Liner hanger with hydraulic actuator lock
A liner hanger can include slips, a mandrel, an outer housing rigidly secured to the mandrel, a collet sleeve connected to the slips, and an annular piston in an annulus between the mandrel and the outer housing, the piston supporting the collets and thereby preventing displacement of the slips relative to the mandrel. Another liner hanger can include collets supported by an outer housing, and an annular piston supporting an engagement member and thereby preventing displacement of the slips relative to the mandrel. Another liner hanger can include a piston releasably secured to a mandrel, a collet sleeve secured against longitudinal displacement relative to the mandrel, and the piston including a support surface supporting an engagement member and thereby preventing displacement of slips relative to the mandrel.
1 . A liner hanger for use in a subterranean well, the liner hanger comprising:
slips configured to anchor the liner hanger in the well;
a tubular mandrel;
a tubular outer housing outwardly surrounding the mandrel, in which the outer housing is secured to the mandrel, and the outer housing is configured to remain stationary relative to the mandrel during setting of the liner hanger;
a collet sleeve disposed on the mandrel and including multiple collets, the collet sleeve being connected to the slips; and
an annular piston disposed in an annulus formed radially between the mandrel and the outer housing, the piston including a support surface configured to support the collets and thereby prevent displacement of the slips relative to the mandrel.
2 . The liner hanger of claim 1 , in which the piston supports the collets in engagement with a profile formed in the outer housing.
3 . The liner hanger of claim 1 , in which a port is formed through a sidewall of the mandrel.
4 . The liner hanger of claim 3 , in which a shear member releasably secures the piston against displacement relative to the mandrel in response to pressure applied to the port.
5 . The liner hanger of claim 3 , in which the piston is configured to displace relative to the mandrel in response to a predetermined pressure applied to the port to thereby no longer support the collets.
6 . The liner hanger of claim 5 , in which the piston is configured to displace the collet sleeve and the slips relative to the mandrel after the collets are no longer supported by the piston.
7 . The liner hanger of claim 6 , in which the collets are configured to prevent displacement of the piston relative to the mandrel after the piston has displaced the collet sleeve and the slips relative to the mandrel.