US2168735A - Method of cementing wells - Google Patents

Description

Aug. s, 1939 F. M. GlLsTRAP METHOD 0F'` CEMENTING WELLS 2 Sheet-Sheet l Griginal Filed Sept. 18, 1931 wem Aug; 8, 1939 F. `M. GILSTRAP 2,168,735

METHOD OF CEMENTING WELLS original Fi1ed sept) 18, 1931 2 sheets-sheet 2 12mm/5m, Earl/f f. 'l/sfmp.

d. ZIJ. Buymania,

16 Intermediate cementing sleeve for oil well casing. ing two of our improved cementingsleeves. 1.5

y 20 and in many instances the non oil bearing strata Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on theline 20 contain water which, if not taken care of oriii-S of Fig. 5. f counteracted, materially interferes with the pro- Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line duction of oil from the oil bearing strata. l-l of Fig. 5.

It .is the purpose of our invention to provide a Fig. 8 iS a. vertical Section taken thIQllgh the 35 through. v part to open or close the cement outlet ports. 35

A further object of our invention'is, toA provide Fig. 12 is a horizontal 580191011 taken 011 line a cementing sleeve that includes a valve struc- 1 I 2-l2 of Fig. 11. ture that `may be opened. by either a vertical Fig.'13 is a horizontal section taken on the line movement of the casing in which the sleeve is 'i3-I3 v0f Fig- 11- 40 located or. by a rotary movement of said casing Referring by numerals to the accompanying 40 or a part thereof. drawings and particularly tothe construction 50 eter throughout'its length and the Well hole ddes apparatus is in use.

Patented Aug. a1939 f 2,158,735,

UNITED STATES v PATENT OFFICE I l 2,168,735 y I MErnon oF oEMEN'rrNG'wELLs Frank M. Glstrap, Barranca Bermeja, Colombia,

and Fre-d W. Baurmann, Buena Park, Calif., as-

signors, by mesne assignments, to Erd V. Crowell,. Huntington Park, Calif.

Continuation of application Serial No. 563,568, September 18, 1931. This application August 27, 1935, Serial No. 38,038

23 claims. (ci. 16e-2.1)

Our invention relates generally to the art of will hereinafter be more fully described and cementing oil well holesland more particularly claimed and illustrated in the accompanying to an intermediate cementing sleeve for oil well drawings in which: casing and the principal object of our invention Fig. l is a vertical section taken lengthwise.

is, to provide a relatively simple, practical and through a well hole with astring of casing therein 5 inexpensive sleeve including a valve structure and and showing a cernenting sleeve of our improved which may be utilized in a string of oil well casconstruction located in said casing with the valve ing ffor accomplishing a cementing job atv any structure of said sleeve closed.

desired intermediate point or points in the well Fig. .2 is a vertical section similar to Fg. 1 and hole and which cementing job may be accomshowing the valve structure of the sleeve open l0 plished with an expenditure of comparatively litto permit the discharge of cement from the castle time., laborand consequent expense. The ing into the well hole. l present application is a continuation of our ap- Figs. 3 and 4 are verticalsections of well holes plication, Ser. No. 563,568,` filed Sept. 18, 1931, on with-casings therein and with each casing includ- In oil producing eldsor territoryit frequently Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken lengthwise occurs that there are two or more strata of oil through the center of the type of sleeve that is l bearing formation, with hundreds or thousands telescopic in action while being shifted into open of feet of non oil bearing formation between them or closed position.

25 sleeve, one or more of which may be arranged center of the form of sleeve wherein one part 25l in the string of casing that is positioned ,in the rotates `for a limited distance in order to open or well hole and which' sleeve or sleeves may be close'the ports in said sleeve.

vmanipulated as the casing is run into the well Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line hole so as to open ports to permit cement to flow 9-9 of Fig. 8. Y outwardly into the well hole at intermediate Fig. 10 is a horizontal section taken on the line 30 points therein and above or below the oil bearing lll- I0 .of Fig.. 8. l strata vso as to eifectually prevent water from Fig. l1 is 'a vertical seCtiOn taken through the passing into the oil bearing strata and thence into center of a modified form of the type of sleeve the casing with the oil that is pumped therewherein one part rotates in relation to the other The methods heretofore used in carrying out illustrated irl FigS- 1.5. 6 and '7, Which fOlm .0f cementing jobs in oil wells involves much time, device is adapted t0 be Opened and 6105611 by Vel'- labor and 'consequent expense, due to.the fact tical movement of the casing. l0 designates a .that much extra drilling is required to enlarge ACasing Section, the upper end of which is exter`45 .the hole and further, the required use of two or nally threaded in order to receive .a collar Il and more strings of -casing of different diameters. the wall of the casing immediately below this Our improved method and apparatus requiresA collar is provided with openings t2 of suitable size4 only a single string of casing of the same diamwhich permit cement to ow outwardly while the 50 not need to be' enlarged or redrllled for larger Enclosing collar Il and tting downwardly over sized casing. the adjacent portlonof the casing I0, is a. tubular With the foregoing and other objects in view, sleeve I3, 'the upper end of which is internally our invention consists incertain novel features threaded for the reception ofone ofthe casing of construction and arrangement of partsfthat members or'sections Il. i `g55 'inner face of sleeve I3.

A shoulder l5 is formedwitnin the s1eeve la and the upper end of the collar I I, which is adapted to engage against this shoulder when the sleeve I3 is lowered to its li-'mit of movement` with respect to i said collar II, isprovided with a suitable packing A packing ring I1 is seated in a groove in the external face of collar` Il and engages the inner face of sleeve I3.

Encircling the casing member I is a relatively short collar I8 provided on its inner face with packing rings I9 that engage against the outer face of casing member I0 andthe upper portion of this collar I8 is screw-seated at the lower end of sleeve I3.

When the casing sleeve is extended,.the upper end of collar I8 engages directly against the lower end of collar II, as illustrated in Fig'. l, thereby preventing the parts of the casingthat are connected by the sleeve from'pulling apart.

Formed through the wall of sleeve, I3Ya short distance above the upper end of collar I8, is a series of openings 20 that are adapted to register with the openings I2 in casing member II) when the sleeve I3 is moved to its downward limit of movement relative to collar I8 and casing section I0, as illustrated in Fig. 5 and when the parts are .so positioned Acement is free to ilow outwardly through the registering openings I 2l and 2li.

Sleeve I3 is retained against rotary movement relative to casing member I8 in any suitable manner, preferably by means of a pin or key 2l that projects from casing member I0 and which is arranged for sliding movement in a vertically disposed groove or channel 22 that is formed in the Thusthe parts are held against rotary movement during their telescopic movement and the registration of openings I 2and 20 is assured.

In the use of the device just described for performing an intermediate cementing operation just below an oil bearing sand or formation that lies between the surface of the earth and the lower oil bearing sand or formation, a well hole of uniform size is drilled to the top of the lower sand and a string of casing it then run into the hole ,with the cementing sleeve located in said string so thaty when the lower end ofthe string reaches the bottom of the well hole, said sleeve will be positioned l a short distance below the upper oil bearing sand or formation.

Under normal conditions or while there is a' 4suillcient quantity of cement is now pumped downwardly through the casing to the bottom of the well hole to cement oiI the lower sand,' after which the casing is then lowered ya short distance until. its lower end-rests on the bottom of the hole and the, upper portion of the casing is relieved of strains so that the .portion of the casing above the sleeve will move -downward a short distance or until the shoulder I5 within sleeve I3 `rests on top of collar II.

Such operation 'brings the portsl2 and 20 into registration with each other and a suilicient amount of cement isnow pumped downwardly through the casing and this cement will discharge .through the registering openings I 2 and 20, thereby cementing off the upper sand, it being understood that during this intermediate cementing job the sleeve is positioned a short distance below the upper sand.

After this' intermediate cementing job has been accomplished a strain is taken on the casing and such strain is maintained the usual length of time for proper setting of the cement.

Fig. l shows the sleeve and casing in` position whilecement is being pumped to the bottom of the well hole to cement olf the lower sand and in Fig. 2 rthe parts are shown in the positions they occupy while the cement is being pumped through the sleeve to accomplish the intermediate cementing job just below the upper sand.

The form of ysleeve illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 and which is' opened and closed by rotary movement imparted to the upper part of the casing, comprises a sleeve 23 that is connected at its upper end to a casing member and screw-seated in the lower end of this sleeve is a collar 24 that encircles a casing member 25.

Formed through the lower portion of the wall of sleeve 23 is a series of openings 26. l

Positioned within the sleeve 23 above the collar 24 is a collar 21 that is screw-seated on the upper end of the casing member 25 and formed through the wall .of said collar 21 are openings 28 that are-` adapted to register with openings 26 in sleeve 23. Openings 30 are formed in casing member 25 and which openings register with the openings 28. f

Formed in the upper portion of the periphery of the collar 21 are one or more short horizontally disposed slots 3| into which project pins 32 that are seated in' the wall or sleeve 23. These pin and slot connections permit sleeve 23 and collar 21 to rotate relative to each other for a limited distance in `order to bring the openings 26 into and out of registration with the openings 28 and 30.

Arranged between the upper end of collar 21 and a shoulder within sleeve 23 and between the lowerl end of collar 21 and the upper end of co1- lar 21 and the upper end of collar 29 are combined packing and bearing rings 33, preferably of frictionless material. When this form of sleeve is run into the well hole with the casing and before cement is pumped to the bottom of the hole to cement olf the bottom sand, the upper part of the casing is rotated so as to move the openings 26 and 30 out of registrationand after ff the bottomvcementing job' has been completed and it is desired to perform the intermediate cementing job to protect the upper sand, the upper portion of the casing is rotated to bring the openings 26 and 30 into registration as illustrated in Fig. 8 and under such conditions the cement may be pumped out through said openings at the desired point to protect the upper sand.

.In the event that there are two intermediate oil bearing formations or sands between the surface of the earth and the lower sand, two inter- 'mediate cementing jobs may lbe accomplished by arranging in the string of casing one of the sleeves of the telescopic type, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 5, 6 and4 '7, and which sleeve is located 1n thestrlng so as to occupy a position just below the lower one ofthe two intermediate sands or oil bearing formations and a sleeve o1' the rotary type, as illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 is located in thel string so as to occupy a position just below the "upper sand or formation when the casing is positioned in the well hole.

Under such conditions the bottom sand is rst cemented on in the usual manner after which the telescopic sleeve is opened, as hereinbefore and permit cement to be pumped into the well hole just below the `upper oil bearing formation` or sand.

The drawings clearly illustrate the series of operations to which we have just referred. In cementing oi the bottom sand, the volume of cement indicated at 50, after having been forced downwardly through the casing past the normally closed cement valve ports 26 and 20, is discharged' from the lower end of the casing into the well by pressure transmitted to plug 5I by way of fluid column 52- extending tothe top of the casing. The casing*v is ,thenlowered to` bring ports I2 and 2l) into registration and,` as

l is shown in Fig. 3, a second volume of cement,

indicated at 53, is introduced followed by plug 54, and is forced down the casing and out through ports l2and 20 into the well by. pressure applied A to the following -fluid column 52a. The lower portion 52h of th fluid column of course remains trapped within the bottom section of the casing below the ports, and sets up a fluid barrier caus- 1 ing the cement to discharge through the ports.

tween the plug andcasing. The eiect of the port closure by the plug will of course be to impose a resistance to further fluid discharge through the ports.

, After the volume 53 of cement has been dislcharged into the well, the top of the casing is rotated to bring ports 26 and 30v of the upper cementing valve into registration, and a third volume 55 of cement, followed by plug 55. is introduced and forced down and out into the well by pressure applied through the iiuid column introduced above that plug. Dur'i-ng this operation the lower portion 52o (see Fig. 4) of the previous fluid column 52a will remain trapped in the casing between the plug 54 and ports 25 .and 30, setting up, as in the case of lower portion 52h of the fluid column, a fluid barrier causing the cement 55 to discharge through the ports. The discharge of cement through the latter will of course continue until plug 56 is vforced down Within sleeve 23 to a position cor'- responding to the illustrated position of plug 54 within sleeve I3. -It will be noted that throughout each ofthe intermediate cementing operations, the pressure of the. entirev fluid column in the casing is maintained onthe previously'de- 4posited cement' at the bottom ofthe well, the

pressure beingI transmitted from one section of the fluid column Ito the next via the plugs.

We have previously referred to the advantage afforded by the invention of enabling wells to be cemented vat any predetermined points using onlyva single string of casing in a single diameter bore, without having to use two lor more strings of casing of different diameters` in as many bores of corresponding diameters.. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the casing i's the same diameter throughout, and the successive cementing operations occur in the same bore, i.fe., sections tof' the bore The modified form of sleeve illustrated in Fig. l1, 12 and 13 and which is of the rotary type, comprises an upper sleeve member 34 and a lowersleeve member 35, which latter is enclosed by the lower portion of the upper member 34. 'I'hese two members are provided respectively with openings 36 and 31 that are adapted to move intoA and out` of registration with each other as the members 34 and 35 are relatively rotated and the rotary movement of the members relativeto each other is limited by a 'hardened metal ball 33 that Voccupies short horizontally disposed grooves 39 that are formed in the contacting faces of the vsleeve members (see Fig; 13).

To retain the sleeve members in assembled relation and at the same time permit the same to rotate freely, coinciding grooves 46 and 4I are formed in the contacting faces of the sleeve members and occupying these grooves are hardened metalballs 42 that are introduced into the grooves through openings formed in the sleeve member 34 and which openings are normally closed by. plugs 43.

Thus it will be seen that we have provided an intermediate cementing sleeve for oil well holes that is .relatively'simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

The sleeve may be conveniently combined with a string of well vcasing and the use of the sleeve eiiects a saving of much time, labor and consequent expense in accomplishing cementing jobs for the protection of the oil bearing formation on sands through which the well hole is drilled. A

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of our -improved intermediate cementing sleeve for oil well casing may be made and substituted for those herein shown and describedwithout departing from the spirit of our invention, the scope of which is set forth in `the appended claims.

We claim:

l. The method of cementing casing in a well that. includes, lowering into the well a string of casing having-a normally closed cement discharge port intermediate its yupper and lower ends, introducing and pumping a first volume of 'cement and a following fluid column directly into and downwardly 'withinthe casing past said port, dis-, y

charging said: cement from the casing into the .1. well bore at a substantial distance below said `port by the pressure ofthe uid column above it, then opening the port, introducing a--second and separate volume of cementv above the fluid i column, `and pumping said column and second cement volume down through and from the casing through said port at the top of a portion of said Huid column remaining in the casing below downwardly within the casing past said port, dis'.

charging said cement from the casing into the well bore at a substantial distancebelow said port by the pressure of the iiuid column extending above the port, then opening the port, introducing a second and separate volume `of cement above said fluid column and pumping an upper portion of said column and the second cement volume down through the casing and out through said portat the top of a lower portion of the iluid column remaining in the casing below the port, and into the same bore that said first volume of cement is discharged into.

3.`The method of cementing casing in a well that includes, lowering into the well a string of `casing having a normally closed cement discharge port intermediate its upper and lower ends, introducing and pumping a first volume of cement and a following iluid column directly into and downwardly within the casing past said port,

`discharging said cement from the lower end of the casing into the well bore by the pressure of the fluid column above it, then opening the port,

tically spaced discharge ports intermediate its.

upper and lower ends, introducing and pumping a rst volume of cement and a following fluid column downwardly within thecasing past said ports, discharging said cement from the casing into the well at a substantial distance below the lower port by the pressure of the fluid column above it, then opening the lower port, introducing a'second separate volume of cement and a following second iluid column into the casing, pumping said second volume downwardly through the casing and out` through the open lower port at the top, of,the fluid column remaining in the casingbelow said lower port, then closing thelower port and opening the upper port, introdu'cing a third separate volume of cement intoV the casing, pumping said third volume downwardly through the casing and out through said upper port at the top of the uid column remaining in the casing between said ports.

" 5. The method of cementing casing in a well that includes, lowering into the well a string of .casing having a pair of no'rmally closed and vertically spaced discharge ports intermediate its upper and lower ends, introducing and `pumping a `first volume of cement and a following fluid column downwardly within the casing past said ports, discharging said cement from the lower end of the casing into'the'well at a substantial distance below the lower port bythe pressure `of the tluid column above it, then opening the lower port by movement of the casing, introducing a second and separate volume of cement and a following second iluid column into the casing, pumping said second volume downwardly through the casing and out through the open lower port at the top of the iluid column remaining in the casing below said lower port, then closing the lower port and opening the upper port by movement of the casing, introducing a third separate volume of cement into the casing,. pumping said third volume downwardly through the casing and out through said upper port at the top of the iluid column remaining in the casing between said ports.

6. The method of cementing casing in a well that includes, lowering into the well a string of casing having a normally closed cementl discharge port intermediate its upper and lower ends, introducing and pumping a volume of cement, followed by a plug, directly into and downwardly'` within the casing past said port,.discharging said cement from the casing into the well bore at a substantial distance below said port by applying to said plug the pressure of a fluid column above it, opening the port, introducing into and pumping downwardly within the casing a second volume of cement followed by a second plug, discharging said second volume of cement through said port at the top of the iluid column remaining in the casing below the port, and forcing said second plug downward to the depth of said port.

7. The method of cementing casing in a well that includes, lowering into the well a string of casing having a normally closed cement discharge port intermediate its upper and lower ends, introducing and pumping a volume of cement, followed by a plug, directly into and downwardly within the casing past said port, discharging said cement from the casing into the well bore at a substantial distance below said port by applying to said plug the pressure of a fluid column above it, opening the port, introducing into and pumping downwardly within the casing a second volume of cement followed by a second plug, discharging said second volume of cement through said port at the top of the fluid column remaining in the casing below the port, and forcing said second plug downward to the' depth of said p ort, the pressure of the entire field column in the casing then being transmitted through said plugs to the first discharged 'volume of cement. A

8. The method of cementing casing in a well that includes, lowering into the well a string of casing having a lnormally closed cement discharge port intermediate its upper and lower ends,

introducing and pumping a volume of cement, followed by a plug, directly into and downwardly within the casing past saidport, discharging said cement from the casing into the well bore at a substantial distance below said port by applysaid port at the top 'of the fluid column remaining in the casing below the port, 4and forcing said second plug downward to the point at which it covers said port and thereby imposes a resistance to further iluid discharge therethrough.

9. The method of cementing casing in a well that includes, lowering into the well a string of casing having a normally closed cement discharge port intermediate its upper and lower ends, introducil'g into and pumping directly down through the casing a first volume of cement and a following" column of liquid, discharging said cement from the casing into the well bore at a distance below the port, closing the casing below said port and opening said port, introducing a second volume ofcement on top the liquid column, and pumping said second cement volume directly down through the casing and out through said open port at the top of the fluid column remaining in the casing below the port, and into `the same well bore.

, said ports, introducing and pumping directly down through the casing a volume of cement and a followingcolumn of liquid, discharging said cement from the-casing into the well bore through said open port, closing said lower port andopening the upper port, introducing a second volume of cement on top the liquid column,land pumping said second cement volume directly down through the casing and out through said open upper port at the top 'of the uid column remaining in the casing below said port, and int the samev well bore.

l1. The method of cementing casing in a well that includes. lowering into the well a string of casing having a normally closed cement discharge port intermediate its upper and lower ends, introduclng vand pumping a first volume of vcement anda following fluid column directly into and downwardly within the casing past said port, discharging said cement from the casing into the 'well bore ata substantial distance below said port by the pressure of the iluid column above it,

then opening the port, introducing a second and separate volume of cement into the casing, pumping said second volume downwardly through the casing and out through said port at the top `of theiiuid column remaining in the casing below the port, and into the same bore that said first volume of cement is discharged into.

l2. The method of cementing ca'ing in a well that includes, lowering into the we l a string of casing having a normally closed cement discharge porty intermediate its upper and lower ends, introducing Iand'pumping a first volume of cement and a following iiuid column directly into and downwardly within the casing past said port, discharging said cement from the casing into the well bore-at a substantial distance below said port by the pressure of .the iluid column above it, then opening the port, introducing a second and separatevolume of cement into the casing, pumping said second volume downwardly through the casing and out through said/port at the top ofA the iluid column remaining in' the casing below Athe port, and into `the same bore that said first volume of cement is discharged into, while at the same time maintaining the pressure of the entire fluid column in the casing on the rst discharge volume of cement.`

13. The Amethod of cementing casing in a well that includes, lowering into the well a string of casing having a normally -clcsed portion intermediate its upper and lower ends, introducing and pumping a rst volume of cement and a following uid column directly into and downwardly within the casing past said normally closed portion, discharging said cement from the casing into the well bore at a substantial distance below said normally closed portion of the casingby the pressure of the fluid column above it, then openingsaid normally closed portion of the casing,

introducing a second' and separate volume o fcement intothe casing, pumping said second volume downwardlythrough the casing and out through said opened portion at the top of the iiuid column in the casing below said' portion of the casing and into the same bore that said rst volume of cementl is discharged into.

14. The method of cementing casing in a well that includes, lowering into the well astring of casing having a normally closed portion intermediate its upper and: loweends, introducing and pumping a i'lrstvolume of cement and a foln lowing fluid column directly into and downwardly within the casing past said normally closed portion, discharging said cement from the casing into the well bore at a substantial distance below said normally closed portion of the casing by the pressure of the iluid column above it, then opening said normally closed portion of the casing, introducing a second and'separate volume of cement above the iluid column, and pumping said column and second volume down through and from the casing through said opened portion ai. the top of the iiuid column in the casing below said portion ofthe casing and into the same bore that said first volume is discharged into.

15. The method of cementing casing in a well bore, which includes circulating hydraulic fluid through the lcasing, and while retaining the hydraulic fluid in the casing to a level above that of normally closed ports in the side wall of the casing, opening said ports and closing the bore of the casing below said ports, discharging through the open ports the hydraulic fluid-standing in the casing' above said ports, and then ejecting cement `from the casing through the open ports.

16. The'method of cementing casing in a well bore, which includes circulating hydraulic fluid through astring of casing having an openbore which is unrestricted throughout its length, and while retaining the hydraulic iiuld in -the casing to a level above that of normally closed ports inv the sidewall of the casing, opening said ports and closing the bore of the casing below said ports, discharging through the open ports the hydraulic fluid standing in the casing above said ports, and then ejecting cement from the casing through the open ports.

17. The method of cementing casing in a well bore, which includes discharging cement at'the lower end of the casing by a column of hydraulic fluid retained in the casing in back of the cement and ei'itending above a predetermined higher level at which additional cement is to be subsequently ejected, discharging from the casing at saicL higher level'the hydraulic fluid standing in the casing above said level, and then ejecting cement casing by a column of hydraulic iiuid retained in the casing in back of the cement and extending above a predetermined higher level at which additional cement is to be subsequently ejected, discharging from the casing -at said higher level the hydraulic fluid standing in the casing above said level, and then -ejecting cement from the casing at said higher level.

19. The method of cementing casing-in `a well bore, which includes circulating -hydraulic iiuid through the casing and retaining said hydraulic fluid in the casing to' a point above a 'predetermined level at which cement is to be ejected, discharging from the casing at said level the hydraulic fluid standing in the casing above said level, ejecting cement from the casing -at said level by a column of hydraulic uid retained in the casing in back of said cement and extend- `ing above a predetermined higher level at which of normally closed ports in the side wall of the casing, opening said ports and closing the bore of the casing below said ports, and then'establishing hydraulic circulation downwardly through 4 ejected, and then establishing hydraulic circulation downwardly through the casing and outwardly therethrough at said higher level.

22. In a method of cementing lwells, the steps.

of lowering a well casing into a well, introducing a Volume of cement into the casing, effecting the A -cement from the casing into the surrounding well bore, and selectively openingports in the casing above said point of cement ejection while maintaining the disposition of uid therebelow.

23. The method of excluding water from a well comprising the steps of lowering a casing having a pair of normally closed ports into a well bore,a.1d as successivel integral operations at each of said ports, selectively opening a port in the casing, introducing cement into the casing, j

and ejecting the cement from the casing through said onened port.

FRED W. BAURMANN. F. M. GILS'I-'RAR

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