TORQUE-RESISTANT, SEAL SETTING FORCE-LIMITED, HYDRAULICALLY SETTABLE WELL PACKER STRUCTURE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS

摘要

A torque-resistant hydraulically settable packer is coaxially positionable w ithin a subterranean well flow conductor and has a tubular body that carries a circu mferentially spaced series of radially outwardly movable slip anchors having, on outer si de surfaces thereof, gripping teeth with lengths that are sloped relative to the longitu dinal axis of the tubular and to a plane perpendicular. Inner side surfaces of the slip anchor s are engaged by circumferentially spaced flat outer side surface areas formed on the faci ng frustroconical ends of an opposed pair of annular setting wedge members coax ially carried by the tubular body and being axially drivable to radially outwardly shift t he slip anchors to their setting positions. As the slip anchors are being set, an annular re silient seal structure is simultaneously compressed in an axial direction against a setti ng force limiting member telescopingly received in one of the setting wedge members, and radia lly deformed outwardly into sealing engagement with the interior side surface of the well flow conductor. After the slip anchors are set, the seal structure is furthe r compressed in an axial direction by hydraulically shifting the tubular body relative to the slip anchors. If this subsequent axial compression force exerted on the seal structure is above a predetermined maximum level the setting force member is wedgingly driven int o its associated setting wedge member to limit the total axial compression force i mposed on the seal structure.