Expandable liner hanger assembly having a plurality of discrete slip teeth placed within the shallow groove

Abstract

Provided is an expandable liner hanger assembly and a well system including the same. The expandable liner hanger assembly, in one aspect, includes a radially expandable tubular defining an interior passageway and an exterior surface, the radially expandable tubular having a shallow groove located in the exterior surface. The expandable liner hanger assembly, in accordance with this aspect, further includes a plurality of discrete slip teeth placed within the shallow groove circumferentially around the radially expandable tubular, the radially expandable tubular configured to move from an initial state wherein the plurality of discrete slip teeth are not in contact with a wellbore tubular to an expanded state wherein the plurality of discrete slip teeth are in gripping engagement with the wellbore tubular.

1 . An expandable liner hanger assembly, comprising:
 a radially expandable tubular defining an interior passageway and an exterior surface, the radially expandable tubular having a shallow groove located in the exterior surface; and   a plurality of discrete slip teeth placed within the shallow groove circumferentially around the radially expandable tubular, the radially expandable tubular configured to move from an initial state wherein the plurality of discrete slip teeth are not in contact with a wellbore tubular to an expanded state wherein the plurality of discrete slip teeth are in gripping engagement with the wellbore tubular.   
     
     
         2 . The expandable liner hanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of discrete slip teeth has a minimum yield strength of at least 175 ksi. 
     
     
         3 . The expandable liner hanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of discrete slip teeth has a minimum yield strength of at least 200 ksi. 
     
     
         4 . The expandable liner hanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of discrete slip teeth has a minimum yield strength of at least 250 ksi. 
     
     
         5 . The expandable liner hanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discrete slip teeth are at least four discrete slip teeth placed circumferentially around the radially expandable tubular. 
     
     
         6 . The expandable liner hanger assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the at least four discrete slip teeth are placed circumferentially equidistance around the radially expandable tubular. 
     
     
         7 . The expandable liner hanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discrete slip teeth are at least eighteen discrete slip teeth placed circumferentially around the radially expandable tubular. 
     
     
         8 . The expandable liner hanger assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the at least eighteen discrete slip teeth are placed circumferentially equidistance around the radially expandable tubular. 
     
     
         9 . The expandable liner hanger assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the at least eighteen discrete slip teeth each extend circumferentially around the radially expandable tubular an angle (Γ) of 10 degrees or less. 
     
     
         10 . The expandable liner hanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discrete slip teeth are each individually press fit within the shallow groove. 
     
     
         11 . The expandable liner hanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discrete slip teeth are configured as a C-ring that is press fit within the shallow groove. 
     
     
         12 . The expandable liner hanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discrete slip teeth are coupled to each other using an elastic material that holds the plurality of discrete slip teeth within the shallow groove. 
     
     
         13 . The expandable liner hanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discrete slip teeth are coupled to an open end ring by way of inward pointing slender beams, the inward pointing slender beams holding the plurality of discrete slip teeth within the shallow groove. 
     
     
         14 . The expandable liner hanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shallow groove is a first shallow groove and the plurality of discrete slip teeth are a first set of plurality of discrete slip teeth, and further including a second shallow groove located in the exterior surface and a second set of plurality of discrete slip teeth placed within the second shallow groove circumferentially around the radially expandable tubular. 
     
     
         15 . The expandable liner hanger assembly of  claim 14 , further including one or more continuous anchoring ridges extending radially outward from the radially expandable tubular. 
     
     
         16 . The expandable liner hanger assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more continuous anchoring ridges are positioned between the first set of plurality of discrete slip teeth and the second set of plurality of discrete slip teeth. 
     
     
         17 . A well system, comprising:
 a wellbore extending through one or more subterranean formations;   wellbore tubular positioned within the wellbore; and   an expandable liner hanger assembly positioned within the wellbore tubular, the expandable liner hanger assembly including:
 a radially expandable tubular defining an interior passageway and an exterior surface, the radially expandable tubular having a shallow groove located in the exterior surface; and 
 a plurality of discrete slip teeth placed within the shallow groove circumferentially around the radially expandable tubular, the radially expandable tubular configured to move from an initial state wherein the plurality of discrete slip teeth are not in contact with a wellbore tubular to an expanded state wherein the plurality of discrete slip teeth are in gripping engagement with the wellbore tubular. 
   
     
     
         18 . The well system of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of discrete slip teeth has a minimum yield strength of at least 175 ksi. 
     
     
         19 . The well system of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of discrete slip teeth has a minimum yield strength of at least 200 ksi. 
     
     
         20 . The well system of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of discrete slip teeth has a minimum yield strength of at least 250 ksi. 
     
     
         21 . The well system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of discrete slip teeth are at least four discrete slip teeth placed circumferentially around the radially expandable tubular. 
     
     
         22 . The well system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least four discrete slip teeth are placed circumferentially equidistance around the radially expandable tubular. 
     
     
         23 . The well system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of discrete slip teeth are at least eighteen discrete slip teeth placed circumferentially around the radially expandable tubular. 
     
     
         24 . The well system of  claim 23 , wherein the at least eighteen discrete slip teeth are placed circumferentially equidistance around the radially expandable tubular. 
     
     
         25 . The well system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least eighteen discrete slip teeth each extend circumferentially around the radially expandable tubular an angle (Γ) of 10 degrees or less. 
     
     
         26 . The well system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of discrete slip teeth are each individually press fit within the shallow groove. 
     
     
         27 . The well system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of discrete slip teeth are configured as a C-ring that is press fit within the shallow groove. 
     
     
         28 . The well system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of discrete slip teeth are coupled to each other using an elastic material that holds the plurality of discrete slip teeth within the shallow groove. 
     
     
         29 . The well system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of discrete slip teeth are coupled to an open end ring by way of inward pointing slender beams, the inward pointing slender beams holding the plurality of discrete slip teeth within the shallow groove. 
     
     
         30 . The well system of  claim 17 , wherein the shallow groove is a first shallow groove and the plurality of discrete slip teeth are a first set of plurality of discrete slip teeth, and further including a second shallow groove located in the exterior surface and a second set of plurality of discrete slip teeth placed within the second shallow groove circumferentially around the radially expandable tubular. 
     
     
         31 . The well system of  claim 30 , further including one or more continuous anchoring ridges extending radially outward from the radially expandable tubular. 
     
     
         32 . The well system of  claim 31 , wherein the one or more continuous anchoring ridges are positioned between the first set of plurality of discrete slip teeth and the second set of plurality of discrete slip teeth.