US2394759A - Method of recovering elements from well bores - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 12, 1946. 2,394,759

METHOD OF REC OVERING ELEMENTS FROM WELL BORES I c. R. EDWARDS Filed May 13, 1940 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 5 0 a 0 75 3 5 5 7 20 w mw wa wwwwwwwwwww w w %W/ 7////W/ 7 7// A A a 5a O Patented Feb. 12, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT, orr cs y METHOD OF RECOVERING ELEMENTS FROM WELL BORES Charles R. Edwards, Houston, Tex. Application May 18, 1940, Serial No. 334,947

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in methods of recovering elements from well bores.

An important object of the invention is to provide an'improved method for recovering and removing pipe, tubing, or the like, from a well bore which contemplates a plurality of steps which are performed in accordance with the particular conditions existing inthe well bore from which the pipe is being removed; the method being adapt- The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and

wherein:

Figure l is a schematic view, showing a string of tubing lodged within a. well bore,

Figure 2 is a schematic view, showing a circulation breaker establishing communication between the tubing and exterior thereof,

Figure Bis a view, partly in'section and partly able to change in the sequence of its steps so as in elevation, of a circulation breaker constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing the device in its operating position,

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-8 of Figure 3,

Figure '7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line |1 of Figure 4,

Figure 8 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing how a tool may be run down through the device,

Figure '9 is a view. partly in section and partly in elevation, showing how a tool may be pulled up through the device, and

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view, showing the fluid agitating means of the housing.

Stage-circulation breakers"'B are provided as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 for use in reestablishing circulation by short stages from' the top of the sticking material on down to the bottom of the I stuck string of drill pipe or tubing. At times when there are circulation breakers in the string of pipe or tubing, and evenwhen circulation has been reestablished, it will be found that the stuck string cannot be released because the circulation may have channeled around through a crevice or up one side.

Circulation breaker B As pointed out hereinbefore, some type .of circulating breaker would be desirable to be placed in a string of drill stem, or of other tubing, whenthe same is run into, a well bore, and, in the event such pipe became stuck within the well bore,'it may be possible to free said pipe by operating said circulating breakers. In Figures 3 to 10, inclusive, there has been shown one type of a circulating breaker. The housing 400 is preferably of the same inside and outside diameters as the inside and outside of the tubing and therefore does not produce a reduction or an enlargement within the string. The upper end 40l of the housing 400 is internally screw-threaded, and receives an adapter 402 which has an axial bore 403 therein. This adapter 402, at its upper end, is connected to a section of the drill stem or tubing. The lower portion of said bore is enlarged I and forms a shoulder .404. The lower end of the housing 400 is reduced and externally screwthreaded, forming a pin 405 onto which a tool joint box (not shown) or the collar of any ordinary tubing (not shown) may be connected. The housing 400 is provided with an axial bore 406 which is reduced at its lower end and forms an I annular slot or shoulder 401. Thishousing is provided with fluid passageways, and the valves for said passageways are controllable to be opened and closed by the operator from without the well bore. Preferably, the operator will desire to open and close one of said valves before opening another of said valves in a circulation breaker at some lower level in the well bore so as to establish circulation by short stages.

Slidable within the bore 406, of the housing 400, is a-valve control used to position a valve, which control includes an elongated sectional sleeve 408. The upper section 409, of the sleeve 400, is screw-threadedly attached to the upper end of the lower section 4 I 0. The extreme upper end of the section 409 slides within the enlarged portion of the adapter 402, and may abut the annular shoulder 404. A: plurality of slots 4 and normally have their outer surfaces closed by the adapter 402.. It is pointed out that said slots are cut at an upwardly extending angle so that fluid passing through said slots must travel in an upward direction. Below the slots 4| I; the outer circumference of the sleeve is provided with a spiral groove 412, said spiral portion of the sleeve 409 is enlarged and slides within the bore 408 of the housing 400. Thesection 4|0 is connected at a point opposite the spiral groove, or in close proximitythereto.

The housing 400 is provided with-a plurality of openings or fluid passageways 4|3 which establish communication between the. interior and m the use of this tool, ther may be placed at any suitable intervals within the string of pipe or tubing, circulating breakers. 'For example, the depth of the well may be 5,000 feet, and

one of-such circulating breakers could be placed at .five-hundred-foot intervals so that there would be five to eight of such circulating breakers in the string of pipe. If while drilling the pipe becomes stuck, the operator usually in such instances does not desire to disconnect the pipe ifhe can reestablish circulation around the same,

thereby freeing it, .An example of the method to exterior of said housing. Slidable within the sleeve 4 i4 which has its upper end enlarged and slidably engaging both the section H0 and the housing 400. The central portion of the sleeve 4|4 is provided with slots 4|5, and said sleeve atthis portion is reduced. Riding within the sleeve M4, and screw-threadedly attached to the housing 400, is a stop pin 4|8, which will obviously limit the vertical movement of the sleeve 4| 4 because the inner end of said pin rides within the slot 5. Below the slots 5, the sleeve1|4 is provided with a plurality or a pair of annular grooves 4". The section 4|0, of the sleeve 408, has its outer circumference reduced, forming an annular seat or shoulder 4| 8.

A retaining ring 8 normally abuts the shoulder 8 and the lower end of the sleeve 4. A similar retaining ring 420 normally rests upon the shoulder 401, of the housing 400,-and on the annular seat above the lower end 42| of the section 4|0. Confined between said retaining rings is a coiled, compressed spring 422. The upper enlarged portion 423 is provided with a plurality of packing rings 424 which normally lie on either side of the openings 3, thereby packing ofi so that fluid cannot enter or escape through the openings 3. Confined between the lower end of the section 409 and the enlarged portion 423 is a coil spring 425. In'the inner surface of the housing 400, and opposite the coil spring 425, there is provided a plurality of enlarged screw operate the circulating breaker is' to open and close the valve or valves in one-or more of these breakers so as to reestablish circulation. There has been shown in the drawings a tool C which is commonly referred to as a fgo-devil." As. the go-devil strikes the first circulating breaker and comes to rest upon the balls 428, its weight'is just enough to move the parts, to the positions v ing'400. The purpose of the spiral groove 4 2 and threads 428 is to set up a turbulence in the fluid stream that may be forced to flow outthrough the openings 8, and thereby create an extra down thrust on the sleeve 408. This down thrust greater turbulent efiect, and will act to force said threads 428. The section 4|0 of the sleeve 408, I

tions shown in Figure 3 when it is inserted in the well, and remains in these positions during normal operations of the well. However, a tool, such as a core barrel, or the like, (not shown) may be run into the well and will strike the balls 428. The core barrel, or the like, by its own weight or by normal pump pressure, will force. the sleeve 408 downwardly, and the balls 428 will drop into the lower circular groove, 4", thereby allowing the core barrel or other tool to pass through said' circulation breaker. When said core barrel, or other tool, is "withdrawn, it strikes the balls 428, moving the sleeve 408 upwardly and allowing the balls to snap into the upper groove M1, and the tool, may then pass up through said circulation breaker.

In the event cuttings or other materials lodge around the pipe, and the pipe becomes stuck in the well, it is desirable to break circulation so as to reestablish circulation and to wash around the outer circumference of the pipe so as to wash the earth or binding material away from the pipe.

sleeve downwardly. Further, in the event particles of mud, or the like, enter the slots 4| they will be carried down and around the spiral grooves and threads. The spring 425 will move the enlarged portion 428 of the sleeve 4|4 downwardly as the pressure upon the spiral grooves H2 is increased. It. is pointed out that the balls will then enter the lower circular groove 4 I. All this will move the ring 4 I9 downwardly and compress the'spring 422. The tool will now be in the position shown in Figure 8.

The ports 4|! have been opened and thereby fiuid may pass from the bore of the tubing through the slots 4 and through the annular groove 2 and threads 428, out through the ports 8 and up the outside of the pipe or tubing.

Thus the operator has established circulation around this upper portion of the stuck pipe, and he may now desire to move to the next circulating breaker to establish communication at t "at point. In order to do this, it is necessary to-- increase the pump pressure and volume which will act ,upon the sleeve 408, thereby moving said sleeve established down to the second breaker, and this is repeated until the entire string of tubing hasbeen freed. After the go-devil or a tool, has passed through the tool, the springs 422 and 425 expand and return the parts to the positions shown in Figure 3 and the valve closes the passageways 4|3. In some instances, it may be found desirable to operate the valve in the breaker by other means, and any suitable means may be used. At times it is desirable to retract said go-devil or to run into the well or to remove from the well a core barrel or other device. As the go-devil, or other device, is pulled upwardly,

the same will strike the balls 428, and, by an up-- 6 will hold the sleeve war: movement, the p 4 and allow the sleeve 18 to move upwardly, thereby allowing the balls flll to drop into the upper groove ll'l and allow said go-devil to be retracted (Figure 9). Thus there is provided a circulating breaker which does not restrict the bore of the tubing and which can be easily and efllciently operated.

This application is a continuation in part, as to common subject matter of my application, Ser. No. 301,762, filed August 24, 1928, now issued into Patent No. 2,214,550 of September 10, 1940.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a process of deep well operations involving the removal of pipe and the like in a well 'bore, the steps of inserting at suitable intervals,

circulation breaker Joints in a pipe string, lowering and operating said pipe string in the well until said pipe becomes lodged or stuckso fast in the well bore that it cannot be readily withdrawn in its entirety, then selectively opening a passageway in the wall of one of said circulation breaker joints, then circulating fluid out through said open passageway to remove any detritus from above said passageway that might tend to stick and lodge said pipe string above said passageway, then closing the said open passageway so as'fto prevent the circulationof fluid therethrough, then selectively opening a passageway in the wall of another one of said circulation breaker Joints placed at a lower point in said string of pipe, then circulating fluid out through said lower open passageway to remove the detritus from around said string of pipe that was holding said string of pipe against withdrawal.

2. The method of freeing a pipe lodged in a well bore because of sand or other detritus being located about said pipe-in such a manner as to stick said pipe, that includes the steps of selectively opening one of a series of valved passage- Ways insaid pipe, circulating fluid therethrough to remove any detritus that may be lodged above said open passageway, of closing said passageway, of selectively openingv a lower passageway in said pipe, of circulating fluid therethrough to remove the detritus that may be lodged about said pipe and freeing said pipe so as to permit its withdrawal from the well bore.

3. The method of establishing circulation by stages up around a stuck string of pipe and the like in a well bore that includes the steps of circulating fluid down inside the stuck pipe for only a part of its length and up and around the outside of said part that was circulated down on the inside and then of circulating fluid to a-point farther down inside the stuck pipe and up and around said stuck pipe from such point farther down in the pipe, to free said pipe so as to permit its withdrawal from the well bore.

CHARLES R. EDWARDS.

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