US3051239A - Running and pulling tool - Google Patents

Description

W. W. DOLLISON RUNNING AND PULLING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed April 2l,

" INVENTOR.

Panam..

i 7 is rToP/VEYS Aug. 28, 1962 W. w. DoLLlsoN RUNNING AND PULLING Toor.

original Filed April 21, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Arme/ving 3,@L239 Fatented Aug. 28, 1962 3 Claims. (Ci. 16o-125) This invention relates to wire line operable means for the completion of a multiple zone well, and more specically to a running and pulling tool, for use in such completion operations whereby two zones may be separately produced and in which either zone may [be reworked by wire line while allowing the other zone to be produced.

This application is a division of my parent application, Serial No. 729,682, led April 2l, 1958, and entitled Means for Carrying Out a Removable Flow Tube Program.

Heretofore it has been the practice in multiple zone well completion to use two separate tubing strings in which one string extends downwardly to one production zone and the other string extends downwardly to the second production zone. The tubing strings are packed off to the casing above and below the upper zone so as to allow simultaneous separate production oi the two zones. Although this practice permits limited reworking operations to be carried out, without pulling the tubing strings (eg, performating of the lower zone, and/or chemical treatment of either zone), it does not permit enough. To fuily rework either zone, it is necessary to pull and later replace the tubing, which is costly and time-consuming since it requires a tubing handling rig to be kept at the well, or re-erected as needed.

The present invention has been made to provide equipment to overcome the above limitations by permanently installing two tubing strings in a multiple zone well, as will later be described. After this installation has been made, the rig may be disassembled and removed to another well for use there. Thereafter, all operations in the well are carried out by wire line operations which are considerably faster and more economical. The well installation can then be completed so that each zone produces separately or simultaneously through the two tubing strings. Ii reworking operations are later required, the well installation can be changed, without pulling the tubing, so that either zone may be fully reworked while the other zone is free to produce simultaneously while reworking operations are carried out.

One example of the necessity of a reworking operation is where water encroachment is encountered. In this case, the producing formation must be cemented, the excess cement must be removed, and the zone reperforated above the water level. In the present invention such reworking operation may be carried on in the lower zone, and repeated as necessary, while the upper zone continues in production.

Another example is where an exploratory hole is drilled and a number of producing formations is penetrated. It is only necessary to install one packer above the uppermost formation, the lower packer being installed at a desired level. Then all formations except two are cemented. Thereafter, cementing and perforating operations can ybe carried out, as desired, without the necessity for pulling the permanently installed tubing.

The primary object of this invention is to provide wire line operable means for use in producing and reworking a multiple zone well by wire line equipment alone so that a zone or zones below the bottom packer may be produced simultaneously with and independently of the zone or zones above the packer, so that the upper zone or zones may be independently reworked simultaneously with the production of the lower zone or zones, and so that the lower Zone or zones may be independently reworked simultaneously with the production of the upper zone or zones.

Another object of the invention is to provide a running and retrieving tool operable by wire line for running and retrieving well tools having an inner annular fishing groove.

Another specific object is to provide a wire line tool for running and retrieving well tools having an inner annular iishing groove, comprising a vertically disposed mandrel, a downwardly and outwardly projecting cam surface formed on the lower end of said mandrel, a longitudinal groove formed in the outer surface of said mandrel and extending upwardly from said cam surface, said groove having the upper end thereof curved outwardly from the axis of said mandrel, a locking dog longitudinally slidably received within said groove, said dog having a lower end engageable with said mandrel cam surface, an inwardly extending projection on the upper portion thereof engaging the bottom of its groove, and an outwardly projecting portion on the lower end thereof receivable within said annular well tool groove, spring means for resiliently biasing said locking dog downwardly against said cam surface to cause said outwardly projecting dog portion to move outwardly from the axis of said mandrel, and means engageable with the midportion of said locking dog to restrain outward movement of said locking dog from said groove.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description.

In the drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout the same,

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of permanently installed well equipment.

FIG. 2, 3 and 4 are schematic illustrations of various combinations of wire line handled equipment which may be run into the permanently installed well equipment of FIG. l to provide differing production and reworking ow paths.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an extension hanger and landing nipple usable in the combinations of equipment illustrated in FIGS. 1 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a wire line running and pulling tool embodying the principles of the present invention and usable for landing and removing the extension hanger of FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings, the permanent installation of FIG. 1 comprises a well casing 10 extending from ground level down through upper and lower producing formations, or zones, 11 and 12. The well casing is perforated at 13 and 14 at the level of these formations. Two tubing strings 15 and 15a extend downwardly through the casing and are packed oft to the casing at the lower end by a conventional dual bore packer 16 at a level above the upper production zone 11. Another conventional dual bore packer 17, modified in a manner to be hereinafter described, is set in the casing at a level between the upper and lower production zones 11 and 12.

Each tubing string 15 and 15a is provided with a landing nipple, 18 and 18a, respectively, at a level above the lower ends of the tubing strings, and a remotely controllable side port nipple 19 is connected into tubing string 15 between the landing nipple 18 and packer 16.

FIG. 2 illustrates a production combination wherein an extension hanger 21 is landed in landing nipple 18 to support extension pipe 22 having a safety joint 23 connected at its lower end which is landed in one bore of packer 17. The other bore of packer 17 is plugged by a plugging tool 24. In this combination, the side port nippleA landed in landing nipple 18a.

19 is closed, and the upper zone 11 is produced through tubing string a while the lower zone 12 is produced through the extension pipe 22 and the tubing string 15.

FIG. 3 illustrates a reworking combination wherein the side port nipple 19 has been opened to allow the lower zone 12 to again be produced through extension pipe 22 and' tubing string 15, while the upper zone 11 may be reworked through a ow path down through tubing string 15a to between packers 16 and 17 and upwardly through the side port nipple 19 into the tubingcasing annulus.

FIG. 4 illustrates another reworking combination wherein the plugging tool 24 has been removed from the lower packer 17, and an extension hanger 21a has been An extension pipe 22a extends downwardly from the extension hanger 21a and is connected by safety joint 23a to packer 17. This combination allows the upper zone 11 to be produced through the side port nipple 19 and the tubing-casing annulus while reworking operations in the lower zone 12 may be carried out through tubing strings 15 and 15a and extension pipes 22 and 22a.

The extension hanger 21, illustrated in FIG. 5, is adapted to seat and lock into the landing nipple 18, the latter being provided with a downwardly facing seating shoulder` 3,1, a bore 32 and an upwardly facing seating shoulder 33.

The extension hanger 21 comprises an elongated vertically disposed generally cylindrical mandrel 35 formed by the interconnected lock mandrel 36, collet mandrel 37 and valve housing 38. The valve housing 3-8 is upwardly and outwardly inclined at the lower end thereof to provide a downwardly facing seating surface 39 which is adapted to seat upon the upwardly facing shoulder 33 of the landing nipple. The mandrel 35 is threaded at 40 at the lower end thereof for connecting the extension tubing 22 thereto.

A plurality of resilient elongated collet members 41 have their lower ends iixedly mounted or integral with collet mandrel 37 and are spaced around the mandrel. These finger members extend longitudinally upwardly along the mandrel and have an upwardly facing seating surface 42 formed on the free ends thereof for engagement with the downwardly facing shoulder 31 of the landing nipple.

An expander sleeve 43 is mounted on lock mandrel 36 for limited longitudinal movement thereon between upper and lower positions relative thereto, and has an upwardly extending top sub 44 connected thereto.

The expander sleeve has a cam surface 45 thereon, so that when the expander sleeve is moved downwardly to its lower position, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the sleeve will slide between the mandrel 35 and the free ends of the linger members 41 to cam the free ends outwardly from the axis of the mandrel in order to lock the upwardly facing seating surface 42 into engagement with the downwardly facing landing nippleV shoulder 31. When the expander sleeve is moved upwardly, the cam surface 45 thereon will be removed from outward holding engagement with the finger members, which will allow the free end's thereof to move inwardly toward the axis of the mandrel.

The upper end of the top sub 44 has a downwardly and' inwardly inclined surface 46 and an internal annular ishlmg groove 47 for engagement by wire line retrieving oo s.

A packing member 48 is provided on mandrel 35 below the finger members 41 for sealing engagement with the landing nipple bore 32.

For pressure equalizing purposes, the valve housing `318 is provided with a radial passage 49 therethrough, which passage is below the packing member 4S. A ring valve member 50 is longitudinally slidably disposed within the valve housing and is secured against movement relative thereto by means of shear pin 51 extending through the radial passage. The inner surface 52 of the ring valve has -a smaller diameter than the diameter of the axial passage 53 of the mandrel 35. O- rings 54 and 55 are disposed between the ring member and valve housing above and below the radial passage 49 to prevent fluid flow therethrough.

FIG. 6 illustrates a running and pulling tool 6i) for use with well tools having an inner annular fishing groove, such as the extension hanger illustrated in FIG. 5. This device comprises a vertically disposed generally cylindrical mandrel 61 having a fishing neck 62 connected at its upper end and locked thereto by locking screw 63. The fishing neck is undercut at 64 and is provided with a threaded connection 65 for attachment to suitable wire line tools.

A nose member 66 is connected to the lower end of mandrel 61 and is locked thereto by roll pin 67. Fluid communication is provided through tool 6i) by port 68 in the nose 66 and port 69 in the fishing neck 62, each port being in communication with the mandrel bore 70. The nose member is provided with a downwardly and outwardly projecting cam surface 71.

The mandrel 61 has a plurality of longitudinal grooves 72 formed in the outer surface thereof and extending upwardly from the cam surface 71. As is seen from the drawings, the upper ends of the grooves 72 curve upwardly and outwardly at 73 from the axis of the mandrel.

A locking dog 75, longitudinally slidably 'disposed within each groove, has a lower end provided with a downwardly and outwardly inclined surface 7 6 complementary to the cam surface 7-1, and an outwardly projecting portion 77 adapted to iit within the fishing groove of a well tool. The dog 75 is also provided with an inwardly extending projecion 78 on the upper portion lthereof engaging the bottom of groove 725.

A spring 80, conned between mandrel flange 81 and thrust Vring 82, resiliently biases the `locking dogs downwardly yagainst the cam surface 71, to cause the lower end of the `locking dogs to move outwardly from the axis of the tool, las illustrated in FIG. 6.

A sleeve S3 is mounted on mandrel 61 for limited longitudinal movement thereon, and ris normally held in its lower position thereon by shear pin 84. A compression spring 85, confined between the sleeve 83 and mandrel range 81, biases the sleeve upwardly. An inturned ange 86 on the lower end of sleeve 83 engages the shoulder 87 on dog member 75 and the mid-portion thereof to restrain outward movement of the dogs from the grooves 72.

The running and pulling tool 60' is used to land and retrieve the extension hanger '21 in the landing nipple 18 in the following manner. The tool 60 is connected at the top of the well to the extension hanger, with the outwardly projecting lower dog ends 77 of the running tool engaging groove I47 of the top sub of the extension hanger, and with the bottom of the sleeve 83l of the` running tool in engagement with the upper end of the top sub 44. The weight of the extension hanger pulls downwardly on the running tool dogs 75 so that they remain cammed outwardly into the top sub groove 47. The running tool is now lowered by wire line through the tubing until the bottom end 39 of `the extension hanger rests upon the inwardly extending lower shoulder 33 of the landing nipple.

The running tool is now jarred downwardly, which forces -the top sub 44 of the extension hanger downwardly with respect to the now stationary `lock mandrel 36 thereof. This causes the expander sleeve 43 to move downwardly on mandrel 36, expanding the `collet fingers 41 outwardly into the landing nipple so that the fingers engage the downwardly facing shoulder 31 thereof to securely look the extension hanger against upward or downward movement in the landing nipple 18. The extension hanger packing 43 engages the honed bore 312 of the landing nipple to prevent yany fluid flow thereby.

Additional downward jarring of the running tool 6i) causes screw 84 to shear, releasing sleeve 83 for upward movement by spring 85, so that the sleeve flange 86 pulls the dogs 75 upwardly against the force of ythe weaker spring 80. As the dogs 75 move upwardly, their inward projections 78 will be cammed outwardly by the groove portions 73, thus pivoting the lower ends 77 thereof inwardly to clear the fishing groove 47 of the extension hanger top sub 44. The running tool may now be withdrawn from the well, leaving the extension hanger 21 locked in place in the landing nipple 18.

The extension hanger may be retrieved by the same tool 60. The tool is iitted yat the top of the well with a new shear screw 84 and is lowered by wire line through the well tubing until the nose 65 enters the -top sub and the lower ends 77 of the dogs rest upon the top sub inclined surface 46 of the extension hanger 2l. The tool 60 is now jarred downwardly, which causes the dogs 75 to be forced upwardly in grooves 72. Again, this movement causes the lower dog ends 77 to pivot inwardly so that the tool can move downwardly within the top sub 44 of the extension hanger until such movement is limited by the engagement of the sleeve 83 with the upper end of the top sub 44. At this time the dogs 75 are free to be forced downwardly by spring Sti so that the lower dog ends 77 lock into the top sub groove 47.

The tool 60 is now jarred upwardly to pull the top sub and expander sleeve upwardly relative to the lock mandrel 36, freeing the collet fingers 41 for inward movement. The tool `is now pulled from the well, with the extension hanger suspended therefrom.

If it is necessary to equalize pressure between the inside and outside of the extension hanger prior to the removal thereof, a prong member (not shown) may be lowered through the bore 53 of the extension hanger to engage the ring valve 5G. Downward jarring will shear the pin 51 and will move the valve downwardly to uncover passage 49. The unequal pressures will force the remainder of pin 51 out of passage 49 so that fluid may flow therethrough to equalize the pressures.

As is apparent from the foregoing, the running and pulling tool `60 may be used to run, land and lock and remove the extension hanger 21 in and from the tubing strings, so that the production and reworking operations of FIGS. 1-4 may be carried out completely by wire 'line manipulations. The specific details of the safety joint 23, plugging tool 24 and side port nipple 19, whereby these elements may also be operated completely by Wire line equipment, are fully illustrated and described in my parent application Serial No. 729,682, together with a detailed description of the manner and sequence in which the operation of FIGS. 1-4 are performed.

It is to be realized that the form of the running and pulling tool described herein is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that various changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the attached claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A wire line tool for running and retrieving well tools having an inner annular lishing groove, comprising: a vertically disposed mandrel, a downwardly and outwardly projecting cam surface formed on the lower end of said mandrel, a longitudinal groove formed in the outer surface of said mandrel and extending upwardly from said cam surface, the bottom of said groove havting the upper end thereof curved radially outwardly of said mandrel, a locking dog longitudinally slidably roceived within said groove, said dog having a lower end engageable with said mandrel cam surface, an inwardly extending projection on the upper portion thereof engaging the bottom of its groove and an outwardly projecting portion on the lower end thereof receivable within said annular well tool groove, spring means for resiliently biasing said locking dog downwardly against said cam surface to cause said outwardly projecting dog portion to move outwardly relative to the axis of said mandrel, and means engageable with the mid-portion of said locking dog to restrain outward movement of said locking dog from said groove.

2. A wire line tool for running and retrieving well tools having an inner annular fishing groove, comprising: a vertically disposed mandrel, a downwardly and outwardly projecting cam surface formed on the lower end of said mandrel, a plurality of longitudinal grooves formed in the outer surface of said mandrel and extending upwardly from said cam surface, the bottoms of said grooves having the upper ends thereof curved radially outwardly of said mandrel, a locking dog longitudinally slidably received within each of said grooves, said dogs each having a lower end engageable with said mand-rel cam surface and an inwardly extending projection on the upper portion thereof engaging the bottom of its groove, said dogs having outwardly projecting portions on the lower ends thereof receivable within said annular well tool groove, first spring means for resiliently biasing said locking dogs downwardly against said cam surface to cause said outwardly projecting dog portions to move outwardly relative to the axis of said mandrel, a sleeve mounted for limited longitudinal sliding movement on said mandrel, a shear pin connecting said mandrel and sleeve to normally prevent longitudinal movement therebetween, second spring means to move said sleeve upwardly relative to said mandrel upon shearing of said shear pin, and means on said sleeve engageable with the mid-portions of said locking `dogs to restrain outward movement of said locking dogs from said grooves and to move said locking dogs upwardly -against the bias of said first spring means upon upward movement of said sleeve whereby the inwardly extending `dog projections engage the outwardly curved portions of said grooves to pivot the outwardly projecting dog portions inwardly towards the axis of said mandrel.

3. A wire line tool for running yand retrieving well tools having an inner annular fishing groove, comprising a vertically disposed mandrel, a downwardly and outwardly projecting cam surface formed on the lower end of said mandrel, a plurality of longitudinal grooves formed in the outer surface of said mandrel and extending upwardly from said shoulder, the bottoms of said grooves having the upper ends thereof curved radially outwardly of said mandrel, a locking `dog longitudinally slidably received within each of said grooves, said dogs each having a lower end engageable with said mandrel cam surface and an inwardly extending projection on the upper portion thereof engaging the bottom of its groove, said dogs having outwardly projecting portions on the lower ends thereof receivable within said annular well tool groove, rst spring means for biasing said locking dogs downwardly against said shoulder, cam means coacting between said shoulder and said locking dog to cause said outwardly projecting dog portions to move outwardly relative tothe axis of said mandrel under the bias of said first spring means, a sleeve mounted for limited longitudinal sliding movement on said mandrel, a shear pin connecting said mandrel and sleeve to normally prevent longitudinal movement therebetween, second spring means to move said sleeve upwardly relative to said mandrel upon shearing of said shear pin, means engageable with the mid-portions of said locking dogs to restrain outward movement of sa-id locking dogs from said grooves, land means on said sleeve to move said locking dogs upwardly against the bias of said iirst spring means upon upward movement of said sleeve whereby the inwardly extending dog projections engage the outwardly curved portions of said grooves to pivot the outwardly projecting dog portions inwardly towards the axis of said mandrel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,862,560 Bostock et al s Dec. 2, 1958

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