US3287030A

US3287030A - Hanger having locking and sealing means

Info

Publication number: US3287030A
Application number: US250262A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert L Crain; Jr Elwood K Pierce
Original assignee: Gray Tool Co
Current assignee: Vetco Gray LLC
Priority date: 1963-01-09
Filing date: 1963-01-09
Publication date: 1966-11-22
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-22

Description

Nov. 22, 1966 R. L. CRAIN ETAL HANGER HAVING LOCKING AND SEALING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 9, 1963 FIGJ.

INVENTO S ROBERT L.CRAIN BY ELWOOD K. PIERCEJR HTTOR/V XS Nov. 22, 1966 R. L. CRAIN ETAL Filed Jan. 9, 1963 FIGS.

I2 lea/i g E x A I j 34b A I k 92 as as 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 AOS INVENTORS ROBER T L. CRAIN ELWOOD K. PIERCE,JR.

ATTORNEY S 1966 R. L- CRAIN ETAL HANGER HAVING LOCKING AND SEALING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 9, 1963 INVENTORS 1966 R. L. CRAIN ETAL HANGER HAVING LOCKING AND SEALING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 9, 1963 INVENTORS ROBERT L. CRAI N ELWOOD K. Pl EROE,JR.

1966 R. CRAIN ETAL 3,287,030

HANGER HAVING LOCKING AND SEALING MEANS Filed Jan. 9, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 I38 mam-ml n F INVENTORS OBERT L. CRAIN 60 R F] .12 ELWOOD K.P|ERCE,JR. G BYKM Z7 5 ATTORNEYS Nov. 22, 1966 R. 1.. GRAIN ETAL 3,

HANGER HAVING LOCKING AND SEALING MEANS Filed Jan. 9, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 -lsB 246 I37 INVENTQRS ROBERT L. CRAIN 288 ELWOOD K. PIERCE-JR ATTORNEYS Nov. 22, 1966 R. L. CRAIN' ETAL 3,287,030

HANGER HAVING LOCKING AND SEALING MEANS Filed Jan. 9, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 n 52 I52 m In no 32o a I I90 /l[\ L I38 I34) I38 STAGEIS FIG. 15. 28B

504 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,287,030 Patented Nov. 22, 1966 3,287,030 HANGER HAVING LOCKING AND SEALING MEANS Robert L. Crain and Elwood K. Pierce, Jr., Houston,

Tex., assignors to Gray Tool Company, Houston, Tex.,

a corporation of Texas Filed Jan. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 250,262 6 Claims. (Cl. 285-18) This invention relates to methods and apparatus for drilling and completing oil and gas wells and in particular to the hanging of casing and tubing strings and the installation of control equipment, casing heads and tubing heads during the construction of snbmertged wells.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a novel hanger for a casing string or a tubing string and a novel setting tool which in combination with the hanger permits rapid and effective landing of the string, locking and sealing of the hanger to the bowl of its casing or tubing head and release of the tool from the hanger.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a hanger and tool assembly of the above type in which the tool subassembly is releasably connectable to the hanger subassembly and is adapted to coact therewith to land the hanger, to lock the hanger in the bowl of its head and to then disconnect itself from the hanger.

It is a further object to provide a hanger and tool assembly f the above type in which the hanger subassembly retains on its periphery a plurality of laterally movable latching elements and means for moving the elements outwardly into a recess in the lbOWl of a casing head or tubing head, the moving means being actuable by rotation of the tool subassembly.

It is yet another object to provide a hanger and tool assembly of the above type in which the tool subassembly includes a body member and a sleeve member which is rotatable by the body member and longitudinally movable with respect thereto and wherein the sleeve threadedly engages the hanger subassembly and is releasable therefrom by rotation of the tool assembly.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from reading the following brief and detailed descriptions taken with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a simplified elevational view, partly in section, of a tool and hanger assembly embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional View on the line 22 of FIG- URE 1 illustrating the manner in which the sleeve portion of the tool subassembly cooperates with the body portion of the tool assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view of the upper portion of a practical form of the tool and hanger assembly of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the lower portion of the device of FIGURE 3;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are views similar to FIGURES 3 and 4 showing the hanger subassernbly locked to its seat and the tool subassembly disconnected from the hanger subassembly;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevational view, partially in section, of a hydraulic guide system embodying the principles of the present invention and showing the frame carrying member about to engage an upstanding post;

FIGURE 8 is a View of the apparatus of FIGURE 7 with the elements in engagement;

FIGURES 9 and 10 are views similar to FIGURES 7 and 8 of a modification of the hydraulic guide system of those figures; and

FIGURES 11-16 are elevational views illustrating some of the stages in the construction and completion of a submerged well using the equipment illustrated in FIG- URES 1-8.

A tool and hanger assembly embodying the principles of the present invention is shown in simplified form in FIGURES 1 and 2 wherein, for the purposes of simplicity of illustration, some details have been omitted and the proportions have been modified so as to show an entire assembly in a single view. Detailed views of an actual assembly are shown in FIGURES 36.

The simplified tool and hanger assembly 10 of FIGURE 1 includes a tool subassembly 12 and a hanger subassembly 14 which are threadedly interconnected by left hand threads 16. The upper and lower ends of the assembly 10 are interiorly threaded at 18 and 20, respectively, so as to be connectable to the lower end of a drill pipe or the like at 18 and to the upper end of a casing string at 20.

The primary elements of the tool subassembly 12 are a hollow cylindrical body 22 and an inner concentric sleeve 24 which extends out of the lower end of the body 22 and which is provided intermediate its ends with exterior circumferential threads forming part of the connection 16. The sleeve 24 is keyed near its upper end to the inner circumference of the body 22 so as to be rotatable with the body 22 and at the same time be axially movable relative to the body 22. As shown, a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial keys 26 are secured to the outer circumference of the sleeve 24 above the connection 16 and complementary keyways 28 are provided in the inner circumference of the Ibody 22. Axial movement of the sleeve 24 in a downward movement relative to the body 22 is limited by engagement of an inwardly extending shoulder 30 on the body 22 with a complementary shoulder 32 on the sleeve 24 near its upper end.

As shown, the body 22 of the tool subassembly 12 is constructed of two

primary portions

34 and 36 which are threadedly interconnected at 38. The outer circumference of the upper portion 34 is provided with a plurality of radial keys 40 which fit int-o complementary keyways 42 in the inner circumference of the lower portion 36. The lower end of portion 36 is provided with a plurality of axially extending spaced teeth 44 which intermes-h with complementary teeth 46 on the upper end of the hanger subassembly 14.

The hanger subassembly includes, as primary elements, a cylindrical hanger body 48 adapted to seat in the bowl of a casing head an outer concentric sleeve 50 threaded thereto with right hand threads 52 and an outer ring 54 longitudinally slidable on the hanger body 48 below the hanger sleeve 50. The exterior of the hanger body 48 is provided with an inwardly and downwardly tapered seat portion 56 which, as shown in the embodiment described, includes a plurality of circumferentia'lly spaced, radial flutes 58. According to the. invention the hanger body 48 carries a plurality of latching balls 60 on its periphery. In the embodiment described the balls 60 reside in an annulus 62 which is formed by the upper portions of the flutes 58 and are movable through lateral channels 64.

Briefly, the operation of the tool and hanger assembly 10 in landing a string of casing is as follows. The assembly 10 is threaded at 20 onto the upper end of the last section of the string of casing which is to be landed in a casing head. The upper end of the assembly is threaded at 18 onto the lower end of a drill pipe. By means of a derrick the drill pipe is lowered so as to lower the casing string in the well to a point at which the seat 56 on the hanger subassembly 14 rests in the bowl of its casing head. The drill pipe is then rotated clockwise as viewed from the top. The body 22 of the tool subassembly 12 rotates with the drill pipe and effects rotation of the tool sleeve 24 through key and

keyway

26, 28 and of the hanger sleeve 50 through the intermeshing

teeth

44, 46.

Since the threads at 16 are left hand and at 52 are right hand, the clockwise rotation of the tool sleeve 24 and the hanger sleeve 50 tends to move the former upwardly and the latter downwardly with respect to the hanger body 48. Downward movement of the hanger sleeve 50 forces the ring 54 downwardly into the annulus 62 thus forcing the balls 60 outwardly into an annular groove in the easing head (not shown). Rotation of the elements also causes the tool sleeve 24 to disengage the hanger body 48 along the threads 16, the number of turns to accomplish this or the locking of the balls depending on the number of threads at 16 and 52. The entire tool subassembly 12 may then be removed by raising the drill pipe while the hanger subassembly 14 remains locked in the casing head.

Referring to FIGURES 3-6 there is shown therein a detailed practical construction for the simplified tool and hanger assembly 10 of FIGURES 1 and 2. Like numerals in FIGURES .3- and in later figures are used to designate the same or corresponding elements which are shown in FIGURES l and 2. The

subassernblies

12 and 14 in FIG- URES 3 and 4 are shown in the same relative position as those in FIGURE 1. In FIGURES 5 and 6 the tool subassembly 12 has been rotated in a right handdirection to set the balls 60 and to disconnect the threads 16 between the

subassemblies

12 and 14.

As shown in FIGURE 3 the cylindrical body of the tool subassembly 12 may be constructed of several pieces threadedly connected at their ends. In the construction illustrated the upper portion 34 of the body' consists of two coaxial parts 34a and 34b which are threadedly interconnected. The part 34 is of somewhat larger diameter so that the inner concentric sleeve 24 may move upwardly without obstruction. The upper end of the part 34a is provided with the internal threads 18 by which the entire assembly may be connected to the lower end of a drill pipe or the like. The lower end of the part 3412, is provided with the inner annular shoulder 30 having the vertical keyways 28 therein. The vertical keys 40 extending outwardly from the lower end of part 34b are set into slots 66 and are welded in place as at 68. A pair of vertical'ly spaced annular seals 70 is provided above the shoulczljr 30 for sealing with the upper periphery of the sleeve The sleeve 24 is provided with vertical slots below the shoulder 32 into which the outwardly extending keys 26 are welded as at 72. The lower portion 24a of the sleeve (FIGURE 4) terminates in a depending annular seating portion having an outer surface 74 whcih is tapered downwardly and inwardly and a vertical surface 76 each of which is provided with an annular sealing element 78.

Above the seating portion the sleeve portion 24a is provided with an outer ring 80 which is vertically movable between the upper extremity of the threads 16 and a fixed collar 82. The outer surface of the ring 80 intermediate its ends is provided with two spaced annular sealing elements 84 which are engageable with the hanger body .8 and the sleeve portion is provided with two spaced sealmg elements 86 which are engageable with the ring 80. A relatively large annular sealing element 88 such as a molded rubber element is secured to the upper periphery of the ring and extends outwardly therefrom for engagement with the top of the hanger body 48 in the FIGURE 3 position of the sleeve 24.

The lower portion 36 of the tool subassembly 12 is threaded to the exterior of the part 345 at 38 immediately below two fixed

collars

90, 92 and extends downwardly to terminate in the axially extending teeth 44. The inner vertical keyways 42 cooperating with the keys 40 on the tool body 34 are provided immediately below the threads 38, and below the keyways 42 are a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radial circulating ports 94.

The hanger body 48, as seen in FIGURE 4, consists of three basic parts which have been secured together. Above the threads 20, by which a casing string may be attached, the annular, radially extending seat portion 56 is threaded onto the body proper 48 and welded as at 96. The seat portion is a ring-like element having the radially extending spaced flutes 58 formed integrally therewith and tapered downwardly and inwardly to form a seating surface engageable with a complementary tapered seat 98 on the interior of a structure 100, such as a casing head, from which the hanger is to be suspended. To the top of the seat portion 56 is welded as at 102 an upstanding flange 104 which is spaced from the body 48 to form the ballretaining annulus 62. The balls 60, as described above,

are movable through the lateral passages 64 into a circumferential recess 106 in the suspending structure 100.

The hanger sleeve which is threaded to the hanger body at 52 terminates at its lower end in'a small inwardly extending flange 188 which slidably engages under a flanged ring 110. The ring 110 is welded to the top of another ring element 112 which in turn is threaded over a ball-setting member 114 having depending annular portion 116 which is insertable into the ball-retaining annulus 62. The

elements

110, 112 and 114 correspond to the element 54 in FIGURE 1 and are vertically slidable as a unit on the outside of the hanger body 48, seals 118 and 120 being provided therebetween to prevent leakage.

The exterior of the element 112 is provided with annular seals 122 for engagement with the suspending structure 100 and the element 116 is provided with a test port 124.. The hanger and tool assembly 10 is also provided with.

a fixed inner guide sleeve 126 secured near its upper end to the tool body 34 and extending downwardly to below the upper end of the movable tool sleeve 24. Circulationf Referring now to FIGURES 7 and 8 there is shown.

therein an embodiment of a hydraulic guide apparatus for accurately controlling the movement of well head equipment when in close proximity to the well head. The apparatus comprises basically two subassemblies: a guide base 130 which is fixed and a telescoping section 132 which carries the equipment and which is movable with respect to the first.

As shown, the fixed guide base 130 includes a generally triangular, flat support plate 134 (see also FIGURES 11-15) having a central aperture therethrough in which is secured a sleeve member 136 which may be a short length of large diameter casing. Three vertical radially extending reinforcing plates 137 are secured as by welding to the sleeve 136 and to the lower surface of the support plate 134. An upstanding, cylindrical guide post 138 is fixed to the support plate 134 near eachapex there of. As shown, each guide post 138 includes a hollow cylindrical portion l40 having external stop members 142 at the base thereof which are tapered downwardly and outwardly. The top of the cylinder is closed with a threaded plug 144 which is tapered upwardly and inwardly at its upper end 148. An upstanding pin is threaded axially into the top of the plug 144 and is secured to a guide cable 152 which extends to the surface of the water when the guide base 130 is in its operative position.

The movable, telescoping section 132 includes three cylinders 154 each of which has a flared lower end 156 adapted to seat on the stop members 142. Within each cylinder 154 is a piston 158 having an axial bore therethrough which is contoured at its lower end to seat on the tapered upper end 148 of the associated guide post 138. A tubular piston rod 160 through which the guide cable 152 passes is secured to the upper end of the piston 158 and extends upwardly through a cap 162 which closes the upper end of the cylinder 154. Downward movement of piston 158 within the cylinder 154'is limited by an annular stop'164. Suitable seals 166 are provided between the piston and cylinder and between the piston rod and cap.

The cylinder 154 is provided with a fitting 168 which is suitably tapped for receiving a hydraulic pressure lin 170 (FIGURE 12).

In order to support equipment which is to be carried by the guide system three horizontal crossheads 172 are associated with the cylinders 154. As seen in FIGURE 8 a wide annular groove is formed near the top of each cylinder 154 between the cap 162 and a flange 174. A split sleeve 176 having its halves secured together by a vertical pin 178 resides in the groove and is secured to one end of a crosshead 172 by a pin arrangement indicated at 180. The other end of the crosshead is pinned to one of the other cylinders 154 in a like manner. Intermediate its ends each crosshead 172 is provided with a pin arrangement 184 which cooperates with a complementary structure secured to the equipment 188 which is thereby supported by the crossheads 172. A set of lower crossheads 190 similar to the crossheads 172 is secured to the cylinders 154 by pin arrangements 192 and to the equipment by pin arrangements 186. The split sleeve portions of these lower crossheads 190 are vertically adjustable on the cylinders 154.

If necessary or desired, an auxiliary guide section 202 may be provided in the form of relatively hollow posts 201 the bores of which are tapered at their lower ends 204 to mate with the caps 162 of the cylinders 154. The upper ends 206 (FIGURE .14) of the posts are tapered upwardly and inwardly so as to receive another similar post if desired. Each set of posts 202 is provided with crossheads 208 which, like the crossheads 190, are vertically adjustable.

Referring to FIGURES 9 and 10 there is shown a modified hydraulic guide system in which the piston is incorporated into the fixed guide base 130' rather than into the telescoping section 132' as in the previously described embodiment. As shown the triangular support plate 134, the sleeve 136, and the reinforcing plates 137 are identical with those already described. Fixed to the plate 134 near each apex is an upstanding cylinder 210 having its upper end closed with a fixed piston 212 and having downwardly and outwardly tapered stops 214 at its lower end. A hydraulic pressure line 216 passes through the wall of the fixed cylinder 210 and connects with an eccentric vertical passage 218 in the piston 212.

Vertically slidable over the piston 212 and fixed cylinder 210 is a movable cylinder 220 which has an outwardly flared lower end 222 adapted to seat on the stops 214. A fixed, axial piston rod 224 is secured at its lower end to the top of the piston and extends upwardly through the movable cylinder 220 where it terminates in a knob 226 which serves as a stop to limit upward movement of the cylinder 220. A guide cable 152 is secured to the knob 226 and extends upwardly to the surface. The upper end 228 of the cylinder 220 is tapered inwardly and upwardly to form a seat for the equipment-carrying portion of the guide system. Leakage into or out of the chamber defined by the piston 212 and the cylinder 220 is prevented by seals 230 in the periphery of the piston and a seal 232 in the top of the cylinder 220.

The equipment-supporting portion of the guide system of FIGURES 9 and 10 consists basically of three hollow posts which carry crossheads and which are adapted to seat on the upper end of the cylinders 220. As shown, each post is constructed of an inner and an outer con centric tube, 234 and 236 respectively. The upper end of the inner tube 234 passes through an upwardly and inwardly tapered cap 238 which is secured to the outer tube 236 and which provides a seat for additional supporting structure (not shown) identical to

parts

202, 204, 206 and 208 in FIGURES 7 and 8. The lower end of the inner tube 234 is connected to a plug 240 which has a bore 242 of sulficient diameter to receive the piston rod 224.

Each outer tube 236 is connected to equipment-supporting

crossheads

172 and 190 in the same manner as the cylinder 154. The actual connections between the tube 236 and the crosshead sleeves are illustrated schematically in FIGURES 9 and 10.

Specific example of use and operation 0 the apparatus FIGURES 11-16 illustrate the use and operation of the above-described equipment in the construction and completion of a submerged oil well. In the particular procedure illustrated the well is drilled through a large diameter conductor pipe 246, for example a 20 inch O.D. pipe, which is driven into a submerged bottom 248 from a floating or fixed platform at the surface. First, the guide base of FIGURES 7 and 8 with its guide lines 152 attached is supported at about platform level which is illustrated at 250 in the drawings. The first section of conductor casing 246 with a conventional drive shoe (not shown) secured to its lower end is then lowered through the sleeve 136 of the guide base 130 and additional sections of conductor casing are joined in sequence, as by welding, to complete the conductor pipe 246. When the shoe reaches the bottom 248 and the casing 246 is supported, the guide base 130 is lowered to the bottom by means of the guide cables 152. As seen in FIGURE 16, the upper end of the last section of conductor casing 246 is provided with a head 252 defining a downwardly facing exterior shoulder 254 and coarse interior threads 256 for forming a releasable connection. Immediately below the head 252 the casing 246 is provided with vertically and radially extending centering guides 258. The casing 246 is then driven into the bottom 248 in a conventional manner until the shoulder 254 rests on top of the sleeve 136 and the support plate 134, the guides 258 having engaged the bore of the sleeve 136 during the last few feet of travel. As the casing 246 is driven, additional sections of casing are added by means of releasable couplings. After the casing 246 has been driven, the hole for the first string of casing to be suspended is drilled in conventional manner from the surface through the releasably connected sections and through the casing 246, the former serving as the mud riser 247 (FIGURE 14).

When the hole has been completed, the lower end of the mud riser 247 is unscrewed from the threads 256 in the head 252 and is withdrawn to the surface. The lower end of a string of casing 260, for example a 16 inch O.D. casing, is then attached to the crossheads of the guide structure 132 at the surface, and the guide structure 132 is lowered by suitable lowering cables along the guide cables 152 to guide the lower end of the casing 260 into the conductor casing 246. The telescoping guide structure 132 is then released from the casing 260 and raised to the surface.

As the casing 260 is run, a casing head 100 (see FIG- URE 11 and also FIGURES 4, 6 and 16) for the next next string of casing is threaded onto the upper end of the last section of the casing 260. The upper end of the casing head 100 is releasably connected to the lower end of a drill pipe 263 by means of a remotely operated coupling 270. The casing head 100 and the casing 260 are then lowered by means of the drill pipe 263 until the head 100 rests on the head 252, as seen in FIGURE 11. The lower portion of the casing head 100 is provided with circumferentially spaced, radial flutes 266 which communicate with the annulus between

casings

246 and 260. The upper portion of the casing head 100 has an external circumferential groove 268 (FIG- URES l2 and 16) therein for engagement with a clamping element 269 in the coupling 270. Intermediate its ends the head 100 is provided with the inner, downwardly sloping seat 98 (see also FIGURES 3-6) for receiving the hanger for the next string of casing, and above the seat 98 there is provided the circumferential recess 106 for receiving the locking balls 60 associated with the nextinstalled hanger.

The remotely controlled coupling 270 and other remotely controlled

couplings

292 and 302 to be referred to later are preferably of the general type disclosed in 7 copending application Serial No. 128,174, Watts et al., filed July 31, 1961. It will be appreciated, however, that other types of couplings may be used if desired. It will be understood also that the various items of control equipment and other well completion equipment referred to herein may be interconnected by means of couplings of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,766,829 rather than by means of the flange and bolt connections illustrated schematically in FIGURES 1114.

When the casing head 109 has been landed on the head 252, circulation may be established down through the casing 260 and up the annulus between it and the outer conductor casing 246. The casing 260 is then cemented in place by pumping cement down casing 260 until the returns come out through the flutes 266.

The coupling 270 is then released by operating its control lines 276 from the surface and-is withdrawn by the drill pipe 263. Blowout preventers are then assembled at the surface and are connected to the telescoping guide section 132 for lowering to the casing head 100. As seen in FIGURE 12, three

blowout preventers

278, 280 and 282 are connected to the top of the coupling 270. The lower blowout preventer 278 may be of the'blind ram type and the other two may be of the Hydril type, but any combination of blowout preventers and/ or master drilling valves may be used, as known in the art and referred to herein. The upper preventers 282 and the coupling 270 are connected to the

crossheads

172 and 190, respectively, of the telescoping guide section 132. The drill pipe 263 is releasably secured to the top of the upper preventer 282 by means of a conventional extension nipple 284 and a threaded adapter 286, and the entire assembly is lowered by means of the drill pipe 263 along the guide cables 152 to a point at which the guide cylinders 154 engage the tops of the fixed guide posts 138. FIGURE 12 shows the assembly just before the cylinders 154 engage the posts 138.

The pistons 158which are in the position shown in FIGURE 7 then assume the load of the blowout tpreventers 2'78, 280 and 282 and the last few feet of travel is controlled from the surface by gradually releasing hydraulic fluid from the cylinders 154 through the lines When the preventer assembly has been connected, the

drill pipe 263, adaptor 286 and nipple 284 are disconnected and withdrawn. The mud riser 247 with another blowout preventer (not shown), for example, of the.

Regan type, at its lower end are lowered and connected to the upper blowout preventer 282. Conveniently, the preventer at the lower end of the mud riser is connected at the water surface to the crossheads 208 of an auxiliary guide section such as is shown in FIGURE 8 so that the guide cables 152 assure proper alignment of the mud riser assembly with the upper blowout preventer 282. When connection has been effected drilling for the next string of casing is performed through'the mud riser assembly and the blowout preventers 28 2, 280 and 278.

After a hole has been drilled using the drill pipe 263 and conventional procedures, the drill pipe 263 is withdrawn and the running of the next string of casing 288 is begun :in a conventional manner. Atthe water surface the tool and hanger assembly of FIGURES 1-6 is con-' nected by means of the threads 20 to the top of the last section of the casing 288 and to the lower end of a string a of landing casing (not shown) by means of the threads 18. The landing casing is then lowered through the mud riser 247 until the exterior shoulder 56 on the hanger subassembly 14 engages the inner seat 98 on the casing head. The Regan preventer is retrieved by disconnecting 8 1 head 100. Ordinarily centralizers will be used during this step. Preferably, also, a long guide tube will. be

provided just-below the assembly 10 so as to prevent hanging up on sharp shoulders that may be in the mud riser, the blowout preventers or the head 100. 7

While the casing 288 is suspended from the-drill .pipe by means of the tool and hanger assembly 10 (see FIG URES 16) the load is transmitted from the casing 288 through the hanger body 48 across the left hand threads 16 to the

inner hanger sleeve

24, 24a. From the hanger sleeve the load is transferred to the body 34 of the tool subassembly 12 by means of the

complementary shoulders

30, 32 and thence to the landing casing through the threads 18.

When the landing casing is lowered so as to set the shoulder 56 of the hanger body 48 on the seat 98, the load of the landing casing will be transmitted through the threads 18 to the body 34 of the tool subassembly 12 and thence through the threads 38 to body portion 36. From body portion 36 the load istransmitted through the

teeth

44, 46 to the hanger'sleeve then through the threads 52 to the hanger body 48 and finally to the seat'98. p

In this position circulation can be established down through the casing 288, up through the annulus between

casings

288 and 260, through the flutes 58, past the balls and into the mud riser back to the surface. In a similar manner the casing 288 is cemented by pumping cement down the landing casing. As described before, right hand rotation of the

body portions

34 and 36 of the tool subassembly 12 causes the tool sleeve 24 to move upwardly and the hanger sleeve50 to move downwardly as a result of the torque applied to these parts and as a result of the left hand and right hand threads at 16 and 52,. respectively. As will be understood the number and pitch of the threads at 16 and 52 will determine the relative magnitudes of movements. In the particular construction described the following sequence occurs.

Six revolutions raise the tool sleeve 24 to a position at which it no longer engages the seals 70. Circulation the left hand threads at 16 between the tool subassembly 12 and the hanger subassembly 14 so that, if desired, the former may be withdrawn to the surface.

Referring to FIGURE 6 at 18 revolutions the hanger sleeve 59 will have descended a distance suflicient to force the tip 1160f the ring 114 into engagement with the balls 60. It is, of course, necessary to lower the landing casing during this omration in order to maintain the

teeth

44, 46 in contact.

At 22 revolutions the balls 60 will have been forced through their channels 64 into the annular recess 106 in the casing head thus locking the hanger body 48 in the latter.

100 immediately above recess 106. Twenty-seven revolutions complete the operation by engaging the lower edge of the ring 112 with the upper edge of element '104 which serves as a stop. The landing casing and the tool subassembly 12 are then withdrawn in preparation for further drilling.

With the particular casing program being described it is desirable to retain the pressure in the next-installed it from the upper preventer 282 and stripping it along with the auxiliary guide structure over the drill pipe 263 by means of the mud riser. The coupling 270 is then released and the blowout preventer assembly which is con- At the same time the sealing elements 122, will begin to engage a slightly tapered seat in the head 9 nected to the telescoping guide section 132 is raised a short distance by applying hydraulic pressure to the cylinders 154 through the lines 170 from a suitable controlled source at the surface. The drill pipe, which is still connected to the upper preventer 282, is then raised by the draw works to assume the load and bring the preventer assembly and the telescoping guide section 132 to the surface.

FIGURE 13 illustrates the next stage in the construction of the well. As seen therein and in FIGURE 16 a casing and tubing head 290, constructed as an integral unit and having an externalcircumferential groove 291 at its lower end has been connected to the upper end of the coupling 270. Another remotely controlled coupling 292 connects the upper end of the head 290 to the lower end of another blowout preventer assembly. The latter includes two Hydril

type blowout preventers

294 and 296 of a Cameron blowout preventer 398, the upper section of which contains dual rams for two strings of tubing. The upper preventer 294 has been connected to the lower end of the drill pipe 263 by means of another remotely controlled coupling 302, and the entire preventer assembly has been secured to the telescoping guide section 132 by means of the

crossheads

172 and 190. The drill pipe 263 is then lowered carrying with it the preventer assembly and the guide section 132 which slides along the guide cables 152. FIGURE 13 shows guide section 13 about to engage the posts 138. As before, when the pistons 158 in the cylinders 154 engage the upstanding posts 138 the load is transferred to the later and the remainder of the travel is hydraulically controlled. When the preventer assembly is properly seated, operation of the lower coupling 270 completes the connection. The upper coupling 302 is released and is withdrawn to the surface by the drill pipe 263.

The coupling 302 is then removed from the drill pipe 263 and, as shown in FIGURE 14, is attached to the lower end of the mud riser 247. The crossheads 208 of the auxiliary guide section 202 are secured to the coupling 302 and the assembly is lowered to the upper preventer 294 where connection is made by remote operation of the coupling 302. Drilling is continued through the mud riser 247 and through the equipment installed on the casing 260 until suflicient depth has been reached to run the next string of casing 304.

The casing 304, for example 7 inch O.D. casing, is run in the same manner as was the casing 288, that is, with a tool and a hanger 14' (FIGURE 16) like those of FIGURES 1-6. Again, centralizers and a long guide tube are used to protect the hanger subassembly from damage while it is being lowered into position and to keep the hanger subassembly centered while it is entering the seating and sealing section of the head 290. The cementing of the casing 304 is carried out with its hanger subassembly 14 resting on a seat 98 within the head 290, the returns passing through the flutes at the base of the hanger subassembly. The head is also provided with an inner annular recess above the seat for receiving locking balls 60' which are analogous to the balls 60 in the head 100. The same procedure is followed for setting and sealing the hanger subassembly as used when setting and sealing the casing 288.

When all of the conventional testing and bottom hole work has been completed, the tubing is run. Hydraulically set packers are used and the tubing is run simultaneously. A pack-off assembly may be placed at the top of the mud riser for partial protection if desired. As seen in FIGURE 14, a tubing hanger subassembly 308 adapted to suspend the strings of tubing 306 on two internal seats and having an outer parent seat is used. The hanger 308 may be generally of the type disclosed in Patent Nos. 3,052,301 and 3,001,803 modified to the extent of having locking balls 60", an actuating ring analogous to the ring '54 and an outer'rotatable sleeve analogous to the

sleeve

34, 36. The upper end of the rotatable sleeve 10 is provided with axial teeth 310 for engagement with complementary teeth on a rotatable tool assembly (not shown).

After the hanger 308 has been placed on the tubing 306, two strings of landing tubing 312 are threaded into the top of the hanger 308 and the assembly is lowered through the mud riser 247 and blowout preventer assembly as seen in FIGURE 14 until the parent seat on the hanger 308 engages the complementary seat 98 (FIG- URE 16) in the tubing head 290. Preferably, tubing control valves, such as Otis valves, are included in the tubing for control after the preventers have been removed. The landing tubing 312 is then unscrewed from the hanger 308 and withdrawn. The hanger 308 is then locked in place by lowering a tool subassembly (not shown) through the mud riser by means of the drill pipe 263 and rotating the same. The tool subassembly has downwardly extending teeth thereon which mesh with the teeth 310 so that rotation of the drill pipe and tool assembly effect rotation of the sleeve of the latter and thereby force the locking "balls into an annular recess in the head 290. The tool is then withdrawn to the surface.

After the tubing 306 has been set the mud riser is released from the top of the blowout preventer assembly and withdrawn. The drill pipe 263 is then lowered and connected to the top of the preventer assembly. The coupling 292 at the lower end of the preventer assembly is released and the cylinders 154 of the telescopic guide section 132 are pressurized to raise the preventer assembly from the casing head 100. The load is then transferred to the drill pipe 263 which is hoisted to the surface carrying with it the preventer assembly, the guide section 132 and the auxiliary guide section.

Next a Christmas tree 314 with the coupling 292 as the lowermost element is assembled at the surface and the telescoping guide system 132 attached as seen in FIG- URE 16. The Christmas tree assembly 314 is then lowered along the guide cables 152 by means of the two strings of landing tubing 312. As before, the load is transmitted to the fixed guide posts 138 when the pistons 158 engage the same and the last few feet of travel is hydraulically controlled from the surface. Preferably,

the Christmas tree 314 is so arranged on the crossheads 172 and that swiveling action may take place between the guide system and the tree. This freedom to rotate will allow the tree to align itself with the hangers when the upper section of the tree engages the parent hanger. When the final contact position is reached the coupling 292 is tightened to complete the connection. The tubing control valves may then be retrieved with a wire line from the surface passing through one of the strings of landing tubing 312. A conventional packing operation is then performed using the landing tubing 312 to service the well. After the well has been cleaned the valves 320 on the Christmas tree are closed and the well arranged for production in conventional manner. The returns from the casing 304 are controlled through a side outlet 316 and production from the tubing 306 is controlled through outlets 318 in the Christmas tree.

It will be appreciated also that the detailed descriptions of the hanger and tool assembly 10 and the

guide system

130, 132 illustrate the principles of these devices and that modification may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention. The details of the described procedures and apparatus are not intended to be limiting except as they appear in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hanger and tool for use in suspending a string of tubing or casing in a well structure comprising: a hanger body having an axial bore and an exterior tapered surface intermediate its ends for engaging a complementary surface in the well structure; at least one laterally movable locking element carried by said hanger body for engagement with a recess within the well structure; first thread means on the upper inner extremity of said hanger body;

second thread means of opposite rotation from said first thread means on the upper outer extremity of said hanger body; hanger sleeve means engaging said second thread means and including means engageable with said locking element to move the same laterally; a tool body having a bore coaxial with the bore of said hanger body; a tool sleeve connected to said tool body for rotation therewith and for independent longitudinal movement, the lower end of said tool sleeve threadedly engaging said first thread means; and complementary tooth and socket means on the opposed ends of said hanger sleeve and said tool body whereby rotation of said tool body rotates said tool sleeve and said hanger sleeve and whereby said tool sleeve moves upwardly to disengage from said hanger body and said hanger sleeve moves downwardly to actuate said locking element.

2. A hanger and tool assembly for use in suspending a string of casing in a well comprising:

a hanger subassembly including an annular hanger body having an exterior downwardly and inwardly tapered seating surface for engaging a complementary surface within the well, thread vmeans on the.

inner surfaceof said hangerbody, a laterally movable latch element carried by said hanger body above said seating surface, said latch element being movable between :a retracted position and an extended position in which its outer edge projects laterally outwardly of said seating surface, an annular latch control member threaded onto said hanger body and movable axially when rotated into and out of engagement with said latch element, the threads between said hanger body and said latch control member and the thread means on the inner surface of said hanger being of opposite hand;

an annular t-ool subassembly including a first sleeve,

thread means on the lower end of said first sleeve in engagement with said thread means on said hanger body whereby said subassemblies may be disconnected from each other, a second sleeve surrounding said first sleeve and axially movable with respect thereto, said second sleeve having a lower end portion adapted when rotated to effect rotation of said latch control member; means associated with said first and second sleeves for limiting relative axial movement between them to a predetermined amount whereby said first and second sleeves may be withdrawn upwardly as a unit away from said hanger subassembly after said first sleeve has been rotated in a direction to disconnect said inner sleeve from said hanger body.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said first and sec-.

ond sleeves of said tool subassembly are carried on the lower end of an annular body, said annular body including means disposed above said sleeves for rigidly connecting said annular body to the lower end of a runningin pipe, said inner sleeve being rotatable with and axially movable relative to said annular body, and said outer sleeve being fixed relative to said annular body.

4. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said annular latch control member has a lower end portion engageable with said latch element and wherein said control member carries a circumferential sealing element at a location above and radially outwardly of said lower end portion.

5. A well head assembly comprising: a tubular supporting head having an internal upwardly facing seat free of said head to a latching position within said,

recess in said head;

a movable, circumferential sealing element carried by said hanger, said sealing element being movable from a firstposition free of said head to a sealing position in sealing engagement with said annular surface in said head;

means defining at least one vertical passage connecting said upper and lower annular spaces; and

means for suspending said hanger from the lower end of a running-in pipe and for elfecting latching movement of said latch member and sealing movement of said sealing clement after said hanger shoulder has been lowered into engagement with said seat, said means includingan annular tool device concentric with said hanger, said tool device including connecting means for connecting said tool device to the lower end of a running-in pipe, thread means disposed below said first connecting means and engaged with the complementary threads on said hanger, and an actuating element operable upon rotation of said tool device in a direction to disconnect the latter from said hanger for moving said latch member and said sealing element into their latching and sealing positions.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said tool device includes an annular body, an inner sleeve carried by said body and an outer sleeve carried by said body, said outer sleeve being fixed with respect to said annular body and having a lower end portion defining said actuating element, said inner sleeve being rotatable with and axially movable relative to said annular body and having a circumferential portion defining said thread means whereby rotation of said body in a direction to disconnect said thread means from said hanger causes said inner sleeve to move upwardly relative to said hanger, said inner sleeve having a second circumferential portion which seals against said body in one axial position of said inner sleeve and defines a passage between said body and said inner sleeve in a higher axial position of the latter.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner. C. D. JOHNSON, I. A. LEPPINK, Assistant Examiners.

Claims

1. A HANGER AND TOOL FOR USE IN SUSPENDING A STRING OF TUBING OR CASING IN A WELL STRUCTURE COMPRISING: A HANGER BODY HAVING AN AXIAL BORE AND AN EXTERIOR TAPERED SURFACE INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS FOR ENGAGING A COMPLEMENTARY SURFACE IN THE WELL STRUCTURE; AT LEAST ONE LATERALLY MOVABLE LOCKING ELEMENT CARRIED BY SAID HANGER BODY FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH A RECESS WITHIN THE WELL STRUCTURE; FIRST THREAD MEANS ON THE UPPER INNER EXTREMITY OF SAID HANGER BODY; SECOND THREAD MEANS OF OPPOSITE ROTATION FROM SAID FIRST THREAD MEANS ON THE UPPER OUTER EXTREMITY OF SAID HANGER BODY; HANGER SLEEVE MEANS ENGAGING SAID SECOND THREAD MEANS AND INCLUDING MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID LOCKING ELEMENT TO MOVE THE SAME LATERALLY; A TOOL BODY HAVING A BORE COAXIAL WITH THE BORE OF SAID HANGER BODY; A TOOL SLEEVE CONNECTED TO SAID TOOL BODY FOR ROTATION THEREWITH AND FOR INDEPENDENT LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT, THE LOWER END OF SAID TOOL SLEEVE THREADEDLY ENGAGING SAID FIRST THREAD MEANS; AND COMPLEMENTARY TOOTH AND SOCKET