Patent ID: 6488084
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
In a wellhead assembly having a wellhead with a bore containing a load shoulder, a string of casing extending into the bore, and a casing hanger that lands on the load shoulder to support the string of casing, the casing hanger comprising:a lower ring that lands on the load shoulder and has an upward facing surface; an annular seal on the lower ring, the seal having a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart holes therethrough; a slip assembly including a bowl having a sloping surface and a plurality of slip members carried thereon, the slip members gripping the casing, the bowl having a downward facing surface located on top of the seal that transmits downward force from the weight of the casing to the seal to axially compress and energize the seal; a plurality of fasteners that extend from the lower ring through apertures provided in the seal into threaded apertures provided in the downward facing surface of the bowl to secure the lower ring to the slip assembly but allow relative axial movement between the bowl and the lower ring; a first one of the upward facing and downward facing surfaces having a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses formed therein, each of the recesses having a base therein; and a plurality of stop members, each located in one of the holes in the seal and secured into threaded holes formed in a second one of the upward facing and downward facing surfaces, each of the stop members being slidingly received in one of the recesses and in contact with one of the bases to limit the compression of the seal to a predetermined amount.