Stripper/packer
AssigneeVarco I/P, Inc.
InventorsDonald L. Jones, David J. McWhorter, Richard M. Ward
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stripper/packer includes first and second packing elements, which are interchangeable to alleviate inventory concerns. The upper actuating hydraulic piston is the same diameter as the lower piston, which allows the operator to utilize the same amount of pressure to maintain a seal during transition between packing elements. Both packing elements are separately actuated from the lower side allowing the wellbore pressure to assist the seal.
Claims14
A stripper/packer comprising:
- a. a lower body defining an axis;
- b. an upper body joined to and co-axial with the lower body;
- c. a co-axial bore through the lower and the upper bodies;
- d. a lower piston slidably mounted within the lower body;
- e. a lower packer element actuated by the lower piston;
- f. an upper piston slidably mounted within the upper body;
- g. an upper packer element actuated by the upper piston;
- and
- h. an access window between the upper body and the lower body, adapted to provide access to the lower packer element, wherein the access window is in abutting contact with the upper body when the access window is shut and wherein the access window retracts into the lower body when the window is open.
A method of replacing a packer element selected from a lower packer element and an upper packer element in a dual packer element stripper/packer, comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a lower packer element within a lower body, the lower packer element accessible through a hydraulically actuated access window;
- b. providing an upper packer element within an upper body, the upper packer element accessible by removal of an upper cap from the upper body, wherein the access window is in abutting contact with the upper body when the access window is shut and wherein the access window retracts into the lower body when the window is open;
- c. replacing the lower packer element through the access window independent of the upper packer element;
- and
- d. replacing the upper packer element, gaining access to the upper packer element by removing the upper cap from the upper body independent of the lower packer element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.