Anchoring assembly for anchoring well equipment within a tubular well conduit

Claim 2

An anchoring assembly for anchoring well equipment within a surrounding tubular well conduit comprising: a. remotely operable anchoring means for engaging and disengaging the internal surfaces of said surrounding well conduit to respectively anchor and release said anchoring assembly in said well conduit, said anchoring means further including: i. an axially extending, substantially tubular body of composite construction; ii. radially movable engagement means carried by said body and disposed for outward radial movement into anchoring engagement with said well conduit for preventing relative axial movement between said anchoring means and said well conduit; iii. setting means included in said body for selectively moving said engagement means radially into and out of engagement with said well conduit; iv. locking means included in said body for locking said engagement means in the radially outwardly position in anchoring engagement with said well conduit; and v. anchor seal means carried by said body for forming a seal between said body and said surrounding well conduit; b. pressure responsive positioning means connected with said anchoring means for axially moving said anchoring means through said well conduit; c. first sealing means included with said positioning means for forming a pressure seal in said conduit between the areas above and below said first sealing means; and d. sliding seal means included with said first sealing means for forming a substantially continuous sliding seal between said positioning means and said well conduit whereby said positioning means may be driven axially through said well conduit under the influence of a pressure differential developed axially across said first sealing means.

Claim 3

An anchoring assembly for anchoring well equipment within a surrounding tubular well conduit comprising: a. remotely anchoring means for engaging and disengaging the internal surface of said surrounding well conduit to respectively anchor and release said anchoring assembly in said well conduit, said anchoring means having an axially extending, substantially tubular body of composite construction which includes: i. an outer sleeve body; ii. a setting sleeve body concentrically disposed within at least a portion of said outer sleeve body; iii. a retaining sleeve body concentrically disposed within at least a portion of said setting sleeve body; iv. engagement means including a plurality of radially movable dogs carried between said outer sleeve body and said setting sleeve body and being substantially fixed against axial movement with respect to said outer sleeve body, said dogs being operable for anchoring engagement with said well conduit for preventing relative axial movement between said anchoring means and said well conduit; and v. locking means including cooperating recess and ridge means formed on the radially inner surfaces of said dogs and on the radially outer surface of said setting sleeve body with said setting body being movable axially with respect to said dogs to first and second axial positions where in said first position, recess means in said dogs register with ridge means in said setting body to permit said dogs to move radially inwardly and where in said second position, ridge means in said dogs register with ridge means in said setting body to retain said dogs radially outwardly in anchoring engagement with said surrounding well conduit; b. pressure responsive positioning means connected with said anchoring means for axially moving said anchoring means through said well conduit; c. first sealing means included with said positioning means for forming a pressure seal in said conduit between the areas above and below said first sealing means; and d. sliding seal means included with said first sealing means for forming a substantially continuous sliding seal between said positioning means and said well conduit whereby sAid positioning means may be driven axially through said well conduit under the influence of a pressure differential developed axially across said first sealing means.

Claim 4

An anchoring assembly for anchoring well equipment within a surrounding tubular well conduit comprising: a. remotely anchoring means for engaging and disengaging the internal surface of said surrounding well conduit to respectively anchor and release said anchoring assembly in said well conduit, said anchoring means having an axially extending, substantially tubular body of composite construction which includes: i. an outer sleeve body; ii. a setting sleeve body concentrically disposed within at least a portion of said outer sleeve body; iii. a retaining sleeve body concentrically disposed within at least a portion of said setting sleeve body; iv. engagement means including a plurality of radially movable dogs carried between said outer sleeve body and said setting sleeve body and being substantially fixed against axial movement with respect to said outer sleeve body, said dogs being operable for anchoring engagement with said well conduit for preventing relative axial movement between said anchoring means and said well conduit; and v. locking means including cooperating recess and ridge means formed on the radially inner surfaces of said dogs and on the radially outer surface of said setting sleeve body with said setting body being movable axially with respect to said dogs to first and second axial positions where in said first position, recess means in said dogs register with ridge means in said setting body to permit said dogs to move radially inwardly and where in said second position, ridge means in said dogs register with ridge means in said setting body to retain said dogs radially outwardly in anchoring engagement with said surrounding well conduit; b. pressure responsive positioning means connected with said anchoring means for axially moving said anchoring means through said well conduit; c. first sealing means included with said positioning means for forming a pressure seal in said conduit between the areas above and below said first sealing means; and d. sliding seal means included with said first sealing means for forming a substantially continuous sliding seal between said positioning means and said well conduit whereby sAid positioning means may be driven axially through said well conduit under the influence of a pressure differential developed axially across said first sealing means.

Claim 5

An anchoring assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein the external surface of said dogs include radial projections for engaging the internal surface of said well conduit and for maintaining said dogs radially retracted in said anchoring means until said projections register with a recess in the wall of said well conduit.

Claim 6

An anchoring assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein: a. said retaining sleeve body is movable between upper and lower axial positions by said positioning means; and b. said setting sleeve body is locked in said second axial position with said dogs extended when said setting sleeve body is in said upper axial position.

Claim 7

An anchoring assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said locking means includes a coil spring for resisting movement of said retaining sleeve body from said upper to said lower axial position.

Claim 8

An anchoring assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said locking means further includes a resilient snap ring adapted to expand radially to further resist axial movement of said retaining sleeve from said upper axial position to said lower axial position.

Claim 9

An anchoring assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said locking means includes a resilient snap ring adapted to expand radially to resist axial movement of said retaining sleeve from said upper axial position to said lower axial position.

Claim 10

An anchoring assembly as defined in claim 7 further including protective packing means extending radially from said tubular body to said well conduit at a point axially above said engagement means.

Claim 11

An anchoring assembly as defined in claim 8 further including second sealing means extending between said anchoring means and said well conduit for forming a seal between said anchoring means and said conduit.

Claim 12

An anchoring assembly as defined in claim 9 where said positioning means includes access means for engaging and locking into said positioning means with a mechanical linkage extending from the well surface for retrieval of said positioning means and said anchoring means by movement exerted from the well surface through said linkage.

Claim 13

An anchoring assembly for anchoring well equipment within a surrounding tubular well conduit comprising: a. remotely operable anchoring means for engaging and disengaging the internal surfaces of said surrounding well conduit to respectively anchor and release said anchoring assembly in said well conduit; said anchoring means further including: i. an axially extending, substantially tubular body of composite construction; ii. radially movable engagement means carried by said body and disposed for outward radial movement into anchoring engagement with said well conduit for preventing relative axial movement between said anchoring means and said well conduit; iii. setting means included in said body for selectively moving said engagement means radially into and out of engagement with said well conduit; iv. locking means included in said body for locking said engagement means in the radially outwardly position in anchoring engagement with said well conduit; and v. protective packing means extending radially from said tubular body to said well conduit at a point axially above said engagement means; b. pressure responsive positioning means connected with said anchoring means for axially moving said anchoring means through said well conduit; c. first sealing means included with said positioning means for forming a pressure seal in said conduit between the areas above and below said first sealing means; and d. sliding seal means included with said first sealing means for forming a substantially continuous sliding seal between said positioning means and said well conduit whereby said positioning means may be driven axially through said well conduit under the influence of a preSsure differential developed axially across said first sealing means.

Claim 14

An anchoring assembly for anchoring well equipment within a surrounding tubular well conduit comprising: a. remotely operable anchoring means for engaging and disengaging the internal surfaces of said surrounding well conduit to respectively anchor and release said anchoring assembly in said well conduit; said anchoring means further including: i. an axially extending, substantially tubular body of composite construction; ii. radially movable engagement means carried by said body and disposed for outward radial movement into anchoring engagement with said well conduit for preventing relative axial movement between said anchoring means and said well conduit; iii. setting means included in said body for selectively moving said engagement means radially into and out of engagement with said well conduit; iv. locking means included in said body for locking said engagement means in the radially outwardly position in anchoring engagement with said well conduit; and v. protective packing means extending radially from said tubular body to said well conduit at a point axially above said engagement means; b. pressure responsive positioning means connected with said anchoring means for axially moving said anchoring means through said well conduit; c. first sealing means included with said positioning means for forming a pressure seal in said conduit between the areas above and below said first sealing means; and d. sliding seal means included with said first sealing means for forming a substantially continuous sliding seal between said positioning means and said well conduit whereby said positioning means may be driven axially through said well conduit under the influence of a preSsure differential developed axially across said first sealing means.

Claim 15

An anchoring assembly for anchoring well equipment within a surrounding tubular well conduit comprising: a. remotely operable anchoring means for engaging and disengaging the internal surfaces of said surrounding well conduit to respectively anchor and release said anchoring assembly in said well conduit; b. pressure responsive positioning means connected with said anchoring means for axially moving said anchoring means through said well conduit; c. access means included in said positioning means for engaging and locking on to said positioning means with a mechanical linkage extending from the well surface for retrieval of said positioning means and said anchoring means by movement exerted from the well surface through said linkage; d. first sealing means included with said positioning means for forming a pressure seal in said conduit between the areas above and below said first sealing means, said first sealing means further including seal opening means operable by said mechanical linkage for permitting pressure equalization across said first sealing means; and e. sliding seal means included with said first sealing means for forming a substantially continuous sliding seal between said positioning means and said well conduit whereby said positioning means may be driven axially through said well conduit under the influence of a pressure differential developed axially across said first sealing means.

Claim 16

An anchoring assembly for anchoring well equipment within a surrounding tubular well conduit comprising: a. remotely operable anchoring means for engaging and disengaging the internal surfaces of said surrounding well conduit to respectively anchor and release said anchoring assembly in said well conduit; b. pressure responsive positioning means connected with said anchoring means for axially moving said anchoring means through said well conduit; c. access means included in said positioning means for engaging and locking on to said positioning means with a mechanical linkage extending from the well surface for retrieval of said positioning means and said anchoring means by movement exerted from the well surface through said linkage; d. first sealing means included with said positioning means for forming a pressure seal in said conduit between the areas above and below said first sealing means, said first sealing means further including seal opening means operable by said mechanical linkage for permitting pressure equalization across said first sealing means; and e. sliding seal means included with said first sealing means for forming a substantially continuous sliding seal between said positioning means and said well conduit whereby said positioning means may be driven axially through said well conduit under the influence of a pressure differential developed axially across said first sealing means.

Claim 17

An anchoring assembly as defined in claim 12 further including a frangible plate included in said seal opening means and adapted to be broken by said mechanical linkage for permitting pressure equalization across said first sealing means.

Claim 18

An anchoring assembly for well equipment comprising: a. a tubular body for supporting a well tool in a well conduit; b. friction means carried by said body for frictionally engaging said well conduit; c. anchor elements mounted about said body for radial movement between extended and released positions respectively effecting anchoring engagement with and release from said well conduit; d. a setting sleeve cooperating with said anchor elements carried by said body for relative axial movement therewith between positions extending and releasing said anchor elements; e. pressure movable positioning means connected with said body for moving said body through said well conduit, said positioning means including access means for engaging and locking into said positioning means with a mechanical linkage extending from the well surface for retrieval of said positioning means and said body by movement exerted from the well surface through said linkage; f. connecting means included with said positioning means for releasably connecting said positioning means to said tubular body; g. first sealing means included with said positioning means for forming a seal between the areas in said well conduit above and below said first sealing means, said first sealing means further including a frangible plate adapted to be broken by said mechanical linkage for permitting pressure equalization across said first sealing means; h. sliding seal means included with said first sealing means for forming a substantially continuous sliding seal between said positioning means and said well conduit whereby said positioning means may be driven axially through said well conduit under the influence of a pressure differential developed axially across said first sealing means; i. safety latch locking elements initially securing said connecting means to said tubular body and only releasable from said connecting means to release and positioning means from said tubular body upon axial movement of said setting sleeve to said position extending said anchor elements into anchoring engagement with said well conduit; and j. pressure movable retrieving means engageable with said body and including means for moving said setting sleeve axially to said position releasing said anchor elements from anchoring engagement with said well conduit whereby said tubular body may be moved axially through said well conduit by said retrieving means

Claim 19

An anchoring assembly for well equipment comprising: a. a tubular body for supporting a well tool in a well conduit; b. friction means carried by said body for frictionally engaging said well conduit; c. anchor elements mounted about said body for radial movement between extended and released positions respectively effecting anchoring engagement with and release from said well conduit; d. a setting sleeve cooperating with said anchor elements carried by said body for relative axial movement therewith between positions extending and releasing said anchor elements; e. pressure movable positioning means connected with said body for moving said body through said well conduit, said positioning means including access means for engaging and locking into said positioning means with a mechanical linkage extending from the well surface for retrieval of said positioning means and said body by movement exerted from the well surface through said linkage; f. connecting means included with said positioning means for releasably connecting said positioning means to said tubular body; g. first sealing means included with said positioning means for forming a seal between the areas in said well conduit above and below said first sealing means, said first sealing means further including a frangible plate adapted to be broken by said mechanical linkage for permitting pressure equalization across said first sealing means; h. sliding seal means included with said first sealing means for forming a substantially continuous sliding seal between said positioning means and said well conduit whereby said positioning means may be driven axially through said well conduit under the influence of a pressure differential developed axially across said first sealing means; i. safety latch locking elements initially securing said connecting means to said tubular body and only releasable from said connecting means to release and positioning means from said tubular body upon axial movement of said setting sleeve to said position extending said anchor elements into anchoring engagement with said well conduit; and j. pressure movable retrieving means engageable with said body and including means for moving said setting sleeve axially to said position releasing said anchor elements from anchoring engagement with said well conduit whereby said tubular body may be moved axially through said well conduit by said retrieving means

Claim 20

An anchoring assembly as defined in claim 14 wherein said friction means includes packing means extending between said body and said well conduit.

Claim 21

An anchoring means as defined in claim 14 wherein said safety latch locking elements include frangible locking means securing said connecting means to said setting sleeve for preventing release of said positioning means from said tubular body until said anchoring elements are in anchoring engagement with a recess in the wall of said well conduit.

Claim 24

A system as defined in claim 17 wherein said selectively openable seal opening means comprises a frangible plate adapted to be broken by said mechanical linkage.

Claim 25

A system as defined in claim 17 further including pressure movable retrieving means engageable with said anchoring means for releasing said anchoring means from said elongate well conduit whereby said anchoring means may be moved axially through said elongate conduit by said retrieving means.

Claim 26

A system as defined in claim 19 wherein said retrieving means includes access means for engaging and locking onto said retrieving means with a mechanical linkage extending from the well surface.

Claim 27

A system as defined in claim 20 wherein said retrieving means includes selectively openable seal opening means for selectively permitting pressure equalization across said retrieving means.

Claim 28

A system as defined in claim 21 wherein said seal opening means in said retrieving means includes a frangible plate means adapted to be broken by said last mentioned mechanical linkage.