Hydraulically set well packer

Claim 2

A hydraulically set well packer, for forming a fluid barrier at a downhole location within a well bore, having a mandrel means with packing elements and anchoring means carried on its exterior and a longitudinal bore extending therethrough, comprising: a. a shoulder on the exterior of the mandrel means; b. a setting sleeve surrounding a portion of the mandrel means and longitudinally slidable relative thereto; c. piston means slidably disposed on the exterior of the mandrel means and operatively engaging the setting sleeve; d. the packing elements and anchoring means positioned between the shoulder and the setting sleeve; e. an annular recess formed in a portion of the setting sleeve; f. flexible collet fingers attached to the mandrel means; g. a collet head on the end of each finger; and h. means for releasably engaging the collet heads with the annular recess.

Claim 3

A well packer as defined in claim 1 wherein the releasable engaging means comprises: a. a first cylinder slidably disposed on the exterior of the mandrel means between the mandrel means and the collet fingers; b. the first cylinder having a first position which holds the collet heads engaged with the annular recess and a second position which allows the collet fingers to flex and disengage the collet heads from the annular recess; c. a second cylinder disposed within the bore of the mandrel means adjacent to the first cylinder; d. means for connecting the first cylinder to the second cylinder; and e. means for sliding the second cylinder longitudinally with respect to the mandrel means when fluid pressure within the mandrel bore exceeds the preselected value.

Claim 4

A well packer as defined in claim 2 wherein the connecting means further comprises: a. a plurality of longitudinal slots extending through the mandrel means; b. the first cylinder and second cylinder disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal slots; and c. a shear screw slidably disposed within each slot and attached to the first cylinder and second cylinder.

Claim 5

A well packer as defined in claim 3 wherein the sliding means further comprises: a. a shear pin releasably securing the first cylinder in its first position; and b. a ball disposed within the bore of the mandrel means and engaging the second cylinder to block fluid flow in one direction therethrough.

Claim 6

A well packer as defined in claim 1 having a protective sleeve attached to the mandrel means and surrounding the releasably locking means.

Claim 7

A well packer as defined in claim 1 wherein the setting sleeve further comprises: a. a first section and a second section with the first section abutting a portion of the anchoring means and the second section operatively engaged with the piston means; b. the first and second sections attached to each other by a threaded connection; and c. the threaded connection allowing adjustment of the length of the setting sleeve to accommodate variations in the length of the mandrel means and packing elements carried thereon.

Claim 8

A well packer as defined in claim 6 wherein the releasable locking means comprises: a. an annular recess formed in a portion of the setting sleeve; b. flexible collet fingers attached to the mandrel means; c. a collet head on the end of each finger; d. a first cylinder slidably disposed on the exterior of the mandrel means between the mandrel means and the collet fingers; e. the first cylinder having a first position which holds the collet heads engaged with the annular recess and a second position which allows the collet fingers to flex and disengage the collet heads from the annular recess; and f. the protective sleeve preventing undesired contact between the collet fingers and obstructions in the well bore while lowering the well packer therethrough.

Claim 9

A hydraulically set well packer, for forming a fluid barrier at a downhole location within a well bore, having a mandrel means with packing elements and anchoring means carried on its exterior and a longitudinal bore extending therethrough, comprising: a. a shoulder on the exterior of the mandrel means; b. a setting sleeve surrounding a portion of the mandrel means and longitudinally slidable relative thereto; c. piston means slidably disposed on the exterior of the mandrel means and operatively engaging the setting sleeve; d. the packing elements and anchoring means positioned between the shoulder and the setting sleeve; e. an annular recess formed in a portion of the setting sleeve; f. flexible collet fingers attached to the mandrel means; g. a collet head on the end of each finger; h. the collet heads and annular recess providing means for releasably locking the setting sleeve to the mandrel means; and i. means for releasing engagement between the collet heads and the annular recess.

Claim 10

A hydraulically set well packer, for forming a fluid barrier at a downhole location within a well bore, having a mandrel means with packing elements and anchoring means carried on its exterior and a longitudinal bore extending therethrough, comprising: a. a shoulder on the exterior of the mandrel means; b. a setting sleeve surrounding a portion of the mandrel means and longitudinally slidable relative thereto; c. piston means slidably disposed on the exterior of the mandrel means and operatively engaging the setting sleeve; d. the packing elements and anchoring means positioned between the shoulder and the setting sleeve; e. an annular recess formed in a portion of the setting sleeve; f. flexible collet fingers attached to the mandrel means; g. a collet head on the end of each finger; h. the collet heads and annular recess providing means for releasably locking the setting sleeve to the mandrel means; and i. means for releasing engagement between the collet heads and the annular recess.

Claim 11

A well packer as defined in claim 8 wherein the engagement releasing means comprises: a. a first cylinder slidably disposed on the exterior of the mandrel means between the mandrel means and the collet fingers; b. the first cylinder having a first position which holds the collet heads engaged with the annular recess and a second position which allows the collet fingers to flex and disengage the collet heads from the annular recess; c. a second cylinder disposed within the bore of the mandrel means adjacent to the first cylinder; d. means for connecting the first cylinder to the second cylinder; and e. means for sliding the second cylinder longitudinally with respect to the mandrel means when fluid pressure within the mandrel means exceeds a preselected value.

Claim 12

A well packer as defined in claim 9 further comprising a protective sleeve attached to the mandrel means and surrounding the means for releasably locking the setting sleeve to the mandrel means.

Claim 13

A well packer as defined in claim 10 wherein the setting sleeve further comprises: a. a first section and a second section with the first section abutting a portion of the anchoring means and the second section operatively engaged with the piston means; b. the first and second sections attached to each other by a threaded connection; and c. the threaded connection allowing adjustment of the length of the setting sleeve to accommodate variations in the length of the mandrel means and packing elements carried thereon.