US2326867A - Valve structure for combined formation testing tools and pressure recorders - Google Patents

Description

5mg. Ti 194399 H. D. KINNEY 2,326,853

VALVE STRUCTURE FOR COMBINED FORMATION TESTING TOOLS AND PRESSURE RECORDERS Filed Jan 29, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. D. KINNEY OR COMF EED FOR AND PRESSUVE REC? Jan. 29, 1940 Aug. 1'7 1943i mum? RDERS Z5 Sheets-Sheet E ETRUCTUR'L TING TOOLS Filed Patented Aug. 17, 1943 Q f VALVE STRUCTURE FORV'COMBINED Foal I MATION'TESTING'TOO'LS AND'PRESSURE I RECORDERS V Howard D'. Kinney;

El Dorado, Ark, assignor to 1 Sterling P. Bedingfield,.Bossier City, La. Application January 29, 1940, Serial No. 316.262

7 Claims. (01. 251-78) This invention relates to testing devices for oil wells, and more particularly to a. valve structure for a combined formation testing tool and rock pressure recorder.

The object of the invention is to provide a 5' 'tion'al plug inopen position. strong, compact and, thoroughly ,efficient tool of. Figure3 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional the character described embodying in its struc- View of the fluid cut-ofi" device and its associated ture, means whereby formation tests of oil wells parts. r 7 p may be quickly made and the true rock pressure Figure 4' is a transverse sectional view taken of sub-strata accurately recorded so as to insure on theline 4- 5 of Figure 3. V j the use of proper equipment during subsequent Figure 5 is a detail vertical sectional view of drilling operations. A the. recorder showing the manner of mounting the A further object of the invention is to provide same within the casing. h r means for recording the hydrostatic or rock pres-i Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on sure of the lower strata under reliet conditions, the line li-Bof Figure5. j that is to say, while permitting the escape of; Figure '7 is adetail transverse sectional view of fluid and drilling mud from the rat hole or lower the connection between the pressure gauge and, strata into the drill stem,-and means forrecordintake port of the recorder housing. Q f ing the true or actual standing rock pressureof Figure 8 is a plan view of the chart or graph the lower strata when the fluid. relief mechanismoftherecorder. V 1 I is cut off. h g I Thelcombined formation testing 'toolan'd rock A further object is to provide a ported sleeve pressure" recorder formingthe subjectmatter, of l valve member which coacts with spring-pressed the presentfinvention is principally designed for closure members for controlling the flow of fluid use in, oil wells, and by way of illustration is from the packer to the drill stem whereby a shown in an oil wellin which'5 indicates-the complete shut-elf or seal for fluid is efiectedwhile upper or large bore and 6 the small lower bore or: the-toolisbeing withdrawn from the well. rat hole. The device comprises. a casing .indii A further object is to provide a novel packer cated as a whole at l, and preferably formed in V unit and means interposed between the packer n two sections 8 and 9, one of which is provided unit and the adjacent end of-the tool casing for 0 at its upper end with a reduced threaded nipple preventing the passage of fluid from the large [.0 for engagement with the threaded endof the bore tothe smaller bore of the well during. the adjacent section whereby said sections are der- I process of making a test. tachably united. 'Slidably mounted in tl ie uppe'li A further object is to provide means for equalizsection 9 isI-a stem I lrhavin'g a vertical bore !2 ing the hydrostatic pressure between. the fluidin and provided with an annular stop flange 13' the well bore and rat hole thereby to permit easy adaptedto' bear against-a stop shoulder l lformed. Withdrawal of the tool from the well. Y 3 on thesection 9, as shown, there beingascrew [.5

A still further object is to provide thelower threaded in the wall of the section 9 withits inner portionof the drill stem with a sectional cut-ofi end reduced and fitting in an opening of the; plug which normally preventsfthe flow of liquid 40 flange l3 forpreventing rotation of the stern H. uwardly into the drill stem, said plugs ections within the section 9. The stem ll fitswithin a being movable to release position either. by the packing gland l6 and the upper end of the stern impact of a weight introduced within theidrill' is threaded at I! for engagement with a coupling stem or the pressure of fiuid forced downwardly collar I8. which-is; ingturn, threaded on the ad? through said drill stem. Y p jacent end of the tubular drill stem,'in'dicatedat.

Further objects and advantages will appear I 9; Threaded within the coupling sleeve I8 is a the accompanying specification and claims formring 20 having a stepped lower face 2| adapted to; ing apart thereof. 7 receive a cut-off plug 22. .The cut-01f plug 22 In the accompanying drawings forming a part is. preferably of. inverted conical shape in cross" of this specification and ln;\VhiCll'.Siml1ar.Illl- -50 section and formed in two sections which are morals of reference indicate corresponding parts fitted together when the cut-ofi plug is inserted in all the figures of the drawings, in the ring 20 so as to prevent the passage of Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a com-* fluid from the bore 12 upwardly into the drill stem bined testing too and-rock pressure recorder when making a formationtest but are readily embodying the present invention, the packer being shown ready to seat in the fluidcut-ofi" device in closed position.

Figure 2 is "a similar view showing the packer fullyseated and thefluid cut-off device and secseparable under the impact of a'weight 23 introv the rat hole and V passage of. fluid into said drill stem when it is desired to fill or partially fill the drill stem with liquid for testing, purposes, as best shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

Threaded in thellower end oi the stem H and movable therewith is a sleeve valve member 24 having a central longitudinal bore'25 which communicates with the bore :2 and is provided near its lower end with a transverse port 25 intersecting the bore 25, as best shown in Figure 3.'

The side walls of the member 24 are cut away .duced within the drill stem so as to permit the registering lugs 39 and defining intermediate fluid passages 5d, the lugs being formed with perforations for the reception of bolts or similar fastening devices 5|, whereby the sections of the casing may be firmly secured together. The lower section of the recorder casing is is provided with a depending nipple 52 and formed in said lower casing section and communicating with the nipple 52 andwith the interior or" said casing section is a passage or bore 53. Disposed within the lower section of the casing G8 is a pressure gauge 54 of any suitable construction but prefto form parallel guiding ribs 21' between which are mounted closure members, indicated at 28. The closure members 28 are preferably in the form of plates having laterally extending'fianges 29 at their upper and lower ends and which re- .erably inthe form of a curved pipe or tube, one

end of which communicates with the passage 53, as indicated at 55. Disposed adjacent the end 55 of the'gauge is a support 56 on which is pivceive between them the reduced ends of tubular members 38 mounted within a housing 3|, the latter being fitted within the section 9 and'resting on the end of the nipple lfl of the section '1.-

Disposed within the tubular members 30 are coiled springs 32, one end of each of which'b ears against the housing 3| and the other end there the drill stem attached thereto, has been lowered to effect the opening of the port 26, as 'will be more fully explained hereinafter. V

The lower section 1 is provided with an interior chamber 34 in the end of which is threaded a reducing plug 35 having a vertical bore'36 of any desired size formed therein and which bore forms a source of communication'between the a chamber iii'alnd a chamber 31 in the nipplelil.

Threaded inthe lower end of the casing section, 1 is a closure plug 33 and secured to and de,

pending from said closure plug is a guide tube or stem 39 on which is slidably mounted a packer,

indicated at iii; The walls at the upper end of the guide tube 39 are formed with perforations M, and secured to the lower end of the guide tube. 33.by 'a coupling nipple: 42 is a perforated entering head 43. The packer 4G is retained, in

position on the guide tube 39 by a cap 44, whiclr cap is threaded on a bearing sleeve 45 fitted within the packer so as to move therewith. Bearing against the upper end of the packer V and threaded on the bearing sleeve G5 is a metallic plate or washer which coacts with a resilient packing disc-41 preferably formed of rubber or other yieldable material and which, when in engagement with the washer 4-8, serves to form a liquid-tight joint between the packer and the adjacent end of the casing, Figure 2 of the drawings.

as best shown in Inasmuch as the discl'l is formed of rubberor other yieldablematerial, any small particles such as sand, grit and'the like will beembedded in the disc 41' and thus allow said discyto firmly contact with the plate or'washer 46 so thatthe liquid cannot escape between the parts.

As a means for recording the hydrostatic or rock pressure of the lower strata. of the well bore, there is provided a recording mechanism of the type shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. The recording mechanism comprises a casing 48 consisting of upper and'lower sections provided with otally mounted, at 51, one end of a lever 58 carrying a pencil, scribe or other suitable marker ifladapted to record the pressure on a revolving portion of the well bore until the packer lil rests mainder' oflthe. tool, by a dial or graph 69., The lever 58 is connected to the gauge 59 by means of a link 5! so that expansion and contraction of the gauge will effect a corresponding movement of'the marker 59 over the surface of the dial or graph 69. Disposed above the dial 6B is a timing device 62" preferably in the form of a clock and the graph or dial Bil is connected to the central arbor 63 of the clock so as to be rotated thereby. The dial or graph 88 is provided with suitable graduations and is adaptedto make one revolution each hour so that not only will the rock or hydrostatic pressure be recorded on the dial 6!! but also the exact time at whichthetest or tests were made.

Inasmuch as the casing of the recorder is made in twoisections, said sections may be readily detached so as to obtain access to the interior of the mechanism and permit the removal of the graph or dial after the tests have been made.

In operation, the tool is attached to the lower end of thedrill stem and lowered'into the large on the ledge at the upper end of the rat hole 6. The packer now remains'stationary and the recontinued lowerin forces the tubular-guide or stem 39 through the packeruntil the packing disc-41 rests upon the washer 46 of said packer, thereby stopping further downward movement of the casing 9. The drill stem l9,zcarrying with it the stem I l and its associated parts, continues its downward movement, however, therebyrcompressing the spring 33 and forcing the ported sleeve valve member 24 downwardly between the closure members 28. This downward movement of the sleeve valve 24 causes the port 26 to extend below the extremi-,

ties of the closure members 28 for the purpose of allowing fluid to enter into the upper portion of the tool and as the sectional plug 22 is closed, the fluid cannot'enter the drill stem'it. With the parts in this position, fluid passes upwardly through the guide tube or stem 39, nipple 52 and 7 port 33 into the housing-of the recording mechanism where it actsupon the pressure gauge 54 and actuatesthe latter to move the pencil or scribing device 59 over the surface of the dial or graph G0 to record thereon the rock or hydrostatic pressure. This recording of the pressure is effected under relief conditions, that is to say, while permitting the escape of fluid and drilling mud from the rat hole or lower strata through the bore of the relief plug 35. The parts are allowed to remain in this position for a predetermined length of time, after which the weight or impact member 23 is permitted to all on the plug 22,

the impact of the weight causing the plug sec-- asaeher tions tadropi to the position shewn in Figure-2.013 the drawings and which positicn'fluid is: permitted? torente'r the drill stem. 'Theparts are allowed-"tov remain in 'this position for a short a the casing sections removed, thus exposing the dial ergraph Gil andpermitting the operator to read the indications thereon and thereby be in a position to use proper equipment during subsequent drilling operations. As the tool is withdrawn from the well, the guide tube or stem 39 will slide upwardly through the packer until the coupling 42 engages the cap 64 when the packer will be carried upwardly with the tube. During withdrawal of the tool from the well, expansion of the spring 33 will force the stem ll upwardly until the flange l3 contacts with the shoulder l4 and in which position the port in the member 24 will be automatically cut off by the closure members 28. The difference in the hydrostatic or rock pressure between the well bore and the rat hole is equalized by permitting the passage of fluid through the ports 4| or perforations 43, thereby permitting the ready withdrawal of the tool. It

will here be noted that when the resilient disc 4'! contacts with the washer 45, any particles of sand or other foreign matter will be embedded in the resilient material of which the disc is formed so as to insure a tight fluid seal betweenthe lower end of the section 8 and the packer.

It often occurs while removing tools of various kinds from the well bore that it is necessary to pump fluid down through the tubular drill stem into the'well bore for the purpose of agitating fluid, mud andthe like and when this becomes necessary-fluid pumped into the drill stem under pressure will force the cone sections of the plug downwardly to open position so that the fluid can pass through the bore I2 into the 'port,

forcing the closure members away from the surfaces of the member 25 and thus allowing the fluid to pass down and out through the openings 4% or perforations 43 into the well bore.

Owing to the formation of the valves or closure members 28 and their frictional contact with the sleeve valve member 24, said closure members will have a tendency to shear or cut any foreign objects such as sticks, rubber, or the like which would tend to interfere with the proper opera tion of the ported sleeve valve. Furthermore, as

the closure members and sleeve valveare always and at all points of travel in direct and close contact. sand, grit and the like are effectively prevented from getting between the smooth contacting surfaces.

The present invention not only provides a means for obtaining the rock or hydrostatic pressure prior to completion of a well, but also a ccurately records the pressure under both relief and true conditions, as well as the exact time the test or tests were made. This true pressure reading makes it possible to compute the initial production or barrelage of an oil well prior to completion of the well. The data thus obtained may be preserved for future use and will be found of extreme value from a geophysical and geological standpoint.

.WhileI. have shown .and'described apreierred' form of recording mechanism in associ'ationwitn V the testing toolgit will,rof course, be understood that: any other type of standard.recordingmechani'sm may be -used in lieu thereof, the-essential T feature of ,the invention, in addition to its novel, 'constructionand operation,resid-ingin the-em ployment of a'recording mechanism in co'mbiria'-.

tion with a formation testing" tool whereby the results of the tests may be recorded and aperf manent record kept thereot r i From the foregoing description, it is thought that the. construction and operation or the device? will be readily understood lay-those skilledin the" art and further description thereof is deemed unnecessary. v

. Having thusdescribed the invention, what is claimed as newis: r I V 1. A valve structure for well testing tools com-.

surrounding the stem for moving the sleeve valve member to closed position.

2. A valve structure for well testing tools comprising a casing, a hollow flanged stem slidably mounted within the casing, a ported sleeve valve member carried by and movable with the flanged stem, a housing arranged within the casing,

closure members coacting with the port of the sleeve valve member and provided with upper and lower lateral flanges, tubular members disposed within the housing between said flanges,

springs fitting within the tubular members and.

bearing against the'closur'e members, and a spring surrounding the stem and having one end thereof bearing against the housing andits other end engaging the flange on said stem.

3. A valve structure for well testing tools comprising, 'a casing; a hollow flanged stem slidably mounted within the casing, a ported sleeve valve member carried by and movable with the flanged stem, spring pressed'closure members coacting with the port of the sleeve valve member, and a spring interposed betweenthe closure members and theflange of said sliding stem.

4. A valve structure for well testing tools com'- prising a casing, a hollow flanged stem slidably mounted within the casing, a sleeve valve membercarried bythe flanged stem andprovided with a transverse port, spring actuatedclosure members for controlling the passage of fluid through said port, and yielda-ble means inter- .posed between the closure members and the flanged stem for normally holding the port in the sleeve valve member covered by said. closure membersj 1 5. A valve structure for well testing tools comprising a casing, a hollow stem slidably mounted within the casing, a sleeve valve member secured to the sliding stem and provided with spaced longitudinal guide ribs and a transverse port disposed between the guide ribs, and spring actuated'closure members engaging the sliding valve member between the guide ribs.

6. Valve structure forwell testing tools com-' prising a sectional casing, one section of which is provided with a stop shoulder, a hollow stem slidably mounted within the shouldered section and provided with a flange adapted to bear against said shoulder, said sliding stem being formed with a longitudinal bore, a sleeve valve member secured to. the lower portion of the slide ing stem and-provided with .a longitudinal bore communicating with theubore: of the stem, a -transverse port intersecting the bore of the sleeve valve member, a housingzdisposed within the shouldered section, closure members arranged within the housing and eoacting with the sleeve valve member to close the porttherein; and springs for. yieldably holding the closure members against the sliding valve member. I

'7; A valve structure for well testing tools comprising a casing formed of upper and lower sections, one of which is provided with a threaded nipple for detachable engagement with the matingsection, a stem slidably mounted in the upper section and provided with a longitudinal bore, a

. sleeve valve member carried by and movable with within the tubular members and bearing against said flanged plates.

r V HOWARD D. KINNEY.

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