Casing string rotation systems and methods

Abstract

Techniques for implementing and/or operating a well system including a rotatable casing hanger and a rotatable running tool. The rotatable casing hanger includes a hanger body, which is to be secured to a casing string; a hanger sleeve secured circumferentially around the hanger body, in which the hanger sleeve is to be landed on another wellhead component; and a hanger bearing assembly disposed axially between the hanger body and the hanger sleeve. The rotatable running tool includes a tool body that defines a tool bore, in which the tool body is to be selectively secured to the hanger body; a tool sleeve secured circumferentially around the tool body to facilitate maintaining centralization of the tool body and, thus, the rotatable casing hanger; and a tool bearing assembly disposed between the tool body and the tool sleeve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a well system, comprising:
 securing a hanger body of a casing hanger to a casing string, wherein the hanger body defines a hanger bore;   securing a tool body of a running tool to the hanger body of the casing hanger, wherein the tool body defines a tool bore and the running tool comprises a tool sleeve secured circumferentially around the tool body;   landing, using the running tool, a hanger sleeve of the casing hanger within a wellhead housing to suspend the casing string within a wellbore, wherein the hanger sleeve is secured circumferentially around the hanger body of the casing hanger; and   rotating the casing string within the wellbore at least in part by rotating the tool body of the running tool relative to the tool sleeve using a tool bearing assembly disposed axially between the tool body and the tool sleeve to rotate the hanger body of the casing hanger relative to the hanger sleeve using a hanger bearing assembly disposed between the hanger body and the hanger sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 landing another casing hanger within the wellhead housing to suspend another casing string within the wellbore;   landing a first annular packoff on the another casing hanger to facilitate sealing a first casing bore of the another casing string from a first annular space surrounding the another casing string, wherein landing the hanger sleeve of the casing hanger within the wellhead housing comprises landing the hanger sleeve on the first annular packoff; and   landing a second annular packoff on the casing hanger after the running tool is disconnected from the casing hanger to facilitate sealing a second casing bore of the casing string from a second annular space surrounding the casing string.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 rotating the casing string within the wellbore comprises rotating the tool body of the running tool in a first direction relative to the tool sleeve; and   disconnecting the running tool from the casing hanger comprises rotating the tool body of the running tool in a second direction relative to the tool sleeve.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein rotating the hanger body of the casing hanger relative to the tool sleeve using the hanger bearing assembly comprises rotating a plurality of circumferentially-spaced and radially-oriented roller bearings disposed between an external load shoulder on the hanger body and an internal load shoulder on the hanger sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein rotating the tool body of the running tool relative to the tool sleeve using the tool bearing assembly comprises rotating a plurality of ball bearings disposed within an external bearing groove on an outer surface of the tool body and an internal bearing groove on an inner surface of the tool sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . A well system comprising a running tool, wherein the running tool comprises:
 a tool body configured to be secured to a wellhead component, wherein the tool body defines a tool bore and comprises an external bearing groove on an outer surface;   a tool sleeve configured to be disposed circumferentially around the tool body, wherein the tool sleeve comprises an internal bearing groove on an inner surface that is configured to be radially aligned with the external bearing groove on the tool body; and   a tool bearing assembly, wherein the tool bearing assembly comprises a plurality of bearings configured to be disposed within the internal bearing groove on the tool sleeve and within the external bearing groove on the tool body.   
     
     
         7 . The well system of  claim 6 , wherein the running tool comprises:
 a tool bearing port that extends through the tool sleeve to the internal bearing groove, wherein the plurality of bearings is configured to be disposed within the internal bearing groove on the tool sleeve and the external bearing groove on the tool body via the tool bearing port; and   a bearing plug configured to be disposed in the tool bearing port after the plurality of bearings to facilitate plugging the tool bearing port behind the plurality of ball bearings and, thus, retaining the plurality of ball bearings within the internal bearing groove on the tool sleeve and the external bearing groove on the tool body.   
     
     
         8 . The well system of  claim 6 , wherein the running tool comprises:
 an upwardly-facing external alignment shoulder on an outer surface of the tool body; and   a downwardly-facing internal alignment shoulder on an inner surface of the tool sleeve, wherein the downwardly-facing internal alignment shoulder on the tool sleeve is configured to axially oppose the upwardly-facing external alignment shoulder on the tool body to facilitate radially aligning the external bearing groove on the tool body with the internal bearing groove on the tool sleeve.   
     
     
         9 . The well system of  claim 6 , wherein the running tool comprises:
 a securement tab configured to be disposed within a tab cavity in the tool body;   an activation spring configured to be disposed within the tab cavity between a closed end of the tab cavity and the securement tab to facilitate selectively transitioning the securement tab from a withdrawn state in which a lower end of the securement tab is withdrawn into the tab cavity and an extended state in which the lower end of the securement tab extends axially out from the tab cavity and, thus, the tool body; and   an activation fastener configured to be disposed within an activation fastener opening in the tool body that is connected to the tab cavity to enable the activation fastener to be selectively:
 tightened against the securement tab to hold the securement tab in the withdrawn state; and 
 loosened from the securement tab to enable the activation spring to transition the securement tab from the withdrawn state to the extended state such that the securement tab matingly interlocks with a securement notch at an axial upper end of the wellhead component to block the running tool from being further tightened on the wellhead component while enabling the running tool to be disconnected from the wellhead component. 
   
     
     
         10 . The well system of  claim 9 , wherein the securement tab in the running tool comprises:
 a vertical edge configured to oppose a vertical sidewall of the securement notch on the wellhead component; and   a slanted edge configured to oppose a slanted sidewall of the securement notch on the wellhead component.   
     
     
         11 . The well system of  claim 6 , wherein the tool body of the running tool is configured to be secured to a casing hanger that facilitates suspending a casing string within a wellbore. 
     
     
         12 . The well system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the tool body is configured to rotate in a first direction relative to the tool sleeve to facilitate rotating the wellhead component; and   the tool body is configured to rotate in a second direction relative to the tool sleeve to facilitate disconnecting the running tool from the wellhead component.   
     
     
         13 . A well system comprising a casing hanger, wherein the casing hanger comprises:
 a hanger body that defines a hanger bore, wherein the hanger body is configured to be secured to a casing string to facilitate suspending the casing string within a wellbore;   a hanger sleeve secured circumferentially around the hanger body, wherein the hanger sleeve is configured to land within a wellhead housing; and   a hanger bearing assembly disposed axially between the hanger body and the hanger sleeve to facilitate rotating the hanger body relative to the hanger sleeve as well as transferring axial force between the hanger body and the hanger sleeve;   wherein an axial upper end of the hanger body comprises a securement notch configured to matingly interlock with a securement tab on a running tool to enable the running tool to:
 rotate the hanger body of the casing hanger by rotating in a first direction; and 
 disconnect from the casing hanger by rotating in a second direction. 
   
     
     
         14 . The well system of  claim 13 , wherein the hanger bearing assembly of the casing hanger comprises:
 a plurality of roller bearings;   a roller plate having a plurality of roller openings that open therethrough, wherein each of the plurality of roller bearings is rotatably secured within a corresponding roller opening in the plurality of openings in the roller plate;   an upper contact plate disposed between an external load shoulder on the hanger body and the plurality of roller bearings to facilitate distributing axial load circumferentially between the plurality of roller bearings; and   a lower contact plate disposed between an internal load shoulder on the hanger sleeve and the plurality of roller bearings to facilitate distributing axial load circumferentially between the plurality of roller bearings.   
     
     
         15 . The well system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the hanger body of the casing hanger comprises a downwardly-facing external load shoulder;   the hanger sleeve of the casing hanger comprises an upwardly-facing internal load shoulder, wherein the downwardly-facing external load shoulder on the hanger body and the upwardly-facing internal load shoulder on the hanger sleeve are complimentarily tapered to define a conical region of a bearing fluid cavity therebetween; and   the hanger bearing assembly of the casing hanger comprises bearing fluid disposed within the bearing fluid cavity.   
     
     
         16 . The well system of  claim 13 , wherein the casing hanger comprises:
 a hanger bearing port that extends through the hanger sleeve to the hanger bearing assembly to facilitate supplying fluid to the hanger bearing assembly;   an upper hanger seal radially compressed between the hanger body and the hanger sleeve above the hanger bearing assembly to facilitate retaining fluid at the hanger bearing assembly; and   a lower hanger seal radially compressed between the hanger body and the hanger sleeve below the hanger bearing assembly to facilitate retaining fluid at the hanger bearing assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The well system of  claim 13 , wherein the casing hanger comprises a centralizer disposed radially and circumferentially between the hanger body and the hanger sleeve to facilitate maintaining the hanger body centralized within the hanger sleeve. 
     
     
         18 . The well system of  claim 17 , wherein the centralizer of the casing hanger is a different material as compared to the hanger body and the hanger sleeve of the casing hanger. 
     
     
         19 . The well system of  claim 17 , wherein the centralizer of the casing hanger comprises:
 an outer housing configured to engage an inner surface of the hanger sleeve;   an inner housing configured to engage an outer surface of the hanger body; and   a plurality of ball bearings disposed radially and circumferentially between the outer housing and the inner housing.   
     
     
         20 . The well system of  claim 13 , wherein the securement notch on the hanger body comprises:
 a vertical sidewall configured to oppose a vertical edge of the securement tab on the running tool; and   a slanted sidewall configured to oppose a slanted edge of the securement tab on the running tool.