# US 2014/0196910 A1 · Apparatus and methods of running casing

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- Number: US 2014/0196910 A1
- Document ID: US20140196910A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/152,600
- Filed: 2014-01-10
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-12
- Assignees: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
- Applicants: Weatherford/Lamb, inc.
- Inventors: Tuong Thanh LE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196910A1

## CPC

- E21B 17/08: Casing joints
- E21B 7/20: Driving or forcing casings or pipes into boreholes, e.g. sinking; Simultaneously drilling and casing boreholes
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

In one embodiment, the first casing string is releasably coupled to a second casing string using a latch assembly. The second casing string is released from the conductor after the first casing string is properly positioned in the wellbore. The latch assembly is configured to release the coupling by manipulating the second casing string relative to the first casing string.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of coupling a first tubular to a second tubular, comprising:
disposing the second tubular in the first tubular, wherein the first tubular includes a latch member and the second tubular includes a second latch member;
engaging the first latch member with the second latch member by extending the first latch member toward the second latch member;
maintaining engagement of the first latch member to the second latch member; and
applying a downward force to retract the first latch member, thereby disengaging the first latch member from the second latch member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein maintaining the engagement comprises rotating the first latch member relative to the first tubular to move the first latch member to a lock position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising rotating the first latch member relative to the first tubular to unlock the first latch member before applying the downward force.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the first latch member is rotating by rotating the second tubular.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising using a pin to lock the first latch member in the lock position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the first latch member is extended in a direction substantially parallel to a radial direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first latch member is extended in a direction substantially parallel to a radial direction.

### Claim 8

A latch assembly, comprising:
a latch housing having a first latch member;
a latch mandrel having a second latch member, wherein the latch mandrel is disposed in the latch housing; and
an elevator for extending and retracting the first latch member relative to the second latch member for engaging or disengaging the first latch member to the second latch member, wherein the first latch member is rotatable relative to the elevator to lock the first latch member in an engaged position with the second latch member.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The latch assembly of claim 8, wherein the first latch member is configured to extend in a direction substantially parallel to a radial direction.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The latch assembly of claim 9, further comprising a pocket in the latch housing for receiving the elevator and the first latch member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The latch assembly of claim 10, further comprising a ratchet for controlling movement of the elevator.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The latch assembly of claim 8, further comprising a pocket in the latch housing for receiving the elevator and the first latch member.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The latch assembly of claim 8, wherein the first latch member is coupled to the elevator using a dovetail connection.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The latch assembly of claim 8, further comprising a ratchet for controlling movement of the elevator.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The latch assembly of claim 8, further comprising a shearable pin for locking the first latch member.

### Claim 16

A casing assembly comprising:
a first casing having a first latch member;
a second casing having a second latch member, wherein the second casing is disposed in the first casing; and
an elevator for extending and retracting the first latch member relative to the second latch member, wherein the first latch member is rotatable relative to the elevator to lock the first latch member in an engaged position with the second latch member.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The casing assembly of claim 16, further comprising a drilling string coupled to the second casing.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The latch assembly of claim 16, wherein the first latch member is configured to extend in a direction substantially parallel to a radial direction.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The latch assembly of claim 16, further comprising a pocket in the latch housing for receiving the elevator and the first latch member.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The latch assembly of claim 16, wherein the first latch member is coupled to the elevator using a dovetail connection.