Wellhead bowl protector and retrieving tool
OwnerJoe A. Younginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wellhead protection system is disclosed including a wear bushing and retrieving tool. The wear bushing is supported in the wellhead and defines an enlarged upper portion for receiving the retrieving tool. The retrieving tool carries at least one retractable lug member for locking engagement with the wear bushing.
Claims20
A wellhead protection system including a wear bushing and a retrieving tool, the improvement comprising:
- a) a wear bushing supported within the wellhead, wherein said wear bushing includes an enlarged upper end having an external support shoulder for engagement with an internal support shoulder formed in the wellhead;
- b) wherein said wear bushing further includes an internal circumferential slot intersected by at least one vertically extending slot, said vertical slot extending from said circumferential slot to the upper end of said wear bushing;
- c) a retrieving tool having at least one outwardly biased, retractable lug member mounted thereon;
- and
- d) wherein said retrieving tool includes an enlarged portion adapted to be received within said enlarged upper end of said wear bushing.
The wellhead protection system of clam 4 including at least one bolt extending through the base of said at least one retractable lug member for retaining said lug member within said receptacle, said bolt including stop means for limiting the outward movement of said at least one retractable lug member within said receptacle.
A method of retrieving a wear bushing from a wellhead comprising the steps of:
- a) lowering a retrieving tool into the wellhead for locking engagement with the wear bushing;
- b) aligning said retrieving tool with said wear bushing for automatically forcing lug members carried by said retrieving tool outwardly into locking engagement with said wear bushing;
- c) monitoring drill string weight for determining engagement of said retrieving tool with said wear bushing, wherein a substantial decrease in drill string weight is an indication that said retrieving tool is engaged with said wear bushing;
- and
- d) removing the wear bushing from the wellhead.
A retrieving tool for removing a wear bushing from a wellhead, comprising:
- a) a tubular body having an axial passage extending therethrough, said tubular body including an externally threaded pin end and an internally threaded box end for incorporating said retrieving tool in a drill string:
- b) wherein said retrieving tool includes an enlarged portion between said box end and said pin end of said tubular body, said enlarged portion being profiled to be received within an enlarged bore in the wear bushing;
- and
- c) outwardly biased, retractable lock means carried on said tubular body for locking engagement with the wear bushing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.