Two-stage expandable liner hanger
A method for expanding a two-stage expandable liner hanger includes expanding a first section of an expandable tubular having the first section and a second section. The first section includes one or more anchoring ribs. The method further includes expanding the second section of the expandable tubular after cement is pumped into the expandable tubular.
1. A two-stage expandable liner hanger, comprising:
a first tubular portion of a liner hanger positionable inside a casing in a wellbore, wherein the first tubular portion has a plurality of vertical anchoring ribs extending radially outward from an exterior surface of the first tubular portion, wherein the plurality of vertical anchoring ribs are disposed about the first tubular portion to form one or more longitudinal grooves configured to provide respective flow conduits for cement during cementing operations with the first tubular portion in an expanded position, wherein the first tubular portion is configured to expand, via a setting tool, to drive the plurality of vertical anchoring ribs into a biting engagement with the casing; and
a second tubular portion of the liner hanger coupled to the first tubular portion, wherein the second tubular portion has one or more sealing members disposed on an exterior surface of the second tubular portion, wherein the one or more sealing members are configured to frictionally engage and circumferentially seal the second tubular portion against the casing in response to expansion of the second tubular portion, wherein the second tubular portion is expandable, via the setting tool, independently of the first tubular portion.
2. The two-stage expandable liner hanger of claim 1 , wherein the biting engagement between the plurality of vertical anchoring ribs and the casing is configured to maintain a radial gap between the exterior surface of the first tubular portion and the casing to allow fluid flow through the longitudinal grooves with the first tubular portion in the expanded position.
3. The two-stage expandable liner hanger of claim 1 , wherein the vertical anchoring ribs are segmented.
4. The two-stage expandable liner hanger of claim 3 , wherein the segmented vertical anchoring ribs have a castellated arrangement on the exterior of the first tubular portion.
5. The two-stage expandable liner hanger of claim 4 , wherein the anchoring pattern is a staggered castellated anchoring pattern.
6. The two-stage expandable liner hanger of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of fluid passageways through a wall of the liner hanger between the first portion and the second portion providing fluid communication between an interior of the liner hanger and an annulus between the liner hanger and the casing in which the liner hanger is disposed after expansion of at least the first tubular portion.
7. The two-stage expandable liner hanger of claim 1 , further comprising:
the setting tool, wherein the setting tools is configured to independently expand the first tubular section prior to cementing operations, and wherein the setting tool is configured to expand the second tubular section after cementing operations.