Well packer apparatus

Claim 2

A well packer apparatus comprising: a body member; normally retracted slip means on said body member that can be shifted outwardly thereof into anchoring contact with a well casing; expander means for shifting said slip means outwardly; packing means surrounding said body member and adapted to be expanded into sealing engagement with a well casing; first one-way lock means for locking said slip and expander means with said slip means in outer positions; second one-way lock means for locking said packing means in expanded condition; and means movable relative to said body member for inactivating said first and second lock means to enable retraction of said slip means and said packing means so that said apparatus can be retrieved from a well.

Claim 3

The well packer apparatus of claim 1 wherein said expander means includes opposed expander members movable relatively toward each other to shift said slip means outwardly, said first lock means comprising instrumentalities coacting with one of said expander members and said body member to prevent movement of said expander members away from each other.

Claim 4

The well packer apparatus of claim 2 wherein said instrumentalities include a lock member surrounding said body member and having gripping engagement therewith, said lock member being movable relatively along said body member in one direction during movement of said expander members relatively toward each other, and means engaged between said lock member and said one expander member for preventing movement of said expander members away from each other.

Claim 5

The well packer apparatus of claim 3 wherein said inactivating means includes means to disengage said least mentioned means to enable said expander members to move away from one another.

Claim 6

The well packer apparatus of claim 1 wherein said packing means comprises elastomeric elements, and abutments movable relatively toward each other to compress and expand said elements, said second lock means comprising instrumentalities coacting with said body member and one of said abutments to prevent movement of said abutments away from each other.

Claim 7

The well packer apparatus of claim 5 wherein said instrumentalities include a lock member surrounding said body member and having gripping engagement therewith, said lock member being movablE relatively along said body member in one direction during movement of said abutments relatively toward each other, and means engaged between said lock member and said one abutment for preventing movement of said abutments away from each other.

Claim 8

The well packer apparatus of claim 6 wherein said inactivating means includes means to disengage said last-mentioned means to enable said abutments to move away from each other.

Claim 9

A well packer apparatus comprising: a body member; a sleeve structure movable relatively along said body member and providing a fixed first abutment; packing means surrounding said sleeve structure and having one end engaged by said first abutment; a second abutment movable relatively along said sleeve structure and engaging the other end of said packing means, whereby movement of said first and second abutments relatively toward each other causes compression and expansion of said packing means; normally retracted slip means on said body member below said packing means, said slip means being shiftable outwardly into anchoring engagement with a well casing; an expander member movable downwardly along said body member to shift said slip means outwardly, said expander member being coupled to said second abutment by means including an intervening sleeve; first one-way lock means for preventing upward movement of said expander member to lock said slip means in outward positions; second one-way lock means for preventing movement of said abutments away from each other to lock said packing means in expanded condition; and means movable relative to said body member for inactivating said first and second lock means to enable retraction of said packing means and said slip means.

Claim 10

A well packer apparatus comprising: a body member; a sleeve structure movable relatively along said body member and providing a fixed first abutment; packing means surrounding said sleeve structure and having one end engaged by said first abutment; a second abutment movable relatively along said sleeve structure and engaging the other end of said packing means, whereby movement of said first and second abutments relatively toward each other causes compression and expansion of said packing means; normally retracted slip means on said body member below said packing means, said slip means being shiftable outwardly into anchoring engagement with a well casing; an expander member movable downwardly along said body member to shift said slip means outwardly, said expander member being coupled to said second abutment by means including an intervening sleeve; first one-way lock means for preventing upward movement of said expander member to lock said slip means in outward positions; second one-way lock means for preventing movement of said abutments away from each other to lock said packing means in expanded condition; and means movable relative to said body member for inactivating said first and second lock means to enable retraction of said packing means and said slip means.

Claim 11

The well packer apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of said lock means includes a lock member having gripping engagement with said body member, and cam means causing said lock member to grip said body member when in one position and movable to another position to enable said lock member to pass longitudinally therethrough.

Claim 12

The well packer apparatus of claim 9 wherein said inactivating means comprises longitudinally shiftable members for enabling said cam means to move from said one position to said other position.

Claim 13

The well packer apparatus of claim 10 wherein said members comprise a release sleeve mounted for longitudinal movement relative to said sleeve structure, and said intervening sleeve being movable longitudinally with respect to said body member.

Claim 14

The well packer apparatus of claim 11 wherein said release sleeve and said intervening sleeve each have a locking surface for positioning a respective cam means in said one position, and a recess adjacent said locking surface that enables movement of a respective cam means to said other position.

Claim 15

A well packer apparatus comprising: a body member; a sleeve structure movable relatively along said body member and providing a fixed first abutment; packing means surrounding said sleeve structure and having one end engaged by said first abutment; a second abutment slidable with respect to said sleeve structure and engaging the other end of said packing means, whereby movement of said abutments relatively toward each other causes compression and expansion of said packing means; first one-way lock means for enabling movement of said abutments relatively toward each other but normally preventing movement of said abutment away from each other to lock said packing means in expanded condition; means for releasing said first lock means including a release sleeve slidable upwardly with respect to said sleeve structure from a locking position to a releasing position; normally retracted slip means on said body member below said packing means, said slip means being shiftable outwardly into anchoring engagement with a well casing; expander means including an upper expander and a lower expander movable relatively toward each other to shift said slip means outwardly, said lower expander being fixed to said body memBer, said upper expander being movable relatively along said body member; second one-way lock means for enabling movement of said upper and lower expanders relatively toward each other but normally preventing movement of said expanders away from each other to lock said slip means in anchoring position; and means for releasing said second lock means including an intervening sleeve that couples said upper expander to said second abutment, said intervening sleeve being slidably upwardly relative to said upper expander from a locking position to a releasing position.

Claim 16

A well packer apparatus comprising: a body member; a sleeve structure movable relatively along said body member and providing a fixed first abutment; packing means surrounding said sleeve structure and having one end engaged by said first abutment; a second abutment slidable with respect to said sleeve structure and engaging the other end of said packing means, whereby movement of said abutments relatively toward each other causes compression and expansion of said packing means; first one-way lock means for enabling movement of said abutments relatively toward each other but normally preventing movement of said abutment away from each other to lock said packing means in expanded condition; means for releasing said first lock means including a release sleeve slidable upwardly with respect to said sleeve structure from a locking position to a releasing position; normally retracted slip means on said body member below said packing means, said slip means being shiftable outwardly into anchoring engagement with a well casing; expander means including an upper expander and a lower expander movable relatively toward each other to shift said slip means outwardly, said lower expander being fixed to said body memBer, said upper expander being movable relatively along said body member; second one-way lock means for enabling movement of said upper and lower expanders relatively toward each other but normally preventing movement of said expanders away from each other to lock said slip means in anchoring position; and means for releasing said second lock means including an intervening sleeve that couples said upper expander to said second abutment, said intervening sleeve being slidably upwardly relative to said upper expander from a locking position to a releasing position.

Claim 17

The well packer apparatus of claim 13 wherein each of said lock means includes a lock member having gripping engagement with said body member, and cam means causing said lock member to grip said body member when in one position and movable to another position disengaged from said lock member.

Claim 18

The well packer apparatus of claim 14 wherein said releasing sleeve and said intervening sleeve each provide a locking surface for holding a respective cam means in said one position, each sleeve having a recess that is positioned by sliding said sleeves to said releasing position to enable movement of said cam means to said other position.

Claim 19

The well packer apparatus of claim 15 wherein each lock member is constituted by a circumferentially discontinuous ring having internal teeth that grip said body member, and wherein each cam means has downwardly and inwardly inclined internal cam surfaces that engage upwardly and downwardly inclined external cam surfaces on said ring, whereby upward force on each cam means results in the application of inward force on said ring.

Claim 20

The well packer apparatus of claim 16 wherein said release sleeve, sleeve structure and intervening sleeve are coupled together such that upward movement of said release sleeve disposes both recesses in position to enable movement of said cam means to said other position.

Claim 21

The well packer apparatus of claim 17 further including lost-motion connection means for coupling said release sleeve to said sleeve structure and said sleeve structure to said intervening sleeve.

Claim 22

The well packer apparatus of claim 18 further including means on said release sleeve to enable connection thereof with a retrieving tool to cause upward movement.

Claim 23

The well packer apparatus of claim 19 further including a latch sleeve disposed within said release sleeve and having means to enable connection thereof with a production string of pipe that extends upwardly to the surface.