USOO6655456B1

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 6,655,456 B1

Yokley et al. (45) Date of Patent: Dec. 2, 2003

(54) LNER HANGER SYSTEM 3.999,604 12/1976 Amancharla et al.

4,051896 10/1977 Amancharla et al.
:
(75) Inventors: John M. Yokley, Kingwood, TX (US); 4,281,711 8/1981 Braddick et al. ........... 166/118
:
Larry E. Reimert, Houston, TX (US) 4,311,194 1/1982 White ........................ 166/120
4,468,055 8/1984 Reimert
5,026,097 6/1991 Reimert
(73) Assignee: Drill-Quip, Inc., Houston, TX (US) 5,586,601 :
12/1996 Pringle ....................... 166/212
:
5,857,524 1/1999 Harris et al. ................ 166/382
(*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
patent is extended or adjusted under 35 OTHER PUBLICATIONS
U.S.C. 154(b) by 14 days. Otis Composite Catalog, "Liner Hanger Equipment and
(21) Appl. No.: 09/943,854 Services”, (1986–1987).
* cited by examiner
(22) Filed: Aug. 31, 2001
Primary Examiner Frank Tsay
Related U.S. Application Data (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Loren G. Helmreich;
(60) Provisional application No. 60/292,049, filed on May 18, Browning Bushman P.C.
2001.
(57) ABSTRACT
(51) Int. Cl................................................. E21B 43/10
(52) U.S. Cl. ........................ 166/208; 166/382; 166/216 There is disclosed a system in which a liner is lowered into
(58) Field of Search ................................. 166/382, 208, and landed within an Outer casing. The casing includes a
166/216, 123, 138 casing joint having upwardly facing landing shoulders
formed about its bore, and the liner has a receSS thereabout
(56) References Cited which receives a “C” shaped hanger carried in a retracted
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
position as it is lowered into the bore. The hanger has teeth
about it which are arranged to Seat upon the landing shoul
3.420,308 A 1/1969 Putch ders when the hanger is released to expand against the bore
3.818.987 A * 6/1974 Ellis ........................... 166/134 So that its teeth may be lowered onto the landing Surface.
3,893,717 A 7/1975 Nelson
3,946,807 A 3/1976 Amancharla et al. 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets

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 US 6,655,456 B1
1 2
LINER HANGER SYSTEM With reference now to FIG. 1, the joint 10 of the outer
casing Section is threaded at its upper and lower ends to
This application claims the benefit of provisional appli permit it to be connected as part of the outer casing installed
cation No. 60/292,049, filed May 18, 2001. in the well bore, as in the liner hanger System referred to in
This invention elates to a liner hanger System wherein a 5 the aforementioned Provisional Application. The polished
liner is to be Suspended within an outer casing in the well bore of the casing Section has an annular receSS 11 in its
bore as the liner is lowered into the outer casing for that lower portion, and a Series of Vertically Spaced, upwardly
purpose. AS well known in the art, when the liner is So facing landing shoulders 12 above the receSS 11 and Sepa
landed, it is cemented in place by means of cement pumped rated therefrom by annular restriction 14. There is another
downwardly through and upwardly through the annulus annular recess 15 formed in the bore above and separated
between the casing, and then packed off within the outer from the landing Surfaces 12 by means of an upper restric
casing. tion 16 above an annular recess 13. The restrictions and
A typical installation of this type, wherein the liner is landing shoulder are of essentially the same diameter of the
Suspended with the use of Slips, is shown and described in polished bore above them.
Provisional Application No. 60/292,049, filed May 18, 2001, 15 Hanger 17 is shown in FIG. 2 to be carried within a
entitled Liner Hanger System, and assigned to the assignee recessed portion 18 about the liner L which, as previously
of the present invention. described, may be for the purpose disclosed in the above
Other hangers for this purpose, i.e., hanging an inner noted Provisional Application. The hanger 17 is a C ring
casing within an outer casing, have locking elements Split about its circumference in position to be urged circum
adapted to be expanded into matching locking grooves ferentially outwardly from a normally contracted position to
formed in the outer casing. In Some cases, the locking engage the inner diameter of the casing when expanded, but
elements are adapted to be Spring biased into matching held in its contracted position, as shown, as the liner is run
grooves formed in the outer casing. However, these Springs into the outer casing. In this position, its lower end 20 is
are Susceptible to breaking or other malfunctions. This is adapted to be received within a groove 19 in the upper end
especially true Since the hanger often comprises a large 25 of an enlarged outer diameter portion 21 of the liner.
number of intricate parts which are expensive to replace, and The upper end of the hanger has teeth 22 formed there
which require a delay in the overall well operations. In Still about in Vertically Spaced relation corresponding to the
other cases, the hangers having only a single latching part landing Surfaces 12 of the casing and fitting within receSS 18
for fitting within a Single groove, thus limiting its load about the liner. The toothed section and lower end of the ring
carrying capacity. are connected by an outwardly enlarged cylindrical portion
The primary object of this invention is to provide a 35 whose inner Surface engages the outer Surface of enlarge
casing hanger System which overcomes these and other ment 25 about the liner.
problems inherent in prior hangers for Such systems. As will be described and shown in FIG. 3, the hanger is
These and other objects are accomplished, in accordance adapted to be raised relative to the liner to release it for
with the illustrated embodiment of this invention, by a liner 35
hanger System comprising a joint of casing adapted to be expansion outwardly into engagement with the polished
connected as part of an outer casing installed within a bore of the outer casing. Thus, liner hanger System includes
wellborn, and a liner adapted to be lowered and landed a Suitable mechanism to raise the hanger out of its retained
within the Outer casing. The bore of the casing joint has a position, to free its lower end from groove 19. As shown in
polished bore and Vertically Spaced, upwardly facing land 40 the Provisional Application, this may be accomplished by
ing Surfaces formed therein, and the liner includes a tubular raising the hanger by means of tie barS 30 connected at their
body having a receSS formed about its body, and a hanger upper ends to a cone C over which a packing element is
element comprising a circumferentially expandible and con adapted to be lowered to Set it against the outer casing. The
tractible C-ring disposed within the receSS. The ring has tie bars extend through Vertical Slots in the recessed portion
teeth on its outer diameter for landing on the landing 45 of the liner, and have an Outer flange 31 releasably connected
Surfaces of the casing joint when in its expanded portion, in a groove 32 about a lower extension of the cone C.
and upon relative vertical movement with respect to the Thus, it will be seen, from a comparison of FIG. 3 and
liner, is expanded outwardly against the polished bore. Upon FIG. 4, that raising of the packer cone will raise the lower
continued relative movement of the liner and ring, the teeth end of the hanger free from the retaining groove 19, and thus
will move into a position in which they expand further 50 permit the hanger to expand outwardly to the position of
outwardly into landed positions on the landing Surfaces to FIG. 4. This then permits rib 61 on the lower end of the tie
permit the liner to be Suspended therefrom. bar to disengage from groove 62 in the lower end of the
hanger and release the tie bars from the hanger as it moves
IN THE DRAWINGS into its upper relative position with respect to the liner. This
55 relative vertical movement between the liner and packer
FIG. 1 is a vertical Sectional view of the outer casing joint element cone has resulted from shearing of pin 33 releasably
having its bore configured to cooperate with a hanger connecting them in the position of FIG. 2. This of course can
mounted on an inner casing or liner as it is lowered into the be accomplished by raising of the packer cone relative to the
Outer casing. liner, prior to lowering of the hanger into a position opposite
FIG. 2 is a view of the liner with the hanger mounted 60 the grooves forming landing Surfaces in the bore of the outer
thereon for landing within the profiles in the outer casing; casing.
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the liner Upon lowering of the hanger with the liner from the FIG.
and its hanger being lowered into the outer casing, and 3 to the FIG. 4 position, the lower radially enlarged section
FIG. 4 is another similar view, but with the liner lowered 35 of the hanger, which extends over the outer enlargement
further to cause its hanger to engage with the profile in the 65 25 of the liner, is free to move outwardly into the recess 11
outer casing, and then lowered to a position to lock the in the outer casing. Thus, when lowered with the hanger to
hanger in position. a position opposite the landing Surfaces 12 within the outer
 US 6,655,456 B1
3 4
casing, the lower end of the hanger is free from the groove expanded portion, and a lower end fitting within the
about the liner, the teeth 22 about the upper end of the hanger groove when in its contracted portion to permit the liner
are free to be expanded outwardly onto the landing Surfaces, to be lowered through the outer casing,
thus forming multiple shoulders on which to Support the Said C-ring being expandable, upon relative vertical
load of the liner within the outer casing. This outward movement with respect to the liner, So as to release its
expansion of the normally retracted hanger element has lower end from the groove and thereby permit the ring
occurred after it has been lowered beneath the restriction 16
to expand outwardly against the Outer casing,
in the bore of the outer casing as the liner is lowered from
its FIG. 3 to its FIG. 4 position. whereby, upon continued relative movement of the liner
Upon continued lowering of the liner, the hanger is and ring, the teeth will move into a position in which
expanded by enlargement 50 on the liner to force the hanger they expand outwardly into landed positions on the
teeth 22 outwardly to maintain the hanger in its outer landing Surfaces to permit the liner to be Suspended
hanging position, as shown in FIG. 4. A downwardly facing therefrom,
shoulder 51 is formed on the outer diameter of the liner Said liner having a downwardly facing shoulder for land
above the outward enlargement 50 so as to land on the upper 15 ing on the upper end of the C-ring when expanded and
end of the hanger, as shown in FIG. 4. The outward an outward enlargement beneath the shoulder to fit
enlargement is moved into the inner diameter of the hanger, within the upper end of the ring So as to hold the ring
as shown in FIG. 4, by virtue of a tapered shoulder formed expanded.
on its upper end slidable over an inwardly and downwardly 2. AS in claim 1, including
tapered shoulder Surface on the hanger. Said part Surrounding and vertically moveable with
AS the hanger is moved downwardly into landed position, respect to the liner, and
enlargement 35 thereabout beneath its teeth fits closely a tie bar guidably reciprocable within the liner receSS
within the receSS 11 in the outer casing bore So as to limit radially inwardly of the ring and having its upper end
outward expansion of the hanger element once it is moved 25 connected, and
into hanging position. Said tie bar and C-ring having radially extending parts
An inwardly enlarged portion 60 on the lower end of the which connect the tie bar to the ring to raise the ring out
hanger, beneath its outwardly enlarged portion 35 moves of the groove and, when the ring is So raised, are
over the outer diameter of the lower end of the liner, thereby released from one other to permit the liner to be
cooperating with the enlargement 50 to maintain the hanger lowered with respect to the ring.
element in its outer hanging position. 3. AS in claim 2, wherein
What is claimed is:
1. A liner hanger System, comprising the liner receSS has a vertical slot to receive the tie bar and
a joint of casing adapted to be connected as part of an a stop Surface on its lower end to be engaged with the
outer casing installed within a wellbore, lower end of this tie bar prior to its being raised to lift
35 the lower end of the ring from the groove in liner
a liner adapted to be lowered within the outer casing, CCCSS.
the bore of Said casing joint having vertically Spaced, 4. AS in claim 1, wherein
upwardly facing upper and lower landing Surfaces the bore of the casing joint also has an upper annular
formed on an intermediate portion thereof, and a lower receSS Separated from the upper landing Surface by an
annular receSS Separated from the lower landing Surface 40
upper annular restriction.
by a lower annular restriction, 5. AS in claim 1, wherein
the Said liner including a tubular body having a receSS the liner also has a lower outward enlargement thereabout
formed thereabout with an annular groove formed in its above the groove for disposal within the lower end of
lower end, 45 the expanded ring.
a hanger comprising a circumferentially expandible and 6. AS in claim 1, wherein
contractible C-ring disposed within and closely about the bore of the casing joint has a polished bore above the
the liner receSS when in its normally contracted portion, landing Surface.
Said C-ring having teeth formed thereabout for landing on
the landing Surfaces of the casing joint when in its