US2607425A - Well cementing tool - Google Patents

Description

Aug- 19, 1952 c. c. TAYLOR WELL CEMENTING TOOL Filed Sept IN VEN TOR.

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,5554 ZIE@ larme/VEP Patented Aug. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE WELL CEMENTING- TOOL Claude C. Taylor, Long Beach, Calif., assignor to McGaffey-Taylor Corporation, Long Beach, Calif., a corporation of California vApplication September 26, 1947, Serial No. 776,364

16 Claims.

chamber, for example, to test the casing for leaks.

If a cementing operation is to be performed, the tool is positioned so that the chamber straddles a perforated zone in the casing and cement slurry is pumped down the tubing and out through the perforations; or a liquid to clean the perforations may be used in a similar manner.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved tool of this character.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a tool which does not require slips or the like to anchor the tool in the casing.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a tool having a mandrel of improved construction which does not require any joints in the pressure chamber.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a tool having improved means for bypassing the pressure chamber.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a tool having improved means for washing excess cement from kthe casing and tool after completing a cementing operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a tool wherein the circulation fluid for washing excess cementfrom the casing and tool after completing a cementing operation is prevented optionally from passing into the well below the tool.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent 'from a consideration of one embodiment of theinvention. For this purpose there is shown a form in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the present speciiication. This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an'axial porating the features casing;

section of a, tool, incorkof the invention, in a well Figurel 2 is a similar view, but showing the tool arranged for a different operation; and

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the tool arranged for still-another operation.

Referring to the drawing, the tool is shown as comprising a body or mandrel I, supported for movement in a well casing 2, by means of a tubing string 3 which extends to the mouth of the well. The body I is attached to the lower end of the tubing string 3 by a coupling 4 and. since the body is required to provide a plurality of flow passages, as will Ybe discussed presentltnit may be conveniently of tubular form.

Upper and lower packing means 5 and 6 are provided respectively in axially spaced relation on the body I and cooperate with the casing 2 to form a pressure chamber 'I about the lower portion of the body I.

The lower packing means 6 may comprise one or more conventional packing cups 8, two being shown by way of examplesuitably secured in spaced upwardly facing relation on the mandrel I. The upper packer 5 comprises a similar pair of spaced cups 9, facing downwardly to oppose the cups 8. The upper packer 5. has additionally an upwardly facing cup I0 above the cups 9. Thus, the packer 5 will prevent fluid owiin either direction between the body I and the casing 2.

Means are provided forming a continuously open passage for by-passing well uid upwardly with respect to the tool past the pressure chamber 1. Thus, the body I is open at its lower end, which may be provided with a strainer I2 or the like.

One or more openings I3 are provided in the wall of the body I above the packing means 5, the upper end of the body l being closed by a partition or head I4. y

Obviously, fluid entering the open end of the body I willpass upwardly throughthe openings I3. To permit control of fluid by-passin'g chamber 'I downwardly, an upwardly facing packing cup I5 is provided on the body I above the openings I3 for sealing against the casing 2 to prevent such fluid entering the body through the openings I3. One ormore ports I6 controlled by a valve I1 are provided in the body wall above the packer I5 for optionally establishing communication between the interior of the body I and the casing space above the packer I5, which space extends to the mouth of the well.

Means are provided forming a continuously open passage between the interior of the tubing string 3 and the pressure chamber l. Such means are shown as comprisingy a tube I8 connecting an opening I 9 inthe partition I4 with an opening 20 through the wall of the body I adjacent one end of the chamber 1.

Means are also provided forming a passage for optionally connecting the chamber 1 with the casing space extending to the mouth of the well. This means may comprise a tube 2I connecting an opening 22 through. the wall of the body I adjacent the opposite end of the chamber 1 from opening 20, with an opening 23 through the body wall above the packer I5 and below ports I6.

The valve I1 controls the opening 23 as well as ports I S and comprises a sleeve 25, freely slidable on the body I and maintained in fiuid tight relation therewith by suitable packing 26, and arranged to close either the opening 23 or the ports I6, but not both. Thus, a collar or shoulder 21 is formed on the body I for limiting downward movement of the valve to a position where it closes opening 23 (see Figures 2 and 3). 'Ihe coupling d Aprovides a shoulder for limiting upward movement of the valve I1 to a position where it closes the ports I6 (see Fig. 1).

The sleeve 25 carries a plurality of conventional bow springs 28 which frictionally engage the casing 2 and restrain movement of the sleeve 25 therein. In this way, appropriate movement of the body I in the casing 2 serves to operate the valve I1. l v

The manner of using the tool will now be discussed. The tool is lowered in the casing 2 by means of the tubing string 3, the valve I1 being urged to its upper position by the friction of the springs 28 on the casing and uncovering the opening 23. Well uid freely enters the lower end of the body I, passing upwardly in the body out the openings I3, and thence upwardly past the packer I'5 into the casing space which extends to the mouth of the well.

Well fluid also passes the upwardly directed packercups 8 into the pressure chamber 1 and thence via tube I8 to the interior of the tubing string 3, and via tube 2I and opening 23 to the above mentioned casing space.

The total effective area of .these iiuid flow paths, indicated by the full line arrows in Figure 1, are large, and permit lowering of the tool at a rapid rate, vas well as causing a ushing action by the iiuid which keeps the tool free of foreign matter which may be in the well fluid.

During such lowering operation, the operator may ,quickly test the casing for leaks above the tool by stopping the tool at an appropriate depth, closing the outlets from the casing at the mouth of the well, and applying pressure to the fluid in the tubing 3. This pressure will act through the tube I 8, on the iiuid in the pressure chamber 1 and thence through the tube 2|, on the iiuid confined in the casing space between theV casing 2 and the tubing`3 above the packer I5. 1

. Testing as above is carried out at progressively increasing depths. When the tool has passed ,the point of leakage, there Will be a drop in the pressure which can be maintained in the tubing. By noting the depth of the tool when such drop occurs, thepoint of vleakage can be determined.

In a cementing operation, the tool is lowered to a position in the casing 2 with the pressure chamber 1 below a zone of perforations as 2-a. in Figure 2, provided in the casing 2 for establishing communication with the space in the well bore outside the casing. The valve I1 will be in its upper positiorn as shown in Figure l, due to this lowering movement, with ports I6 covered and opening 23funcoyered.

Circulationis' established, as .by pumping cement slurry down the tubing 3, the pathrof the circulation fluid being down the tubing 3 and tube I8 into the pressure chamber 1, and thence upwardly through tube 2I into the casing space above the packer I5 to the mouth of the well. The circulation fluid traverses the chamber 1 due to the entry and exit openings as 20 and 22 being at opposite ends, thus keepingthe chamber clear.

After circulation has been established and it has been determined by appropriate means that the cement slurry has reached a point just above the tool, the tool is raised to a position such that the pressure chamber 'I straddles the per forations 2-f-a. This upward movement causes the valve I1 to move to its lower position, uncovering the ports I6 and covering the opening 23 (see Figure 2). Cement slurry may now be forced down the tubing string 3 and tube I8 into the pressure chamber 1 and out through the perforations Z-a into the space surrounding the casing 2, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2, since the outletprovided by the tube 2| and opening 23 is now closed. Y

Upon completion of the cementing operation, all cement slurry remaining in the casing 2 and within the tool should be removed before it hardens or sets. This may be done optionally1 in any one of three ways.

Thus, with the -valve I1 still in its lower or cementing position, reverse circulation or back scuttling may be employed. Appropriate liquid, such as mud laden water, is forced downthe casing 2 outside the tubing 3 through the ports I6 into the body I and thence out the lower end of the body I into the casing kspace below the bottom packer 6. The cups 8 of this packer 6, as previously mentioned, yield to pressure from below, hence the circulation fluidflows upwardly past the packer 6 into the pressure chamber 1, through opening 20 and thence upwardly through tube I8 and the tubing string 3. This flow path is indicated by the arrows in Figure 3.

In this case, the circulation uid is prevented from entering thepressure chamber 1 from above past the downwardly facing cups V5l by the upwardly facing packers I0 and I5. If this occurred, the fluid would pass directly out through the opening 20 without cleaning the chamber 1.

Optionally, the tool may be lowered inthe casing 2 until the valve I1 is in its upperposition, the ports I6 being covered and the opening 23 uncovered (as shown in Figure 1), and reverse circulation the short way employed. In this case the circulation fluid is forced down the casing 2 as before, thence via opening 23, tube 2I and opening 22 into the pressure chamber 1, returning viaopening 20, tube I8, and the tubing string 3. In this case the packer I5 prevents the circulation fluid from entering. the body I through the ports I3 and thence passing into the .casingspace below the lower packer 6. Thus, the casing space below the tool is not subjected to the pressure of the circulation. The flow path in this case is indicated by the broken arrows in Figure 1.

With the valve I1 in its upper position, straight circulation, such as estab-lished preceding the cementing operation and described in connection therewith, may be utilized if desired to wash the cement from the interior of the casing 2 and from the tool. In this method also the casing space below the tool ispnot subjected to the pressure of the circulation, 'since' the fluid can not pass vthe lower packer 6.

By locating the openings 2 0 and 22 by which fluid enters and leaves the pressure chamber 1 adjacent the opposite ends of the chamben'iluid iscaused to traverse the chamber 'from vend to end, insuring a complete removal of the cement.

In bringing the tool out of vthe well, the valve i1 'moves to and remains at its lower position, with the ports vIii uncovered. The well fluid above the tool enters the body l freely through these ports i6 and passes outwardly through the lower end of the body i. Due to the large area "of the passages thus provided the well fluid flows through the tool with little resistance, facilitating rapid withdrawal of the tool.

I claim:

l. In a well tool: a body adapted for connection witha tubing string :for positioning in a well casing; upper and lower packing means secured in spaced relationon said body for sealing between the body and the casing, torform a pressure chamber; said body having a passage, said passage being communicable with the interior of the casing below said chamber, an opening in said body for communicating said passage with the casing space above said upper packing means; means mounted on said body above said upper packing means to block flow from the casing through said opening into said passage and to allow now from said passage through said opening into the casing; a port through said body for communicating said passage with the casing space extending to the mouthy of the well; and valve means for optionally controlling said port.

2. In a well tool: ya body adapted for connection with a tubing string for positioning in a well casing; upper and lower packing means secured in spaced relation on said body for sealing between the body and the casing to form a pressure chamber; .said body having a passage, said passage being communicable with the interior of the casing below said lower packing means, said body having an opening for communicating said passage with the interior or" the casing above said upper packing means, said upper packing means preventing fluid flow in either direction between the interior Aof said casing and said pressure chamber; and means preventing fluid ilow downwardly through said passage comprising, an upwardly directed packing element on the body above said opening for sealing against the casing.

3. In a well tool: a body adapted for connection with a tubing string for positioning in a well casing; upper and lower packing means secured in spaced relation on said body for sealing between the body and the casing to form a pressure chamber; said body having a passage, said passage being adapted to communicate with the interior of the casing below said lower packing means, an opening in said body for communicatingr said passage with the interior of the casing above said upper packing means, said upper packing means preventing fluid flow in either direction between the interior of said casing and said pressure chamber; means preventing fluid now from the interior of the casing downwardly through said opening into said passage comprising, an upwardly directed packing element on said body above said opening for sealing against said casing, said body having aport for communicating said passage with the interior of the casing above `said upwardly directed packing element; and valve means for optionally controlling said port.

4. Inca well tool: a body adapted for connectionwithvr a tubing string for positioning in a well casing; upper and lower packing means secured body having means for maintaining"communica-l tion between said chamber:v and Ysaid tubing` string; means forming a passageway in said body for communicating with said chambenfsaid body having an opening above' tsai-d upperv packing means for communicating said passageway with the interior of said casing; -therebeing a port in said body spaced from said opening and vconnected with said by-pas's'; and` valve means on said body, operable in response to movement of said body in the casing for optionally 'closing said opening or said port. z i

Y 5; In a well tool: a tubular body adapted for connection with a tubing string `for positioning in a well casing, said body being Aclosed :at its upper end to prevent communication with the tubing string and open at its lower "end for communication with the interior of the casing; upper and lower vpacking means secured in spaced Yrelation on said body Vfor sealing `between the body andthe casing to form a pressure chamber; passage means in said body 'for maintaining communication between6 said chamber and the interior of the tubing string; means forming a passageway in said body for communicating said chamber with an opening through the wall of the body above said upper packing means; a .port through the wall of the body .axially spaced from said opening for establishing communication between the interior of the 'body and the interior of said casing; and a valve on said body, operable in `response, to movement of said body in the casing, for selectively closing said opening and said port.

6. In a well tool: a body adapted for connection with a tubing string 'for positioning in a well casing; spaced packingV means carried by the body for sealing between 'the body and the casingto form a pressure chamber; passage means in said body for maintaining free communication between said chamberi and the interior of said tubing string; said `body having a passage forming a by-pass for freely by-passing well fluid upwardly past said chamberyandimeans for optionally passing iluid between said chamber and the interior ofthe casing Aabove said lpacking means, or for by-passng well iiuid downwardly past said chamber, including a passage in said body independent of the rst named passage, a port inthe body for communicating' said bypass with. the interior ofthe casing, and a valve movable on the body for selectively opening and closing said last named passage and said port.

7. In a well tool: a body adapted for' connection with a tubing string for positioning in a well casing; spaced packing means carried by *the body for sealing between the body and-the casing to form a pressure chamber; passage means in said body for maintaining free communication between said chamber and the interior of said tubing string; said body having a passage forming a by-pass for freely by-passing'well fluid upwardly past said chamber.; passage means in said body independent of said Vfirst named passage means and said by-pass forpassins'well uuid between said chamber and the interior of the casing above said packing means, said body having a port forv communicating the by-pass with the interior of the' casing for by-passing well fluid downwardly past said chamber; and valve means on theV body operable in response to movement of the body in the casing for optionally controlling said port and said independent passage means for directing uid flow between the interior of the casing above the packing means and said chamber, or through said port and by-Pass past said chamber.

8. In a well tool: a body adapted for connection with a tubing string for positioning in a well casing; spaced packing means carried by the body for sealing between-the body and the casing to form a pressurechamber; said body having a passage forming a by-pass for freely passing well iluid upwardly past said chamber; means in the body forming a passage between the interior of said tubing string and an opening into said chamber; means in the body forming a passage independent of the second named passage and providing communication between the interior of the casing and a second opening into said chamber; said body having a port connected with said by-pass for passing uid downwardly past said chamber; and valve means for optionally closing said port or said third named passage, said openings ybeing located respectively adjacent the opposite ends of said chamber, whereby fluid flow between said second and third named passages traverses said chamber.

9. In a well tool: a `tubular body adapted for connection with a tubing'string for positioning in a well casing, said body being closed at its upper end to prevent communication with the interior of the tubing string and open at its lower end for communication with the interior of said casing; spaced packing means carried by the body for sealing between the body and the casing to form a pressure chamber; means in the body for forming a iiuid flow passage between the interior f said tubing string and said pressure chamber; means in the body forming a fluid flow passage independent of the rst named passage for communicating said chamber with the interior of the casing above said chamber; valve means for optionally closing the last mentioned passage; said body having a by-pass opening above said chamber; means on the body adjacent said by-pass opening for preventing flow from the interior of said casing through said by-pass opening; and means for by-passing well fluid past said chamber in a downward direction, comprising a port opening through the wall of said body into the interior of said body at a point such that it will be opened by said valve means when said valve means is in position to close said second named passage.

10. In a well tool: a tubular body adapted for connection with a tubing string for positioning in a well casing, said body being closed at its upper end to prevent communication with the tubing string and open at its lower end; upper and lower packingmeans secured in spaced relation on said body' for sealing between the body and the casing to form a pressure chamber; the upper of said packing means being adapted to prevent uid flow in either direction between the body and the casing; passage 'means in the body for maintaining free communication between said chamber and said tubing string; there being an opening through the wall of said body above said upper packing means; an upwardly and to allow flow from said directed packing element on said body above said opening to prevent downward iluid flow between the body and the casing to said opening, and means carried by the body for optionally establishing communication between the interior of the casing above said upwardly directed packer and the interior of said body or said pressure chamber.

11. In a well tool: a tubular body adapted for connection with a tubing string for'positioning in a well casing, said body being closed at its upper end to prevent communication with the tubing string and open at its lower end; upper and lower packing means secured in spaced relation on said body for sealing between the body and the casing to form a pressure chamber; the upper of said packing means being adapted to prevent uid flow in either direction between the body and the casing; passage means in the body for maintaining free communication between said chamber and said tubing string; there being an opening through the wall of said body above said upper packing means; means on said body for preventing downward fluid flow from the interior of said casing through said opening; there being a port through the wall of said body above said opening, means forming a passage for communicating said pressure chamber with the interior of the casingabove said opening, and optionally operable valve means for closing either said passage or said port.

12. In a. well tool: a body adapted for connection with a tubing string for positioning in a well casing; upper and lower packing means sez cured in spaced relation on said body for sealing between the body and the casing to form a pressure chamber; said body having a passage, said passage being communicable with the interior of the casing below said chamber, an opening in said body for communicating said passage with ,the casing space above said upper packing means; means mounted on said body above said upper packing means to block flow from the casing through said opening into said passage passage through said opening into the casing; said body having a port for communicating said passage with the interior of the casing, and valve means for opening and closing said port.

13. In a well tool, a tubular body adapted for connection with a tubing string for operation in a well casing, spaced upper and lower packing means for sealing with the casing, said body having a by-pass extending from below the lower packing means to above the upper packing means, means in the body forming a passage for conducting uid between the tubing string and the space Abetween said upper and lower packing means, and also between said space and an opening through the wall of the body outside said space, said body having iiow control means outside said space for preventing the downward ilow of fluid into the zone below the body and allowing upward ow of fluid through said bypass, said body having a port through the wall thereof outside said space, said port and said body being cooperable for conducting uid downwardly past said control means into the interior f the casing below said body, and a valve member movable on the body for selectively opening and closing said passage and said port.

14. In a well tool, a tubular body adapted for connection with a tubing string for operation in a well casing, spaced upper and lower packing means for sealing with the casing, said body 9 having a by-pass extending from below the lower packing means to above the upper packing means, means in the body forming a passage for conducting iiuid between the tubing string and the space between said upper and lower packing means, and also between said space and an opening through the wall of the body outside said space, said body having flow control means outside said space including packing means on said body adapted to seal against the casing for preventing the downward flow of fluid into the zone below the body and allowing upward flow of fluid through said by-pass, said body having a port through the wall thereof outside said space, said port and said body being cooperable for conducting fluid downwardly past said control means into the interior of the casing below said body, and a valve member movable on the body for selectively opening and clos- -ing said passage and said port.

15. In a well tool, a tubular body adapted for connection with a tubing string for operation in a well casing, spaced upper and lower packing means for sealing with the casing, said body having a by-pass extending from below the lower packing means to above the upper packing means, means in the body forming a passage for conducting fluid between the tubing string and the space between said upper and lower packing means, and also between said space and an openy ing through the wall of the body outside said space, said body having iiow control means outside said space including an upwardly facing packing cup on the body adapted to seal against the casing for preventing the downward iiow of fluid into the zone below the body and allowing upward flow of iiuid through said by-pass, said body having a port through the wall thereof outside said space, said port and said body being cooperable for conducting fluid downwardly past said control means into the interior of the casing below said body, and a valve member movable on the body for selectively opening and closing said passage and said port.

16. In a well tool, a tubular body adapted for connection with a tubing string for operation in a well casing, spaced upper and lower packing means for sealing with the casing, said body having a by-pass extending from below the lower packing means to above the upper packing means, means in the body forming a passage for conducting fluid between the tubing string and the space between said upper and lower packing means, and also between said space and an opening through the wall of the body outside said space, said body having iiow control means outside said space for preventing the downward vflow of fluid into the zone below the body and CLAUDE C. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,248,169 Granger July 8, 1941 2,308,072 Granger Jan. 12, 1943 2,326,940 Granger Aug. 17, 1943 2,360,311 Ausburn et al Oct. 17, 1944 2,402,886 Granger June 25, 1946 2,404,876 Granger July 30, 1946 2,426,164 Breukelman Aug. 26, 1947 2,493,962 Gray Jan. 10, 1950 2,569,026 Springer Sept. 25, 1951 Y

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