Retrievable well packer

Claim 2

In subsurface apparatus adapted to be set in a well bore: a body; normally retracted means on said body; means for expanding said normally retracted means laterally outwardly against the wall of the well bore; a coupling releasably securing said body to said expanding means for transmitting longitudinal non-rotary relative motion of said body to said expanding means to effect lateral outward expansion of said normally retracted means; means for retaining said coupling in its coupled relation; said retaining means being shiftably carried by one of said body and said expanding means for movement from its retaining position to enable said coupling to be released and said normally retracted means to return from its expanded position to its retracted position.

Claim 3

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; and means for shifting said retaining means from its retaining position.

Claim 4

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; and means movable within said body into engagement with said retaining means for shifting said retaining means from its retaining position.

Claim 5

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said normally retracted means comprising packing means expandable into sealing engagement with the wall of the well bore.

Claim 6

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said normally retracted means comprising anchoring means expandable into anchoring engagement with the wall of the well bore.

Claim 7

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said normally retracted means comprising packing means expandable into sealing engagement with the wall of the well bore; said normally retracted means further comprising anchoring means expandable into anchoring engagement with the wall of the well bore.

Claim 8

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said normally retracted means comprising anchoring means expandable into anchoring engagement with the wall of the well bore to prevent movement of said body in both longitudinal directions.

Claim 9

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said normally retracted means comprising packing means expandable into sealing engagement with the wall of the well bore; said normally retracted means further comprising anchoring means expandable into anchoring engagement with the wall of the well bore to prevent movement of said body in both longitudinal directions.

Claim 10

In subsurface apparatus adapted to be set in a well bore: a body; normally retracted means on said body; means for expanding said normally retracted means laterally outwardly against the wall of the well bore comprising an upper structure above said normally retracted means and shiftable relatively downwardly along said body and a lower structure below said normally retracted means and shiftable relatively upwardly toward said upper structure; a releasable coupling for transmitting non-rotary relative upward movement of said body to said lower structure to effect relative upward movement of said lower structure toward said upper structure and expansion of said normally retracted means; means for retaining said coupling in its coupled relation; said retaining means being shiftably carried by one of said body and said lower structure for movement from its retaining position to release said coupling and said body from said lower structure to allow said upper and lower structures to move relatively away from each other and said normally retracted means to return from its expanded position to its retracted position.

Claim 11

In subsurface apparatus adapted to be set in a well bore: a body; normally retracted means on said body; means for expanding said normally retracted means laterally outwardly against the wall of the well bore comprising an upper structure above said normally retracted means and shiftable relatively downwardly along said body and a lower structure below said normally retracted means and shiftable relatively upwardly toward said upper structure; a releasable coupling for transmitting non-rotary relative upward movement of said body to said lower structure to effect relative upward movement of said lower structure toward said upper structure and expansion of said normally retracted means; means for retaining said coupling in its coupled relation; said retaining means being shiftably carried by one of said body and said lower structure for movement from its retaining position to release said coupling and said body from said lower structure to allow said upper and lower structures to move relatively away from each other and said normally retracted means to return from its expanded position to its retracted position.

Claim 12

In apparatus as defined in claim 9; frangible means securing said retaining means in its retaining position; and means for exerting a force on said retaining means disruptive of said frangible means and for shifting said retaining means from its retaining position.

Claim 13

In apparatus as defined in claim 9; frangible means securing said retaining means in its retaining position; and means movable within said body into engagement with said retaining means to disrupt said frangible means and shift said retaining means from its retaining position.

Claim 14

In apparatus as defined in claim 9; and one-way lock means between said body and upper structure permitting upward movement of said body with respect to said upper structure but locking said body to said upper structure against downward movement relative thereto.

Claim 15

In apparatus as defined in claim 9; said normally retracted means comprising packing means between said structures and expandable into sealing engagement witH the wall of the well bore upon relative movement of said structures toward each other.

Claim 16

In apparatus as defined in claim 9; said normally retracted means comprising expander means and slip means engaging said expander means and expandable into anchoring engagement with the wall of the well bore upon relative movement of said structures toward each other.

Claim 17

In apparatus as defined in claim 9; said normally retracted means comprising packing means, expander means and slip means, said packing means and slip means being expandable against the wall of the well bore upon relative movement of said structures toward each other.

Claim 18

In apparatus as defined in claim 9; said normally retracted means comprising packing means, expander means and slip means, said packing means and slip means being expandable against the wall of the well bore upon relative movement of said structures toward each other; frangible means securing said retaining means in its retaining position; means movable within said body into engagement with said retaining means to disrupt said frangible means and shift said retaining means from its retaining position; and one-way lock means between said body and upper structure permitting upward movement of said body with respect to said upper structure but locking said body to said upper structure against downward movement relative thereto.

Claim 19

In subsurface apparatus adapted to be set in a well bore: a body; normally retracted packing means on said body; anchoring means on said body at one end of said packing means comprising an expander and normally retracted slips engaging said expander; a first structure on said body at the opposite end of said packing means; a second structure engageable with said anchoring means and shiftable relatively toward said first structure to expand said packing means and slips toward the wall of the well bore; a releasable coupling for transmitting longitudinal non-rotary movement of said body to one of said structures to effect relative movement of said structures toward each other and expansion of said slips and packing means; means for retaining said coupling in its coupled relation; said retaining means being shiftably carried by one of said body and said one of said structures for movement from its retaining position to release said coupling and said body from said one of said structures to allow said structures to move relatively away from each other and said packing means and slips to return from their expanded positions to retracted positions.

Claim 20

In subsurface apparatus adapted to be set in a well bore: a body; normally retracted packing means on said body; anchoring means on said body at one end of said packing means comprising an expander and normally retracted slips engaging said expander; a first structure on said body at the opposite end of said packing means; a second structure engageable with said anchoring means and shiftable relatively toward said first structure to expand said packing means and slips toward the wall of the well bore; a releasable coupling for transmitting longitudinal non-rotary movement of said body to one of said structures to effect relative movement of said structures toward each other and expansion of said slips and packing means; means for retaining said coupling in its coupled relation; said retaining means being shiftably carried by one of said body and said one of said structures for movement from its retaining position to release said coupling and said body from said one of said structures to allow said structures to move relatively away from each other and said packing means and slips to return from their expanded positions to retracted positions.

Claim 21

In apparatus as defined in claim 17; wherein said one of said structures is located below said packing means and anchoring means and said other of said structures is located above said packing means and anchoring means; said coupling transmitting upward movement of said body to said one of said structures.

Claim 22

In apparatus as defined in claim 17; wherein said one of said structures is located below said packing means and anchoring means and said other of said structures is located above said packing means and anchoring means; said coupling transmitting upward movement of said body to said one of said structures; and one-way lock means between said body and said other of said structures permitting upward movement of said body with respect to said other of said structures but locking said body to said other of said structures against downward movement relative thereto.

Claim 23

In apparatus as defined in claim 17; wherein said one of said structures is located below said packing means and anchoring means and said other of said structures is located above said packing means and anchoring means; said coupling transmitting upward movement of said body to said one of said structures; and one-way lock means between said body and said other of said structures permitting upward movement of said body with respect to said other of said structures but locking said body to said other of said structures against downward movement relative thereto; frangible means securing said retAining means in its retaining position; and means movable within said body into engagement with said retaining means to disrupt said frangible means and shift said retaining means from its retaining position.

Claim 24

In apparatus as defined in claim 17; and fluid pressure responsive means acting on said expander for retaining said expander wedged behind said slips and said slips anchored to the wall of the well bore.

Claim 25

In apparatus as defined in claim 17; and fluid pressure responsive means acting on said expander for retaining said expander wedged behind said slips and said slips anchored to the wall of the well bore; and one-way lock means between said second structure and expander permitting movement of said expander in one longitudinal direction relative to said second structure but preventing movement of said expander in the opposite longitudinal direction relative to said second structure.

Claim 26

In subsurface apparatus adapted to be set in a well bore: a body; normally retracted packing means on said body; anchoring means on said body at one end of said packing means comprising an upper expander, a lower expander and normally retracted slips engaging said expanders; a first structure on said body at the opposite end of said packing means; a second structure engageable with said anchoring means and shiftable relatively toward said first structure to expand said packing means and slips into engagement with the wall of the well bore to secure said apparatus in packed-off relation in the well bore against movement in both longitudinal directions; a releasable coupling for transmitting longitudinal non-rotary movement of said body to one of said structures to effect relative movement of said structures toward each other and expansion of said slips and packing means; means for retaining said coupling in its coupled relation; said retaining means being shiftably carried by one of said body and said one of said structures for movement from its retaining position to release said coupling and said body from said one of said structures to allow said structures to move relatively away from each other and said packing means and slips to return from their expanded positions to retracted positions.

Claim 27

In subsurface apparatus adapted to be set in a well bore: a body; normally retracted packing means on said body; anchoring means on said body at one end of said packing means comprising an upper expander, a lower expander and normally retracted slips engaging said expanders; a first structure on said body at the opposite end of said packing means; a second structure engageable with said anchoring means and shiftable relatively toward said first structure to expand said packing means and slips into engagement with the wall of the well bore to secure said apparatus in packed-off relation in the well bore against movement in both longitudinal directions; a releasable coupling for transmitting longitudinal non-rotary movement of said body to one of said structures to effect relative movement of said structures toward each other and expansion of said slips and packing means; means for retaining said coupling in its coupled relation; said retaining means being shiftably carried by one of said body and said one of said structures for movement from its retaining position to release said coupling and said body from said one of said structures to allow said structures to move relatively away from each other and said packing means and slips to return from their expanded positions to retracted positions.

Claim 28

In apparatus as defined in claim 23; wherein said one of said structures is located below said packing means and anchoring means and said other of said structures is located above said packing means and anchoring means; said coupling transmitting upward relative movement of said body to said one of said structures.

Claim 29

In apparatus as defined in claim 23; wherein said one of said structures is located below said packing means and anchoring means and said other of said structures is located above said packing means and anchoring means; said coupling transmitting upward relative movement of said body to said one of said structures; and one-way lock means between said body and said other of said structures permitting upward movement of said body with respect to said other of said structures but locking said body to said other of said structures against downward movement relative thereto.

Claim 30

In apparatus as defined in claim 23; wherein said one of said structures is located below said packing means and anchoring means and said other of said structures is located above said packing means and anchoring means; said coupling transmitting upward relative movement of said body to said one of said structures; and one-way lock means between said body and said other of said structures permitting upward movement of said body with respect to said other of said structures but locking said body to said other of said structures against downward movement relative thereto; frangible means securing said retaining means in its retaining position; and means movable within said body into engagement with said retaining means to disrupt said frangible means and shift said retaining means from its retaining position.

Claim 31

In apparatus as defined in claim 23; wherein said packing means is Located below said anchoring means; said one of said structures being located below said packing means and said other of said structures above said upper expander; said coupling transmitting upward relative movement of said body to said one of said structures.

Claim 32

In apparatus as defined in claim 23; wherein said packing means is located below said anchoring means; said one of said structures being located below said packing means and said other of said structures above said upper expander; said coupling transmitting upward relative movement of said body to said one of said structures; frangible means securing said retaining means in its retaining position; and means movable within said body into engagement with said retaining means to disrupt said frangible means and shift said retaining means from its retaining position.

Claim 33

In apparatus as defined in claim 23; wherein said packing means is located below said anchoring means; said one of said structures being located below said packing means and said other of said structures above said upper expander; said coupling transmitting upward relative movement of said body to said one of said structures; frangible means securing said retaining means in its retaining position; and means movable within said body into engagement with said retaining means to disrupt said frangible means and shift said retaining means from its retaining position; and one-way lock means between said body and said other of said structures permitting upward movement of said body with respect to said other of said structures but locking said body to said other of said structures against downward movement relative thereto.

Claim 34

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; actuating means movable through the well bore for shifting said retaining means from its retaining position, said actuating means including means adapted for connection to the subsurface apparatus for withdrawal of said apparatus from the well bore.

Claim 35

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; actuating means movable through the well bore and within said body into engagement with said retaining means for shifting said retaining means from its retaining position, said actuating means including means adapted for connection to the subsurface apparatus for withdrawal of said apparatus from the well bore.

Claim 36

In apparatus as defined in claim 9; actuating means movable through the well bore and within said body into engagement with said retaining means for shifting said retaining means from its retaining position, said actuating means including means connectible to said upper structure for elevating said upper structure with respect to said lower structure and withdrawing said apparatus from the well bore.

Claim 37

In apparatus as defined in claim 17; wherein said one of said structures is located below said packing means and anchoring means and said other of said structures is located above said packing means and anchoring means; said coupling transmitting upward movement of said body to said one of said structures; actuating means movable through the well bore and within said body into engagement with said retaining means for shifting said retaining means from its retaining position, said actuating means including means connectible to said other of said structures for elevating said other of said structures with respect to said one of said structures to effect retraction of said slips and withdrawal of said apparatus from the well bore.