Mechanical support for expandable liner hanger
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsFrancois Chevallier, Daniel Newton, Yian Zhao, Xiaoguang Allan Zhong, Michael Linley Fripp
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Expansion cones and methods of using expansion cones with expandable liner hangers. An example expansion cone includes a detachable support coupled to a mandrel. The detachable support is configured to contact an interior surface of the expandable liner hanger during expansion of the liner hanger. The detachable support is further configured to detach after the liner hanger is expanded thereby producing a detached support. The detached support remains in contact with the interior surface of the expandable liner hanger after expansion of the expandable liner hanger and removal of the mandrel.
Claims20
An expansion cone for an expandable liner hanger, the expansion cone comprising:
- a detachable support coupled to a mandrel;
- wherein the detachable support is configured to contact an interior surface of the expandable liner hanger during expansion of the liner hanger;
- wherein the detachable support remains coupled to the mandrel during expansion of the liner hanger;
- wherein the detachable support is further configured to detach after the liner hanger is expanded thereby producing a detached support;
- wherein the detached support remains in contact with the interior surface of the expandable liner hanger after expansion of the expandable liner hanger and removal of the mandrel;
- wherein the detached support is configured to detach from the mandrel when the mandrel is pulled uphole;
- wherein the liner hanger comprises a protrusion and the detached support is positioned adjacent to the protrusion to reinforce a contact pressure of the protrusion on an adjacent surface;
- wherein the detachable support comprises a contact surface in contact with the interior surface of the expandable liner hanger after expansion of the expandable liner hanger and removal of the mandrel;
- wherein the detachable support further comprises a protrusion on the contact surface.
A method for expanding a liner hanger, the method comprises:
- providing an expansion cone comprising:
- a detachable support coupled to a mandrel;
- applying pressure to an interior surface of the liner hanger with the expansion cone to expand the liner hanger;
- detaching the detachable support from the expansion cone by pulling the mandrel uphole after the liner hanger is expanded to produce a detached support that remains in contact with the interior surface of the expandable liner hanger after expansion of the expandable liner hanger;
- wherein the detachable support remains coupled to the mandrel during expansion of the liner hanger;
- and wherein the liner hanger comprises a protrusion and the detached support is positioned adjacent to the protrusion to reinforce a contact pressure of the protrusion on an adjacent surface;
- wherein the detachable support comprises a contact surface in contact with the interior surface of the expandable liner hanger after expansion of the expandable liner hanger and removal of the mandrel;
- wherein the detachable support further comprises a protrusion on the contact surface.
A system for expanding a liner hanger, the system comprising:
- a liner hanger having an interior surface;
- an expansion cone comprising:
- a detachable support coupled to a mandrel;
- wherein the detachable support is configured to contact the interior surface of the expandable liner hanger during expansion of the liner hanger;
- wherein the detachable support remains coupled to the mandrel during expansion of the liner hanger;
- wherein the detachable support is further configured to detach after the liner hanger is expanded thereby producing a detached support;
- wherein the detached support remains in contact with the interior surface of the expandable liner hanger after expansion of the expandable liner hanger and removal of the mandrel;
- wherein the detached support is configured to detach from the mandrel when the mandrel is pulled uphole;
- wherein the liner hanger comprises a protrusion and the detached support is positioned adjacent to the protrusion to reinforce a contact pressure of the protrusion on an adjacent surface;
- wherein the detachable support comprises a contact surface in contact with the interior surface of the expandable liner hanger after expansion of the expandable liner hanger and removal of the mandrel;
- wherein the detachable support further comprises a protrusion on the contact surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.