Acoustic Set Liner Hanger for HPHT Applications

Thousands of liner systems are deployed annually to reduce cost, time, and risk compared to casing long strings. Early liner hanger systems would require mechanical actuation (rotating or reciprocating drill pipe) to deploy the liner section. This method limited the ability to rotate and reciprocate the liner string when encountering high deviation and restrictions, particularly as well trajectories moved towards higher levels of deviation. The hydraulic actuated systems, found in both conventional and expandable liner hanger systems, allow the liner string to be manipulated with rotation and reciprocation. The traditional method for setting a hydraulic liner hanger includes the use of single or multiple activation balls being dropped from the surface so that pressure can be applied to the work string to function the hydraulic liner hanger and running tool. However, in complex wells such as HPHT, deep-water, and extended-reach applications, many operational issues experienced with running hydraulic liner hangers are related to limited surface indications on what is transpiring downhole and not landing the ball on seat, which can lead to Non Productive Time (NPT). Developing a liner hanger system that provides real time downhole readings throughout the drill pipe string and does not rely on pipe manipulation or dropping activation balls from surface will dramatically decrease high impact NPT and increase the overall operational capabilities of liner hangers. To respond to these industry needs, a new system to deploy and actuate a liner hanger on demand was needed. This paper presents a novel system which utilizes distributed sensing along the work string by means of an acoustic telemetry network. The liner hanger system uses that same acoustic network to communicate to and actuate the liner hanger, removing many of the challenges facing liner installations.