Retrievable packer apparatus for use in a well bore and method of prolonging its operating life

Claim 2

A packer apparatus for use in a well bore, said apparatus comprising: mandrel means operable, when disposed in a well bore, to be connected at an upper portion with support means; an upper slip assembly mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; body means mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; packer means carried by said body means; upper slip actuating means carried by said body means and operAble to exert upwardly directed slip actuating force on said upper slip assembly in said well bore; equalizing valve means including first passage means interposed radially between said mandrel means and said body means, second passage means carried by said body means, disposed beneath said packer means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, and providing fluid communication between said well bore and said first passage means, third passage means carried by said upper body means, disposed above said packer means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, and operable to provide fluid communication between said first passage means and said well bore, sleeve valve means carried by said mandrel means, seat means carried by said body means and operable to valvingly receive said sleeve valve means, said seat means being interposed longitudinally between said second and third passage means, with valving engagement between said valve means and said seat means substantially blocking fluid communication between said second passage means and said third passage means, said sleeve valve means being spaced longitudinally above said seat means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore and said mandrel means is blocked against downward longitudinal movement relative to said body means, said sleeve valve means including valve body means projecting generally radially outwardly of said mandrel means, fourth passage means extending longitudinally entirely through said valve body means, first ledge means projecting generally radially outwardly of said valve body means, piston means mounted for longitudinal movement on said valve body means and disposed, when in said well bore, with its lower end in continuous fluid communication with said third passage means, second ledge means carried by said body means and projecting generally radially inwardly thereof, said first and second ledge means being operable to permit but limit longitudinal movement of said piston means relative to said valve body means, with said piston means being alternately engageable with said first and second ledge means, enclosure means defined by said mandrel means and said body means and operable to define a cavity communicating with the upper end of said fourth passage means and the upper end of said piston means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said fourth passage means being disposed in continuous fluid communication with said first passage means, first, relatively rigid, seal means carried by said valve body means and operable to provide a relatively low pressure seal with said seat means, second, relatively deformable, seal means carried by said valve body means above said first seal means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore and operable to provide a relatively high pressure seal with said seat means, and packer setting abutment means carried by said valve body means, disposed above said second seal means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, and operable to abuttingly engage said body means and transfer packer means compressing force longitudinally downwardly from said mandrel means to said body means.

Claim 3

A packer apparatus for use in a well bore, said apparatus comprising: mandrel means operable, when disposed in a well bore, to be connected at an upper portion with support means; an upper slip assembly mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; upper body means disposed beneath said upper slip assembly when said apparatus is disposed in a well bore, said upper body means being mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; lower body means mounted beneath said upper body means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said lower body means being mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; a lower slip assembly mounted for longitudinal movement on said lower body means; first spline means interconnecting said mandrel means and said upper body means and operable to permit longitudinal movement of said mandrel means relative to said upper body means while substantially preventing relative rotational movement between said upper body means and said mandrel means; second spline means interconnecting said upper body means and said lower body means, said second spline means being operable to permit longitudinal movement of said upper body means relative to said lower body means while substantially preventing relative rotational movement between said upper and lower body means; a piston and cylinder assembly interconnecting said upper body means and said lower body means, said piston and cylinder assembly including cylinder means carried by said upper body means and having an open lower end when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, and piston means carried by said lower body means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said piston means being telescopingly received within said cylinder means, said cylinder means defining a relatively lower pressure zone; and ratchet means operable to ratchettingly interconnect said upper body means and said lower body means and permit downward movement only of said upper body means relative to said lower body means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said ratchet means including longitudinally extending ratchet surface means carried by said lower body means, ratchet teeth means carried by said upper body means and secured against longitudinal movement relative thereto, and ratchet teeth disabling means carried by said mandrel means and operable, in response to downward movement of said mandrel means relative to said upper body means, to permit said ratchet teeth means to ratchettingly engage said ratchet surface means, said ratchet teeth disabling means being operable, in response to upward movement of said mandrel means relative to said lower body means, to engage said ratchet teeth means and move said ratchet teeth means generally outwardly of said mandrel means and out of ratchetting engagement with said ratchet surface means subsequent to longitudinal separation of said sleeve means and said upper slip expander means, and subsequent to longitudinal separation of said sleeve means and said upper slip expander means, and subsequent to longitudinal separation of said upper slip means and said upper expander means.

Claim 4

A packer apparatus for use in a well bore, said apparatus comprising: mandrel means operable, when disposed in a well bore, to be connected at an upper portion with support means; an upper slip assembly mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; upper body means disposed beneath said upper slip assembly when said apparatus is disposed in a well bore, said upper body means being mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; lower body means mounted beneath said upper body means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said lower body means being mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; a lower slip assembly mounted for longitudinal movement on said lower body means; first spline means interconnecting said mandrel means and said upper body means and operable to permit longitudinal movement of said mandrel means relative to said upper body means while substantially preventing relative rotational movement between said upper body means and said mandrel means; second spline means interconnecting said upper body means and said lower body means, said second spline means being operable to permit longitudinal movement of said upper body means relative to said lower body means while substantially preventing relative rotational movement between said upper and lower body means; a piston and cylinder assembly interconnecting said upper body means and said lower body means, said piston and cylinder assembly including cylinder means carried by said upper body means and having an open lower end when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, and piston means carried by said lower body means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said piston means being telescopingly received within said cylinder means, said cylinder means defining a relatively lower pressure zone; and ratchet means operable to ratchettingly interconnect said upper body means and said lower body means and permit downward movement only of said upper body means relative to said lower body means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said ratchet means including longitudinally extending ratchet surface means carried by said lower body means, ratchet teeth means carried by said upper body means and secured against longitudinal movement relative thereto, and ratchet teeth disabling means carried by said mandrel means and operable, in response to downward movement of said mandrel means relative to said upper body means, to permit said ratchet teeth means to ratchettingly engage said ratchet surface means, said ratchet teeth disabling means being operable, in response to upward movement of said mandrel means relative to said lower body means, to engage said ratchet teeth means and move said ratchet teeth means generally outwardly of said mandrel means and out of ratchetting engagement with said ratchet surface means subsequent to longitudinal separation of said sleeve means and said upper slip expander means, and subsequent to longitudinal separation of said sleeve means and said upper slip expander means, and subsequent to longitudinal separation of said upper slip means and said upper expander means.

Claim 5

A packer apparatus for use in a well bore, said apparatus comprising: mandrel means operable, when disposed in a well bore, to be connected at an upper portion with support means; a slip assembly mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; upper body means disposed beneath said upper slip assembly when said apparatus is disposed in a well bore, said upper body means being mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; lower body means mounted beneath said upper body means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said lower body means being mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; said slip assembly including, slip housing means, slip means mounted on said slip housing means and operable to move generally radially outwardly of said mandrel means, first abutment means carried by said mandrel means and facing generally downwardly when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, second abutment means carried by said slip housing means and facing generally upwardly when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, compression ring means carried by said slip housing means and adapted to seat on said second abutment means, longitudinally compressible spring means interposed longitudinally between said compression ring means and said first abutment means, and third abutment means carried by said mandrel means, disposed beneath said compression ring means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, aNd operable to abuttingly engage said compression ring means in response to upward movement of said mandrel means within said well bore and induce upward movement of said compression ring means tending to compress said spring means when said slip housing means is restrained against upward movement in said well bore by said slip means; slip actuating means including slip expanding means carried by said upper body means, said slip expanding means being mounted for generally radially outward movement on said upper body means and providing, when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, slip expanding surface means, sleeve means mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means, said sleeve means being operable, in response to downward movement of said mandrel means in said well bore relative to said upper body means, to engage said slip expanding means and induce generally radially outward movement thereof and being operable in response to upward movement of said mandrel means in said well bore relative to said upper body means, to engage and exert a lifting force on said slip housing means, first and second stop means carried by said mandrel means, spaced longitudinally thereof, and operable to permit but limit longitudinal movement of said sleeve means; ratchet means operable to ratchettingly interconnect said upper body means and said lower body means and permit downward movement only of said upper body means relative to said lower body means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said ratchet means including longitudinally extending ratchet surface means carried by said lower body means, ratchet teeth means carried by said upper body means and secured against longitudinal movement relative thereto, ratchet teeth disabling means carried by said mandrel means and operable, in response to downward movement of said mandrel means relative to said upper body means, to permit said ratchet teeth means to ratchettingly engage said ratchet surface means, said ratchet teeth disabling means being operable, in response to upward movement of said mandrel means relative to said lower body means, to engage said ratchet teeth means and move said ratchet teeth means generally outwardly of said mandrel means and out of ratchetting engagement with said ratchet surface means subsequent to longitudinal separation of said sleeve means and said slip expanding means, and subsequent to longitudinal separation of said slip means and said slip expanding means; and a packer assembly including longitudinally compressible and generally radially expansible packer means carried by said lower body means, lower packer engaging means carried by said lower body means and disposed beneath said packer means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said lower packer engaging means being fixedly positioned on said lower body means, and upper packer engaging means carried by said upper body means and disposed above said packer means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, packer supporting wall means, said upper packer engaging means being operable to converge longitudinally with said lower packer engaging means in response to longitudinal converging movement of said upper and said lower body means and induce longitudinal compression and generally radial expansion of said packer means; said ratchet teeth disabling means being engageable with said ratchet teeth means when packer means induced separation of said upper and lower packer engaging means is insufficient to cause movement of said upper body means sufficient to reengage said slip means and slip expander means.

Claim 6

A packer apparatus for use in a well bore, said apparatus comprising: mandrel means operable, when disposed in a well bore, to be connected at an upper portion with support means; a slip assembly mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; upper body means disposed beneath said upper slip assembly when said apparatus is disposed in a well bore, said upper body means being mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; lower body means mounted beneath said upper body means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said lower body means being mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; said slip assembly including, slip housing means, slip means mounted on said slip housing means and operable to move generally radially outwardly of said mandrel means, first abutment means carried by said mandrel means and facing generally downwardly when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, second abutment means carried by said slip housing means and facing generally upwardly when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, compression ring means carried by said slip housing means and adapted to seat on said second abutment means, longitudinally compressible spring means interposed longitudinally between said compression ring means and said first abutment means, and third abutment means carried by said mandrel means, disposed beneath said compression ring means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, aNd operable to abuttingly engage said compression ring means in response to upward movement of said mandrel means within said well bore and induce upward movement of said compression ring means tending to compress said spring means when said slip housing means is restrained against upward movement in said well bore by said slip means; slip actuating means including slip expanding means carried by said upper body means, said slip expanding means being mounted for generally radially outward movement on said upper body means and providing, when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, slip expanding surface means, sleeve means mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means, said sleeve means being operable, in response to downward movement of said mandrel means in said well bore relative to said upper body means, to engage said slip expanding means and induce generally radially outward movement thereof and being operable in response to upward movement of said mandrel means in said well bore relative to said upper body means, to engage and exert a lifting force on said slip housing means, first and second stop means carried by said mandrel means, spaced longitudinally thereof, and operable to permit but limit longitudinal movement of said sleeve means; ratchet means operable to ratchettingly interconnect said upper body means and said lower body means and permit downward movement only of said upper body means relative to said lower body means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said ratchet means including longitudinally extending ratchet surface means carried by said lower body means, ratchet teeth means carried by said upper body means and secured against longitudinal movement relative thereto, ratchet teeth disabling means carried by said mandrel means and operable, in response to downward movement of said mandrel means relative to said upper body means, to permit said ratchet teeth means to ratchettingly engage said ratchet surface means, said ratchet teeth disabling means being operable, in response to upward movement of said mandrel means relative to said lower body means, to engage said ratchet teeth means and move said ratchet teeth means generally outwardly of said mandrel means and out of ratchetting engagement with said ratchet surface means subsequent to longitudinal separation of said sleeve means and said slip expanding means, and subsequent to longitudinal separation of said slip means and said slip expanding means; and a packer assembly including longitudinally compressible and generally radially expansible packer means carried by said lower body means, lower packer engaging means carried by said lower body means and disposed beneath said packer means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said lower packer engaging means being fixedly positioned on said lower body means, and upper packer engaging means carried by said upper body means and disposed above said packer means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, packer supporting wall means, said upper packer engaging means being operable to converge longitudinally with said lower packer engaging means in response to longitudinal converging movement of said upper and said lower body means and induce longitudinal compression and generally radial expansion of said packer means; said ratchet teeth disabling means being engageable with said ratchet teeth means when packer means induced separation of said upper and lower packer engaging means is insufficient to cause movement of said upper body means sufficient to reengage said slip means and slip expander means.

Claim 7

A packer apparatus for use in a well bore, said apparatus comprising: mandrel means operable, when disposed in a well bore, to be connected at an upper portion with support means; a slip assembly mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; body means mounted for longitudinal movemEnt on said mandrel means; said slip assembly including, slip housing means, slip means mounted on said slip housing means and operable to move generally radially outwardly of said mandrel means, first abutment means carried by said mandrel means, second abutment means carried by said slip housing means, compression ring means carried by said slip housing means and adapted to seat on one of said abutment means, longitudinally compressible spring means interposed longitudinally between said compression ring means and the other of said abutment means, and third abutment means carried by said mandrel means and operable to abuttingly engage said compression ring means in response to longitudinal movement of said mandrel means within said well bore and induce longitudinal movement of said compression ring means tending to compress said spring means when said slip housing means is restrained against longitudinal movement in said well bore by said slip means; slip actuating means including slip expanding means carried by said body means, said slip expanding means being mounted for generally radially outward movement on said body means and providing, when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, slip expanding surface means, sleeve means mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means, said sleeve means being operable, in response to longitudinal movement of said mandrel means in said well bore relative to said body means, to engage said slip expanding means and induce generally radially outward movement thereof, first and second stop means carried by said mandrel means, spaced longitudinally thereof, and operable to permit but limit longitudinal movement of said sleeve means.

Claim 8

A packer apparatus for use in a well bore, said apparatus comprising: mandrel means operable, when disposed in a well bore, to be connected at an upper portion with support means; a slip assembly mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; body means mounted for longitudinal movemEnt on said mandrel means; said slip assembly including, slip housing means, slip means mounted on said slip housing means and operable to move generally radially outwardly of said mandrel means, first abutment means carried by said mandrel means, second abutment means carried by said slip housing means, compression ring means carried by said slip housing means and adapted to seat on one of said abutment means, longitudinally compressible spring means interposed longitudinally between said compression ring means and the other of said abutment means, and third abutment means carried by said mandrel means and operable to abuttingly engage said compression ring means in response to longitudinal movement of said mandrel means within said well bore and induce longitudinal movement of said compression ring means tending to compress said spring means when said slip housing means is restrained against longitudinal movement in said well bore by said slip means; slip actuating means including slip expanding means carried by said body means, said slip expanding means being mounted for generally radially outward movement on said body means and providing, when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, slip expanding surface means, sleeve means mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means, said sleeve means being operable, in response to longitudinal movement of said mandrel means in said well bore relative to said body means, to engage said slip expanding means and induce generally radially outward movement thereof, first and second stop means carried by said mandrel means, spaced longitudinally thereof, and operable to permit but limit longitudinal movement of said sleeve means.

Claim 9

A packer apparatus for use in a well bore, said apparatus comprising: mandrel means operable, when disposed in a well bore, to be connected at an upper portion with support means; body means mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; a slip assembly mounted for longitudinal movement on said lower body means; spline means interconnecting said mandrel means and said body means and operable to permit longitudinal movement of said mandrel means relative to said body means while substantially preventing relative rotational movement between said upper body means and said mandrel means; said slip assembly including slip housing means mounted for longitudinal movement on said body means, slip means carried by said slip housing means, drag means carried by said slip housing means, projecting generally outwardly thereof, and operable to frictionally engage the inner periphery of said well bore, and lug and slot means interconnecting said slip housing means and said body means and operable to selectively permit and prevent longitudinal movement of said body means relative to said slip housing means through a longitudinal movement increment; selectively releasable, longitudinal force transmitting coupling means interposed between said body means and said mandrel means, said selectively releasable coupling means including ball means carried by said body means, fixedly positioned against longitudinal movement relative to said body means, and operable to move radially outwardly of said body means, shoulder means carried by said mandrel means and operable to engage said ball means and transmit longitudinal force from said mandrel means through said ball means to said body means when said ball means are disposed in a radially innermost position on said body means, ball restraining means carried by said slip housing means and operable to prevent radially outward movement of said ball means relative to said body means when said lug and slot means is operable to substantially prevent said increment of longitudinal movement of said body means relative to said slip housing means, and recess means carried by said slip housing means and operable to permit generalLy radially outward movement of said ball means relative to said body means out of force transmitting engagement with said shoulder means in response to said increment of longitudinal movement.

Claim 10

A packer apparatus for use in a well bore, said apparatus comprising: mandrel means operable, when disposed in a well bore, to be connected at an upper portion with support means; body means mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; a slip assembly mounted for longitudinal movement on said lower body means; spline means interconnecting said mandrel means and said body means and operable to permit longitudinal movement of said mandrel means relative to said body means while substantially preventing relative rotational movement between said upper body means and said mandrel means; said slip assembly including slip housing means mounted for longitudinal movement on said body means, slip means carried by said slip housing means, drag means carried by said slip housing means, projecting generally outwardly thereof, and operable to frictionally engage the inner periphery of said well bore, and lug and slot means interconnecting said slip housing means and said body means and operable to selectively permit and prevent longitudinal movement of said body means relative to said slip housing means through a longitudinal movement increment; selectively releasable, longitudinal force transmitting coupling means interposed between said body means and said mandrel means, said selectively releasable coupling means including ball means carried by said body means, fixedly positioned against longitudinal movement relative to said body means, and operable to move radially outwardly of said body means, shoulder means carried by said mandrel means and operable to engage said ball means and transmit longitudinal force from said mandrel means through said ball means to said body means when said ball means are disposed in a radially innermost position on said body means, ball restraining means carried by said slip housing means and operable to prevent radially outward movement of said ball means relative to said body means when said lug and slot means is operable to substantially prevent said increment of longitudinal movement of said body means relative to said slip housing means, and recess means carried by said slip housing means and operable to permit generalLy radially outward movement of said ball means relative to said body means out of force transmitting engagement with said shoulder means in response to said increment of longitudinal movement.

Claim 11

A packer apparatus for use in a well bore, said apparatus comprising: mandrel means operable, when disposed in a well bore, to be connected at an upper portion with support means; an upper slip assembly mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; upper body means disposed beneath said upper slip assembly when said apparatus is disposed in a well bore, said upper body means being mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; lower body means mounted beneath said upper body means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said lower body means being mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; a lower slip assembly mounted for longitudinal movement on said lower body means; first spline means interconnecting said mandrel means and said upper body means and operable to permit longitudinal movement of said mandrel means relative to said upper body means while substantially preventing relative rotational movement between said upper body means and said mandrel means; second spline means interconnecting said upper body means and said lower body means, said second spline means being operable to permit longitudinal movement of said upper body means relative to said lower body means while substantially preventing relative rotational movement between said upper and lower body means; upper slip actuating means carried by said upper body means; a piston and cylinder assembly interconnecting said upper body means and said lower body means; ratchet means operable to ratchettingly interconnect said upper body means and said lower body means and selectively permit downward movement only of said upper body means relative to said lower body means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore; a packer assembly carried by said lower body means and actuatable by movement of said upper body means relative to said lower body means; selectively releasable, longitudinal force transmitting coupling means interposed between said lower body means and said mandrel means; equalizing valve means carried by said mandrel means and operable to selectively equalize pressure across said packer assembly; mandrel, pressure balancing means operable to pressure balance said mandrel means with respect to pressure acting therewithin; and lower slip actuating means carried by said lower body means.

Claim 12

A packer apparatus for use in a well bore, said apparatus comprising: mandrel means operable, when disposed in a well bore, to be connected at an upper portion with support means; an upper slip assembly mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; upper body means disposed beneath said upper slip assembly when said apparatus is disposed in a well bore, said upper body means being mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; lower body means mounted beneath said upper body means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said lower body means being mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; a lower slip assembly mounted for longitudinal movement on said lower body means; first spline means interconnecting said mandrel means and said upper body means and operable to permit longitudinal movement of said mandrel means relative to said upper body means while substantially preventing relative rotational movement between said upper body means and said mandrel means; second spline means interconnecting said upper body means and said lower body means, said second spline means being operable to permit longitudinal movement of said upper body means relative to said lower body means while substantially preventing relative rotational movement between said upper and lower body means; upper slip actuating means carried by said upper body means; a piston and cylinder assembly interconnecting said upper body means and said lower body means; ratchet means operable to ratchettingly interconnect said upper body means and said lower body means and selectively permit downward movement only of said upper body means relative to said lower body means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore; a packer assembly carried by said lower body means and actuatable by movement of said upper body means relative to said lower body means; selectively releasable, longitudinal force transmitting coupling means interposed between said lower body means and said mandrel means; equalizing valve means carried by said mandrel means and operable to selectively equalize pressure across said packer assembly; mandrel, pressure balancing means operable to pressure balance said mandrel means with respect to pressure acting therewithin; and lower slip actuating means carried by said lower body means.

Claim 13

An apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said equalizing valve means includes first passage means interposed radially between said mandrel means and said upper and lower body means; second passage means carried by said lower body means, disposed beneath said packer assembly when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, and providing fluid communication between said well bore and said first passage means; third passage means carried by said upper housing means, disposed above said packer assembly when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, and operable to provide fluid communication between said first passage means and said well bore; sleeve valve means carried by said mandrel means; seat means carried by said upper body means and operable to valvingly receive said sleeve valve means, said seat means being interposed longitudinally between said second and third passage means, with valving engagement between said sleeve valve means and said seat means substantially blocking fluid communication between said second passage means and said third passage means; said sleeve valve means being spaced longitudinally said seat means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore and said mandrel means is blocked against downward longitudinal movement relative to said lower body means by said selectively releasable coupling means; said valve means incluDing valve body means projecting generally radially outwardly of said mandrel means, first, relatively rigid, seal means carried by said valve body means and operable to provide a relatively low pressure seal with said seat means, second, relatively deformable, seal means carried by said valve body means above said first seal means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore and operable to provide a relatively high pressure seal with said seat means, and packer setting abutment means carried by said valve body means, disposed above said second seal means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, and operable to abuttingly engage said upper body means and transfer packer means compressing force longitudinally downwardly from said mandrel means to said upper body means.

Claim 14

An apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said upper slip actuating means includes: upper slip expanding means carried by said upper body means; said upper slip expanding means being mounted for generally radially outward movement on said upper body means and providing, when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, upper slip expanding surface means; sleeve means mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; said sleeve means being operable, in response to downward movement of said mandrel means in said well bore relative to said upper body means, to engage said upper slip expanding means and induce generally radially outward movement thereof; and first and second stop means carried by said mandrel means, spaced longitudinally thereof, and operable to permit but limit longitudinal movement of said sleeve means.

Claim 15

An apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein: said ratchet means, operable to ratchettingly interconnect said upper body means and said lower body means and permit downward movement only of said upper body means relative to said lower body means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, includes longitudinally extending ratchet surface means carried by said lower body means, ratchet teeth means carried by said upper body means and secured against longitudinal movement relative thereto, and ratchet teeth disabling means carried by said mandrel means and operable, in response to downward movement of said mandrel means relative to said upper body means, to permit said ratchet teeth means to ratchettingly engage said ratchet surface means, said ratchet teeth disabling means being operable, in response to upward movement of said mandrel means relative to said lower body means, to engage said ratchet teeth means and move said ratchet teeth means generally outwardly of said mandrel means and out of ratchetting engagement with said ratchet surface means; said selectively releasable longitudinal force transmitting coupling means, interposed between said lower body means and said mandrel means, includes detent means carried by said lower body means, fixedly positioned against longitudinal movement relative to said lower body means, and operable to move radially outwardly of said lower body means, shoulder means carried by said mandrel means and operable to engage said detent means and transmit longitudinal force from said mandrel means through said detent means to said lower body means when said detent means are disposed in a radially innermost position on said lower body means, detent restraining means carried by said lower slip assembly and operable to prevent radially outward movement of said detent means relative to said lower body means when said J-slot means is operable to substantially prevent said increment of longitudinal movement of said lower body means relative to said lower slip assembly, and recess means carried by said lower slip assembly beneath said detent restraining means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore and operable to permit generally radially outward movement of said detent means relative to said lower body means out oF force transmitting engagement with said shoulder means in response to said increment of longitudinal movement.

Claim 16

A packer apparatus for use in a well bore, said apparatus comprising: mandrel means operable, when disposed in a well bore, to be connected at an upper portion with support means; an upper slip assembly mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; upper body means disposed beneath said upper slip assembly when said apparatus is disposed in a well bore, said upper body means being mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; lower body means mounted beneath said upper body means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said lower body means being mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; a lower slip assembly mounted for longitudinal movement on said lower body means; first spline means interconnecting said mandrel means and said upper body means and operable to permit longitudinal movement of said mandrel means relative to said upper body means while substantially preventing relative rotational movement between said upper body means and said mandrel means; second spline means interconnecting said upper body means and said lower body means, said second spline means being operable to permit longitudinal movement of said upper body means relative to said lower body means while substantially preventing relative rotational movement between said upper and lower body means; said upper slip assembly including, upper slip housing means, upper slip means mounted on said upper slip housing means and operable to move generally radially outwardly of said mandrel means, first abutment means carried by said mandrel means and facing generally downwardly when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, second abutment means carried by said upper slip housing means and facing generally upwardly when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, compression ring means carried by said upper slip housing means and adapted to seat on said second abutment means, longitudinally compressible spring means interposed longitudinally between said compression ring means and said first abutment means, third spline means interconnecting said upper slip housing means and said mandrel means and operable to permit longitudinal movement of said upper slip housing means relative to said mandrel means while substantially preventing relative movement between said upper slip housing means and said mandrel means, fourth spline means interconnecting said compression ring means and said mandrel means, said fourth spline means being operable to permit longitudinal movement of said mandrel means relative to said compression ring, third abutment means carried by said mandrel means, disposed beneath said compression ring means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, and operable to abuttingly engage said compression ring means in response to upward movement of said mandrel means within said well bore and induce upward movement of said compression ring means tending to compress said spring means when said upper slip housing means is restrained against upward movement in said well bore by said upper slip means; upper slip actuating means including upper slip expanding means carried by said upper body means, said upper slip expanding means being mounted for generally radially outward movement on said upper body means and providing, when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, upper slip expanding surface means, sleeve means mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means, said sleeve means being operable, in response to downward movement of said mandrel means in said well bore relative to said upper body means, to engage said upper slip expanding means and induce generally radially outward movement thereof, first and second stop means carried by said mandrel means, spaced longitudinally thereof, and operable to Permit but limit longitudinal movement of said sleeve means; a piston and cylinder assembly interconnecting said upper body means and said lower body means, said piston and cylinder assembly including cylinder means carried by said upper body means and having an open lower end when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, and piston means carried by said lower body means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said piston means being telescopingly received within said cylinder means, said cylinder means defining a relatively lower pressure zone; ratchet means operable to ratchettingly interconnect said upper body means and said lower body means and permit downward movement only of said upper body means relative to said lower body means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said ratchet means including longitudinally extending ratchet surface means carried by said lower body means, ratchet teeth means carried by said upper body means and secured against longitudinal movement relative thereto, ratchet teeth disabling means carried by said mandrel means and operable, in response to downward movement of said mandrel means relative to said upper body means, to permit said ratchet teeth means to ratchettingly engage said ratchet surface means, said ratchet teeth disabling means being operable, in response to upward movement of said mandrel means relative to said lower body means, to engage said ratchet teeth means and move said ratchet teeth means generally outwardly of said mandrel means and out of ratchetting engagement with said ratchet surface means subsequent to longitudinal separation of said sleeve means and said upper slip expanding means, and subsequent to longitudinal separation of said upper slip means and said upper slip expanding means; a packer assembly including longitudinally compressible and generally radially expansible packer means carried by said lower body means, lower packer engaging means carried by said lower body means and disposed beneath said packer means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said lower packer engaging means being fixedly positioned on said lower body means, upper packer engaging means carried by said upper body means and disposed above said packer means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, and packer supporting wall means, said upper packer engaging means being operable to converge longitudinally with said lower packer engaging means in response to longitudinal converging movement of said upper and said lower body means and induce longitudinal compression and generally radial expansion of said packer means; said lower slip assembly including lower slip housing means mounted for longitudinal movement on said lower body means, said lower slip housing means being disposed beneath said packer assembly when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, lower slip means carried by said lower slip housing means and projecting generally longitudinally upwardly therefrom when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, drag block means carried by said lower slip housing means, projecting generally outwardly thereof, and operable to frictionally engage the inner periphery of said well bore, J-slot means interconnecting said lower slip housing means and said lower body means and operable to selectively permit and prevent longitudinal movement of said lower body means relative to said lower slip housing means through a longitudinal movement increment; selectively releasable, longitudinal force transmitting coupling means interposed between said lower body means and said mandrel means, said selectively releasable coupling means including ball means carried by said lower body means, fixedly positioned against longitudinal movement relative to said lower body means, and operable to move radially outwardly of said lower body means, shoulder means carried by said mandrel means and Operable to engage said ball means and transmit longitudinal force from said mandrel means through said ball means to said lower body means when said ball means are disposed in a

Claim 17

A packer apparatus for use in a well bore, said apparatus comprising: mandrel means operable, when disposed in a well bore, to be connected at an upper portion with support means; an upper slip assembly mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; upper body means disposed beneath said upper slip assembly when said apparatus is disposed in a well bore, said upper body means being mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; lower body means mounted beneath said upper body means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said lower body means being mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means; a lower slip assembly mounted for longitudinal movement on said lower body means; first spline means interconnecting said mandrel means and said upper body means and operable to permit longitudinal movement of said mandrel means relative to said upper body means while substantially preventing relative rotational movement between said upper body means and said mandrel means; second spline means interconnecting said upper body means and said lower body means, said second spline means being operable to permit longitudinal movement of said upper body means relative to said lower body means while substantially preventing relative rotational movement between said upper and lower body means; said upper slip assembly including, upper slip housing means, upper slip means mounted on said upper slip housing means and operable to move generally radially outwardly of said mandrel means, first abutment means carried by said mandrel means and facing generally downwardly when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, second abutment means carried by said upper slip housing means and facing generally upwardly when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, compression ring means carried by said upper slip housing means and adapted to seat on said second abutment means, longitudinally compressible spring means interposed longitudinally between said compression ring means and said first abutment means, third spline means interconnecting said upper slip housing means and said mandrel means and operable to permit longitudinal movement of said upper slip housing means relative to said mandrel means while substantially preventing relative movement between said upper slip housing means and said mandrel means, fourth spline means interconnecting said compression ring means and said mandrel means, said fourth spline means being operable to permit longitudinal movement of said mandrel means relative to said compression ring, third abutment means carried by said mandrel means, disposed beneath said compression ring means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, and operable to abuttingly engage said compression ring means in response to upward movement of said mandrel means within said well bore and induce upward movement of said compression ring means tending to compress said spring means when said upper slip housing means is restrained against upward movement in said well bore by said upper slip means; upper slip actuating means including upper slip expanding means carried by said upper body means, said upper slip expanding means being mounted for generally radially outward movement on said upper body means and providing, when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, upper slip expanding surface means, sleeve means mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means, said sleeve means being operable, in response to downward movement of said mandrel means in said well bore relative to said upper body means, to engage said upper slip expanding means and induce generally radially outward movement thereof, first and second stop means carried by said mandrel means, spaced longitudinally thereof, and operable to Permit but limit longitudinal movement of said sleeve means; a piston and cylinder assembly interconnecting said upper body means and said lower body means, said piston and cylinder assembly including cylinder means carried by said upper body means and having an open lower end when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, and piston means carried by said lower body means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said piston means being telescopingly received within said cylinder means, said cylinder means defining a relatively lower pressure zone; ratchet means operable to ratchettingly interconnect said upper body means and said lower body means and permit downward movement only of said upper body means relative to said lower body means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said ratchet means including longitudinally extending ratchet surface means carried by said lower body means, ratchet teeth means carried by said upper body means and secured against longitudinal movement relative thereto, ratchet teeth disabling means carried by said mandrel means and operable, in response to downward movement of said mandrel means relative to said upper body means, to permit said ratchet teeth means to ratchettingly engage said ratchet surface means, said ratchet teeth disabling means being operable, in response to upward movement of said mandrel means relative to said lower body means, to engage said ratchet teeth means and move said ratchet teeth means generally outwardly of said mandrel means and out of ratchetting engagement with said ratchet surface means subsequent to longitudinal separation of said sleeve means and said upper slip expanding means, and subsequent to longitudinal separation of said upper slip means and said upper slip expanding means; a packer assembly including longitudinally compressible and generally radially expansible packer means carried by said lower body means, lower packer engaging means carried by said lower body means and disposed beneath said packer means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, said lower packer engaging means being fixedly positioned on said lower body means, upper packer engaging means carried by said upper body means and disposed above said packer means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, and packer supporting wall means, said upper packer engaging means being operable to converge longitudinally with said lower packer engaging means in response to longitudinal converging movement of said upper and said lower body means and induce longitudinal compression and generally radial expansion of said packer means; said lower slip assembly including lower slip housing means mounted for longitudinal movement on said lower body means, said lower slip housing means being disposed beneath said packer assembly when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, lower slip means carried by said lower slip housing means and projecting generally longitudinally upwardly therefrom when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, drag block means carried by said lower slip housing means, projecting generally outwardly thereof, and operable to frictionally engage the inner periphery of said well bore, J-slot means interconnecting said lower slip housing means and said lower body means and operable to selectively permit and prevent longitudinal movement of said lower body means relative to said lower slip housing means through a longitudinal movement increment; selectively releasable, longitudinal force transmitting coupling means interposed between said lower body means and said mandrel means, said selectively releasable coupling means including ball means carried by said lower body means, fixedly positioned against longitudinal movement relative to said lower body means, and operable to move radially outwardly of said lower body means, shoulder means carried by said mandrel means and Operable to engage said ball means and transmit longitudinal force from said mandrel means through said ball means to said lower body means when said ball means are disposed in a

Claim 18

A packer apparatus for use in a well bore, said apparatus comprising: mandrel means operable, when disposed in a well bore, to be connected at an upper portion with support means; body means mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means and supporting packer means; equalizing valve means including first passage means interposed radially between said mandrel means and said body means, second passage means carried by said body means, disposed beneath said packer means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, and providing fluid communication between said well bore and said first passage means, third passage means carried by said body means, disposed above said packer means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, and operable to provide fluid communication between said first passage means and said well bore, sleeve valve means carried by said mandrel means, and seat means carried by said body means and operable to valvingly receive said sleeve valve means, said seat means being interposed longitudinally between said second and third passage means, with valving engagement between said sleeve valve means and said seat means substantially blocking fluid communication between said second passage means and said third passage means, said sleeve valve means being spaced longitudinally above said seat means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore and said mandrel means is blocked against downward longitudinal movement relative to said body means, said valve means including valve body means projecting generally radially outwardly of said mandrel means, first seal means carried by said valve body means and operable to provide a relatively low pressure seal with said seat means, and second seal means carried by said valve body means above said first seal means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore and operable to provide a relatively high pressure seal with said seat means.

Claim 19

A packer apparatus for use in a well bore, said apparatus comprising: mandrel means operable, when disposed in a well bore, to be connected at an upper portion with support means; body means mounted for longitudinal movement on said mandrel means and supporting packer means; equalizing valve means including first passage means interposed radially between said mandrel means and said body means, second passage means carried by said body means, disposed beneath said packer means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, and providing fluid communication between said well bore and said first passage means, third passage means carried by said body means, disposed above said packer means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore, and operable to provide fluid communication between said first passage means and said well bore, sleeve valve means carried by said mandrel means, and seat means carried by said body means and operable to valvingly receive said sleeve valve means, said seat means being interposed longitudinally between said second and third passage means, with valving engagement between said sleeve valve means and said seat means substantially blocking fluid communication between said second passage means and said third passage means, said sleeve valve means being spaced longitudinally above said seat means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore and said mandrel means is blocked against downward longitudinal movement relative to said body means, said valve means including valve body means projecting generally radially outwardly of said mandrel means, first seal means carried by said valve body means and operable to provide a relatively low pressure seal with said seat means, and second seal means carried by said valve body means above said first seal means when said apparatus is disposed in said well bore and operable to provide a relatively high pressure seal with said seat means.