Patent ID: 8286718

Claim:
A liner hanger for supporting a liner in a well, comprising: an expandable tubular hanger having initial run-in diameter and an expanded diameter for supporting the liner in the well; a running tool supported on a work string and having an internal bore within a tool mandrel for passing fluid through the running tool; a tubular expander supported on the running tool, the tubular expander having an expander outermost diameter greater than the initial run-in diameter of the tubular hanger; an actuator for forcibly moving the tubular expander axially from a position substantially axially spaced from the tubular hanger to a position substantially within the tubular hanger, thereby radially expanding the tubular hanger; a retainer secured to the tool mandrel, such that downward movement of the work string and the retainer releases collet fingers connecting the tool mandrel to the tubular hanger, thereby releasing the collet fingers from the tubular hanger so that the tool may be retrieved to the surface by a first release mechanism; a hydraulic piston responsive to fluid pressure within the mandrel to selectively engage and disengage a clutch rotatably interconnecting the tool mandrel and a housing supporting latching members, the latching members rotatably interconnecting the tubular hanger and the housing, such that when the clutch is disengaged, rotation of the mandrel will unthread the retainer from the tubular hanger, thereby providing a second release mechanism to retrieve the tool to the surface; and a safety joint threadably connecting the tool mandrel and the upper collet retainer, such that left-hand rotation of the mandrel axially lowers the retainer relative to the collet fingers, thereby providing a third release mechanism to retrieve a substantial portion of the tool to the surface.