Wear bushing running and retrieval tools

An assembly for running and retrieving a wear bushing comprising:

• a tool body having a longitudinal flowbore defined therein;
• the tool body having an enlarged diameter portion that is sized to pass entirely through a central opening in a wear bushing to be run and retrieved;
• an engagement member that is moveable with respect to the tool body, the engagement member being operable to selectively engage a portion of a wear bushing to carry it upon the tool body;
• and
• wherein the engagement member comprises a radially expandable C-ring having an upper annular recess to engage a downward protrusion within a recess of a wear bushing, thereby securing the wear bushing onto the tool body.

A method of removably running a wear bushing within a wellhead comprising:

• reversably latching a wear bushing to a tool body that is incorporated within a drill string;
• disposing the drill string within a wellbore;
• lowering the drill string within the wellbore to seat the wear bushing within a wellhead for the wellbore;
• continuing to lower the drill string within the wellbore to disengage the tool body from the wear bushing;
• raising the drill string within the wellbore;
• selectively engaging the wear bushing with the tool body;
• further withdrawing the drill string from the wellbore to remove the wear bushing from the wellhead;
• and
• wherein the operation of selectively engaging the wear bushing with the tool body comprises engaging a portion of the wear bushing with a radially expandable C-ring carried on the tool body.

A wear bushing assembly, comprising:

• a tool body for incorporation into a drill string;
• a wear bushing having a bore that receives the tool body, the wear bushing having an outer diameter dimensioned to land within a wellhead assembly;
• a latching member on the outer diameter of the wear bushing for selectively locking the wear bushing within the wellhead assembly;
• and
• a radially expandable ring that resides within a recess and provides an engagement between the tool body and the bore of the wear bushing to releasably secure the wear bushing to the tool body as the wear bushing is being lowered into the wellhead assembly, the ring releasing the tool body from the wear bushing after the wear bushing lands in the wellhead assembly to enable the drill string to be lowered further into the well for performing drilling operations.

A method of removably running a wear bushing within a wellhead comprising:

• reversably latching a wear bushing to a tool body that is incorporated within a drill string;
• disposing the drill string within a wellbore;
• lowering the drill string within the wellbore to seat the wear bushing within a wellhead for the wellbore;
• continuing to lower the drill string within the wellbore to disengage the tool body from the wear bushing;
• raising the drill string within the wellbore;
• selectively engaging the wear bushing with the tool body;
• further withdrawing the drill string from the wellbore to remove the wear bushing from the wellhead;
• and
• wherein the operation of selectively engaging the wear bushing with the tool body comprises engaging a portion of the wear bushing with a radially expandable ring.