Well tool with connectors and adapted for use with power tongs

Abstract

A well tool adapted to be connected with and disconnected from a well tubing using a power tong device of the type having a pair of tongs, a gripping span between the pair of tongs, and a maximum clearance diameter for an object passing through the tongs. The well tool includes a tubular mandrel. The tubular mandrel has a maximum mandrel diameter which is no greater than the maximum clearance diameter. The tubular mandrel includes a first mandrel connector which is adapted for connecting the tubular mandrel with a first well tubing in order to provide a first connection. The tubular mandrel is configured so that when the power tong device grips a tong gripping surface on the tubular mandrel and the first well tubing in order to connect the tubular mandrel and the first well tubing, the first connection is located within the gripping span.

1 . A well tool adapted to be connected with and disconnected from a well tubing using a power tong device of the type having a pair of tongs, a gripping span between the pair of tongs, and a maximum clearance diameter for an object passing through the tongs, the well tool comprising:
 (a) a tubular mandrel having a first mandrel end, a second mandrel end, an external mandrel surface, a maximum mandrel diameter, and defining a mandrel bore, wherein the maximum mandrel diameter is no greater than the maximum clearance diameter, wherein the tubular mandrel is comprised of a first mandrel connector located at the first mandrel end which is adapted for connecting the tubular mandrel with a first well tubing in order to provide a first connection between the tubular mandrel and the first well tubing, wherein the external mandrel surface defines a tong gripping surface which is located between the first mandrel end and the second mandrel end, and wherein the tubular mandrel is configured so that when the tong gripping surface and the first well tubing are gripped by the power tong device in order to connect the tubular mandrel with the first well tubing the first connection is located within the gripping span.   
     
     
         2 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the well tool is a tubing hanger, wherein the tubular mandrel is further comprised of a second mandrel connector, and wherein the well tool further comprises:
 (b) a tubular shell having a first shell end, a second shell end, and defining a shell bore for receiving the tubular mandrel therein, wherein the tubular shell has an external shell surface, wherein the external shell surface defines a tubing head engagement surface which is adapted to engage a tubing head, wherein the tubular shell is comprised of a shell connector for connecting with the second mandrel connector in order to provide a second connection between the tubular mandrel and the tubular shell, and wherein the first mandrel end and the tong gripping surface extend from the first shell end when the tubular mandrel is received in the shell bore and the tubular mandrel is connected with the tubular shell. 
 
     
     
         3 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a recess associated with one of the tubular mandrel and the tubular shell and a lug associated with the other of the tubular mandrel and the tubular shell, wherein the lug is movable into engagement with the recess when the tubular mandrel and the tubular shell are connected with each other at a desired relative position in order to maintain the tubular mandrel and the tubular shell at the desired relative position. 
     
     
         4 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the lug is comprised of a set screw threadably associated with the tubular shell, wherein the recess is associated with the tubular mandrel, and wherein the set screw is movable into engagement with the recess in order to maintain the tubular mandrel and the tubular shell at the desired relative position. 
     
     
         5 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the first mandrel connector is a threaded connector so that the first connection is a first threaded connection, wherein the second connection is a second threaded connection, and wherein the first threaded connection and the second threaded connection are threaded in opposite directions. 
     
     
         6 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 2  wherein each of the tongs in the pair of tongs has a tong length, wherein the tong gripping surface has a gripping surface length, and wherein the gripping surface length is greater than the tong length. 
     
     
         7 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a shell seal device associated with the external shell surface, for providing a seal between the tubular shell and the tubing head. 
     
     
         8 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a mandrel seal device associated with at least one of the external mandrel surface and the shell bore, for providing a seal between the tubular mandrel and the tubular shell. 
     
     
         9 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the first mandrel connector is comprised of a threaded connector. 
     
     
         10 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the first mandrel connector is comprised of an EUE pin connector. 
     
     
         11 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the second connection is comprised of a second threaded connection. 
     
     
         12 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the second mandrel connector is comprised of a pin connector defined by the external mandrel surface and wherein the shell connector is comprised of a box connector defined by the shell bore. 
     
     
         13 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the tubular mandrel is further comprised of a third mandrel connector located at the second mandrel end which is adapted for connecting the tubular mandrel with a lifting member in order to provide a third connection between the tubular mandrel and the lifting member. 
     
     
         14 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the third mandrel connector is comprised of a threaded connector. 
     
     
         15 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the third mandrel connector is comprised of a EUE box connector. 
     
     
         16 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the well tool is a tubing drain, wherein the tubular mandrel is further comprised of a second mandrel connector located at the second mandrel end which is adapted for connecting the tubular mandrel with a second well tubing in order to provide a second connection between the tubular mandrel and the second well tubing, wherein the tubular mandrel is configured so that when the tong gripping surface and the second well tubing are gripped by the power tong device in order to connect the tubular mandrel with the second well tubing the second connection is located within the gripping span, wherein the tubular mandrel defines a drain extending between the external mandrel surface and the mandrel bore, and wherein the well tool further comprises:
 (b) an actuatable drain closing device, wherein the drain closing device is arranged to close the drain, and wherein the drain closing device is actuatable to open the drain. 
 
     
     
         17 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the drain closing device is actuatable to open the drain by providing an actuating pressure in the mandrel bore. 
     
     
         18 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the drain closing device is comprised of a burst plug and wherein the burst plug ruptures to open the drain when the actuating pressure is provided in the mandrel bore. 
     
     
         19 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the drain closing device is comprised of a slidable sleeve, wherein the slidable sleeve surrounds the tubular mandrel, wherein the slidable sleeve covers the drain in order to close the drain, and wherein the slidable sleeve slides relative to the tubular mandrel in order to uncover the drain and thereby open the drain when the actuating pressure is provided in the mandrel bore. 
     
     
         20 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising a sleeve seal device for providing a seal between the external mandrel surface and the slidable sleeve. 
     
     
         21 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the drain is comprised of a plurality of drain ports circumferentially spaced around the tubular mandrel. 
     
     
         22 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the well tool has a longitudinal axis which extends between the first mandrel end and the second mandrel end, wherein each of the plurality of drain ports has a major dimension and a minor dimension, wherein the major dimension is larger than the minor dimension, and wherein the plurality of drain ports is arranged so that the minor dimension extends in a direction which is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the well tool. 
     
     
         23 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the first mandrel connector is comprised of a threaded connector. 
     
     
         24 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the second mandrel connector is comprised of a threaded connector. 
     
     
         25 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the first mandrel connector is comprised of an EUE pin connector. 
     
     
         26 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 25  wherein the second mandrel connector is comprised of an EUE pin connector. 
     
     
         27 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 16  wherein each of the tongs in the pair of tongs has a tong length, wherein the tong gripping surface has a gripping surface length, and wherein the gripping surface length is greater than the tong length. 
     
     
         28 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the maximum clearance diameter is 6 inches so that the maximum mandrel diameter is no greater than 6 inches. 
     
     
         29 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the maximum clearance diameter is 5 inches so that the maximum mandrel diameter is no greater than 5 inches. 
     
     
         30 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the gripping span is 11 inches. 
     
     
         31 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 30  wherein the tong gripping surface has a first gripping surface end and a second gripping surface end, wherein the first gripping surface end is between the first mandrel end and the second gripping surface end, wherein the tubular mandrel has a first span length between the first gripping surface end and the first mandrel end, and wherein the first span length is no greater than 8 inches. 
     
     
         32 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 30  wherein the tong gripping surface has a first gripping surface end and a second gripping surface end, wherein the second gripping surface end is between the second mandrel end and the first gripping surface end, wherein the tubular mandrel has a second span length between the second gripping surface end and the second mandrel end, and wherein the second span length is no greater than 8 inches. 
     
     
         33 . The well tool as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each of the tongs in the pair of tongs has a tong length, wherein the tong gripping surface has a gripping surface length, and wherein the gripping surface length is greater than the tong length.