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US 4,290,484 AGranted
Seal receptacle assembly
AssigneeBaker International Corporation
InventorsClifford H. Beall, Amareswar Amancharla, Michael A. Luke
Life of this patent
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AssigneeBaker International Corporation
InventorsClifford H. Beall, Amareswar Amancharla, Michael A. Luke
Estimating the term…
A seal receptacle assembly is provided for affixation on a well conduit. The seal receptacle assembly can be provided to permit telescopic contraction and expansion of the well conduit in response to heating, cooling, or pressurization of the well conduit. The seal receptacle assembly includes an inner body sleeve having a lower end connected to the well tool or a conduit member, and an annular sealing element positioned over an outer cylindrical static sealing surface formed on the inner body sleeve. An outer housing having one end connected to the well conduit telescopes over the upper portion of the inner body sleeve. The housing has an inner cylindrical dynamic sealing surface for sealingly and slidably engaging the sealing element. Means, such as a radially compressible retaining ring, are mounted in an outer groove formed on the inner body sleeve above the sealing element, or, alternatively, a collet is provided, for maintaining the sealing element on the static sealing surface during normal expansion and contraction of the seal receptacle assembly. Upward movement of the outer housing causes the retaining ring, or collet, to expand outwardly into an inner groove in the housing and permit the housing to lift the sealing element off the static sealing surface. The sealing element and the dynamic sealing surface can then be removed from the well in a single retrieval operation.
A seal receptacle assembly for affixation between first and second members of a tubular conduit in a subterranean well to compensate for longitudinal contraction and expansion of the conduit, said assembly comprising:
A seal receptacle assembly for affixation intermediate a tubing string in a well to compensate for longitudinal contraction and expansion of the tubing string, comprising:
A latch assembly for affixation between first and second members of a tubular conduit in a subterranean well, said assembly comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.
Between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like: telescoping joints for varying drill string lengths; Shock absorbers
Between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like: releasing-joints, e.g. safety joints
Subsoil filtering: setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells
Earth or rock drilling
Term ended 18 Jul 2000 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to subsurface equipment for subterranean wells and, in particular, to a seal receptacle for connection in a well conduit for permitting expansion and contraction of the conduit.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram, in partial cross-section, of a seal receptacle assembly according to the present invention connected in a tubing string in a subterranean well.
FIGS. 2a and 2b together constitute a quarter sectional view, illustrating the seal receptacle assembly of FIG. 1 in a setting position after it has been connected to a packer assembly, FIG. 2b being a lower vertical continuation of FIG. 2a.
FIG. 3 is a quarter sectional view, similar to FIGS. 2a and 2b, but illustrating the seal receptacle assembly in retrieval position wherein the seal means and the dynamic sealing surface are removed from the well in a single retrieval operation.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown in schematic diagram form a seal receptacle assembly 10 which is suspended within a well casing 12 positioned in a subterraean bore 14. The seal receptacle assembly 10 is connected between a well tubing 16 and a packer assembly 18.
The packer assembly 18 shown in the Figures includes a resilient packing element 20 which has been expanded to sealingly engage the inner wall of the well casing 12. The packer assembly 18 has an upper portion 22 and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extendable hold down buttons 24 which have been expanded to grip the side wall of the well casing 12. The packer assembly 18 also includes a lower portion 26 having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slips 28 which have been expanded to grip the inner wall of the casing 12. The buttons 24 and the slips 28 militate against any longitudinal movement of the packer assembly 18 relative to the casing 12, while the packing element 20 seals between the upper and lower external areas of the packer assembly. Of course, it is understood that the present seal receptacle assembly is by no means limited to use with this type of packer, the seal receptacle assembly being designed for use with a number of down hole packers, bridge plugs, hangers, and the like.
Although not shown in FIG. 1, the packer assembly 18 extends downwardly and is in fluid communication with a production zone of a subterranean well, while the well tubing 16 extends upwardly to the top of the well. Generally, the well tubing 16 will be subjected to a wide range of temperature and pressure variations. The seal receptacle assembly 10 permits telescopic expansion and contraction of the well tubing without inducing any substantial load on the packer assembly 18.