US3578079A - Apparatus for plugging well bores with hardenable fluent substances - Google Patents

Abstract

As a preferred embodiment of the present invention disclosed herein, a tubular bag is sealingly mounted around an elongated body and operatively arranged to be expanded into engagement with the walls of a well bore by discharging thereinto an initially fluent hardenable substance contained in a selectively-operable displacement assembly releasably coupled to the body. After the fluent substance has expanded the bag, one end of the bag is secured to the body, selectively released biasing means are operatively arranged for imposing opposed axial forces against the expanded bag to depress the ends of the bag toward one another. In this manner, unbalanced pressure forces acting on the tool will only further urge the bag radially outwardly against the walls of the well bore with an added force for securely anchoring the tool against longitudinal movement until the fluent substance has solidified.

Description

United States Patent 3,460,625 8/1969 Hartetal Primary Examiner.lames A. Leppink Attorneys-Ernest R. Archambeau, Jr., William J. Beard, David L. Moseley, Edward M. Roney and William R.

Sherman ABSTRACT: As a preferred embodiment of the present invention disclosed herein, a tubular bag is sealingly mounted around an elongated body and operatively arranged to be expanded into engagement with the walls of a well bore by discharging thereinto an initially fluent hardenable substance contained in a selectively-operable displacement assembly releasably coupled to the body. After the fluent substance has expanded the bag, one end of the bag is secured to the body, selectively released biasing means are operatively arranged for imposing ppposed axial forces against the expanded bag to depress the ends of the bag toward one another. In this manner, unbalanced pressure forces acting on the tool will only further Urge the bag radially outwardly against the walls of the well bore with an added force for securely anchoring the tool against longitudinal movement until the fluent substance has solidified.

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ALEXANDER H ATTORNE APPARATUS FOR PLUGGING WELL BORES WITH I-IARDENABLE FLUENT SUBSTANCES In various well-completion operations it is often desired to place a fluidtight barrier or plug at a desired location in a well bore below the lower end of a substantially smaller well pipe or tubing string. It will, of course, be appreciated that conventional bridge plugs that are small enough to pass through a small-diameter tubing string are incapable of being expanded to a diameter equal to that of the well bore which may be 2 to 5 times greater than the tubing diameter. Accordingly, socalled through-tubing bridge plugs such as those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,460,618, 3,460,624 and 3,460,625 are typically employed for situations of this nature.

As illustrated in these patents, these through-tubing bridge plugs generally include a fluid-displacement device that is supported by a suspension cable and releasably coupled to an elongated body member therebelow carrying an expansible tubular bag that is initially retained in a collapsed position. Once the tool has passed through a reduced-diameter tubing string and is in the enlarged well bore below the lower end of the tubing string, a fluent substance such as a hardenable plastic or cementitious composition is selectively discharged from the displacement device into the expansible bag so as to firmly expand the bag into sealing contact with the walls of the well bore therearound. Thereafter, once the hardenable substance within the expanded bag has hardened, the well bore will be tightly plugged so as to prevent fluid or pressure communication between the well bore intervals above and below this barrier.

It will, of course, be appreciated that until the fluent substance has completely hardened, the bag and at least the lower portions of the tool carrying the expanded bag must be securedagainst movement upwardly or downwardly in the well bore. Accordingly, as described in the aforementioned patents, a fluid bypass passage is provided through each tool for equalizing the pressures above and below the expanded bag as well as for accommodating at least a substantial vertical movement of any flowing well bore fluids during the time that the fluent material is hardening. After the fluent substance has hardened, this bypass passage is permanently closed to complete the formation of the fluidtight well bore barrier. In some instances, these through-tubing bridge plugs are also provided with selectively-extendible wall-engaging anchors such as those shown in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,460,624 and U.S. Pat No. 3,460,625. In this manner, upon operation of the tool, these wall-engaging anchors will securely anchor the tools against longitudinal movement in the well bore until the fluent substance has fully hardened.

Although these well-completion tools have met with considerable commercial success, the problem of securing the tools while the fluent substance hardcns is still not fully solved. For instance, those skilled in the art will appreciate that with those tools having extendible anchors, should it subsequently become necessary to remove the bridge, the typical drillingout operations will be further complicated by the presence of these anchoring members which are usually formed of iron or steel. Similarly, should some malfunction prevent the expansible bag from fully expanding into sealing engagement with the walls of the well bore, the subsequent removal of the tool will be complicated by the extended anchors. On the other hand, with those tools that do not employ wall-engaging anchors (such as those tools shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,460,618), it will be recognized that it is always possible that the bypass passage through the tool will be too small to accommodate a substantial movement of fluids in the well bore; and, as a result, the attendant pressure differential will tend to shift the tool before the fluent substance in the expanded bag has fully hardened. Thus, with tools of this nature, it is often preferred to not uncouple the fluid-displacement device from the lower portion of the too] until the fluent substance has hardened. This, of course, will require that the surface equipment be left in position for a considerable time if it is necessary to be certain that the tool is not shifted from its intended location.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for securely anchoring an expanded container of an initially fluent hardenable substance in a well bore so as to prevent movement of the container by unbalanced well pressures as the substance is hardening.

This and other objects of the present invention are attained by arranging a tubular bag around a body with the ends of the bag fluidly sealed thereto and at least one end thereof adapted for longitudinal movement toward the other end of the bag. Means are provided for filling the interior of the bag with an initially fluent hardenable substance to expand it outwardly into contact with the adjacent well bore walls. Selectivelyoperable biasing means are'further provided for imposing an axial force against the one bag end to move the bag ends together and form the opposite ends of the expanded bag into generally hemitoroidal configurations so that unbalanced pressure forces acting on the bag will be effective for securely anchoring the apparatus in the well bore as the fluent substance is hardening into a solidified mass.

The novel features of the present invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by way of the following description of exemplary apparatus employing the principles of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I depicts a preferred embodiment of a well-completion tool arranged in accordance with the principles of the present invention as the tool is being lowered through a tubing string to a desired location in a well bore;

FIGS. 2A2C are successive cross sectioned elevational views of the tool depicted in FIG. 1 illustrating the initial positions of the various elements thereof before the tool has been actuated;

FIGS. 36 successively depict the tool shown in FIG. 1 as it is being operated; and

FIG. 7 graphically represents the design criteria of the present invention.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a well-completion tool 10 incorporating the principles of the present invention and dependently supported by asuspension cable 11 is depicted as it is being lowered through a string oftubing 12 toward a selected position below the lower end of the tubing string within a larger-diameter wellbore 13 which, in this instance, is cased as at 14. If desired, a typicalcasing collar locator 15 may be incorporated with thetool 10 for determining the depth at which the tool is to be halted. In the preferred embodiment depicted, the well-completion tool 10 includes selectively operable fluid-displacement means 16 arranged in anupper section 17 thereof and carrying a supply of an initially fluent hardenable material which, upon command from the surface, is selectively displaced into an expansibletubular bag 18 carried on anelongated body 19 detachably mounted below the housing section. As will subsequently be explained in detail, once thetubular bag 18 has been filled with a sufficient quantity of the fluent substance to expand it outwardly into sealing engagement with thewell casing 14,biasing means 20 arranged in accordance with the present invention are arranged on thebody 19 for selectively imposing opposed axial forces against the ends of the expanded bag to form it into a generally toroidal configuration. Theupper section 17 of the tool is then released from the lower body and returned to the surface. Thereafter, once sufficient time has elapsed for the fluent substance to adequately harden so as to form an impermeable transverse barrier or bridge plugging thewell casing 14, valve means 21 mounted on the lower end of thebody 19 are operatively arranged for closing abypass passage 22 provided through the body of thetool 10 for reducing or, hopefully, equalizing pressure differentials acting across the inflated bag as the fluent substance therein is hardening.

Turning now to FIGS. 2A2C, a cross sectioned elevational view is shown of the well-completion tool 10' as it appears before the collapsedbag 18 carried thereon is expanded. As depicted, theupper section 17 of thetool 10 is operatively arranged for carrying a substantial volume of an initially fluent,hardenable substance 23 which, upon operation of the selectively operable fluid-displacement means 16, is forcibly displaced into thetubular bag 18 to'expand it outwardly into sealing engagement with thewell casing 14. Accordingly, as depicted in FIG. 2A, theupper housing section 17 of the tool is arranged to provide an enlargedchamber 24 in its upper portion that is joined by anaxial passage 25 to an enlargeddiameterlongitudinal bore 26 extending substantially the full length of the housing section and terminating at its lower end. Theupper portion 27 of theelongated body 19 is also enlarged and similarly provided with an enlarged-diameterlongitudinal bore 28 which extends upwardly to the upper end of the body. The opposed ends of thehousing 17 and thebody 19 are complementally fitted together and fluidly sealed as at 29, with the two members being releasably coupled to one another by latching means 30 to define a combinedfluid chamber 31 of substantial length and volumetric capacity.

The fluid-displacement means 16 further include apiston 32 operatively arranged in thefluid chamber 31 so as to be initially positioned just above the upper surface of the initiallyfluent substance 23 disposed in theintercommunicated bores 26 and 28 defining the fluid chamber. In this manner, upon downward movement of thepiston 32, thefluent substance 23 will be forcibly displaced downwardly from thefluid chamber 31 and into theexpansible bag 18 mounted on thebody 19 therebelow. It will, of course, be appreciated that by providing lateral ports, as at 33 and 34, in thehousing section 17, the well bore fluids will be admitted into thelongitudinal housing bore 26 so as to maintain the space above thepiston 32 as well as thefluent substance 23 in thefluid chamber 31 at the hydrostatic pressure of the well bore fluids.

In the preferred manner of moving thedisplacement piston 32 downwardly, the fluid-displacement means 16 further include acylindrical weight 35 initially disposed in the enlargedbore 26 immediately above the piston and releasably supported therein by means such as two or more upwardly extending, inwardly biasedlatch fingers 36 arranged on anupright rod 37 on the upper end of the weight. As illustrated in FIG. 2A, thelatch fingers 36 have laterally opposed, outwardly enlargedheads 38 which are adapted to be received in an enlargedportion 39 of theaxial housing passage 25 immediately above the upper end of the enlarged-diameterlongitudinal bore 26. In this manner, so long as thelatch fingers 36 are laterally separated, their respective enlargedheads 38 are supported on the upwardly directedshoulder 40 defined at the lower end of therecess 39. To retain thelatch fingers 36 initially separated from one another, an actuating piston 41 is disposed in the enlargedchamber 24 and coupled to a dependingaxial rod 42 which extends through theaxial passage 25 into the enlargedrecess 39 so as to be interposed between the opposed enlargedheads 38 of thelatch fingers 36 so long as the actuating piston is not further elevated by acompression spring 43 mounted within the enlarged chamber.

To retain the actuating piston 41 in its initial position illustrated in FIG. 2A, the upper portion of thechamber 24 is initially filled by a relativelynoncompressible fluid 44 such as water or oil; and this fluid is retained therein so long as a normally closedsolenoid valve 45 connected to suitableelectrical conductors 46 and 47 in thecable 11 in not operated to open communication by way of afluid passage 48 between the enlarged chamber and the exterior of thetool 10. If desired, aseparate fluid passage 49 may also be provided for filling thechamber 24, with communication in the reverse direction through the filling passage being prevented by means of a suitable valve such as aball check valve 50 arranged to prevent flow out of the chamber without unduly limiting the admission of thefluid 44 thereinto. Accordingly, it will be appreciated from FIG. 2A that once thechamber 24 has been filled with a sufficient volume of the fluid 44 to shift the actuating piston 41 downwardly to its illustrated position, the dependingrod 42 thereon will be positioned between the opposedenlarged heads 38 for maintaining theweighted body 35 suspendedjust above thedisplacement piston 32.

In the preferred manner of arranging the latching means 30, the lower end of thehousing section 17 is adapted to be complementally received within the upper end of the enlargedlongitudinal bore 28 in theelongated body 19. An inwardly openingcircumferential groove 51 is formed around the wall of theinternal bore 28 and adapted for receiving outwardlyenlarged heads 52 on the lower ends of two or moreyieldable latch fingers 53 dependently coupled to the lower end of theupper housing section 17. Aring 54 is normally positioned in thelongitudinal bore 28 to the rear of theenlarged heads 52 and suitably dimensioned to retain the enlarged heads within thecircumferential groove 51 until the ring is shifted downwardly in relation to the heads. To retain the ring orannular latch member 54 in its depicted elevated position, anupstanding support 55 is coupled thereto and extended upwardly into the lower end of thehousing section 17 thereabove. Anannular plate 56 is mounted around the upper end of thesupport 55 and slidably arranged within an inwardly facingrecess 57 within thebore 26 and supported therein by aspring 58 which normally urges the annular plate upwardly against the downwardly facing surface at the top of the recess.

In this manner, so long as theannular plate 56 is elevated as depicted in FIG. 2A, thelatch ring 54 is engaged with the reverse side of theenlarged heads 52 to reliably retain them within thecircumferential housing groove 51 and, accordingly, securely latch thetool sections 17 and 19 together. It will be appreciated, however, that upon downward travel of thedisplacement piston 32 through the enlarged housing bore 26, the piston will ultimately contact theannular plate 56 and shift it downwardly a sufficient distance to displace thelatch ring 54 below theenlarged heads 52 so as to permit theupper tool section 17 to be uncoupled from theelongated body 19 by simply pulling on thesuspension cable 11.

To initially retain thefluent substance 23 within thefluid chamber 31, the lower end of the enlarged longitudinal body bore 28 is normally closed by valve means 59 which, in the preferred embodiment of thetool 10 depicted in the drawings, include anannular valve element 60 that is slidable arranged and fluidly sealed, as at 61, within anenlarged chamber 62 formed in thebody 19 immediately below the lower end of the enlarged body bore. To normally secure thevalve member 60 in its depicted elevated position, means such as ashear pin 63 are provided for releasably retaining the valve member to theelongated body 19 until the fluid pressure of thefluent substance 23 has been increased sufficiently to break the shear pin and shift the valve member downwardly.

For reasons that will subsequently become apparent, anelongated tubular member 64 is coaxially supported within the elongated body bore 28 and terminated at its upper end by a fitting, such as atee 65, having one or morelateral outlets 66 to provide communication between the upper end of the tubular member and the exterior of thetool 10. By providing an enlarged-diameter portion 67 on thetubular member 64 immediately adjacent to the normal elevated position of theannular valve member 60 and arranging a sealingmember 68 thereon for engagement within the axial bore 69 of the annular valve member, thefluent substance 23 thereabove cannot be displaced from thefluid chamber 31 until the annular valve member has moved downwardly a sufficient distance to bring its upper end below the sealingmember 68.

The intermediatetubular portion 70 of theelongated body 19 is sufiiciently reduced in diameter to accommodate a pair of longitudinally spacedcollars 71 and 72 which are respectively slidably mounted and fluidly sealed, as at 73 and 74, around the reduced-diameter portion of the body and secured, as bybands 75 and 76, within the opposite ends of the elongatedtubular bag 18 which is preferably fon'ned of a suitable wear'resistant, flexible and fluid-impervious material, such as a Dacron cloth impregnated with Neoprene, that does not readily stretch. Thebag 18 is, therefore, formed with an expanded diameter corresponding generally to that of thewell casing 14; and, preferably, folded around theintermediate body portion 70 in such a manner as to minimize its lateral dimensions and, if desired, lightly tied in its folded or collapsed position by string or tape. ln its initially collapsed position illustrated in H6. 2B, thetubular bag 18 is drawn to its full length with theslidable collars 71 and 72 at their most widely separated positions along thebody portion 70; and the upper collar is releasably secured in its initial position by means such as one or moreupright latch fingers 77 which are inwardly biased to retainenlarged heads 78 thereon in acircumferential groove 79 around thebody portion 70.

It will be noted that by virtue of the sealingmembers 73 and 74 on theslidable collars 71 and 72, the interior of thebag 18 defines afluidtight space 80 therein around theintermediate body portion 70. Accordingly, to provide communication into thefluidtight space 80 within the collapsedbag 18, one or morelateral ports 81 are provided in the reduced-diameter body portion 70 at a location between the depicted elevated position of theupper collar 71 and the lower position to which the collar will slide downwardly when thebag 18 is initially expanded. The lower end of theelongated tubular member 64 is extended below theports 81 and sealingly engaged, as at 82, within thelongitudinal bore 83 through thetubular body portion 70. Thus, so long as theupper collar 71 is retained in its initial elevated position by thelatch fingers 77, once thevalve member 60 is shifted downwardly, thefluent substance 23 released from thefluid chamber 31 will be directed through theannular space 84 around the lower portion of thetubular member 64 and into thebag 18 by way of thelateral ports 81.

lt will, of course, be appreciated-that once theupper collar 71 has been carried downwardly (as will subsequently be described) a sufficient distance to position the sealingmember 73 on the collar below the lateral ports81,thefluent substance 23 confined in theinterior space 80 within the expanded bag will be trapped therein. For reasons that will subsequently be explained, a secondcircumferential groove 85 is formed around the reduced-diameter body portion -70 just belowthelateral ports 81 so that, once thecollar 71 has shifted downwardly in relation to the ports, theenlarged heads 78 on thelatch fingers 77 will engage this lower circumferential groove to prevent the upper collar from moving upwardly from its lower position.

As previously mentioned, the normallyopen bypass passage 22 is provided for reducing, if not altogether, equalizing pressure differentials existing across the expandedbag 18 as thefluent substance 23 therein is hardening. Accordingly, one or morelateral ports 86 are formed in thetubular tool body 70 well below the initial depicted position of thelower collar 72. ln this manner, thebypass passage 22 between the upper andlower ports 66 and 86 is defined by thetubular member 64 and the central portion of the longitudinal body bore 83 below the lower end of the tubular member. To selectively close thisbypass passage 22, the valve means 21 include atubular valve member 87 having longitudinally spaced sealingmembers 88 and 89 thereon which is operatively arranged within the longitudinal body bore 83 for movement upwardly from an initial position immediately below thelateral ports 86 to a final elevated position (as defined by a downwardly facingshoulder 90 in the longitudinal bore) where the valve member is adjacent to the lateral ports with its sealing members respectively spanning the ports and sealingly engaged with thebody 70 above and below the ports. Thus, in its initial position, fluid communication is readily provided through thetubular member 64 and theports 60 and 86 for accommodating at least a substantial proportion of any well bore fluids moving upwardly or downwardly past the well-completion tool during the time that thefluent substance 23 is hardening within the expandedbag 18.

ln the preferred manner of selectively closing thevalve member 87, the upper end of anelongated tension spring 91 is anchored, as by atransverse rod 92, to theintermediate body portion 80 and the spring extended downwardly'therefrom through the longitudinal body bore 83. Thespring 91 is terminated by a longstraight portion 93 which is passed through thevalve member 87 and releasably secured in an initially stretched condition by means of ahook 94 that is coupled to a wire orcord 95 releasably secured to a gearedtimer mechanism 96 enclosed in anenlarged fluidfilled chamber 97 in thelower portion 98 of thebody 19.

In one manner of arranging thetimer mechanism 96, the 5 rotational speed of theuppermost gear 99 therein is regulated by a train of gears that is terminated by either a typical escapement and balance (not shown) or apaddlelike wheel member 100 that is driven by the force of thespring 91 acting through the gear train. Thus, by releasably coupling thecord 95 to theshaft 101 carrying theupper gear 99 of the gear train and winding the wire or cord therearound, the tension force of thespring 91 will be effective for slowly rotating this uppermost gear at a speed which, by virtue of the gear train, is regulated by the faster, but retarded, rotational speed of therotating paddle member 100 in thefluidfilled chamber 97. Accordingly, once thecord 95 is wound around theshaft 101 and coupled to thehook 94 on the lower end of thespring 91, a preselected time interval will be provided before a transverse member, such as awasher 102, loosely mounted on thestraight portion 93 of the spring is moved upwardly to shift thetubularvalve member 87 upwardly to close theports 86. In other words, once thecord 95 is connected, the tension force 1 of thespring 91 will begin slowly unwinding the cord from theshaft 101 so that, once thegear 99 has been rotated a sufficient number of revolutions to unwrap the cord therefrom, the lower end of the cord will be released from the shaft and the spring will then jerk thewasher 102 upwardly to carry thevalve member 87 into its final port-closing position.

- The selectively operable biasing means of the present invention are preferably arranged on the elongated body- 19 below thelower collar 72. As illustrated in FIGS. 28 and 2G, in the preferred manner of arranging the biasing means 20 of the present invention, anannular member 103 is slidably mounted aroundthe'elongated body 70 and adapted to be moved upwardly thereon by astout compression spring 104 carried on an upwardly directed body shoulder 105'and engaged with the lower end of the slidable annular member. For reasons that will subsequently be explained, thespring 104 is initially retained in compression by latching means such as one ormore ball members 106 that are respectively arranged inlateral recesses 107 spaced around theannular member 103 and sized for partial reception in acircumferential groove 108 formed around the intermediate body portion 70'. Asleeve member 109 is coaxially mounted around theannular member 103 and has its lower portion formed with an internal diameter appropriately sized in relation to the diameter of theballs 106 and the depth of thecircumferential groove 108 to prevent outward lateral movement of the balls from the groove so long as the ball-retainer sleeve remains in the elevated position illustrated in FIG. 2B.

To permit outward movement of theballs 106 from thecircumferential groove 108, longitudinal grooves orslots 110 are arranged in the upper portion of the ball-retainer sleeve 109. Thus, upon downward movement of theretainer sleeve 109 in relation to theannular member 103 to bring theslots 110.

respectively into registration with theseveral balls 106, the upwardly directed force of thecompression spring 104 will be effective for shifting theannular member 103 upwardly in relation to theelongated body 70 once the balls are shifted out of the circumferential groove and into the enlarged space provided by the elongated slots. In this manner, it will be appreciated that once the ball-retainer sleeve 109 is movedsion spring 111 mounted within an externalprotective sleeve 112 coaxially arranged around theannular member 103, thestout compression spring 104 will be freed for shifting the annular member upwardly against thelower slidable collar 72. To provide for the actuation of the ball-retainer sleeve 109, the lower portion of thelower collar 72 is appropriately sized, as at 113, to engage an inwardly turnedlip 114 on the upper end of the ball-retainer sleeve for shifting the retainer sleeve downwardly in relation to theannular member 103 and theexternal sleeve 112 for releasing theballs 106.

downwardly against the restraint of a relatively weak compres- Accordingly, to prepare the well-completion tool 10 of the present invention for operation, thecontrol chamber 24 above the weight-releasing piston 41 is filled with a sufficient volume of thehydraulic fluid 44 to shift the piston against thespring 43 to a position where the dependingrod 42 extends downwardly into therecess 39. Theweighted body 35 is forced upwardly, compressing acoil spring 115 thereabove until theenlarged heads 38 of thelatch fingers 36 are within therecess 39 on opposite sides of the lower end of therod 42 and are supported on theshoulder 40 for retaining theweighted body 35 in its elevated position above the fluid-displacement piston 32. The lower end of theupper housing 17 is complementally fitted into the upper end of theupper portion 27 of theelongated body 19 and thelatch ring 54 is properly positioned to retain theenlarged heads 52 in the internalcircumferential groove 51. Theannular valve member 60 is secured in its upper or closed position by theshear pin 63, and theenclosed fluid chamber 31 is then filled with a suitable plastic or cementitious initially fluent substance which will harden into a solid mass that preferably expands slightly as it fully hardens.

Theannular member 103 is shifted into position on theintermediate body portion 70 so as to position theballs 106 in thegroove 108 and, in accordance with the present invention, releasably retain thecompression spring 104 in a compressed condition. Thetension spring 91 is extended and thehook 94 thereon is connected to therelease cord 95 which has been wrapped several turns around theshaft 101 of theupper gear 99 of thetimer mechanism 96. As previously mentioned, the predetermined delay before thebypass passage 22 is closed is determined by the number of turns or wraps of thecord 95 around theshaft 101. This time interval is, of course, selected so that thevalve member 87 will not be actuated until some time later which is calculated to be sufficient to permit theinitiallyfluent substance 23 to have at least substantially hardened.

Thetool 10 is then lowered downwardly into the well bore 13 by means of thesuspension cable 11. Once thewellcompletion tool 10 has emerged from the lower end of thetubing string 12 and has reached a selected position therebelow, an electrical signal is sent through thecable conductors 46 and 47 to actuate thesolenoid valve 45. As previously explained, once thesolenoid valve 45 is opened, thehydraulic fluid 44 within theupper chamber 24 will be displaced therefrom by way of the now-openedpassage 48 as thecompression spring 43 forcibly shifts the weight-releasing piston 41 upwardly. It will be appreciated, of course, that by providing alateral port 116 in the lower portion of thechamber 24, the weight-releasing piston 41 will be moved upwardly without restraint from any unbalanced pressure forces that would otherwise occur upon opening of thesolenoid valve 45 to open theenclosed chamber 24 to the well bore fluids. Once the weight-releasing piston 41 has reached a sufficiently elevated position to withdraw the dependingrod 42 from between the opposed ends 38 of thelatch fingers 36, theweighted body 35 will be released.

Once thebody 35 is released, the force of thecompressed spring 115 is effective for accelerating the weighted body downwardly so that it strikes the fluid-displacement piston 32 with considerable impact. In this manner, a substantial shock or pressure wave is developed in thefluent substance 33 which is effective for shifting theannular valve member 60 downwardly with sufficient force to break theshear pin 63. Once theshear pin 63 has failed, thevalve member 60 will be moved downwardly a sufficient distance to bring the upper end of the valve member below theseal 68 on theenlargeddiameter portion 67 on theaxial tubular member 64 to open communication between thefluid chamber 31 and the fillingports 81 by way of theannular space 84 between the axial tubular member and the inner wall of theintermediate portion 70 of theelongated body 19. A sealingmember 117 is'arranged on the lower end of thevalve member 60 for sealing engagement with thelower portion 118 of theenlarged chamber 62 and prevent loss of thefluent substance 23 through a pressure-equalizingport 119 provided into the chamber below the upper sealingmember 61.

Once theweighted body 35 has come to rest on top of the fluid-displacement piston 32, the weight of the body will be effective for moving the piston on downwardly through thefluid chamber 31 to forcibly displace thefluent substance 23 therefrom through the fillingports 81 and into theinterior space 80 within theexpansible bag 18. It will, of course, be appreciated that since thefluent substance 23 is initially at the hydrostatic pressure of the well bore fluids, the pressure developed by theweighted body 35 will be in addition to the hydrostatic pressure. Thus, as thebag 18 is filling, the increased fluid pressure developed in thefluent substance 23 by theweighted body 35 acting on thedisplacement piston 32 will be effective for expanding the bag outwardly and into contact with the walls of thewell casing 14 immediately adjacent thereto. Expansion of thetubular bag 18 will, of course, be effective for drawing the unrestrained lowerslidable collar 72 upwardly along the intermediate body portion toward the still-latchedupper collar 71. It should be noted that thelatch fingers 77 are biased inwardly with sufficient force that the expansion of thebag 18 will draw thelower collar 72 upwardly without releasing theenlarged heads 78 from the uppercircumferential groove 79.

Accordingly, when theexpansible bag 18 is fully expanded, it will assume a position such as depicted in FIG. 3 in which its opposite ends substantially assume a generally hemispherical configuration. At this point, there will still be a substantial volume of the still-fluent substance 23 remaining in thefluid chamber 31 so that the increased fluid pressure developed in theinterior space 80 by the weight of thebody 35 acting on thepiston 32 will expand thebag 18 outwardly against the well casing 14 with a moderate lateral force; It will be recognized, of course, that once thebag 18 is fully expanded, the discharge flow of thefluent substance 23 from thefluid chamber 31 will temporarily cease and thedisplacement piston 32 andweighted body 35 will come to rest at the upper fluid level of the fluent substance in the fluid chamber.

It will be recognized that the fluid pressure expanding thebag 18 outwardly will urge the exterior of the bag against the well casing 14 with a lateral force that is effective to frictionally secure the bag against longitudinal movement. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 4, upon upward movement of thesuspension cable 11, theupper housing section 17 and theelongated body 19 will be moved upwardly in relation to the stationaryexpansible bag 18 and the upper and lowerslidable collars 71 and 72. As will subsequently be explained in detail, this upward movement is effective for consecutively blocking further communication to theinterior space 80 in this expandedbag 18, actuating the biasing means 20 of the present invention, and ultimately freeing thehousing section 17 from theelongated body 19.

First of all, upon upward movement of theelongated body 19, the inwardly enlarged ends 78 of thelatch fingers 77 will be cammed outwardly by the lower surface of the uppercir cumferential groove 79 to release theupper collar 71 from theintermediate body portion 70. Thus, as depicted in FIG. 4, the continued upward travel of theelongated body 19 will be effective for moving thefill pons 81 above theupper collar 71 and then bringing the lowercircumferential groove 85 immediately below the fill ports up to or, perhaps, slightly above thelatch fingers 77. it will, of course, be recognized that once thelateral ports 81 pass above thefluid seal 73 on theupper collar 71, the fluent substance within the expandedbag 18 will be sealingly enclosed therein. Moreover, once the lowercircumferential groove 85 engages or passes above thelatch fingers 77, theupper collar 71 cannot return upwardly in relation to the body to a position where theports 81 are again in communication with theinterior space 80 within thebag 18.

Furthermore, in accordance with the present invention, as theelongated body 19 is moved upwardly, theannular member 103 releasably coupled thereto will be carried upwardly toward the stationarylower collar 72 so as to bring the dependingportion 113 thereof into contact with the inwardly directedlip 114 of the ball-retainer sleeve 109. Then, as theelongated body 19 is moved further upwardly, theballretainer sleeve 109 will be halted and the continued movement of theannular member 103 will carry theballs 106 upwardly into registration with theelongated slots 110. As previously described, once theballs 106 move into registration with theelongated slots 110, they will be free to move outwardly into the enlarged space therearound to disengage the balls from thecircumferential groove 108 around theintermediate body portion 70.

Accordingly, once theballs 106 are disengaged from thecircumferential groove 108, thecompressed biasing spring 104 will be released for forcibly urging theannular member 103 upwardly against thelower collar 72. Thus, as best seen in FIG. 5, once thecompression spring 104 is released, it will impose a substantial upwardly directed axial force against the lower end of the stationary expandedbag 18. This axial force will be effective for further increasing the fluid pressure of the still-fluent substance trapped within thebag 18 which (if theenlarged heads 78 are below the groove 85) will initially move theupper collar 71 upwardly to accommodate the corresponding inward or upward depression of the lower end of the bag. Once, however, theupper collar 71 reaches a position on theintermediate body portion 70 where thelatch fingers 77 are adjacent to thecircumferential groove 85 just below the fillingports 81, the enlarged ends 78 thereof will be urged into thecircumferential groove 85 to secure the upper collar from further upward movement. Once theupper collar 71 is secured against further movement in relation to theelongated body 19, the upwardly-directed axial force imposed on the lower end of thebag 18 by thestout compression spring 104 will be effective for developing a down directed opposing or axial reaction force on the upper end of the bag for depressing the central portions of the upper and lower ends of the bag inwardly so that, ultimately, the bag will assume the generally toroidal configuration depicted in FIG. 5.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that once the well-completion tool 10 has reached the particular stage of its operation depicted in FIG. 5, the fluent substance trapped within theinterior space 80 of the expandedbag 18 will be at a fluid pressure which is equal to the sum of the hydrostatic pressure of the fluids in the well bore 13, the increased pressure developed by thedisplacement piston 32 once the bag was filled, and the further-increased pressure developed therein by the opposing axial forces imposed thereon by the releasedcompression spring 104. The perimeter of thebag 18 will, therefore, be urged outwardly against the wall of thecasing 14 with a total force that is proportionally related to the total pressure of the still-fluent substance confined within the expanded bag. Accordingly, once 'thebag 18 is securely anchored in this manner, theupper housing portion 17 of thetool 10 is separated from theelongated body 19 by simply pulling further on the suspension cable 1 1 so that thelatch fingers 53 will be released from thecircumferential groove 51 at the upper end of the elongated body once thedisplacement piston 32 has engaged theannular plate 56 and shifted thering 54 below theheads 52.

It will be appreciated from FIGS. 4-6 that, once the fillingports 81 are uncovered, theweighted body 35 will continue moving thepiston 32 downwardly to displace the remainder of thefluent substance 23 contained within thefluid chamber 31 into the well bore annulus defined between thecasing 14 and that portion of theelongated body 19 projecting upwardly above the expandedbag 18. In this manner, an additional quantity of thefluent substance 23 will be deposited on top of the expandedbag 18 to further assure that an impermeable plug or barrier will be formed in the well bore 13 once the fluent substance has ultimately expanded and hardened. In any event, by virtue of the increased anchoring force provided by the toroidal configuration of thebag 18 upon the release of the new and improved biasing means 20, the upper section l7 of thetool 10 can be released from theelongated body 19 and returned to the surface without having to wait for the fluent substance to harden. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, at some predetermined time thereafter, thetimer mechanism 96 will function to release thetension spring 91 so as to shift theannular valve member 87 upwardly across thelower bypass ports 86 and permanently close thebypass passage 22.

It will, of course, be recognized that so long as the fluent substance confined in the expandedbag 18 has not yet hardened, once theupper section 17 of thetool 10 is released from theelongated body 19 the only force retaining the bag and body in position in the well bore 13 will be the frictional force between the bag and thewell casing 14. This frictional force is, therefore, determined by:

F,, frictional force holding bag stationary in relation to well casing;

P,,= internal pressure of fluent substance in expanded bag;

D= diameter of expanded bag;

L= length of expanded bag in contact with well casing; and

p. coefficient of static friction between expanded bag and well casing.

Accordingly, so long as those forces tending to move the expandedbag 18 in the well bore 13 do not exceed the abovedefined frictional force (F,,) the expanded bag andelongated body 19 will remain stationary in the well bore. It will be appreciated that the major force tending to move the expandedbag 18 and thebody 19 will be the total force acting on the cross-sectional area of the bag as a result of any pressure differential between well bore fluids above and below the bag. Thus, an unbalanced pressure force tending to displace thebag 18 andbody 19 will be equal to:

2 F =AP( where,

Plotting Equation 3 for a given size of the expandedbag 18, a straight line, as at in FIG. 7, is obtained. Thus, as represented there, it will be appreciated that so long as the point of intersection of (AP) and (P,,) for a given situation is below or to the right of the plottedline 120, the expandedbag 18 andbody 19 will remain stationary in the well bore 13. On the other hand, should the pressure differential (AP) increase to a level where its point of intersection with the particular bag pressure (P,,) is above or to the left of the plottedline 120, thebag 18 andelongated body 19 will move in the well bore 13.

Accordingly, in the present invention, it has been found that an initial holding force (F,.) of increased magnitude can be developed by imposing the axially directed force of the biasingspring 104 on one end of the expandedbag 18 and securing the other end of the bag against movement in relation to thebody 19 so as to provide the opposing axially directed reaction force on that end of the bag and thereby reform the bag into the generally toroidal configuration depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6. It will be appreciated, therefore, that upon the upward movement of thelower collar 72 by thespring 104 toward theupper collar 71, theintemal volume of thespace 80 within the expandedbag 18 will be slightly reduced as the opposite hemispherical ends of the bag are reformed into their respective inverted or hemitoroidal shapes depicted in FIGS. and 6. Thus, inasmuch as the fluent substance is substantially incompressible, the opposing axial forces imposed on the expandedbag 18 by thespring 104 andupper collar 71 will develop an increased internal pressure within the bag for producing a correspondingly greater initial frictional holding force (F, Moreover, of paramount significance, it has been found that once thebag 18 assumes the generally toroidal configuration, increasing pressure differentials acting on the bag will further increase the holding force (F,,) at a faster rate than the rate of increase of the pressure force (F,,) tending to shift thetool 10.

To demonstrate the new and improved operation of the biasing means 20, atubular bag 18 of a selected length and diameter that is appropriate for typical well-completion operations was mounted on theelongated body 19. Thebag 18 was disposed inside of a section of well casing and inflated to a moderate pressure by filling the bag with a typical fluent, cementitious substance. Once thebag 18 was filled, a pressure differential was imposed across the bag and progressively increased until longitudinal movement of the bag and body was noted. The results of this test are illustrated by thecurve 121 in FIG. 7, with slippage of thebag 18 occurring at the upper end of this curve. it should be noted that during this test the ends of thebag 18 remained generally hemispherical since there were no concentrated axial forces being applied to the bag.

The same test was repeated by inflating the bag to the same initial pressure but with successively increasing, concentrated spring forces now being applied axially against one end of the expandedbag 18 while theslidable collar 71 at the other end of the bag was secured to thebody 19. Using the data obtained from these tests, representative curves such as those depicted at 122-124 in FIG. 7 were plotted to portray the new and improved effects of the axially-directed, opposed forces (F F and F provided by thespring 104 and thesecured collar 71 arranged in accordance with the principles of the present invention. As a result, it was discovered that, once thespring 104 was released and the ends of thebag 18 depressed into their hemitoroidal configuration, increases in the pressure differential across the expanded bag progressively increased the holding force (F,,) at a much faster rate than the holding force obtained where the bag had hemispherical ends (curve 121). Thus, as illustrated by thecurves 122 124, the resulting increased holding forces provided by theaxial biasing spring 104 tend to asymptotically approach the limitingline 120 and thereby within the limits of the bursting strength (line 125) provides a safe margin between the resulting holding force and the point where slippage will occur. Moreover, as shown by the curves in FIG. 7, a stouter spring (e.g., curve 124) will develop a correspondingly stronger holding force than a lighter spring (e.g., curve 122) at the same pressure differential (AP).

It will, therefore, be appreciated that the most effective operation of thetool 10 is achieved by selecting a spring rate for the biasingspring 104 that will result in the internal pressure of the expandedbag 18 approaching the rated bursting pressure of the bag at about the point that the pressure differential across the bag is about to cause the tool to slip in relation to thecasing 14. In other words, if thespring 104 is too weak (as depicted by the curve 122), thetool 10 will shift at a relatively-low pressure differential; and if the biasing spring is too stout, thebag 18 will burst at a lower pressure differential. The selection of thespring 104 will, of course, be dependent upon such factors as the expanded diameter of thebag 18, the bag material, the internal bag pressure before the biasing spring is released, etc. In any event, routing tests such as those described above will readily establish the optimum selection for thespring 104 for any given design of thetool 10. Thus, as far as the present invention requires, it is necessary only for the opposed axial forces acting on the opposite ends of the expandedbag 18 to form the bag into a generally toroidal configuration. The degree or extent of depression of the opposite ends of the expandedbag 18 will govern the rate at which the resulting holding force will increase in response to an increase in the pressure differential acting across the bag.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the present invention has provided new and improved apparatus for plugging a well bore with a fluent hardenable substance. With apparatus arranged in accordance with the principles of the present invention, a tubular bag is sealingly mounted around an elongated body and has one end thereof adapted for longitudinal movement along the body toward the other fixed end of the bag. Selectively-operable means, such as a spring or the like, are operatively arranged on the elongated body for imposing opposing axial forces on the opposite ends of the bag to reform the bag into a generally toroidal shape after the bag has been filled with a fluent hardenable substance to expand it into sealing engagement with the walls of the well bore. in this manner, the bag and body will be secured in position within a well bore as the fluent substance hardens and will not be shifted by pressure differentials acting thereon. Moreover, should the pressure differential increase sufficiently to burst the bag before this substance hardens, a tool arranged in accordance with the present invention will merely fall into the well bore and can be easily retrieved without having to drill it out as would be the case if mechanical anchors were used.

' While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it is apparent that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects; and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus adapted for plugging a well bore and comprising: an elongated body; means on said body adapted for connection to a supporting member for suspending said body in a well bore; a tubular bag of a flexible material arranged around said body; first and second coupling means respectively secured to the opposite ends of said bag and operatively sealed around said body for defining an enclosed space therearound withinsaid bag, said first coupling means being adapted for longitudinal movement along said body toward said second coupling means; first means including a passage on said body communicating with said enclosed space and adapted for admitting a fluent hardenable substance into said enclosed space to expand said bag outwardly into contact with a well bore wall; and second means including biasing means arranged on said body and selectively operable after expansion of said bag for moving said first coupling means along said body toward said second coupling means to depress said bag ends axially inwardly and from'said expanded bag into a generally toroidal configuration for anchoring said well bore apparatus in a well bore against movement by unbalanced pressure forces acting thereon as a fluent substance disposed within said expanded bag hardens into a solidified mass.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first means further include means operable upon the expansion of said bag into contact with a well bore wall for terminating further communication between said passage and said enclosed space to confine a fluent substance therein once said bag is fully expanded.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second means further include means normally disabling said biasing means and selectively operable to engage said biasing means with said first coupling means for urging said bag ends inwardly only after said bag has been expanded outwardly into contact with a well bore wall.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first means further include means operable upon the expansion of said bag into contact with a well bore wall for terminating further communication between said passage and said enclosed space to confine a fluent substance therein once said bag is fully expanded.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said second coupling means are also adapted for longitudinal movement along said body from a first position to a second position toward said first coupling means upon expansion of said bag; said first means further include valve means operable upon movement of said second coupling means for terminating further communication between said passage and said enclosed space to confine a fluent substance therein once said bag is fully expanded; and said second means further include latch means adapted for releasably securing said second coupling means in said second position so that upon movement of said first coupling means by said biasing means toward said second coupling means said bag ends will be depressed axially inwardly toward one another.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said biasing means are operative for urging said bag ends inwardly only after said second coupling means are releasably secured in said second position and said bag has been expanded outwardly into contact with a well bore wall.

7. Apparatus adapted for plugging a well bore and comprising: an elongated body adapted to be suspended in awell bore; first and second coupling members fluidly sealed around said body and adapted for movement relative to one another between longitudinally-spaced positions; a tubular bag of a flexible material arranged around said body and having its opposite ends respectively fluidly sealed to said first and second coupling members for defining an enclosed space therein; selectively operable fluid-displacement means coupled to said body and adapted to fill said enclosed space with an initially fluent hardenable substance for expanding said bag outwardly into firm frictional contact with a well bore wall and moving said first and second coupling members relatively toward one another to respectively form said bag ends into a generally hemispherical configuration; and first means operatively arranged on said body for bringing said first and second coupling members relatively closer to one another to respectively reform said bag ends into a generally hemitoroidal configuration so that unbalanced pressure forces acting on either of said bag ends will urge said bag outwardly into firmer frictional contact with a well bore wall while a fluent substance contained therein solidifies into a hardened mass, said first means including spring means operatively arranged on said body for urging said first coupling member closer to said second coupling member with an axial force sufficient to reform the adjacent end of said bag into its said generally hemitoroidal configuration, latch means operable for securing said second coupling member to said body at least while said spring means are urging said first coupling member closer to said second coupling member so that said second coupling member will impose a reaction force axially against the other end of said bag to reform it into its said generally hemitoroidal configuration, means releasably securing said spring means to said body for retaining said spring means from engagement with said first coupling member, and means selectively operable from the surface for releasing said spring-retaining means to bring said spring means into engagement with said first coupling member.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further including a fluid bypass on said body adapted for providing fluid communication above and below said expanded bag until a fluent substance contained therein solidifies into a hardened mass; and means on said body adapted for closing said fluid bypass after a fluent substance contained in said bag has solidified into a hardened mass.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 further including means operable for uncoupling said fluid-displacement means from said body after said enclosed space has been filled by said fluid-displacement means.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further including a fluid bypass on said body adapted for providing fluid communication above and below said expanded bag until a fluent substance contained therein solidifies into a hardened mass; and means on said body adapted for closing said fluid bypass after a fluent substance contained in said bag has solidified into a hardened mass.

11. Apparatus adapted for plugging a well bore and comprising: an upper body and a lower body tandemly coupled to one another and adapted to be supported in a well bore from a suspension cable; upper and lower coupling members fluidly sealed around said lower body and adapted for sliding movement relative to said lower body between longitudinally spaced positions; a tubular bag of a flexible material extended around said lower body and having its upper and lower ends respectively fluidly sealed to said upper and lower coupling members for defining-an enclosed space therein; selectively operable fluid-displacement means on said upper body and fluidly coupled to said enclosed space for filling said bag with an initially fluent hardenable substance to expand said bag outwardly into firm frictional contact with a well bore wall and respectively form said bag ends into a generally hemispherical configuration as said upper and lower coupling members move relatively toward one another; first means responsive to upward movement of said upper and lower bodies for uncoupling said fluid-displacement means from said enclosed space to trap a fluent substance discharged into said enclosed space within said expanded bag; and second means operatively arranged on said lower body and responsive only to further upward movement of said upper and lower bodies for moving said upper and lower coupling members relatively closer to one another to respectively reform said bag ends into a generally hemitoroidal configuration so that unbalanced pressure forces acting on either of said bag ends will urge said bag outwardly into firmer frictional contact with a well bore wall while a fluent substance contained therein solidifies into a hardened mass.

12. The apparatus ofclaim 11 further including third means responsive to still further movement of said upper and lower bodies for uncoupling said upper body from said lower body.

13. The apparatus ofclaim 11 wherein said second means include first latch means operatively arranged between said upper coupling member and said lower body for securing said upper coupling member against upward movement relative to said lower body once said upper bag end has assumed a generally hemispherical configuration, biasing means operatively arranged between said lower coupling member and said lower body for urging said lower coupling member toward said upper coupling member, and second latch means normally securing said biasing means and responsive to upward movement of said upper and lower bodies in relation to said expanded bag and said upper and lower coupling members to free said biasing means for urging said lower coupling member toward said upper coupling member once it is secured by said first latch means 14. The apparatus ofclaim 13 wherein said first means include a fluid passage between said fluid-displacement means and said enclosed space, and valve means operatively arranged between said upper coupling member and said lower body for closing said fluid passage once said upper coupling member is secured by said first latch means.

15. The apparatus ofclaim 14 further including third means responsive to still further movement of said upper and lower bodies for uncoupling said upper body from said lower body.

16. Apparatus adapted to be supported in a well bore from a suspension cable for plugging that well bore at a selected location and comprising: an elongated body having upper and lower portions; upper and lower coupling members fluidly sealed around upper and lower body portions and respectively adapted for sliding movement longitudinally thereon toward one another between first widely spaced positions and second closely spaced positions; a tubular bag of a flexible material arranged around said body between said coupling members and having its upper and lower ends respectively fluidly sealed to said upper and lower coupling members for defining an enclosed space therein; first means including a passage in said body and a port communicating with said passage formed in said body between said first and second positions of said upper coupling member and adapted for admitting a fluent hardenable substance into said enclosed space to expand said bag outwardly into holding contact with a well bore wall and thereby form said upper and lower bag ends respectively into a generally hemispherical configuration; first latch means operatively arranged between said upper coupling member and said upper body portion for securing said upper coupling member in its said second position upon upward movement of said body in relation to said expanded bag and said coupling members for shifting said port above said upper coupling member and confining a fluent substance within said enclosed space of said expanded bag; second means including biasing means operatively arranged on said lower body portion and adapted for imposing an axial force upwardly against said lower coupling member; and second latching means normally securing said biasing means and operatively arranged to release said biasing means upon a further upward movement of said body in relation to said expanded bag and said coupling members for engaging said biasing means with said lower coupling member to carry it to its said second position and thereby reform said upper and lower bag ends respectively into a generally hemitoroidal configuration for tightly anchoring said well bore apparatus in a well bore against unbalanced pressure forces acting on said expanded bag as a fluent substance disposed within said expanded bag solidifies into a solidified mass.

17. The apparatus ofclaim 16 wherein said biasing means include a compression spring around said lower body'portion and having its lower end engaged therewith; and said latching means include a slidable member mounted on said lower body portion and engaged with the upper end of said compression

Claims (16)

1. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first means further include means operable upon the expansion of said bag into contact with a well bore wall for terminating further communication between said passage and said enclosed space to confine a fluent substance therein once said bag is fully expanded.
2. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second means further include means normally disabling said biasing means and selectively operable to engage said biasing means with said first coupling means for urging said bag ends inwardly only after said bag has been expanded outwardly into contact with a well bore wall.
3. 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first means further include means operable upon the expansion of said bag into contact with a well bore wall for terminating further communication between said passage and said enclosed space to confine a fluent substance therein once said bag is fully expanded.
4. 5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said second coupling means are also adapted for longitudinal movement along said body from a first position to a second position toward said first coupling means upon expansion of said bag; said first means further include valve means operable upon movement of said second coupling means for terminating further communication between said passage and said enclosed space to confine a fluent substance therein once said bag is fully expanded; and said second means further include latch means adapted for releasably securing said second coupling means in said second position so that upon movement of said first coupling means by said biasing means toward said second coupling means said bag ends will be depressed axially inwardly toward one another.
5. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said biasing means are operative for urging said bag ends inwardly only after said second coupling means are releasably secured in said second position and said bag has been expanded outwardly into contact with a well bore wall.
6. 7. Apparatus adapted for plugging a well bore and comprising: an elongated body adapted to be suspended in a well bore; first and second coupling members fluidly sealed around said body and adapted for movement relative to one another between longitudinally-spaced positions; a tubular bag of a flexible material arranged around said body and having its opposite ends respectively fluidly sealed to said first and second coupling members for defining an enclosed space therein; selectively operable fluid-displacement means coupled to said body and adapted to fill said enclosed space with an initially fluent hardenable substance for expanding said bag outwardly into firm frictional contact with a well bore wall and moving said first and second coupling members relatively toward one another to respectively form said bag ends into a generally hemispherical configuration; and first means operatively arranged on said body for bringing said first and second coupling members relatively closer to one another to respectively reform said bag ends into a generally hemitoroidal configuration so that unbalanced pressure forces acting on either of said bag ends will urge said bag outwardly into firmer frictional contact with a well bore wall while a fluent substance contained therein solidifies into a hardened mass, said first means including spring means operatively arranged on said body for urging said first coupling member closer to said second coupling member with an axial force sufficient to reform the adjacent end of said bag into its said generally hemitoroidal configuration, latch means operable for securing said second coupling member to said body at least while said spring means are urging said first coupling member closer to said second coupling member so that said second coupling member will impose a reaction force axially against the other end of said bag to reform it into its said generally hemitoroidal configuration, means releasably securing said spring means to said body for retaining said spring means from engagement with said first coupling member, and means selectively operable from the surface for releasing said spring-retaining means to bring said spring means into engagement with said first coupling member.
7. 8. The apparatus of claim 7 further including a fluid bypass on said body adapted for providing fluid communication above and below said expanded bag until a fluent substance contained therein solidifies into a hardened mass; and means on said body adapted for closing said fluid bypass after a fluent substance contained in said bag has solidified into a hardened mass.
8. 9. The apparatus of claim 7 further including means operable for uncoupling said fluid-displacement means from said body after said enclosed space has been filled by said fluid-displacement means.
9. 10. The apparatus of claim 9 further including a fluid bypass on said body adapted for providing fluid communication above and below said expanded bag until a fluent substance contained therein solidifies into a hardened mass; and means on said body adapted for closing said fluid bypass after a fluent substance contained in said bag has solidified into a hardened mass.
10. 11. Apparatus adapted for plugging a well bore and comprising: an upper body and a lower body tandemly coupled to one another and adapted to be supported in a well bore from a suspension cable; upper and lower coupling members fluidly sealed around said lower body and adapted for sliding movement relative to said lower body between longitudinally spaced positions; a tubular bag of a flexible material extended around said lower body and having its upper and lower ends respectively fluidly sealed to said upper and lower coupling members for defining an enclosed space therein; selectively operable fluid-displacement means on said upper body and fluidly coupled to said enclosed space for filling said bag with an initially fluent hardenable substance to expand said bag outwardly into firm frictional contact with a well bore wall and respectively form said bag ends into a generally hemispherical configuration as said upper and lower coupling members move relatively toward one another; first means responsive to upward movement of said upper and lower bodies for uncoupling said fluid-displacement means from said enclosed space to trap a fluent substance discharged into said enclosed space within said expanded bag; and second means operatively arranged on said lower body and responsive only to further upward movement of said upper and lower bodies for moving said upper and lower coupling members relatively closer to one another to respectively reform said bag ends into a generally hemitoroidal configuration so that unbalanced pressure forces acting on either of said bag ends will urge said bag outwardly into firmer frictional contact with a well bore wall while a fluent substance contained therein solidifies into a hardened mass.
11. 12. The apparatus of claim 11 further including third means responsive to still further movement of said upper and lower bodies for uncoupling said upper body from said lower body.
12. 13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said second means include first latch means operatively arranged between said upper coupling member and said lower body for securing said upper coupling member against upward movement relative to said lower body once said upper bag end has assumed a generally hemispherical configuration, biasing means operatively arranged between said lower coupling member and said lower body for urging said lower coupling member toward said upper coupling member, and second latch means normally securing said biasing means and responsive to upward movement of said upper and lower bodies in relation to said expanded bag and said upper and lower coupling members to free said biasing means for urging said lower coupling member toward said upper coupling member once it is secured by said first latch means.
13. 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said first means include a fluid passage between said Fluid-displacement means and said enclosed space, and valve means operatively arranged between said upper coupling member and said lower body for closing said fluid passage once said upper coupling member is secured by said first latch means.
14. 15. The apparatus of claim 14 further including third means responsive to still further movement of said upper and lower bodies for uncoupling said upper body from said lower body.
15. 16. Apparatus adapted to be supported in a well bore from a suspension cable for plugging that well bore at a selected location and comprising: an elongated body having upper and lower portions; upper and lower coupling members fluidly sealed around upper and lower body portions and respectively adapted for sliding movement longitudinally thereon toward one another between first widely spaced positions and second closely spaced positions; a tubular bag of a flexible material arranged around said body between said coupling members and having its upper and lower ends respectively fluidly sealed to said upper and lower coupling members for defining an enclosed space therein; first means including a passage in said body and a port communicating with said passage formed in said body between said first and second positions of said upper coupling member and adapted for admitting a fluent hardenable substance into said enclosed space to expand said bag outwardly into holding contact with a well bore wall and thereby form said upper and lower bag ends respectively into a generally hemispherical configuration; first latch means operatively arranged between said upper coupling member and said upper body portion for securing said upper coupling member in its said second position upon upward movement of said body in relation to said expanded bag and said coupling members for shifting said port above said upper coupling member and confining a fluent substance within said enclosed space of said expanded bag; second means including biasing means operatively arranged on said lower body portion and adapted for imposing an axial force upwardly against said lower coupling member; and second latching means normally securing said biasing means and operatively arranged to release said biasing means upon a further upward movement of said body in relation to said expanded bag and said coupling members for engaging said biasing means with said lower coupling member to carry it to its said second position and thereby reform said upper and lower bag ends respectively into a generally hemitoroidal configuration for tightly anchoring said well bore apparatus in a well bore against unbalanced pressure forces acting on said expanded bag as a fluent substance disposed within said expanded bag solidifies into a solidified mass.
16. 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said biasing means include a compression spring around said lower body portion and having its lower end engaged therewith; and said latching means include a slidable member mounted on said lower body portion and engaged with the upper end of said compression spring, a latch member operatively arranged between said slidable member and said lower body portion for movement from a first position securing said spring in compression and a second position releasing said spring for upward expansion, a retaining member normally retaining said latch member in its said first position and adapted to be moved away from said latch member upon engagement of said retaining member with said lower coupling member upon said further movement of said body for freeing said latch member for movement to its said second position.

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