US2546377A - Bridging plug - Google Patents

Description

March 27, 1951 e. FTURECHEK BRIDGING PLUG 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. 6502651 7 ERA-CHER Arroevsx Original Filed Jan. 20, 1942 Patented Mar. 27, 1951 BRIDGING PLUG George F. Turechek, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Lane-Wells Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Original application January 20, 1942, Serial No.

427,457, now Patent No. 2,382,455, dated Allgust 14, 1945.

Divided and this application May 19, 1945, Serial No. 594,708

8 Claims.

My invention relates to bridging plugs; that is, to devices which are lowered into a well casin to plug or close the casing at some point above the bottom of the well. This application is a disegmental retainer rings for the packing sleeve with one of the segments removed;

Figure 6 is an elevational view similar to Figure 1, showing the bridging plug set within a vision of my copending application, Serial No. 6 casing, the casing being shown fragmentarily and 427,457, filed January 20, 1942, now Patent No. in section; 2,382,455. Among the objects of my invention Figure7isafragmentary longitudinal sectional are: viewv thereof taken through 'i-l of Figure 6;

First, to provide a bridging plug which sets or Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view thereof locks against movement in either direction and 10 taken through 8-8 of Figure 6, showing particuwhich incorporates a packing element to comlarly the arrangement of the slips and their wedgpletely close and seal the casing; ing members;

Second, to provide a bridging plug which in- Figure 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal seccludes a novel slip and cone or wedging arrangetional view similar to Figure 7 showing a modiment employing two sets of Slips wherein a minified form of slip and wedging means, the view mum axial movement of the slips along the casing being taken substantially through 99 of Figwall is required in order tov move the slips from ure 19 their initial or retracted position to their set or Figure 10 is a transverse sectional View thereof locked position, and virtually no axial movement taken through ill-Iii of Figure 9; and of the slips is required after engaging the casing 20 Figure 11 is an elevational view of one of the to bring both sets of slips into locking engagemodified slip members. ment; My bridging plug includes a mandrel or body I Third, to provide a bridging plug having conwhich is tubular in form but is closed at its lower fronting wedge members so arranged that slips end by a head member 2. The mandrel l is conmounted on each of the wedge members are urged nected by a shear pin A or other suitable means into operating position by abutment shoulders to a setting tool member B, indicated fragmentarprovided on the other wedge member, so that as ily in Figure 2. The head member 2 may be prothe wedge members are moved axially toward vided with equalizing or circulating valves such each other the slips are expanded; as shown in Patent No. 2,249,172 issued July 15,

Fourth, to provide a bridging plug which is so 1941. designed that the parts may be made of easily The upper end of the head member 2 forms a drillable or friable material, so that it may be frusto-conical shoulder 3 around which fits a drilled up if it is desired to remove-the bridging segmental retainer ring 4 comprising a series of plug; and segmental members having circumferentially Fifth, to provide a bridging plug which is paroverlapping tongues 5 and t which remain overticularly designed to be lowered on a wire line lapped when the ring is expanded into contact and set by a wire line operated setting tool such with the casing, as shown in Figure 6. The reas disclosed in Patent No. 2,266,382 issued Detainer ring 4 is provided with an annular groove cember 16, 1941. l which receives a tie wire 8 for initially holding With the above and other objects in view, as the segments comprising the ring around the may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to mandrel I. One end of the ring is shaped to conthe accompanying drawings, in which: form to the frusto-conical shoulder 3 while the Figure 1 is an elevational View of my bridging other end of the ring is provided with an inner plug as it appears initially when being lowered bevel 9 and an outer bevel l0 which coact with a into a well casing; similarly beveled end of a packing sleeve H.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudi- The packing sleeve is more fully disclosed in Patnal sectional view thereof taken through 2--2 of ent No. 2,249,171 issued July 15, 1941. The upper Figure 1; end of the packing sleeve coacts with a second Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional segmental retainer ring 4. view taken through 3-3 of Figure 2, showing par- 5 Above the packing sleeve the mandrel receives ticularly the clutch ring or locking ring; a pair of slip expanders I2 and i3. The lower- Figure 4 is another transverse sectional View most slip expander l2 forms at its lower end a taken through 44 of Figure 1, showing particufrusto-conical shoulder I i similar to the shoulder larly the slips and their expander wedges; 3 which coacts with the upper segmental re- Figure 5 is an end elevational View of one of the tainer ring 4.

The slip expanders I2 and i3 are provided with frusto-conical wedging portions 85 and I6, respectively, which converge toward each other. These portions are provided with axially directed slots H and l 8, respectively, which form corresponding axially directed tongues 19 and 20. The tongues IQ of the lower slip expander fit into the slots I8 of the upper slip expander and, similarly, the tongues 20 of the upper slip expander fit into the slots ii of the lower slip expander.

The lower slip expander. l2..receives. aset f slips 2! which ride upon the on ues. wand-fit into the slots l8 of the upper slip expander, abutting against the upper extremities of the slots. Similarly, a set of slips 22 ride upon the tongues of the upper expander and fit into the slots I T abutting the lower extremities thereof.

When the slip expanders are moved axially toward each other the lower slip expander urges the slips 22 of the upper slip expander upwardly and .outwardlythereon and, similarly, the. .l pper slip expander urges the slips of the lower slip expander along the tongues I9.

The slips 2i and 22 overlap axially when in their initial position and are provided Withchannels 23 which align circumferentially so thata single tie wire Zimay be Wrapped aroundboth sets of slips to hold them against their respective expanders. As best shown in Figures 2 and 7, the slip '2 IV has saw-tooth shaped serrations facing in a direction away fromthe tapering surface 15 of the slip expander I2 and the slip 22 hassimi- 1 larlyshaped serrations which face in adirection away from the tapered surface 16 of the slip expander l3. By this arrangement anytendency toward axial movement of the plug. after setting of the slips will tend to cause further expansion cfthe slips.

A sleeve 25 is screw-threaded to the upper slip expander l3 and defines therewith an internal channel 26 which receives av clutch ring ,or looking ring 2?. The clutch ring isprovidedwith internal teeth which are adapted to coactwith correspondingteeth 28 provided on the mandrel when the slip expander 13 is forced downwardly the bridging plug is set, by pulling upwardly on themandrel and forcing downwardly on the sleeve 25. This compresses the packing sleeve until the shear pins 29 give way, thereupon the slip expanders move toward each other, breaking the 'tie wireZA.

The packing sleeve, in compressing, exerts, sufficient force on the segmental retainer rings l. to

. cause these rings to expand outwardly against the casing as shown in Figure 6. The retainer rings, when so expanded, serve to prevent axial flow of the material comprising. the packing sleeve.

In this connection, it should be noted that the packing sleeve is madeof rubber or,.more1pr.ef- .erably, neoprene, or similar rubber-like material unaffected by well fiuids. However, it is known thatthese materials have a tendency to coldflow andit is desirableto close the space --at the endof the packing sleeve as much as possible.

ber. circumference of..the briclging plug so that .they

4 It will be noted that the slips are guided on both sides, as well as their ends, by the slots in which they fit, so that they remain substantially equally spaced around the bridging plug, as shown in ;F.'igure.8. Itwill also be. noted that it is not necessary for. either set of slips ,to slide along the casing before the other set of slips come into contact .therewith, but both sets of slips come into con- ,tact .with the casing virtually simultaneously.

This assures adequate engagement by both sets 7 of slips so that the bridging plug is securely locked Lagainst. eitherupward or downward movement,

and. even though, the forces against the bridging plug should alternate so that the pressure is first in one .directionand then in the other there is no aP reciableplay-er slack to'cause the bridging .plue; t .Workloos.

Reference is now directed to Figures 9, 10 and 11: The structure here illustrated is essentially the same as the previously described structure, with the exception that the wedging: frustoc'onical members.3l are-not provided with "tongues and slots;, instead, the slips.a32 are .providedwith tongues 33, as shown in- Figure 11. The slips 32 are-initially positionedsogthat the tongues of one set of slips fit -betWeen thetongues of the other set of slips. .The upperfrusto-conical described structure, are provided with channels 34 which receive tie-wires 35.

Operation of the structure .shown in Figures 9,:10, andll is thesame-as in-the first descrbied structure, ..that-is, each ifrusto-conical member performs two functions: it coactscwith its own set of slips and at the same time urges the other set of slips upon,th'e other frusto-conical mem- .The .slips preferably completely -fill the serve to hold each other in. position; 'that is the .tonguesof one .setof slips-are guided by :the other-set of slips.

Various changes and' alternate arrangements may .bemadewithizi :Ithe .scope .of the appended claims. in .which it. is. my .intention to lclaim .all

. novelty inherent. in a.the invention.

I claim: 1. A well tool comprising: a mandrel;.a. resilient packer; sleeve encireling said mandrel a-circum- :ferentially segmented expansiblerring around said ..mandr.el ateachendsof .saidpacker sleeve, each expansible ring being-initially. positioned-in abutment with the adjacent end of saidpackersleeve and being. freerto slideradially. and; to rotate. with respect .to .said packer sleeve, .each .expansible ring havingfa fill-5170700111031 yboreportion outwardly diverging: in .a ..dir.ecticn .away from the into continuous sealing. contact with the inside surface of a ,surroundingcasing, and thus together with said-.ex'pandingimembers sealing .the

.-annular..space-..between.thecasing. and said mantaining said segments in assembled and unexpanded position on said mandrel.

4. A well tool comprising: a mandrel; a resilient packer sleeve encircling said mandrel; a circumferentially expansible ring around said mandrel at each end of said packer sleeve, each expansible ring being initially positioned in abutment with the adjacent end of said packer sleeve and being free to slide radially and to rotate with respect to said packer sleeve, each expansible ring having a frusto-conical bore portion outwardly diverging in a direction away from the packer sleeve; an expanding member slidable on said mandrel adjacent that end of each expansible ring which is directed away from the packer sleeve, each expanding member having a frusto-conical portion insertible into the frusto-conical bore portion of its adjacent expansible ring in wedging engagement therewith, said rings thereby being expansible by said expanding members into continuous sealing contact with the inside surface of a surrounding casing, and thus together with said expanding members sealing the annular space between the casing and said mandrel at the ends of said packer sleeve to confine said packer sleeve axially therebetween; and means to actuate said expanding members to expand said rings and packer sleeve.

5. A well tool comprising: a mandrel; a resilient packer sleeve encircling said mandrel; a circumferentially expansible ring around said mandrel at one end of said packer sleeve, said expansible ring being initially positioned in abutment wth the adjacent end of said packer sleeve and being free to slide radially and to rotate with respect to said packer sleeve, said expansible ring having a frusto-conical bore portion outwardly diverging in a direction away from said packer sleeve; a ring expanding member slidable on said mandrel adjacent the end of said expansible ring which is directed away from said packer sleeve, said ring expanding member having a frustoconical portion insertible into the frusto-conical bore portion of said expansible ring in wedging engagement therewith, said expansible ring thereby being expansible by said expanding member into continuous sealing contact with the inside surface of a surrounding casing, and thus together with said expanding member sealing the annular space between said mandrel and the casing at said one end of said packer sleeve to confine said one end of said packer sleeve; and means to actuate said expanding member to expand said expansible member.

6. A well tool comprising: a mandrel; a resilient packer sleeve encircling said mandrel; a circumferentially expansible ring around said mandrel at one end of said packer sleeve, said ring being initially positioned in abutment with said one end of said packer sleeve and being free to slide radially and to rotate with respect to said packer sleeve; a ring expanding member slidable on said mandrel adjacent that end of said expansible ring which is directed away from said packer sleeve, said ring expanding member having a irusto-conical outer surface which diverges in a direction away from said expansible ring, said frusto-conical outer surface being insertible into the bore portion of said'expansible ring in wedging engagement therewith, said ring thereby being expansible by said expanding member into continuous sealing contact with the inside surface 01' a surrounding casing and thus together with said expanding member sealing the annular space between said mandrel and the casing at said one end of said packer sleeve to confine said one end of said packer sleeve; and means to actuate said expanding member to expand said expansible ring.

'7. A well tool comprising: a mandrel; a resilient packer sleeve encircling said mandrel; an expansible ring around said mandrel at one end of said packer sleeve, said expansible ring having an outer frusto-conical surface outwardly diverging in a direction away from said packer sleeve, said outer frusto-conical surface being initially positioned in abutment with the adjacent end of said packer sleeve, said expansible ring being free to slide radially and to rotate with respect to said packer sleeve, and said expansible ri g having a Irusto-conical bore portion outwardly diverging in a direction away from said packer sleeve; a ring expanding member slidable on said mandrel adjacent that end of said expansible ring which is directed away from said packer sleeve, said ring expanding member having a frusto-conical portion insertible into the frusto-conical bore portion of said expansible ring in wedging engagement therewith, said ring and said one end of said packer sleeve being expansible by said expanding member into continuous sealing contact with the inside surface of a surrounding casing, and thus together with said expanding member sealing the annular space between said mandrel I outwardly of the ring and having a frusto-conical outer peripheral surface at the end of the ring adjacent said one end of said packer sleeve, said frusto-conical outer peripheral surface of said ring being initially positioned in said annular groove in said packer sleeve and said ring being free to slide radially and to rotate with respect to said packer sleeve; a ring expanding member slidable on said mandrel adjacent that end of said expansible ring which is directed away from said packer sleeve, said ring expanding member having a frusto-conical portion insertible into the adjacent frusto-conical bore portion of said expansible ring in wedging engagement therewith, said ring and said one end of said packer sleeve thereby being expansible by said expanding member into continuous sealing contact with the inside surface of a surrounding casing, said expansible ring together with said expanding member sealing the annular space between said man-

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