U.S. patent application number 11/548674 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-31 for hanger flange for hanging a tubular body in a well.
This patent application is currently assigned to 1128971 ALBERTA LTD.. Invention is credited to Mehtab S. Khehra, Irvin M. Slager.
Application Number | 20080023191 11/548674 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37451504 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080023191 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Khehra; Mehtab S. ; et
al. |
January 31, 2008 |
HANGER FLANGE FOR HANGING A TUBULAR BODY IN A WELL
Abstract
A hanger flange includes an annular body having a
circumferential inner surface defining a central passage and a
circumferential outer surface. Ram alignment apertures are provided
within the body spaced radially about the passage. Each of the
apertures has a first portion with a non-circular first
cross-sectional dimension extending radially outwardly from the
inner surface and a second portion with a second cross-sectional
dimension extending radially inwardly from the outer surface. A ram
is positioned in each of the apertures. Each ram has a first
portion having a first cross-sectional dimension corresponding with
the first cross-sectional dimension of the apertures, and a second
portion having a second cross-section dimension corresponding with
the second cross-sectional dimension of the apertures. The
engagement between the non-circular first cross-sectional dimension
of each aperture and the corresponding non-circular first
cross-sectional dimension of each ram prevents relative axial
rotation and maintains each ram in alignment.
Inventors: |
Khehra; Mehtab S.;
(Edmonton, CA) ; Slager; Irvin M.; (Tulum,
MX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHRISTENSEN, O'CONNOR, JOHNSON, KINDNESS, PLLC
1420 FIFTH AVENUE, SUITE 2800
SEATTLE
WA
98101-2347
US
|
Assignee: |
1128971 ALBERTA LTD.
Edmonton
CA
|
Family ID: |
37451504 |
Appl. No.: |
11/548674 |
Filed: |
October 11, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/75.14 ;
166/208 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 33/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/75.14 ;
166/208 |
International
Class: |
E21B 23/00 20060101
E21B023/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 25, 2006 |
CA |
2554659 |
Claims
1. A hanger flange for hanging a tubular body in a well,
comprising: an annular body having a circumferential inner surface
defining a central passage and a circumferential outer surface;
means for mounting the body on a well; ram alignment apertures
within the body, spaced radially about the central passage and
extending from the inner surface to the outer surface, each of the
ram alignment apertures having a first portion with a non-circular
first cross-sectional dimension extending radially outwardly from
the inner surface and a second portion with a second
cross-sectional dimension extending radially inwardly from the
outer surface; a ram positioned in each of the ram alignment
apertures, each ram having a first end, a second end, an engagement
face at the first end of the ram adapted to engage a tubular body
positioned in the central passage, each ram having a first portion
extending from the first end toward the second end having a
non-circular first cross-sectional dimension corresponding with the
non-circular first cross-sectional dimension of the ram alignment
apertures and a second portion extending from the second end toward
the first end having a second cross-section dimension corresponding
with the second cross-sectional dimension of the ram alignment
apertures, whereby the engagement between the non-circular first
cross-sectional dimension of each ram alignment aperture and the
corresponding non-circular first cross-sectional dimension of each
ram prevents relative axial rotation and maintains each ram in
alignment; and means for extending and retracting each ram.
2. The hanger flange of claim 1, wherein the means for extending
and retracting each ram is a screw actuator.
3. The hanger flange of claim 1, wherein the means for extending
and retracting each ram is a hydraulic actuator.
4. The hanger flange of claim 1, wherein the first cross-sectional
dimension of the ram alignment apertures has at least one flat
portion rendering such cross-sectional dimension non-circular and
the first cross-sectional dimension of each ram has at least one
corresponding flat portion adapted to accommodate the at least one
flat portion to prevent relative rotation.
5. The hanger flange of claim 1, wherein one of the first
cross-sectional dimension of the ram alignment apertures or the
first cross-sectional dimension of each ram having at least one key
rendering such cross-sectional dimension non-circular and another
of the first cross-sectional dimension of the ram alignment
apertures or the first cross-sectional dimension of each ram having
a corresponding keyway adapted to accommodate the key to prevent
relative rotation.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present application relates to a hanger flange for
hanging a tubular body in a well, of the type that has extendible
rams.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Hanger flanges that have extendible rams frequently use
alignment pins to align the rains. Sealing these alignment pins can
be very difficult and the alignment pins occasionally become
sheared off, rendering the hanger flange inoperable.
SUMMARY
[0003] There is provided a hanger flange including an annular body
an annular body having a circumferential inner surface defining a
central passage and a circumferential outer surface. Ram alignment
apertures are provided within the body spaced radially about the
passage. Each of the apertures has a first portion with a
non-circular first cross-sectional dimension extending radially
outwardly from the inner surface and a second portion with a second
cross-sectional dimension extending radially inwardly from the
outer surface. A ram is positioned in each of the apertures. Each
ram has a first portion having a first cross-sectional dimension
corresponding with the first cross-sectional dimension of the
apertures, and a second portion having a second cross-section
dimension corresponding with the second cross-sectional dimension
of the apertures. The engagement between the non-circular first
cross-sectional dimension of each aperture and the corresponding
non-circular first cross-sectional dimension of each ram prevents
relative axial rotation and maintaining each ram in alignment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] These and other features will become more apparent from the
following description in which reference is made to the appended
drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and
are not intended to be in any way limiting, wherein:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a hanger flange.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the body of a hanger
flange.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a side plan view in section of the body of the
hanger flange of FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a ram.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a detailed side plan view of an alternative ram in
a ram alignment aperture.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] A hanger flange for hanging a tubular body in a well,
generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described
with reference to FIG. 1 through 5.
[0011] Structure and Relationship of Parts:
[0012] Referring to FIG. 2, hanger flange 10 includes an annular
body 12 having a circumferential inner surface 14 defining a
central passage 16 and a circumferential outer surface 18.
According to common practice for flanges, body 12 has holes 20
extending perpendicular to both inner surface 14 and outer surface
18, such that it can be mounted on a well. Referring to FIG. 1,
body 12 also has ram alignment apertures 22 within body 12 spaced
radially about central passage 16, and extending from inner surface
14 to outer surface 18. Referring to FIG. 3, each ram alignment
aperture 22 has a first portion 24 with a non-circular first
cross-sectional dimension 25 extending radially outwardly from
inner surface 14, and a second portion 26 with a second
cross-sectional dimension 27 extending radially inwardly from outer
surface 18. Referring to FIG. 1, a ram 28 is positioned in each ram
alignment apertures 22. Referring to FIG. 4, each ram 28 has a
first end 30, a second end 32, and an engagement face 34 at first
end 30 of ram 28 adapted to engage a tubular body (not shown)
positioned in central passage 16. Each ram 28 also has a first
portion 38 extending from first end 30 toward second end 32 and a
second portion 40 extending from second end 32 toward first end 30.
First portion 38 has a non-circular first cross-sectional dimension
39 corresponding with non-circular first cross-sectional dimension
25 of ram alignment apertures 22, and second portion 40 has a
second cross-sectional dimension 41 corresponding with second
cross-sectional dimension 27 of ram alignment apertures 22. Thus,
the engagement between non-circular first cross-sectional dimension
25 of each ram alignment aperture 22 and the corresponding
non-circular first cross-sectional dimension 39 of each ram 28
prevents relative axial rotation and maintains each ram in
alignment. As shown in FIG. 3, first cross-sectional dimension 25
of ram alignment apertures 22 has flat portions 42 rendering such
cross-sectional dimension non-circular, and, referring to FIG. 4,
first cross-sectional dimension 39 of each ram 28 has corresponding
flat portions 44 adapted to accommodate flat portions 42 to prevent
relative rotation. Referring to FIG. 5, other cross-sections may be
chosen. For example, first cross-sectional dimension 39 of ram 28
may have a key 46, and first cross-sectional dimension 25 of ram
alignment aperture 22 may have a corresponding keyway 48 (or vice
versa) adapted to accommodate key 46 to prevent relative rotation.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, second cross-sectional dimensions 27
and 41 of rain alignment apertures 22 and ram 28, respectively, are
shown to be circular, but may be any convenient shape. As depicted
in FIG. 1, rains 28 are extended and retracted using a screw
actuator 50 to allow rams 28 to position the tubular body, which is
attached to body 12 using screws 52, although other means, such as
a hydraulic actuator, could also be used. Screw actuators 50 are
made up of rain screws 54 installed within packing gland followers
56, and attached to rams 28 such that the rotation of rain screws
54 does not rotate rams 28. While assembling, packing gland
followers 54 are tightened to ensure a seal between rams 28 and
body 12. Lock nuts 58 are then used to fix the position of packing
gland followers 50. If screw actuators 50 are designed to extend
into body 12 and overlap rams 28 to engage them, it may be
necessary to adjust the cross-section of either ram 28 toward
second end 32, or, as shown, the cross-section of ram alignment
aperture 22 toward outer surface 18.
[0013] Operation:
[0014] Referring to FIG. 1 body 12 is provided as described above.
Referring to FIG. 1, rams 28 are inserted into each ram alignment
apertures 22, such that non-circular first cross-sectional
dimension 39 of ram 28 is received by non-circular first
cross-sectional dimension 25 of alignment aperture 22. Ram 28 is
thus prevented from rotating. A hydraulic actuator 50 is then
installed such that it is attached to second end 32 of rain 28 to
control the position of engagement face 34. Hydraulic actuators 50
are held in place using screws 52. Once assembled, body may then be
installed on a well (not shown) using bolt holes 20, with a tubular
body extending through central passage 16. Screw actuators 50 are
activated to move rams 28 in order to correctly position the
tubular body as it travels in the well.
[0015] In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in
its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are
included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A
reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not
exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is
present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and
only one of the elements.
[0016] It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without
departing from the spirit and scope defined in the Claims.
* * * * *