Apparatus and method for temporary subsurface well sealing and equipment anchoring

A retrievable assembly for subsurface placement of equipment within a well, comprising:

• an axially extending anchoring and sealing packer for selective anchoring and sealing engagement with the internal tubular wall of a well pipe;
• a bypass flow passage extending axially through said packer for providing fluid and pressure communication axially across said packer;
• a valve member functionally connected with said bypass passage, said valve member being moveable with respect to said packer between positions opening or closing said passage to said fluid and pressure communication;
• an actuation tool operable from the well surface and connectable with said packer for anchoring and sealing said packer at a subsurface location within said well pipe, said valve member being moved to open and closed positions by right-hand rotation of said actuating tool;
• a releasable connector operable with said actuation tool and said packer for releasing said actuation tool from said packer after said packer has been anchored in said well pipe;
• and
• a valve closure control member for moving said valve member from open to closed positions as said actuation tool is released from said packer.

A method of temporarily anchoring an assembly at a subsurface location within a well pipe, comprising:

• lowering the assembly through the well to the subsurface location with an actuating tool;
• rotating the actuating tool to the right to convey rotary motion through a clutch and set the assembly at the subsurface location;
• opening a flow bypass in said assembly with the right-hand rotation of the actuating tool;
• manipulating the actuating tool to disengage the clutch;
• rotating the actuating tool to the right to disengage the set assembly from the actuating tool;
• reengaging said set assembly with said actuating tool;
• rotating said actuating tool to the right to engage right-hand threads in said assembly and said actuating tool;
• and
• rotating said actuating tool to the right to unset said assembly.

A retrievable assembly for subsurface placement of equipment within a well, comprising:

• an axially extending anchoring and sealing packer for selective anchoring and sealing engagement with the internal tubular wall of a well pipe;
• a bypass flow passage extending axially through said packer for providing fluid and pressure communication axially across said packer;
• a valve member functionally connected with said bypass passage, said valve member being moveable with respect to said packer between positions opening or closing said passage to said fluid and pressure communication;
• an actuation tool operable from the well surface and connectable with said packer for anchoring and sealing said packer at a subsurface location within said well pipe;
• a releasable connector operable with said actuation tool and said packer for releasing said actuation tool from said packer after said packer has been anchored in said well pipe;
• a valve closure control member for moving said valve member from open to closed positions as said actuation tool is released from said packer;
• a retrieval connector for reengaging and releasing said packer from its anchored placement in said well pipe;
• and
• a valve opening control connector for moving said valve member from closed to open positions as said tool rengages said packer.