Hanger running tool

A hanger running tool for a hanger includes an outer sleeve and an inner driving sleeve. The outer sleeve is configured to engage and couple the hanger running tool to the hanger, and the inner driving sleeve is selectively axially movable within the outer sleeve for engagement with the hanger to prevent relative rotation between the hanger running tool and the hanger.

BACKGROUND

As will be appreciated, oil and natural gas have a profound effect on modern economies and societies. Indeed, devices and systems that depend on oil and natural gas are ubiquitous. For instance, oil and natural gas are used for fuel in a wide variety of vehicles, such as cars, airplanes, boats, and the like. Further, oil and natural gas are frequently used to heat homes during winter, to generate electricity, and to manufacture an astonishing array of everyday products.

In order to meet the demand for such natural resources, companies often invest significant amounts of time and money in searching for and extracting oil, natural gas, and other subterranean resources from the earth. Particularly, once a desired resource is discovered below the surface of the earth, drilling and production systems are often employed to access and extract the resource. These systems may be located onshore or offshore depending on the location of a desired resource. Further, such systems generally include a wellhead assembly through which the resource is extracted. These wellhead assemblies may include a wide variety of components, such as various casings, hangers, valves, fluid conduits, and the like, that control drilling and/or extraction operations.

In some drilling and production systems, hangers, such as a tubing hanger and/or a casing hanger, may be used to suspend strings (e.g., piping for various flows in and out of the well) of the well. Such hangers may be disposed within a spool of a wellhead that supports both the hanger and the string. For example, a hanger may be lowered into a spool by a drilling string. During the running or lowering process, the hanger may be latched to a hanger running tool, such as a tubing hanger running tool (THRT), thereby coupling the hanger to the drilling string. Once the hanger has been lowered into a landed position within the spool, the hanger may be locked into position. The hanger running tool may then be unlatched from the hanger and extracted from the wellhead by the drilling string.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . . ” Also, the term “couple” or “couples” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct connection. In addition, the terms “axial” and “axially” generally mean along or parallel to a central axis (e.g., central axis of a body or a port), while the terms “radial” and “radially” generally mean perpendicular to the central axis. For instance, an axial distance refers to a distance measured along or parallel to the central axis, and a radial distance means a distance measured perpendicular to the central axis. The use of “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below,” and variations of these terms is made for convenience, but does not require any particular orientation of the components.

Accordingly, disclosed herein are a hanger running tool and a system including a hanger running tool in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The hanger running tool may be used for connecting a hanger to a tubular string. As such, the hanger running tool may include an outer sleeve with an outer sleeve mating surface and an inner driving sleeve axially movable within the outer sleeve that includes an inner driving sleeve engagement surface. The outer sleeve mating surface is mateable with a hanger mating surface of the hanger to couple the outer sleeve to the hanger, and the inner driving sleeve engagement surface is selectively engageable with a hanger engagement surface of the hanger to rotate the hanger with the hanger running tool. Accordingly, the system may include the hanger with a hanger mating surface and a hanger engagement surface. The hanger may further include a second hanger mating surface that is mateable with a tubular string mating surface of the tubular string. In one or more embodiments, the hanger may be a casing hanger to support casing therefrom, may be a production hanger to support production tubing therefrom, and/or may be any other type of hanger known in the art. The hanger running tool may then, correspondingly, be used as a casing hanger running tool, tubing hanger running tool, and/or any other type of hanger running tool known in the art.

In one or more embodiments, the inner driving sleeve engagement surface may include a castellated surface, and the outer sleeve mating surface may include a threaded surface. As such, the hanger mating surface may include a corresponding threaded surface and the hanger engagement surface may include a corresponding castellated surface. The castellated surfaces of the inner driving sleeve engagement surface and/or the hanger engagement surface may include a plurality of castellations. As such, in one or more embodiments, one side of the plurality of castellations may include a tapered edge.

As the hanger may further include a second hanger mating surface to mate the hanger with the tubular string, the first hanger mating surface may include or be formed as a right-hand thread form or a left-hand thread form, in which the second hanger mating surface may include or be formed as the other of the right-hand thread form and the left-hand thread form. Engagement of the hanger engagement surface with the inner driving sleeve engagement surface may enable the hanger running tool to rotate the hanger such that the second hanger mating surface of the hanger mates with the tubular string without un-mating the first hanger mating surface with the outer sleeve mating surface. Engagement of the hanger engagement surface with the inner driving sleeve engagement surface may enable the hanger running tool to rotate the hanger in a first direction and disable or prevent the hanger running tool to rotate the hanger in a second direction.

Referring now toFIGS. 1A and 1B, multiple views of a hanger120in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. A hanger running tool may be used to couple and connect to the hanger120, such as when running and/or landing the hanger120within a well. The hanger120may then be used to support a tubular string therefrom, and a landing string may be connected to the hanger running tool to facilitate running the hanger120into a well with the hanger running tool. The hanger120may be landed and/or locked into a desired position within the well using the hanger running tool. In one or more embodiments, the tubular string, such as a casing string, supported by the hanger120may be cemented in place within the well. The hanger running tool may then be de-coupled or disconnected from the hanger120and retrieved from the well. As such,FIG. 1Ashows a cross-sectional view of the hanger120, andFIG. 1Bshows a perspective view of the hanger120.

The hanger120includes a first end122(i.e., an upper end), a second end124(i.e., a lower end), and a bore130formed therethrough about an axis. The first end122may include a first mating surface126formed on an external surface132of the hanger120and the second end124may include a second mating surface128formed on the internal surface134of the hanger120. The first mating surface126may be used to mate the hanger120to a hanger running tool. Accordingly, the first mating surface126of the hanger120may be a threaded surface to threadedly engage with the second mating surface108of the hanger running tool, which may be a corresponding threaded surface.

Further, the second mating surface128of the hanger120may be used to mate the hanger120to a tubular string. Accordingly, the second mating surface128may be a threaded surface to threadedly engage with a corresponding mating surface on the tubular string. In one or more embodiments, as the first mating surface126and the second mating surface128of the hanger120may be threaded surfaces, the first hanger mating surface126may include or be formed as a right-hand thread form or a left-hand thread form, in which the second hanger mating surface128may include or be formed as the other of the right-hand thread form and the left-hand thread form. Therefore, in such an embodiment, the first mating surface126and the second mating surface128of the hanger120may have opposing thread forms. In one or more embodiments, the hanger120may also include an engagement surface136, such as formed or included on the first end122of the hanger120. In this embodiment, the engagement surface136may be a castellated surface that may include a plurality of castellations formed therein.

Referring now toFIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3, multiple views of a hanger running tool200and a hanger220in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. Particularly,FIG. 2Ashows a cross-sectional view of the hanger running tool200and the hanger220in an engaged position,FIG. 2Bshows a cross-sectional view of the hanger running tool200and the hanger220in a disengaged position, andFIG. 3shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the hanger running tool200and the hanger220in the engaged position. The hanger220may be similar to the hanger120shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B. Further, the hanger running tool200may include an outer sleeve240and an inner driving sleeve242axially movable with respect to the outer sleeve240. The hanger running tool200may include an engagement surface244, such as formed on a lower end of the inner driving sleeve242, to selectively engage an engagement surface236of the hanger220.

In one or more embodiments, when mating the hanger220to a tubular string, the hanger220may be rotated with respect to the tubular string to threadedly engage the mating surfaces between the hanger220and the tubular string. As such, the hanger running tool200may be rotated with the hanger220to rotate the hanger220with respect to the tubular string. In such an embodiment, the mating surface of the hanger220to threadedly engage with the hanger running tool200and the mating surface of the hanger220to threadedly engage with the tubular string may have opposing thread forms. This configuration may enable the hanger running tool200to rotate the hanger220in one direction to mate with the tubular string, but such rotation may also un-mate or disengage the hanger running tool200from the hanger220. Accordingly, to facilitate mating the hanger running tool200, the hanger220, the tubular string supported by the hanger220, and/or the landing string supporting the hanger running tool200, the hanger running tool200may selectively engage the hanger220, such as through engagement surfaces236and244, to selectively prevent rotation between the hanger running tool200and the hanger220.

As shown, in this embodiment, the outer sleeve240may include an outer sleeve mating surface246that may be used to mate with a hanger mating surface226of the hanger220. The hanger mating surface226may be similar to the first mating surface126of the hanger120shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B, in which the mating surface226may be formed or included on an external surface232of the hanger220. Further, the outer sleeve mating surface246may be formed or included on an internal surface248of the outer sleeve240. Accordingly, the hanger mating surface226of the hanger220may be a threaded surface to threadedly engage with the outer sleeve mating surface246of the hanger running tool200, which may be a corresponding threaded surface. The hanger running tool200may also include a mating surface206, such as formed on the internal surface248of the outer sleeve240. The mating surface206may be used to mate the hanger running tool200to a landing string. Accordingly, the mating surface206may be a threaded surface to threadedly engage with a corresponding mating surface on the landing string.

Further, in this embodiment, the inner driving sleeve242may include the inner driving sleeve engagement surface244that may be used to engage, such as selectively engage, with a hanger engagement surface236of the hanger220. The hanger engagement surface236may be similar to the hanger engagement surface136of the hanger120shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B, in which the engagement surface236may be formed or included on an end of the hanger220. Further, the inner driving sleeve engagement surface244may be formed or included on an end of the inner driving sleeve242. The inner driving sleeve engagement surface244and the hanger engagement surface236may correspond with each other such that protrusions formed on one of the engagement surfaces correspond and complement with indentions formed on the other of the engagements surfaces. This configuration may enable rotation to be translated between the engagement surfaces when the engagement surfaces are engaged with each other. As such, in this embodiment, the hanger engagement surface236of the hanger220may be a castellated surface to engage with the inner driving sleeve mating surface244of the hanger running tool200, which may be a corresponding castellated surface.

In one or more embodiments, the inner driving sleeve242may be axially movable with respect to, such as axially movable within, the outer sleeve240. In particular, the inner driving sleeve242may be axially movable with respect to the outer sleeve240between an engaged position (e.g., a lower position), as shown particularly inFIG. 2A, and a disengaged position (e.g., an upper position), as shown particularly inFIG. 2B. In the engaged position, the inner driving sleeve engagement surface244may engage with the hanger engagement surface236of the hanger220such that rotation of the hanger running tool200may translate into rotation of the hanger220, such as when rotating the hanger220with the hanger running tool200. In the disengaged position, the inner driving sleeve engagement surface244may remain disengaged from the hanger engagement surface236of the hanger200such that rotation of the hanger running tool200does not translate into rotation of the hanger220through the engagement surfaces236and244.

As discussed above, the hanger220may be used to mate to a tubular string. Accordingly, the hanger220may include a second hanger mating surface228, similar to that shown inFIGS. 1A and 1Bthat may be used to mate, such as threadedly engage, with a corresponding mating surface on the tubular string. Accordingly, as the first hanger mating surface226and the second hanger mating surface of the hanger220may be threaded surfaces, the first hanger mating surface226may include or be formed as a right-hand thread form or a left-hand thread form, and the second hanger mating surface228may include or be formed as the other of the right-hand thread form and the left-hand thread form. Therefore, in such an embodiment, the first hanger mating surface226and the second hanger mating surface228of the hanger220may have opposing thread forms.

As discussed above, to facilitate mating the hanger running tool200, the hanger220, the tubular string supported by the hanger220, and/or the landing string supporting the hanger running tool200, the hanger running tool200may selectively engage the hanger220to selectively prevent rotation between the hanger running tool200and the hanger220. For example, during use, when mating the hanger220to a tubular string to be supported by the hanger220, the inner driving sleeve engagement surface244may engage with the hanger engagement surface236of the hanger220, such as by moving the inner driving sleeve242to the engaged position with respect to the outer sleeve240, such that rotation of the hanger running tool200may translate into rotation of the hanger220. This configuration may enable the mating surfaces between the hanger220and the tubular string to mate and engage while also preventing the mating surfaces between the hanger220and the hanger running tool200to un-mate and disengage.

In an embodiment in which it is desired to un-mate and disengage the mating surfaces between the hanger220and the hanger running tool200, the inner driving sleeve engagement surface244may disengage from the hanger engagement surface236of the hanger220. For example, the inner driving sleeve242may be moved to the disengaged position with respect to the outer sleeve240such that rotation of the hanger running tool200does not translate into rotation of the hanger220. This configuration may enable the mating surfaces between the hanger220and the hanger running tool200to un-mate and disengage, such as when retrieving the hanger running tool200from a well while leaving the hanger220with a tubing string set in the well.

In one or more embodiments, engagement of the hanger engagement surface236with the inner driving sleeve engagement surface244may enable the hanger running tool200to rotate the hanger220such that the second hanger mating surface of the hanger220mates with the tubular string without un-mating the first hanger mating surface226with the outer sleeve mating surface246. Further, in one or more embodiments, engagement of the hanger engagement surface236with the inner driving sleeve engagement surface244may enable the hanger running tool200to rotate the hanger220in a first direction and may disable the hanger running tool200to rotate the hanger220in a second direction.

As discussed above, the hanger engagement surface236may include or be formed as a castellated surface, and the inner driving sleeve engagement surface244may include or be formed as a corresponding castellated surface. As such, when the castellated surfaces are engaged, rotation, such as in either a first direction and/or a second direction, may be imparted between the castellated surfaces. However, in one or more embodiments, the engagement surfaces and/or castellated surfaces may be formed such that rotation is imparted in only one direction, and not the other direction, between the surfaces.

As shown in reference toFIG. 4, the castellated surface of the inner driving sleeve242may include one or more castellations250and the castellated surface of the hanger220may include one or more castellations252. As such, in one or more embodiments, one side of the castellations250of the inner driving sleeve242may include or have formed thereon a tapered edge254. In particular, the castellations250may each include a leading edge and a trailing edge, in which the trailing edge may be chamfered. By including a tapered edge254on the castellations250, the castellated surface of the inner driving sleeve242may only impart rotation upon the castellated surface of the hanger220in a first direction F, whereas the tapered edge254may prevent the castellated surface of the inner driving sleeve242from imparting rotation upon the castellated surface of the hanger220in a second direction S.

For example, when the inner driving sleeve242is rotated in the first direction F (e.g., the right direction) with respect to the hanger220, the leading edge of the castellation250of the inner driving sleeve242may engage the leading edge of the castellation252of the hanger220, thereby enabling the inner driving sleeve242to impart rotation upon the hanger220. However, when the inner driving sleeve242is rotated in the second direction S (e.g., the left direction) with respect to the hanger220, the trailing edge of the castellation250of the inner driving sleeve242may be a tapered edge254such that the castellations250and252do not impart or translate rotation amongst each other. Instead, the tapered edge254is contacted and engaged by the castellation252to impart axial movement between the hanger220and the inner driving sleeve242, such as to move the inner driving sleeve242from the engaged position to the disengaged position. As such, rotation in the second direction S may in fact move the inner driving sleeve242from the engaged position to the disengaged position with respect to the outer sleeve200. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, in addition or in alternative to the inner driving sleeve, the castellated surface of the hanger220may include tapered or chamfered edges for desired engagement between the engagement surfaces236and244.

In one or more embodiments, the outer sleeve240and the inner driving sleeve242may include a groove and a projected surface formed therebetween, such as to facilitate movement between the outer sleeve240and the inner driving sleeve242. For example, inFIG. 3, the outer sleeve240may include a groove256formed on the internal surface248of the outer sleeve240, and the inner driving sleeve242may include a projected surface258formed on an outer surface260of the inner driving sleeve242. The projected surface258of the inner driving sleeve242may be engageable with and/or axially movable within the groove256, such as movable between the engaged position (e.g., lower position), as shown, and the disengaged position (e.g., upper position).

In one or more embodiments, the inner driving sleeve242may be formed as or include a plurality of segments262. For example, to include a projected surface received within a groove between the outer sleeve240and the inner driving sleeve242, one of the outer sleeve240and the inner driving sleeve242may be formed as or include a plurality of segments. Accordingly, as shown inFIG. 5, the inner driving sleeve242may include the plurality of segments262. In this embodiment, the inner driving sleeve242may be formed to include four segments262, though the present disclosure is not so limited.

To prevent rotation between the outer sleeve240and the inner driving sleeve242, one or more keys may be engageable with and/or axially movable within a keyway between the outer sleeve240and one or more of the segments262of the inner driving sleeve242. For example, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, a key264may be connected to and/or formed with one or more segments262of the inner driving sleeve242, thereby projecting from the outer surface260of the inner driving sleeve242. Further, the outer sleeve240may include a keyway266formed on the internal surface248of the outer sleeve240. As such, the key264may be engageable with and/or axially movable within the keyway266, such as movable between the engaged position (e.g., lower position) and the disengaged position (e.g., upper position), as shown.

In one or more embodiments, the outer sleeve240and the inner driving sleeve242may include one or more studs engageable with and axially movable within a slot between the outer sleeve240and the inner driving sleeve242, such as to selectively prevent axial movement of the inner driving sleeve242with respect to outer sleeve240. Further, a securing mechanism, such as a nut, may be used to secure the stud in a relative position within the slot to prevent axial movement of the inner driving sleeve242with respect to outer sleeve240. For example, with respect toFIGS. 3, 7, and 8, one or more studs268may be mated, such as threadedly engaged, with holes270formed within the inner driving sleeve242. The studs268may then be engageable with and axially movable within a slot272formed within the outer sleeve240, such as movable between the engaged position (e.g., lower position) and the disengaged position (e.g., upper position). A securing mechanism274, such as a nut, may be used to secure the studs268within the slot272, such that when the stud268is secured within the slot272by the securing mechanism274, axial movement of the inner driving sleeve242with respect to outer sleeve240is prevented. In one or more embodiments, at least stud and slot may be included with each segment of the inner driving sleeve.

In one or more embodiments, the hanger running tool200may include one or more seals positioned between the outer sleeve240and the inner driving sleeve242, such as to prevent fluid from passing through the hanger running tool200and/or between the outer sleeve240and the inner driving sleeve242. For example, still referring toFIGS. 3, 7, and 8, a seal276may be positioned about each slot272formed between the outer sleeve240and the inner driving sleeve242to prevent fluid from passing through the slot272. In this embodiment, a groove278may be formed within the external surface260of the inner driving sleeve242with a seal276positioned within the groove278. However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, that additional, or alternative seals, may be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In one or more embodiments, one or more methods or mechanisms may be used to facilitate the connection, set-up, and running of a hanger running tool. For example, as shown inFIG. 9, a handle280with a tag282may be removably connected to the hanger running tool200, and more particularly to the outer sleeve240of the hanger running tool200. The tag282may have a message, such as to remind a user to set the hanger running tool200in an engaged position for use and/or to remind a user of the hanger running tool200, to secure to secure the studs268within the slot272with the securing mechanisms274.