US3396798A - Circulating washer tool - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 13, 1968 E. BURNS ETAL CIRCULATING WASHER TOOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 14, 1966 Aug. 13, 1968 E. BURNS ETAL 3,396,798

CIRCULATING WASHER TOOL Filed Nov. 14, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,Vga 2 zO O64 64f4 f 55. I .s 5 Z' United States Patent O 3,396,798 CIRCULATING WASHER TOOL Erwin Burns, Los Angeles, and Leslie Jones, Buena Park, Calif. (both Burns Tool C0., 8343 Salt Lake Ave., Bell, Calif. 90201) Filed Nov. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 593,924 Claims. (Cl. 166-147) This invention has to do with a circulating washer tool for use in oil and gas well structures and is more particularly concerned with an improved circulating washer tool which is such that it is easier to operate, more effective and dependable in operation and more economical to manufacture and maintain than other circulating washer tools provided by the prior art.

In the art of servicing oil and gas wells, it is common practice and frequently becomes necessary to wash the well structure, that is, to flush out sand and the like which occurs in and about the perforated liner or liners arranged on the lower end of or in the well casing, which occurs in the producing formation about such linears and tends to plug the liners and the formation and stop or seriously impede the flow of production into the well structure.

Flushing or washing out of well structures for the purpose set forth above is ordinarily accomplished by means of circulating washer tools. Such tools are characterized by elongate, tubular uid conducting bodies engageable on the lower ends of strings of Iuid conducting drill pipe. The tool bodies are provided with longitudinally spaced packing means to seal between the bodies and the interior walls or surfaces of the casings or liners with which they (the tools) are related, lateral flow ports in the body between the packing means, axially downwardly disposed bottom ilow parts in the lower ends of the bodies and valving means to selectively direct uid conducted downwardly through the structures outwardly through the lateral or bottom flow ports.

In addition to the above, ordinary circulating washer tools are provided with by-pass means, that is, means in the tool bodies to permit tiuid flowing through the tools into the well structures, below the packing means to ow back and upwardly in the liner and/or casing, through the tool, by or passed the packing means and thence back into the liner and/or casing whereby free flow of circulating uid in the well structure is maintained at al1 times. Without such by-pass means in such tools, the packing means act as subs which impede the circulating of fluid in such =a manner that the sand and the like sought to be washed from the well structure is trapped therein.

The valving and by-pass means of the circulating washer tools provided by the prior art are complicated and costly structures to manufacture, operate and maintain. The valve :means in all of such structures, known to applicants, are characterized by a plurality of axially and rotatably shiftable ported tubular parts with suitable stop or indexing means, usually in the nature of pin and bayonet slot type means, and/or jaw clutch means, to stop the ported parts in two or more predetermined rotative positions. These tools are such that the operator, in order to effect opening and/or closing of the valve means, must raise or elevate the drill pipe and a part of the tool related to it, a predetermined distance, rotate the pipe and said tool parts a predetermined distance and then lower the pipe and said parts a predetermined distance. Such manipulation of such tools is of questionable certainty and is all too frequently a hit and miss type of operation. Since the tools are out of the view of the operator and are separated from the operators senses of feel or touch by continuous lengths of drill pipe, which pipe is subject to such axial stretching and circumferential twisting or torqu- 3,396,798 Patented Aug. 13, 1968 ICC ing that it is normally not possible to determine where the lower end of the string of pipe is in the well or to determine how far the lower end of the drill pipe and the tool related thereto is moved, both axially and circumferentially, upon axial and circumferential movement or shifting of the upper end of the drill pipe string.

An object of our invention is to provide an elongate vertical, circulating washing tool engaging on the lower end of a uid conducting drill pipe string and having spaced packing means intermediate its ends, a primary lower, axially downwardly opening fluid conducting port, an upper secondary radially outwardly opening Huid condu-cting port, upper and lower packing means about the exterior of the tool and spaced above and below the secondary port, primary and secondary valving means related to the primary and secondary ports, means operatively coupling the valving .means together, and uid by-pass means to conduct iluid about the tool below the packing means, through the tool by or past the packing means and then back into the well structure about the tool above said packing means.

Another object of our invention is to provide a novel rotary disc and ball type primary valving means which is such that when it is closed and is acted upon hydraulic pressure, the valve structure acts as a hydraulically actuated brake means and releasably holds the valve structure and the tool structure related to it in set position.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a ported sleeve-type secondary valving means for the .upper lateral ow port in the tool which is coupled with the primary valving means and with the string of drill pipe so that when the drill pipe is rotated in one direction -or the other to open or close the secondary valving means, the primary valving means is closed or opened at 4the same time and such that when the tool is thus operated to close the primary valving means and fluid pressure is exerted upon it from within the tool, the secondary valving :means is releasably hydraulically locked in its open position.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a tool of the character referred to having stop means to limit the rotative movement of the primary and secondary valving means.

A further object of our invention is to provide a tool of the character referred to having friction means related to those parts and portions of the tool in which the ports are arranged and on which the packing means are carried, which friction means engages the well structure about the tool so as yieldingly frictionally hold those parts and/or portions referred to above stationary and against rotation relative to the parts and/ or portions of the tool coupled with the drill pipe string.

An object of this invention is to provide a tool of the character referred to having improved by-pass means through which circulating fluid and sand and the like carried by such lluid can freely ow.

It is an object and feature of our invention to provide a tool of the character referred to which is such that the tool can be operated by simply turning the drill pipe string in one direction or other to commence or start the ow of fluid through the primary port and to stop or commence the llow of uid through the secondary port as desired, and a tool which is such that the drill pipe string with which said tool is related need not be elevated or lowered to effect operation of the tool.

Finally, it is an object of thi-.s invention to provide a tool of the character referred to which is a neat, clean and compact design, a tool which involves purse, simple and economical to manufacture and assemble parts, and a tool which is more rugged and dependable in operation and which is simpler and easier to operate than tools of the same class or type presently employed in the well drilling and servicing art.

The foregoing and other objects and features of our invention will be fully understood and apparent from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and embodiment of our invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elongate sectional view of our new tool showing it related to a drill pipe string and in a well structure;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to a portion of the structure shown in FIG. l with parts in another position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of another portion of the structure shown in FIG. l with parts in another position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 5-5 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 6-6 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 7-7 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 8 8 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a sectional View taken as indicated by line 9-9 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 10-10 on FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 11-11 on FIG. l;

FIG. 12 is a sectional View taken as indicated by line 1212 on FIG. 3;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 13-13 on FIG. 1; and

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 showing the parts in another position.

The tool that We provide is adapted to be engaged on the lower end of an elongate string of drill pipe D entering the top of and extending downwardly through a well casing (not shown) and into a perforated liner L at the lower end of the casing, which liner is set in a production formation F by a gravel pack G.

The tool that we provide involves an inner assembly I xed to and carried by the string of drill pipe D and an outer assembly O rotatively carried by the inner assembly.

The inner assembly I includes an elongate, vertically extending, tubular, fluid conducting mandrel M with upper andlower portions 10 and 11. Theupper portion 10 of the mandrel M is provided with a threadedpin 12 at its upper terminal end engaged in a threadedbox 13 in the lower end of the drill pipe string D. Thelower portion 11 of the mandrel M is of reduced diameter and depends from theupper portion 10 thereof to terminate at an enlargedcylindrical head 14.

Fixed to and depending from the enlargedhead 14 is an elongatetubular wash pipe 15, which pipe is provided at its lower terminal end with a part of a drive means, which drive means part is in the form of an enlarged cylindrical, annular key 16.

Theupper portion 10 of the mandrel is provided with a radially outwardly projectingstop flange 17 about its lower portion and has a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially outwardly and downwardly opening longitudinally extendingow channels 18, which channels intersect or extend through theflange 17 and terminate in the upper portion of the said upper portion of the mandrel, below thepin 12.

The tubular mandrel M and thetubular wash pipe 15 cooperate to define a central, longitudinally extending downwardlyopening flow passage 19, the upper end of which communicates with the central flow passage of the fluid conducting drill pipe D.

The enlargedcylindrical head 14 at the lower end of thelower portion 11 of the mandrel is provided with alateral port 20 communicating with theflow passage 19 and is provided with axially spaced, radially outwardly opening grooves above andbelow theport 20 and in which suitable sealing rings, such as O-rings 21 are engaged.

Thehead 14, with itsport 20 and sealing means orrings 21 establish a valve member for an upper secondary valve means V, as will hereinafter be described.

The enlarged cylindrical key I6 of the drive means, at the lower end of thewash pipe 15, is provided with a transversely extending downwardly and radially outwardly opening key-way 22 to receive and cooperate with parts of a lower primary valving means V, as will hereinafter be described.

' It will be apparent that the key-way 22 intersects and is interrupted at its center by the lower end of the flow passage 19'.

The outer assembly O includes an elongate barrel B with a straight, central,longitudinal bore 25 into which the key 16 on thewash pipe 15, thehead 14 on the lower end of the mandrel M, and the lower portion of theupper portion 10 of the mandrel M are slidably engaged and through which thelower portion 11 of the mandrel M and thewash pipe 15 project freely and cooperate therewith to dene upper and lower longitudinally extendingannular flow passages 26 and 27. The upper,annular flow passage 26 is closed at its upper and lower ends by theupper portion 10 of the mandrel and thehead 14. The lowerannular ow passage 27 is closed at its upper and lower ends by thehead 14 and enlarged cylindrical key 16.

Thelongitudinal ow channels 18 in theupper portion 10 of the mandrel M communicate with the upper end of theupper flow passage 26.

The lower end portion of the barrel B is provided with circumferentially spacedradial ports 28, which ports communicate with the lower end of thelower ilow passage 27, above the key 16 on the lower end of the wash pipe.

It is to be noted that thesealing rings 21 carried by thehead 14 seal in thebore 25 and prevent the ilow of fluid in theow passages 26 and 27 from flowing longitudinally between the head and the bore.

An annular stop shoulder 30l with an upwardly openingsocket 31 defining an annular upwardly disposedstop shoulder 32 is threadedly engaged on the upper end of the barrel with thestop ange 17 on the barrel arranged in the socket with its lower side opposing theshoulder 32. Anannular retaining sleeve 33 dening an annular downwardly disposedstop shoulder 34 is threaded into the upper end of thesocket 31 with theshoulder 34 thereof opposing the top side of thestop flange 17.

With the above relationship of parts, it will be apparent that the stop iiange is held captive between theshoulders 32 and 34 of the outer assembly O and that the inner assembly I is coupled with the outer assembly against relative axial shifting and displacement, but is free to rotate relative to the outer assembly.

Theilow channels 18 in the mandrel M extend above thesleeve 33 and are open at the exterior of the tool, above the outer assembly O to establish flow means communication between the upperannular ow passage 26 and the annulus between the upper portion of the tool and the adjacent well structure or liner L.

The central portion of the barrel occurring about thehead 14 and the mandrel M is provided with a radially outwardly opening upper orsecondary port 35, which port is adapted to be shifted into and out of register with theport 20 in thehead 14 upon relative rotation of the inner and outer assemblies I and O. Thehead 14, with itsport 20, sealing means 21 and theport 35 in the barrel, cooperate to deiine the upper secondary valve means V', referred to above.

The central portion of the barrel occurring about thehead 14 on the mandrel M is also provided with Huid conducting means, which means includes an annular, axially extendingtransfer passage 36, which passage is of sufficient longitudinal extent so that its upper end terminates above thehead 14 and its lower terminates below thehead 14.

The barrel B is further provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially inwardly opening upper andlower transfer ports 37 and 38 at the upper and lower ends of the transfer passage 36 (above and below the head 14) and establish communication between thetransfer passage 36 and the upper and lower annularow passages 26 and 27.

With the above relationship of parts, it will be apparent that iiuid entering thelower inlet ports 28 in the barrel is free to flow upwardly through thepassage 27, through theports 38 and into thepassage 36, thence, through theports 37 into thepassage 26 and, linally, out through thechannels 18.

In practice, thepassage 36 is established by machining an elongate channel in the exterior of the barrel, the bottom of which channel defines the inner wall of the transfer passage, drilling theports 37 and 38 in the channel thus established, arranging a sleeve about the exterior of the barrel to bridge the channel and establishing the outer wall of the transfer passage and then welding the ends of the sleeve to the barrel.

Theport 35, which must intersect thepassage 36, is established by suitably drilling through the sleeve and wall of the barrel defining thepassage 36 and then closing and sealing the ports from thepassage 36, by welding.

It will be apparent that in practice, theport 35 can be established in the barrel and through thepassage 36 in any one of several other suitable manners.

The barrel B is further provided with and carries suitable packing means, there being an upper packing means P, above theport 35, and a lower packing means P', below theport 35.

In practice, the packing means can lbe of any suitable construction and are shown as rubber cup-type packing means. Each means P and P is shown as including a pair of annular, radially outwardly and axially inclinedrubber cups 40 slidably engaged about the barrel and held in tight fixed, axial spaced relationship thereon by means of a suitable axially disposedshoulder 41 on the barrel, aspacer sleeve 42 arranged about the barrel and between lthe cups and lockrings 43 threadedly engaged on and about the barrel and holding the cups and sleeves in tight clamped engagement with each other and against said sholders.

Since the exact nature and construction of the packing means can be varied widely without departing from the spirit of this invention and since such mean-s are available in many different forms, each of which is well known to those skilled in the art, we will not burden this application with further detailed description of the particular packing means illustrated.

It is to be noted that the packing means P and P are provided to seal with ythe inner surface of the liner L, or other similar well structure Iat points spaced above and below theport 35 to prevent fiuid issuing from theport 35 from flowing vaxially and to thereby urge and direct s-uch fluid radially outwardly through the perforations in the liner and into the formation.

The -outer assembly I further includes a primary lower valve means V at the lower end of the barrel and a stinger S depending from the valve means V.

The stinger is an elongate, tubular member with a central axially downwardly openingprimary port 45 at its lower end, which port is adapted t-o direct downwardly circulating fluid into the well structure in advance of the tool and to wash out sand bridges and the like which occur in the well structure.

The primary lower valve means V is adapted to selectively control the liow of fluid from the lower end of thewash pipe 15 of the inner assembly through the stinger S of the outer assembly and out through theport 45.

The valve means V is shown as including a sectional body B, ,a part, in the nature of a port plate fixed within the body, avalvular cage 51 rotatively arranged in the body adjacent thepart o1 plate 50 and a valve member 52 carried by the cage ,and engaging the plate.

Thebody 50 includes an elongate, vertically extending -cylindricalupper portion 53 threadedly engaged on and depending from the lower end of the barrel and having a central bore communicating with yand defining a continuation of thebore 25 of the barrel and wash pipe. Theupper section 53 is also provided with a central, downwardly opening, enlarged,cylindrical socket 54. The -body B further includes an el-ongate vertically extending cylindrioallower section 55 with a centrallongitudinal flow passage 56, an enlarged central upwardly opening cylindrical socket 57 and a downwardly opening central threaded socket orbox 58.

The upper end portion oflthe socket 54 in the lower section is threaded and cooperates to receive a lower threaded portion of the upper section so that thesockets 54 and 57 cooperate to define la cylindrical valve chamber X.

Theport plate 50 is a simple, horizontally disposed disc-sha-ped plate with a flat t-op surface 59. Theplate 50 is arranged and fixed in the socket 57, at the lower end or bottom thereof to bridge and overlie or close theow passage 56. Theplate 50 is provided with a vertical port y60 spaced radially from the central vertical axis of the construction, which port establishes communication between the chamber X and theflow passage 56. In practice, the plate is provided with sealing means, such as O- rings 61, `about its perimeter to seal `between the plate and the adjacent wall of Ithe socket 57 or chamber X and is fixed in position in the bottom of the socket or chamber, `against axial and circumferential shifting, by radially inwardly extending set screws 61 carried by thebody section 55.

Thevalvular cage 51 is an elongate, vertically extending cylindrical part arranged in the chamber X, above the plate, for free relative rotation and for limited axial movement therein. Thecage 51 has a flat downwardly disposed bottom surface 62, which surface opposes and establishes sliding 'bearing and sealing engagement on the t-op surface 59 of the plate. Thecage 51 is provided with a upwardly openingsocket 63 corresponding in diametric extent with thebore 25 in the barrel and wash pipe and in which the key 16 on the lower end of the wash pipe is slidably engaged. A pair of laterally inwardly projecting lugs 44 4are provided in the socket in the cage, at diametrically opposite sides thereof, to slidably engage in the key-way 22 in the key 16 on the lower end of the wash pipe and to establish rotary driving engagement between the wash pipe and the cage. The cage is further provided with -a downwardly extendingflow port 65 in the bottom thereof, communicating with the socket 57 therein, and spaced radially from the central axis of the construction a distance equal to the lateral spacing of theport 60 in the plate and which is adapted to be shifted into `and out of register with theport 60 upon rotation of the cage in the valve body. The cage is further provided with -an axially extendingreceiver opening 66 entering the lbottom of the cage and communicating with the socket therein and a spherical valve member or ball check in the receiver opening and adapted to be shifted circumferentially of the plate and into and out of seating engagement in theport 60 in the plate, upon rotation of the cage in the body and relative to said plate.

In practice, the cage is slightly less in axial extent than the distance between thetop surface 59 of the plate and the top of chamber X and the lugs 64 -are engaged in their related key-way with sufiicient working clearance so that the cage is free to work vertically or axially in the cham-ber X.

The cage is also provided with sealing means 68, such as O-rings about its exterior to seal between the cage and the adjacent cylindrical side wall of the chamber X.

Further, the cylindrical key 16 on the lower end of the wash pipe is provided with sealing means 69, such as O- rings, about that portion of the key which enters the cage socket, to seal between the cylindrical side wall of the cage socket and the key.

From an examination of the drawings, it will be apparent that with the sealing means 61, 68 and 69 of the valve means V and on the key 16, fluid flowing through the construction into and/or through the valve means V is prevented from flowing and escaping into and through the structure in an undesired manner.

The diametric extent of the ball check 67 is greater than the diameter of theports 60 in the plate and the axial and diametric extent of thereceiver opening 66 in the cage is greater than the diametric extent of theball check 67. Accordingly, the ball check 67 is free to shift upwardly and wholly within theopening 66, when theopening 66 is moved out of register with theport 60 and is free to shift downwardly into seated and sealing engagement in theport 60 when theopening 66 is shifted into register with saidport 60.

When theopening 66 is in register with theport 60 and the ball check 67 is seated in the upper end of theport 60, the hydrostatic head or pressure of the circulating fluid in the structure above the ball check urges and holds the ball in tight locked engagement in the port, which engagement, if the pressure is great enough, resists rotation of the cage by those turning forces which are likely to be encountered in the normal operation of the tool. That is, the ball check, in addition to functioning as a valve member, also functions as a releasable, hydraulically operated shear lock.

In operation, when the ball check is seated in theport 60 and fluid is pumped through the upper secondary valve means V', that is, through theport 35 between the packing means, the pump pressure within the tool is exerted upon the ball check, which application of pressure results in the above noted locking effect. When it is desired to unseat the ball check and rotate the inner assembly I relative to the outer assembly O, thereby closing the valve means V and 4opening the valve means V, the pump is shut off and the fluid pressure in the tool and acting upon the ball check is allowed to balance with the pressure of the iiuid in the well about the tool or is reduced to such an extent that the ball check can be easily and readily shifted laterally or circumferentially relative to the plate and out of engagement in theport 60` by rotation of the ydrill pipe D, inner assembly I and cage. By varying the diameter of the ball check, the extent to which it enters theport 60 and the resulting mechanical resistance to lateral displacement of the member from the port can be varied as circumstances require.

In addition to the above noted lock-ing effect afforded by the ball check, a secondary locking effect is achieved by the pump pressure acting upon the bottom of the socket 57 in the cage, which pressure urges the cage axially downwardly relative to the wash pipe and key 16 and into pressure frictional engagement with the plate. The bottom surface of the cage and the top surface of the plate are ground or lapped so that the iit therebetween will not permit the ow of uvid therebetween when the surfaces are urged into engagement with each other and so that the uid, under pressure, in theflow part 55 andreceiver opening 66, acting on thetop surface 59 of the plate, will not flow between the cage and the plate and neutralize the effect of the uid acting on the bottom of the cage socket.

In practice and to prevent the ball check from moving upwardly and out of engagement in thereceiver opening 66, the upper edge of theopenings 66 is provided with a radially inwardly projecting retaininglip 70.

Theport 65 andopening 66 can be spaced circumferentially of the cage ninety degrees, 180 degrees, or any other number of ldegrees so that opening Iand closing of the valve means V can be effected by ninety degrees, 180

degrees or whatever number of degrees of rotation of the drlll pipe string D and inner tool assembly I that is desired. In the case illustrated, we have shown theport 65 andopening 66 spaced 180 degrees apart with the result that the drill pipe string and inner assembly I of the tool must be rotated 180 degrees, or one-half of one revolution to effect opening and/ or closing of the valve means V.

The secondary, upper valve means V must be opened when the primary lower valve means V is closed. Accordingly, theport 20 in thehead 14 of the inner assembly I is positioned so that it registers with the upper, lateral owport 35 when the valve means V is closed and is 180 degrees out of register with theport 35 when the valve means V is open.

In practice, and to stop the valve means V and V in their open and closed positions, a stop means is provided. The stop means 75 can be of any suitable design or construction and is shown as including a radially outwardly openingchannel 76 in and extending about 190 to 195 degrees about the perimeter of thestop flange 70 on theupper portion 10 of the mandrel M and a radially inwardly projectingstop lug 77, ten degrees or fifteen degrees in circumferential extent in thesocket 31 and freely entering thechannel 76. Thelug 77 is greater in circumferential extent than thechannels 18 so that it will not enter said channels when the construction is operated and permit disengagement or separation of the inner and outer assemblies.

With the stop means set forth above, it will be apparent that relative rotation of the inner and outer assemblies I and O is limited to that extent and to those predetermined positions where the val-ve means V and V are opened and closed.

The stinger S at the lower end or the outer assembly and which depends from the valve means V includes an elongate, vertical, fluid conducting tube 79, the upper end of which is threadedly engaged in thesocket 58 in the lower end of thelower section 55 of the body B, in open communication with thecentral ow passage 56 of the said body and is provided at its lower end with a nozzle Si), which nozzle is provided with and defines the downwardly directedprimary port 45. The nozzle 80 is shown as a simple, upwardly opening cup-like part threaded onto and about the lower end of the Itube 79.

Finally, the construction that we provided includes friction means F carried by the outer assembly and adapted to yieldingly and/lor frictionally engage the well structure, such 'as the liner L, adjacent the tool, to yieldingly hold the outer assembly O against rotation in the well structure when it is desired to rotate the inner assemibly relative thereto to effect opening and closing of the valve means.

In the case illustrated, the friction means F is shown as including Ioutwardly opening belly springs 81 arranged in circumferential spaced relationship about and extending longitudinally of the stinger S.

The upper ends of the belly springs 81 are held and retained by asleeve 82 engaged about and fixed to the upper portion of the tube 79` as by welding. The lower ends of the Ibelly springs are `held and retained by an upwardly projectingannular sleeve 83 at and about the lower end of the stinger tube 79. In the case illustrated, thesleeve 83 is shown as lbeing integrally formed on and as projecting upwardly from the nozzle 80 avhich is threaded onto the lower end of the stinger tube.

Since friction means of the general character referred to and illustrated are well known to those skilled in the art and since the friction means employed in carrying out our invention can be varied widely, we will not burden this specification with further detailed description thereof.

In operation, when the tool that we provide is assembled and arranged in a well liner, as illustrated in FIG. l of the drawings, the lower primary valve means V is open and the upper secondary valve mean-s V is closed, thereby directing the circulating fluid pumped downwardly into and through the tool downwardly through the nozzle 80 throughout the interior of the liner L in advance of the tool. The uid thus introduced into the well structure, carrying sand and the like washed from said well structure, Hows back up through the liner and about the lower end portion of the tool to the lower lpacking means P'. The fluid liowing back upwlardly through the well structure in the manner set forth above, flows through theports 28 into and throfugh thepassage 27,ports 38,passage 36,ports 37,passage 26,iiow channels 18 and, thence, into the annulus between the tool and the liner, above the upper lpacking means P.

It will be apparent that iluid in the annulus above the Ipacking means P is .free to ow in and through the tool in the reverse direction to the flow pattern just recited so that when it is desired to pull the tool from the well structure, the uid is suitably by-passed around the packing means P and P and the column of fluid in the annrulus about the tool and the packing means need not be lifted.

When it is desired to wlash the liner and the adjacent formation Iby radial outwardly ow of circulating iluid through the perforations in the liner, the drill pipe string D is rotated clockwise at least 180 degrees. S-uch rotation closes the primary valve means V and opens the secondary valve means V', stopping ow of circulating uid through the nozzle 80 and establishing radial outward flow of such fluid through theport 35 and into the annulrus between the tool and the liner, between the packing means P and P. The pump and Ihead pressure Within the tool and acting upon and locking the primary valve mean-s V, as set forth above, locks the structure in this second position so that the tools can be naised and lowered in the liner L and can .be rotated in the liner against the resistance of the friction means F, as desired and without shifting or urging the tool out of the set or locked position.

When it is desired to return the tool to the first above noted position, the pump pressure on the tool is shut olf, relieving the holding pressure of thevalvular cage 51 on its related plate and releasing the ball check from hydraulically locked, seated engagement in theport 60, whereupon the :friction means F affords greater holding torsional force than the torsional resistance afforded by the remaining structure of the tool and so that upon counterclockwise rotation of the drill pipe string, the inner tool assembly I is rotated counterclockwise to the outer tool assembly O and the valve means V is again opened and the valve means V is again closed.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of our invention, we do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves any modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art and which fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A well tool of the character referred to including an elongate, vertical, inner assembly with a central, longitudinal ow passage, means at the upper end of the inner assembly to releasably connect with the lower end of an elongate string of fluid conducting pipe, a lateral port spaced between the ends of said inner assembly communieating with the ilow passage, an elongate, vertical, outer assembly rotatably engaged about and extending below the inner assembly, a lateral port between the ends of said outer assembly and shiftable into and out of register with the port in the inner assembly upon relative rotation of said inner and outer assembly, upper and lower, radially outwardly extending packing means carried by the outer assembly above and below the lateral port therein to engage and seal between the tool and an adjacent well structure, said inner and outer assemblies cooperating to define upper and lower annular ow passages within the tool above and between the lateral. ports and terminating below the upper end of the outer assembly and above the lower end of the inner assembly, radial inlet ports in the outer assembly below the lower packing means, establishing communication between'the lower annular ow passage and the exterior of the tool, ow means in the construction establishing communication between said upper annular liow passage and the exterior of the tool above the upper packing means, a transfer passage in the tool about the lateral port in the outer assembly and communicating between the upper and lower annular ilow passages, an axially downwardly opening uid conducting port in the outer assembly spaced below the lower end of the inner assembly, valve means carried .by the outer assembly adjacent tlhe lower end of the inner assembly to control the ow of fluid downwardly through the downwardly opening port and including a part in the outer assembly below the inner assembly having a at axially upwardly disposed top surface and an axially extending ow port oifset from the central axis of the construction, a valvular cage rotatively arranged in the outer assembly between the said part and the lower end of the innery assembly and having a flat, downwardly disposed bottom surface establishing ilat sliding, sealing engagement in the top surface and an axially extending fluid conducting port radially offset from the central axis of the tool. and adapted to be shifted into and out of register with the flow port upon relative rotation of the inner and outer assemblies, drive means between and establishing rotary driving engagement between the cage and the lower end of the inner assembly and friction means carried by the outer assembly to engage well structure adjacent the tool to hold the outer assembly stationary relative to the inner assembly upon rotation of the string of pipe and the inner assembly, said lateral ports in the construction arranged to be 1n register with each other when the ports of said valve means are out of register.

2. A tool as set forth in claim 1 which further includes an annular radially projecting stop flange on one assembly and a radially opening channel in the other assembly rotatably receiving the stop flange, to prevent axial dis-y placement lof the inner and outer assemblies.

3. A tool as set forth in claim 1 including stop means to limit rotation of the inner assembly relative to the outer assembly to a position where the lateral ports are in register and in the other direction to a position where the ports of the valve means are in register, said means includmg a semi-circular channel in one assembly opening towards the other assembly and a stop lug on the other assembly projecting into the channel.

4: A tool as set forth in claim 1 including stop means to limit rotation of the inner assembly relative to the outer assembly to a position where the lateral ports are in register and in the other direction to a position Where the ports of the valve means are in register, said means including a semi-circular channel in one assembly opening towards the other assembly and a stop lug on the other assembly projecting into the channel, an annular radially projecting stop flange on one assembly and a radially opening channel in the other assembly rotatably receiving the stop llange, to prevent axial displacement of the inner and outer assemblies.

5. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valvular cage has an axially extending receiving opening radially offset from the axis of the tool and adapted to register with. the flow port in the said part when the lateral ports are 1n register, and a ball check in the receiver opening and adapted to be shifted into and out of seated sealing engagement in the upper end of the flow port in the said port.

6. A tool as set forth in claim 1 in which said drive means includes an annular key at the lower end of the inner assembly rotatably engaged in the upper end of the cage and having a downwardly and radially outwardly opening slot, and radially inwardly projecting lugs in the cage engaged in the slot.

7. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valvular cage has an axially extending receiving opening radially offset from the axis of the tool and adapted to register with the flow port in the said part when the lateral ports are in register, and a ball check in the receiver opening and adapted to be shifted into and out of seated sealing engagement in the upper end of the tlow port in the part, said key means including an annular key at the lower end of the inner assembly rotatably engage in the upper end of the cage and having radially opening solts, and radially inwardly projecting lugs in the cage engaged in the slot.

8. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valvular cage has an axially extending receiving opening radially offset from the axis of the tool and adapted to register with the ow port in the said part when the lateral ports are in register, and a ball check in the receiver opening and adapted to be shifted into and out of seated sealing engagement in the upper end of the tlow port in the part, said tool further including an annular radially projecting stop ange on one assembly and a radially opening channel in the other assembly rotatably receiving the stop flange, to prevent axial displacement of the inner and outer assemblies.

9. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valvular cage has an axially extending receiving opening radially offset from the axis of the tool and adapted to register with the flow port in the said part when the lateral ports are in register, and a ball check in the receiver opening and adapted to be shifted into and out of seated sealing engagement in the upper end of the ow port in `the part, said tool further including stop means to limit rotation of the inner assembly relative to the outer assembly to a circular channel in one assembly opening towards the other assembly and a stop lug on the other assembly projecting into the channel.

10. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valvular cage has an axially extending receiving opening radially offset from the axis of the tool and adapted to register with the ow port in the said part when the lateral ports are in register, and a ball check in the receiver opening adapted to be shifted into and out of seated sealing engagement in the upper end of the ow port in the part, said tool further including stop means to limit rotation of the inner assembly relative to the outer assembly to a position where the lateral ports are in register and in the other direction to a position Where the ports of the valve means are in register, said means including a semi-circular channel in one assembly opening towards the other assembly and a stop lug on the other assembly projecting into the channel, an annular radially projecting stop flange on one assembly and a radially opening channel in the other assembly rotatably receiving the stop flange, to prevent axial displacement of the inner and outer assemblies.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,916,875 7/1933 Yarbrough 166-147 X 2,214,121 9/1940 Costello 166-147 2,248,169 7/1941 Granger 166-150 X 2,847,073 8/1958 Arterbury et al 166-147 3,012,611 12/1961 Haines 166-191 X CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Exil-miner.

I. A. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A WELL TOOL OF THE CHARACTER REFERRED TO INCLUDING AN ELONGATE, VERTICAL, INNER ASSEMBLY WITH A CENTRAL, LONGITUDINAL FLOW PASSAGE, MEANS AT THE UPPER END OF THE INNER ASSEMBLY TO RELEASABLY CONNECT WITH THE LOWER END OF AN ELONGATE STRING OF FLUID CONDUCTING PIPE, A LATERAL PORT SPACED BETWEEN THE ENDS OF SAID INNER ASSEMBLY COMMUNICATING WITH THE FLOW PASSAGE, AN ELONGATE, VERTICAL, OUTER ASSEMBLY ROTATABLY ENGAGED ABOUT AND EXTENDING BELOW THE INNER ASSEMBLY, A LATERAL PORT BETWEEN THE ENDS OF SAID OUTER ASSEMBLY AND SHIFTABLE INTO AND OUT OF REGISTER WITH THE PORT IN THE INNER ASSEMBLY UPON RELATIVE ROTATION OF SAID INNER AND OUTER ASSEMBLY, UPPER AND LOWER, RADIALLY OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PACKING MEANS CARRIED BY THE OUTER ASSEMBLY ABOVE AND BELOW THE LATERAL PORT THEREIN TO ENGAGE AND SEAL BETWEEN THE TOOL AND AN ADJACENT WELL STRUCTURE, SAID INNER AND OUTER ASSEMBLIES COOPERATING TO DEFINE UPPER AND LOWER ANNULAR FLOW PASSAGES WITHIN THE TOOL ABOVE AND BETWEEN THE LATERAL PORTS AND TERMINATING BELOW THE UPPER END OF THE OUTER ASSEMBLY AND ABOVE THE LOWER END OF THE INNER ASSEMBLY, RADIAL INLET PORTS IN THE OUTER ASSEMBLY BELOW THE LOWER PACKING MEANS, ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE LOWER ANNULAR FLOW PASSAGE AND THE EXTERIOR OF THE TOOL, FLOW MEANS IN THE CONSTRUCTION ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID UPPER ANNULAR FLOW PASSAGE AND THE EXTERIOR OF THE TOOL ABOVE THE UPPER PACKING MEANS, A TRANSFER PASSAGE IN THE TOOL ABOUT THE LATERAL PORT IN THE OUTER ASSEMBLY AND COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER ANNULAR FLOW PASSAGES, AN AXIALLY DOWNWARDLY OPENING FLUID CONDUCTING PORT IN THE OUTER ASSEMBLY SPACED BELOW THE LOWER END OF THE INNER ASSEMBLY, VALVE MEANS CARRIED BY THE OUTER ASSEMBLY ADJACENT THE LOWER END OF THE INNER ASSEMBLY TO CONTROL THE FLOW OF FLUID DOWNWARDLY THROUGH THE DOWNWARDLY OPENING PORT AND INCLUDING A PART IN THE OUTER ASSEMBLY BELOW THE INNER ASSEMBLY HAVING A FLAT AXIALLY UPWARDLY DISPOSED TOP SURFACE AND AN AXIALLY EXTENDING FLOW PORT OFFSET FROM THE CENTRAL AXIS OF THE CONSTRUCTION, A VALVULAR CAGE ROTATIVELY ARRANGED IN THE OUTER ASSEMBLY

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