U.S. patent application number 13/710541 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-12 for adjustable hanger system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to DRIL-QUIP, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is Dril-Quip, Inc.. Invention is credited to Blake T. DeBerry, Fife B. Ellis, Donald J. Tamosaitis, Jr..
Application Number | 20140158376 13/710541 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50000571 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140158376 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ellis; Fife B. ; et
al. |
June 12, 2014 |
ADJUSTABLE HANGER SYSTEM AND METHOD
Abstract
An adjustable hanger system secures a hanger to a wellhead such
that a downward extending tubular may be tensioned at a selected
level. The wellhead includes a housing having a plurality of
axially spaced grooves, with selected grooves receiving a support
member therein. The wellhead housing also has an axially elongate
and generally cylindrical sealing surface spaced above the
plurality of grooves for sealing engagement with a seal element.
The hanger is axially movable relative to the plurality of grooves.
The hanger is supported by the support member which is radially
movable into selected ones of a plurality of grooves. A lockdown
member may also move into selected ones of the plurality of grooves
for preventing axially upward movement of the hanger relative to
the wellhead.
Inventors: |
Ellis; Fife B.; (Houston,
TX) ; DeBerry; Blake T.; (Houston, TX) ;
Tamosaitis, Jr.; Donald J.; (Houston, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dril-Quip, Inc.; |
|
|
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
DRIL-QUIP, INC.
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
50000571 |
Appl. No.: |
13/710541 |
Filed: |
December 11, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/382 ;
166/75.14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 33/04 20130101;
E21B 23/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/382 ;
166/75.14 |
International
Class: |
E21B 19/00 20060101
E21B019/00; E21B 23/00 20060101 E21B023/00 |
Claims
1. An adjustable hanger system for connecting a hanger to a
wellhead such that a tubular extending downward from the hanger is
tensioned at a selected level, and the hanger system comprising:
the wellhead including a housing having a plurality of axially
spaced grooves, each groove having a profile to receive a support
member therein, the support member carried in the well by the
hanger; the wellhead housing further including an axially elongate
and generally cylindrical sealing surface spaced axially above the
plurality of axially spaced grooves for sealing engagement of a
seal element with the cylindrical sealing surface and the hanger;
and the hanger being axially movable relative to the plurality of
grooves, the hanger supported by the support member which is
radially movable into selected ones of the plurality of axially
spaced grooves in the wellhead housing to interconnect the hanger
to the wellhead.
2. An adjustable hanger system as defined in claim 1, further
comprising: a lockdown member carried in the well on the hanger and
radially movable into one or more of the plurality of grooves for
securing the hanger to the wellhead to prevent axially upward
movement of the hanger relative to the wellhead.
3. An adjustable hanger system as defined in claim 1, wherein the
support member is biased radially inward.
4. An adjustable hanger system as defined in claim 1, wherein the
support member is movable radially outward in response to one or
more fluid pressure responsive pistons supported in the well on the
hanger.
5. An adjustable hanger system as defined in claim 1, wherein an
exterior stop surface on the hanger prevents the support member
from moving radially inward while the support member is in the
selected ones of the plurality of grooves, the exterior stop
surface moving axially from an unlocked position to a locked
position.
6. An adjustable hanger system as defined in claim 1, wherein the
support member is a substantially C-shaped member.
7. An adjustable hanger system as defined in claim 1, wherein the
seal element is sealed between the hanger and the wellhead
housing.
8. An adjustable hanger system as defined in claim 1, wherein each
of the plurality of axially spaced grooves has a common groove
configuration, and each of the plurality of axially spaced grooves
is axially spaced from an adjacent groove by a common axial
spacing.
9. An adjustable hanger system for connecting a hanger to a
wellhead such that a tubular extending downward from the hanger and
secured at a lower end in the well is tensioned at a selected
level, and the hanger system comprising: the wellhead including a
housing having a plurality of axially spaced grooves, each groove
having a profile to receive a support member therein the support
member carried in the wall by the hanger; the wellhead housing
further including an axially elongate and generally cylindrical
sealing surface spaced axially above the plurality of axially
spaced grooves for sealing engagement of a seal element with the
cylindrical sealing surface and the hanger for sealing between the
wellhead housing and the hanger; the hanger being axially movable
relative to the plurality of grooves, the hanger supporting the
support member which is radially movable into selected ones of the
plurality of axially spaced grooves in the wellhead housing to
interconnect the hanger to the wellhead; and a lockdown member
carried in the well by the hanger and radially movable into one or
more of the plurality of grooves for securing the hanger to the
wellhead to prevent axially upward movement of the hanger relative
to the wellhead.
10. An adjustable hanger system as defined in claim 9, wherein the
support member is biased radially inward.
11. An adjustable hanger system as defined in claim 9, wherein an
exterior stop surface on the hanger prevents the support member
from moving radially inward while the support member is in the
selected ones of the plurality of grooves, the exterior stop
surface moving axially from an unlocked position to a locked
position.
12. An adjustable hanger system as defined in claim 9, wherein each
of the plurality of axially spaced grooves has a common groove
configuration, and each of the plurality of axially spaced grooves
is axially spaced from an adjacent groove by a common axial
spacing.
13. An adjustable hanger system as defined in claim 9, wherein the
support member is movable radially outward in response to one or
more fluid pressure responsive pistons supported in the well on the
hanger.
14. An adjustable hanger system as defined in claim 9, wherein the
lockdown member is a substantially C-shaped member.
15. A method of adjustably connecting a hanger to a wellhead with a
tubular suspended in a well from the hanger and secured at its
lower end in the well, the method comprising: providing the
wellhead housing with a plurality of axially spaced grooves each
configured to accept a support member, the wellhead housing having
a generally cylindrical sealing surface spaced axially above the
plurality of grooves; positioning the support member on the hanger;
positioning the support member and hanger in the well on the hanger
above selected ones of the plurality of grooves; thereafter raising
or lowering the hanger in the well to achieve a selected tension
level in the tubular; moving the support member radially outward
into the selected ones of the plurality of grooves while the
tubular is at the selected tension level, thereby preventing
axially downward movement in the hanger with respect to the
wellhead; and sealing a seal with the generally cylindrical sealing
surface while the support member is within the selected ones of the
plurality of grooves.
16. A method as defined claim 15, further comprising: increasing
fluid pressure to a running tool to move the support member
radially outward into the selective ones of the plurality of
grooves.
17. A method as defined claim 15, wherein fluid pressure acts on a
plurality of pistons supported on the hanger, such that the fluid
pressure responsive pistons move the support member radially
outward.
18. A method as defined claim 15, further comprising: positioning a
lockdown member on the hanger, the lockdown member engaging one or
more of the plurality of grooves to prevent upward movement of the
hanger with respect to the wellhead housing.
19. A method as defined claim 15, further comprising: lowering the
seal element on a running tool into the well after the support
member has expanded outward into the selected one of a plurality of
support grooves; and axially moving the sealing element to seal
between the hanger and the wellhead.
20. A method as defined claim 15, further comprising: providing the
support member with a generally C-shaped configuration.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an adjustable hanger system
for connecting a hanger to a wellhead. More particularly, the
adjustable hanger system is used for tensioning a tubular extending
downward from the hanger and secured at a lower end in the
well.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Various types of hanger systems have been devised for
tensioning a tubular in a well. Many prior art adjustable hanger
systems include numerous components within the wellhead housing
which are adjusted to achieve tensioning of the tubular. U.S. Pat.
No. 5,176,218 discloses a threaded sleeve which is landed inside
the wellhead. The sleeve interfaces with the hanger by rotating the
hanger relative to the sleeve. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,671,812, 5,255,746
and 5,944,111 utilize various arrangements of an internal load
shoulder and a hanger with multiple grooves to achieve
adjustability.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,542 discloses another design wherein
adjustment for tensioning is achieved within the hanger. U.S. Pat.
No. 8,066,764 discloses another technique for making adjustments to
the hanger to tension the tubular in the well.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 7,040,412 discloses an adjustable hanger
system wherein a series of axially spaced groove sets are provided
in the wellhead, with the hanger including a support ring and a
lockdown ring each for fitting within one of the sets of axially
spaced grooves. The sealing surface between groove sets provides a
sealing surface on the wellhead for sealing with the hanger.
[0005] Prior art adjustable hanger systems tend to be complicated,
which in turn leads to questionable reliability. The system
discloses U.S. Pat. No. 7,040,412 is reliable since the hanger is
connected directly to in the wellhead. When a selected set of
grooves for connection with the hanger create too much or too
little tension in the string, the hanger may be axially raised or
lowered so that another vertically spaced set of grooves will
provide the more appropriate tension desired for the hanger system.
This design is particularly intended for very deep wells, and fine
adjustment of the hanger relative to grooves in the wellhead is not
disclosed.
[0006] The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the
present invention, an improved adjustable hanger system and method
are hereinafter disclosed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In one embodiment, an adjustable hanger system is connected
to a wellhead such that a tubular extending downward from the
hanger and secured at a lower end of the well may be tensioned at a
selected level. The hanger system includes a wellhead housing with
a plurality of axially spaced grooves, with each groove having a
profile to receive a support member therein. The support member may
be carried in the well on the hanger. The wellhead housing includes
an axially elongated and generally cylindrical sealing surface
spaced above the plurality of axially spaced grooves for sealing
engagement with a seal element between the wellhead housing and the
hanger. The hanger is axially movable relative to the plurality of
grooves, and the support member is axially movable into selected
ones of a plurality of grooves in the wellhead housing to axially
connect the hanger to the wellhead.
[0008] According to the method of the invention, the wellhead
housing is provided with a plurality of axially spaced grooves to
accept the support member, and includes a generally cylindrical
sealing surface spaced axially above the plurality of grooves. The
support member is positioned in the well on the hanger above
selected ones of a plurality of grooves. When the hanger is lowered
slightly in the well, the support member moves radially outward
into the selected ones of the plurality of grooves, thereby
preventing axially downward movement of the hanger with respect to
the wellhead. A seal is sealed between the hanger and a generally
cylindrical sealing surface while the support member is within
selected ones of the plurality of grooves.
[0009] These and further features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description, wherein reference is made to the figures in the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIGS. 1A and 1B are cross-sectional half views of a wellhead
housing, with a hanger connected to the housing at the lower end of
the axially spaced grooves in the wellhead housing shown in FIG.
1A, and at the upper end of the axially spaced grooves in the
wellhead housing shown in FIG. 1B.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a detailed cross-sectional view including a
support ring and a lockdown ring each out of mating engagement with
the grooves in the wellhead housing.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view illustrating the
lockdown ring out of mating engagement with the wellhead grooves,
and the landing or support ring in mating engagement with the
wellhead grooves.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a top portion of the
hanger and a seal lower sleeve between the wellhead and the hanger,
and a portion of mandrel radially within the hanger.
[0014] FIGS. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional half views of a running
tool for moving the support ring into mating engagement with the
grooves in the wellhead housing. In FIG. 5B, the hanger is not yet
engaged with the housing groove, and in FIG. 5B the hanger is
engaged with the housing grooves.
[0015] FIGS. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional half views of a running
tool for setting the seal to seal between the wellhead and the
hanger, and for moving the lockdown ring into mating engagement
within the grooves in the wellhead housing. FIG. 6A shows the seal
installation starting, and FIG. 6B shows the seal installed.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a detailed cross-sectional view showing the
support ring in mating engagement with the grooves in the housing,
while the lockdown ring is out of engagement with the grooves in
the wellhead housing.
[0017] FIG. 8 illustrates both the lockdown ring and the support
ring in engagement with the grooves in the wellhead housing.
[0018] FIG. 9 illustrates the seal installed between the hanger and
the wellhead housing.
[0019] FIGS. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views of the lower
seal sleeve setting the lockdown ring in FIG. 10A engaging the
lower threads on the housing, and the lockdown ring in FIG. 10B
engaging the upper threads on the housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] The hanger system disclosed herein provides an axial
elongate sealing surface on the interior of the wellhead housing
above an axially spaced plurality of grooves on the wellhead
housing. Regardless of the position of the hanger with respect to
the grooves, a seal will seal between the hanger and the
cylindrical sealing surface above the plurality of grooves, and the
hanger will be axially secured to the wellhead housing to provide
the desired tension in the tubular string supported in the well
from the hanger.
[0021] The hanger system allows for very fine adjustment of the
position of the hanger relative to the wellhead, thereby obtaining
fine adjustment of the tension applied to the tubular extending
downward from the hanger. For many applications, the axially
spacing of the grooves will be one-quarter inch or less. Because
the grooves have the same groove profile and axial spacing, the
support ring and the lockdown ring will fit within any of the
selected grooves, which is contrary to disclosure with U.S. Pat.
No. 7,040,412, in which the support ring had a different profile
than the lockdown ring, so that each ring fit within its
corresponding groove profile.
[0022] FIGS. 1A and 1B disclose a portion of the surface wellhead
assembly including a casing head or wellhead housing 10 and a
generally tubular shaped hanger 12. One should appreciate that FIG.
1A illustrates the hanger in a lower position within the wellhead
housing, and FIG. 1B depicts the same hanger in an upper position
within the wellhead housing. The tubular 14 supported on the hanger
extends downwardly from the hanger, and is conventionally secured
in the well at or near its lower end. A spacer spool 16 is shown
connected to the wellhead housing 10 with a plurality of
conventional dogs 17. A series of axially extending grooves 18 are
provided on the inner surface in the housing 10. Both the support
ring 22 and a lockdown ring 24 discussed subsequently may be moved
into engagement with selected ones of the plurality of grooves 18,
thereby securing the hanger to the wellhead. Seal 82 may optionally
be provided so that the sealed chamber may be tested. One or more
conventional gate valves 25 are provided for communication between
the annulus about the tubular 14 and the interior of the housing
10.
[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of the wellhead 10 and the
casing hanger 12, and more clearly illustrates the grooves 18 on
the wellhead for receiving both the support ring 22 and the
lockdown ring 24. A fluid passageway 26 is provided in the hanger
for supplying pressurized fluid to one or more circumferentially
spaced pistons 28, which move radially outward as shown in FIG. 3
for mating engagement of the support ring with the grooves on the
wellhead housing. During radial outward movement of the support
ring, the lockdown ring 24 remains in its position out of mating
engagement with the grooves 18. Each of the support ring 22 and the
lockdown ring 24 may be biased radially inward to its natural or
relaxed position.
[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates the lower sleeve 30 of the seal assembly
discussed subsequently inserted between the cylindrical sealing
surface 20 on the wellhead housing and the radially outward surface
on the hanger 12. A portion of the running tool 40 used to set to
the seal may be sealed to the hanger 12 by one or more seals 42,
while seal 44 seals between the lower sleeve 30 and the hanger
12.
[0025] Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, a running tool 50 may be
used to activate the support ring, and is shown in FIG. 5A in its
run in position, wherein the support ring 22 is not yet activated.
A ball 52 may be dropped on seat 54, thereby increasing the
pressure above the ball, which increases pressure in the axially
extending passageway 26. With the increase in pressure, the ball 52
may move down with the seat 44 and the sleeve. High fluid pressure
will then force the pistons as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to move the
support ring 22 radially outward so that its teeth engage the
grooves 18 in the wellhead to prohibit downward movement of the
tubular string supported on the hanger, as shown in FIG. 5B. The
support ring 22 may be retained in its radially outward position by
support surface 32 on the hanger (see FIG. 7) engaging radially
inward surface 34 on the support ring 22 to prevent the support
ring from moving radially inward.
[0026] FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a running tool 60 for running the
seal assembly 62 in place, and also for moving the backup ring 24
radially outward. Fluid pressure below the closed BOP above the
spacer spool 16 may thus move the tool 60 and the seal ring 62
supported thereon from its upper position as shown in FIG. 6A to
its lower position as shown in FIG. 6B. As shown in FIG. 9, the
seal 62 may be positioned on the running tool 60 for reliably
sealing between the housing 10 and the hanger 12. As shown in FIGS.
7 and 8, the lower sleeve 30 attached to seal 62 moves downward
with the seal 62 during the seal setting operation, and becomes
trapped between the radially outer surface 64 on the hanger 12 and
the radially inner surface 66 on the lockdown ring 24, thereby
forcing the lockdown sleeve 24 radially outward into engagement
with the grooves in the casing hanger, as shown in FIG. 8. FIGS.
10A and 10B illustrate the sleeve 30 in an upper position to
actuate the lockdown ring for engaging an upper set of grooves 18
in FIG. 10A, and in a lower position in FIG. 10B to actuate the
lockdown ring to engage a lower set of grooves 18.
[0027] The operational sequence for tension a tubular is described
below. The riser (or other tubular) is lowered in the well on a
running tool and is connected at its lower end to an external
tieback connector (not shown). Pressure tests are commonly made by
pressurizing the riser through the running tool, and the running
tool is then removed.
[0028] The hanger passes through the drilling spool and weight is
set down onto the inner riser tieback. The riser is rotated to the
right and torqued to approximately 5000 foot pounds. The riser is
then pulled to obtain the desired riser tension. While holding
tension on the riser, a ball is dropped through the drill pipe
which lands in a lower sleeve in the clutch tool. Pressure is
applied through the drill pipe which moves the shuttle sleeve
downward, allowing pressure to communicate with the radial pistons
located in the riser hanger to drive the support ring radially
outward. While holding pressure in the drill pipe, the inner riser
is slowly lowered by the support ring until the ring snaps into the
first set of circumferential grooves located in the housing and the
riser load is then transferred to the riser hanger. The pressure in
the drill pipe may be released, and approximately 5000 pounds set
down on the clutch tool. The clutch tool is then rotated to the
left which releases the clutch tool from the inner riser hanger,
allowing the tool to be brought back to the surface.
[0029] Following installation to the hanger, the riser hanger seal
is made up to the seal with the installation running tool. The tool
is lowered into the housing while metal seal has landed on the
outside of the hanger. The piston seal is formed on the ID of the
hanger with the seal running tool. The BOP rams are closed around
the drill pipe and the annulus above the hanger is pressurized,
which drives the running tool and the seal assembly down onto the
inner riser hanger. Pressure in the annulus is then released and
the drill pipe is torqued to approximately 5000 foot pounds to lock
the metal seal onto the hanger. An external test port adjacent the
metal seal may be removed and a hydrostatic test performed to
verify pressure integrity of the metal seal to the hanger and the
drilling spool. Upon completion of the pressure test, the tool may
then be picked up and brought back to the surface.
[0030] For the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-6, the support member
received within the grooves in the wellhead housing is C-shaped
support ring member. Similarly, the lockdown member is another
C-shaped ring member. In other embodiments, one or both of the
support member and the lockdown member may have a configuration
other than being C-shaped, and for example, may comprise
circumferentially spaced dogs which move radially into and out of
engagement with the grooves in the wellhead housing. These dogs may
be biased radially inward, or may be moved radially by various
types of dog actuation mechanisms.
[0031] Although specific embodiments of the invention have been
described herein in some detail, this has been done solely for the
purposes of explaining the various aspects of the invention, and is
not intended to limit the scope of the invention as defined in the
claims which follow. Those skilled in the art will understand that
the embodiment shown and described is exemplary, and various other
substitutions, alterations and modifications, including but not
limited to those design alternatives specifically discussed herein,
may be made in the practice of the invention without departing from
its scope.
* * * * *