Rotational set well packer device
OwnerHarold Cliftoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A packer apparatus that is set with low friction counter-clockwise rotation, and unset with clockwise rotation. A drain valve is opened concurrently as the packer apparatus is unset and closed as the packer apparatus is set. The Packer apparatus requires a minimum of parts and is designed to be used in corrosive environments.
Claims11
A rotational set well packer device for insertion into a conduit from the top of a wellbore, comprising a longitudinally extending tubular member forming a central axial passageway and having an expandable annular packer element supported thereon and projecting radially from the tubular member and blocking fluid flow up and down the annular space formed between the tubular member and a surrounding well conduit,
- said tubular member being separable into upper and lower mandrels, said upper mandrel being telescopingly received within said lower mandrel;
- counterclockwise complementary threads formed between the upper and lower mandrel for extending and retracting the upper mandrel respective the lower mandrel responsive to relative rotation therebetween;
- an annular cap mounted on the lower mandrel, an annular element compressor mounted on the upper mandrel and enclosing the upper marginal end of the lower mandrel to form a variable chamber between the element compressor, upper mandrel and the upper end of the lower mandrel;
- the annular expandable packer element having opposed ends, respectively, connected to be compressed between the element compressor and the cap, respectively;
- the upper marginal end of the lower mandrel sealingly engaging the upper mandrel and reciprocating therein upon rotation of the upper mandrel respective the lower mandrel;
- and a drain valve for controlling flow along a drain passageway formed from the central axial passageway into the variable chamber and through the element compressor to thereby control flow of well fluid through the drain passageway responsive relative rotation between the upper and lower mandrel.
A counterclockwise rotational set packer device forming part of a tool string insertable within a conduit;
- an upper mandrel having a marginal end telescopingly received respective a marginal end of a lower mandrel;
- a longitudinally extending axial passageway extending through the upper and lower mandrels;
- an annular element compressor, an annular resilient packer element, an annular cap, complementary counterclockwise threads formed between the upper and lower mandrels for telescopingly moving the upper and lower mandrels towards and away from one another upon rotating the upper mandrel respective the lower mandrel;
- the element compressor having opposed ends, with one end thereof being attached to the upper mandrel and forming an annular chamber therebetween;
- the cap being connected to a lower end of the lower mandrel in spaced relation respective to a lower end of the element compressor;
- the upper marginal end of the lower mandrel extending into and sealingly engaging a wall of the annular chamber, an outer and inner flow port, respectively, formed through the element compressor and the upper mandrel, respectively;
- one port being arranged respective the element compressor for flow therethrough to be obstructed by the lower mandrel upon setting of the packer and to be unobstructed when the packer is unseated, thereby equalizing the pressure between the longitudinal axial passageway and the exterior of the packer device when the upper and lower mandrels are telescoped apart, and to prevent flow through the ports when the upper and lower mandrels are telescoped together;
- the packer element being positioned between the element compressor and the cap for expanding the packer element upon counterclockwise rotation of the upper mandrel respective the lower mandrel while at the same time the upper end of the lower mandrel is moved to sealingly engage one of the ports and thereby preclude flow therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.