Asymmetric anchoring ridge design for expandable liner hanger

Abstract

Provided is an expandable liner hanger assembly, a well system, and a method for setting an expandable liner hanger assembly. The expandable liner hanger assembly, in one aspect, includes a radially expandable tubular defining an interior passageway and an exterior surface, and an anchoring ridge extending radially outward from the radially expandable tubular, the anchoring ridge having an entry angle (θ1), an exit angle (θ2), and a bevel angle (α) greater than zero degrees.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An expandable liner hanger assembly, comprising:
 a radially expandable tubular defining an interior passageway and an exterior surface; and   an anchoring ridge extending radially outward from the radially expandable tubular, the anchoring ridge having an entry angle (θ 1 ), an exit angle (θ 2 ), and a bevel angle (α) greater than zero degrees.   
     
     
         2 . The expandable liner hanger assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bevel angle (α) is at least 1 degree. 
     
     
         3 . The expandable liner hanger assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bevel angle (α) is greater than 5 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The expandable liner hanger assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bevel angle (α) is greater than 10 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The expandable liner hanger assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bevel angle (α) is greater than 25 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The expandable liner hanger assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bevel angle (α) ranges from 10 degrees to 30 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The expandable liner hanger assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bevel angle (α) ranges from 12 degrees to 17 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The expandable liner hanger assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a bevel radial exterior point of the anchoring ridge is a thin flat surface having a length (L) less than 20 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The expandable liner hanger assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a bevel radial exterior point of the anchoring ridge is a thin flat surface having a length (L) less than 2 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The expandable liner hanger assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a bevel radial exterior point of the anchoring ridge is a thin flat surface having a length (L) less than 1 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The expandable liner hanger assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the radially expandable tubular has an uphole end and a downhole end, and further wherein a bevel radially exterior point of the anchoring ridge is located more proximate the uphole end than a bevel radially interior point of the anchoring ridge. 
     
     
         12 . The expandable liner hanger assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the radially expandable tubular has an uphole end and a downhole end, and further wherein a bevel radially interior point of the anchoring ridge is located more proximate the uphole end than a bevel radially exterior point of the anchoring ridge. 
     
     
         13 . The expandable liner hanger assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring ridge is a first anchoring ridge, and further including a second anchoring ridge extending radially outward from the radially expandable tubular. 
     
     
         14 . The expandable liner hanger assembly as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the second anchoring ridge has an entry angle (θ 1′ ), an exit angle (θ 2′ ), and a bevel angle (α′) greater than zero degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The expandable liner hanger assembly as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the radially expandable tubular has an uphole end and a downhole end, and further wherein a first bevel radially exterior point of the first anchoring ridge is located more proximate the uphole end than a first bevel radially interior point of the first anchoring ridge, and a second bevel radially interior point of the second anchoring ridge is located more proximate the uphole end than a second bevel radially exterior point of the second anchoring ridge. 
     
     
         16 . The expandable liner hanger assembly as recited in  claim 15 , further including a third anchoring ridge positioned between the first and second anchoring ridges. 
     
     
         17 . The expandable liner hanger assembly as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the third anchoring ridge is a non-beveled anchoring ridge having a bevel angle (α) of zero degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The expandable liner hanger assembly as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the second anchoring ridge is a non-beveled anchoring ridge having a bevel angle (α) of zero degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The expandable liner hanger assembly as recited in  claim 13 , further including a sealing member positioned radially outside of the radially expandable tubular. 
     
     
         20 . The expandable liner hanger assembly as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the sealing member is positioned between the first and second anchoring ridges. 
     
     
         21 . A well system, comprising:
 a wellbore extending through one or more subterranean formations; and   an expandable liner hanger assembly positioned within the wellbore, the expandable liner hanger assembly including:
 a radially expandable tubular defining an interior passageway and an exterior surface; and 
 an anchoring ridge extending radially outward from the radially expandable tubular, the anchoring ridge having an entry angle (θ 1 ), an exit angle (θ 2 ), and a bevel angle (α) greater than zero degrees. 
   
     
     
         22 . The well system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the bevel angle (α) is at least 1 degree. 
     
     
         23 . The well system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the bevel angle (α) is greater than 5 degrees. 
     
     
         24 . The well system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the bevel angle (α) is greater than 10 degrees. 
     
     
         25 . The well system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the bevel angle (α) is greater than 25 degrees. 
     
     
         26 . The well system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the bevel angle (α) ranges from 10 degrees to 30 degrees. 
     
     
         27 . The well system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the bevel angle (α) ranges from 12 degrees to 17 degrees. 
     
     
         28 . The well system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein a bevel radial exterior point of the anchoring ridge is a thin flat surface having a length (L) less than 20 mm. 
     
     
         29 . The well system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein a bevel radial exterior point of the anchoring ridge is a thin flat surface having a length (L) less than 2 mm. 
     
     
         30 . The well system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein a bevel radial exterior point of the anchoring ridge is a thin flat surface having a length (L) less than 1 mm. 
     
     
         31 . The well system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the radially expandable tubular has an uphole end and a downhole end, and further wherein a bevel radially exterior point of the anchoring ridge is located more proximate the uphole end than a bevel radially interior point of the anchoring ridge. 
     
     
         32 . The well system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the radially expandable tubular has an uphole end and a downhole end, and further wherein a bevel radially interior point of the anchoring ridge is located more proximate the uphole end than a bevel radially exterior point of the anchoring ridge. 
     
     
         33 . The well system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the anchoring ridge is a first anchoring ridge, and further including a second anchoring ridge extending radially outward from the radially expandable tubular. 
     
     
         34 . The well system as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the second anchoring ridge has an entry angle (θ 1’ ), an exit angle (θ 2’ ), and a bevel angle (α′) greater than zero degrees. 
     
     
         35 . The well system as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the radially expandable tubular has an uphole end and a downhole end, and further wherein a first bevel radially exterior point of the first anchoring ridge is located more proximate the uphole end than a first bevel radially interior point of the first anchoring ridge, and a second bevel radially interior point of the second anchoring ridge is located more proximate the uphole end than a second bevel radially exterior point of the second anchoring ridge. 
     
     
         36 . The well system as recited in  claim 35 , further including a third anchoring ridge positioned between the first and second anchoring ridges. 
     
     
         37 . The well system as recited in  claim 36 , wherein the third anchoring ridge is a non-beveled anchoring ridge having a bevel angle (α) of zero degrees. 
     
     
         38 . The well system as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the second anchoring ridge is a non-beveled anchoring ridge having a bevel angle (α) of zero degrees. 
     
     
         39 . The well system as recited in  claim 33 , further including a sealing member positioned radially outside of the radially expandable tubular. 
     
     
         40 . The well system as recited in  claim 39 , wherein the sealing member is positioned between the first and second anchoring ridges. 
     
     
         41 . A method, comprising:
 forming a wellbore through one or more subterranean formations; and   positioning an expandable liner hanger assembly within the wellbore, the expandable liner hanger assembly including:
 a radially expandable tubular defining an interior passageway and an exterior surface; and 
 an anchoring ridge extending radially outward from the radially expandable tubular, the anchoring ridge having an entry angle (θ 1 ), an exit angle (θ 2 ), and a bevel angle (α) greater than zero degrees. 
   
     
     
         42 . The method as recited in  claim 41 , further including radially expanding the radially expandable tubular to engage the anchoring ridge with the wellbore. 
     
     
         43 . The method as recited in  claim 42 , further including wellbore casing located radially inside of the wellbore, the radially expanding the radially expandable tubular engaging the anchoring ridge with the wellbore casing.