CN-122029339-A - Mechanical support for expandable liner hanger

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an expansion cone and a method of using the expansion cone in conjunction with an expandable liner hanger. An exemplary expansion cone includes a detachable support coupled to a mandrel. The detachable support is configured to contact an inner surface of the liner hanger during expansion of the expandable liner hanger. The detachable support is further configured to be detached after expansion of the liner hanger, thereby forming a detached support. After the expandable liner hanger expands and the mandrel is removed, the detached support remains in contact with the inner surface of the expandable liner hanger.

Inventors

• F. Xie Walil
• D. NEWTON
• Y.ZHAO
• Little smooth A clock
• M.L. Freip

Assignees

• 哈利伯顿能源服务公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20231228

Priority Date

20231226

Claims (20)

1. 1. An expansion cone for an expandable liner hanger, the expansion cone comprising: The liner hanger comprises a liner hanger, a detachable support coupled to a mandrel, wherein the detachable support is configured to contact an inner surface of the liner hanger during expansion of the expandable liner hanger, wherein the detachable support is further configured to detach after expansion of the liner hanger, thereby forming a detached support, wherein the detached support remains in contact with the inner surface of the expandable liner hanger after expansion of the expandable liner hanger and removal of the mandrel.
2. 2. The expansion cone of claim 1, wherein the liner hanger comprises a protrusion and the detached support is positioned adjacent the protrusion.
3. 3. The expansion cone of claim 1, wherein the liner hanger comprises two protrusions and the detached support is positioned adjacent to the two protrusions.
4. 4. The expansion cone of claim 1, wherein the expansion cone comprises a plurality of detachable supports.
5. 5. The expansion cone of claim 1, wherein the detachable support comprises a contact surface that contacts the inner surface of the expandable liner hanger after the expandable liner hanger is expanded and the mandrel is removed, wherein the detachable support further comprises a protrusion on the contact surface.
6. 6. The expansion cone of claim 1, wherein the detachable support comprises an expandable metal on a contact surface that remains in contact with the inner surface of the expandable liner hanger after the expandable liner hanger is expanded and the mandrel is removed.
7. 7. The expansion cone of claim 1, wherein the expansion cone further comprises a release member coupled to the detachable support.
8. 8. The expansion cone of claim 7, wherein the detachable support is configured to be detached from the release member.
9. 9. The expansion cone of claim 8, wherein the detachable support is detachably coupled to the release member with at least one of a shear pin, an adhesive, a collet, a soluble material, a snap ring, a friction fit, or any combination thereof.
10. 10. The expansion cone of claim 9, wherein the release member is disposed in a recess within the mandrel.
11. 11. The expansion cone of claim 9, wherein the release member is disposed on an exterior of the mandrel.
12. 12. The expansion cone of claim 9, wherein the detachable support and the release member contact each other through a stepped interface.
13. 13. A method for expanding a liner hanger, the method comprising: providing an expansion cone, the expansion cone comprising: A detachable support coupled to the mandrel; applying pressure to an inner surface of the liner hanger with the expansion cone to expand the liner hanger; After the liner hanger is expanded, the detachable support is detached from the expansion cone to form a detached support that remains in contact with an inner surface of the expandable liner hanger after the expandable liner hanger is expanded.
14. 14. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising: The mandrel is removed after the detachable support has been detached.
15. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the expansion cone further comprises a release member, and the detachable support is detachably coupled to the release member with at least one of a shear pin, an adhesive, a collet, a soluble material, a snap ring, a friction fit, or any combination thereof.
16. 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the liner hanger comprises a protrusion and the detached support is positioned adjacent to the protrusion.
17. 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the expansion cone comprises a plurality of detachable supports.
18. 18. A system for expanding a liner hanger, the system comprising: A liner hanger having an inner surface; an expansion cone, the expansion cone comprising: The liner hanger comprises a mandrel, a detachable support coupled to the mandrel, wherein the detachable support is configured to contact an inner surface of the liner hanger during expansion of the expandable liner hanger, wherein the detachable support is further configured to detach after expansion of the liner hanger, thereby forming a detached support, wherein the detached support remains in contact with the inner surface of the expandable liner hanger after expansion of the expandable liner hanger and removal of the mandrel.
19. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the liner hanger comprises a protrusion and the detached support is positioned adjacent to the protrusion.
20. 20. The system of claim 18, wherein the expansion cone comprises a plurality of detachable supports.

Description

Mechanical support for expandable liner hanger Technical Field The present disclosure relates generally to wellbore operations and, more particularly, to the use of an expansion cone that expands a liner hanger and provides mechanical support for the expanded liner hanger. Background In some wellbore operations, the liner may be suspended from the casing string or set cement layer by a liner hanger. The liner hanger is anchored inside the casing string or set cement layer and suspends the liner below the casing string or set cement layer. The suspended liner and liner hanger do not extend to the surface as the casing string or set cement layer does. The liner hanger may be expanded to form a seal with the casing string or set cement layer to prevent fluid flow from outside the suspended liner. Instead, fluid flow is directed through a suspended tailpipe. Once expanded, the liner hanger may form an annulus seal with the casing string or set cement layer. The seal formed by the liner hanger may be subjected to high pressure from the annulus fluid and compressive loads from the surrounding casing string or set cement layer. Swelling the liner hanger is an important element in wellbore operations. The present invention provides improved apparatus and methods for expansion and mechanical support of liner hangers. Drawings Illustrative examples of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated herein by reference, and wherein: FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary expansion cone for use with a liner hanger according to one or more examples described herein; FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an expansion cone used subsequent to FIG. 1, according to one or more examples described herein; FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a protrusion on the expansion cone of FIGS. 1 and 2 according to one or more examples described herein; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary liner hanger according to one or more examples described herein; FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram illustrating the use of an exemplary expansion cone in conjunction with the liner hanger of FIG. 4 according to one or more examples described herein; FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram illustrating the use of an exemplary expansion cone in conjunction with the liner hanger of FIG. 4 in accordance with one or more examples described herein; FIG. 5C is a schematic diagram illustrating the continued use of an exemplary expansion cone with the liner hanger of FIG. 4 in accordance with one or more examples described herein; FIG. 5D is a schematic diagram illustrating the continued use of an exemplary expansion cone with the liner hanger of FIG. 4 in accordance with one or more examples described herein; FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary expansion cone for use with a liner hanger according to one or more examples described herein; FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram illustrating another exemplary expansion cone for use with a liner hanger according to one or more examples described herein; FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram illustrating additional details of the exemplary expansion cone of FIG. 7A according to one or more examples described herein; FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram illustrating yet another exemplary expansion cone for use with a liner hanger according to one or more examples described herein; FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram illustrating additional details of the exemplary expansion cone of FIG. 8A according to one or more examples described herein; FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram illustrating another exemplary expansion cone for use with a liner hanger according to one or more examples described herein; FIG. 9B is a schematic diagram illustrating additional details of the exemplary expansion cone of FIG. 9A according to one or more examples described herein, and Fig. 9C is a schematic diagram illustrating additional details of the example expansion cone of fig. 9A according to one or more examples described herein. The depicted figures are exemplary only, and are not intended to impose or imply any limitation on the environments, architectures, designs, or processes in which the different examples may be implemented. Detailed Description The present disclosure relates generally to wellbore operations and, more particularly, to the use of an expansion cone that expands a liner hanger and provides mechanical support for the expanded liner hanger. In the following detailed description of several illustrative examples, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific examples which may be practiced. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice them, and it is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and that logical structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made without departing f