US3731740A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Floating piston for selective hydraulic packer
Assignee: Dresser Industries Inc
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Filing: 1971-05-24
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Granted: 1973-05-08
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Expires: 1991-05-24
Abstract
Abstract A well packer of the type which is set by hydraulic pressure injected through the tubing string, having a setting chamber between the pistons therein which actuate the packer, wherein one of the pistons is floating while the packer is being lowered to compensate for thermal expansion or contraction and pressure differentials encountered as the packer is lowered in the well in order to prevent undue pressure from being applied to the pistons which could cause the shearing of shear pins holding the packer in unset position which would prematurely set the packer.
Inventors
- 👤 B Douglas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:15
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B33/00; E21B33/10; E21B33/12; E21B33/129; E21B33/1294; E21B33/1295
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
In a fluid pressure actuated retrievable packer assembly, the combination of: A tubular support for the packer assembly; a packer body surrounding the support; at least one resilient packer sleeve slidably mounted on the packer body; a tubular cylinder surrounding the support below the packer sleeve; a tubular member surrounding the support above the packer sleeve; upper and lower pistons positioned in the space between the cylinder and the support, and being in sealing engagement with the cylinder and the support providing a chamber between said pistons; closeable port means through the wall of the cylinder through which the chamber may be filled with fluid; a passage through the wall of the support arranged to communicate with the chamber; frangible means clOsing said passage; and movable means positioned inside the tubular support, engaged with the frangible means; said movable means being engageable with a tool lowered from the surface to break the frangible means to provide communication between the chamber and the interior of the tubular support.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a fluid pressure actuated retrievable packer assembly, the combination of: A tubular support for the packer assembly; a packer body surrounding the support; at least one resilient packer sleeve slidably mounted on the packer body; a tubular cylinder surrounding the support below the packer sleeve; a tubular member surrounding the support above the packer sleeve; upper and lower pistons positioned in the space between the cylinder and the support, and being in sealing engagement with the cylinder and the support providing a chamber between said pistons; closeable port means through the wall of the cylinder through which the chamber may be filled with fluid; a passage through the wall of the support arranged to communicate with the chamber; frangible means clOsing said passage; and movable means positioned inside the tubular support, engaged with the frangible means; said movable means being engageable with a tool lowered from the surface to break the frangible means to provide communication between the chamber and the interior of the tubular support.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
111 words
The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the lower piston is connected to the cylinder by a shearable member whereby when said shearable member is broken by pressure exerted in the chamber against the piston the cylinder moves upwardly in relation to the piston to move the resilient packer sleeve and the upper tubular member upwardly, and the lower piston moves downwardly; and upper and lower slip means surrounding the support above and below the packer assembly, the upper slip being engageable with upper tubular member and the lower slip being engageable with the lower piston to anchor the slips and expand the packer sleeve against a surrounding well casing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the upper piston is movable longitudinally of the chamber in response to variations of temperature and pressure exerted on fluid within the chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the upper tubular member is a balance valve housing having a balance valve therein arranged to be opened and closed by movement of the upper tubular member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the means to break the frangible means is a sleeve slidably disposed in the tubular support engaged with the frangible means said sleeve having a shoulder therein engageable with a tool extending from the surface, and having a port through the wall thereof arranged to be aligned with the passage upon breaking the frangible means and movement of said sleeve upwardly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a fluid pressure actuated retrievable packer assembly of the type suspended to a tubing string and having pistons therein which when subjected to pressure from interiorally of the tubing causes a packer sleeve support cylinder thereabout to move with relation to the pistons to expand the packer, the improvement comprising, a chamber between the pistons filled with a fluid, one of said pistons floating and being free to move longitudinally of the chamber in response to expansion or contraction of the fluid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a fluid pressure actuated retrievable packer assembly of the type suspended to a tubing string and having pistons therein which when subjected to pressure from interiorally of the tubing causes a packer sleeve support cylinder thereabout to move with relation to the pistons to expand the packer, the improvement comprising, a chamber between the pistons filled with a fluid, one of said pistons floating and being free to move longitudinally of the chamber in response to expansion or contraction of the fluid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination called for in claim 6 with the addition of closeable port means through the wall of the chamber to permit the filling of said chamber with fluid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination called for in claim 6 with the addition of passage means adapted to establish communication between the chamber and the interior of the tubing; frangible means closing said passage means; and means to break the frangible passage means from interiorally of the tubing to establish communication between the tubing and the chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The combination called for in claim 8 with the addition of shearable means connecting the cylinder to the other said piston whereby upon breaking the frangible means pressure may be injected into the chamber from the tubing through the passage means to break the shearable means and disengage the cylinder from the piston to allow relative movement therebetween.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination called for in claim 9 with the addition of anchor means on the tubing above and below the packer assembly expandable by engagement with ends of the packer assembly upon relative movement between the cylinder and piston.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination called for in claim 7 with the the addition of means to disengageably attach the movable piston to the cylinder while the chamber is being filled with fluid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
In a fluid pressure actuated packer assembly having a piston therein which when subjected to pressure from interiorally of the tubing causes a packer sleeve support cylinder thereabout to move with relation to the piston to expand the packer, the improvement comprising, a chamber adjacent the piston filled with a fluid, said piston floating and being free to move longitudinally of the chamBer in response to expansion or contraction of the fluid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
In a fluid pressure actuated packer assembly having a piston therein which when subjected to pressure from interiorally of the tubing causes a packer sleeve support cylinder thereabout to move with relation to the piston to expand the packer, the improvement comprising, a chamber adjacent the piston filled with a fluid, said piston floating and being free to move longitudinally of the chamBer in response to expansion or contraction of the fluid.
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) | 1976-05-07 | 1976-11-06 | 1977-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-07 | 1980-11-06 | 1981-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-07 | 1984-11-06 | 1985-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |