Method of temporarily plugging openings in well casing and apparatus therefor

• US 3,086,587 A
• Filed: 12/22/1958
• Issued: 04/23/1963
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1958
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John B. Goodwin, Lyle Caldwell, Myron Zandmer Solis
• Original Assignee: John B. Goodwin, Lyle Caldwell, Myron Zandmer Solis
• Inventors: MYRON ZANDMER SOLIS, Caldwell, Lyle, Goodwin, John B.
• Application Number:
  US03/782,030
• Time in Patent Office: 1,583 Days
• US Class Current: 166/284
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/138 Plastering the borehole wall; Injecting into the formation

Claims

8. THE METHOD MANIPULATING PLUGGING ELEMENTS WITHIN A WELL DOWN WHICH FLUID IS BEING PUMPED THAT INCLUDES THE STEPS OF LOWERING IN THE WELL A PLURALITY OF ELEMENTS AS A GROUP WITHIN A CONTAINER TO A POSITION IN THE VICINITY OF HOLES TO BE PLUGGED BY THE ELEMENTS;

CONTROLLING FLUID FLOW DOWN THE WELL;

AND EFFECTING RELEASE OF ELEMENTS FROM THE GROUP IN RESPONSE TO A CHANGE IN A CHARACTERISTIC OF SAID CONTROLLED FLUID FLOW PAST THE GROUP OF ELEMENTS.

9. APPARATUS FOR TEMPORARILY PLUGGING OPENINGS IN CASING SET IN A WELL HAVING A TUBING STRING WITHIN THE CASING COMPRISING:

A MAGAZINE ATTACHED TO THE LOWER END OF THE TUBING STRING AND CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF PLUGGING ELEMENTS, SAID MAGAZINE BEING LOCATED IN THE VICINITY OF THE OPENINGS IN THE CASING TO BE PLUGGED;

MEANS AT THE LOWER END OF THE MAGAZINE PROVIDING A BALL TRANSMITTING PASSAGE FROM THE MAGAZINE INTO THE CASING BELOW THE MAGAZINE, SAID MEANS INCLUDING GATE MEANS IN THE PASSAGE AT THE LOWER END OF THE MAGAZINE ADAPTED TO CONTROL THE DISCHARGE OF ELEMENTS OUT OF THE MAGAZINE AND THROUGH THE PASSAGE;

AND OPERATING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID GATE AND OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO THE FLOW OF FLUID FROM THE TUBING INTO THE CASING AND TOWARD THE OPENINGS TO BE PLUGGED.