Wellhead Casing Hanger Retention for Faster Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The design of existing wellheads can limit the efficiency of well deployment, drilling, and production, necessitating improvements in installation and structural support.
Innovation Solution
A wellhead system featuring a casing hanger, retainer ring assembly, and radial retainer fastener, which allows for secure interlocking and manipulation of casing strings using a casing running tool, facilitating efficient deployment and securement of wellhead components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional wellhead designs are used, then structural support is provided, but deployment efficiency and installation time are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The wellhead system is divided into modular components including a casing hanger with external threading, a retainer ring assembly with internal threading, and a radial retainer fastener. This segmentation allows independent manufacturing and assembly of components, improving deployment efficiency while reducing installation time through streamlined assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The external hanger threading is pre-formed on the casing hanger body, and the retainer ring assembly is pre-configured with internal threading that matches the external threading. This preliminary preparation of threading configurations enables rapid assembly without requiring time-consuming field threading operations, thereby improving productivity and reducing installation time.
2Reliability
If additional securement components are added, then structural support and fluid isolation are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radial retainer fastener serves multiple functions: it secures the retainer ring assembly to the casing hanger, provides structural support, and enables fluid isolation. By designing this single component to perform multiple functions, the system achieves improved reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer ring assembly combines the retainer ring, internal threading, and external groove features into a single integrated component. This merging of functions into one component rather than multiple separate parts improves structural support and fluid isolation while actually reducing overall device complexity through consolidation.
3Strength
If new threading is added for securement, then connection strength is improved, but material usage and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The external hanger threading serves dual purposes: it enables the casing running tool to manipulate the casing hanger during installation, and it provides the securement connection for the retainer ring assembly. This multi-functionality achieves strong connections without requiring additional material or weight for separate threading features.
Solution Approach 2:
The external hanger threading is reused for multiple functions rather than creating new threading features. The same threading that facilitates initial manipulation is recovered and used for final securement, eliminating the need for additional material and reducing overall wellhead weight while maintaining connection strength.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for an improved wellhead. The wellhead includes a casing hanger that suspends a casing string within a wellbore, a casing head, a retainer ring assembly, and a radial retainer fastener. The casing hanger includes external hanger threading that interlocks with internal tool threading in a casing running tool to facilitate manipulating the casing hanger via the casing running tool. The retainer ring assembly includes an external retainer groove and internal ring threading that interlocks with the external hanger threading on the casing hanger after the casing running tool is disconnected from the casing hanger to facilitate securing the retainer ring assembly to the casing hanger. The radial retainer fastener is secured through a radial fastener opening in the casing head into the external retainer groove on the retainer ring assembly to facilitate securing the casing head to the retainer ring assembly and, thus, the casing hanger.