Tubing hanging method and apparatus

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, said second string of tubing being latched to said tubing hanger against upward movement in said second bore by manipulation of said running in string, and said running in string being removed by elevating said running in string from said tubing string.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1, said second string of tubing being latched to said tubing hanger against upward movement in said second bore by manipulation of said running in string, taking an upward pull on said running in string to determine that second string of tubing is latched to said tubing hanger against upward movement, said running in string being removed from said tubing hanger.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1, said second string of tubing being latched to said tubing hanger against upward movement in said second bore by manipulation of said running in string, and displacing fluid under pressure downwardly through said running in string and said second string of tubing.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1, said second string of tubing being latched to said tubing hanger against upward movement in said second bore by manipulation of said running in string, taking an upward pull on said running in string to determine that said second string of tubing is latched against upward movement, displacing fluid under pressure downwardly through said running in string and said second string of tubing, said running in string being removed from said tubing hanger.

Claim 7

In tubing hanger apparatus adapted to support a plurality of tubing strings within a casing supported by a casing hanger, said tubing hanger apparatus including a body having means for connection with a first string of tubing, said tubing hanger body having a first bore therethrough for communication with said first string of tubing, said body having a second bore, a tubing hanger mandrel having means for connection with a second string of tubing, said body and said mandrel having means for supporting said mandrel in said second bore, and tool means removably connectable to said mandrel for moving said mandrel and said second string of tubing through said second bore, said body and said mandrel having latch means for releasably holding said mandrel against upward movement in said second bore.

Claim 8

In tubing hanger apparatus adapted to support a plurality of tubing strings within a casing supported by a casing hanger, said tubing hanger apparatus including a body having means for connection with a first string of tubing, said tubing hanger body having a first bore therethrough for communication with said first string of tubing, said body having a second bore, a tubing hanger mandrel having means for connection with a second string of tubing, said body and said mandrel having means for supporting said mandrel in said second bore, and tool means removably connectable to said mandrel for moving said mandrel and said second string of tubing through said second bore, said body and said mandrel having latch means for releasably holding said mandrel against upward movement in said second bore.

Claim 9

In tubing hanger apparatus as defined in claim 6, said latch means comprising a resilient split latch ring adapted to engage said mandrel, and a shoulder in said body surrounding said second bore engageable by said ring.

Claim 10

In tubing hanger apparatus as defined in claim 6, said latch means comprising a resilient split latch ring adapted to engage said mandrel, a shoulder in said body surrounding said second bore engageable by said ring, and said lock ring being circumferentially expansible and Contractable between a first position coengageable between said shoulder and said mandrel and a second position at which said mandrel is free to move upwardly in said second bore.

Claim 11

In tubing hanger apparatus as defined in claim 6, said latch means comprising a resilient split latch ring adapted to engage said mandrel, a shoulder in said body surrounding said second bore engageable by said ring, said ring being inherently contractable for engagement between said shoulder and said mandrel, and said tool having means for expanding said ring to a position at which said mandrel is free for upward movement in said second bore.

Claim 12

In tubing hanger apparatus as defined in claim 6, said latch means comprising a resilient split latch ring adapted to engage said mandrel, a shoulder in said body surrounding said second bore engageable by said ring, said ring being inherently expansible for engagement between said shoulder and said mandrel, and said tool having means for contracting said ring to a position at which said mandrel is free for upward movement in said second bore.

Claim 13

In tubing hanger apparatus adapted to support a plurality of tubing strings within a casing supported by a casing hanger, said tubing hanger apparatus including a body having means for connection with a first string of tubing, said tubing hanger body having a first bore therethrough for communication with said first string of tubing, said body having a second bore, a tubing hanger mandrel having means for connection with a second string of tubing, said body and said mandrel having means for supporting said mandrel in said second bore, and tool means removable connectable to said mandrel for moving said mandrel and said second string of tubing through said second bore, latch means operable by said tool means for releasably holding said mandrel against upward movement in said second bore, said tool means and said mandrel having sealing means coengaged when said tool means is operated to effect latching of said mandrel against said upward movement.

Claim 14

In tubing hanger apparatus adapted to support a plurality of tubing strings within a casing supported by a casing hanger, said tubing hanger apparatus including a body having means for connection with a first string of tubing, said tubing hanger body having a first bore therethrough for communication with said first string of tubing, said body having a second bore, a tubing hanger mandrel having means for connection with a second string of tubing, said body and said mandrel having means for supporting said mandrel in said second bore, and tool means removable connectable to said mandrel for moving said mandrel and said second string of tubing through said second bore, latch means operable by said tool means for releasably holding said mandrel against upward movement in said second bore, said tool means and said mandrel having sealing means coengaged when said tool means is operated to effect latching of said mandrel against said upward movement.

Claim 15

In tubing hanger apparatus adapted to support a plurality of tubing strings in a well bore from a well head housing, said well head housing supporting casing hanger means having a string of casing extending downwardly into the well bore: tubing hanger means including a body, means for supporting said body in said well head housing, said body having a first bore therethrough, a first tubing string supported by said body and communicating with said first bore, said first tubing string extending downwardly in said casing, said body having a second bore therein, means for removably supporting a second string of tubing in said second bore including a tubing hanger mandrel, said second string of tubing being connected to said mandrel, and landing means for supporting said mandrel in said second bore with said second string of tubing extending into the casing, releasable latch means for holding said mandrel against upward movement in said second bore.

Claim 16

In tubing hanger apparatus adapted to support a plurality of tubing strings in a well bore from a well head housing, said well head housing supporting casing hanger means having a string of casing extending downwardly into the well bore: tubing hanger means including a body, means for supporting said body in said well head housing, said body having a first bore therethrough, a first tubing string supported by said body and communicating with said first bore, said first tubing string extending downwardly in said casing, said body having a second bore therein, means for removably supporting a second string of tubing in said second bore including a tubing hanger mandrel, said second string of tubing being connected to said mandrel, and landing means for supporting said mandrel in said second bore with said second string of tubing extending into the casing, releasable latch means for holding said mandrel against upward movement in said second bore.

Claim 17

In tubing hanger apparatus as defined in claim 12, a running tool releasably connected to said mandrel, and means on said running tool for initially holding said latch means disengaged.

Claim 18

In tubing hanger apparatus as defined in claim 12, a running tool releasably connected to said mandrel, and means on said running tool for initially holding said latch means disengaged, said running tool being threadedly connectable to and releasable from said mandrel, said means for initially holding said latch means disengaged releasing said latch means for engagement responsive to threaded movement of said running tool relative to said mandrel but before said running tool is disconnected from said mandrel.

Claim 21

The method as defined in claim 15, taking an upward pull on the running string prior to release of the running tool from the tubing string to determine the latching condition of the tubing string.

Claim 22

The method as defined in claim 15, the running string and running tool being manipulated by imparting rotation thereto.

Claim 23

The method as defined in claim 15, the tubing string being in sealed relation to the hanger, the running tool being in sealed relation to the tubing string, the manipulation of the running string and running tool to effect latching of the tubing string occurring without disturbing the sealed relation of the running tool to the tubing string, imposing pressure on fluid in the running string and tubing string to test the sealed relation of the tubing string to the hanger, the running tool being released from the tubing string after testing of said sealed relation.

Claim 24

The method as defined in claim 18, the running string and running tool being manipulated by imparting rotation thereto, release of the running tool from the tubing string being effected in response to rotation of the running string and running tool.

Claim 25

The method as defined in claim 15, and manipulating the running string and running tool to unlatch the tubing string and permit its upward movement from the hanger.

Claim 26

Apparatus comprising a well bore hanger, a mandrel to which a tubing string is connectable to depend therefrom, coengageable means on said mandrel and hanger for landing said mandrel in said hanger with the tubing string depending therefrom into a well bore below the hanger, said body and mandrel having latch means for preventing upward movement of said mandrel in said hanger, a running tool releasably secured to said mandrel and attached to a running string, holding means on said running tool engageable with said latch means to render said latch means ineffective to prevent upward movement of said mandrel in said hanger, said holding means being shiftable in response to manipulation of said running tool by the running string to a position rendering said latch means effective to prevent upward movement of said mandrel in said hanger.

Claim 27

Apparatus comprising a well bore hanger, a mandrel to which a tubing string is connectable to depend therefrom, coengageable means on said mandrel and hanger for landing said mandrel in said hanger with the tubing string depending therefrom into a well bore below the hanger, said body and mandrel having latch means for preventing upward movement of said mandrel in said hanger, a running tool releasably secured to said mandrel and attached to a running string, holding means on said running tool engageable with said latch means to render said latch means ineffective to prevent upward movement of said mandrel in said hanger, said holding means being shiftable in response to manipulation of said running tool by the running string to a position rendering said latch means effective to prevent upward movement of said mandrel in said hanger.

Claim 28

Apparatus as defined in claim 21, said latch means comprising a resilient split latch ring adapted to engage said mandrel, and a shoulder in said body engageable by said ring.

Claim 29

Apparatus as defined in claim 21, said latch means comprising a resilient split latch ring adapted to engage said mandrel, and a shoulder in said body engageable by said ring, said latch ring being circumferentially expansible and contractable between a first position coengageable between said shoulder and said mandrel and a second position in which said mandrel is free to move upwardly of said hanger.

Claim 30

Apparatus as defined in claim 21, said latch means comprising a resilient split latch ring adapted to engage said mandrel, and a shoulder in said body engageable by said ring, said ring being inherently contractable for engagement between said shoulder and said mandrel, said holding means expanding said ring to a position in which said mandrel is free to move upwardly in said hanger.

Claim 31

Apparatus as defined in claim 21, said latch means comprising a resilient split latch ring adapted to engage said mandrel, and a shoulder in said body engageable by said ring, said ring being inherently expansible for engagement between said shoulder and said mandrel, said holding means contracting said ring to a position in which said mandrel is free to move upwardly in said hanger.

Claim 32

Apparatus as defined in claim 21, said running tool being releasably secured to said mandrel by a threaded connection, said running tool and running string being maniPulated by imparting rotation thereto to at least partially unthread said running tool from said mandrel to shift said holding means to said position rendering said latch means effective.