US 12,404,734 B2
Lock ring actuator for tubing hanger installation
Andrew B. Mitchell, Houston, TX (US); Chris D. Bartlett, Houston, TX (US); David Scantlebury, Houston, TX (US); Rick Murphy, Houston, TX (US); Fife B. Ellis, Houston, TX (US); and Gregory Norwood, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to Innovex International, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Innovex International, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Jan. 10, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/409,334.
Application 18/409,334 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/957,921, filed on Sep. 30, 2022, granted, now 12,152,456.
Application 17/957,921 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/118,100, filed on Dec. 10, 2020, granted, now 11,459,843, issued on Oct. 4, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/947,506, filed on Dec. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0151116 A1, May 9, 2024
Int. Cl. E21B 33/04 (2006.01); E21B 33/043 (2006.01); E21B 41/00 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 33/0415 (2013.01) [E21B 33/043 (2013.01); E21B 41/0021 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
11. A method for installing a hanger assembly in a wellhead, comprising:
positioning the hanger assembly into the wellhead, the hanger assembly comprising a main body, a lower body coupled to the main body, a lock ring coupled to the main body, and an actuator;
moving the actuator axially downward with respect to the main body from a starting position to an intermediate position, wherein this movement of the actuator expands the lock ring radially outwardly into a profile on an inner diameter of the wellhead;
unlocking a space-out mechanism disposed between the main body and the lower body so that the space-out mechanism actuates in response to the actuator moving from the starting position to the intermediate position, wherein a trigger rod is coupled to the actuator and configured to unlock the space-out mechanism upon the actuator moving to the intermediate position;
actuating the space-out mechanism; and
moving the actuator axially downward from the intermediate position to a pre-load position, wherein this movement of the actuator applies a pre-load to the hanger assembly.