US3910349A — Apparatus and method for cementing well liners

Claim 1

Independent Claim 152 words

Apparatus for cementing a liner in a well bore comprising: a. a setting tool having a tubular mandrel connected in a pipe string for extension through said liner; b. seal means releasably attached to said liner and sealingly engaging the exterior of said mandrel and the interior of said liner permitting at least limited axial movement of said mandrel without movement of said seal means; c. latch means included with said seal means engageable with corresponding groove means within said liner to releasably hold said seal means against axial displacement therein; and d. said mandrel comprising a first portion and an axially spaced second portion of less diameter than said first portion, said first portion when in registration with said latch means preventing disengagement of said latch means from said groove means, said second portion when in registration with said latch means allowing disengagement of said latch means from said groove means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 152 words

Apparatus for cementing a liner in a well bore comprising: a. a setting tool having a tubular mandrel connected in a pipe string for extension through said liner; b. seal means releasably attached to said liner and sealingly engaging the exterior of said mandrel and the interior of said liner permitting at least limited axial movement of said mandrel without movement of said seal means; c. latch means included with said seal means engageable with corresponding groove means within said liner to releasably hold said seal means against axial displacement therein; and d. said mandrel comprising a first portion and an axially spaced second portion of less diameter than said first portion, said first portion when in registration with said latch means preventing disengagement of said latch means from said groove means, said second portion when in registration with said latch means allowing disengagement of said latch means from said groove means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 42 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said sealing engagement between said seal means and said first mandrel portion is interruptable upon axial displacement of said mandrel to a position in which said seal means surrounds said second mandrel portion.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 91 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said seal means comprises tubular body means, having apertures in which latch members of said latch means are mounted for radial movement between extended positions, in which said latch members engage said groove means, and retracted positions, in which said latch members are not in engagement with said groove means, said mandrel being movable between a first position engaging and holding said latch members in said extended positions, and a second position permitting said latch members to move to said retracted positions.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said mandrel is provided with a plurality of radially projecting lug members for centralizing said mandrel within said liner.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 37 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which said lug members are engageable with said seal means upon predetermined axial displacement of said mandrel to permit removal of said mandrel and seal means from said liner.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 38 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said seal means comprises a sleeve member carrying a first annular seal for sealing engagement with said liner and a second annular seal for sealing engagement with said mandrel.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 48 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said latch means comprises a plurality of latch members radially movable between extendEd positions, in which said latch members engage said groove means, and retracted positions, in which said latch members are not in engagement with said groove means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 48 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which said first annular seal is disposed below said latch members a distance greater than the distance between said groove means and any upwardly facing shoulder in said liner above said groove means capable of engagement by said latch members.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 39 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which said mandrel is initially attached to said liner by connector means operable upon rotation of said mandrel to release said mandrel for said limited axial movement relative to said liner.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 in which said connector means comprises threads in said liner engageable with a nut member carried by said mandrel.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 32 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 in which said first annular seal is disposed below said latch members a distance greater than the distance between said threads and said groove means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 213 words

Apparatus for cementing a liner in a well bore comprising: a. a setting tool having a tubular mandrel connected in a pipe string for extension through said liner creating an annular space therebetween; b. connector means carried by said setting tool for releasably connecting said liner thereto; c. wiper means releasably disposed within said liner near one end of said mandrel and having a central opening through which cement may be pumped into said liner through said pipe string and mandrel; d. plug means adapted for sliding and sealing engagement with the interior of said pipe string and mandrel effecting a movable seal behind said cement as it is pumped into said liner, said plug means being engageable with said wiper means and movable therewith, upon release of said wiper means, to effect a movable seal behind said cement as said cement is displaced from said liner into said surrounding well bore; e. seal means disposed in said annular space comprising a sleeve member carrying first and second annular seals for sealingly engaging the interior of said liner and the exterior of said mandrel, respectively; and f. latch means releasably connecting said seal means to said liner permitting limited axial movement of said mandrel without disturbing the axial position of said seal means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 213 words

Apparatus for cementing a liner in a well bore comprising: a. a setting tool having a tubular mandrel connected in a pipe string for extension through said liner creating an annular space therebetween; b. connector means carried by said setting tool for releasably connecting said liner thereto; c. wiper means releasably disposed within said liner near one end of said mandrel and having a central opening through which cement may be pumped into said liner through said pipe string and mandrel; d. plug means adapted for sliding and sealing engagement with the interior of said pipe string and mandrel effecting a movable seal behind said cement as it is pumped into said liner, said plug means being engageable with said wiper means and movable therewith, upon release of said wiper means, to effect a movable seal behind said cement as said cement is displaced from said liner into said surrounding well bore; e. seal means disposed in said annular space comprising a sleeve member carrying first and second annular seals for sealingly engaging the interior of said liner and the exterior of said mandrel, respectively; and f. latch means releasably connecting said seal means to said liner permitting limited axial movement of said mandrel without disturbing the axial position of said seal means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 40 words

Apparatus for cementing a liner in a well bore as set forth in claim 12 in which said connector means is operable by rotation of said mandrel to release said mandrel for said limited axial movement relative to said liner.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 68 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 in which said latch means comprises a plurality of latches carried by said seal means for movement from extended positions, engaging corresponding surfaces carried by said liner, to retracted positions not engaging said corresponding liner surfaces, said latches being held in said extended positions by the exterior of said mandrel preventing axial movement of said seal means relative to said liner.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 33 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 in which said first annular seal is disposed below said latches a distance greater than the distance between said connector means and said corresponding liner surfaces.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 51 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 in which said mandrel is provided with a reduced diameter portion which upon registration with said latch means by predetermined axial movement of said mandrel permits movement of said latches to said retracted positions to permit removal of said seal means from said liner.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 37 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 in which the sealing engagement of said seal means with said mandrel is interruptable by said reduced diameter mandrel portion upon less than said predetermined axial movement of said mandrel.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 38 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 in which said mandrel is provided with stop means engageable with said seal means upon further axial movement of said mandrel to remove said mandrel and seal means from said liner.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 18 in which said stop means comprises a plurality of radially projecting lug members centralizing said mandrel within said liner.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-10-06	1979-04-07	1979-10-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-10-06	1983-04-07	1983-10-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-10-06	1987-04-07	1987-10-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus and method for cementing well liners

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