B E S T

I N C L A S S

FLEX-LOCK™ IV Liner Hanger

Benchmark of Excellence
 A Hanger for All Conditions
A liner hanger today must handle heavier loads and greater pressure differentials
than ever before. It must perform flawlessly, every time. And it must work
seamlessly with the other components in the well. Baker Oil Tools provides all
that in the industry leader: the FLEX-LOCK IV. The liner hanger that provides the
assurance that only a company like Baker Oil Tools can bring.
The Baker Oil Tools FLEX-LOCK IV Liner Hanger is the industry leader because
of that assurance. It’s capable of hanging exceptionally heavy liners. With its
patented slip and seat arrangement, it greatly reduces the inward radial forces that
tend to collapse the body of conventional cone-style hangers. Its design makes
it ideal for running in conditions where corrosion-resistant alloys (CRAs) are
required, and in highly deviated or horizontal holes.
FLEX-LOCK IV is a new and improved FLEX-LOCK hanger with all the features
ZXP Liner Packer
TM and benefits of FLEX-LOCK I, II and III. FLEX-LOCK IV’s additional features
make it more reliable in heavy- and high-solid-content mud systems and easier to
assemble and convert. Like the previous models, the compact FLEX-LOCK IV can
hang extremely high loads on any casing, regardless of chemistry, configuration
or hole condition and can be expected to outperform hangers costing many times
more. There is still no conventional slip-and-cone-type hanger on the market that
performs like it.

RS Nipple
How FLEX-LOCK IV Works
• This unique hanger can be provided as a complete assembly, or in kit form. The
kit is installed without welding onto a standard FLEX-LOCK body, a joint of
liner casing (including CRA) or on a polished bore receptacle body.
Hydraulic
Set Rotating • The hanger is anchored to the liner. A new and improved anchor locking
FLEX-LOCK
Liner Hanger
mechanism has been designed to eliminate possible assembly errors and make
assembly easier.
• Radial load is not transferred to the liner. The patented load distribution system
places the liner load evenly through the slips into the slip seat.

LFC Landing
Collar Type II

Double Valve
Float Shoe

Premium Cemeneted
Liner Completion
Why FLEX-LOCK IV Is the Best Choice
Robust Design
Uniform Load Distribution
The liner load is uniformly distributed over a larger contact area of the casing than
conventional hanger systems to provide a better grip, with less casing damage.
Extreme Load Capabilities
High-pressure liner top packers with ratings above 10,000 psi (689.5 bar) create
additional loads which hanger slips have to support. These combined pressure
Conventional Hanger ratings and liner loads can exceed one million pounds (453592 kg).
FLEX-LOCK IV has been tested in some sizes to 1.98 million pounds (898113 kg)
with little to no casing damage.
Uniform Contact Surface
As the slips move outward toward the casing inside diameter (ID), they remain
parallel to the casing, providing a uniform contact surface. As the slips contact
the casing ID, the specially configured slips flex radially to match the contour of
the casing.
Minimum Over-Pull to Release
FLEX-LOCK IV slips leave a minimum footprint in the casing. With setting loads
in excess of 500,000 (226796 kg) pounds into the casing, the over-pull required
for FLEX-LOCK IV to unset the slips was just over 20,000 pounds (9072 kg).
FLEX-LOCK Hanger Conventional slip-and-cone hanger designs exposed to the same loads required
between 80,000 (36287)-300,000 pounds (136077 kg) of over-pull to unset the
slips, with clear indications of deformation to both the liner hanger components
and the casing string. Some of these designs also come with a shear-release feature.
FLEX-LOCK Slips
FLEX-LOCK slip and seat design allows the casing to support much higher loads. The FLEX-LOCK slip
system’s ingenious design greatly reduces the inward radial forces that tend to collapse the body of conventional
cone-style slip systems. Uniform casing loading reduces stress hot spots and potential damage to the wellbore.
Slip System and Casing Stress
0 PSI
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
Cone-Style Hanger 60,000
70,000
FLEX-LOCK Liner Hanger
80,000
90,000
100,000
110,000+
 Features and Benefits
• Uninterrupted fluid flow—Fluid moves around FLEX-LOCK IV’s full circumference
in both running and setting positions, reducing the chance for bridging off while
circulating and reducing turbulent flow.
• Casing damage reduced—FLEX-LOCK IV’s hanging capacity is substantially greater
than conventional multi-cone hanger designs. Extreme liner loads create less casing
damage because hanger load is evenly distributed and absorbed by the support ring, not
transferred to the liner casing.
• Friction reducer—A special coating eliminates the friction from machining
surface variables.
• Positive slip-to-casing contact—Since the slips conform readily to the casing ID,
positive slip-to-casing contact is achieved regardless of hole conditions.
• No slip damage—FLEX-LOCK IV eliminates slip damage because the slips are
recessed and locked into place while running in hole or during pipe rotation.

FLEX-LOCK slips remain deep in

their seats during run-in

Ideal for Liner Rotation

• Liner weight limitations when using a rotational FLEX-LOCK IV derive
from the bearing, not the hanger. The tapered roller bearing design allows
rotation under great compressive loads. The bearings’ static loads are
close to FLEX-LOCK IV’s hanging capacity in most sizes.
• Non-rotating-type FLEX-LOCK IV hangers—both mechanical and
hydraulic versions—can easily be field-converted to a rotating-type
version. A special feature can be added to some rotating FLEX-LOCK IV
hangers that allows the liner string to only be rotated to the right and not
the left. The mechanical version is set by rotating the string a quarter-turn
to the right through the patented JLJ mechanism. The hydraulic version is
set by applying differential pressure across the hydraulic cylinder.

FLEX-LOCK IV FLEX-LOCK IV
Hydraulic-Set Mechanical-Set
Rotating Liner Hanger Rotating Liner Hanger
Applications Are Unlimited
Horizontal Well Applications
Slips are not susceptible to damage from drag against the casing ID during
run-in or during liner rotation and reciprocation because the slips are
protected by the slip seat.
High Burst/Collapse Ratings
Improved seal designs and shorter strokes required over conventional
hydraulic hangers increase burst and collapse ratings. Ratings of
FLEX-LOCK’s hydraulic cylinder are equal to that of most liner casing.
Severe Corrosive Conditions
Since the mandrel of a mechanical FLEX-LOCK IV liner hanger can be the
same as the liner casing itself, other hanger components are isolated from
the wellbore fluids. Only the cylinder of the hydraulic FLEX-LOCK IV
should be constructed of CRA material.
Cost-Effective Components
Because liner components can be made of carbon steel, even for the most
corrosive environments, the cost is dramatically reduced compared to other
hanger types.
No Damage to CRA Liner Pipe
Even with the heaviest liner loads, FLEX-LOCK IV slip and slip seat
design allows no inward deflection of the liner casing mandrel. CRA liner
hanger bodies retain their desirable properties.

FLEX-LOCK IV FLEX-LOCK IV
Hydraulic-Set Mechanical-Set
Liner Hanger Liner Hanger

Bypass Area
Due to FLEX-LOCK IV’s unique design, the fluid bypass area
is the same in the set position as in the running position. Fluid
moves around FLEX-LOCK IV’s full circumference, thus
reducing the chance for bridging off while circulating and
reducing turbulent flow. This allows for high circulation rates
in reaming and drilling applications.
Short and Compact Design
Due to the minimum slip travel required, the hydraulic
cylinder is much shorter than on most other hydraulic hangers.
Double Grip Version
The double-grip version of FLEX-LOCK IV allows the
operator to pull tension on the running string after
FLEX-LOCK IV is set to verify release of the running tools.
The fluid bypass area is the same in the set position
as in the running position
 The Baker Oil Tools Advantage
Baker Oil Tools continues to lead the industry in both design and service. Our
field personnel provide an added level of comfort to even the most challenging
operations. Our liner hangers pass through our rigorous best-in-class test program
to ensure they will perform in all environments.
FLEX-LOCK IV is built on a 100-year tradition of excellence, innovation and
versatility. It has successfully achieved loads of up to 1.98 million pounds
(898113 kg) and has been used in an 18,000-ft (5486 m) horizontal float. With
thousands of FLEX-LOCK liner hangers in operation around the world, you know
you’ll get the most reliable product on the market with the FLEX-LOCK IV
liner hanger.

For more information on FLEX-LOCK IV and other Baker Oil Tools liner hangers,
visit us at www.bakerhughes.com /bot/linerhangersystems.
4M 12/08
Pub. No. BOT-08-14717
© 2008 Baker Hughes Incorporated. All rights reserved.

THE Completion
and Intervention Company™
www.bakeroiltools.com

Headquarters 9100 Emmott Road (77040-3514) • P.O. Box 40129 (77240-0129) • Houston, Texas • Tel (713) 466-1322