U.S. patent number 3,625,283 [Application Number 05/037,528] was granted by the patent office on 1971-12-07 for well bore casing hanger apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Vetco Offshore Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to Arthur G. Ahlstone.
United States Patent |
3,625,283 |
Ahlstone |
December 7, 1971 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
WELL BORE CASING HANGER APPARATUS
Abstract
A casing hanger body is threadedly connected to a running tool
secured to a running string, the tool being clutched or otherwise
coupled to a seal structure, which is also threadedly connected to
the body, the running string being used to lower the apparatus
through a body of water to engage the hanger body with a seat in an
underwater wellhead housing, and to locate its seal structure
between the housing and body and in an initial position in which a
fluid circulation path is open, the running string and running tool
being rotated to thread the tool and seal assembly simultaneously
along the hanger body to release the running tool from the body and
place the seal structure in a position closing the circulation
path, after which the running string and running tool may be
retrieved. A plurality of such casing hanger apparatus can be
placed or stacked one upon the other to support different sizes of
concentric casing strings in the underwater well bore, the
circulation path associated with each apparatus being closed by a
seal structure. A tubing hanger may be landed on the uppermost
hanger apparatus and locked to the threaded portion of the
uppermost hanger body.
Inventors: |
Ahlstone; Arthur G. (Ventura,
CA) |
Assignee: |
Vetco Offshore Industries, Inc.
(Ventura, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
21894816 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/037,528 |
Filed: |
May 15, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/330 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
33/043 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
33/043 (20060101); E21B 33/03 (20060101); F21b
033/03 () |
Field of
Search: |
;166/86,87,88,89,115,224,226 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Leppink; James A.
Claims
I claim:
1. In well bore casing apparatus: an outer body having a seat
therein; an inner body for suspending a tubular string in a well
bore and movable into engagement with said seat; passage means for
allowing fluid flow between said inner and outer bodies; a seal
structure on said inner body; first means for connecting said seal
structure to the exterior of said inner body, whereby rotation of
said seal structure in one direction moves said seal structure
longitudinally of said inner body in one direction to a position
closing said passage means; a running tool connectable to a running
string; second means for releasably connecting said running tool to
the exterior of said inner body, whereby rotation of said running
tool in said one direction moves said first means in said one
longitudinal direction and disconnects said running tool from the
exterior of said inner body; and third means for releasably
connecting said running tool to said seal structure, whereby
rotation of said running tool in said one direction releases said
second means to disconnect said running tool from the exterior of
said inner body and move said seal structure along said body to its
position closing said passage means.
2. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; wherein said first means
comprises a threaded connection between said seal structure and
inner body.
3. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; wherein said second means
comprises a threaded connection between said running tool and inner
body.
4. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; wherein said first and
second means comprise an external thread on said inner body, an
internal thread on said seal structure meshing with said external
thread, and an internal thread on said running tool meshing with
said external thread.
5. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; wherein said first and
second means comprise an external thread on said inner body, an
internal thread on said seal structure meshing with said external
thread, and an internal thread on said running tool meshing with
said external thread; said third means comprising clutch means on
said running tool meshing with clutch means on said seal
structure.
6. In well bore casing apparatus: an outer body having a seat
therein; an inner body for suspending a tubular string in a well
bore and movable into engagement with said seat; passage means for
allowing fluid flow between said inner and outer bodies; a seal
structure disposed initially in a lower position on said inner body
with said passage means open when said inner body engages said
seat; a running tool connectable to a running string; means for
releasably connecting said running tool to said inner body for
lowering said inner body and seal structure and to engage said
inner body with said seat; and means for elevating said seal
structure along said inner body to a position closing said passage
means.
7. In apparatus as defined in claim 6; said elevating means
comprising a threaded connection between said seal structure and
inner body, and means for transmitting rotation of said running
tool to said seal structure to thread said seal structure upwardly
along said inner body to the position closing said passage
means.
8. In apparatus as defined in claim 6; said elevating means
comprising a left-hand threaded connection between said seal
structure and inner body, and means for transmitting right-hand
rotation of said running tool to said seal structure to thread said
seal structure upwardly along said inner body to the position
closing said passage means.
9. In apparatus as defined in claim 6; said passage means
comprising first port means in said inner body, second port means
in said seal structure communicable with said first port means when
said seal structure is in said lower position on said inner body;
said seal structure comprising seal means below said second port
means and located initially below said first port means and movable
to a position above said first port means upon elevation of said
seal structure to a position closing said passage means.
10. In apparatus as defined in claim 6; said elevating means
comprising a left-hand threaded connection between said seal
structure and inner body, and means for transmitting right-hand
rotation of said running tool to said seal structure to thread said
seal structure upwardly along said inner body to the position
closing said passage means; said passage means comprising first
port means in said inner body, second port means in said seal
structure communicable with said first port means when said seal
structure is in said lower position on said inner body; said seal
structure comprising seal means below said second port means and
located initially below said first port means and movable to a
position above said first port means upon elevation of said seal
structure to a position closing said passage means.
11. In well bore casing apparatus: an outer body having a seat
therein; an inner body for suspending a tubular string in a well
bore and movable into engagement with said seat; passage means for
allowing fluid flow between said inner and outer bodies; a seal
structure on said inner body; first means for mounting said seal
structure on the exterior of said inner body for movement of said
seal structure longitudinally of said inner body to a position
closing said passage means; a running tool connectable to a running
string; second means above said first means for releasably
connecting said running tool to the exterior of said body; and
third means for releasably connecting said running tool to said
seal structure, whereby manipulation of said running tool releases
said second means and moves said seal structure along said inner
body to its position closing said passage means.
12. In apparatus as defined in claim 11; wherein said first means
comprises a threaded connection between said seal structure and
inner body.
13. In apparatus as defined in claim 11; wherein said second means
comprises a threaded connection between said running tool and inner
body.
14. In apparatus as defined in claim 11; wherein said first and
second means comprise an external thread on said inner body, an
internal thread on said seal structure meshing with said external
thread, and an internal thread on said running tool meshing with
said external thread.
15. In apparatus as defined in claim 11; wherein said first and
second means comprise an external thread on said inner body, an
internal thread on said seal structure meshing with said external
thread on said running tool meshing with said external thread; said
third means comprising clutch means on said running tool meshing
with clutch means on said seal structure.
16. In apparatus as defined in claim 11; wherein said first and
second means comprise an external left-hand thread on said body, an
internal left-hand thread on said seal structure meshing with said
external thread, and an internal left-hand thread on said running
tool meshing with said external thread.
17. In well bore casing apparatus: an outer body having a seat
therein; an inner body for suspending a tubular string in a well
bore and movable into engagement with said seat; passage means for
allowing fluid flow between said inner and outer bodies; a seal
structure disposed initially in a lower position on said inner body
with said passage means open when said inner body engages said
seat; first means for mounting said seal structure on the exterior
of said inner body for upward movement of said seal structure along
said inner body to a position closing said passage means; a running
tool connectable to a running string; second means above said first
means for releasably connecting said running tool to the exterior
of said inner body; and third means for releasably connecting said
running tool to said seal structure, whereby manipulation of said
running tool releases said second means and elevates said seal
structure along said inner body to its position closing said
passage means.
18. In apparatus as defined in claim 17; said first means
comprising a threaded connection between said seal structure and
inner body; said third means transmitting rotation of said running
tool to said seal structure to thread said seal structure upwardly
along said inner body to its position closing said passage
means.
19. In apparatus as defined in claim 17; wherein said second means
comprises a threaded connection between said running tool and inner
body.
20. In apparatus as defined in claim 17; wherein said first and
second means comprise an external thread on said inner body, an
internal thread on said seal structure meshing with said external
thread, and an internal thread on said running tool meshing with
said external thread.
21. In apparatus as defined in claim 17; said passage means
comprising first port means in said inner body, second port means
in said seal structure communicable with said first port means when
said seal structure is in said lower position on said inner body;
said seal structure comprising seal means below said second port
means and located initially below said first port means and movable
to a position above said first port means upon elevation of said
seal structure to a position closing said passage means.
22. In apparatus as defined in claim 17; wherein said first and
second means comprise an external thread on said inner body, an
internal thread on said seal structure meshing with said external
thread, and an internal thread on said running tool meshing with
said external thread; said passage means comprising first port
means in said inner body, second port means in said seal structure
communicable with said first port means when said seal structure is
in said lower position on said inner body; said seal structure
comprising seal means below said second port means and located
initially below said first port means and movable to a position
above said first port means upon elevation of said seal structure
to a position closing said passage means.
23. In apparatus as defined in claim 17; wherein said first and
second means comprise an external left-hand thread on said inner
body, an internal left-hand thread on said seal structure meshing
with said external thread, and an internal left-hand thread on said
running tool meshing with said external thread.
24. In apparatus as defined in claim 17; wherein said first and
second means comprise an external left-hand thread on said inner
body, an internal left-hand thread on said seal structure meshing
with said external thread, and an internal left-hand thread on said
running tool meshing with said external thread; said passage means
comprising first port means in said inner body, second port means
in said seal structure communicable with said first port means when
said seal structure is in said lower position on said inner body;
said seal structure comprising seal means below said second port
means and located initially below said first port means and movable
to a position above said first port means upon elevation of said
seal structure to a position closing said passage means.
25. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; a tubing hanger in said
inner body; and means for securing said tubing hanger to the
exterior of said inner body.
26. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; wherein said second means
comprises a threaded connection between said running tool and inner
body; a tubing hanger in said inner body; and means for securing
said tubing hanger to the upper body threaded portion of said
threaded connection.
27. In well bore casing apparatus: an outer body having a seat
therein; an inner body for supporting a tubular string in a well
bore and movable into engagement with said seat; passage means for
allowing fluid flow between said inner and outer bodies; a seal
structure on said inner body; means for connecting said seal
structure to the exterior of said inner body for movement of said
seal structure along said body to a position closing said passage
means; a tubing hanger seated in said inner body; and coupling
means connected to the exterior of said inner body and engaging
said tubing hanger for securing said tubing hanger to said inner
body.
28. In apparatus as defined in claim 27; said connecting means
comprising a threaded connection between said seal structure and
exterior of said inner body; said coupling means being connected to
the inner body threaded portion of said threaded connection.
29. In well bore casing apparatus: an outer body having a seat
therein; an inner body for supporting a tubular string in a well
bore and movable into engagement with said seat; passage means for
allowing fluid flow between said inner and outer bodies; a seal
structure on said inner body; means for connecting said seal
structure to the exterior of said inner body for movement of said
seal structure along said body to a position closing said passage
means; a tubing hanger in said inner body; and coupling means
connected to the exterior of said inner body for securing said
tubing hanger to said inner body; said connecting means comprising
a threaded connection between said seal structure and exterior of
said inner body, the upper portion of the external thread of said
threaded connection on said inner body being exposed when said seal
structure is in its position closing said passage means; said
coupling means being threadedly connected to said exposed thread on
said inner body.
Description
The present invention relates to well bore apparatus, and more
particularly to casing hanger apparatus adapted to be disposed in
an underwater wellhead.
In most underwater or subsea casing hanger systems, the hanger and
the pack-off assembly for closing the the circulation path through
the hangar are lowered separately to the wellhead housing. In some
systems, the hangar and pack-off assembly are run together.
However, in both types of systems, after the casing string has been
cemented in place, the pack-off assembly is moved downwardly into a
sealing position closing the circulation path (See U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,335,799 and 3,492,026). Such downward movement requires that the
pack-off assembly push the cement below it out of the way, or
downwardly, so that the seal can be accomplished. Since there is
normally a time delay between placing the cement into the well and
energizing the pack-off assembly, the cement has a chance to set up
and harden, making it very difficult to remove the cement from the
path of the pack-off assembly or structure so that it can be
energized into an appropriate sealed relation effectively shutting
off or closing the circulation path.
Prior underwater casing hanger systems have been relatively costly,
requiring the maintenance of substantial inventories because of the
many different sizes of casing hangers required for the running-in
and supporting of different sized casing strings. In addition, the
running tool for lowering the casing hanger to the wellhead housing
and for effecting the pack-off to close the circulation path has
been comparatively complex, with its associated high costs.
By virtue of the present invention, the waiting time from the
termination of the cementation operation until the energization of
the pack-off seal is minimized considerably. Instead of the seal
being effected by downward movement of the pack-off or seal
structure to its circulation path closing position, such structure
is moved upwardly to its circulation path closing position, thereby
avoiding the necessity for pushing and pressing the cement ahead of
the pack-off. Because of the minimizing of the waiting time from
completion of cementation until energization of the pack-off seal,
assurance is had that the cement is still in a fluent state, and
this fact, coupled with the upward shifting of the pack-off or seal
structure, renders it much easier to shift the structure to its
circulation path closing position.
A further objective of the invention is to provide a casing hanger
design which permits the easy conversion from one size casing
thread to another, thereby reducing inventory problems and
expenses. The outside profile of all casing hanger bodies may be
made identical and interchangeable. It is only necessary to provide
casing hangers of reduced inside profiles, and with the required
size threads for supporting a different diameter casing string. The
casing hangers can be easily stacked one upon the other in a
wellhead housing in any combination, rather than being required to
be landed in the wellhead housing in a predetermined sequence, as
required by prior designs.
Another object of the invention is to provide a casing hanger
combination in which a tubing hanger can be landed on the last
casing hanger installed in the underwater wellhead, and be locked
to such hanger in a simple and highly effective manner.
A further object of the invention is to provide a comparatively
simple casing hanger apparatus and associated running tool, in
which there is a direct drive between the running tool and the seal
structure on the casing hanger body for shifting the latter to its
position closing the fluid circulation path through the apparatus,
the running tool being readily disconnected from the apparatus for
retrieval. More particularly, the running tool is clutched or
coupled directly to the seal structure threaded on the casing
hanger body, so that rotation of the running tool not only moves
the seal structure into its sealed or packed-off position closing
the circulation path, but also places the running tool in a
condition for disconnection from the seal structure and the casing
hanger body, allowing the running tool and the running string
connected thereto to be elevated from the casing hanger apparatus
and removed to the drilling rig which may be located on a floating
drilling vessel or platform.
With respect to the threading of the seal structure on the casing
hanger body, the movement of the seal structure to its position
closing the circulation path leaves an upper portion of the threads
of the body exposed, thereby enabling a tubing hanger to be locked
down after being landed on the casing hanger by a coupling device
which will thread onto the casing hanger body threads.
This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other
objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a
consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is
shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present
specification. It will now be described in detail, for the purpose
of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is
to be understood that such detail description is not to be taken in
a limiting sense.
Referring to the drawings:
FIGS. 1a and 1b together constitute a quarter longitudinal section
through casing hanger apparatus embodying the invention, the parts
being illustrated with a circulating passage in open condition,
FIG. 1b being a lower continuation of FIG. 1a;
FIGS. 2a and 2b are views similar to FIGS. 1a and 1b, with the
circulating passage closed, FIG. 2b being a lower continuation of
FIG. 2a;
FIG. 3 is a quarter longitudinal section, on a reduced scale,
corresponding to FIGS. 2a and 2b, with the running tool
removed;
FIGS. 4a and 4b together constitute a quarter longitudinal section
illustrating a plurality of casing hangers disposed in an outer
housing with circulating passages closed, the uppermost casing
hanger supporting a tubing hanger and depending tubing, FIG. 4b
being a lower continuation of FIG. 4a;
FIG. 5 is a cross section, on a reduced scale, taken along the line
5--5 on FIG. 2b;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through an
upper portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4a.
As disclosed in the drawings, a casing hanger apparatus A is
releasably connected to a running tool B secured to a tubular
running string C, such as a casing string, by means of which the
apparatus is run into a wellhead housing or body D previously
installed above an ocean floor (not shown), with a suitable
diameter pipe or casing string E secured to the housing and
extending into the well bore drilled downwardly from the subsea or
ocean floor. It is desired to land one or a plurality of casing
strings 10, 11, 12 in the wellhead housing (see FIGS. 4a, 4b),
cement each casing string in place, and then seal off the upper end
of the circulation path disposed between the casing hanger
apparatus and the wellhead housing.
As disclosed, a lower casing hanger body 13 is provided having a
lower downwardly tapering terminal portion 14 adapted to engage a
tapered seat 15 in the wellhead housing D, the latter having an
inner cylindrical wall 16 extending upwardly from such seat. Above
its lower terminal 14, the body is reduced in external diameter to
provide an upwardly facing shoulder 17, the outer surface or wall
18 of the body above the shoulder being spaced from the inner wall
16 of the housing to provide an elongate annulus 19 therebetween in
which a packing assembly or structure 20 is disposed. This
structure comprises a tubular sleeve 21 having a lower head 22
provided with inner side seal rings 23 adapted to seal against the
lower smooth periphery 18 of the casing hanger body and outer side
seal rings 24 adapted to seal against the inner wall 16 of the
wellhead housing. The pack-off or seal structure 20 has a reduced
diameter portion 25 above its head 22 to provide an annular space
26 between it and the housing wall through which fluid can
circulate. This reduced diameter portion terminates in an upper
head 27 having internal left-hand threads 28 meshing with external
left-hand threads 29 provided on the hanger body 13 and extending
from the upper external seal portion 18 of the body to the upper
end of the body.
Initially, the pack-off or seal structure 20 is disposed in a lower
position along the hanger body, with its head 22 in engagement with
the casing hanger body shoulder 17 with its upper threaded head 27
located at the lower threaded portion of the casing hanger body
(FIGS. 1a, 1b). When in this position, circulation ports 30 in the
seal body immediately above the seal head 22 are in alignment with
circulation ports 31 extending through the hanger body 13, the
hanger body immediately above its ports comprising a threaded box
32 to which the upper end of a casing string 10 is threadedly
secured, the casing string extending downwardly into the well bore
to the required extent when the body terminal 14 engages the
housing seat 15. The lower portion 33 of the casing hanger body has
a larger internal diameter than its threaded box 32 to provide an
annular passage 34 communicating with the annulus 35 between the
casing string 10 and the pipe or casing E depending from the
wellhead housing D, the annular passage 34 being in communication
with the body ports 31.
The running tool B has an upper threaded box 36 secured to the
lower end of the tubular running string C. An inner cylindrical
sleeve 37 of the running tool is piloted within the upper portion
of the casing hanger body 13, the lower portion of the sleeve
carrying one or a plurality of side seal rings 38 for slidable
sealing engagement with the inner wall 39 of the casing hanger
body. The running tool B includes an outer sleeve 40 encompassing
the upper threaded portion of the casing hanger body and having an
upper left-hand threaded 41 portion meshing with the body threads
29, and lower axial teeth or drive lugs 42 meshing with companion
axial teeth 43 at the upper end of the seal body 21. By virtue of
the left-hand threaded connection 41, 29 between the outer running
tool sleeve 40 and the casing hanger body 13, the casing string 10
and casing hanger assembly A may be lowered in the well bore, the
running tool B being secured to the running string C, which moves
downwardly until the casing hanger body terminal 14 engages the
tapered seat 15, at which time the parts are in the relative
position illustrated in FIGS. 1a, 1b.
Circulation can now be established down through the running string
C and casing string 10, the circulating fluid passing upwardly
between the casing string 10 and the pipe string E depending from
the wellhead housing, and proceeding upwardly through the annulus
34 between the lower portion 33 of the hanger body and casing
string, through the aligned ports 31, 30 in the hanger body and
seal body, into the annulus 26 surrounding the latter, proceeding
upwardly through such annulus and the annulus surrounding the outer
sleeve 40 of the running tool into the annulus 50 between the
running string C and wellhead housing, a continuation of which
extends upwardly through a blowout preventer (not shown), or the
like, surrounding the running string and the marine conductor pipe
(not shown) extending upwardly to the drilling vessel. After
circulation has been completed, the required charge of cement
slurry is pumped down the running string C and through the casing
string 10 for upward passage through the casing string-pipe string
annulus 35, the uppermost portion of the cement slurry probably
passing into the casing hanger circulation path 34, 31, 30, 26.
After the required quantity of cement slurry has been displaced,
the running string C is rotated to the right to rotate the running
tool B to the right and thread its outer sleeve 40 upwardly along
the casing hanger body 13. At the same time, the seal structure
body is being threaded upwardly along the casing hanger body, since
the rotary effort of the outer running tool sleeve 30 is
transmitted to the seal body 21 through the clutch or drive lugs
42, 43. The running tool B unthreads from the body 13 after the
requisite number of rotations have been taken, at which time the
head 22 and seal rings 23, 24 are disposed above the circulation
ports 31 of the body 13, effecting a pack-off or seal between the
periphery 18 of the body above the ports 31 and the inner wall 16
of the wellhead housing D. The seals 38 on the inner sleeve 37 of
the running tool still make a sealing engagement with the inner
wall 39 of the hanger body (FIGS. 2a, 2b).
The blowout preventer (not shown) may then be closed on the casing
running string C and pressure applied through a choke or kill line
(not shown) to the fluid in the annulus 50 around the running
string below the blowout preventer, so as to test the seal of the
pack-off assembly 20. If no leak has been detected, the blowout
preventer can be opened and the running string C and running tool B
lifted to withdraw them to the drilling ring (FIG. 3).
A seat protector or wear bushing (not shown) may then be located in
the wellhead housing to protect its inner cylindrical wall 16, and
drilling of the well continued through the casing string 10.
If desired, additional casing hanger assemblies A2, A3 can be
located in the wellhead housing, each assembly supporting its
casing string 11 or 12 of an appropriate diameter, and being
installed after the well bore has been drilled ahead to the desired
depth. Each assembly is lowered on a running string and running
tool and seated on the upper end of a previously installed casing
hanger, after which each seal assembly is rotated to place it in
its sealed position above the circulation ports of its casing
hanger body. As disclosed in FIGS. 4a, 4b, a casing hanger body 13a
is landed on a previously installed casing hanger body 13, being
centered with respect thereto by a depending centering rib 51
piloted within the upper portion of the lower casing hanger body
13, the centering rib having a downwardly tapering surface 52
engaging a companion tapered surface 53 on the upper end of the
lower hanger body 13.
As disclosed by way of example in FIG. 4a, a third casing hanger
assembly A3 has been installed in the well bore and is centered in
the intermediate body 13a by means of its depending rib 51 engaging
a companion tapered surface 53 at the upper end of the hanger body,
the seal structure 20 on the uppermost casing hanger body 13b
having been rotated to elevate it to a position above the
circulation ports 31 to close the latter, after the casing string
12 threadedly secured to the box 32 of the hanger body 13b has been
appropriately cemented in place.
It will be apparent from FIGS. 4a, 4b that the external portions of
the casing hanger bodies 13, 13a, 13b are identical and capable of
using the same seal structure 20 threadedly attached to the
exterior of each casing hanger body. The inner profile of each
casing hanger body is dimensionally different, inasmuch as each
body will accommodate a different diameter casing string 10, 11 or
12. The inner profile of each casing hanger body becomes smaller in
diameter in upward sequence.
Each casing hanger body has an internal flange 60 provided with a
downwardly tapering shoulder 61 on which a tubing hanger T is
adapted to come to rest. In general, the tubing hanger is of a
known specific design, including a main body 62 having a
circumferential groove 63 on its upper portion and into which latch
elements of a running tool (not shown) may be retained for lowering
the tubing hanger and a string of tubing 64 secured to its lower
threaded box 65 in the well bore and in the casing hanger assembly
A3. The tubing hanger will be supported by the internal shoulder or
seat 61 of the uppermost casing hanger body 13b. As disclosed, a
lower abutment 66 having a downwardly tapering surface is adapted
to engage this seat, this abutment being prevented from dropping
downwardly along the body to any substantial extent by a split snap
retainer ring 67 disposed in any external groove 68 in the body. An
elastomer seal ring 69 rests upon the abutment ring, its upper end
being engageable with a downwardly facing body shoulder 70. The
tubing hanger body portion 71 above the seal ring and the abutment
ring has a diameter closely approximating the inside diameter of
the casing hanger body above its shoulder, the seal ring also
having approximately the same diameter, or slightly less than the
ID of the body wall 72. The casing hanger body has an outwardly
directed head or flange 73 overlying the casing hanger body and
provided with a depending centering rib 74 adapted to engage a
companion downwardly tapering surface 53 at the upper end of the
casing hanger body 13b.
Extending upwardly from the outer portion of its flange 73, the
body comprises a sleeve portion 75 encircled by a coupling sleeve
76 having a lower internally threaded skirt 77 adapted to mesh with
the left-hand body threads 29. The coupling 76 sleeve has a
downwardly facing shoulder 78 adapted to engage an upwardly facing
shoulder 79 on the flange externally of its upwardly projecting
sleeve portion 75, so as to clamp the flange 73 and the tubular
hanger body 62 between the coupling sleeve shoulder 78 and the
upper portion of the casing hanger body 13b, as a result of
rotation of the c coupling sleeve in the left-hand direction to
mesh its skirt portion 77 with the external threads 29 on the upper
portion of the hanger body 13b and thread it downwardly therealong
to effect the clamping and retaining action of the tubing hanger
body 62 against the casing hanger body 13b. Rotation of the
coupling sleeve or nut 76 is performed by a suitable tool (not
shown) which has projections fitting into axial recesses 80 opening
through the upper end of the coupling nut, after the tubing hanger
body 62 has been landed on the casing hanger body 13b. When such
landing occurs, the abutment 66 comes to rest upon the hanger body
shoulder 61, the tubing hanger body then moving downwardly to a
slight extent to compress the seal ring 69 between the inner wall
72 of the casing hanger body and the opposed cylindrical external
surface of the tubing hanger body 62.
The coupling nut 76 may be slipped over the tubular hanger body,
with its lower shoulder 78 engaging a split retainer ring 82
located in an external groove 83 in the upper portion of the sleeve
75, the shoulder 75 contracting and riding past the ring, which
will then snap into an elongate circumferential groove 84 in the
coupling sleeve above its shoulder 78. The coupling sleeve cannot
move upwardly off the tubing hanger body by virtue of engagement of
its shoulder with the retainer ring 82. However, such retainer ring
82 does not interfere with downward feeding of the coupling sleeve
member 76 along the tubular hanger body 62 upon being threadedly
meshed with the casing hanger body threads 29.
The specific type of tubing hanger T forms no part of the present
invention. As disclosed, it includes a valve sleeve 85 disposed
therewithin adapted to be releasably retained in a lower position
by a suitable spring 86 on the valve sleeve engaged within an
internal groove 87 in the hanger body, in which fluid can flow
through the space 88 surrounding the hanger body into ports 89
above an intermediate seal assembly 90 on the valve sleeve and then
into longitudinal passages 91 through the hanger body opening
through its upper end. The valve sleeve has an upper seal assembly
92 engaging the inner wall of the tubing hanger body 62 above the
lower end of the upper passages 91 to confine the flow of fluid to
the path just referred to. By means of a suitable tool (not shown)
lowered on a wire line from the drilling rig, the sleeve 85 can be
pulled upwardly, its spring 86 being forced out of its companion
groove 87, the sleeve being moved upwardly within the body until
the intermediate seal 90 is disposed above the lower tubing hanger
body ports 89 and a lower seal 93 is disposed in sealed relation
against the tubing hanger body below the ports, thereby closing
such ports to the flow of fluid. The valve sleeve is releasably
retained in this upper position by virtue of its spring 86 snapping
into an upper internal groove 94 in the hanger body.
It is apparent that the same threaded portion 29 of the hanger body
used for connecting the running tool thereto, and for effecting
longitudinal shifting of the seal structure between circulation
path opening and closing positions, is used for locking the tubing
hanger body 62 downwardly in the casing hanger body 13b.
It is to be noted that the inner sleeve 37 and outer sleeve 40 of
the running tool B appear to be integrated with the upper portion
of the running tool. Such illustration is made merely in the
interest of simplifying the drawings. Actually, the inner and outer
sleeves are preferably threadedly secured to the upper portion of
the running tool.
* * * * *