US2690344A - Sealing and hanging assembly - Google Patents

Description

p 28, 1954 H. ALLEN 2,690,344

SEALING AND HANGING ASSEMBLY Filed May 8, 1950 HERBERT ALLE N INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 28, 1954 SEALING AND HANGING ASSEMBLY Herbert Allen, Houston, Tex., assignor to Cameron Iron Works, Inc., Houston, Tex., a, corporation of Texas Application May 8, 1950, Serial No. 160,780

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to pipe hanging and sealing assemblies, and has for its general object the provision of a pipe hanging and sealing assembly suitable for hanging a tubing or casing in a well bore from a tubing head or casing head, and at the same time providing a seal between the tubing or casing as the case may be, and the tubing head or casing head within which it is hung.

A more specific object of this invention is to provided a pipe hanger and seal assembly which may be run through a blowout preventer or other control equipment and landed and locked down in place.

Another object is to provide such an assembly in which the lock-down may be accomplished without any special type of tubing head or casing head design and without removal of the blowout preventer or other control equipment.

Another object is to provide such an assembly in which the lock-down may be accomplished without any special pipe section or portion incorporated in the pipe to be hung.

Another object is to provide such an assembly in which the lock-down will be automatically accomplished in the hanging and sealing operation.

Another object is to provide such an assembly with a means for securing it in a desired position on a pipe to be hung.

Another object is to provide such an assembly with a means whereby it can be readily removed, if desired, after having been set.

Another object is to provide such an assembly which does not require rotation of the pipe being hung.

Another object is to provide such an assembly with which it will be possible after setting to rotate the pipe and move it vertically without disturbing the setting of the assembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an assembly which may be locked down automatically by the lowering of the pipe to be hung, or which may be locked down manually without any necessity for lowering the pipe to be hung.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein is set forth one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings the single figure illustrates a pipe hanger and seal assembly constructed in accordance with this invention, and located in place about a pipe being hung and within a casing head or tubing head, the assembly and the casing head or tubing head and parts associated therewith being shown in longitudinal cross section, and the pipe being hung being illustrated in elevation.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, the numeral l indicates a conventional tubing head or casing head having a tapered interior zone 2 and a cylindrical zone 3 above and forming a continuation of the tapered zone 2. At the upper end of this head member is an outwardly extending flange 4 which is adapted to receive the lower end of a suitable fitting 5 which may be attached to or actually form a part of a valve, blowout preventer, or other control equipment. On the lower end of this fitting 5 is a laterally extending flange 6, preferably matching the flange 4 and sealed to the flange 4 by means of a conventional type metallic sealing ring 1. These two flanges are secured together in any suitable manner such as by the conventional bolts 8 or the like.

Illustrated in suspended position within the head member I is a pipe 9 which may be either the tubing or the casing of a well. This pipe 9 is surrounded by the hanging and seal assembly to which this invention relates and this assembly includes the support ring In which is a relatively rigid ring having a tapered outer surface adapted to seat upon the tapered inner surface 2 of the head member I. This support ring It has formed integral with and below it a cage portion H to which is moulded a packing ring l2, which is of the type frequently referred to as a lip-type packing ring, and which, when employed in wells about a pipe in the manner illustrated in the drawing, is frequently referred to as a stripper rubber. It is adapted to form a seal both against the pipe which it surrounds and against the interior of the annular member I by being pushed against those parts by the pressure being sealed against.

Extending upwardly from the upper surface of the ring IE! and if desired integral with such ring are flexible upstanding connections I3 carrying upwardly tapering Slip segments hi on their upper ends. These slip segments have outwardly directed teeth I5 on their outer surfaces, these teeth being also directed upwardly so that when these slip segments are expanded outwardly against the cylindrical inner surface 3 of the annular member I, they will grip such surface and prevent upward movement of the assembly. It will be appreciated that the flexible upstanding connections I3 permit a considerable movement of the slips in a radial direction so that while the slips in their non-gripping position may occupy positions well back from the inner surfaces of the equipment 5 and the cylindrical wall 3, they may nevertheless be readily moved radially outwardly into gripping contact with the surface 3. Furthermore, this gripping contact, due to the flexible nature of the corn nections !3 may be evenly distributed over all of the teeth of the various slips.

For the purpose of expanding the slip segments I4 outwardly into gripping engagement with the interior of the head member I, there is provided an expander in the form of a ring I6 which tapers downwardly and fits within the upper portions of the slip segments so that when moved downwardly it will force these slip segments outwardly into gripping position.

Extending downwardly from the upper surface of this ring I6 at intervals about its circumference are holes counterbored from their upper ends as shown at IT, so as to receive the heads of the bolts or screws [8. These screws I8 extend downwardly through the counterbored holes I1, and project below the ring I6 into threaded engagement with threaded openings provided in the support ring III as shown at I9. It will be appreciated that these bolts or screws I8 will serve to hold the expander I6 in engagement between the slip segments I4 so as to constitute a part of the assembly. These bolts or screws I8 will, however, be left loose when the assembly is placed about the pipe so that the assembly will not have the slips I4 expanded outwardly and will be free to be moved into position as illustrated within the head member I.

Alternating with the holes I! are additional tapped openings in the expander ring I6, these holes being adapted to receive the studs or bolts 2 I, the upper ends of which project through holes 22 in a ring or flange 23. Nuts 24 may be employed on the upper ends of the studs 2|, and the studs 2| are of such a length as to span the length of a collar 25 on the pipe 9. Thus, it will be seen that the studs 2| when in position as illustrated, will, in cooperation with the flange 23, serve to hold the assembly against sliding down along the pipe 9 away from the collar 25, but will instead hold it in contact with the lower end 26 of such collar.

In operation it will be seen that the assembly may be placed upon a pipe such as the pipe 9 at a point above suitable control equipment such as blowout preventers or the like, diagrammatically indicated by the numeral 5, and may then be lowered with the pipe 9 into the position illustrated in the casing head or tubing head. When the assembly enters the tubing head and seats as illustrated, further lowering of the pipe 9 will cause the shoulder which is provided by the lower end of the coupling 25 to bear at 26 upon the expander ring I6 and move this expander ring downwardly within the slip segments I4, so as to force these segments outwardly into gripping engagement with the cylindrical surface 3 within the head. Preferably the angle or taper on the inner surfaces of the slip segments and the outer surface of the expander ring I6 will be so small as to constitute a sticking angle so that when the expander is pushed home by the shoulder 26 it will stick in position and the assembly will remain locked within the head member I even after the weight of the pipe 9 is removed therefrom. This arrangement will permit the pipe 9 4 to be freed from the assembly, if desired, after the removal of the equipment 5 and ring 23, after which the pipe 9 may be moved upwardly with respect to the assembly without displacing the assembly from the head member I.

Likewise, after removal of the equipment 5, if it be desired to make doubly certain that the expander I6 is not accidentally dislodged from its position holding the slips in gripping engagement with the head member I, or if it is desired to set them with greater force, the screws I8 may be tightened.

If, on the other hand, it be desired to remove the assembly after it has been set, this may be done even without removing the equipment 5, by merely pulling upwardly upon the pipe 9. This upward pull will act through the flange 23 and the studs 2! to pull the expander ring 20 upwardly out of expanding engagement with the slip segments I l. Thereupon, the assembly being released from the head member I, it may move upwardly with the pipe.

It will be seen from the foregoing that all of the objects and advantages of this invention may be attained by the structure which has been described. However, it will be understood that the structure described and illustrated is by way of example only, and not by way of limitation, and that this invention is limited in scope only by the terms of the appended claims.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

l. A pipe hanger and seal assembly comprising an annular packing adapted to provide a seal about a pipe against pressure from below, a separate support ring connected to said packing and having a portion disposed to seat against a supporting portion of a tubing head or casing head and limit downward movement of said packing, hold-down gripping means above and having a force transmitting connection with said support ring, said hold-down gripping means being expansible outwardly into hold-down gripping engagement with the inter'ior surface of a tubing head or casing head to lock said support ring against upward movement, and an expander operatively associated with said expansible holddown means and engageable by part of a pipe extending through the assembly and movable downwardly by such pipe to expand said holddown gripping means, said expander when moved downwardly to expand the hold-down gripping means providing a hanger for said pipe.

2. A pipe hanger and seal assembly comprising an annular packing adapted to provide a seal about a pipe against pressure from below, a support ring joined to said packing and having a surface substantially coextensive with the upper surface of said packing to support the packing against bodily movement by the pressure from below, said support ring having a portion disposed to seat against a supporting portion of a tubing head or casing head to limit downward movement of said packing, hold-down gripping means above and having a force transmitting connection with said support ring, said holddown gripping means being expansible outwardly into hold-down gripping engagement with the interior surface of a tubing head or casing head to lock said support ring against upward movement, and an expander operatively associated with said expansible hold-down means and engageable by a part of a pipe extending through the assembly and movable downwardly by such pipe to expand said hold-down gripping means,

said expander when moved downwardly to expand the hold-down gripping means providing a hanger for said pipe.

3. A pipe hanger and seal assembly comprising an annular packing adapted to provide a seal about a pipe against pressure from below, a support ring connected to said packing adapted to seat in a tubing head or casing head and limit downward movement of said packing, expansible hold-down gripping means above said support ring adapted to be expanded outwardly into hold-down gripping engagement with the interior surface of a tubing head or casing head to lock said support ring against upward movement, an expander operatively associated with said expansible hold-down means and having a part adapted to be engaged by a part of a pipe extending through the assembly and be moved downwardly by such pipe to expand said holddown gripping means, and tightening and holding means engaging said expander for holding said expander in expanding position and movable to tighten the engagement of said expander against said gripping means.

4. A pipe hanger and seal assembly comprising an annular packing adapted to provide a seal about a pipe against pressure from below, a support ring connected to said packing adapted to seat in a tubing head or casing head and limit downward movement of said packing, expansible hold-down gripping means above said support ring adapted to be expanded outwardly into h0ld-down gripping engagement with the interior surface of a tubing head or casing head to lock said support ring against upward movement, an expander operatively associated with said expansible hold-down means and having a part adapted to be engaged by a part of a pipe extending through the assembly and be moved downwardly by such pipe to expand said holddown gripping means, and tightening and holding means engaging said expander for holding said expander in expanding position and movable to tighten the engagement of said expander against said gripping means, said tightening and holding means comprising a tie between said support ring and said expander to hold said parts in assembled relation to each other.

5. A pipe hanger and seal assembly comprising an annular packing adapted to provide a, seal about a pipe against pressure from below, a support ring connected to said packing adapted to seat in a tubing head or casing head and limit downward movement of said packing, expansible hold-down gripping means above said support ring adapted to be expanded outwardly into hold-down gripping engagement with the interior surface of a tubing head or casing head to lock said support ring against upward movement, an expander operatively associated with said expansible hold-down means and adapted to be engaged by a part of a pipe extending through the assembly and be moved downwardly by such pipe to expand said hold-down gripping means, and an anchor engageable with said pipe and cooperating with said expander for anchoring said assembly in place on a pipe to prevent endwise movement of the assembly with respect to the pipe.

6. A pipe hanger and seal assembly comprising an annular packing adapted to provide a seal about a pipe against pressure from below, a support ring connected to said packing adapted to seat in a tubing head or casing head and limit downward movement of said packing, expansible hold-down gripping means above said support ring adapted to be expanded outwardly into hold-down gripping engagement with the interior surface of a tubing head or casing head to lock said support ring against upward movement, an expander operatively associated with said expansible holddown means and adapted to be engaged by a part of a pipe extending through the assembly and be moved downwardly by such pipe to expand said hold-down gripping means, and an anchor engageable with said pipe and cooperating with said expander for anchoring said assembly in place on a pipe to prevent endwise movement of the assembly with respect to the pipe, said anchor being above the remainder of said assembly and being secured to said expander to hold the expander in its uppermost inactive position with respect to said gripping means at such times as the assembly may be suspended by said anchor.

'7. A pipe hanger and seal assembly comprising an annular packing adapted to provide a seal about a pipe against pressure from below, a support ring connected to said packing adapted to seat in a tubing head or casing head and limit downward movement of said packing, expansible hold-down gripping means above said support ring adapted to be expanded outwardly to holddown gripping engagement with the interior surface of a tubing head or casing head to lock said support ring against upward movement, an expander operatively associated with said expansible hold-down means and adapted to be engaged by a part of a pipe extending through the assembly and be moved downwardly by such pipe to expand said hold-down gripping means, and an anchor cooperating with said expander for anchoring said assembly in place on a pipe to prevent endwise movement of the assembly with respect to the pipe, said anchor being removable and replaceable while said assembly is in hanging and sealing position about a pipe and within a tubing head or casing head.

8. A pipe hanger and seal assembly comprising an annular packing adapted to provide a seal about a pipe against pressure from below, a support ring connected to said packing and having a portion disposed to seat against a supporting portion of a tubing head or casing head-and limit downward movement of said packing, a plurality of upwardly tapering slips with outwardly and upwardly directed gripping teeth on their outer surfaces, said slips being above and having a force transmitting connection with the support ring, said slips being expansible outwardly into hold-down gripping engagement with the interior surface of a tubing head or casing head to lock said support ring against upward movement, and an expander operatively associated with said upwardly tapering slips and engageable by a part of a pipe extending through the assembly and movable downwardly by such pipe to expand said slips, said expander when moved downwardly to expand the hold-down gripping means providing a hanger for said pipe.

9. A pipe hanger and seal assembly comprising an annular packing adapted to provide a seal about a pipe against pressure from below, a support ring connected to said packing and having a portion disposed to seat against a supporting portion 01 a tubing head or casing head and limit downward movement of said packing, a plurality of upwardly tapering slips with outwardly and upwardly directed gripping teeth on their outer surfaces, said slips being above and having a resilient connection with said support ring, said slips being expansible. outwardly into hold-down gripping engagement with the in-. terior surface of a tubing head or casing head to lock said support ring against upward moyee. ment, an expander operatively associated with said expansible hold-down slips and enginea leby a part of a pipe extending through the assem-. bly and movable downwardly by such pi e to expand said slips, said expander comprising a downwardly tapering wedge ring providing a hanger for the pipe and fitting Within said slips to expand the same.

10. A pipe hanger and seal assembly comprise ing an annular packing adapted to provide a seal about a pipe against pressure from below, a support ring connected to said packing adapted to seat in a tubing head or casing head and limit downward movement of said packing, expansible hold-down gripping means above said support ring adapted to be expanded outwardly into hold-down gripping engagement with the in.-. terior surface of a tubing head or casing head to lock said support ring against upward move--. ment, an expander operatively associatedv with said expansible hold-down means and having a part adapted to be engaged by a part or apipe extending through the assembly and be moved downwardly by such pipe to expand said holddown gripping means, and holding meansengaging the expander for holding said expander in an expanding position and movable to tighten the engagement of said expander against said gripping means, said tightening and holding means comprising screw means adjustably interconnecting said support ring and expander and exposed above said expander for tightening from above said expander.

11. A pipe hanger and seal assembly comprise ing an annular packing adapted to provide a 8 seal about. a pipe a ainst. pressu e rom b ow. a, support ringconnected to said packing adapted to seat in a, tubing head or casing head and limit downward movement or said packing, expansible hold-down gripping means above said support prevent endwise movement of the assembly with respect to the pipe, said anchor comprising a flange of a size to embrace the pipe to be hung and engage the upper end of said pipe coupling, and tie means connecting said flange to said expander and of alengthgreater than such coupling.

References Cited inthe file of this patent NITED S A E PATENTS Number Name Date 1,529,697 Owen Mar. 10, 1925 l,81l,().13 Humason June 23, 1931 1,888,550 Ghurch Nov. 22, 1932 1,899,922 Black Mar. 7, 1933 ,997, 31 Penick ct a1. Apr. 9, 1935 2,178,699. Penick et a1. Nov. '7, 1939 2,189,515, Brown Feb. 6, 1940 2,354,929 Rector et al Aug. 1, 1944 2,380,388 Allen July 31, 1945 2,582,518 Works Jan. 15, 1952

Images