Hydraulic set packer and testing apparatus

• US 5,152,340 A
• Filed: 01/30/1991
• Issued: 10/06/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Company
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Company
• Inventors: Clark, J. Allan, Beck, H. Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hoang C.
• Application Number:
  US07/648,662
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 166/106, 166/191, 166/187, 166/120, 166/122, 166/127, 166/250, 166/147, 166/113
• US Class Current: 166/122
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/124 Units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/128 with a member expanded radially by axial pressure E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence

Abstract

A hydraulic set packer for use in a well bore as part of a testing apparatus. The packer comprises a housing defining a generally annular piston chamber therein. A cylindrical portion of an annular piston is slidably disposed in the piston chamber. The piston also has a shoe portion adjacent to a packer element on the housing. An inner mandrel is disposed in the housing, and the housing and inner mandrel define a passageway therein such that fluid pressure may be applied to the piston for moving it against the packer element such that the packer is set in sealing engagement with the well bore. The passageway extends the full length of the housing so that it may be in communication with another hydraulic packer positioned therebelow. One or more packers may be used in a downhole tool on a testing string for use in testing a well formation. The packer may also be used on a tubing string for testing a blowout preventer.

Claims

1. A packer apparatus for use in a well bore, said apparatus comprising:

a housing comprising;

an upper portion connectable to a tool string;

a cylindrical portion extending downwardly from said upper portion and having a shoulder defined on a lower end thereof;

a packer mandrel portion extending downwardly from said upper portion, said cylindrical portion and said packer mandrel portion defining an annular piston chamber therebetween, and said packer mandrel portion defining a port therethrough providing communication between said piston chamber and a pressure source in the tool string; and

a lower portion attached to said packer mandrel portion and defining a longitudinal bore therethrough;

an inner mandrel disposed in said housing such that said housing and said inner mandrel define a longitudinally extending passageway therebetween said passageway being in communication with said piston chamber and said longitudinal bore;

a piston comprising;

a generally cylindrical portion slidably disposed in said piston chamber; and

a shoe portion at an end of said cylindrical portion; and

an elastomeric packer element disposed on said packer mandrel portion of said housing and adjacent to said shoe portion of said piston.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

outer sealing means for sealing between said piston and said cylindrical portion; and

inner sealing means for sealing between said piston and said packer mandrel portion of said housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shoe portion of said piston has a piston shoulder thereon such that movement of said piston in one direction is limited by contact of said piston shoulder with said shoulder on said end of said cylindrical portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a packer shoe disposed on said packer mandrel portion of said housing adjacent to said packer element on an opposite side thereof from said piston.

5. A packer apparatus for use in a well bore, said packer apparatus comprising:

housing means having means for connecting to a tool string, said housing means comprising;

a top adapter;

a piston adapter attached to said top adapter;

a cylindrical member having a first end attached to said piston adapter and a second end having a shoulder defined thereon;

a packer mandrel having a first end attached to said piston adapter and a second end, said cylindrical member and said packer mandrel defining an annular chamber therebetween, and said packer mandrel defining a port therein for transmitting pressure from a pressure source in the tool string; and

a lower adapter attached to said packer mandrel, said lower adapter defining a longitudinal bore therethrough;

passageway means disposed within said housing means and in communication with said longitudinal bore in said lower adapter, for communicating pressure from said pressure source, wherein said passageway means comprises;

a mandrel guide attached to said housing means, and defining a port therein for communicating pressure from said pressure source; and

an inner mandrel disposed within said housing means, said housing means and said inner mandrel being positioned so that an annular passageway is defined therebetween, said annular passageway allowing communication of pressure from said pressure source;

packer element means, disposed on said housing means, for sealingly engaging said well bore when in a set position, said packer element means comprising a first end having a first chamfered surface and a second end having a second chamfered surface;

an annular piston slidably disposed within said annular chamber, said annular piston comprising;

a first portion with sealing means disposed thereon for sealing between said annular piston and said annular chamber;

a second portion having a piston shoulder, said piston shoulder cooperating with said shoulder on said cylindrical member of said housing means for limiting upward travel of said annular piston in said annular chamber; and

a third portion containing a chamfered surface adjacent to said packer element means, and cooperating with said first chamfered surface of said packer element means, so that, as pressure is applied to said annular chamber, the pressure is transmitted to said annular piston whereby said annular piston is moved longitudinally downwardly thereby setting said packer element means; and

a packer shoe, disposed on said housing means, said packer shoe having a chamfered surface which cooperates with said second chamfered surface of said packer element means for setting said packer element means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the packer apparatus is a portion of the tool string; and

said tool string contains a tester valve for testing a well formation.