Patent ID: 7278492
Filing Date: 2007-10-09
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A liner hanger and running tool assembly for use downhole in a wellbore to seal with a casing string and support a liner on the liner hanger, the liner hanger and running tool assembly comprising: a tubular liner hanger body removably supportable on a running tool for positioning the liner downhole, the tubular liner hanger body having an initial hanger outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the casing string, the tubular liner hanger body being radially expandable by the running tool to seal with the casing string; a tubular expander removably supportable on the running tool, the tubular expander having an expander outer diameter greater than an initial hanger body inner diameter; the running tool including one or more actuators for forcibly moving the tubular expander axially from a position axially spaced from the tubular liner hanger body to a position substantially within the tubular liner hanger body, thereby radially expanding the tubular liner hanger body against the casing string to secure the tubular expander and the tubular liner hanger body downhole; the tubular liner hanger body axially interconnected with a running tool mandrel by a collet mechanism, the collet mechanism being prevented from moving radially inward by an annular stop when the liner hanger is run in the well; the annular stop moving axially relative to the collet mechanism after the tubular expander is positioned at least partially within the liner hanger body to expand the liner hanger body; and a catch mechanism for interconnecting the collet mechanism and the running tool mandrel when the tubular expander is positioned at least partially within the liner hanger body, thereby allowing radially inward movement of the collet mechanism to release the running tool from the set liner hanger.