US2836250A - Hold-down devices for well packers - Google Patents

Description

May 27, 1958 c. c. BROWN HOLD-DOWN DEVICES FOR WELL PACKERS Filed Dec. 24, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

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' ATTORNEYJ C/cero CT Brow/7 May 27, 1958 c, 3, BROWN 2,836,250

HOLD-DOWN DEVICES FOR WELL PACKERS Filed Dec. 24, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 23 22 5 39 4 4 K 32 i jL 33 m /a & U

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J5 (me/"0 C. Brown INVENTOR.

BY WW Mull.

May 27, 1958 c. c. BROWN HOLD-DOWN DEVICES FOR WELL PACKERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 24, 1952 C/ce/"o CBrown INVENTOR. My

A TTOR/VEKS Z EKM 2,836,250 Horn-power Devices non WELL PACKERS Cicero C. Brown, Houston, Tex. Application December 24, 1952, Serial No. 327,736 3 Claims. Cl. 166-434) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in hold-down devices for well packers.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved fluid actuated hold-down device for a well packer wherein the hold-down device is adapted to be actuated by a fluid pressure to apply a force to the packer to maintain same in a set position in a well pipe or casing. An important object of this invention is to provide a fluid actuated hold-down device for maintaining a well packer in its set position in a well pipe or casing in which said device has an actuating member with pistons thereon whereby upon an application of fluid pressure to said pistons said actuating member is forced longitudinally to apply a force to the packer to maintain same in said set position.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved hold-down device for a well packer adapted to be set in engagement with a well pipe or casing by a lowering of the support tubing therefor relative to the packer, wherein said hold-down device provides a slidable connection between said support tubing and said packer, said slidable connection having a means for transmitting the force of a fluid pressure to said packer to prevent the unsetting thereof even when sudden surges of well pressure f extreme well pressures act in a direction tending to unset the packer.

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

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof,

. wherein an example of the invention is shown, and

wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the holddown device of this invention connected to a well packer, with the parts in the position for lowering of the holddown device and the packer to the predetermined point in a well casing.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but illus rates the relationship of the parts when the hold-down device has been actuated by fluid pressure to apply a setting force to the well packer.

Figs. 3A, 3B, and 3C are views, partly in section and partly in elevation, which illustrate substantially the complete hold-down device of this invention, with Fig. 3A illustrating the upper portion, Fig. 3B illustrating the intermediate portion, and Fig. 3C illustrating the lower portion.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3A.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3C.

in the drawings, the letter A designates generally the hold-down device of this invention which has connection with a well packer P which is adapted to be set in a well pipe or casing C. The

hold-down device A 'and the acker P are lowered ino the well casin C on a su a Patented May 27, 1958 ice port tubing 10, with the hold-down device A providing a slidable connection between the tubing 10 and the well packer P. -The .well packer P may be of any known construction, such as a hook wall packer, and would include a packing element 11 for sealingly engaging the well casing and slips 12 for gripping the casing. The well packer P is shown schematically in the drawings since it may be of any conventional type. The holddown device A includes a housing 214 and an inner mandrel 15 with the upper end of the housing 14 being connected tothe tubing 10 and the lower end ofthe mandrel 15 being connected to the packer P. The mandrel 15 telescopes within the housing 14 and is movable longitudinally relative thereto and, as will be explained, a fluid pressure may be applied to the mandrel to move same downwardly with respect to the housing 14 to apply a force to the packer to maintain the packer P in its set position in the well casing C.

The details of the hold-down device A can be seen in Figs. 3A-5 of the drawings. At the upper end of the housing 14 and below the connection of the housing 14 to the support tubing It), a plurality of radial or lateral slots or openings 18 are provided for receiving a piston gripping member 19 in each of the slots 18. Each of the piston gripping members 19 has gripping teeth 19a formed on its arcuate outer surface for contact with the well casing C. Each piston gripping member 19 is radially slidable in its slot 18 and is normally confined with the gripping teeth in a retracted position substantially flush with the exterior of the housing 14 by means of a coil spring 20 disposed in a notch 21. A retainer plate 22 is disposedin front of each of the coil springs 20, with one plate 22 serving to hold the springs 29 for two of the piston gripping members 19 which are disposed in the same vertical plane. These retaining plates 22 may be connected to the housing 14- by screws 23 or any suitable means. The pistons 19 are moved outwardly against the action of the springs 29 by a fluid force which acts against each rear face 25 of each piston gripping member 19 so as to move the members 19 into gripping contact with the well casing C. Each piston gripping member 19 is circular in construction and has disposed around its circumference a circular sealing ring 26 which provides a seal between the member 19 and the wall of the slots or openings 18 so that the full effect or" the fluid pressure acting on the face 25 will be obtained. It will be observed that the ring 26 in each member 19-1; or a rubber material or a similar elastic material which oflers sufficient resistance to the inward movement of the piston members 19 to prevent their inward movement beyond the bore wall of the housing 14.

The lower end of the housing 14 is open to receive the mandrel 15 which extends through the open end up wardly into the housing 14. A splined connection is provided at the lower end of the housing 14- for connecting the mandrel 15 to the housing 14 so that they may move longitudinally relative to each other but may not move rotatively relative to each other. The splined connection includes keys or splines 28 on the mandrel 15 which interfit with keys or splines 29 on the housing 14.

The housing 14 has an upperannular recess or fluid chamber 30 in its inner surface. The housing 14 extends radially inwardly to provide an upper end 31 for the recess 30 and a lower end 32 therefor. The inner wall of the fluid chamber 30 is formed by the mandrel 15. Sealing rings 33 are provided above and below the recess 39 between the mandrel 15 and the housing '14 whereby the fluid chamber, 39 is sealed off. The mandrel 15 has a piston or radial projection 35 which extends intothe fluid chamber 38 and is annular as is the chamber 38, but is of a shorter length than the chamber 343 so that it can 7 can be suficiently great j only the-weight'ot the tubing were relied upon to mainf- I 7 if 75 move therein. Seal rings 36 are provided on the exterior of the piston 35 for sealinggengagement with the inner surface of the housing 14. .\An opening 38 is provided in mandrel 15' for establishing communication between the bore of the mandrel 15 and the chamber 30 above the piston 35. An opening 39 'i's provided in the housing 14 at the lower end of the fluid chamber 30 for establishing communication between the exterior of the housing 14 and the portion of the fluid chamber 30below the piston 35 Thus, the mandrel 15 may be moved relative to the housing 14 by a fluid pressure interior of the mandrel'or exterior of the housing, depending on which of the pressures is the greater. V 7

'Below the recess 36 in the housing 14, there is a similar recess 30' which has an upper wall 31' and a lower Wall 32 which are radial projections extending inwardly from V the housing 14 in the same manner as the projections 31 and 32. 'The mandrel'lS also has a lower piston or radial enlargement 35' which is adapted to move longitudinally in the fluid chamber 30' with an opening 38' being provided; above the piston 35' to supply fluid pres sure above the piston 35 from the bore of the mandrel 15. An opening 39' in the housing 14 is providedat the lower end of the lower fluid chamber 30' communication between the exterior of the housing 14 and the fluid chamber 30. above the chamber 30 andthe intere'ngaging keys or splines 2% and 29 are providedtherebelow.

The lower end of the mandrel 15 has a threaded connection at iil (Fig. 3C) with the usual mandrel 41 which extends through the conventional hook wall packer.

Other types of connections could, ofcourse, be provided if different types ofpackers are employed.

In the operation of the hold-down device of this in vention, the parts are lowered in the position illustrated in Fig. l, with the shoulders 31 and 31 hearing against the upper end of the pistons 35 and 35, respectively, to carry the mandrel 15 and the packer therebelow downwardly as the tubing 10"is lowered into the welltoa predetermined point in the casing C. When the predetermined point'in the casing is reached, the well packer P is set in'the usualmanner, depending upon the type of packer employed, such packer being set either by rotation orstraight downward movement-or any other known means so that the packing element 11 sealingly engages with the inner surface of the well casing and the slips 12 grip the casing to prevent further downward movement ofsuch packer P." After the 'well packer P'has been, set, then thehold-down To actuate the hold-down device of this invention, fluid under pressure is applied through the tubing to the bore'of the mandrel 15 so as to initially force the piston gripping members 19 radially outwardly into gripping Seal rings 33 are provided device of this invention is utilized.

When it is desired to release the hold-down device, the pressure inside thereof may be reduced and thereafter the well packer P may be released in the known manner, for example, by lifting upwardly on the tubing 10. When the well packer has been released from its set position,

or during the release thereof, the support tubing 10 is Y raised to raise the housing 14 until the shoulders or radial projections 32 and 32 contact the lower ends of the piston 35 and 3 5, respectivelypwhereby the mandrel 15 will be pulled upwardly with the housing 14 and will carry therewith the well packer P.

As will be understood, either of the pistons 35 and 35' may be employed separately if desired, or more than these two pistons maybe employed 'under certain to establish engagement with the well casing to provide an anchoring means for the housing 14. Thereafter, the fluid pressure acts against the upper end of the pistons 35' and 3S'-by entering the fluid chambers 30 and 30", respectively, to

circumstances. 7 V r The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape, and materials, as well as I in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made, within the scope of the; appended claims, 1 without ,de parting from the spirit or the; invention.

What is claimed is: i 'l. A hold-down device for maintaining a well packer which has been previously set in position in a well' casing in such set position, comprising a hollow tubular support member longitudinally axially disposed with respect to said well casingia hollow tubular housing suspended downwardly from said support member'; and-'secured thereto in fluid-tight'relation and extending downwardly in said casing to a point therein spaced from said previously set packer, said tubular housing having an axial bore extending completely therethrough and a tubular mandrel, the bore of said tubular housing being formed with counter-bore portions drel is disposed in fluid tight relation with the walls of the counterbore portions, the bore of saidtubular hous:

when under influence of fluid pressure conducted thereto by said hollow tubular support and-said axially disposed bore are adapted for radially outwardly projection from said housing for engagement with the inner wall of the well casing for steadying and suspending said housing in said casing, said tubular mandrel being provided with a lateral fluid port above said piston and said housing being provided with a lateral fluid port below said piston, whereby application of fluid pressure downwardly through said support member and said hollow mandrel and above said piston will cause the same to move downwardly within said piston chamber thereby causing said mandrel to move downwardly to exert a-holding -force,

upon said previously set packer.

force downwardlyron' the upper ends of the radial pistons 35 and 35' (Fig 2). 'The fluid pressure which is supplied to the hold-down device throughthe'tubing ltl'must be greater than the fluid pressure in the casing so as to overcome any force of the fluid pressure which is acting upwardly on the lower ends of pistons 35 and 35" through the openings 39 and 39'. The movement of the mandrel 15 with respect to the housing 14 serves to apply a downward force to the packer P to maintain 'samel in its set position with the packing element '11 in sealing'engago ment with the casing and the slipsIlZ gripping the casing; The pressure acting downwardly on the pistons 35 and 35' to maintain the well packer P in its set position even would normally be necessary to unset such packerif tain the packer in its set'position;

7 though'thepressure's acting up- Wardly against the' packer ffom'the well are greater than 2. The combination as set forth in claim' fl wherein said hollow tubular housing is provided further interiorly throughout-the portion adjacent its lower terminal 'end with spaced vertically disposed splines and said mandrelis provided further exteriorly throughout'the portion ad-' jacentits terminal end adjacent said housing 'lower terminal'end with spaced vertically disposed splines adapted to move longitudinally within the splines in said housiiig, whereby said housing and mandrel can move onlyflongitudinally with respect to each other. I

i 3 A holdfdown device for maintaining a well packer which has been previously set in position in a'well casing in such set position, comprising a hollow-tubular'f s'upport'member longitudinally axially disposedwith re-, spect to said well ca'sing, a hollow tubular housing sus pended downwardly from saidsupport member andjse-f cured thereto in fluid-tight relation and extending down{ wardly in said casing to a point therein spaced from said previously set packer, said tubular housing having an axial whichieceive said mandrel and being provided with fluid seals whereby saidfmanlower. end to said packer,

bore extending completely therethrough and a tubular mandrel, the bore of said tubular housing being provided further with a plurality of spaced piston chambers within each of which a piston secured to said mandrel is movable, said mandrel being secured at its lower end to said packer and telescoping with said housing, fluid pressure operated gripping means in the upper portion of said housing which when under influence of fluid pressure conducted thereto by said hollow tubular support and said axially disposed bore are adapted for radially outwardly projection from said housing for engagement with the inner wall of the well casing for steadying and supporting said housing in said casing, said tubular mandrel being provided with a lateral fiuid port above each of said pistons and said housing being provided with a lateral 15 set packer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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