Apparatus for causing an impact force on the interior of a well pipe

Claim 1

An apparatus for compacting material in the annular space exteriorly of a casing positioned in a well bore at a desired location remote from the surface, comprising a drill pipe extending from the surface to the desired remote location of the casing, an impact device for connecting to said drill pipe and having means for engaging the interior of the casing and repeatedly imparting a physical striking force to the casing upon a predetermined movement of the device by the drill pipe, said means including spring biasing means for mechanically storing energy upon said predetermined movement and means for releasing said energy to cause said physical striking force, said impact device being mounted on said drill pipe at a position within said casing at said desired remote location and operable by said predetermied drill pipe movement for causing vibration of the casing an compaction of the surrounding material.

Claim 2

An apparatus for compacting material in the annular space exteriorly of a casing positioned in a well bore at a desired location remote from the surface, comprising a drill pipe extending from the surface to the desired remote location of the casing, an impact device for connecting to said drill pipe and having means for engaging the interior of the casing and repeatedly imparting a physical striking force to the casing upon a predetermined movement of the device by the drill pipe, said means including spring biasing means for mechanically storing energy upon said predetermined movement and means for releasing said energy to cause said physical striking force, said impact device being mounted on said drill pipe at a position within said casing at said desired remote location and operable by said predetermied drill pipe movement for causing vibration of the casing an compaction of the surrounding material.

Claim 7

An apparatus for compacting material in the annulus exteriorly of a casing in a well bore at a remote depth through the use of a drill pipe, comprising: an assembly mounted on the drill pipe for positioning in the casing and including an impact member movable relative to the drill pipe, spring biasing means engaging and urging said impact member in a given direction of movement relative to the drill pipe, and said impact member including a release mechanism operable for allowing said impact member to be urged by said spring biasing means in said given direction and impart an impact force on the casing; and said assembly operable by manipulation of the drill pipe from the well surface for sequentially stressing saId spring biasing means in a direction to urge said impact member in said given direction, operating said release mechanism to produce said impact force on the casing, and then repeating the sequence upon continued manipulation of the drill pipe.

Claim 8

An apparatus for compacting material in the annulus exteriorly of a casing in a well bore at a remote depth through the use of a drill pipe, comprising: an assembly mounted on the drill pipe for positioning in the casing and including an impact member movable relative to the drill pipe, spring biasing means engaging and urging said impact member in a given direction of movement relative to the drill pipe, and said impact member including a release mechanism operable for allowing said impact member to be urged by said spring biasing means in said given direction and impart an impact force on the casing; and said assembly operable by manipulation of the drill pipe from the well surface for sequentially stressing saId spring biasing means in a direction to urge said impact member in said given direction, operating said release mechanism to produce said impact force on the casing, and then repeating the sequence upon continued manipulation of the drill pipe.

Claim 11

An apparatus for compacting granular material in the annulus exteriorly of a slotted liner in a well bore at a remote depth through the use of a drill pipe extending into a substantial portion of the liner comprising: a plurality of tubular mandrels mounted in spaced relation in the drill pipe for positioning in the liner, a collar rotatably mounted on each tubular mandrel and means limiting the axial movement of the collar relative to the drill pipe, a coil torsion spring encircling each said tubular mandrel and having two ends joined respectively to said mandrel and collar for resilient movement of said collar relative to the drill pipe, and a releaseable latch mechanism mounted on each said collar for engaging the slots of the liner and operable for causing said collar to be held against rotation upon rotation of the drill pipe to thereby stress said torsion spring with said latch mechanism releaseable upon predetermined stressing of said spring to rapidly rotate said collar and impart a vibrational and impact forces on the casing; and each assembly of mandrel, collar, spring and latch mechanism being independently operable by the rotation of the drill pipe from the well surface for sequentially holding said collar against rotation, stressing said spring to urge said collar in a given direction, and operating said release mechanism to produce said rapid rotation and impact forces on the liner, and repeating the sequence upon continued rotation of the drill pipe.

Claim 12

An apparatus for compacting granular material in the annulus exteriorly of a slotted liner in a well bore at a remote depth through the use of a drill pipe extending into a substantial portion of the liner comprising: a plurality of tubular mandrels mounted in spaced relation in the drill pipe for positioning in the liner, a collar rotatably mounted on each tubular mandrel and means limiting the axial movement of the collar relative to the drill pipe, a coil torsion spring encircling each said tubular mandrel and having two ends joined respectively to said mandrel and collar for resilient movement of said collar relative to the drill pipe, and a releaseable latch mechanism mounted on each said collar for engaging the slots of the liner and operable for causing said collar to be held against rotation upon rotation of the drill pipe to thereby stress said torsion spring with said latch mechanism releaseable upon predetermined stressing of said spring to rapidly rotate said collar and impart a vibrational and impact forces on the casing; and each assembly of mandrel, collar, spring and latch mechanism being independently operable by the rotation of the drill pipe from the well surface for sequentially holding said collar against rotation, stressing said spring to urge said collar in a given direction, and operating said release mechanism to produce said rapid rotation and impact forces on the liner, and repeating the sequence upon continued rotation of the drill pipe.