Patent GB-1416083-A (GB)
Title: Well tubing hanger apparatus
IPC: E21B33/1295
Filed: 1973-03-16
Abstract: 1416083 Wells &c BAKER OIL TOOLS Inc 16 March 1973 [13 April 1972 28 July 1972] 12822/73 Heading E1F A tubing hanger TH for supporting tubing T1, T2 in a casing C comprises a body 10, 11 (Fig. 4b) having flow passages 18 to communicate with the tubing, and an anchor 34 comprising slips 46, 47 for engagement with the casing, an expander 56 for moving the slips into engagement with the casing on upward movement relative to the body, and a member 36 to move the expander upwardly. During production of a sub-aqueous well the hanger supports the tubing T1, T2, a valve assembly V (Fig. 1) having safety valves V1, V2 for the tubing T1, T2 respectively is carried by the hanger, and tubing T3, T4 extends from the valve assembly to flow lines FL on a production platform PP. The safety valves are of the kind held open by fluid pressure supplied by conduit CF. A setting tool ST (Fig. 4b) on a running string R lowers the tubing hanger and depending tubing T1, T2 into the casing and after setting of the slips is removed to permit the valve assembly to be lowered by the tubing T3, T4 onto the tubing hanger. The tubing hanger comprises the body section 10, the guide section 11 and threads 15 between the sections, the setting tool being connected to the threads during lowering of the hanger. Diametrically opposed passages 18 in the section 10 have sockets 19 and dependent tubes 20 which slidable extend through the anchor 34 and support tubing T1, T2. Diametrically opposed tie-rods 24 extending through the section 10 have their upper ends fixed by pins 28 to connecting-rods 27 of the setting tool. The lower ends of the tie rods extend through the anchor and have frangible screws 35 connecting them to the member 36. Spring rings 30 grip and lock the tie rods as they are moved upwardly through the body. The anchor comprises the expander 56, a further expander 43 having slight axial movement relative to the section 10, and the slips. The expanders and slips are interconnected, the expander 43 having two pairs of inclined surfaces 46a, 46b and the expander 56 having a pair of inclined surfaces 46c, and the surfaces co-operating with inclined surfaces on the slips. The expanders are urged together by spring washers (not shown). The setting tool comprises a body 60 (Fig. 4b) fixed to the threads 15 during lowering of the hanger, and a body 65 having a piston 75 reciprocable within the body 60 which has a piston 66 forming with the piston 75 a pressure chamber 80. The lower end of the body 65 carries a member 89 from which depend the connecting-rods 27 and flow tubes 93 engaging the sockets 19. When the hanger is at the desired depth a ball (not shown) is dropped down the string R and pressure is applied to the bore of the string R to move a sleeve 105 to release the member 65 from the member 60 and to align ports 74, 108 to open the chamber 80. Increase in the bore pressure increases pressure in the chamber 80 to move the members 60, 65 downwardly and upwardly respectively. The movement of the member 65 raises the member 36 and the movement of the member 60 lowers the section 10 to bring the expanders together to set the slips onto the casing. Further increase in pressure shears the pins 28 and clears the rods 27 and the flow tubes from the hanger, so that the running string and setting tool may be rotated to free the setting tool from the hanger prior to withdrawal from the casing. The valve assembly is lowered to seat in the section 10 and locked thereto by a releasable latch which engages beneath a flange 16 when the tubing T4 is rotated. After the valve assembly is withdrawn from the casing the hanger and tubing T1, T2 are withdrawn by a tool RT (Fig. 31a). The tool RT is carried by a running string R2 and has a rotatable annular carrier 402 (Fig. 31c) supporting two nozzles 404 to be received in the sockets 19 to circulate fluid into the tubing T1, T2. The tool is rotationally aligned by a key 412 engaging the section 11, and is fixed by latch finger ends 421 engaging below the flange 16. Initially downward pressure is applied to the tool by applying fluid pressure to a cup 445 to avoid release of the hanger. After landing the tool RT in the section 11, the string R2 is rotated to rotate the tool body 400 (Fig. 31b) so that a member 409 positively locks the latch finger ends in engagement with the flange 16. The string R2 is then tensioned to cause the expander 43 to release the slips 46, 47 after the frangible screws 35 have broken. The cup acts to cushion the shock of breaking the screws. A ball 439 is dropped onto the sleeve 432 and fluid pressure is applied to it to move the sleeve 432 downwardly to equalize the pressure over the cup so that that string R2 can be elevated and the tool RT, the hanger and the tubing T1, T2 pulled from the well.