US2153034A - Cementing device for well casings - Google Patents

Description

April 4, 1939. R. c. BAKER 2,153,034

CEMENTING DEVICE FOR WELL CASINGS Filed Oct. 10, 1956- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 VINVENTOR.

BY wad/Mm ATTORNEY 4, R. c. CEMENTING DEVICE FOR WELL CASINGS Filed Oct. 10, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. 733% M ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CEMENTING DEVICE FOR WELL OASINGS Application October 10, 1936, Serial No. 105,042

10 Claims.

This invention relates to cementing devices for use in connection with deep oil well casings.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a simple and efficient apparatus 5 ,p which may be fitted to an oil well casing, and which will not interfere with the delivery of circulating fluid downwardly through the casing, but which will enable cementslurry to be discharged at a desired point along the casing 10 through the sides of the latter at circumferentially spaced points and in a manner insuring proper distribution of the cement slurry around the casing.

The invention is exemplified in the following 5 description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in central vertical section through a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the same 20 equipped with a screen and ball valve.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 1. l

Fig. 4 is a central vertical sectional view through a device embodying the invention and 25 fitted with a cementing port shield.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the manner in which the shield is removed from the cementing ports.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view through 30 the device taken on line VI-VI 01' Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the shield disclosed in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, I have there illustrated a guiding 35 and cementing device for a well casing l which includes a casing shoe ll. Cast within this casing shoe is a cementitious body l2 which is formed with a guide portion l4 extending beyond the lower end of the casing shoe II for guiding pur- 40 poses.

The cementitious body I2 is formed with a straight coaxial circulation passageway l6 which extends longitudinally through the body l2, so that circulation may be established downwardly through the body. cementing passageways ii are formed in the guide portion ll of the body I! and extend radially outward on a plane just below the lower terminal or the shoe II. The cementlng passageways it are curved as illustrated 0 in Figs. 3 and 6 and extend tangentially from the circulating passageway I so as to give cement slurry discharging therethrough a whirling effect at the exterior of the shoe, so that it will be evenly distributed around the pipe and eliminate any chance of channeling.

In the form of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the circulating passageway I5 is restricted at its lower end to form an interior annular shoulder forming a valve seat ll for a ball type of valve I8. This ball valve i8 is less in 5 diameter than the main portion of the circulating passageway IE, but is greater in diameter than the reduced portion of the passageway, so that it will seat on the seat II. In Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the valve seat I! is shown as being vertically 10 grooved as at is so that even when the ball I8 is seated on the seat i'l, restricted circulation through the lower end of the body I2 is permitted.

In Fig. 2 I-have shown a screen member 20 removably fitted to the upper end of the circulating passageway l5. It should be stated that some difiiculty has. been experienced with this type of cementing device due to foreign matter accumulating at the upper end of the passageway l5, and either entirely clogging the same or so materially reducing the area thereof that the cementing efliciency of the device is impaired. It is for this reason that I may provide the screen member 20, and it is preferably formed of such friable material as Bakelite or the like which can be readily drilled up and which will shatter when the cementing plug lands.

In the event that the ball I8 is to be positioned before the device is fitted to the casing" and lowered into the well, such a screen member 20 can be employed and it should be stated that the combined area of the openings through the screen member at least equals the cross sectional area of the circulating passageway Hi.

In the event that a ball such as i8 is to be positioned subsequently to the time that the casing is placed in the well bore, obviously thescreen member 20 cannot be employed. However, the screen membr 20 can be employed as illustrated in Fig. 1 where no ball is to be em- 0 ployed. In this instance circulation can be established downwardly through the plug during the lowering of the easing into the well, and the cementing ports I6 used for cementing if the lower end of the casing is positioned on bottom or seated on a shoulder such as occurs between the bore and the rat hole.

In Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, I have shown a shield member 22 for use in closing the cementing passageways I8 during the period prior to the cementing operation. This shield 22 is sleevelike and its lower portion is formed of hard rubber, while its upper portion is formed of flexible rubber. Projecting from the flexible portl 1n 0! the shield are protrusions 23 fitting the inner ends of the cementing passageways was illustrated in Fig. 4.

An interior annular shoulder 24 is provided adjacent the lower end of the shield to engage the ball l8 when it is pumped downwardly through the casing, so that movement of the ball downwardly will be accompanied by contraction of the sleeve and the uncovering of the cementing passageways l6 as illustrated in Fig. 5. Due to the flexible nature of the upper end of the shield, this can be readily accomplished. It will be noted that there is a spacing between the lower end of the shield when it is positioned to close the passageways l6 and the interior annular shoulder 25 between the main portion of the circulating passageway i5 and the reduced lower portion thereof as illustrated.

In operation of the device, assuming that it is to be used as illustrated in Fig. 1, it is fitted to the casing and the casing is lowered into the well bore. Upon encountering a bridge or for any other reason it is desired to wash down, circulation may be established directly downwardly through the circulating passageway l5. When the casing has been properly positioned and it is desired to cement, a ball valve such as I8 is dropped in the casing and comes to rest on the seat I! so as to substantially close off circulation through the lower end of the circulating passageway l5. It does not entirely close oft the circulation, however, as some circulation can be obtained through the grooves I9. The cement is then forced downwardly through the casing and as it cannot pass through the lower end of the circulating passageway l5, it will discharge outwardly through the cementing passageways l6. After the cement has set, the body I2 may be drilled out as in standard practice.

If it is unnecessary to use a ball such as i8, as for example, when the casing is to be seated on the shoulder at the top of the rat hole, a.

screen 20 may be fitted to the device as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1 to insure that the upper end of the circulating passageway 15 will not be clogged. The moment that the cementing plug lands on the top of the body l2, it will crush and shatter the screen 20.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a device used with the ball positioned prior to the insertion of the casing into the hole and in this instance the screen 20 may be employed. The operation of the device is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 1 with the exception that the ball I8 is positioned in the device prior to the lowering of the easing into the well bore.

When the device is equipped as shown in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, it is lowered into the well bore in the condition as shown in Fig. 4, at which time the cementing passageways l6 will be closed by the shield 22. The bottom of this shield, however, is open so that circulation can be had downwardly through the circulating passageway l5. After the casing has been properly positioned, the ball I8 is dropped in the casing and will engage the interior annular shoulder 24 in the shield 22, closing the lower end of the shield. By increasing the pressure in back of the ball, the shield will be collapsed to disengage the protrusions 23 thereof from the inner ends of the passageways l6 and move the shield downwardly until it engages the shoulder 25, at which time the cementing passageways 16 will be unobstructed. Also, the ball I 8 will combine with the shield in closing the lower end of the circulating passageway [5 so that the cement will discharge outwardly through the cementing paesageways l6.

As previously described, the passageways I8 are curved and extend tangentially from the circulating passageway l5 so that the cement will be caused to swirl around the exterior of the pipe and insure even distribution of the cement therearound.

In the present instance I have shown the invention as embodied in a casing shoe, but it is obvious that it has many useful characteristics when embodied in a casing collar for cementing at points intermediate the ends of the casing, and I wish it understood that the features thereof may be so used as their adaptation to a collar is readily discernible to those skilled in the art.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a simple and inexpensive device which is extremely practical and which is capable of use as a plain guide and cementing shoe, or in connection with the shield and ball so that cementing through the radial passageways is insured, while enabling a proper wash down action to be had during the lowering of the casing into the hole.

While I have shown the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of.

the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device of the character described. comprising a casing shoe, 9. cementitious body cast therein and inseparably united therewith, said body having a guide portion extending beyond the lower end of said shoe, said body having an open-ended circulating passageway formed coaxially therethrough, said guide portion of the body having tangentially arranged radial cementing passageways formed therethrough and extending outwardly from said circulating passageway.

2. A device of the character described comprising a casing shoe, a cementitious body cast therein and inseparably united therewith, said body having a guide portion extending beyond the lower end of. said shoe, said body having an open-ended circulating passageway formed coaxially therethrough, said guide portion of the body having curved cementing passageways formed therethrough and extending on a plane perpendicular to said circulating passageway and extending substantially tangentially from'said circulating passageway and below the shoe.

3. A device of the character described comprising a cylindrical member, a cementitious body cast therein and inseparably united therewith, said body having an open-ended circulating passageway formed coaxially therethrough, said body having curved cementing passageways formed therethrough arranged on a plane perpendicular to said circulating passageway and extending substantially tangentially from said circulating passageway, said circulating passageway being reduced below said cementing passageways to form a valve seat, and a valve member less in diameter than said circulating passageway but greater in diameter than the reduced portion of said circulating passageway so that it will seat on said seat.

4. A device of the character described comprising a casing shoe, a cementitious body cast therein and inseparably united therewith, said body having a guide portion extending beyond the lower end of said shoe, said body having an open-ended circulating passageway formed 00-- axially therethrough, said guide portion of the body having tangentially arranged radial cementing passageways formed therethrough and extending outwardly from said circulating passageway, and a screen member fitted to the body over the upper end of said circulating passageway.

5. A device of the character described comprising a casing shoe, a cementitious body cast therein and inseparably united therewith, .said body having a guide portion extending beyond the lower end of said shoe, said body having an open-ended circulating passageway formed coaxially therethrough, said guide portion of, the body having curved cementing passageways formed therethrough and extending on a plane perpendicular to said circulating passageway and extending substantially, tangentially from said circulating passageway and below the shoe, and a screen member removably fitted to the upper end of the body over the upper end of said circulating passageway.

6. A device of the character described comprising a casing shoe, a cementitious body cast therein and inseparably united therewith, said body having a guide portion extending beyond the lower end of the shoe, said body having an open-ended circulating passageway formed coaxially therethrough, said guide portion of the body having curved and tangentially arranged cementing passageways formed therethrough from said circulating passageway, said circulating passageway being reduced in diameter below said cementing passageways to form a valve seat. a ball valve member less in diameter than said circulating passageway but greater in diameter than the reduced portion of said circulating passageway whereby it will seat on said seat, and a screen member of fragile material secured to the body over the upper end of said circulating passageway.

7. A device of the character described comprising a cylindrical member adapted to be connected with a well casing, a body of cementitious material cast therein and inseparably united therewith, said body having a centrally located and longitudinally extending circulating passageway, radial cementing passageways emanating therefrom and extending outwardly through said body, a ball moving vertically in said cir' culating passageway, a cylindrical shield member fitting within the passageway and having protrusions fitting within the inner ends of said cementing passageways, said shield being yieldable, means on said shield capable of. being engaged by said ball moving downwardly in said passageway, said shield yielding in response to movement of said ball downwardly to disengage said protrusions from said cementing passageways and to move said shield out of register therewith.

8. A device of the character described comprising a cylindrical member adapted to be connected with a well casing, a body of. cementitious material cast therein and inseparably united therewith, said body having a centrally located and longitudinally extending circulating passageway, radial cementing passageways emanating therefrom and extending outwardly through saidbody,'a ball moving vertically in said circulating passageway, a cylindrical shield member fitting within the passageway and having protrusions fitting within the inner ends of said cementing passageways, said shield being yieldable, means on said shield capable of being engaged by said ball moving downwardly in said passageway, said shield yielding in response to movement of said ball downwardly to disengage said protrusions from said cementing passageways and to move said shield out of register therewith, and an annular shoulder formed in said circulating passageway to arrest the downward movement of said ball and shield.

9. A device of the character described comprising a tubular member adapted to be connected with a well casing, a cementitious body cast therein and inseparably united therewith, said body having a passageway formed centrally and longitudinally therethrough, an inverted convex screen member of non-metallic friable but formsustaining material fixed to the body at the upper end of said passageway with its open base united with said body.

10. A device of the character described comprising a casing shoe, a cementitious body cast therein and inseparably united therewith, said body having a guide portion extending beyond the lower end of the shoe, said body having an open-ended circulating passageway formed coaxially therethrough, a substantially cone-shaped screen member arranged at theupper end of said passageway with its open base united to said body at the upper extremity of said passageway.

REUBEN C. BAKER.

Images