High temperature high pressure retrievable packer with barrel slip

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6378606
  • Patent Number
    6,378,606
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, July 11, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, April 30, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
A high temperature, high pressure retrievable packer adapted for service under extreme operating conditions when the packer apparatus is held in the wellbore with a mechanical slip and a barrel slip. The barrel slip has a barrel slip body with a plurality of openings defined in the outer surface of the body. Cylindrical inserts are received in the openings. The cylindrical inserts define upward facing and downward facing gripping edges that will engage casing when the barrel slip body is radially expanded. The inserts are preferably tungsten carbide inserts. A sufficient number of inserts are included along the length and around the circumference of the barrel slip so that the barrel slip can get a good grip in the casing wall. Separate metals may be used for the barrel slip body and the inserts so that a higher yield strength alloy steel may be utilized than is possible with other barrel slip arrangements.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




In the course of treating and preparing subterranean wells for production, a well packer is run into the well on a work string or a production tubing. The purpose of the packer is to support production tubing and other completion equipment, such as a screen adjacent to a producing formation, and to seal the annulus between the outside of the production tubing and the inside of the well casing to block movement of fluids through the annulus past the packer location. The packer is typically provided with anchor slips having opposed camming surfaces which cooperate with complementary opposed wedging surfaces, whereby the anchor slips are radially extendible into gripping engagement against the well casing bore in response to relative axial movement of the wedging surfaces.




The packer also carries annular seal elements which are expandable radially into sealing engagement against the bore of the well casing. Longitudinal movement of the packer components which set the anchor slips and the sealing elements may be produced either hydraulically or mechanically.




After the packer has been set and sealed against the well casing bore, it should maintain sealing engagement upon removal of the hydraulic or mechanical setting force. Moreover, it is essential that the packer remain locked in its set and sealed configuration while withstanding hydraulic pressure applied externally or internally from the formation and or manipulation of the tubing string and service tools without unsetting the packer or interrupting the seal. This is made more difficult in deep wells in which the packer and its components are subjected to high downhole temperatures, for example temperatures up to and exceeding 400° F., and high downhole pressures, for example, 5,000 pounds per square inch (“psi”). The packer should be able to withstand variation of externally applied hydraulic pressures at levels up to as much as 15,000 psi in both directions.




There are packers that are designed to withstand such extreme conditions, but such packers are intended to be set and left in the hole for a long period of time. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,102 to Kilgore et al. is directed to a high temperature high pressure retrievable packer which is designed to be utilized in wells with extreme conditions and to be retrievable after exposure for long periods. The packer disclosed therein is not, however, suited to be set in the hole, unset and reset repetitively in the well. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/083,304 (the '304 application) directed to RETRIEVABLE HIGH PRESSURE HIGH TEMPERATURE PACKER APPARATUS WITH ANTI-EXTRUSION SYSTEM and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, the details of which are incorporated herein by reference, discloses an embodiment of a high pressure high temperature packer apparatus that can be set, unset and reset in the well and will maintain a seal each time it is reset. With conventional mechanical slips, like that shown in the '304 application, load applied in high temperature high pressure packer settings is such that the casing can be damaged. The conventional slip shown therein makes deep penetration marks in the casing, which can negatively impact the casing integrity and the life of the casing. Thus, there is a continuing need for a high temperature, high pressure packer which can be set and reset a number of times and which will lessen casing damage each time the packer is set.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention provides a retrievable packer apparatus that can be alternated between set and unset positions in a wellbore and can maintain sealing engagement with casing disposed in the wellbore each time it is set at temperatures as high as and exceeding 400° F. and pressures as high as 15,000 psi. The packer apparatus includes a barrel slip and a mechanical slip that will engage and hold the packer apparatus in the wellbore while minimizing any damage to the casing from the slip engagement with the casing. The apparatus further includes a novel liner lock to prevent the packer apparatus from prematurely moving from an unset to a set position.




The packer apparatus includes a packer mandrel and has a seal assembly disposed about the packer mandrel. The packer apparatus further includes a barrel slip and a mechanical anchor slip disposed about the mandrel below the seal assembly. Upper and lower barrel slip wedges are disposed about the packer mandrel above and below the barrel slip. The upper and lower barrel slip wedges are capable of applying load transmitted thereto to the center of the barrel slip such that the barrel slip will be expanded radially outwardly so that it will engage casing in the wellbore. The mechanical slip is disposed about the packer mandrel below the barrel slip. The purpose of the lower mechanical slip is to offer initial grip to the casing so that the barrel slip can be engaged to grip the casing to hold the tool when high loads are applied.




The barrel slip includes a barrel slip body having a plurality of openings defined in an outer surface thereof A plurality of inserts are received in the barrel slip body. The openings are oriented such that the inserts define a plurality of upward facing and downward facing gripping edges. Thus, once the barrel slip is expanded radially outwardly, the inserts will engage the casing in the well and the barrel slip will prevent both upward and downward movement in the well. The radial expansion of the barrel slip is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,102 (the '102 patent) to Kilgore et al. issued Aug. 31, 1999, the details of which are incorporated herein by reference. The barrel slip body has a sufficient number of inserts disposed along the length and about the circumference thereof such that the barrel slip will get a good grip in the casing and will spread the slip to casing load over a large area to minimize slip. to casing contact stresses.




Prior to the setting of the barrel slip, downward movement of the mandrel will cause the mechanical slip to engage the casing. Inadvertent or premature setting of the mechanical and barrel slips is prevented by a liner lock which is operably associated with a drag block assembly disposed about the mandrel below the mechanical slip. The liner lock comprises an arm pivotably attached to the drag block sleeve. The arm engages the mandrel when the packer apparatus is in an initial running position. Compression of the drag block sleeve will cause the arm to pivot and disengage from the mandrel so that the packer mandrel can move to cause radial expansion of the mechanical slip, barrel slip and seal assembly to move the packer apparatus into its set position. The packer apparatus can be moved between its set and unset positions as many times as desired prior to removing the packer apparatus from the well. Each time the packer apparatus is moved to its set position, the mechanical and barrel slip will engage the casing to hold the apparatus, and whatever is attached thereto in the well, and the seal assembly will seal against the casing.




The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIGS. 1A and 1B

schematically show the packer apparatus disposed in a well bore in an unset and a set position, respectively.





FIGS. 2A through 2H

show a partial section view of the packer apparatus in an unset position with the slips retracted.





FIGS. 3A through 3F

show partial section views of components of the packer apparatus in the set position with the slips deployed.





FIG. 4

is a perspective view of the barrel slip body of the barrel slip used in connection with packer apparatus.





FIG. 5

is a section view from line


5





5


of FIG.


10


.





FIG. 6

is a section view from line


6





6


of FIG.


10


and includes barrel slip inserts.





FIG. 7

is a representation of the J-slot.





FIG. 8

is a section view from line


8





8


of FIG.


2


F.





FIG. 9

is a partial section view of the drag block assembly taken 90° from the section view of FIG.


2


G.





FIG. 10

is an end view of the barrel slip body of the present invention.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the invention. In the following description, the terms “upper,” “upward,” “lower,” “below,” “downhole” and the like as used herein shall mean in relation to the bottom or furthest extent of the surrounding wellbore even though the wellbore or portions of it may be deviated or horizontal. The terms “inwardly” and “outwardly” are directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric axis of a referenced object. Where components of relatively well-known design are employed, their structure and operation will not be described in detail.




Referring now to the drawings, and more specifically to

FIGS. 1A and 1B

, a ell packer or packer apparatus


10


is schematically shown lowered into a well


15


. Well


15


comprises a wellbore


20


having a casing


25


disposed therein. Packer apparatus


10


is schematically shown in its set position


22


in

FIGS. 1B

,


3


A-


3


F. Packer


10


is shown in its unset, running position


24


in

FIGS. 1A

,


2


A-


2


H and has an upper end


30


and a lower end


32


. Upper end


30


is adapted to be connected to a work string, or tubing string


34


of a type known in the art to be lowered into and moved within the well


15


thereon. Lower end


32


is adapted to be connected to downhole equipment and/or tools


36


utilized in the course of treating and preparing wells for production or to production tubing and/or other production equipment, such as but not limited to production screens, polished nipples and tail screens.




Packer apparatus


10


further comprises a mandrel


48


and packer body


50


disposed about mandrel


48


. Mandrel


48


has an upper end


52


and a lower end


54


. Upper end


52


is threadedly connected to adapter


38


and lower end


54


is adapted to be connected to downhole equipment therebelow. Mandrel


48


has an inner mandrel


56


and an outer mandrel


58


. Upper end


52


of mandrel


48


comprises the upper end of inner mandrel


56


and lower end


54


comprises lower end of inner mandrel


56


. Inner mandrel


56


has an inner surface


60


defining a longitudinal flow passage


62


for the communication of fluids therethrough, and has an outer surface


61


.




Inner mandrel


56


includes an upper portion


64


, central portion


66


and a lower portion


68


. Outer surface


61


of inner mandrel


56


on central portion


66


defines outer diameters


63


and


65


having a ramp


67


therebetween. Diameter


65


has a magnitude greater than diameter


63


and is thus displaced radially outwardly therefrom. Upper portion


64


is connected at a lower end


70


thereof to a coupling


72


having an upper end


71


and a lower end


73


. Coupling


72


is connected at threaded connection


74


to an upper end


76


of central portion


66


of inner mandrel


56


. A longitudinal flow passage


77


is defined through coupling


72


. Coupling


72


has first and second outer diameters


78


and


79


defining a shoulder


81


therebetween.




A ported housing


80


is disposed about central portion


66


of mandrel


56


and is connected to coupling


72


at threaded connection


75


. A longitudinal flow passage


82


is defined by and between ported housing


80


and outer surface


61


of inner mandrel


56


. Longitudinal flow passage


82


is communicated with longitudinal passage


77


. Ported housing


80


has an upper end


84


and a lower end


86


. Ported housing


80


has a plurality of ports


88


disposed therethrough about the circumference thereof communicated with longitudinal flow passage


82


. Ported housing


80


has an outer surface


90


and is sealingly received in a bypass sleeve


200


which is a part of packer body


50


.




Central portion


66


of inner mandrel


56


is threadedly connected at a lower end


91


thereof to an upper end


92


of lower portion


68


. Lower portion


68


has an outer surface


94


defining at least one, and preferably two radially outwardly extending lugs


96


. Lugs


96


are separated by 180° around the circumference of lower portion


68


of inner mandrel


56


.




Outer mandrel


58


comprises an upper portion


98


and a lower portion


100


which may also be referred to as a ratchet mandrel


100


. Upper portion


98


has an upper end


102


, a lower end


104


, an outer surface


106


and an inner surface


108


. Outer mandrel


58


is threadedly connected to packer body


50


at threaded connection


103


. A plurality of radial ports


110


are defined through upper portion


98


. Upper portion


98


is threadedly connected to an upper end


112


of ratchet mandrel


100


at the lower end


104


thereof. Ratchet mandrel


100


has a lower end


114


, an outer surface


116


and an inner surface


117


. A plurality of slots


118


are spaced around the circumference of ratchet mandrel


100


. Preferably, ratchet mandrel


100


has four slots


118


defined therethrough. A plurality of ratchet teeth, or ridges


120


are defined on ratchet mandrel


100


between slots


118


. A ratchet load spring


122


is disposed about ratchet mandrel


100


at the lower end thereof.




An annular passageway


130


is defined by and between mandrel


48


and packer body


50


between the lower end


86


of ported housing


80


and the upper end


102


of upper portion


98


of outer mandrel


58


. An annular passageway


132


is defined by outer surface


61


of inner mandrel


56


and by inner surfaces


108


and


117


of upper portion


98


and ratchet mandrel


100


, respectively. Passageways


77


,


82


,


130


and


132


comprise. an annular passageway


136


.




Packer body


50


includes a cap


150


having an upper end


152


and a lower end


154


. Upper end


152


defines an upward facing shoulder


153


. Cap


150


has an inner surface


156


and is disposed about upper portion


64


of inner mandrel


56


. Cap


150


is sealingly disposed about mandrel


48


and thus has a groove


158


with an O-ring seal


160


and back-up seals


162


disposed therein to sealingly engage mandrel


48


. There are a number of locations along the length of packer apparatus


10


wherein seals have been disposed in grooves defined in the inner or outer surface of mating parts. Rather than specifically identify each seal, seals will be designated by the letter “S” and it will be understood that such seals may include O-ring seals, back-up seals and other any type of seal known in the art utilized to create a seal between mating parts. Designation by the letter “S” does not indicate that all seals are identical, but simply that seals of a type known in the art may be utilized.




Packer body


50


further comprises a packer body sub


163


having an upper end


164


and a lower end


166


. Packer body sub


163


is threadedly connected at its upper end to cap


150


. Packer body sub


163


has an outer surface


168


and an inner surface


170


. A floating piston


172


is sealingly disposed in the annular space between packer sub


163


and coupling


72


. Floating piston


172


is positioned between lower end


154


of cap


150


and upward facing shoulder


81


defined by coupling


72


. Floating piston


172


has an upper end


174


and a lower end


176


.




Packer body sub


163


is threadedly connected at its lower end


166


to a coupling shoe


180


. Coupling shoe


180


has an upper end


184


, a lower end


186


, an outer surface


188


and an inner surface


190


. Inner surface


190


defines an upper threaded diameter


191


which threadedly connects coupling shoe


180


to packer body sub


163


, a first inner diameter


192


, a second inner diameter


194


spaced radially inwardly from diameter


192


, a third inner diameter


196


spaced radially inwardly from diameter


194


and a lower threaded diameter


198


.




A bypass sleeve


200


having an upper end


202


and lower end


204


is disposed between packer body sub


163


and ported housing


80


. An inner surface of bypass sleeve


200


sealingly engages ported housing


80


. Outer mandrel


58


is threadedly connected at its upper end


102


to third inner diameter


196


. Bypass sleeve


200


extends longitudinally such that the lower end thereof is positioned below lower end


166


of packer sub


163


and sealingly engages first inner diameter


192


of coupling shoe


180


. An annular passageway


205


having a lower end


206


and an upper end


208


defined by lower end


176


of floating piston


172


is defined between packer body sub


163


and at a radially inner boundary by ported housing


80


and coupling


72


. A plurality of radial ports


210


are defined in packer body sub


163


and communicate well


15


with annular passageway


205


. Annular passageway


205


is in turn communicated with annular passageway


136


through ports


188


in ported housing


80


.




An upper slide wedge


214


is disposed about upper portion


98


of outer mandrel


58


. Upper slide wedge


214


has an inner surface


216


defining an inner diameter


218


, and is closely and sealingly received about outer packer mandrel


58


. Upper slide wedge


214


has a lower end


220


and a first outer, or seal engagement surface


222


defining a first outer diameter


224


that is located radially outwardly from outer surface


106


of upper portion


98


of outer mandrel


58


.




A ramp or ramp surface


226


is provided on upper slide wedge


214


between inner surface


216


and first outer diameter


224


. Upper slide wedge


214


has a second outer diameter


228


located above and displaced radially outwardly from first outer diameter


224


, a third outer diameter


230


located above and displaced radially outwardly from second outer diameter


228


and a fourth outer diameter


232


located above and displaced radially outwardly from third outer diameter


230


. A first downward facing shoulder


234


is defined between first and second outer diameters


222


and


228


, respectively. A second downward facing shoulder


236


is defined by and extends between second and third outer diameters


228


and


230


, respectively. Finally, a third downward facing shoulder


238


is defined by and extends between third and fourth outer diameters


230


and


232


, respectively. Upper slide wedge


214


has a fifth outer diameter


240


located above and recessed radially inwardly from fourth outer diameter


232


and defines an upward facing shoulder


242


. A shoe return spring


243


is disposed about upper slide wedge


214


, preferably about fifth outer diameter


240


.




A gauge ring


244


is disposed about and is threadedly connected at threaded connection


246


to coupling shoe


180


. Gauge ring


244


has an upper end


248


and a lower end


250


. Lower end


250


along with lower end


186


of coupling shoe


180


form an upper end


252


of an annular space


254


in which shoe return spring


243


is housed. The lower end


256


of annular space


254


is defined by a pusher shoe retainer


258


. Pusher shoe retainer


258


has an upper end


260


that defines lower end


256


of annular space


254


. A spring cover


262


defines the radial outer boundary of annular space


254


. Cover


262


is attached to pusher shoe retainer


258


with a screw or other fastener and extends upwardly beyond upper end


252


of annular space


254


. The gauge ring


244


can move or slide relative to cover


262


. Pusher shoe retainer


258


is connected to a pusher shoe


264


at threaded connection


266


.




Pusher shoe


264


has head portion


268


defined at a lower end


270


thereof. Pusher shoe


264


has an inner surface


272


defining a first inner diameter


274


, a second inner diameter


276


and a third inner diameter


278


. Fourth outer diameter


232


of upper slide wedge


214


is slidably and sealingly received in third inner diameter


278


. Shoe return spring


243


is in compression so that head portion


268


of pusher shoe


264


maintains engagement with a seal assembly


280


which is disposed about outer mandrel


58


below pusher shoe


264


, when packer


10


is in its set or unset position.




Seal assembly


280


may comprise a sealing element


282


having an inner or first axial surface


284


and an outer or second axial surface


286


. Sealing element


282


is preferably formed from an elastomeric material such as, but not limited to those available under the trade-names, NBR, FKM, VITON® or the like. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that depending on the temperatures and pressures to be experienced, other materials may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Sealing element


282


has a first or upper end


288


and a second or lower end


290


. First end


288


defines a first or upper radial surface


292


and second end


290


defines a second or lower radial surface


294


. Seal assembly


280


further includes anti-extrusion jackets


296


which may comprise a first or upper anti-extrusion jacket or element


298


and a second or lower anti-extrusion jacket or element


300


. Seal assembly


280


may further include bridge elements


302


and


304


at the upper and lower ends of sealing element


282


. The details of bridge elements


302


and


304


along with the details of sealing element


282


and anti-extrusion jackets


298


and


300


are set forth in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/083,384.




A lower slide wedge


306


is disposed about outer mandrel


58


below seal assembly


280


, and has an upper end


308


, a lower end


310


and an inner surface


312


defining an inner diameter


314


. Lower slide wedge


306


is closely received about and sealingly engages outer packer mandrel


58


. Upper end


308


of slide wedge


306


is positioned below lower end


290


of seal element assembly


282


when packer apparatus


10


is in its unset position


24


.




Lower slide wedge


306


has an outer surface defining angular seal engaging surface


315


which may be referred to as a ramp or ramp surface


315


. Ramp surface


315


extends downward from upper end


308


of slide wedge


306


and radially outwardly from inner surface


312


thereof, and thus radially outwardly from outer packer mandrel


58


. Ramp surface


315


may have a first ramp portion


316


and a second ramp portion


318


extending downwardly from first ramp portion


316


. Ramp


315


terminates at an upward facing shoulder


320


.




The outer surface of lower slide wedge


306


defines a first outer diameter


322


. Shoulder


320


extends between ramp surface


315


and first outer diameter


322


. First outer diameter


322


extends downwardly from shoulder


320


and terminates at an upward facing shoulder


326


which is defined by and extends between first outer diameter


322


and a second outer diameter


328


. Second outer diameter


328


extends downwardly from shoulder


326


and terminates at an upward facing shoulder


330


which is defined by and extends between second outer diameter


328


and a third outer diameter


332


. Third outer diameter


332


extends downwardly and terminates at a downward facing shoulder


334


defined by and extending between third outer diameter


332


and a fourth outer diameter


335


. Fourth outer diameter


335


is recessed radially inwardly from third outer diameter


332


.




A lower pusher shoe


336


is disposed about lower slide wedge


306


and has an upper end


337


and a lower end


338


. A head portion


339


, like head portion


268


of upper pusher shoe, is defined at upper end


337


. Head portion


339


engages the lower end of seal assembly


280


. Lower pusher shoe


336


is threadedly connected to a lower pusher shoe retainer


340


having an upper end


342


and a lower end


344


. A lower shoe return spring


346


is disposed about lower slide wedge


306


in an annular space


348


. Annular space


348


has an upper end


350


defined by lower end


344


of lower pusher shoe retainer


340


, and has a lower end


352


defined by a spacer


354


having upper end


356


and lower end


358


. A spring cover


359


is connected to lower pusher shoe retainer


340


with a screw or other fastener known in the art and extends downwardly therefrom such that it is disposed about spacer


352


and covers annular space


348


.




An upper barrel slip wedge


360


has upper end


362


and lower end


363


, and is threadedly connected at upper end


362


to lower slide wedge


306


. A lower gauge ring


364


is disposed about upper barrel slip wedge


360


and is threadedly connected thereto. Lower gauge ring


364


has an upper end


366


which, along with upper end


362


of upper barrel slip wedge


360


engages lower end


358


of spacer


354


. Upper barrel slip wedge


360


comprises a part of a barrel or assembly


368


which includes upper barrel slip wedge


360


, a barrel slip


370


and a lower barrel slip wedge


372


.




Upper barrel slip wedge


360


has an inner surface


374


closely received about ratchet mandrel


100


. Upper barrel slip wedge


360


is initially connected to ratchet mandrel


100


with a shear pin


376


. Upper barrel slip wedge


360


has plurality of radial ports


378


defined therethrough communicated with radial ports


110


, which are in turn communicated with annular passageway


136


. Thus, a flow path is created such to allow for pressure equalization around seal assembly


280


through radial ports


210


, into annular passageway


205


, through ports


88


and then into annular passageway


136


to radial ports


110


and radial ports


378


. Upper barrel slip wedge


360


has a plurality of upper wedge cones


380


defined on the exterior thereof.




Referring now to

FIGS. 4-7

and


10


, barrel slip


370


comprises a barrel slip body


392


having an exterior or outer surface


394


and an interior or inner surface


396


. The barrel slip body


392


is substantially cylindrical when the barrel slip


370


is in the unset position


24


. Interior


396


comprises a series of frustoconical surface cones, or slip cones


398


and


400


, respectively. Upper slip cones


398


are positioned adjacent to and generally complementary to upper wedge cones


380


on upper barrel slip wedge


360


, while the lower slip cones


400


are positioned adjacent to and generally complementary with the lower wedge cones


390


on lower barrel slip wedge


372


. Spacing of the cones, the progressive loading of the slip along with further details of the interior of the barrel slip and the upper and lower barrel slip wedges is set forth in the '102 patent.




Barrel slip body


392


has an upper end


402


, a lower end


404


and a longitudinal central axis


406


. Barrel slip body


392


has a plurality of longitudinal slots


408


extending from the lower end thereof and terminating near the upper end thereof and has a plurality of longitudinal slots


410


extending from the upper end thereof and terminating at a point near the lower end of the barrel slip body. Longitudinal slots


408


and


410


define a plurality of barrel slip anchors


412


mounted for radial movement. Barrel slip body


392


has a plurality of openings


414


defined in the outer surface thereof. Openings


414


have a plurality of inserts


416


, which are preferably tungsten carbide inserts


416


received therein.




Preferably, barrel slip body


392


has an upper portion


440


, a central portion


442


and a lower portion


444


wherein upwardly angled inserts


429


defining downward facing gripping edges


426


are received in upper portion


440


and downwardly angled inserts


433


defining upward facing gripping edge


424


are received in lower portion


444


. Central portion


442


is the portion between upper and lower portions


440


and


444


, respectively, wherein no openings are defined. Although shown in the preferred embodiment as the geometric center, the center portion does not have to be the geometric center and it is simply that portion between upper and lower portions


440


and


444


, respectively, having no openings or inserts.




The orientation of the inserts


416


and the number of inserts placed in the barrel slip body


392


is such that the body may be expanded to grippingly engage and hold the packer


10


in place and at the same time limiting damage to the casing


25


. By utilizing a separate barrel slip body and barrel slip inserts, different materials may be utilized for the barrel slip body and the inserts. When a barrel slip having carburized tips is utilized for high temperature, high pressure applications, a carburized grade of steel, such as


1018


or


8620


heat-treated alloy steel is typically used for the barrel slip. Heat-treated alloy steel of that type typically has an 80,000 psi yield strength and may have a tendency to creep. Such yield strength alloy steels may, after being set in such extreme conditions temper slightly so that the barrel slip keeps its expanded shape, and may drag against the casing as it is pulled upwardly or lowered in the well. Thus, for packers that will be repetitively set and unset in wellbores having temperatures up to and exceeding 400° F. and the extreme pressures set forth herein, it is preferable to use steel with a higher yield strength. With the present application a heat treated alloy steel having a 125,000 psi minimum yield strength can be used since separate carbide inserts are used to grip the casing as opposed to carburized teeth or gripping edges defined on the barrel slip body itself. One benefit in using a higher yield strength alloy is that it is less likely to temper and take a different shape as it is set and the inserts are urged into the casing.




The orientation of the carbide inserts is such that penetration of the inserts into the casing is minimal. The angle of inserts


416


can be any desired angle to provide sufficient gripping engagement, and in the embodiment shown, angles


437


and


439


are preferably approximately 15°±½°. The inserts


416


are held in place in openings


414


by brazing. The outermost portion of each insert


416


preferably extends outwardly from the outer surface


394


of barrel slip body


392


by about 0.040±0.005 in. By providing a large number of inserts over the length and circumference of the barrel slip body, the slip to casing load can be spread over a large area. Thus, when the barrel slip engages the casing, the inserts, or buttons will only minimally penetrate the casing and will still hold the apparatus in place. The casing penetration will be slightly visible, but will be measurably and noticeably less than the penetration that occurs when typical mechanical slips are used to carry the weight of a tool and to hold a tool in place in a well. The mechanical slip in the present invention is used primarily to provide an initial grip to the casing so that the barrel slip can be set, and the load in the well is carried primarily by the barrel




A plurality of T-bars, and preferably four T-bars


446


are disposed about ratchet mandrel


100


and are received in slots


118


defined therein. T-bars


446


have an upper end


447


and a lower end


448


. T-bars


446


have a pair of openings defined in an upper surface thereof so that a fastener may be received therein.




A plurality of ratchets


450


, and preferably four ratchets


450


are disposed about ratchet mandrel


100


. Ratchets


450


have a plurality of ratchet teeth


451


defined thereon for engaging ratchet teeth


120


on ratchet mandrel


100


. Ratchets


450


have an upper end


452


and a lower end


453


. Ratchets


450


are connected to T-bars


446


with fasteners


454


. The arrangement of the ratchets is better shown in FIG.


8


. As shown therein, lower barrel slip wedge


372


has a plurality of openings


456


, and preferably four openings


456


defined therethrough. Ratchets


450


are received in openings


456


. Openings


456


are separated by bands


458


having grooves


460


defined therein. Grooves


460


are aligned with grooves


464


, which are defined in the upper surface


466


of ratchets


450


. A ratchet spring


468


is disposed in grooves


460


and


464


. A ratchet spring cover


470


is disposed about lower barrel slip wedge


372


and covers ratchets


450


. When packer


10


is in its unset position


24


, T-bars


446


engage outer diameter


65


and prevent ratchet teeth


451


on ratchets


450


from engaging teeth


120


on ratchet mandrel


100


.




A mechanical slip assembly


471


is disposed about inner mandrel


56


below ratchet mandrel


100


. Mechanical slip assembly


471


is a type known in the art and thus includes a mechanical slip wedge


472


engaging a plurality of mechanical slips and preferably three mechanical slips


474


therebelow. Mechanical slips


474


are attached to a split ring collar


476


that is in turn attached to a drag block assembly


478


. Mechanical slip wedge


472


is threadedly connected to lower barrel slip wedge


372


at threaded connection


480


.




Drag block assembly


478


may be of a type known in the art and thus may include a drag block sleeve


482


having a drag block


484


connected thereto with drag springs


486


disposed therein. Drag block sleeve


482


has at least one and preferably a plurality of J-slots


488


defined therein to receive lugs


96


defined on mandrel


56


. Although drag block assembly


478


is in most aspects identical to prior art drag block assemblies, it may include a novel liner lock


490


as shown in FIG.


9


. Liner lock


490


has a liner lock arm


492


and a liner lock spring


494


. Liner lock spring


494


is attached to drag block sleeve


482


with a fastener of the type known in the art. Liner lock arm


492


has a head portion


496


defined thereon and a foot portion


498


. Liner lock arm


492


is pivotally attached to drag block sleeve


482


with a pin


493


or other mechanism known in the art. When packer


10


is in unset position


24


, liner lock spring


494


will engage the liner lock arm


492


such that head portion


496


is held in place in a groove


500


defined in inner mandrel


56


. Head portion


496


will not be removed from groove


500


until a proper amount of compression is applied to drag blocks


484


such that they will engage foot portion


498


causing liner lock arm


492


to pivot and head portion


496


to be removed from groove


500


, thus allowing relative movement between mandrel


48


and drag block sleeve


482


.




Packer


10


is shown in

FIGS. 2A through 2H

in its initial running position and thus is in unset position


24


. The operation of packer


10


is as follows. Packer


10


may be connected at its upper end to tubing


34


and lowered into a well, such as well


15


. Any desired type of equipment known in the art may be attached to the lower end of mandrel


48


so that a desired operation may be performed. As is well-known in the art, packer


10


may be lowered through different sizes of casings such that the drag block assembly


478


can be bumped by the upper end of different diameters of casing as it is being lowered into the hole. Liner lock


490


. will prevent premature movement of the mandrel relative to the drag block and thus is a means for preventing apparatus


10


from prematurely moving from its unset position


24


to its set position


22


. Drag block assembly


478


will be designed with a preselected outer diameter so that it will be engaged and compressed by casing also having a predetermined or preselected diameter such as casing


25


. Once drag block


484


engages casing


25


it will compress such that foot portion


498


of liner lock arm


492


is engaged by the drag block sleeve


482


and head portion


496


is removed from groove


500


to allow for movement of the mandrel


4




8


relative to the drag block


484


. Inner mandrel


56


will not, however, move downwardly relative to drag block


484


because of the J-slot and lug arrangement.




Once packer apparatus


10


has reached a desired location in the well


15


, the packer apparatus


10


can be moved from its unset position


24


to set position


22


. In order to do so, upward pull is applied to tubing


34


, and tubing


34


is rotated so lugs


96


will be rotated and can travel downwardly in the long leg of J-slots


488


. Inner mandrel


56


will move downwardly and will slide in packer body


50


until downward facing shoulder


44


engages upper end


152


of cap


150


. When inner mandrel


56


moves downwardly, T-bars


446


will be urged radially inwardly by ratchet spring


468


so that they engage outer diameter


63


. Ratchets


450


will likewise be urged radially inwardly so that ratchet teeth


451


engage ratchet teeth


120


. When ratchet teeth


451


and


120


, respectively, are engaged, ratchet mandrel


100


can move downward relative to ratchet


450


, but is prevented from upward movement relative thereto.




Continued downward load will cause mechanical slip wedge


472


to urge mechanical slips


474


outwardly to engage casing


25


. After mechanical slips


474


engage casing


25


, shear pins


376


and


388


will break. Lower barrel slip wedge


372


will not move downwardly since it is held in place by mechanical slip assembly


470


. Continued downward. motion will thus urge upper barrel slip wedge


360


downwardly which will urge barrel slip


370


downwardly. The barrel slip body


392


will be expanded radially outwardly by the relative movement between wedge cones


380


and


390


on barrel slip wedges


360


and


372


and upper and lower slip cones


398


and


400


on barrel slip body


392


. Radial expansion will cause inserts


416


to engage and grip casing


25


. The continued downward load will also cause seal assembly


280


to become compressed between upper and lower slide wedges


214


and


306


, respectively, and to be expanded radially outwardly to engage and seal against casing


25


. Once packer apparatus


10


is in its set position


22


, production or other operations may be performed. The engagement of ratchet


450


with ratchet mandrel


100


will prevent packer


10


from premature unsetting, and capture the setting force/energy.




If it is desired to move packer apparatus


10


and reset it in the well at a different location, an upward pull is applied. Inner mandrel


56


will move and can be rotated to place lugs


96


in the short leg of the J-slots


488


. When an upward pull is applied to inner mandrel


56


, T-bars


446


will be engaged by outer diameter


65


on inner mandrel


56


and will thus urge T-bars


446


and ratchets


450


to disengage ratchet teeth


451


and


120


, respectively. Upward pull will also allow mechanical slips


474


to retract radially inwardly and will allow barrel slip body


392


to retract radially inwardly such that engagement from the casing


25


is released.




Likewise, seal assembly


280


will retract radially inwardly so that there is clearance between seal assembly


280


and casing


25


. The packer


10


is again in unset position


24


. Although the packer apparatus


10


may not be identically positioned as it is in its original, running, unset position, the packer may be said to be in unset position


24


when the seal assembly, and the mechanical and barrel slips are positioned such that the packer


10


may be moved in the well


15


without damaging the packer


10


. Once in unset position


24


, packer apparatus


10


can be pulled upwardly or moved downwardly in well


15


and can be reset simply by slight upward pull and rotation so that lug


96


is again placed in the long leg of J-slot


488


. Inner mandrel


56


may be moved downwardly so that downward facing shoulder


44


again engages cap


150


to apply load to the mechanical slip


474


, barrel slip


370


and seal assembly


280


so that each will engage the casing


25


. Packer apparatus


10


can be set and unset in this manner as many times as is desired. Thus, the present invention provides a resettable packer that can be utilized in high temperature, high pressure. environments. The present invention also provides an apparatus which utilizes a mechanical slip in combination with a barrel slip and utilizes a novel barrel slip combination which comprises a barrel slip body and barrel slip inserts or buttons.




Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, the foregoing description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications as well as alternative applications will be suggested to persons skilled in the art by the foregoing specification and illustrations. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications, applications or embodiments as followed in the true scope of this invention.



Claims
  • 1. A barrel slip for engaging a casing in a subterranean well, the barrel slip comprising:a barrel slip body having first and second ends, said barrel slip body having a plurality of openings defined in an outer surface thereof between said first and second ends and said barrel slip body is substantially cylindrical; a plurality of inserts received in said openings, wherein said inserts extend radially outwardly from an outermost point of said outer surface of said barrel slip body; and at least one wedge associated with said barrel slip, said wedge being engageable with said barrel slip to urge said barrel slip radially outwardly in response to a load applied thereto so that said inserts will engage the casing.
  • 2. The barrel slip of claim 1, wherein said inserts are comprised of tungsten carbide.
  • 3. The barrel slip of claim 1, said barrel slip body having a longitudinal axis, said openings being oriented such that a central axis of each said insert is angled from a radial axis of said barrel slip body.
  • 4. The barrel slip of claim 3, wherein said angle is an acute angle.
  • 5. The barrel slip of claim 1, said openings having a generally circular cross section, wherein said inserts comprise cylindrical discs.
  • 6. The barrel slip of claim 1, wherein said inserts are angularly dispositioned to define either an upward or a downward facing gripping edge.
  • 7. The barrel slip of claim 6, said barrel slip body having an upper portion, a center portion and a lower portion, wherein said inserts in one of said upper and lower portions define said upward facing gripping edges and wherein said inserts in the other of said upper and lower portions define said downward facing gripping edges.
  • 8. The barrel slip of claim 7, wherein said inserts defining said downward facing gripping edges are disposed in said upper portion of said barrel slip body.
  • 9. A barrel slip for engaging a casing in a subterranean well, the barrel slip comprising:a barrel slip body having first and second ends wherein said barrel slip body has a plurality of openings defined in an outer surface thereof between said first and second ends, and wherein said barrel slip body has an upper portion, a center portion and a lower portion; a plurality of inserts received in said openings wherein said inserts extend radially outwardly from an outermost point of said outer surface of said barrel slip body, wherein said inserts are angularly dispositioned to define either an upward or a downward facing gripping edge, wherein said inserts in one of said upper and lower portions define said upward facing gripping edges, and wherein the inserts in the other of said upper and lower portions define said downward facing gripping edges; and at least one wedge associated with said barrel slip wherein said wedge is engageable with said barrel slip to urge said barrel slip radially outwardly in response to a load applied thereto so that said inserts will engage the casing.
  • 10. The barrel slip of claim 9, wherein said inserts defining said downward facing gripping edges are disposed in said upper portion of said barrel slip body.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Number Name Date Kind
5131468 Lane et al. Jul 1992 A
5603511 Keyser, Jr. et al. Feb 1997 A
5701954 Kilgore et al. Dec 1997 A
5944102 Kilgore et al. Aug 1999 A
5984007 Yuan et al. Nov 1999 A