Running tool
AssigneeVetco Gray Inc.
InventorsGuilherme Eppinghaus, Nicholas P. Gette
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An embodiment of a running tool for setting and testing a packoff seal of a well pipe hanger has an elongated stem having an axial passage, a body, a cam, a cam tail, a stem engagement element, and a piston. A method of setting and testing a packoff seal comprises rotating the stem relative to the body to a delivery position, thereby disengaging the engaging element from the stem. The stem moves axially downward relative to the body to land the packoff. The engagement element reengages the stem in a landing position. Fluid pressure is applied to the axial passage to set and seal the packoff, thereby moving the running tool to a set position.
Claims23
A running tool for setting and testing an annular seal having an energizing ring, in an annulus between an inner wellhead member and an outer wellhead member of a well, the running tool comprising:
- a seal delivery and setting system adapted to position the annular seal in the annulus between the inner wellhead member and the outer wellhead member and to drive the energizing ring to set the annular seal in the annulus, and
- wherein the seal delivery and setting system is adapted to prevent the seal delivery and setting system from driving the energizing ring to set the annular seal in the annulus unless the annular seal is located at a desired location in the annulus relative to the inner wellhead member.
A running tool for setting and testing an annular seal having an energizing ring in an annulus between an inner wellhead member and an outer wellhead member of a well, the running tool comprising:
- an elongated stem having an axial passage;
- a body coupled to the stem and adapted to support the inner wellhead member;
- a stem engagement element carried by the body and selectively engageable with the stem to restrict axial movement of the stem relative to the body, the stem engagement assembly comprising a cam positioned relative to the body and the stem such that rotation of the stem causes the cam to translate axially relative to the body, wherein the cam enables the engagement element to engage the stem at a first position on the stem, directs the stem engagement element to release the stem to enable the stem to drop downward relative to the body, and then enables the stem engagement element to re-engage the stem at a second position on the stem at a given axial distance from the first position on the stem;
- and
- a seal delivery assembly adapted to support an annular seal and to deliver the annual seal to a desired location relative to the inner wellhead member, the seal delivery assembly being coupled to the stem such that the annular seal is moved downward with the stem when the stem is dropped and downward movement of the stem is limited by downward movement of the annular seal, the seal delivery assembly comprising a piston axially movable relative to the stem and adapted to drive the energizing ring to set the annular seal in the annulus when the stem engagement element is engaged with the stem and a sufficient pressure is applied to the piston via the axial passage in the stem,
- wherein the stem will not travel a sufficient distance to enable the stem engagement element to engage the stem at the second position unless the annular seal travels the desired axial distance relative to the inner wellhead member.
A method of setting and testing an annular seal having an energizing ring in an annulus between an inner wellhead member and an outer wellhead member of a well, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a running tool with an elongated stem having an axial passage;
- a body substantially surrounding and connected to the stem;
- a cam positioned between and connected to the body and the stem such that rotation of the stem causes the cam to translate axially relative to the body;
- a stem engagement element initially engaged with the stem and maintained in engagement with the stem by the cam;
- and a piston, substantially surrounding portions of the stem and the body and downwardly moveable relative to the stem;
- (b) running the tool into a subsea wellhead;
- (c) rotating the stem relative to the body to a delivery position, thereby removing the support of the cam and disengaging the engaging element from the stem;
- (d) moving the stem axially downward relative to the body to land the annular seal;
- (e) if the annular seal is delivered to a desired location in the annulus relative to the inner wellhead member, reengaging the engaging element with the stem in a landing position;
- and
- (f) applying fluid pressure to the axial passage, thereby driving the energizing ring to set the annular seal in the annulus, thereby moving the running tool to a set position, if the annual seal was delivered to the desired location in step (e).
The method of claim. 16, wherein:
- step (a) further comprises providing the running tool with a piston engagement element connected to the stem and engaged with the piston in a first engaged position;
- and wherein step (f) further comprises:
- moving the piston engagement element from a first engaged position to a second engaged position, thereby allowing weight applied to the stem to be transferred to the piston if the annual seal was delivered to the desired location in step (e).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.