Hanger Locking Assembly with Control Line Passageways
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wellhead hanger installation tools often hinder efficient installation and monitoring of control lines, and may not provide reliable positive locking within the wellhead, leading to inefficiencies and potential safety issues during mineral extraction processes.
Innovation Solution
A hanger running and locking assembly system that utilizes an energizing ring and locking ring, along with a retainer ring, to facilitate the installation and locking of the hanger within the wellhead, allowing for continuous control lines and avoiding complex components like bushings, enabling efficient and secure hanger placement with a single tool trip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If typical tools and components are used to run and lock the hanger within the wellhead, then the hanger can be installed and locked into position, but the installation process is inefficient and control lines are interfered with or cannot be monitored
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the installation process into distinct functional components: a hanger running assembly for lowering the hanger, a hanger locking assembly for securing it, and separate control line passageways for managing control lines independently. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function without interfering with others, improving both installation efficiency and control line management.
Solution Approach 2:
The hanger running assembly acts as an intermediary tool that facilitates the installation process without becoming part of the final permanent structure. It enables the hanger to be lowered and locked efficiently, then can be removed, leaving no interference with control line operations. The control line passageways serve as intermediaries that guide and protect control lines through the installation process.
2Ease of operation
If complex components like bushings are used to manage control lines, then control lines can be routed, but the system becomes more complex and interferes with fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The design extracts the control line management function from complex intermediary components like bushings and integrates it directly into the hanger and wellhead structures through dedicated passageways. This eliminates unnecessary components while maintaining control line routing capability, reducing system complexity and removing obstacles to fluid flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The hanger and wellhead components are designed with multi-functionality: they simultaneously serve structural purposes (supporting the hanger) and control line management purposes (providing passageways). This integration eliminates the need for separate complex components like bushings, simplifying the overall system while maintaining all necessary functions.
3Reliability
If positive locking is not ensured, then the installation process is simpler, but the hanger may not be securely locked within the wellhead
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to automatically engage and lock the hanger into position once it is lowered to the correct depth. The locking assembly pre-configures the locking elements (such as dogs or lugs) to engage with corresponding features on the wellhead, ensuring positive locking occurs automatically as part of the installation process, providing reliable locking without requiring complex manual intervention.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system includes a hanger locking assembly 60 configured to lock a hanger 28 within a housing 64 of a wellhead 12. The hanger locking assembly includes an energizing ring 66 having one or more axially-extending passageways 70 configured to receive and to support one or more control lines 62. An anti-rotation element 100 extends between the energizing ring and the hanger to block rotational movement of the energizing ring relative to the hanger. A locking ring 68 is in contact with the energizing ring, and axial movement of the energizing ring relative to the hanger drives the locking ring radially to engaged position in which the locking ring extends into a corresponding recess of the housing of the wellhead to block axial movement of the hanger relative to the wellhead.