Quarter turn tubing anchor

Abstract

A drill string tubing anchor defines a quarter turn means for driving at least one upper cone below a slip by quarter turn rotation of a J-pin within a shaped J-slot, extending the slip from within the anchor housing against the tubing surface. The anchor also includes a shear pin within a lower cone as a secondary means to engage the slip upon shearing of the pin engaging in an emergency situation and recover of the tubing, which would require an upward movement to disengage the lower cone and this relieve the pressure on the slip to elevate the anchor from within the tubing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A quarter turn tubing anchor providing a secure stationary anchor mechanism for a tubing string within a well casing and a catcher function in the event the tubing string disengages from above, said tubing anchor comprising:
 a top cap attached to a housing by at least one cap screw at an upper coupling, said housing further defining a hollow cavity;   a bottom crossover sub attached to a body installed within said housing attaching a lower tubing string within said well bore casing, said anchor supported from said top cap from above by an upper tubing string, said housing attached to said body through a plurality of housing holes in said housing through which a plurality of housing screws secure said body and said housing together in a slidable connection, yet allowing for limited movement between said housing and said body for activation of said anchor through interaction between a J-slot within said housing and a J-pin extending from said body through said J-slot controlling said housing relative to the positioning of said housing, said body further defines a hollow cavity through which fluid passage is provided between said upper and lower tubing strings;   a plurality of drag springs attached to said housing by independent spring screws, said drag springs positioned against said casing; and   at least three lower cones independently attached to said body by a lower cone screw, said lower cones activated by movement of said J-pin within said J-slot controlling movement and positioning of each said lower cone in an upward or downward direction;   at least three upper cones independently attached to said housing by an upper cone screw, said at least three upper cones held in a fixed position; and   at least three slips defining an outer surface having a plurality of bidirectional carbide cleats, with an upper set of cleats projecting at a downward angle and a lower set of cleats projecting at an upward angle, said slips forcibly extended against said well casing at a selected position, each said slip fitted with at least one rear extension springs withdrawing each said slip into a retracted position against said body and forcibly and independently extending outward when forced to do so by outward angular pressure from said pairing of an upper cone and lower cones when said cones are moved towards one another.   
     
     
         2 . The tubing anchor as disclosed in  claim 1 , said J-slot further comprising a short vertical groove, a long vertical groove, and a short horizontal groove, with said J-pin extending from the said body through said J-slot, said short vertical groove further defining an upper end and a lower end; and said J-pin relative to said J-slot indicating the rotational and positional relationship between said body and said housing defining an insertion position, an extraction position and a set position, wherein said insertion position places said J-pin within said lower end of said short vertical groove coinciding with said at least three upper cones and said at least three lower cones exert no projections force against each respective said at least three slips, said extraction position places said J-pin within said upper end of said short vertical groove, said at least three upper cones and said at least three lower cones moved together, yet applying no outward force upon each respective said at least three slips, and said extended position places said J-pin within said long vertical groove, forcing said at least three lower cones upward, causing each said at least three slips to be forced outward beyond said housing and against said casing by said respective at least three upper cones and said at least three lower cones, locking said tubing anchor within said casing to prevent lower movement of said tubing anchor within said casing. 
     
     
         3 . The tubing anchor as disclosed in  claim 1 , said J-slot further comprising a short vertical groove, a long vertical groove, and a short horizontal groove, with said J-pin extending from the said body through said J-slot, said short vertical groove further defining an upper end and a lower end; and said J-pin relative to said J-slot indicating the rotational and positional relationship between said body and said housing defining an insertion position, an extraction position and a set position, wherein said insertion position places said J-pin within said lower end of said short vertical groove coinciding with said at least three upper cones and said at least three lower cones exert no projections force against each respective said at least three slips, said extraction position places said J-pin within said upper end of said short vertical groove, said at least three upper cones and said at least three lower cones moved together, yet applying no outward force upon each respective said at least three slips, and said extended position moving said J-pin from said short vertical groove through said short horizontal groove into said long vertical groove one quarter turn clockwise, forcing said at least three lower cones upward, causing each said at least three slips to be forced outward beyond said housing and against said casing by said respective at least three upper cones and said at least three lower cones, locking said tubing anchor within said casing to prevent lower movement of said tubing anchor within said casing, said J-pin allowed to float freely within said long vertical groove downwards when lifted and upward a when being set into position, each said at least three upper cones providing sufficient force to keep the tubing anchor in place while holding a large mass weight of tubing string below said tubing, and release of said tubing anchor from said extended position to said insertion or retraction position requiring only a slight release of tension by a downward movement and rotation of said body one quarter turn counter clockwise, moving said J-pin back into said short vertical groove. 
     
     
         4 . The tubing anchor as disclosed in  claim 1 , said tubing anchor further comprising:
 each said lower cones screw designed to shear during an emergency release situation causing said respective lower cone to drop away from said slip, allowing said slip to retract within said housing releasing said tubing anchor from said casing, with said top cap and said drag springs centralizing said body within said housing to prevent reactivation of said respective slip.   
     
     
         5 . The tubing anchor as disclosed in  claim 1 , said tubing anchor further comprising any other feature as disclosed within the specification.