Baker Hughes, a Ge Compnay, LLC

Baker Hughes Corporation

Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC

James Fraser

Sidney K Smith, Jr

Abbie Palmieri

John Lindley Baugh

Daniel C Ewing

Andy Tom

Elliott Tuttle

Jarandon J Adams

Mario Moreno

Matthew J Kruger

Eric Halfman

A running tool includes a tool body having a fluid conduit, and an actuation assembly including an actuator member connected to a release mechanism, the actuator member moveable in an axial direction from a first position to a second position to cause the release mechanism to disengage with a downhole component. The actuation assembly includes a first pressure chamber in pressure communication with the fluid conduit, where the running tool is configured to be activated to release the downhole component by applying fluid pressure to the first pressure chamber to generate an actuation force that moves the actuator member to the second position. The running tool also includes a second pressure chamber in pressure communication with the same fluid conduit. The second pressure chamber is configured to receive borehole fluid from the fluid conduit during deployment and apply a balancing force to the actuator member during the deployment.

Pressure balanced running tool

A liner string has a hanger/packer near its upper end for connection and sealing to a surrounding tubular. A polished bore assembly is located above the packer and is pushed down after the liner hanger is set to slide over a metal to metal seal on the packer body. A surface string is then tied into the polished bore with another metal to metal seal against the polished bore. The liner string has just metal to metal seals going up to the surface for well pressure containment. Elastomer seals to the polished bore are eliminated. Placement of the polished bore above the packer body allows for a larger diameter polished bore so as to minimize restriction to future production flow. The liner top packer seal is also metal to metal as offered by Baker Hughes Incorporated under the ZX trademark.

Metal to metal polished bore receptacle seal for liner hanger/seal assemblies

A liner hanger and packer are set at different times in a single trip without intervention. The running tool has a ball seat that accepts a ball for pressuring up which results in movement of a mandrel with a magnet mounted to it past a valve triggered by the magnetic field. Potential energy is released to set the liner hanger. Further mandrel movement then releases the running tool once the liner is supported by the hanger. After a cement job that starts with confirmation of release of the running tool, the same magnet is moved past another valve adjacent the liner top packer. Another valve is triggered open to release potential energy and move parts that set the packer. The running tool is removed from the liner and brought to the surface.

One trip interventionless liner hanger and packer setting apparatus and method

An expandable slip ring is used to secure attachment of an expanded tubular to a surrounding tubular. It features elongated generally axially oriented openings separated by narrow segments. As a swage is advanced within a tubular that has the slip ring outside it the narrow segments or tabs expand and can break but the ring is still held to its shape as the expansion progresses due to the integrity of other tabs that can subsequently break as the swage advances within the tubular that is surrounded by the slip ring. The integrity of the slip ring is enhanced for storage and run in while the expansion characteristics are more uniform as the ring retains some structural integrity during much of the expansion process.

Expandable slip ring

Growing community of inventors

Spring, TX, United States of America

James Fraser