US3765485A

US3765485A - Casing runner tool for subsea well

Info

Publication number: US3765485A
Application number: US00160399A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Regan
Original assignee: Regan Forge and Engineering Co
Current assignee: Hughes Tool Co
Priority date: 1971-07-07
Filing date: 1971-07-07
Publication date: 1973-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-16

Abstract

The casing running tool has an outer body portion telescoped about an inner body portion to form an annular chamber for receiving pairs of first and second bearing rings therein with each first bearing ring having a groove adjacent a groove in the inner body portion to receive a snap ring therebetween and with each second bearing ring having a groove adjacent a groove in the outer body portion for receiving ball bearings therebetween; a non-compressible fluid is provided in the space between the first and second bearing rings of each pair to separate the bearing rings and to rotatatively, axially support the inner body by the outer body portion via said fluid so that the outer body portion may be clamped by a latch dog in a subsea wellhead while the inner body portion is rotated by a tubing string run from a floating vessel above the well.

Description

I United States Patent 1 [111 3,765,485 Regan Oct. 16, 1973 [54] CASING RUNNER TOOL FOR SUBSEA 3,628,604 12/1971 Childers 166/78 WELL 3,290,065 12/1966 Porath 285/95 3,301,324 1 1967 S 'h 166 7 [75] Inventor: A. Michael Regan, Huntington l 8 X Beach Cahf Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Richard E. Favreau [73] Asslgnee: Regan Forge f Attorney--Miketta, Glenny, Poms & Smith pany, San Pedro, Cahf. 22 Filed: July 7, 1971 [571 ABSTRACT The casing running tool has an outer body portion [21] Appl' 160399 telescoped about an inner body portion to form an annular chamber for receiving pairs of first and second [52] US. Cl 166/285, 166/78, 285/18, r ng rings therein with each first bearing ring hav- 285/95 ing a groove adjacent a groove in the inner body por- [51] Int. Cl E21b 31/00 i n to r eiv a nap ring herebetween and with each [58] Field of Search 166/78, 123, 124, second bearing ring having a groove adjacent a groove 166/285, 75, 84, 85, 73, 72, 70; 285/95; in the outer body portion for receiving ball bearings 308/9, 122; 254/29, 30 therebetween; a non-compressible fluid is provided in the space between the first and second bearing rings [56] References Cited of each pair to separate the bearing rings and to UNn-ED STATES PATENTS rotatatively, axially support the inner body by the outer body portion via said fluid so that the outer 52:21: at body portion may be clamped by a latch dog in a sub- 2:786:532 3,1957 166/73 sea wellhead while the inner body portion is rotated 3.1957638 7/1965 Le Rouax n 166/73 X by a tubing string run from a floating vessel above the 2,788,073 5/1957 Brown 166/78 ll.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,765,485

Regan Oct. 16, 1973 PAIENIEDnm 16 I975 3.765485 SHEET 1 or 2 INVENTOAZ A]. M/CA/QEL REG/7N CASING RUNNER TOOL FOR SUBSEA WELL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to subsea oil well tools, and more particularly to such a tool having an outer portion held stationary while the inner portion rotates despite axial loads being applied thereto.

In oil wells and particularly subsea oil wells, there are many times when a rotating internal tool must be held axially stationary relative the submerged well head. Conventional couplings which perform this function are not usually suitable for subsea oil well use because of the high axial loads which may be exerted on the coupling.

An example of such high loading condition occurs during the insertion of an inner casing into a subsea well hole, during the filling of the space between the casing and the hole with concrete, and during the release of the inner casing from the string. As explained in greater detail in my copending application entitled Releasable Connecting Apparatus for Subsea Well Head", filed concurrently herewith, the inner casing is suspended from a casing hanger, suspended from a releasable connecting apparatus, which is in turn suspended from a running tool (as in this invention) which is suspended from a rotatable string. The string is lowered into the riser and into the well until the casing extends into the well hole and the hanger is located above its seat whereupon latch dogs engage the running tool to axially hold the tool which, of course, carries the great weight of parts mounted to the string below the running tool. The string may now be rotated, rotating the inner portion of the tool and the parts mounted therebelow while concrete is introduced between the casing and the well hole. Once the concrete is evenly distributed, the latch dogs are released, and the string lowered until the casing hanger engages its seat to suspend the depending casing permanently in the hole. The string is lowered further to contract the releasable connecting apparatus while the drill string is rotated to unscrew the connecting apparatus from the hanger for withdrawal of the drill string, while leaving the hanger and casing in the wellhole.

With such high axial loads on such a running tool during such operations, a running too] must be provided which can withstand these loads and yet function properly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a novel running tool for use in a subsea well to axially locate a rotatable string therein.

Other and additional objects of this invention are to provide such a running tool which will support high axial loads between the inner and outer portions, to provide such a tool which is rotatable while axially restrained, to provide such a tool which receives a noncompressible, or hydraulic, fluid to carry the axial load thereon, and to provide such a running tool which is economical to manufacture, easy to assemble, dependable to use, and durable in operation.

Generally, the casing running tool, according to this invention, includes inner and outer body portions forming an annular chamber therebetween, with the inner body portion connected to the casing and with the outer body portion landing on the wellhead, first and second bearing rings mounted to the inner and outer body portions, respectively, in spaced fluid tight relation in the chamber, and means for providing a noncompressible fluid in the chamber and between the bearing rings to rotatably support the inner body portions on the outer body by the rings and fluid. A plurality of first and second bearing rings may be provided and a common connection to a source of pressure fluid may be provided for supplying such fluid to each of the individual chambers formed between the sets of rings. The ring may be rotatably mounted by adjacent ball races filled with ball bearings in ring bearings.

Generally, the method, according to this invention, of rotatably supporting a casing in a well includes the steps of connecting the lower end of a running tool inner body to a casing and the upper end to a tubing string, connecting an associated outer body of the running tool to the inner body for relative rotation therebetween, running the casing into the well and landing the outer body on the wellhead apparatus, hydraulically supporting the inner body on the outer body, and rotating the string to rotate the associated casing while the casing is supported by the running tool at the well. The method may additionally include the step of introducing cementitious material into the well about the casing during the step of rotating the string and casing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. la and lb are a side elevational view, partially in section, of a subsea well and wellhead with a tubing string run from a'floating vessel to the well with a casing running tool, according to this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side cross-sectional view taken along the plane IIII of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 2 encircled by circle III.

FIG. 4 is afragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the plane IVIV of FIG. 3 showing the ball bearings located in the adjacent bearing grooves of a second bearing ring and the outer body portion of the running tool.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the plane VV of FIG. 3 showing a snap ring located in the adjacent bearing grooves of the first bearing ring andthe inner body portion of the running too], according to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, the casing running too], according to this invention, is generally denoted by the number 10. The tool 10 is for use with a subsea well hole 11 drilled in the ocean floor 12 beneath the ocean 13, from a ship or barge (not shown)'located at the surface of the ocean 13, as is conventional.

The well hole 11 has located thereover a conventional well head 15 which typically includes a drilling templet 16 having a central bore 17 with an upper cup shaped shoulder 18, and lateral passages 19 therethrough to the ocean 13, which have already been filled V with concrete. The drilling templet 16 has thereover a tion 22 isjoined to an upper rectangular shaped portion 25. The upper portion 25 has vertically extending guide posts 26 with conical guides 27 therearound and with cable anchors 28 on the upper ends thereof for anchoring cables 29 from the ship (not shown) on the surface of the ocean 13.

A Christmas tree unit 30 has a lower guide 31 with a lower tubular protrusion 32 and with a central bore 33. The unit 30 also has seal 34 seated on the upper end of the guide 31 with a string of blow-out

preventors

35, 36 and 37 mounted thereover and under an upper guide 38. The lower blow-out preventor has a fluid supply line 39 and a fluid return line 40 extending therefrom. This unit 30 is lowered from the ship down the cables 29 and onto the guide posts 26 to be centered by the conical guides 27 while the lower tubular protrusion 32 extends into the central bore of the guide post frame 20.

The upper end of the upper guide 38 has located thereover a pair of lower guide arms 41 which together with the guide 38 mount blow-out-preventor fluid control lines 42 which control the opening and closing of the blow-out

preventors

35, 36, and 37 from the ship on the surface of ocean 13.

A coupling 43 is provided through the lower guide arms 41 to mount the upper blow-out preventor 37 to the lower end of a hanger, supporting tool 44. The hanger supporting tool 44 has a two diameter central bore 45 with the lower portion generally the same diameter as the bore 32 and the upper portion of a greater diameter to provide a landing shoulder 46 therebetween. The hanger supporting tool 44 has a hydraulically operated latching dog 47 near the upper end thereof. The upper end of the tool 44 is joined to the lower end of riser 48 from the ship. A bracket 49 is located around the riser 48 for mounting the

fluid lines

39 and 40 to the riser 48.

Extending down the center of the riser 48 and the well head 15 is a rotatable string 50 of pipes 51 which have the right hand threads 52. The lower end of the lowermost pipe 51 of the string 50 is threaded into the casing running tool 10, according to this invention. A short length of pipe 53 is threaded into the lower end of the casing running tool 10 and has its lower end threaded into a releasable connecting apparatus 54, as is more fully explained in my copending patent application Ser. No. 160,407 filed July 7, 1971 entitled Releasable Connecting Apparatus For Subsea .Well

Head, filed concurrently herewith. The releasable connecting apparatus 54 has releasably secured thereto a casing hanger 55 having a circumferential rib 56 providing a shoulder 57 for landing on the cup-shaped shoulder 24 of the guide post frame 20. The casing hanger 55 also has a plurality of grooves 58 in the rib 56 for permitting fluid to pass between the hanger 55 and the guide post frame 20. The casing hanger 55 supports a depending inner casing 59 therefrom, to extend down into the well hole 11 for receiving concrete between the casing 59 and the well hole 11 to fill the space therebetween. in order to insure that the concrete fills the space between the casing 59 and the well hole 11, it is desirable to rotate the casing 59 while the concrete is being poured into this space. In order to rotate the casing 59 without the casing hanger 55 disconnecting from the releasable connecting apparatus 54, the casing hanger 59 must be supported above its landing shoulder 24 while being rotated. The casing running tool 10, according to this invention, axially locates the rotating string 50 relative the well head 15 to space the casing hanger 55 above its landing shoulder 24 for such rotation of the casing 59.

Generally, the casing running tool 10, according to this invention, includes outer and

inner body portions

60 and 80 forming an annular chamber 95 with the inner body portion 80 being connected to the casing 59 and with the outer body portion 60 landing on the wellhead 15 first and second bearing

rings

100 and 105 mounted to the inner and

outer body portions

80 and 60 in spaced, fluid tight relation in the chamber 95, and pressure means 115 for providing pressure fluid into the chamber 95 and between the

bearing rings

100 and 105 to support the inner body portion 80 on the outer body portion 60 by the

rings

100 and 105 and the noncompressible, pressure fluid.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the outer body portion 60 of the casing running tool 10, according to this invention, includes an upper part 61 and a lower part 70. The upper part 61 is essentially tubular shaped and of a diameter to be slideably received in the upper section of the central bore 45 of the hanger supporting tool 44. The upper part 61 has a central bore 62 which is opened to the outer surface through two opposed upper passages 63 at the upper end thereof. Just below the upper passages 63 is a circumferential dog receiving grooves 64 which is suitably shaped to receive latch dog 47 from the hanger supporting tool 44 when aligned therewith and when the latch dog 47 is extended. Slightly below midway of the upper part 61 is a circumferential rib 65 providing a lower landing shoulder 66 which will seat on the landing shoulder 46 of the hangar supporting tool 44, when the latch dogs 47 are released. The end of the upper part has a pair of opposed passages 67 above a lower external notch 68 having external threads 69 for mating with the lower part 70. The

passages

63 and 67 permit liquid to flow past the latch dog 47 when they engage the upper part by temporarily being routed into the central bore 62 thereof.

The lower part 70 has a central bore 71 which is internally threaded at the upper end 72 for threadably connecting to upper part 61. The central bore 71 of the lower part 70 is provided with a plurality of axially space bearing grooves 73 for a purpose which will appear shortly.

The inner body portion of the casing running too] 10 has an upper part 81 and a lower part 85. The upper part 81 is essentially tubular and has an internally threaded upper end 82 for threading to the threads 53 of the lowermost pipe 52 of the string 51. The upper part 81 has an outer surface 83 which contains a plurality of bearing grooves 84.

The lower part 85 of the inner body portion 80 has an upper external notch 86 sized to mate with the lower bore 71 of the outer body portion 60 and a central bore 87 siding over the outer surface 83 of the upper part 81 to close the lower end of the space therebetween. The surfaces of the notch 86 and of the bore 87 have grooves 88 therein for seals 89, and the surface of the notch 86 has a bearing groove 90 opposite the lowermost bearing groove 73 of the outer body portion 60 for a purpose which will appear later. The lower part 85 has a lower surface which sits on the upper surface of a collar 91 secured to the upper part 81 by a snap face 83 of the inner body portion 80 and the bore 71 5 of the outer body portion 60 forming an elongated annular chamber 95 for receiving therein first and second bearing rings 100 and 105.

The first bearing rings 100 of the tool are for mounting to the inner body portion 85. As best seen in 10 FIG. 3, the first bearing rings 100 are generally annular in shape and provided with pairs of circumferential -grooves 101 containing seals 102. The rings 100 are also provided with inner-upper bearing grooves 103 which are for cooperation with the bearing grooves 84 in the inner body portion 80.

Likewise, the second bearing rings 105 of the tool 10 are for mounting the outer body portion 60. The rings 105 are shaped generally the same as the rings 100 and have pairs of circumferential grooves 106 containing seals 107. The rings 105 are provided with outer bearing grooves 108 which are for cooperating with the bearing grooves 73 in the outer body portion.

The rings I00 and 105 are located in the chamber 95 between the inner and

outer body portions

80 and 60 by mounting means 110. The mounting means 110 for the first bearing rings 100 and the upper part 81 of the inner body portion 80 includes the provision of a snap ring 111 located in the space of the

grooves

84 and 103 for each of the first bearing rings 100.

The mounting means 110 for the second bearing rings 105 and the lower part 70 of the outer body portion includes the provision ofa threaded access hole 112 in the lower part from the outer surface thereof to each bearing groove 73. Each access hole 112 is normally closed by a plug 113, but may be opened to permit the insertion of ball bearings 114 into the space of the

grooves

108 and 73. The ball bearings 114 and the snap rings lll mount the bearing rings 105 and 100 in the chamber in pairs, initially with a larger space between rings of a pair than the space between pairs of rings. This larger space is for receiving a pressure transmitting fluid.

Means, indicated generally at 115, are provided for introducing the pressure fluid into the chambers 95 of each pair of first and second bearing rings and to support the inner body portion 80 on the outer body portion 60 by the

rings

100 and 105 and the fluid. Such means in the exemplary embodiment includes the provision of horizontal passages, as 116 in the lower part 70, for each set of

rings

100, 105 which opens into the associated chamber 95. The horizontal passages 116 are all connected by a vertical feeder passage 117 in the lower part 70 to a threaded hole 118. A coupling 119 may be threaded into hole 118 to attach a hose 120 from a source of pressure fluid during the step of filling the chambers 95. Pressure fluid may be pumped down the hose 120 and into the feeder passage 117 to be fed,

via passages 116, into the space between each pair of 60

tions

80 and 60. Hose 120 may then be disconnected 65 and hole 118 plugged, as with hole 112. The

seals

102 and 107 of the

ring

100 and 105 maintain the pressurized fluid between the two rings of a pair.

In operation, the tool 10, according to this invention, is lowered down the riser 48 with string 50 until the tool 10 is located in the hanger supporting tool 44 with dog receiving groove 64 aligned with the latch dog 47 whereupon the latch dog 47 is extended as shown in FIG. 2 to lock the outer body portion 60 to the hanger supporting tool 49. The tool 10 is now axially restrained in a position which locates the shoulder 57 of the inner casing hanger 55, also on the string 50, spaced above the inner shoulder 24 of the guidepost frame 20 for rotation of the inner casing 59 during the insertion of concrete between the inner casing 59 and the wellhole 11.

Once the concrete has been evenly distributed, the rotation of the string 50 is halted, and the string 50 is raised slightly to free the latch dog 47 from the groove 64 for retraction. Once the dog 47 is retracted, the string 50 is lowered until the shoulder 57 of the casing hanger 55 lands upon the inner shoulder 24 of the guide post frame 20 and the releasable connecting apparatus 54 contracts. In this position, the landing shoulder 66 of the outer body portion 60 should seat on the landing shoulder 47 of the hanger supporting tool 44 to permit rotation of the string 50 to uncouple the releasable connecting apparatus 54 from the inner casing hanger 55. Once uncoupling has occurred, the string 50, including the tool 10, is raised up the riser 48 to open the riser 48 for receiving other tools.

While the casing running tool 10, according to this invention, was described in conjunction with the operation of pouring concrete between an inner casing and a wellhole, the tool 10 may be used whenever a tool is needed in a subsea wellhead which may be axially restrained yet still rotate.

I claim:

1. A casing running tool comprising:

inner and outer body portions forming an annular chamber therebetween, said inner body portion having means for connecting to the casing and said outer body portion having means for landing at the well; plurality of sets of first and second bearing rings wherein the first and second bearing rings of each of said sets are mounted to said inner and outer body portions, respectively, in spaced fluid type relation in said chamber; and

a non-compressible, pressure transmitting fluid in said chamber and between said bearing rings of each of said sets for supporting said inner body portion on said outer body portion by said rings and fluid.

2. A casing running too] as in claim 1 wherein:

a plurality of individual pressure chambers are formed between rings of each of said plurality of sets with pressure fluids in each of said chambers and means are provided for connecting said chambers to equalize the pressure within said chambers.

3. A casing running tool as in claim 1 wherein:

said annular chamber is relatively long axially compared to its cross-sectional width.

4. A casing hanger running tool for suspending and rotating a casing hanger and associated casing in a subsea well during cementing operations preparatory to landing the casing in the well, said running tool comprising:

an inner body means for suspending the casing hanger;

an outer body means for landing in wellhead associated equipment;

a chamber formed between said inner and outer body means;

a plurality of first pressure bearing rings and means for mounting them about and upwardly constrained on said inner body means in said chamber and in rotatable relation to said outer body means;

a plurality of second pressure bearing rings and means for mounting the same about said inner 10 body means in said chamber downwardly constrained on said outer body means and rotatable relative to said inner body member, each of said second rings being spaced from a corresponding one of said first rings to provide pressure chambers therebetween;

fluid seal means about said rings for sealing said rings against fluid flow between said rings and said inner and outer body means; and

pressure transmitting fluid in each of said pressure chambers for supporting said inner body means on said outer-body means via said bearing rings and associated pressure fluid.

5. A casing hanger running tool as in claim 4 wherein said means for mounting said plurality of second pressure bearing rings downwardly constrained on said outer body means comprises:

a ball race formed between each of said second rings and said outer body means by opposed annular grooves provided in said outer body member and said second rings and a plurality of locking balls in said race. 6. A method of rotatably supporting a casing in a well comprising the steps of:

connecting the lower end of a running tool inner body to a casing to be run into a well and the upper end thereof to a tubing string; connecting an associated outer body of the running tool to the inner body for relative rotation therebetween; hydraulically supporting the inner body on the outer body; running the casing via the running tool into the well and landing the outer body of said tool on a wellhead apparatus; and rotating the tubing string to rotate the associated casing while said casing is supported by said running tool at said well.

Claims

1. A casing running tool comprising: inner and outer body portions forming an annular chamber therebetween, said inner body portion having means for connecting to the casing and said outer body portion having means for landing at the well; a plurality of sets of first and second bearing rings wherein the first and second bearing rings of each of said sets are mounted to said inner and outer body portions, respectively, in spaced fluid type relation in said chamber; and a non-compressible, pressure transmitting fluid in said chamber and between said bearing rings of each of said sets for supporting said inner body portion on said outer body portion by said rings and fluid.

2. A casing running tool as in claim 1 wherein: a plurality of individual pressure chambers are formed between rings of each of said plurality of sets with pressure fluids in each of said chambers and means are provided for connecting said chambers to equalize the pressure within said chambers.

3. A casing running tool as in claim 1 wherein: said annular chamber is relatively long axially compared to its cross-sectional width.

4. A casing hanger running tool for suspending and rotating a casing hanger and associated casing in a subsea well during cementing operations preparatory to landing the casing in the well, said running tool comprising: an inner body means for suspending the casing hanger; an outer body means for landing in wellhead associated equipment; a chamber formed between said inner and outer body means; a plurality of first pressure bearing rings and means for mounting them about and upwardly constrained on said inner body means in said chamber and in rotatable relation to said outer body means; a plurality of second pressure bearing rings and means for mounting the same about said inner body means in said chamber downwardly constrained on said outer body means and rotatable relative to said inner body member, each of said second rings being spaced from a corresponding one of said first rings to provide pressure chambers therebetween; fluid seal means about said rings for sealing said rings against fluid flow between said rings and said inner and outer body means; and pressure transmitting fluid in each of said pressure chambers for supporting said inner body means on said outer body means via said bearing rings and associated pressure fluid.

5. A casing hanger running tool as in claim 4 wherein said means for mounting said plurality of second pressure bearing rings downwardly constrained on said outer body means comprises: a ball race formed between each of said second rings and said outer body means by opposed annular grooves provided in said outer body member and said second rings and a plurality of locking balls in said race.

6. A method of rotatably supporting a casing in a well comprising the steps of: connecting the lower end of a running tool inner body to a casing to be run into a well and the upper end thereof to a tubing string; connecting an associated outer body of the running tool to the inner body for relative rotation therebetween; hydraulically supporting the inner body on the outer body; running the casing via the running tool into the well and landing the outer body of said tool on a wellhead apparatus; and rotating the tubing string to rotate the associated casing while said casing is supported by said running tool at said well.