Well packer apparatus

Claim 2

A well packer apparatus comprising: a body member movable longitudinally within a sleeve member that carries settable packing means adapted to sealingly engage a well conduit wall; normally retracted slip means, and expander means movable downwardly relative to said slip means for shifting said slip means outwardly into gripping contact with the well conduit wall; and hydraulic means surrounding a portion of said sleeve member and capable of movement lonGitudinally along said sleeve member and with respect to said body member, said hydraulic means being coupled to transmit downward force to said packing means and via said packing means to said expander means to retain said packing means and said slip means in set positions in response to greater fluid pressure in the well bore below said packing means than above said packing means.

Claim 3

The well packer apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hydraulic means includes a plurality of members arranged in series relationship, each of said members having an upwardly facing transverse surface subject to the pressure of fluids in the well bore below said packing means and a downwardly facing resultant transverse surface subject to the pressure of fluids in the well bore above said packing means.

Claim 4

The well packer apparatus of claim 2 further including a bypass passage between said body member and said sleeve member; valve means on said body member adapted to close off the upper end of said bypass passage; and means for preventing said valve means from closing off said bypass passage during longitudinal movement in a well conduit.

Claim 5

The well packer apparatus of claim 3 further including balancing means on said body member adapted, when said bypass passage is closed by said valve means, for forcing said body member downwardly in response to greater fluid pressure in the well bore below said packing means than above said packing means.

Claim 6

A well packer apparatus comprising: a body member carrying a packing structure including a sleeve member and packing means on said sleeve member adapted to sealingly engage a well conduit wall; slip means and expander means movable downwardly relative to said slip means for expanding said slip means into gripping contact with a well conduit wall; hydraulic means coupled to packing means and responsive to greater fluid pressure in the well bore below said packing means than above said packing means for forcing said packing means and said expander means downwardly to retain said slip means in expanded positions; and releasable means for locking said slip means in expanded positions while enabling longitudinal movement of said body member relative to said sleeve member.

Claim 7

A well packer apparatus comprising: a body member carrying a packing structure including a sleeve member and packing means on said sleeve member adapted to sealingly engage a well conduit wall; slip means and expander means movable downwardly relative to said slip means for expanding said slip means into gripping contact with a well conduit wall; hydraulic means coupled to packing means and responsive to greater fluid pressure in the well bore below said packing means than above said packing means for forcing said packing means and said expander means downwardly to retain said slip means in expanded positions; and releasable means for locking said slip means in expanded positions while enabling longitudinal movement of said body member relative to said sleeve member.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said releasable means includes laterally movable first gripping means on said sleeve member, second gripping means associated with said slip means and engageable with said first gripping means and a locking surface on said body member for holding said gripping means in engagement with each other to prevent relative movement between said sleeve member and said slip means.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 5 further including a fluid passageway between said sleeve member and said body member which can be opened to the well bore above and below said packing means; and valve means on said body member for selectively closing off said passageway from communication with the well bore above said packing means.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 further including passage means for feeding fluid pressure in said passageway to said hydraulic means.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said hydraulic means includes at least one piston and cylinder means coupled in force transmitting relationship to said packing means.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said piston and cylinder means is provided with an upwardly facing transverse surface subject to fluid pressure in the well bore below said packing means, and a downwardly facing resultant transverse surface subject to fluid pressure in the well bore above said packing means.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said hydraulic means includes a plurality of piston and cylinder combinations which are coupled in series relationship to each other and in force transmitting relationship to said packing means.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 where in each of said piston and cylinder combinations is provided with an upwardly facing transverse surface subject to fluid pressure in the well bore below said paCking means, and a downwardly facing resultant transverse surface which is subject to fluid pressure in the well bore above said packing means.

Claim 15

A well packer apparatus comprising: a body member adapted for connection to the lower end of a pipe string extending upwardly to the top of a well bore; a sleeve member mounted on said body member and laterally spaced therefrom to provide an annular fluid bypass passage therebetween that is open to the well bore at the upper end of said sleeve member; valve means on said body member and sleeve member for selectively closing off the upper end of said bypass passage; normally retracted packing means on said sleeve member adapted to be expanded outwardly into sealing engagement with a well conduit wall; normally retracted slip means and expander means below said packing means, said expander means being movable downwardly relative to said slip means for expanding said slip means outwardly into gripping engagement with a well conduit wall; drag means coupled to said slip means to enable relative movement; means responsive to downward movement of said sleeve member by said body member for expanding said packing means and said slip means; releasable means including coengageable latch elements on said sleeve member and said drag means for retaining said packing means and said slip means in expanded positions; and means on said body member for locking said latch elements in engaged relation during upward and downward movement of said body member relative to said sleeve member.

Claim 16

A well packer apparatus comprising: a body member adapted for connection to the lower end of a pipe string extending upwardly to the top of a well bore; a sleeve member mounted on said body member and laterally spaced therefrom to provide an annular fluid bypass passage therebetween that is open to the well bore at the upper end of said sleeve member; valve means on said body member and sleeve member for selectively closing off the upper end of said bypass passage; normally retracted packing means on said sleeve member adapted to be expanded outwardly into sealing engagement with a well conduit wall; normally retracted slip means and expander means below said packing means, said expander means being movable downwardly relative to said slip means for expanding said slip means outwardly into gripping engagement with a well conduit wall; drag means coupled to said slip means to enable relative movement; means responsive to downward movement of said sleeve member by said body member for expanding said packing means and said slip means; releasable means including coengageable latch elements on said sleeve member and said drag means for retaining said packing means and said slip means in expanded positions; and means on said body member for locking said latch elements in engaged relation during upward and downward movement of said body member relative to said sleeve member.

Claim 17

The well packer apparatus of Claim 13 further including hydraulic means above said packing means and responsive to greater fluid pressure in the well bore below said packing means than above said packing means for exerting downward force on said packing means and through said packing means to said expander means to restrain said packing means and said slip means in expanded positions.