US3653671A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-energizing well packoff
Assignee: FMC Corp
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Filing: 1968-10-23
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Granted: 1972-04-04
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Expires: 1988-10-23
Abstract
Abstract A well packoff for installing in the annulus between a well casing head and an inner concentric pipe to establish and maintain a fluid-tight seal therebetween, regardless of the well pressures to which the tool is subjected. The packoff includes a pair of resiliently deformable seal rings arranged to receive an axially directed pressure, significantly increase it to a predetermined degree, and then exert that increased pressure against the casing head and pipe.
Inventors
- 👤 Kelly V Shipes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:55
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B33/00; E21B33/10; E21B33/12; E21B33/128
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A well tool for controlling fluid flow between a well head and an inner concentric pipe string, comprising 1. an annular primary body portion, 2. an annular secondary body portion coaxial with and spaced from said primary body portion, 3. a first resiliently deformable seal ring intermediate said primary and secondary body portions, 4. a second resiliently deformable seal ring intermediate said first seal ring and said secondary body portion, 5. a pair of rigid junk rings intermediate said seal rings, and 6. a plurality of pisTons each of which is retained with one of said junk rings and extends freely through one of said seal rings, said pistons, said junk rings, and said seal rings interassociated such that when said pistons and junk rings are pressured toward said seal rings said seal rings are subjected to a pressure greater per unit area than that exerted on said pistons and said junk rings.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A well tool for controlling fluid flow between a well head and an inner concentric pipe string, comprising 1. an annular primary body portion, 2. an annular secondary body portion coaxial with and spaced from said primary body portion, 3. a first resiliently deformable seal ring intermediate said primary and secondary body portions, 4. a second resiliently deformable seal ring intermediate said first seal ring and said secondary body portion, 5. a pair of rigid junk rings intermediate said seal rings, and 6. a plurality of pisTons each of which is retained with one of said junk rings and extends freely through one of said seal rings, said pistons, said junk rings, and said seal rings interassociated such that when said pistons and junk rings are pressured toward said seal rings said seal rings are subjected to a pressure greater per unit area than that exerted on said pistons and said junk rings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
an annular secondary body portion coaxial with and spaced from said primary body portion,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
an annular secondary body portion coaxial with and spaced from said primary body portion,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A well tool according to claim 1 wherein each of said junk rings has a plurality of pistons attached thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
a second rigid annular support element having inner and outer axial side surfaces and primary, secondary radial end surfaces and at least one axial bore intermediate its inner and outer surfaces;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
a second rigid annular support element having inner and outer axial side surfaces and primary, secondary radial end surfaces and at least one axial bore intermediate its inner and outer surfaces;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
a resiliently deformable seal ring having inner and outer axial side surfaces, first and second radial end surfaces, and at least one axial bore intermediate its inner and outer axial side surfaces, said first end surface of said seal ring confronting the seal-pressurizing surface of the first support element, and said second end surface of said seal ring confronting the primary end surface of the second support element;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
a resiliently deformable seal ring having inner and outer axial side surfaces, first and second radial end surfaces, and at least one axial bore intermediate its inner and outer axial side surfaces, said first end surface of said seal ring confronting the seal-pressurizing surface of the first support element, and said second end surface of said seal ring confronting the primary end surface of the second support element;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A well tool according to claim 2 wherein the pistons attached to one junk ring are axially opposed to the pistons attached to the other junk ring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
a first resiliently deformable seal ring intermediate said primary and secondary body portions,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
a first resiliently deformable seal ring intermediate said primary and secondary body portions,
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
a second resiliently deformable seal ring intermediate said first seal ring and said secondary body portion,
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
a second resiliently deformable seal ring intermediate said first seal ring and said secondary body portion,
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A well tool according to claim 3 wherein said pistons are evenly spaced circumferentially about said junk rings.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
a piston freely residing in one of the axial bores of each of the first and second support elements and the seal ring, said piston having a radial end surface and being capable of free longitudinal non-rotative movement with respect to said first and second support elements and said seal ring substituted therefor.; and
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
a piston freely residing in one of the axial bores of each of the first and second support elements and the seal ring, said piston having a radial end surface and being capable of free longitudinal non-rotative movement with respect to said first and second support elements and said seal ring substituted therefor.; and
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
109 words
means to limit in one direction only the free longitudinal non-rotative movement of the piston in the axial bore of said first support element, whereby when the seal assembly is in position in the annulus between the outer and inner tubular members and a force at a first pressure per unit area is exerted axially against the first radial end surface of the first support element and the radial end surface of the piston, the seal-pressurizing surface of the first support element transmits said force to the first end surface of the seal ring at a second pressure per unit area greater than said first pressure per unit area.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
109 words
means to limit in one direction only the free longitudinal non-rotative movement of the piston in the axial bore of said first support element, whereby when the seal assembly is in position in the annulus between the outer and inner tubular members and a force at a first pressure per unit area is exerted axially against the first radial end surface of the first support element and the radial end surface of the piston, the seal-pressurizing surface of the first support element transmits said force to the first end surface of the seal ring at a second pressure per unit area greater than said first pressure per unit area.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A well tool according to claim 1 wherein said pistons project through openings in said junk rings, and are retained therein by annular cap-like flanges.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
a pair of rigid junk rings intermediate said seal rings, and
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
11 words
a pair of rigid junk rings intermediate said seal rings, and
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
70 words
a plurality of pisTons each of which is retained with one of said junk rings and extends freely through one of said seal rings, said pistons, said junk rings, and said seal rings interassociated such that when said pistons and junk rings are pressured toward said seal rings said seal rings are subjected to a pressure greater per unit area than that exerted on said pistons and said junk rings.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
70 words
a plurality of pisTons each of which is retained with one of said junk rings and extends freely through one of said seal rings, said pistons, said junk rings, and said seal rings interassociated such that when said pistons and junk rings are pressured toward said seal rings said seal rings are subjected to a pressure greater per unit area than that exerted on said pistons and said junk rings.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A seal assembly for use in packing off the annulus between an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member surrounded thereby, comprising:
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
A seal assembly for use in packing off the annulus between an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member surrounded thereby, comprising:
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
A seal assembly according to claim 6 wherein the first support element and the seal ring have a like plurality of coaxial bores, and a like plurality of pistons extends into said bores.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
A seal assembly according to claim 6 including means for holding the first support element and the seal ring together.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
A seal assembly according to claim 6 wherein said piston retaining means comprises a radial flange-like head of greater cross-sectional area than the bore in the first support element.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
A seal assembly according to claim 9 wherein the bore in the first support element is counterbored to receive the piston head.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
53 words
A seal assembly according to claim 6 wherein the magnitude X of the area of the first radial end surface of the first support element plus the area of the radial end surface of the piston is greater than the magnitude Y of the area of the end surface of the seal ring.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
A seal assembly according to claim 11 wherein the ratio of magnitude X to Magnitude Y is at least 1.05 to 1.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
A seal assembly according to claim 12 wherein the ratio is 1.095 to 1.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-04 | 1975-10-04 | 1976-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-04 | 1979-10-04 | 1980-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-04 | 1983-10-04 | 1984-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |