Taper joint well sealing packer and method

Details Taper joint well sealing packer and method Taper joint well sealing packer and method

1999-02-01

2001-06-26

Knight, Anthony (Department: 3626)

Seal for a joint or juncture

Seal for well apparatus

For below ground apparatus

C277S338000, C277S340000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06250638

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of downhole packers in wells. More particularly, the present invention relates to metal to metal seals that removably seal the lower end of an annular space in a well such as between an inner tubing and an outer casing.
Downhole packers seal the annular space between a casing cemented in a well bore and the well tubing through which underground fluid is removed or other fluid is injected into the well.
In certain situations, such as in pumping treated wastewater down below an aquifer for environmentally safe disposal, it is essential that the wastewater pass through to the bottom of the well without leaking into the intermediate strata that would contaminate future water supplies. To ensure safe operation, an inner tube carrying the wastewater down is surrounded by an outer tube or well casing. A seal commonly referred to as a packer, seals the lower end of the annular space between the inner and outer tube close to the lower end of the inner tube. The annular space is then filled with fluid and pressurized. The pressure in the annular space is then monitored to detect any change in pressure, which would indicate a leak of fluid either into, or out of, the annular space. Since the environment to which the inner and outer tubes are exposed may be corrosive or may induce cracks from soil movement, temperature and pressure fluctuations and the like, it is imperative that any leakage be immediately known. It is useful to be able to release the seal and pull the inner tubing out for repair and reuse if possible. It is also useful to be able to introduce corrosion inhibiting fluid into the annular space. Resilient sealing surfaces have been used in the prior art, but they tend to deteriorate in the hostile environment encountered. Prior art sealing elements have been applied to the inner and outer surfaces of the tubing, but they tend to lack structural strength.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved well packer apparatus that exhibits excellent long term sealing that resists leaking by use of a metal to metal contact sealing between complementary tapered sealing elements, one male and one female. It is another object that the seal be readily released and reused by simply lifting the inner tube up out of the bore for repair in a translatory motion.
This apparatus includes an annular outer seal member that is attached to a tubular well casing or outer tube that is insertable in the well bore. An annular inner seal member is attached to an inner tube at a lower end thereof, the combination fitting within the outer tube and passing down therethrough until the inner seal member flushly and sealingly engages the annular outer seal member to define an annular volume extending upwardly from the seal that may be filled with a corrosion resisting liquid whose pressure can be monitored for leak detection. The two tapered matching mating sections preferably have a slope of approximately 2½ degrees from the vertical. The outer seal member and the inner seal member both have a downwardly, and inwardly sloping smooth mating surface. There may be upper and lower, non-mating surfaces on the two sealing members to facilitate operation.
The inner pipe may also be provided with generally centering or stablizing means extending radially outwardly therefrom positioned above the inner sealing member to further facilitate sealing engagement.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1411486 (1922-04-01), Gallagher
patent: 2130598 (1938-09-01), Penick
patent: 3311168 (1967-03-01), Pierce, Jr.
patent: 3347319 (1967-10-01), Littlejohn
patent: 3399548 (1968-09-01), Burns
patent: 4291767 (1981-09-01), Hall
patent: 4619326 (1986-10-01), Van Mierio
patent: 4892337 (1990-01-01), Gunderson
patent: 5685369 (1997-11-01), Ellis
patent: 5743335 (1998-04-01), Bussear
patent: 5775429 (1998-07-01), Arizmendi

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