U.S. patent application number 13/071267 was filed with the patent office on 2012-09-27 for multiple liner hanger assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED. Invention is credited to Alex D. Harris, Ananth Srinivasan, Todd J. Talbot.
Application Number | 20120241171 13/071267 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46876354 |
Filed Date | 2012-09-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120241171 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Srinivasan; Ananth ; et
al. |
September 27, 2012 |
Multiple Liner Hanger Assembly
Abstract
A hanger assembly provided for multiple hanging opportunities.
If liner is being run and the primary hanger doesn't work then a
backup hanger is available to set near the nonfunctional primary
hanger. In drilling with casing applications when there is a
steering equipment malfunction or an MWD breakdown or bit wear
requiring the BHA to be pulled, the liner can be hung where it is
and the BHA pulled. Upon running back in with the BHA on a running
tool the initial hanger can be released and the running tool
configured to only set a different hanger when the total depth is
reached in drilling with the liner. The running tool is then
retrieved and the completion can go on.
Inventors: |
Srinivasan; Ananth;
(Houston, TX) ; Harris; Alex D.; (Humble, TX)
; Talbot; Todd J.; (Cypress, TX) |
Assignee: |
BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
46876354 |
Appl. No.: |
13/071267 |
Filed: |
March 24, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/382 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 7/20 20130101; E21B
23/01 20130101; E21B 43/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/382 |
International
Class: |
E21B 7/20 20060101
E21B007/20; E21B 23/00 20060101 E21B023/00; E21B 23/04 20060101
E21B023/04; E21B 23/01 20060101 E21B023/01 |
Claims
1. A tubular string hanging method to an existing tubular in a
subterranean location, comprising: running in a tubular string with
at least one hanger through the existing tubular; securing said
tubular string to the surrounding tubular with said hanger at a
first location on the surrounding tubular; releasing said hanger
and further advancing said tubular string; securing said tubular
string to the surrounding tubular with said hanger at least one
alternate location.
2. The method of claim 1, comprising: setting said hanger
mechanically.
3. The method of claim 1, comprising: setting said hanger
hydraulically.
4. The method of claim 1, comprising: using a plurality of hangers
as said at least one hanger; setting a different hanger at said
first and said alternate locations.
5. The method of claim 4, comprising: setting said plurality of
hangers with different running tools.
6. The method of claim 5, comprising: configuring said running tool
that sets said hanger at said alternate location to avoid actuating
said hanger previously set at said first location by a different
running tool.
7. The method of claim 6, comprising: releasing said hanger at said
first location with said running tool that later sets another
hanger at said alternate location.
8. The method of claim 7, comprising: locking said hanger released
from said first location against resetting with said running tool
that later sets another hanger at said alternate location.
9. The method of claim 6, comprising: locating a seat in said
running tool that later sets another hanger at said alternate
location adjacent a setting port on a hanger to be set; locating
spaced isolators in said running tool that later sets another
hanger at said alternate location to span setting ports for spaced
apart hangers; dropping an object on said seat; pressuring up
against said object to set a hanger at said alternate location
while applying pressure to setting ports of said hanger previously
set at said first location in a manner that will not set said now
released hanger another time.
10. The method of claim 4, comprising: setting a plurality of
hangers at said first and alternate locations with the same running
tool.
11. The method of claim 6, comprising: locating an object on a
first seat to set a hanger at said first location; passing the
object though said first seat after setting said hanger at said
first location with pressure on said object; locating a second
object on a second seat below said first seat; setting another
hanger at an alternate location with pressure on said second
object.
12. The method of claim 11, comprising: providing said second
object as larger than said first.
13. The method of claim 4, comprising: pulling a bottom hole
assembly through said tubular string after setting said hanger at
said first location; replacing said bottom hole assembly in said
tubular string; retaining said tubular string with a running tool;
releasing said hanger at said first location; setting another
hanger with said running tool at said alternate location.
14. The method of claim 12, comprising: drilling while advancing
said tubular string with said bottom hole assembly; engaging said
hanger at said alternate location when reaching a desired location
with said drilling.
15. The method of claim 13, comprising: preventing said hanger that
is released from said first location from resetting after said
release.
16. The method of claim 14, comprising: setting said hangers
mechanically or hydraulically.
17. The method of claim 14, comprising: preventing said resetting
mechanically or hydraulically.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The field of the invention is liners and hangers that
suspend them from existing tubulars and more particularly an
assembly where a liner can be hung off an existing tubular more
than a single time and optionally at different locations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] When running a liner to hang off an existing tubular with a
line hanger, there is a risk that the hanger will malfunction. If
that happens the liner has to be run out of the hole enough to
expose the hanger so that it can be removed and repaired or
replaced. The present invention addresses that issue and allows the
liner to be hung with a backup hanger actuated from a common
running tool.
[0003] Other applications involve liner drilling where the bottom
hole assembly (BHA) has measurement while drilling (MWD) or other
steering tools and includes a bit. A malfunction of the directional
tools or bit before the liner is sufficiently advanced to be
properly hung at the intended location from the surrounding tubular
used to mean that the liner had to be pulled out of the hole to
gain access to the failed equipment. The reason for this was that
known liner hangers are built for a single deployment and if set
prematurely high while the BHA is pulled through the liner, the
hanger could not then be released and redeployed at a new lower
location when the drilling concluded. Here again the present
invention allows for an interim hanging of the liner that has not
been fully advanced to facilitate the equipment repair or
replacement followed with an ability to resume liner drilling when
the hanger is released and then hang the fully advanced liner in
the originally intended location. In the preferred embodiment a
backup liner hanger is used that can be subsequently set when the
liner is fully advanced. The original liner can also be
reconfigured to allow it to release and reset, as an option to the
embodiment described in detail below. Those skilled in the art will
better appreciate the details of the invention from the description
and associated drawings that are presented below while appreciating
that the full scope of the invention can be determined from the
appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A hanger assembly provided for multiple hanging
opportunities. If liner is being run and the primary hanger doesn't
work then a backup hanger is available to set near the
nonfunctional primary hanger. In drilling with casing applications
when there is a steering equipment malfunction or an MWD breakdown
or bit wear requiring the BHA to be pulled, the liner can be hung
where it is and the BHA pulled. Upon running back in with the BHA
on a running tool the initial hanger can be released and the
running tool configured to only set a different hanger when the
total depth is reached in drilling with the liner. The running tool
is then retrieved and the completion can go on.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIGS. 1-6 depict a prior art tool shown in the various steps
in a method involving its use;
[0006] FIG. 7 is a section view of a first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0007] FIG. 7a is a running tool for the tool in FIG. 7;
[0008] FIG. 8 is an alternative embodiment to FIG. 7;
[0009] FIG. 8a is the running tool for FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a known liner hanger 10 that has spaced
ports 12 and 14 that lead to identical and opposed pistons (not
shown) so that internal pressure in the passage 16 that
communicates with both ports 12 and 14 at the same time will not
result in movement of the slips 18 to hang the liner 10. A running
tool 20 shown in FIG. 2 allows the slips 18 to be set. The running
tool has spaced seals 22 and 24 and in between there is a lateral
port 26 and a ball seat 28 just below the port 26. When the liner
hanger slips 18 are to be set the ball seat 28 that is situated
between ports 12 and 14 on the liner hanger 10 receives a ball (not
shown) which allows pressure from above to communicate with port 12
on the hanger 10 while port 14 is isolated by the running tool
seals 30 and 32. A pressure buildup allows the slips 18 to set and
further pressure to blow the ball through the seat 28 allowing
circulation to resume after the running tool 20 is removed with the
pressure balanced on the opposed pistons that communicate with the
passage 16.
[0011] The method is illustrated with FIGS. 3-6. In FIG. 3 the seat
has no ball in it and circulation flow represented by arrows 36 is
possible. Pressure goes out port 26 but pressure is applied to
oppositely disposed actuating pistons so that neither of them can
be actuated. In FIG. 4 a ball 38 lands on the seat 28 and pressure
is applied through passage 26 that now can only reach port 12 and
move the piston associated with that port to set the slips 18 and
hang the liner 10. Further pressure as in FIG. 5 shifts a sleeve 40
in the ball seat assembly and the ball 38 is blown through the seat
28 by extruding it through so that circulation can be regained.
[0012] The present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. A
primary hanger 50 is mounted preferably above a secondary hanger
52. The initial running tool 54 is similar to that described above.
The liner assembly is represented schematically as 56. It can be a
liner being run in for hanging or it can be a liner used in liner
drilling that has a removable BHA. If the liner 56 is run in or
drilled in without incident, then the primary hanger 50 is actuated
with the hanger 20 in the manner described above. If the hanger 50
fails to set or has been initially set due to a problem with
advancing the liner assembly to the desired depth, then the
secondary hanger 52 is set with a running tool 58 shown in FIG. 8a.
The difference between the running tools 54 and 58 is the
positioning of the ball seat 28 and 28' with respect to the upper
packoff 22 or 22'. Similarly port 26' is lower in the running tool
58 than port 26 is in running tool 54.
[0013] One variation of the method is to run in with running tool
54 and if the liner assembly fully advances or is fully drilled in
then a ball is dropped on seat 28 and the primary hanger 50 is set
and the running tool 54 is pulled out. On the other hand if the
liner assembly 56 fails to be drilled in to total depth and the BHA
has to come out through the liner assembly 56, then the running
tool 54 can set the primary hanger 50 wherever it is when drilling
progress stops and the running tool 54 can retrieve the BHA through
the liner assembly 56. A repaired or replacement BHA is run in with
running tool 58 and secured to the liner in a known way. With the
liner assembly 56 now supported on the running tool 58 and the BHA
latched in position, the primary liner hanger is released with the
running tool 58 by breaking a shear connection in a known way and
liner drilling can commence to total depth. At total depth, the
running tool 58 is now in position so that the actuation ports for
hanger 50 are exposed to pressure in opposed directions so that
when a ball hits seat 28' the only hanger getting pressure to one
of its two opposed pistons is hanger 52 which is now set at the
originally intended location at the lower end of the surrounding
tubular.
[0014] Other variations are envisioned. If liner is simply being
run into an already drilled bore the running tool 58 can be used
initially with two spaced apart ball seats 28' that are each just
below a lateral port 26' associated with each seat. The higher seat
28' accepts a smaller ball that can set the primary hanger 50 and
then get blown through both seats 28'. If the primary hanger fails
then a bigger ball passes through the blown smaller upper ball seat
28' and lands on the intact lower ball seat 28'. The original ball
having gone through the lower seat earlier without deforming the
lower seat 28' allows the second ball to land on the lower seat and
set the secondary hanger 52.
[0015] In a liner drilling application the BHA has to come out so
that it is easy enough to replace the initial running tool 54 with
the extended reach running tool 58 for delivering the replacement
BHA and setting releasing the primary hanger and after drilling is
done setting the secondary hanger 52. A variation on this method is
to again run in with a variation of the running tool 54 that allows
it to accomplish two tasks. One is to retain the liner assembly 56
while releasing the primary hanger 50 after the replacement BHA is
latched. However the release function for the initial hanger 50 can
embody a lockout that keeps its slips 18 retracted such as a body
lock ring that activates after a shear release that undermines the
grip of the slips 18 of the primary hanger 50. Now the modified
version of the running tool 54 can be used in a similar manner that
it was used to set the primary hanger 50 to set the secondary
hanger 52. In this variation a single running tool can be used to
actuate the primary and secondary hangers and for release and
locking out of the primary hanger.
[0016] Another alternative would be to go in with single hanger but
to configure it to be set, released and still be reset later at a
different location. Doing the procedure this way allows the use of
a single hanger that can be set at multiple locations such as might
be needed if the BHA has to be pulled before liner drilling
operations reach total depth. While two hangers are discussed
options for use of more than two hangers are also contemplated.
[0017] The above description is illustrative of the preferred
embodiment and many modifications may be made by those skilled in
the art without departing from the invention whose scope is to be
determined from the literal and equivalent scope of the claims
below.
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