitudinally relative to the packer and packer top sub. The trash barrier includes a body having locking collet fingers for releaseably locking the body in the top sub at the locking recess. The body has external rings seals for sealing with the top sub and an internal wiper seal for sealing with the upper tubing string extending through the body. The upper tubing string has a seal moveable along the packer bore and includes a tubing joint coupling which is releaseably connectible in the trash barrier body permitting the trash barrier to be run into the well and landed and locked in the top sub, and thereafter the tubing string is released from the body for longitudinal movement in sealed relationship through the wiper seal. In two forms of the invention the upper tubing string is connected to the trash barrier assembly body only by shear pins. In the other form of the invention, the coupling is connected by shear pins and a threaded connection.

Trash barrier tool for wells

Disclosed is apparatus and method for a system useful in establishing a metal to metal seal between conduit joints in wells. A milling tool having means controlling down force on and positioning the cutter is used to cut and/or finish a seat on a shoulder in a well conduit, which will mate and seal with metal seal surfaces on seal units lowered on conduits into the well. One seal unit has elastomeric seals in addition to the metal seals.

Well conduit joint sealing system

A system and apparatus useful in establishing a metal to metal seal between members in wells. A milling tool is used to cut and/or finish a seat on a shoulder in pipe or tools in the well, which will mate and seal with metal seal surfaces on seal units lowered into the well. One seal unit has elastomeric seals in addition to the metal seals.

A latch for releasably anchoring well tools at a preselected downhole location within a well bore. The latch includes collet heads which are sized to be received within an annular recess. The downhole location is defined by the annular recess and a no-go shoulder which limits the movement of the latch into the well bore. The latch is activated by application of force in one direction after contact with the no-go shoulder. A first set of pins is sheared during activation of the latch to prevent retraction of the collet heads from the recess. A second set of pins is sheared by applying force in the opposite direction to allow release of the collet heads from the recess.

Releasable latch for downhole well tools

A submersible pump system for petroleum production in which the pump is suspended from an H-member with production passing up one leg of the H-member and gas passing up the other leg of the H-member. Valve means provide for alternately directing the liquid in a recirculating path through the H-member to the pump while closing in gas flow and closing the cross-member in the H-member and providing for gas and liquid flow through the separate legs of the H-member. The system is coordinated with a subsurface safety valve in the tubing above the H-member and the valve means and subsurface safety valve are controlled by the same pressure line.

Submersible pump

A packer utilizing a C-slip in which, during release of the packer, the upper expander pulls the C-slip off of the lower expander. If a packer is stuck in the well, the upper expander is keyed to the slip to prevent rotation of the upper expander during milling.

Anchor for use in a well

A tubular member, to be a segment of the casing string, is provided with a polished bore at its upper end and a locking profile at its lower end. The locking profile includes a bearing shoulder and internal left hand threads for coaction with a latching mechanism. Another tubular member, to be a segment of the production tubing, has groups of circumferentially separated flutes to (1) maintain concentricity of the tubing segment, (2) provide axial flow passages between the segments, and (3) provide support for components of the tubing segment. A tubular packing mandrel, mounted on flutes, carries external annular packing for sealing engagement with the polished bore. The lower end of the packing mandrel defines an annular valve seat; and a tubular valve closure member, mounted in sliding, sealing relation on the tubing segment, has a coacting upward facing valve seat. A valve spring urges closure of the valve closure member. Lower flutes define a bearing shoulder for coaction with the casing shoulder to support the tubing string. A latching mechanism includes circumferentially separated axially extending spring fingers carrying external threads for coacting ratcheting and threaded engagement with the profile threads. When the tubing string is lowered to the support position provided by the bearing shoulders, the tubing segment is locked within the casing segment.

Apparatus and method for controlling injection fluid flow in a well

A device for guiding the lower end of a pipe string, or the like, past an upwardly facing shoulder in a well in which rotation of the pipe string is prohibited. When the guiding device lodges on such shoulder, the pipe string is lifted and lowered a few times, this reciprocating action actuating an indexing mechanism in the guide tool and causing the lower end of the guide tool to rotate so that a slanted guide surface thereon is brought around to the point of lodging to dislodge the guide tool from the shoulder and guide the pipe string therepast.

Self-aligning well tool guide

A well sealing system for blocking fluid flow through an annulus partially defined by a tubing string disposed within a casing string. A metal seal ring is compressed and radially expanded to form a primary metal to metal seal between the exterior of the tubing string and the interior of the casing string. A production well packer and packing rings are carried by the tubing string to form secondary elastomeric to metal seals between the tubing string and casing string. Backup rings are provided to control the extrusion of the metal seal ring while it is compressed and radially expanded. A protective cylinder is also provided to prevent damage to the packing rings and the metal seal ring while the tubing string is lowered through the bore of the casing string. The protective cylinder assists in setting the production packer while the metal seal ring is being compressed.

Growing community of inventors

Dallas, TX, United States of America

John R Setterberg, Jr