Jarring and bumping tool for use in oilfield drilling strings

Abstract

A single tool, having a bumper free-stroke chamber and jar free-stroke chamber spaced apart by the usual reduced-diameter barrel section, is provided. The tool carries impact faces and is adapted to selectively jar upwardly or bump downwardly.

What is claimed is: .Iaddend. 
     
       1. A hydraulic tool for use in a drill string, which comprises: telescopically arranged tubular parts comprising an outer barrel and an inner mandrel received in the barrel in spaced relationship therewith so that an annular space is defined therebetween, said mandrel being longitudinally movable between a collapsed bumping position and an extended jarring position;   a spline assembly comprising a tubular male spline member connected at its lower end to the upper end of the mandrel, said member having means at its upper end for threadably connecting it into a drill string, and a female spline member slidably receiving the male spline member and connected at its lower end to the upper end of the barrel, said female spline member having ports in the lower end of its wall to permit the escape of material trapped between the spline members;   said spline members having interlocking splines which lock them together with reference to rotational movement but permit of relative longitudinal movement;   fixed upper and floating lower packing elements sealing off the ends of the annular space to form a chamber for retaining a body of operating liquid;   a .[.bumper.]. .Iadd.bottom .Iaddend.sub connected at its upper end to the lower end of the barrel and adapted to be connected into the drill string at its lower end, said sub having a counterbore to accommodate the lower end of the mandrel when it is in the collapsed bumping position;   said barrel having a floating packing section, a bumper free-stroke section of relatively large effective inside diameter, a valve-fitting section of relatively reduced inside diameter, and a jar free-stroke section of relatively large effective inside diameter, said bumper free-stroke section being of substantially greater length than the jar free-stroke section, said bumper free-stroke and jar free-stroke sections combining with the mandrel to define a bumper chamber and a jar chamber respectively;   stop means, protruding inwardly from the barrel wall at the upper end of the floating packing section, adapted to limit upward movement of the floating lower packing element;   valve means carried by one or both of the parts and comprising, when passing through the valve-fitting section,   first duct means, connecting the chambers, through which operating liquid may relatively slowly pass,   second duct means connecting the chambers,   and means arranged to close the second duct means when the valve means is passing through the valve-fitting section toward the jar chamber,   said second duct means being sized to permit operating liquid to pass from the bumper chamber to the jar chamber, as the valve means is passing through the valve-fitting section toward the bumper chamber, at a sufficiently rapid rate whereby the mandrel may move freely through the valve-fitting section;   said bumper chamber and jar chamber being adapted, due to their relatively large effective inside diameter to permit operating liquid to quickly bypass around the valve means when it is passing therethrough; and   impact faces, carried by the tubular parts, arranged to contact to limit the movement of the tubular parts to the collapsed bumping position and extended jarring position.   
     
     
       2. The tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein: the packing element at the end of the bumper chamber comprises an elongate, annular body carrying sealing means on its inner and outer faces adjacent each end thereof;   said element being mounted on said mandrel and being adapted to be moved axially thereon in response to pressure within the drill string, said sealing rings providing a pressure tight seal between the body and the adjacent inner surfaces of the mandrel and barrel.   
     
     
       3. The tool as set forth in claim 2 wherein the valve means comprises: a slide base, comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending flat areas formed on the exterior surface of the mandrel,   outwardly protruding stop means at the upper end of the slide base,   an annular seat at the lower end of the slide base, and   a substantially cylindrical sleeve slidably mounted on the slide base between the stop means and seat, the outside surface of the sleeve combining with the inside surface of the valve-fitting section to define a peripheral passage which is the first duct means,   said sleeve having a transverse opening at its stop means end and a face on the end directed toward the seat for cooperating therewith to provide liquid tight closure when the valve means is moving through the valve-fitting section toward the jar chamber,   said sleeve combining with the slide base to define the secondary duct means,   said sleeve being adapted, when drawn upwardly through the valve-fitting section, to rest on the annular seat, thereby closing the bumper chamber end of the second duct means, said sleeve, since it is axially shiftable, being adapted to be forced upwardly by fluid pressure created in the bumper chamber when the sleeve enters the upper end of the valve-fitting section, thereby opening the second duct means to allow operating liquid to by-pass from the bumper chamber to the jar chamber.   
     
     
       4. The tool as set forth in claim 3 wherein: the barrel wall defines at least one threaded opening at the upper end of the floating packing section; and   the stop means comprises a threaded pin screwed into the barrel opening so as to protrude inwardly from the barrel wall.   
     
     
       5. The tool as set forth in claim 3 wherein: the female spline member ports are downwardly slanted; and   the upper end of the barrel is inwardly tapered to provide slides leading into the ports.   
     
     
       6. The tool as set forth in claim 3 wherein: the upper end of the barrel comprises a pin having a thick shoulder portion and a thin threaded portion;   a seal ring is mounted in the interior surface of the shoulder portion to provide a pressure-tight seal across the narrow annular space between the mandrel and barrel pin;   a lubricant is contained in the narrow annular space; and   a wiper ring is mounted in the interior surface of the threaded portion, said wiper ring being adapted to permit of the transmittal of pressure thereacross but being capable of retaining lubricant therebeneath.   
     
     
       7. A hydraulic tool for use in a drill string, which comprises: telescopically arranged tubular parts comprising an outer barrel .Iadd.means .Iaddend.and an inner mandrel received in the barrel .Iadd.means .Iaddend.in spaced relationship therewith so that liquid-holding space is defined therebetween said barrel .Iadd.means .Iaddend.and mandrel being movable longitudinally relative to each other between a collapsed bumping position and an extended jarring position;   packing elements sealing off the ends of the liquid holding space so that it is adapted to retain a body of operating liquid;   male spline and female spline means connecting the mandrel and barrel .Iadd.means .Iaddend.and adapted to prevent relative rotational movement of the parts but permit of relative longitudinal movement thereof, said male spline means and the mandrel forming a first unit, said female spline means and the barrel .Iadd.means .Iaddend.forming a second unit;   means associated with the tubular parts for operatively connecting them into a drill string;   said barrel .Iadd.means .Iaddend.having a bumper free-stroke section of relatively large effective inside diameter, a valve-fitting section of relatively reduced inside diameter, and a jar free-stroke section of relatively large effective inside diameter, said bumper free-stroke section being of substantially greater length than the jar free-stroke section, said bumper free-stroke and jar free-stroke sections combining with the mandrel to define a bumper chamber and a jar chamber respectively;   valve means carried by at least one of the parts and comprising, when passing through the valve-fitting section,   first duct means, connecting the chambers, through which operating liquid may relatively slowly pass,   second duct means connecting the chambers, and means arranged to close the second duct means when the valve means is passing through the valve-fitting section toward the jar chamber,   said second duct means being sized to permit operating liquid to pass from the bumper chamber to the jar chamber, as the valve means is passing through the valve-fitting section toward the bumper chamber, at a relatively rapid rate;   said bumper chamber and jar chamber being adapted, due to their relatively large effective inside diameter, to permit operating liquid to quickly bypass around the valve means when it is passing therethrough; and   a pair of first impact faces, one such impact face being carried by each unit and arranged to contact each other to limit the longitudinal movement of the units relative to each other to the extended, jarring position; and   a pair of second impact faces, one such second impact face being carried by each unit and arranged to contact each other to limit the longitudinal movement of the units relative to each other to the collapsed bumping position.   
     
     
       8. The tool as set forth in claim 7 wherein the valve means comprises: a slide base, comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending flat areas formed on the exterior surface of the mandrel,   outwardly protruding stop means at the upper end of the slide base,   an annular seat at the lower end of the slide base, and   a substantially cylindrical sleeve slidably mounted on the slide base between the stop means and seat, the outside surface of the sleeve combining with the inside surface of the valve-fitting section to define a passage which is the first duct means,   said sleeve having a transverse opening at its stop means end and a face on the end directed toward the seat for cooperating therewith to provide liquid tight closure when the valve means is moving through the valve-fitting section toward the jar chamber,   said sleeve combining with the slide base to define the second duct means,   said sleeve being adapted, when drawn upwardly through the valve-fitting section, to rest on the annular seat, thereby closing the bumper chamber end of the second duct means, said sleeve, since it is axially shiftable, being adapted to be forced upwardly by fluid pressure created in the bumper chamber when the sleeve enters the upper end of the valve-fitting section, thereby opening the second duct means to allow operating liquid to bypass from the bumper chamber to the jar chamber.   
     
     
       9. The tool as set forth in claim 8 wherein: the valve-fitting section has at least one longitudinal groove extending from the bumper chamber part way to the jar chamber.   
     
     
       10. The tool as set forth in claim 8 wherein: the valve-fitting section is longer than the sleeve and is formed with at least one longitudinal groove extending from the bumper chamber toward the jar chamber, said groove having a length substantially equal to the length of the sleeve.   
     
     
       11. The tool as set forth in claim 9 wherein: the packing element at the end of the bumper chamber is movable responsive to pressure in the drill pipe.   
     
     
       12. The tool as set forth in claim 9 wherein: the packing element at the end of the bumper chamber comprises an elongate annular body carrying sealing means on its inner and outer faces adjacent each end thereof,   said element being mounted on said mandrel and being adapted to be moved axially thereon in response to pressure within the drill string, said sealing rings providing a pressure tight seal between the body and the adjacent inner surfaces of the mandrel and barrel .Iadd.means.Iaddend..   
     
     
       13. The tool as set forth in claim 9 wherein: said connecting means includes a male spline member connected to the mandrel and a female spline member connected to the barrel .Iadd.means.Iaddend., said male spline member being slidably received in said female spline member, said female spline member having downward slanted ports formed in its wall adjacent its connection with the barrel .Iadd.means.Iaddend., said barrel .Iadd.means .Iaddend.having a tapered upper end adapted to provide a slide leading into the ports.   
     
     
       14. The tool as set forth in claim 13 wherein: the annular sleeve is tapered at its upper end so that it is self-aligning on entering the valve-fitting section.   
     
     
       15. A hydraulic tool for use in a drill string, which comprises: telescopically arranged tubular parts comprising outer barrel means and inner mandrel .[.means.]. received in the barrel means in spaced relationship therewith so that liquid-holding space is defined therebetween, said barrel means and mandrel .[.means.]. being movable longitudinally relative to each other between a collapsed bumping position and an extended jarring position;   upper and lower packing elements sealing off the ends of the liquid-holding space so that it is adapted to retain a body of operating liquid;   means connecting the barrel means and mandrel .[.means.]. to prevent relative rotational movement of the parts but permit of relative longitudinal movement thereof;   means at each end of the tool for threadably connecting it into the drill string;   valve means carried by the mandrel .[.means.].;   said barrel means comprising a bumper free-stroke section which, when the valve means is positioned therein, provides a passage whereby operating liquid can bypass said valve means, a valve-fitting section, and a jar free-stroke section which, when the valve means is positioned therein, provides a passageway whereby operating liquid can bypass said valve means, said bumper free-stroke section being of substantially greater length than the jar free-stroke section, said bumper free-stroke and jar free-stroke sections combining with the mandrel to define a bumper chamber and a jar chamber respectively;   said valve means comprising, when passing through the valve-fitting section,   first duct means, connecting the chambers, through which operating liquid may relatively slowly pass,   second duct means connecting the chambers,   and means for closing the second duct means when the valve means is passing through the valve-fitting section toward the jar chamber,   said second duct means being sized to permit operating liquid to pass from the bumper chamber to the jar chamber, as the valve means is passing through the valve-fitting section toward the bumper chamber, at a sufficiently rapid rate whereby the mandrel may move freely through the valve-fitting section; and   impact faces, carried by the tubular parts or the connecting means, arranged to contact to limit the longitudinal movement of the parts relative to each other in either direction. .Iadd. 16. A hydraulic tool for use in a drill string which comprises:   telescopically arranged tubular parts comprising an outer barrel means and an inner mandrel slidably received in the barrel means in spaced relationship therewith between its ends so that liquid-holding space is defined therebetween, said barrel means and mandrel being movable longitudinally relative to each other between a collapsed bumping position and an extended jarring position;   upper and lower packing elements sealing off the ends of the liquid-holding space so that it is adapted to retain a body of operating liquid;   first and second means connecting the mandrel and barrel means and preventing relative rotational movement of the parts but permitting relative longitudinal movement thereof, said first means and the mandrel forming a first unit, said second means and the barrel means forming a second unit;   means at each end of the tool for threadably connecting it into the drill string;   said barrel means having a bumper free-stroke section, a valve-fitting section, and a jar free-stroke section, said bumper free-stroke section and jar free-stroke section combining with the mandrel to form bumper and jar free-stroke chambers;   valve means carried by the mandrel and providing, when in the valve-fitting section,   first duct means, connecting the bumper free-stroke and jar free-stroke chambers, through which operating liquid may relatively slowly pass at a controlled rate so as to effect retardation of the relative movement of the tubular parts,   second duct means connecting the bumper free-stroke and jar free-stroke chambers,   and means arranged to close the second duct means when the valve means is passing through the valve-fitting section toward the jar free-stroke section,   said second duct means being sized to permit operating liquid to pass at a relatively rapid rate from the bumper free-stroke chamber to the jar free-stroke chamber, as the valve means is passing through the valve-fitting section toward the bumper free-stroke section;   said bumper free-stroke and jar free-stroke sections each forming a passage, when the valve means is passing therethrough, which permits operating liquid to relatively freely bypass around the valve means;   said valve-fitting section having a relatively close fit around the valve means whereby, when the valve means is passing therethrough toward the jar free-stroke section, the operating liquid is prevented from freely bypassing said valve means;   a pair of first impact faces, one such impact face being carried by each unit and arranged to contact the other to limit the longitudinal movement of the units relative to each other to the extended jarring position; and   a pair of second impact faces, one such second impact face being carried by each unit and arranged to contact the other to limit the longitudinal movement of the units relative to each other to the collapsed bumping position;   said impact faces and barrel sections being arranged to ensure that the effective jar stroke, being the distance moved by one tubular part relative to the other from the time the valve means leaves the valve-fitting section on the jarring stroke, thereby permitting relatively free bypass of operating liquid, until the impact faces limiting the jarring stroke contact, is substantially shorter than the effective bumping stroke, being the distance moved by one tubular part relative to the other from the time the valve means leaves the portion of the valve-fitting section, effective to cause retardation on the jarring stroke, until the impact faces limiting the bumping stroke contact. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. The tool as set forth in claim 16 wherein:   the valve-fitting section has at least one longitudinal groove, extending from the bumper free-stroke chamber part way to the jar free-stroke chamber, for bleeding off pressure within the jar free-stroke chamber as the valve means carried by the mandrel enters the lower end of the valve-fitting section. .Iaddend..Iadd. 18. The tool as set forth in claim 17 wherein:   the packing element at the lower end of the bumper section is slidably mounted on the mandrel and comprises   an elongate annular body,   sealing rings mounted on the body's inner and outer faces adjacent each end thereof,   said sealing rings providing a pressure tight seal between the body and the adjacent surfaces of the mandrel and barrel. .Iaddend..Iadd. 19. The tool as set forth in claim 18 wherein the valve means comprises:   a slide base, comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending flat areas formed on the exterior surface of the mandrel,   outwardly protruding stop means at the upper end of the slide base,   an annular seat at the lower end of the slide base, and   a substantially cylindrical sleeve slidably mounted on the slide base between the stop means and seat,   said sleeve having a transverse opening at its stop means end and a face on the end directed toward the seat for cooperating therewith to provide liquid tight closure when the valve means is moving through the valve-fitting section toward the jar chamber,   said sleeve combining with the slide base to define the second duct means,   said sleeve being adapted, when drawn upwardly through the valve-fitting section, to rest on the annular seat, thereby closing the bumper chamber end of the second duct means, said sleeve, since it is axially shiftable, being adapted to be forced upwardly when the sleeve enters the upper end of the valve-fitting section, thereby opening the second duct means to allow operating liquid to by-pass from the bumper chamber to the jar chamber. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20. A hydraulic tool for use in a drill string which comprises:   telescopically arranged tubular parts comprising an outer barrel means and an inner mandrel slidably received in the barrel means in spaced relationship therewith between its ends so that liquid-holding space is defined therebetween, said barrel means and mandrel being movable longitudinally relative to each other between a collapsed bumping position and an extended jarring position;   upper and lower packing elements sealing off the ends of the liquid-holding space so that it is adapted to retain a body of operating liquid;   first and second means connecting the mandrel and barrel means and preventing relative rotational movement of the parts but permitting relative longitudinal movement thereof, said first means and the mandrel forming a first unit, said second means and the barrel means forming a second unit;   means at each end of the tool for threadably connecting it into the drill string;   said barrel means having a jar free-stroke section and a bumper free-stroke section,   said sections cooperating with the mandrel to form longitudinally spaced jar free-stroke and bumper free-stroke passages for relatively rapid movement therethrough of operating liquid;   said barrel means having a first section between the passage-forming sections thereof;   a valve mechanism, portions of which are carried by each of the mandrel and first section, for forming, when the mandrel portion of the valve mechanism is positioned in the first section,   first duct means connecting the passages through which operating liquid can relatively slowly pass at a controlled rate so as to effect retardation of the relative movement of the tubular parts;   second duct means connecting the passages,   and means arranged to close the second duct means when the mandrel portion of the valve mechanism is passing through the first section toward the jar free-stroke passage,   said second duct means being sized to permit operating liquid to pass at a relatively rapid rate from the bumper free-stroke passage to the jar free-stroke passage, as the mandrel valve means portion is passing through the first section toward the bumper free-stroke passage;   a pair of first impact faces, one such impact face being carried by each unit and arranged to contact the other to limit the longitudinal movement of the units relative to each other to the extended jarring position;   a pair of second impact faces, one such second impact face being carried by each unit and arranged to contact the other to limit the longitudinal movement of the units relative to each other to the collapsed bumping position;   said impact faces and barrel sections being arranged to ensure that the effective jar stroke, being the distance moved by one tubular part relative to the other from the time the mandrel portion of the valve mechanism leaves the first section on the jarring stroke, thereby permitting relatively free bypass of operating liquid, until the impact faces limiting the jarring stroke contact, is substantially shorter than the effective bumping stroke, being the distance moved by one tubular part relative to the other from the time the mandrel portion of the valve mechanism leaves the portion of the first section, effective to cause retardation on the jarring stroke, until the impact faces limiting the   
     
     
        bumping stroke contact. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21.  The tool as set forth in claim 20 wherein: the first section has at least one longitudinal groove, extending from the bumper free-stroke section part way to the jar free-stroke section, for bleeding off pressure within the jar free-stroke passage as the valve means carried by the mandrel enters the lower end of the first section. .Iaddend..Iadd. 22. The tool as set forth in claim 21 wherein:   the packing element at the lower end of the bumper free-stroke section is slidably mounted on the mandrel and comprises   an elongate annular body,   sealing rings mounted on the body's inner and outer faces adjacent each end thereof,   said sealing rings providing a pressure tight seal between the body and the adjacent surfaces of the mandrel and barrel means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 23. The tool as set forth in claim 22 wherein the valve means comprises:   a slide base, comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending flat areas formed on the exterior surface of the mandrel,   outwardly protruding stop means at the upper end of the slide base,   an annular seat at the lower end of the slide base, and   a substantially cylindrical sleeve slidably mounted on the slide base between the stop means and seat,   said sleeve having a transverse opening at its stop means end and a face on the end directed toward the seat for cooperating therewith to provide liquid tight closure when the valve means is moving through the first section toward the jar free-stroke section,   said sleeve combining with the slide base to define the second duct means,   said sleeve being adapted, when drawn upwardly through the first section, to rest on the annular seat, thereby closing the bumper free-stroke section end of the second duct means, said sleeve, since it is axially shiftable, being adapted to be forced upwardly when the sleeve enters the upper end of the first section, thereby opening the second duct means to allow operating liquid to by-pass from the bumper free-stroke passage to the jar free-stroke passage. .Iaddend.