US2363793A - Well testing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 28, 1944. M. c. JOHNSON 2,353,793

` WELL TESTING APPARATUS Filed July 14, 1941 f 2 sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 2s, 1944. @M c. JOHNSON `2,363,792;

WELL `TESTING APPARATUS Filed July 14, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 cluding drilling Patented Nov. 28, 19444 UNITED STATES PATENT) poFFicE f i i i 2,363,793l i o WELL TESTING APrnnATUs Mont C. Johnson, `Winter-set, Iowa i Application ,ruiy 14,1941, serial Ne. 402,387 J This invention relates improved in connection with the determination of the `depth of veins of water or any other liquid substance in the walls of an oil well, wherein the operator.` may easily, quickly and accurately determine the j depth of an -undesired vein of fluid within the` well, even 'with the Well illled `with drilling fluid, i

wherein the operator may quickly andaccurately an undesired vein of iluid such` as watentwithout Y, blocking out the productive supply. l t The object of `invention is to provide, for

a device in thenature the purpose above stated,

or receptacles, ,which of an upright receptacle,

` may be lowered into an oilwell inconnection with a suitable measuring cable for receiving` an actual drilling uids.

n is else desirebie to `determine the depth er thickness of the productive supply.

' `A further object efmy invention is te'provide meansiorobtaining fluids from the wall oi' the well and from. the strata ata pre-determined depth, without beingintermingled with foreign iluids, said means being adapted` to be lowered into the well by means of a suitable measuring cable or other exible supporting device which may be `rapidly operated, without the necessity of coupling onto the test device heavy pipes or drill rods as heretofore has -been the practicein obtaining such tests, thereby enacting a great saving of time and expensein taking said tests.

iA further object of my invention is to` provide an improved receptacle forobtainingsamples of iluids from the walled structure `of deep wells havingr an inlet opening and a valve for closing said opening, improvedmeans for sealinga-portion `of the wall surface and `communicating the same with said opening, for the purpose of exfluids, and in connection therewith improved means for actuating the valve by an operator on the ground surfaceandfor controlling the sealing means `with the receptaclein adeepwell.` i My invention consists in the construction, arrangement fand combination of the various parts of the'devipe, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter `more fullysetfcrth,

determinethe depth to form a casing to block out t pre-determined depth, wherein `theyremeans used 1 cisnes.- (ci. iss-nei pointed outinimy claims, and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which: i

i `,Figure 1 is a diagrammaticalsectional view of a deep well, illustrating the manner yin which my face to prevent mixing with tl'iefiiuidbeingex-V v tracted from thewall, any foreign filuid such as improved method iscarried out and the manner in which lfthe mechanism for accomplishing the same is installed` therein; i

Figure 2 is a side elevation of my improved unit employinga number of superimposed receptacles forl obtainingxin one operationa number of tests from the walls of a: well `ata number of prede-` termined depths, a portion `ofsome of the receptacles being partially shown in section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail `sectionalview taken onithe line 3 3 of Figure 4 `Figuren shows the upper end of a receptacle with one side broken away andthe headin center section;` i i `Figure is an enlarged `detail ,sectional'view 2o taker-lon the line 5 5 of Figure2; Figure P6 `illustrates a modiiied form with lthe upper' receptacle in section and an adjoining lower receptacle partially in sectio on the line 6--6 oflligure';4 i

A Figure'l is a detailsectional view taken. on the line 1-1 of Flgure;Y i,

Figure 8 is a diagrammatical view illustrating themanner in` which` the-modied form of my device isplacedinla well; i 1' Figure `9 is a diagrammatical view of the elec-l tricalfclrcuit employed in the operation of my modified form;

rieure 1o iuustretes the switehueed in eennee non with seid eieetrieeireuit; end

a Figure 11 is adiagrammatical view of the electric circuit used `in conn ctiOll with my` preferred form of the device, i l

My improved method `consists inlowering into a deep well a tight receptacle having inlet and outlet openings and an automatically, operated Valvein the outlet opening topermit the escape of confined Yair in `saidreceptacle when `under pressure, and to prevent the entrance of any iiud through said opening,` and a manually controlled.

mechanically. operated valve in the` inlet opening,

l together with means forfcausing the inlet opening i to be sealed to a'portlon 'of the wall surface at a predetermined depth, to exclude the entrance oi drilling fluids, lowering the receptacle into the well by aqflexible membensuch asa measuring cable, to a predetermined depth, sealing the inlet opening over aportion of ther wall of thewell, then actuating the valve of said inlet opening to open the same, permittingiiuids from :the sealed portion of the well toentersaid receptacle by the such as water. The above method is used in connectionpwith obtaining samples wherein the inert pressureof the fluids obtained is sufllcient to pr'oswitch 35 for connecting vide a suillcient flow of the fluid `through the Wall 4 structure, to the receptacle, to obtain rapidly the desired sample. However, when the said inherent pressure is low, my invention also contemplatesl the idea of evacuating the receptacle of air pres- .sure either after or before lowering the receptacle into operative position, wherein atmospheric `.pressure may be added to that or the fluid, causing the fluid to flow through the strata. if 'Ing` the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one form ofl apparatus whichv might be employed in carrying out my preferred method, as illustratedin Figs. 1 Vto 5, inclusive,.and In Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, an apparatus for carry'- ing'y out the modified method wherein the receptacle ispartially evacuated after it has been lowered: into operative position. f

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated a unit formed of a series of superimposed receptacles I and an intermediate receptacle II forming a motor cas-'f ling', each of said' receptacles comprising an upright cylindrical wall I2 and a bottom I8,`the upper end of the wall I2 having an inwardly extending flange I4, thereceptacl'es being adapted to be stacked one on top of the other, as il1usI trated, with a. suitable gasket I5 between them, said receptacles being; bound togetherin a unitary unit by means of vertical-rods I8 with nuts I:1 on their upper ends. A chunk of lead VI8 is secured to the lower end of the unit for causingy the same to overcome the buoyancy of the hollow receptacles to permit the unitto fbe lowered into the drilling uid. Each of the receptacles I0 is provided near its upper end with a valve casing I9 having an opening 20, which I shall term' the inlet opening. Supported in said opening is a nipple 2|V formed preferably of elastic material such as rubber, and extending laterally from the side wall Ill a slight distance. A spring 22"is fixed to the outer surface of the wall I2 for the purpose of protectingl the outer end of the nipple 2| asthe receptacle is lowered to position-in the manner-hereinafter described. a

The casing `III includes a sleeve 28 having diametrically opposite slots 24 in connection with` theinterior of the casing I9. Rotatably mounted in the sleeve 23 isa valve 25, also having diametrlcally opposite slots or ports for communieating with the sl'ots'24 when the valve is in one position of vits movement, thus providing a rotary valve which may be easily operated'even with the receptacle lowered i'ntouids of great depths, whereinthe pressure may be two or three thousand'pounds per square inch.

For actuating the valve 25 I have provided on its lower endian arm 26 pivotallyconnected to one end of the link 21, said link 21 being .preferably of non-magnetic material and connected to one end of an iron core 28 of an electro magnet 28 outwardly from said electromagnet and for automatically moving the valve 25 to aclosed position. Thus means is provided whereby the valve 25 maybe moved to an open position by simply energizing the electromagnet 29 through a suitable electric conductor r8l and a suitable switch device 32 supported on top of the ground surface, and by means of a supply of electrical energy 33, such as a storage battery or from a suitable powerline, each electromagnet 28 havingv an individual conductor 3l and a common return 34. each of said conductors 3l having a said conductor to the common return 84.

For causingthe outer end of the nipple 2l to firmly engage a portion of the inner surface of l the wall 88 I have provided adjacent to one side of the unit an upright pressure plate I1, mounted on a rack bar `38 at its central portion and slidably mounted'in a suitable bearing 88 in the casing II, thevge'ar teeth 48 of the rack bar 38 being adapted to mesh with a pinion 4I mounted on thelower end of 4a motor shaft 42 carried by an electric motor 4l mounted in said casing II, the said motor 43 being of the reversible type and provided with conductors 44. and 45` and a reversing switch 46 connected with said common f return 34', `wherein the shaft 42 may be rotated in either dlrectionat the will of the operator,

the rack 88 being moved outwardly when said motor shaft is rotated in one direction to cause andwhen so engaged, to move the casing I I and theunit carried thereby,A towards the `opposite side of said wall, which in turn will cause the outer ends of the nipples 2I to be'forc'ed into sealing contact with said Wallin such a manner that any drilling fluids within the well and surrounding the said casing will not be permitted to enter the opening when the valve 25 is moved to open position. One edge of the rack 38 is providedfwith ratchet teeth 41 adapted to be engaged `by a pawl 48 carried by the casing II, said pawl being lyieldably retained in a closed position by means of an extensible kspring 48 having one end connected to the inner end of a core 50 which is pivotally connected to said pawl and operain position when the plate 31 is moved outwardly,

after which the actuating currentin the motor 'Y 48 may be shut off to preventburning out the 28; A spring 30 is provided for moving the 'core '(5 armature.

' When it is desired to release the plate 31 from the wall 36 the elcctromagnet 5I is energized by means of a conductor 52 anda switch device 58 making connection with the common return, after which the switch 46 is operated to reverse the motor shaft 42, causing the bar 38 to, be moved inwardly.v

The upper end of each of the casings I0 is provided with a check valve 54 to permit entrapped air in the casing` toj escape as the test fiuid flows therein and as the receptacle is elevated from a high pressure condition :at the bottom of the well to a lower pressure condition near its top.` The bottom of each of the casings The unit is then lowered determined by the measuring device` 58 whereit after which time linto each of the casings 6D, each of the conductors Il of electric source bymeans `of slip` rings or other V connection devices not illustrated, and which v `form no part ofthe present invention.

l The buoyancy of the `unit is such that an ordinary measuring cable is `suilicient to carry `the weight of the unit. f i

, In practical operation of the preferredform of my device the valves 25 `are normally `closed `by the spring 30 under normal atmospheric pressure.

is thought that the undesired; vein of uid might be. The switch 4i is then closed, `causing the motor shaft 42 to be operated to move the plate 31 outwardly until it engages the wall surface, after which the unit o! `receptacles is then moved in the opposite directionfcausing the nipples 2| to be sealed against adjacent wall portions. One i of thel switches ll will then be closed, causing the corresponding valve 2lA to be movedtc open position, after which fluid from the correspondof ordinary drillrods `which have tobe coupled into position' asutho device is lowered. r u

I` claimas my invention: l 1

1.4 A device adapted to be lowered interessen well by means ot a measuring cableto obtain a sample of the iluid inthe strataoi the wall of the well at a predetermined depth, comprising a receptacle having an inletopening in one 4side f near its upper endyayieldable nipplein said into the well to a depth opening having one end projecting outwardly Y from said side and adapted-to engage the adjoining sidewall of said well, power actuated means for forcing said receptacle laterallyto cause said nipple to engage saidwall andto seal said open.` ing againstdrilling tluidsja valve forsaid inlet opening, .vieldable means maintaining said" `valve in a closed'position, power actuated means Afor openingfsaid valveand remote'controlled means for each of saidl power means controlling Veach ing strata `will iiow into said receptacle, the entrapped air escaping through thecheckvalvell.

After suillcient time has elapsed for the receptacle to fill, the'switch 35 is valve 25 to be closed by the springll. This operation may be repeated for each of the other re-` ceptacles Ill until all of them have been filled,

the pawl 48 is released by energizing the magnet il after which the motor shaft 42 is reversed, causing the plate 31 to move inwardly and the pressure against the nipples 2i released. The unit may then be elevated to the ground surface and the tests examined inthe manner before described.

In the modied form illustratedinFigs. 6 to 10, inclusive, the unit is formed of a' series o! receptacles Illa similar to the receptacles l0 described in my preferred form. and a motor unit lla in place of the motor unit 4I I, which is of the same construction, the main diierence in the umts I0 and Ina being that instead of the automatic check valve Il, a magnetically operated valve 6| is provided for closing a `port 82 entering an evacuatedtube 63, which tube may be cast Illa 'and l la, the upper end of the tube 63 being provided with a iiexible tube 64, the upper end of which leads to a vacuum pump G5 on the ground surface and operated by means of a suitable motor 66. Each` of the valves 6|` is mountedon a bell crank lever 81 yieldably moved to a closed position by means of a spring E8, a core 69 of an electromagnet 10 being` provided for releasing the valve 6| when the said electromagnet is energized, each of the magnets 'l0 being provided with a conductor 'H leading to a switch device l2. By this arrangement, after the valve 25a has been opened, the valve 6| will opened, permitting the r, said opening,

of said power means' independently.

2. A. device adapted 'of thewall` o! the well, `comprising` arreceptacle Ahaving an inlet opening in onesid'e, a valve"` for said inlet opening, power meansfor openingand closing said valve, a yieldable nipplegin said opening having one-end 4projecting, outwardlyifrom said side. a pressure plate adjacent to the opposite side of y ing, .mounted to move toward and from said receptacle, and power4 means for actuating said plate to move it outwardly, whereby the plate side of a well and force the receptacle in the opposite direction, causing will engage the adjacent 'oi the wall ofthe well, comprising a receptacle having an inlet opening in one side, a valve for ing said valve, a yleldable nipple in said opening having'gone end projecting outwardly from said side, a pressure plate adjacent to theopposite side of said receptacle from said, inlet opening,

mounted to move toward and from said receptacle, power means for `actuating said plate to move it outwardly, whereby'r the plate will engage the adjacent side of a well and force the receptacle in the opposite direction, causing the outer end o I said nippleflto engage a portion of the wall o! said well and =-Seal said opening against drilling iluids entering they same, means for locking saidplate in'its outer position of movement, power means Vfor releasing said locking means, and realso be opened permitting the chamber to be mote means for controlling means independently.

'4L In a. device of the class described,` a series of fluid receptacles and a motor casing bound together to form a unitary unit, means for supporting said unit and lowering it into a.. deep all of said power well, each receptacle having an inlet opening,4 a

rotary valve for each of saidinlet openings, each of said receptacles having means for sealing its `corresponding inlet opening tothe side of the wall of a well, remote power operated means for controlling and operating said rotary valve to' vopen and closed positions, a pressure plate inovably supported: on the unit, a motor within said motor casing, means actuated by said motor` for moving said plate toward'and away irom said rep tobelovieredfintojafdeep well to obtain a" sample -of the `iluid 'inthe strata said' receptacle fromsaid inlet openopening same, and

power means for openingfand clos-4 ceptacle. and remote'means for controlling saidy motor whereby the pressure plate may be. moved away from the unit and against the side of the in the opposite direction to cause all of said sealing means to engage theadjacent Wall surface.

5. In a device of theclass described, a series'of uid receptacles and a motor casing bound together toV form a unitary unit,- a measuring cable, for supporting said unit, andlowering it into a deep well, each receptacle having an inlet opening, a valve for each of said inlet openings, each of said receptacles having means for sealing its corresponding inlet opening to the side of the wall of a well,` remote power operated means for controlling and operating said inlet opening valve to open and closed positions, a pressure plate movably supported on said unit, a motor within said motor casing, means actuated by said motor for moving said plate toward and away from said unit, and remote means for controlling said motor, said pressure plate on movement away from said unit, engaglns the side oi'the wall of a well and moving said unit in the opposite direction to engage all of said sealing means with the adjacent wall surface.

6. A device adapted to be lowered into a deep well to obtain a. sample of the fluid in the strata of the Wall of the well, comprising a receptacle having an inlet opening in one side near its upper end, a yieldable nipple in said inlet opening havling one end projecting outwardly from said side,

power actuated means for forcing said receptacle laterally to cause said nipple to engage said wall and to seal said inlet opening against entrance thereinto of drilling fluids, a valve for said inlet opening, power actuated means for opening and closing said inlet opening valve, and remote controlled means for independently controlling each of said power means.

'7. In a device adapted tobe lowered into a'deep Wellto obtain a sample of the iluid in the strata oi the wall of the well comprising a receptacle having an outlet opening and an inlet opening, a check valve for'closing said outlet opening against fluid entering said receptacle, a rotary valve for said inlet opening, a lever for actuating said rotary valve, an electric solenoid within said receptacle, a core for said solenoid, means operatively connecting said core to said lever, yieldable means for moving the core in one direction to close lsaid rotary valve, and an electric circuit for energizing said solenoid to open said rotary valve against the pressure of said yieldable means, said circuit including a switch device above the ground surface for controllingthe energization of said solenoid.

MONT C. JOHNSON.

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