May 28, 1968

J. R. SOLUM ET AL

3,385,368

C EMENT BASKET AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING SAME

Filed Aug. 10, 1966

Afro/V514?

United States Patent 01 lice

which may be accomplished subsequent to the welding

3,385,368

and painting of the metal components to defectively and

CEMENT BASKET AND METll-ll?l) FUR

economically accomplish secure mounting of the lower

(IONSTRUCTENG SAME
?ames R. Soium, Los Angeles, and William (I. Hempcl,
Lomita, Cali?, assignors to B 8; W incorporated, Tor

end of the ?exible liner.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel

cement basket wherein the mounting collar is comprised

of a pair of concentric collars expanded with the base of

rance, Calif., a corporation of California

Filed Aug. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 571,4ti2

13 Claims. (Cl. 166-202)

the tubular liner positioned therebetween both to secure

10

A cement basket for use on a well pipe where a ?exible

frusto-conical member forms the barrier and is supported

by longitudinal staves extending from a collar assembly

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevation of one side of the

cement basket taken substantially on the line 2~2 in

FIGURE 1 through one of the staves.
FIGURE 3 is a composite sectional plan view taken

of expanding the inner collar beyond its elastic limit

to thereby tend to expand the outer collar.
20

This invention relates to a device commonly known as

a cementing or cement basket for mounting on the ex~
terior of a Well pipe and positioning in a well bore to

accomplish certain objectives. In particular the invention

relates to a novel construction for such a cement basket

and the method of accomplishing the construction.

In the completion of oil and gas wells, it is common
practice to cement a well pipe in the well bore by placing
the cement in the annular space between the well pipe 30

cementing operations the cement slurry is pumped down

the well pipe to the lowermost point and upwardly in the
annular space. In other situations, the accepted cement
ing practice is to pump the cement out through a port
collar opening in the well pipe intermediate its ends and
then upwardly in the annular space. In either of these
cementing operations it is conventional to provide one
or more cement baskets along the length of the well pipe
which allow the cement to ?ow upwardly therepast in
the annular space but prevent downward ?ow much in
the manner of the function of a check valve. For example

in the port collar cementing practice, a cement basket

would be positioned immediately below the port collar
opening in the well pipe to prevent the cement from
passing downwardly in the annular space.
Various types of cement baskets have been developed
and used for these purposes and one of the most common
types of cement baskets employs a canvas liner mounted

within ?exible staves extending upwardly and outwardly

from a mounting collar on the Well pipe. The canvas

that portion of the liner and properly size the inner collar
for ?tting the exterior of the well pipe.
Other and more detailed objects and advantages of
this invention will appear from the following description
and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the cement basket
of this invention.

and surrounding the member with the collar assembly

comprised of a pair of concentric collars having the base
of the ?exible member clamped therebetween by means

and bore to ?ll and seal such annular space. In some

Patented May 28, 1968

ABSTRACT @F THE DISCLUSURE

3,3353%

through the mounting collar illustrating the relationship

of the components before assembly in the left-hand por
tion and after assembly in the right-hand portion.
FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on
the line 4-4- of FIGURE 2 and illustrating the cross

section of each stave.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, the

cement basket of this invention is generally designated

10 and is comprised of a collar assembly 11, a plurality
of staves 12 and a ?exible tubular element or liner 13.

The collar assembly 11 is comprised of an inner collar

14 and an outer collar 15 of approximately the same axial

length and assembled in the manner hereinafter described.

The plurality of staves 12 are positioned around the cir
cumference of outer collar 15 and may be abutting one an
other or spaced circumferentially such as the slight
spacing shown. The lower ends 16 of the staves 12 are
secured to the outer collar 15 by any convenient means
such as welding 17. When welding is used to secure the
staves 12 to the collar 15 this is accomplished as one of

the ?rst assembly steps without the tubular element 13 be

ing present since such element may be ?ammable or at
least subject to damage due to the welding. Each stave 12
extends upwardly and outwardly from collar 15 where
by the aggregate of the plural staves 12 de?ne a cage with
a circle formed by their outermost portions 18 of a diam
eter approximately equal to the well bore diameter in
which the cement basket will be positioned. It is to be
noted that the staves 12 may actually be of a configura
tion for the portions 18 to tend to extend outwardly to an
even greater diameter but such will be restrained by the
tubular element 13 as will appear hereinafter. Each of the
staves 12 preferably has an upper end 19 extending up
wardly beyond the portion 18 and curved inwardly a short
distance to avoid catching on the wall of the well bore or

liner forms the ?uid tight barrier while the metal collar
and staves form the support superstructure. Inherent in
this arrangement is the problem of connecting the canvas 55
casing joints through which the cement basket is past. The
liner to the metal staves and collars in a manner which
staves are of a resilient material such as spring steel so
is both feasible in production and supports the canvas
in a destruction resistive manner. It is particularly difficult
to properly connect the lower end of the canvas liner in
production since the staves are normally welded to the
collar. This prevents prior mounting of the canvas due to
possible damage and thereafter it inhibits access to this
area for the subsequent mounting of the lower end of
the canvas liner. Another troublesome factor is that the

that the staves will ?ex inwardly but will resume their

original shape. For added beam strength each of the staves

12 are curved in cross section as shown in FEGURE 4.

This permits the use of rather thin sheet metal and in this
regard sheet steel of .078 inch thickness has been found

adequate.
The aggregate of the assembled staves 12 on the collar

assembled metal components are normally painted after 65 15 form a cage or superstructure of a generally frusto
conical shape. This assemblage may be given its ?nal
welding but it is preferred that the canvas not be painted
?nishing
coat of paint or the like since none of the subse
clue to the resultant stiffness, unsightliness and excessive
quent assembly operations wiil adversely atfect such ?nish.
paint used.

A ?exible tubular element 13 is provided as the ?uid

Accordingly it is a principal object of this invention to
provide a novel cement basket construction wherein the 70 barrier in the cement basket 10 and, as shown in the draw
ings, this element will normally be comprised of a heavy
?exible tubular liner is captured at its lower end between
canvas or the like. The canvas of tubular element 13 is
two concentric collars stressed to an assembled condition

3,385,368

sewn into a tapered tubular or frusto conical shape to ?t

components in an effective and economical manner and is

within the cage formed by the plurality of upstanding

susceptible to high production techniques. The lower end

staves 12. The upper end of tubular element 13 is pro

vided with a hem 20 sewn at 21 to increase the circum

hem portion 20 of tubular element 13 is positioned at the

outermost portions 18 of the staves 12. Each stave 12 is

of the ?exible tubular element is secured to the mounting

collar with a permanency not heretofore accomplished.
The upstanding staves provide the needed structural sup
port for the ?exible tubular element and yet do not inter
fere with the mounting of the lower end of the tubular

?xed to the tubular element 13 at the hem 20 by any con

element. Further, the ?nishing technique such as paint

ferential strength of the element and prevent tearing. The

venient means such as rivet 22 passing through preformed

ing is greatly simpli?ed by permitting the accomplishment
holes in the staves 12 and element 30. The circumference 10 thereof before installation of the canvas tubular element.
of tubular element 13 at hem 20 is approximately the cir
While a particular embodiment of this invention has been
cumference of the well bore and since the staves are con
shown and described, it is to be understood that the inven
nected to the hem 20 they are restrained in this con?gura
tion is not limited to the details shown and described but
tion as previously mentioned.
rather is of the full scope of the appended claims.
The lower end 23 of the tubular element 13 is of ap
We claim:
proximately the diameter of the collar assembly 11 and
1. In a cement basket adapted to be mounted on a well
is secured thereto in the following manner. Outer collar
pipe, the combination of, inner and outer concentric and
15 is originally formed having a diameter slightly less than
continuous collars assembled with the inner collar adapted
the ?nal diameter desired for such collar. The inner col
to ?t the well pipe, a plurality of staves mounted on said
lar 14 is originally formed to a diameter less than the
outer collar and extending outwardly and upwardly, a
desired ?nal diameter of collar 14 which must ?t the well
?exible tubular element positioned within said staves, said
pipe on which the cement basket will be used. The differ
tubular element having a lower end positioned between
ence in the respective original and ?nal diameters of the
said pair of concentric collars, and said collars both
collars is even greater for collar 14 than for collar 15.
forcea'bly stressed and strained circumferentially in the
The lower end 23 of the tubular element is positioned
same direction with one of said collars stressed beyond its
between collars 14 and 15 as shown in the left-hand por
elastic limit causing a permanent strain therein tending
tion of FIGURE 3. Collar 14 is then expanded radially
to make that one collar approach the circumferential size
to capture the tubular element lower portion 23 between
of the other collar and thereby causing circumferential
the outer surface of inner collar 14 and the inner sur
tension stress in said outer collar and compression stress
face of outer collar 15. The expansion of collar 14 is con 30 in said inner collar with such opposing stressed condition
tinued beyond the elastic limit of collar 14 and until outer
clamping the tubular element therebetween.
collar 15 has also been expanded slightly and is sub
2. The cement basket of claim 1 wherein said inner and

jected to high hoop tension thereon. The expanding forces

outer collars remain assembled solely by the opposed

are released whereupon outer collar 15 contracts about

stress forces with said inner collar tending to expand and

said outer collar tending to contract.
3. The cement basket of claim 1 wherein each said col
lar is a thin metal band and said inner collar is expanded
beyond the elastic limit of the metal to increase the nom
inal size of the inner collar and expand the outer collar.
4. The cement basket of claim 1 wherein said collars
are expanded with the tubular element therebetween and
the inner collar is stressed beyond the elastic limit there
of and causes expansion of the outer collar.
5. The cement basket of claim 1 wherein circular steel

inner collar 14 which has been permanently deformed to

a larger diameter and such hoop tension contracting forces

subject inner collar 14 to compression forces. These equal
and opposite forces between inner collar 14 and outer
collar 15 securely clamp the lower portion 23 of the tubu
lar element 13 therebetween as shown in the right-hand

portion of FIGURE 3. By preselecting the original diam

eters of collars 14 and 15, the ?nal resultant inside diame
ter of collar 14 may be sized perfectly to ?t the particu
lar size of well pipe on which it will be mounted. The

radial expansion of the collars may be accomplished by

any convenient conventional means such as expanding

mandrels comprised of plural segments of a circle forced

outwardly in an equal manner. It is to be noted that this
assembly of collar 14 and collar 15 to secure the canvas
is accomplished without welding or any other process )
which would damage the canvas of the tubular element or

require repainting of the collars 14 and 15. This completes

the cement basket 10 if the rivets 22 have been previously
installed as described.

By way of illustrative example and without intending

to limit the scope of this invention, the formation of collar

assembly 11 has been successfully accomplished by using

twelve gauge steel for the collars 14 and 15 and ?ash weld
ring these in their annular shape. For a cement basket to
?t a 51/2 inch diameter well pipe wherein the inside diame
ter of collar 14 will be slightly over 51/2 inches, it has
been found to be satisfactory to provide collar 14 with an
original diameter that will be increased by about 1/8 of an
inch in the ?nal assembly and to provide a collar 14
which is of an original outside diameter one-quarter inch
smaller than the inside diameter of collar 15. This dif
ference in size of collars 14 and 15 provides about % inch
annular gap between the collars for accommodating the
lower end 23 of the tubular element before expansion of

bands are the inner and outer collars with the outer col

hr of an original diameter slightly less than the diameter

thereof in the assembled condition and the inner collar of
an original outside diameter slightly smaller than the orig
inal inside diameter of the outer collar for accommodat
ing said tubular element, the staves are steel with an ar
cuate cross-section and welded to the outer collar, said
collars are expanded with the tubular element therebe~
tween and the inner collar is stressed beyond the elastic
limit thereof and causes expansion of the outer collar.
6. The cement basket of claim 5 wherein the tubular
element is connected at its upper end to each stave by

riveting.
7. In a cement basket adapted to be mounted on a well

pipe, the combination of, inner and outer concentric and

continuous collars assembled with the inner collar adapted
to ?t the well pipe, a plurality of staves circumferential
spaced about and mounted on said collar, said staves ex

tending outwardly and upwardly for engaging the well

bore wall and forming a cage of frustro-conical shape,

a frustro-concial tubular element of ?exible fabric posi
tioned within said staves and generally conforming to said
cage shape, said tubular element having an upper end con
nected to the outward most portions of said staves, said
tubular element having a lower end positioned between
the collars. Further this assures that a substantial expan 70 said pair of concentric collars, and said collars both force
sion of collar 14 which is required will accomplish perma
ably stressed and strained circumferentially in the same
nent deformation (expansion) of the collar by exceeding
direction with one of said collars stressed beyond its elas
the elastic limit of the material.
tic limit causing a permanent strain therein tending to
Thus it may be seen that by this construction a cement
make that one collar approach the circumeferential size
basket is formed which @Qmbines a minimum number of 75 of the other collar and thereby causing circumferential

3,385,368

direction, and forming and mounting a ?exible tubular

tension stress in said outer collar and compression stress

in said inner collar with such opposing stressed condition
for securing the tubular element between the collars and
maintaining the collars in assembly with said outer col
lar in tension encircling said inner collar and said inner

element within and to said staves and to the exterior of

the collar to form a conical barrier, the improvement in

the method comprising, forming two concentric annular

rings for comprising said collar, positioning a portion of

said ?exible tubular element between the pair of concen

tric rings, and expanding the inner of said pair of rings
8. The cement basket of claim 7 wherein each said
beyond its elastic limit to secure the element between said
collar is a thin metal band and said inner collar is ex
rings.
panded beyond the elastic limit of the metal to increase
12. The method of constructing a cement basket, com
the nominal size of the inner collar and expand the outer 10
prising, forming a pair of metal collars with one collar
collar.
smaller than the other, mounting a plurality of resilient
9. The cement basket of claim 7 wherein said collars
staves on the exterior of the larger collar to extend both
are expanded with the tubular element therebe-tween and
outwardly and longitudinally in one direction, forming
the inner collar is stressed beyond the elastic limit thereof
a ?exible tubular element to ?t within the plural staves,
and causes expansion of the outer collar.
'
positioning the lower end of said element between said
10. A cement basket adapted to be mounted on a well

collar in compression supporting said outer collar.

pipe, such cement basket including a mounting collar for

?tting the well pipe, a plurality of resilient staves mounted
on the exterior of the mounting collar and extending in

two collars, and expanding the smaller collar beyond its

an axial and outward direct-ion, and a ?exible tubular ele

ment mounted within and to said staves to form a frustro

20 between and sizing the smaller collar to ?t the well pipe

on which the cement basket is to be mounted.

elastic limit to a diameter su?icient to cause expansion

of the larger collar for clamping the tubular element there

'13. The method of claim 12 in which the smaller col

lar and assembled staves and larger collar are coated with
a ?nal surface ?nish before the step of inserting the tu
mounting collar, said ?exible tubular element having a
lower portion positioned between said inner and outer 25 bular element between the collars.

conical barrier, the improvement comprising, two concen

tric inner and outer continuous collars comprising said

collars, and said collars both forceably stressed and

References Cited
UNITED STATES PATENTS

strained circumferentially in the same direction with one

of said collars stressed beyond its elastic limit causing a

permanent strain therein tending to make that one collar

approach the circumferential size of the other collar and 30
thereby causing circumferential tension stress in said out
er collar and compression stress in said inner collar with
such opposing stressed condition for securing the tubular
element therebetween and maintaining the collars in as

sembly with said outer collar in tension encircling said 35

inner collar and said inner collar in compression support
ing said outer collar.
11. An improved method of constructing a cement bas
ket adapted to be mounted on a well pipe, which basket

is normally made by forming an annular mounting collar

for ?tting the well pipe, mounting a plurality of resilient
staves on the collar for extending in an axial and outward

1,329,762

2/1920

Guy ______________ __ 29-446

2,029,380
2,248,908
2,460,561
2,479,702
2,652,118
2,922,478

2/1936
7/1941
2/1949
8/1949
9/1953
1/1960

Manning __________ __ 16626

Phil-lips ________ __ 166154 X
Winkel-mann ____ __ 166202 X
Rood __________ __ 29523 X

2,969,839

1/1961

Greene ___________ __ 166-117

3,055,095

9/1962

Barry __________ __ 166187 X

3,140,535

7/1964

Pechacek _______ __ 29523 X

Hartman et a1. ____ __ 166202

Maly ____________ __ 166154

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

I. A. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner.