Abstract: An improved cup packer for use on wellbore tools is disclosed. The open end of the cup packer bore is filled with an elastomer to prevent the intrusion of sand and debris into the space between the cup packer and the wellbore tool on which it is mounted. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the packer body includes an angularly protruding section at at least one of its ends, wherein the longitudinal dimension of the packer body is at its maximum at its bore. In an additional alternative embodiment of the invention, the open end of the packer is sealed by a screen to prevent the intrusion of sand and debris into the space between the cup packer and the wellbore tool on which it is mounted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for plugging a well. The apparatus includes a well barrier which may be connected to a pipe string and lowered into a well to a selected plug location. The barrier is held in place by the pipe string at the selected plug location. The well barrier will engage the well at the selected plug location. A plugging fluid is displaced through the pipe string and is communicated into the well above the barrier. The well barrier will catch the plugging fluid. After the plugging fluid gels sufficiently to support itself in the well, the pipe string which was utilized to lower the well barrier can be disconnected from the well barrier and removed from the well after the plugging fluid has been allowed to set to a sufficient gel strength. The well barrier consists of a support pipe connected to the pipe string, and a fluid barrier connected thereto.

Abstract: A tubular body or mandrel incorporated into a string of tubular pipe, on which first and second swab cups and a casing scraper are mounted, is run into a cased earth borehole to displace a first fluid in the borehole, usually a drilling fluid, with a second fluid, usually either a completion fluid or a workover fluid. In a first embodiment, reverse circulation, in which the second fluid is pumped into the borehole annulus above the swab cups, and in which the first fluid is thereby pumped back towards the earth's surface through the interior of the string of tubular pipe, causes displacement of the first fluid merely by lowering the string of pipe while pumping the second fluid into the borehole annulus. In a second embodiment, using normal circulation, the first fluid is pumped from the earth's surface downwardly through the interior of the string of tubular pipe into the borehole annulus between the pair of swab cups.

Abstract: A subterranean well tool is run through a well bore tubular and includes a well plug having an expandable elastomer member. An articulating anti-extrusion support system is provided for the well plug to resist extrusion of the elastomer. The system includes upper and lower platforms which are shiftable outwardly by a control mandrel. The platforms support extrusion resistors in the form of a series of crushable plates over which companion flexible cups are disposed and provide blade elements which may be flexibly positioned for inter-alignment around wing portions of the crushable plates for resistance of elastomeric extrusion. An elastomer member may include a series of spirable elastomeric sealing rings which, upon application of compressive load through the mandrel, expand in a helixical configuration through truncation initiation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tool and methods of placing a treatment fluid in a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore by way of selected perforations extending from casing cemented in the well bore into the formation. The fluid placement tool includes a fluid flow passageway extending therethrough, at least one resilient self expandable cup type packer attached thereto and a valve disposed in the fluid flow passageway which closes the passageway when a closing plug is dropped into the tool. The placement tool is capable of releasing the cup type packer whereby it provides a seal between the tool and the casing when a first predetermined fluid pressure is applied to the tool after a closing plug is dropped therein and opening the fluid flow passageway whereby the treatment fluid is discharged from the tool below the packer when the fluid pressure is increased to a second predetermined fluid pressure. Methods of using the tool are also provided.

Abstract: A resilient spider is mounted on a monitoring well section and has extension arms which, in a flexed condition, allow a desired vertical movement of the monitoring well relative to an auger in a borehole, and in an unflexed condition, may be used to secure the monitoring well in circumdisposed relationship to the lower end of the auger.

Abstract: A high pressure well cementing plug assembly for use in a pipe during the cementing of the pipe in a well bore is provided by the present invention. The assembly basically comprises top and bottom cementing plugs which include high strength inner tubes for supporting high differential pressures exerted on the plugs. The bottom end of the inner tube of the bottom plug is adapted to supportingly engage a float shoe or the like upon landing. Also, the bottom end of the inner tube of the top plug and the top end of the inner tube of the bottom plug are adapted to supportingly engage each other when the top plug lands on the bottom plug. The high strength inner tubes support high pressure differentials exerted on the plugs and prevent the plugs from collapsing or otherwise being damaged.

Abstract: A resilient spider is circumferentially mounted on a well section and has extension arms which, in a flexed condition, allow a desired vertical movement of the well relative to an auger in a borehole, and in an unflexed condition, may be used to secure the well in circumdisposed relationship to the lower end of the auger.

Abstract: An improved cup type packer cementing shoe comprising a single pump-out seat and all elastomeric sealing cups.

Abstract: An improved cup for use on pipeline pigs is formed of a unitary material, such as urethane, the cup having a forward end, a rearward end and a central axis and with an integral flange portion providing means for securing the cup to a pipeline pig, the cup having an intermediate portion extending rearwardly from the flange portion, the intermediate portion having an interior frustro-conical surface and an exterior frustro-conical surface and the cup having a rearward portion, the external surface of the rearward portion curving in an arc to a generally cylindrical configuration. The cup preferably has a plurality of slits formed in the rearward portion, each of the slits being in the plane of the cup central axis and most preferably includes V-shaped grooves in the cup rearward portion external and/or internal surfaces, the grooves being of V-shaped configuration.

Abstract: A lowerable-raisable ground water sampling device has an annular elastomeric seal for preventing the exchange of atmospheric gases with the ground water within a well casing. In its preferred form, the seal is a frusto-conical elastomeric disk mounted on the lower end of a water-extraction tube depending from the lower end of a water sampling unit. A fluid-actuator cylinder is floatable positioned on the tube for moving an annular wall structure downwardly against the disk upper surface, thus to decrease the cone angle of the frusto-conical surface to cause the outer edge of the disk to move out of sealing engagement with the well casing surface. When the fluid cylinder is depressurized, the frusto-conical disk automatically expands to seal against the well casing surface.

Abstract: A well installation is disclosed which has a production casing set in a subterranean well; a production tubing disposed within the production casing; an annular space defined between the production casing and the production tubing; and a packer for sealing the annular space, the packer having: a hollow metallic sleeve disposed on the production tubing, the hollow metallic sleeve having an inner cavity, the inner cavity being open at one end; an expandable member, contained within the inner cavity of the hollow metallic sleeve and extending from the open end of the inner cavity; and a wedge member disposed on the production tubing and contacting the expandable member, whereby compression of the packer causes radial expansion of the expandable member and of the hollow metallic sleeve, and whereby a first seal is formed between the production casing and the expandable member and a second seal is formed between the production casing and the cone-shaped hollow sleeve.

Abstract: A propulsion apparatus is provided for attachment to a selected tool for propelling and positioning the tool in a tubular member in response to fluid pressure in the tubular member and includes a tubular mandrel terminating in a lower free end, a tubular sleeve disposed over the mandrel and adapted for coaxial sliding movement with respect thereto, a cup assembly mounted on the sleeve and cooperating therewith and with the fluid pressure exerted within the tubular member for translating fluid differential pressure developed across the cup assembly into preselected propelling forces, and sleeve retaining means for cooperating with the sleeve and mandrel for positioning and retaining the sleeve in a first position with respect to the mandrel and transmitting the propelling forces to the mandrel and attached tool for propelling and positioning the tool to selected locations within the tubular member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved seal assembly for sealing between the interior sealing surface of a well housing and the exterior sealing surface of a hanger landed within the well housing and includes a seal body having a pair of outer lips diverging outwardly for sealing against the housing interior sealing surface and an interior series of annular ridges which have a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the hanger exterior sealing surface, an upper energizer and a lower energizer for coacting with said lips to move the lips into sealing position and to store the energy of setting to ensure sealing engagement of the lips. The shape of the sealing lips is such that they each provide a sealing surface and a ridge having a greater outer diameter than the sealing surface so that when the seal assembly is being run into the housing any scratches resulting from the engagement of the seal with the interior of the housing is on the ridges and not on the sealing surfaces.

Abstract: A packer apparatus, particularly a cup type casing packer shoe, includes a pressure-actuated closing sleeve and pressure-actuated pumpout seats. An upper pumpout seat moves with the closing sleeve in response to a first pressure so that the closing sleeve closes ports through which fluid is communicated to an annulus outside the apparatus. Both the upper pumpout seat and a lower pumpout seat and any intervening fluid are pumped out of the apparatus in response to a second, higher pressure so that the apparatus communicates with the well below the annulus without a drillout procedure having to be performed through the apparatus or a tubing string in which the apparatus is connected. A related method is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention is a packer which is a short pipe designed to attach to a screen or filter device at one end. The other end is designed to attach to the well pipe or nipple extension or provide a seat for a submersable pump. On the outside of the pipe are four annular rings to provide a seal between the packer and the adjacent strata of earth or pipe casing. Three of the four annular rings extend perpendicular from the pipe. The fourth which attaches to the end of the packer extends in an upwardly concave fashion from the short pipe. On the inside of the packer is an annular ridge in approximately the middle of the short pipe. This ridge keeps the well pipe, nipple extension, submersable pump, and the screen from touching when they are attached to the packer. The packer is made of plastic and can be cast in a single step process.

Abstract: A wellhead servicing tool is disclosed which comprises an axially shiftable cup which, in one position, virtually entirely surrounds the seal of the tool to facilitate its insertion into the casing of the wellhead. In another extreme position, the cup is shifted away from the seal releasing the latter into sealing engagement with the casing. A telescoping assembly extensible over the main tube of the device reinforces the tube prior to and during the securement to the casing to be serviced thus further facilitating the insertion of the tool into the casing of the services wellhead.

Abstract: A single wiper is releasably and sealably positioned adjacent the lower end an operating string and locked therewith to prevent premature release from the operating string upon manipulation of the operating string. The sealing relationship between the wiper and the operating string prevents communication of operating string pressure from the operating string to the resilient ribs of the wiper adjacent the position of the wiper on the operating string. When a pump down plug is sealably seated within the bore of the wiper, fluid pressure is confined to act on a piston between the operating string and the wiper to unlock the wiper from the operating string so that it may be released therefrom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a well annulus, the apparatus comprising a resilient sealing element molded in a upwardly oriented frustro-conical form affixed to a packer body. A running tool is mated with the packer body, the running tool having an internal bore adapted to collapse the sealing element to the diameter of the internal bore. The packer body is mated with a tubing screen by right hand threads and the running tool, packer body and tubing screen lowered into a well casing at the end of a pipe string. The well seal is activated when the pipe string is rotated in a clock-wise direction, disengaging and withdrawing the running tool and releasing the skirt which expands to seal with the internal walls of the casing.

Abstract: A bridge plug for sealing a well casing comprises a plurality of cups which tightly interfit together when a compressive load is applied to both opposite ends of the plurality of cups. Application of the compressive load to both opposite ends of the cups forces a first cup to fit into a second cup, the second cup to fit into a third cup, and the third cup to fit into a fourth cup, etc., thereby producing a single unitary plug which includes a plurality of tightly interfit cups. Further application of the compressive load to both opposite ends causes transverse expansion of the plurality of interfit cups to occur. When the cups contact the well casing wall, a permanent seal is achieved between the cups and the well casing wall. Anchor elements on both sides of the cups contact the well casing wall and permanently hold the interfitting cups in their compressed condition.

Abstract: A cup type formation packer shoe is provided to be used in well cementing operations for cementing either casing or tubing in existing casing in a well bore. This packer shoe includes packer cups which are forced into sealing engagement with the existing casing by the cement being displaced into the annulus between the existing casing and the new casing. Further, the packer cups support the column of cement in the annulus preventing flow downwardly past the packer shoe.

Abstract: A well sealing apparatus, and method of use, which seals between tubular goods and a well casing without the use of a sealing tool run separately. The apparatus has a resilient skirt which is sealed against the well casing by split rings which are released from containment by the assembly as the assembly is released from the drill pipe.

Abstract: A well clean-out tool comprising a ported nipple, thimble, packer cup, packer cup mandrel and an inner mandrel.

Abstract: A wellbore packer capable of sealing a tubing string within a wellbore casing or wellbore is described.

Abstract: A seal assembly for sealing across the annulus in a subsea wellhead having pressure enhancement provided behind at least one of the sealing surfaces to ensure a positive metal-to-metal sealing. In the preferred form of the invention the seal assembly includes upper sealing lips which diverge upwardly away from each other into sealing engagement with the sealing surfaces against which they are to seal, lower sealing lips which diverge downwardly away from each other into sealing engagement with the sealing surfaces against which they are to seal, and a rim secured to one of the wellhead members and space therefrom to provide a recess behind the rim and open to pressure which is directed toward the sealing lip which is to seal against such sealing surface to provide a pressure energized enhancement of the sealing engagement of the lips against said sealing surface. In other forms of the invention at least one of the rims may be used.

Abstract: A wiper for a wellbore plug which is rigid for breaking off breakaway members and wellbore plug having a first wiper flexible enough to bypass breakaway members and a second wiper rigid enough for breaking off the bypassed members.

Abstract: A wellbore plug having a wiper disposed in inverted position which, in one embodiment, reinforces a conventionally disposed wiper of the plug. A plug wiper is provided which has a conventional cone-shaped portion and an opposing reinforcing portion, cone-shaped or otherwise. A plug wiper is provided which has no threads for mating with other parts of the plug, but which has a hollow recess for emplacing the wiper on a plug shaft.

Abstract: An annulus pressure operated ratchet device for use in a well bore. A mandrel includes an upwardly-directed elastomeric cup which is slidingly received over the mandrel. A sleeve is slidingly received over the mandrel beneath the cup and a ratchet disposed between the sleeve and the mandrel permits only downward movement of the sleeve. An elastomeric packer is received about the mandrel between the sleeve and an upwardly-directed shoulder. Annulus pressure urges the cup and sleeve downwardly to compress the packer thereby sealingly engaging it with the casing. The shoulder beneath the packer is threadably engaged with the mandrel by a left-hand thread. Right-hand mandrel rotation unthreads the connection thereby releasing the packer.

Abstract: A packer for effecting steam treatment of a production formation of a subterranean well comprises an insulated mandrel which is slidably inserted within the bore of an inner tubular body assembly. An outer operative tubular assembly surrounds the inner assembly and mounts a plurality of drag blocks, upper and lower cone elements, a plurality of radially displaceable slips cooperating with the upper and lower cone elements, and an outer packing element fabricated by an assemblage of high temperature resistant, non-resilient seal elements formed primarily of graphite. An inner packing element is provided in the inner tubular body assembly, utilizing additional high temperature resistant, non-resilient seal elements formed primarily of graphite, which sealingly engages the insulated mandrel.

Abstract: Gas and oil well swabs, particularly a dynamic seal for maintaining gas-tight contact between the moving swab and the well casing. The seal includes a reinforcing tube and a flexible annulus having an upper throat portion complementally engaging the exterior of the reinforcing tube and a lower bell-shaped skirt portion, engageable with the well casing. The lower bell-shaped skirt portion of the seal defines an expansion chamber for the well gas, which lifts the swab.

Abstract: A bridge plug for use in plugging a well at a subterranean location and adapted to be set in place by insertion through a tubing string. The bridge plug comprises an elongated vent tube supporting upper and lower petal basket structures, each of which comprises a plurality of petal leaves movable between a retracted position and an expanded position. In the expanded positions the petal leaves for the upper and lower baskets form conical configurations which face upwardly and downwardly respectively. Upper and lower fabric bags cover the respective petal basket structures respectively and extend over the inner and outer surfaces of the petal leaves. Each of the petal basket structures are further provided with conically shaped liners formed of an impermeable material inside the bags and interposed between the inner surfaces of the petal leaves and the conforming portions of the bags. The liners may be formed of an adhesion-resistant material such as fiber-glass fabric coated with a polytetrafluoroethylene.

Abstract: A wireline supported mechanically operable packer device (10) for use in a drill string (DS) casing (C) and attached core drill bit (B) raised off the bottom of a borehole and testing the formation below has a housing (12) adapted to engage an arresting internal shoulder (S) of the core drill bit (B). A hollow inner mandrel (40) slideable in the housing has attached thereto a packer seal cup (P) an O-ring seal (P) expander (50) weight means (60) and wireline means (70) (80) moveable between stops (16) (18) determining the extended and contracted positions thereof relative to the housing.

Abstract: A combination cementing shoe and basket, comprising a substantially tubular mandrel having a cement basket disposed thereabout, the cement basket being maintained in a collapsed mode by an annular overshot at the bottom of a coupling at the top of the mandrel. A flapper valve assembly is located within the mandrel, being maintained in an open mode by the presence of a fillup tube disposed in the valve orifice. The bottom of the fillup tube is secured to a slidable ball seat located below the flapper valve assembly. The ball seat is initially secured in place by attachment through a plurality of shear rods to a tubular activating sleeve disposed around the mandrel and under the cement basket, the activating sleeve being maintained in its initial position by contact with the bottom of the cement basket, which is fixed to the mandrel by a shear screw.

Abstract: In a geothermal production well, oil well or gas well, a thermally energized packer cup having a tapered elastomer body and a reinforcing element fabricated from a shape memory alloy seals the well casing when the packer cup is heated to the transformation temperature of the shape memory alloy.

Abstract: An improved pipe wiper and cup therefor having at least one cup-like wiper lip which is strengthened by a plurality of radial webs which tend to keep the wiper lip from turning wrong side out, the wiper lip also having a plurality of external annular ridges whose diameters correspond to conventional pipe sizes so that the lip can be trimmed to proper size before use leaving an external ridge on the outer edge of the lip to enhance the wiping efficiency of the lip.

Abstract: A packer nose assembly for pumping downhole equipment of the free type into and out of a tubing string located within a borehole. The assembly includes a mandrel having a lower end portion attachable to the downhole equipment and an upper end portion terminating in the form of a fishing neck. One or more packers are slidably received in a telescoping manner upon the mandrel and fixed in spaced-apart relationship respective to one another by spaced sleeves which are likewise slidably received upon the mandrel. Each packer is cylindrical in form and includes a resilient cup member which is affixed to the mandrel by a mount member. A marginal end of the cup is in the form of a lip which circumferentially extends about the mandrel and is biased into sealed engagement with the tubing wall. A marginal end of the mount member is in the form of a skirt which protects the cup member from damage.

Abstract: A packer nose assembly for a downhole, hydraulically actuated pump of the free-type. The packer nose assembly is connected to the upper end of the pump device, and includes a packer apparatus interposed between the pump and a pair of seal cups. The seal cups are identical in construction and inverted respective to one another. The seal cups and the packer device are of annular construction and are telescopingly received in axially aligned relationship upon a mandrel. The mandrel is attached to the upper end of the pump. The cups enable the entire pump assembly to be pumped into and out of a borehole. The pump is circulated downhole through a power oil tubing string where the inlet end of the pump is seated against a conventional seating shoe. Thereafter, power fluid flows down the tubing and into the upper end of the mandrel, and through the central passageway of the mandrel to the valve assembly of the pump engine.

Abstract: A well swab cup has an annular bushing for supporting a plurality of longitudinally extending wire reinforcing members within an elastomeric cup-like body. The reinforcing members are supported by a base cup around the lower portion of the bushing and extending upward within the body. An internal elongated hollow reinforcing member extends upward from the base cup within the pattern of the wire reinforcing members and within the elastomeric, cup-like body.

Abstract: A seal system for a wellhead isolation tool diffuser utilizing elastomeric cup-shaped seals installed on the exterior of the diffuser, which is inserted into the production tubing at the wellhead. After insertion of the diffuser, the production tubing is pressurized, and the seals are set against the interior of the production tubing by the pressure in the well, effecting a tight seal.

Abstract: A blowout preventer assembly for sealing off a well blowout within the confines of the drill stem is disclosed. The blowout preventer assembly comprises an elongated collar member which is located around and is slidable along a section of the drill pipe. Each end of the collar member has an expandable portion made of rubber or the like, which is capable of being expanded to the width of the drill pipe casing. Fixedly attached to the section of drill pipe at a location above the slidable collar member is a rigid metal collar section having around its circumference a plurality of equally-spaced wing flanges tapering down from a right angle at the top of the fixed collar to a slope at the lower end thereof.

Abstract: A wiper for wiping liquids from the interior walls of various tubular members, such as drill pipe, tubing, casing or internal upset pipe is disclosed which is particularly useful in drilling and workover as the tubular members are withdrawn from a well bore. Features of the wiper include the ability to readily and easily pass through and wipe liquids from restricted passages or bores such as internal upset pipe, means for centralizing the wiper in the passages or bore for efficient wiping, pressure equalization for equalizing pressures within the wiper with outside pressures encountered within the well bore, made from materials which will not create an explosive condition in use, and ease of manufacture, assembly and disassembly, so that the wiper can be manufactured easily, readily and inexpensively, and repairs and replacement of wear prone parts can be readily and inexpensively made. Other features and advantages are disclosed.

Abstract: An improved diffuser for a wellhead isolation tool which employs a combination of angles in its bore. This improvement reduces the incidence of erosion caused by the flow of fluids through the diffuser, in both the well production tubing adjacent the end of the diffuser and in the diffuser itself.

Abstract: A packer nose assembly for pumping downhole equipment of the free type into and out of boreholes. The assembly includes a mandrel having a lower end portion attachable to the downhole equipment and an upper end portion terminating in the form of a fishing neck. One or more packers are slidably received in a telescoping manner upon the mandrel and anchored into position by spaced sleeves which are likewise slidably received upon the mandrel. The packer is cylindrical in form and includes a plurality of spaced fins formed about the exterior thereof with each fin being circumferentially disposed about and radiating from the body portion. The fins taper in thickness in an outward direction from the body portion.

Abstract: This patent application discloses a swab mandrel having thereon a swab with reinforcing wires imbedded at approximately the mid-point of the wall of the swab for a substantial distance to permit the swab to have fluid film lubrication with the tubing in which the wires at the upper end of the swab are approximately at the outer diameter of the swab and are sled shaped to bridge couplings in a tubing. The swab further has a restraining ring around the lower end thereof which supports the body of resilient material and restrains outward movement but is spaced from the wires to permit the wires to move radially outward a limited distance. To insure that a proper support is provided for the swab both above and below a special two piece support is provided for engagement with the bottom of the swab and with the top of the reinforcing wires.

Abstract: A test cup for pressure testing tubing comprising an elastomeric sleeve having a belled end, and further including an axially extending tubular portion positioned concentrically within the belled end and defining therewith a fluid-receiving cavity. The tubular portion is mounted to an internal metallic tube which projects axially into the sleeve beyond the reach of the fluid-receiving cavity in concentric relation to the bore through the sleeve. At its end opposite the belled end, the sleeve has embedded therein a plurality of circumferentially spaced reinforcing ring segments of generally L-shaped cross-section.

Abstract: A tubular, flexible rubber-like junk boot is positioned on the lower end of a drill string, blade-type stabilizer to catch small but dense particles of debris which are not removed from the hole by the drilling fluid. The boot has means on its lower end for clamping the boot in place.

Abstract: A steam injection system including a steam deflector connectable into a tubing string which steam deflector provides for selectively passing steam through the tubing string to the bottom thereof or diverting steam from inside the tubing string out into the wall liner-tubing annulus and in a direction concentric with and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubing string and above the bottom end thereof utilizing a sliding-sleeve arrangement and packer cup means packing off the well liner-tubing annulus both above and below the steam deflector.

Abstract: An oilwell swab cup is formed by clamping a plurality of vertical wire members in a circular U-shaped cup and molding an elastomeric material around the wires and cup.

Abstract: There is disclosed a means for use in plugging a well including a flexible plug member having a series of alternating long and short fingers radiating outwards from a central area, the fingers having projections for engaging with the wall of the well and together forming a cup-shaped plug to hold concrete poured into the mouth of the well to provide a plug.

Abstract: A wiper for wiping liquids from the interior walls of various tubular members, such as drill pipe, tubing, casing or internal upset pipe is disclosed which is particularly useful in drilling and workover as the tubular members are withdrawn from a well bore. Features of the wiper include the ability to readily and easily pass through and wipe liquids from restricted passages or bores such as internal upset pipe, means for centralizing the wiper in the passages or bore for efficient wiping, pressure equalization for equalizing pressures within the wiper with outside pressures encountered within the well bore, made from materials which will not create an explosive condition in use, and ease of manufacture, assembly and disassembly, so that the wiper can be manufactured easily, readily and inexpensively, and repairs and replacement of wear prone parts can be readily and inexpensively made. Other features and advantages are disclosed.