APPARATUS AND METHOD TO RETRIEVE BOWL PROTECTOR PRIOR TO LANDING HANGER

Abstract

A method tor completing a well includes drilling a well through a wellhead having an annular bowl protector inserted therein. The bowl protector lias an internal recess. A lower end of a casing string is lowered through the bowl protector. A centrahzer having a plurality of lugs on an outer surface is installed on a retrieval joint of casing of the casing string. The retrieval joint of casing and the eentralizer is lowered so the logs engage the internal recess of the bowl protector. The retrieval joint of casing is raised to lift the centralker and bowl protector out of the wellhead.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates in general to protecting wellhead bores during drilling and casing operations and more particularly, to methods for removing a wellhead protector after casing has been run and before the casing hanger is landed.

2. Description of Prior Art

During drilling operations, bowl protectors are sometimes used to prevent damage to wellhead bore seal surfaces as drilling equipment passes through the wellhead. A bowl protector is a generally elongated sleeve-like element thai traditionally is removed alter drilling operations and prior to running casing or tubing into the well. However, removal of the bowl protector leaves the bore seal surfaces unprotected and thus highly vulnerable to damage by centralizers, casing collars and other equipment that must pass through the wellhead after drilling operations. It is imperative that bore seal surfaces remain tree of scars that may occur while running the casing in order to be able to set the metal to metal, elastonseric, or other types of seals that are used to pack off the annulus between the casing and the wellhead.

Certain protectors that can remain in place while running casing or tubing into a well include a false bowl that has a seat or casing hanger for supporting the casing within the well. This false bowl, however takes up space within the wellhead, particularly at and below the seat that supports the casing within the wellhead. Therefore the maximum outer diameter of casing that can be landed in the well is reduced. The outer diameter of the casing is limited by the inner diameter of the false bowl component of the bowl protector assembly.

Other known methods for recieving a bowl protector regain; a number of specialised components that move both axially radially in relation to each other for energizing and actuating the retrieval mechanism. These specialized components can be costly and can be at higher risk for failure in the operation of the multiple moving pans.

The apparatus and method of the embodiments of the current disclosure will allow continuous protection of the bowl during both drilling operations and running of the casing. Because all of the components of the bowl protector assembly of this disclosure are retrieved prior to landing the casing hanger, the bowl protector assembly does not take up space in the well while the well is producing. Therefore the outer diameter of the casing that is landed in the wellhead is not significantly limited by the bowl protector. Elements of the embodiments of the current disclosure ate readily available and relatively low cost compared to other known methods. In addition, no rotation of the casing is required during retrieval of the bowl protector.

In one embodiment of the current disclosure, a method for completing a well includes drilling a well through a wellhead having an annular bowl protector inserted therein. The bowl protector has an internal recess. A casing string is lowered through the bowl protector. A centralizer having a plurality of lugs on an outer surface is installed on a retrieval joint of casing of the casing string. The retrieval joint of casing and the centralizer are lowered so the lugs engage the internal recess of the bowl protector. The retrieval joint of casing is raised to lift the centralizer and bowl protector out of the wellhead.

In an alternative embodiment of the current disclosure, a method for completing a well includes drilling the well through a wellhead having a bowl protector inserted therein, the bowl protector having an internal recess. A casing string is lowered through the bowl protector. A centralizer having a plurality of centralizer segments is installed on a retrieval joint of casing of the casing string and connections between each centralizer segment are completed. The centralizer has a plurality of lugs on an outer surface. The retrieval joint of casing and the centralize are lowered so the lugs engage the internal recess of the bowl protector. The retrieval joint of casing is then raised to lift the centralizer and bowl protector out of the wellhead. The bowl protector is removed from the centralizer and the centralize is removed from the retrieval joint of casing. A casing hanger is attached to the casing string and the casing hanger is landed in the wellhead.

In another alternative embodiment of the current disclosure, a method tor completing a well includes drilling the well through a wellhead having a bowl protector inserted therein. The bowl protector has an internal recess and a plurality of slots extending from the internal recess to a top end of the bowl protector. A casing string is lowered through the bowl protector. A retrieval tool is installed on a retrieval joint of casing of the casing string. The retrieval tool has two or more centralizer segments and a plurality of bowed members. Lugs are fastened to an outer surface of the bowed members. The retrieval joint of casing and the retrieval tool is lowered so the lugs engage the internal recess of the bowl protector. The retrieval joint of casing is raised to lift the retrieval tool and bowl protector out of the wellhead.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Some of the features and benefits of the present disclosure having been stated, others Will become apparent as the description proceeds when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which;

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a wellhead with a bowl protector and bowl protector retrieval tool in accordance with an embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the wellhead with the bowl protector and bowl protector retrieval tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective sectional view of a portion of the bowl protector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectiooal view of a portion of the bowl protector and the bowl protector retrieval tool of FIG 1.

FIG. 5A is sectional view of a wellhead with a bowl protector retrieval tool on a retrieval joint of casing and retrieving a bowl protector m accordance with an embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 5B is a sectional view of the bowl protector and bowl protector retrieval tool of FIG. 5A, with the bowl protector removed from the bowl protector rretrieval tool protector retrieval tool opened.

FIG. 5C is a sectional view of the bowl protector of FIG. 5A after the bowl protector retrieval tool has been removed from the casing string.

FIG. 5D is a schematic sectional view of a casing hanger attached to a joint of casing for lowering m the wellhead in accordance with an embodiment of this disclosure.

While the disclosure will be described in connection with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to that embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as may be included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSURE

The method and system of the present disclosure will now be described more folly hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which embodiments are shown. The method and system of the present disclosure may be in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey its scope to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

It is to be further understood that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the exact details of construction, operation, exact materials, or embodiments shown and described, as modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art. In the drawings arid specification, there have been disclosed illustrative embodiments and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation.

Referring to FIG. 1, well 11 has a wellhead 15 located at an upper end of the well 11. Wellhead 15 is supported by base plate 12. Wellhead 15 has an inner bore 17 and a central axis 19. A conductor pipe 13 and surface casing 14 extend downward tram wellhead 15 into well 11. A bowl protector 21 with a central bore 22 is landed coaxially within the inner bore 17 of wellhead 15. Bowl protector 21 is a generally elongated sleeve-like member that can prevent damage to seal surfaces of the inner bore 17 as drilling equipment (not shown) passes through the wellhead 15, and as a casing suing 24 is lowered through the wellhead 15. The casing string 24 includes two or more joints of casing 23 which are connected together with collars 20, or with threaded pins and boxes or other known connection method.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, bowl protector 21 has an upper shoulder 25 and a lower shoulder 27. Upper shoulder 25 and lower shoulder 27 each have circumferential sloped downward facing surfaces. Wellhead 15 has an upper mating surface 29 and a lower mating surface 31 for supporting separate casing hangers 71 (FIG. 5D). During production, lower mating surface can support a first casing string 24 and upper mating surface 29 can support a second, smaller diameter casing string (not shown). Upper and lower mating surfaces 29, 31 are both upward facing circumferential surfaces on inner bore 17. Lower shoulder 27 mates with lower mating surface 31 of wellhead 15 when bowl protector 21 is landed in wellhead 15. In an ideal embodiment, upper shoulder 25 does not mate with upper mating surface 29 of wellhead 15 when bowl protector 21 is landed in wellhead 15. Instead, only lower mating surface 29 supports bowl protector 21 within wellhead 15.

Bowl protector 21 of FIG. 1-2 extends upwards past the upper mating surface 29 to protect the inner bore 17 above upper shoulder 25 and extends downwards to protect the inner bore 17 below lower mating surface 31. In alternative embodiments, upper shoulder 25 can mate with upper mating surface 29 of wellhead 15 when bowl protector 21 is landed in wellhead 15 and support bowl protector 21 within wellhead 15 and lower shoulder 27 does not mate with lower mating surface 29. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, upper and lower mating surfaces 29, 31 are shown as parts of separate members from wellhead 15, such as being formed from an annular sealing member. In alternative embodiments upper and lower mating surfaces 29, 31 can be integrated parts of wellhead 15.

If a casing hanger 71 (FIG. 5D) is already landed on the lower mating surface 31, bowl protector 21 will be shorter than as illustrated FIGS. 1-2 and will have only an upper shoulder 25 and no lower shoulder 27. In such an embodiment, upper shoulder 25 mates with upper mating surface 29 of wellhead 15 when bowl protector 21 is landed in wellhead 15. In certain other embodiments, such as when wellhead 15 is a single bowl wellhead (not shown), bowl protector 21 has a single shoulder and wellhead 15 has a single mating surface.

The outer diameter of bowl protector 21 reduces from the rop end 33 of bowl protector 21 to the lower end of bowl protector 21. A first reduction in the order diameter of bowl protector 21 occurs at upper shoulder 25 and a second reduction in the outer diameter of bowl protector 21. occurs at lower shoulder 27. The bowl protector 21 has an internal recess 35, which includes a downward lacing ledge 37 and an upward facing ledge 39. A top inclined edge 38 extends from the top end of the bowl protector 21 to the central bore 22 of the bowl protector 21. The top inclined edge 38 can have a sloped upward facing surface.

Turning now to FIG. 3, bowl protector 21 also has a number of slots 41. Each slot 41 extends generally axially from the internal recess 33 to the top end 33 of bowl protector 21. The downward facing ledge 37 is removed by each slot 41 so that downward facing ledge 37 is omitted for the circumferential extent of each slot 41. Bowl protector 21 can also have a lug stop 43 located on a lateral side of slot 41. Lug stop 43 is a vortical member that extends front downward lacing ledge 37 to upward feeing ledge 39 and protrudes radially inward. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, lug stop 43 is beared on the left or counterclockwise relative to slot 41.

Returning to FIG. 1, a bowl protector retrieval loot 45 can be used to retrieve bowl protector 21 from the wellhead 15. Looking at FIG. 4, retrieval tool 45 can include a centralizer 47, such as a cage centralizer. Centralizer 47 has two or more centralizer segments 49 that can be releasably connected together. Each centralizer segment 49 has an upper ring portion 51 and a lower ring portion 53. Each upper ring portion 51 extends in a partially circular shape from a first side to a second side so that when the centralizer segments 49 are connected together, upper ring portions 51 form an upper ring 52 that is ring shaped in cross section relative to the central axis 19. Similarly, each lower ring portion 53 extends in a partially circular shape from a first side to a second side so that when the centralize segments 49 are connected together, the lower ring portions 53 form a lower ring 54 that is ring shaped in cross section, relative to the central axis 19. The outer diameter of the upper ring 52 is generally equal to the outer diameter of lower ring 54 and is less than the inner diameter of the central bore 22 of bowl protector 21.

Each upper ring portion 51 has an upper connecting member 55 at both of its lateral sides. Each lower ring portion 53 has a lower connecting member 57 at both of its lateral sides. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the upper and lower connecting members 55, 57 are hinge connecting members, but other known connection means can be used in alternative embodiments. A pin 59 can couple the upper connecting member 55 of each tipper ring portion 51 to the upper connecting member 55 of the adjacent centralixer segment 49. Similarly, a pin 59 can couple the lower connecting member 57 of each lower ring portion 53 to the lower connecting member 57 of the adjacent centralizer segment 49.

Each centralizer segment 49 also has one or more bowed members 61. Bowed members 61 are generally elongate members that extend generally axially from the lower ring portion 53 to the upper ring portion 51. Bowed members 61 are curved such that they do not extend in a single plane from the lower ring portion 53 to the upper ring portion 51, but instead curve radially outward from the lower ring portion 53 to a location of maximum radial displacement 62 and then curve radially inward again towards the upper ring portion 51. When the centralizer segments 49 are connected together to form centralizer 47, the outer diameter of the combined bowed members 61 at the location of maximum radial displacement 62 will be greater than the inner diameter of the central bore 22 of bowl protector 21.

Each bowed member 61 has an outer surface 63. A lug 65 can be fastened to the outer surface 63 of a number of the bowed members 61. For example, a lug 65 can be hastened to the outer surface 63 of four of the bowed members 61, or in the alternative, a lug 65 can be fastened to more or less bowed member 61. The number of logs 65 will be equal to or less than the number of slots 41 in bowl protector 21. Each lug 65 can be fixed to a bowed member 61 at or proximal to the location of maximum radial displacement 62. Each lug 65 is fixed to the outer surface 63 of centralizer 47 in such a way that the lug 65 does not move relative to the outer surface 63 to which they are fixed. Lugs 65 can be, for example, formed of metal and welded to centralizer 47.

Each lug 65 can be a cube or box shaped member that has a lug top surface 67 that faces upwards and an opposite lug bottom surface 69 that faces downwards when lug 65 is attached to the centralizer 47. In an example, lugs 65 axe sized so that the lug top surface 67 engages downward facing ledge 37 of the bowl protector 21. In this embodiment, a portion of the lug 65 sits within the internal recess 35 with sufficient space within the internal recess 35 so that the lug bottom surface 69 does not interfere with the upward facing ledge 39 of the bowl protector 21.

Looking again at FIGS. 1-2, in an example of operation, the wellhead 15 can be lowered onto the upper end of the well 11 and secured in a traditional manner. Bowl protector 21 is then landed within the inner bore 17 of the wellhead 15. This can be accomplished, for example, by connecting the bowl protector 21 to a pipe string and lowering the bowl protector 21 until the lower shoulder 27 lands on the lower mating surface 31 of wellhead 15. Alternatively, bowl protector 21 is lowered until upper shoulder 25 lands on the upper mating surface 29 of wellhead 15. The operator can then continue to drill the well 11 tough the bowl protector 21 to a greater depth.

When the desired drilling depth is reached, a lower end of casing string 24 can be lowered through the bowl protector 21. Bowl protector 21 can be retrieved by the retrieval tool 45 before the casing hanger 71 (FIG. 5D) is landed in wellhead 15. With at least one upper connecting member 55 (FIG. 4) and lower connecting member 57 of a centralizer segment 49 unconnected from the upper and lower connecting member 55, 57, respectively, of an adjacent centralizer segment 49, centralizer 47 can be installed on a retrieval joint of casing 73. The retrieval joint of casing 73 is a joint of casing 23 that is connected to, and made part of casing string 24. Retrieval joint of casing 73 is located below the joint of casing 23 that will be attached to casing hanger 71. In a preferred embodiment retrieval joint of casing 72 is located so that the bowl protector 21 is retrieved immediately prior to landing the casing hanger 71. However, any number of joints of casing 23 can be located between the retrieval joint of casing 73 and the joint of casing 23 that will be attached to casing hanger 71. Centralizer 47 can be installed on the retrieval joint of casing 73 by wrapping centralize 47 around the retrieval joint of casing 73. Any unconnected upper and lower connecting members 55, 57 between adjacent centralizer segments 49 can then be made up by completing the connections. Completing the connections between the centralizer segments 47 can be accomplished, for example, placing a pin 59 through upper and lower connecting members 55, 57 of adjacent centralizer segments 47 when upper and lower connecting members 55, 57 are hinge connecting members. The inner diameter of the lower ring 54 and upper ring 52 will be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the retrieval; joint of casing 73 hut smaller than the inner diameter of collar 20 so drat centralizer 47 is free to move axially along a portion of the retrieval joint of casing 73, but will be axially limited by the collars 20 which are located at the top and bottom ends of retrieval joint of casing 73.

The casing string 24 can then be lowered into wellhead 15. The lower ring 54 will enter the central bore 22 of bowl protector 21. As bowed members 61 move axlaiiy downward within central bore 22 of bowl protector 21, because the bowed members 61 curve outward, bowed members 61 will eventually contact central bore 22 of bowl protector 21. Top inclined edge 38 will assist in smoothly urging the bowed members 61 inward. Bowed members 61 will then act as radially outward biased spring members. When lugs 65 reach top inclined edge 38, lugs 65 will also be urged inward to be able to continue to move axially downwards within bowl protector 21. As each lug top surface 67 travels downward past the downward facing ledge 37 of the bowl protector 21, bowed members 61 will move lug 65 radially outwards and into internal recess 35 of bowl protector 21 so that each lug 65 is engaged with internal recess 35. Because the outer diameter of the combined bowed members 61 at the location of maximum radial displacement 62 when no outside forces are acting on the centralizer is greater titan the inner diameter of the central bore 22 of bowl protector 21, bowed members 61 will continue to act as radially outward biased spring members and retain each lug 65 within internal recess 35.

Looking at FIGS. 4-5A, with the bowl protector 21 coupled to the retrieval tool 45, the operator can then raise the casing string 24 to lift the retrieval tool 45 and bowl protector 21 out of the wellhead 15. As the retrieval tool 45 moves upward, retrieval tool 45 will rest on the collar 20 at the bottom end of the retrieval joint of casing 73. Each lug top surface 67 will engage the downward facing ledge 37 of the bowl protector 21, causing the bowl protector 21 to also move upwards and out of the wellhead 15. When the bowl protector 21 reaches sufficient elevation to be able to be accessed by the operator, such as when the bowl protector 21 reaches the rig floor, the operator can then remove the bore protector 21 from the centralizer 47 by rotating the bowl protector 21 until lugs 65 of centralizer 47 line up or align with slots 41 of the bowl protector 21. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the bowl protector 21 would be rotated clockwise relative to the centralizer 47. The lugs 65 of centralizer 47 cars then be slid axially through slots 41 so that bowl protector 21 can move downward relative to centralizer 47 to remove central laser 47 from the central bore 22 of bowl protector 21. Lug stops 43 will help ensure that slots 41 are not rotated past lugs 65. In addition, lug stops 43 will ensure that any counter clockwise rotation of bowl protector 21 relative to centralizer 47 would not allow the lugs 65 to become aligned with slots 41. After removing the centralizer 47 from the bowl protector 21, the bowl protector 21 can be externally supported to prevent it from sliding back down into the wellhead 15. This can be done, for example, by placing hoards or blocks on the drill floor underneath the bowl protector 21.

Turning to FIGS. 4 and 5B, after the bowl protector 21 is removed from the centralizer 47, the retrieval tool 45 can be removed from the retrieval joint of casing 73. The connections between the centralizer segments 47 can be uncoupled, for example, by removing the pin 59 from the upper and lower connecting members 55, 57 of adjacent eentxalizer segments 47. The retrieval tool 45 can then be opened or split to be free of the retrieval joint of casing 73 and can be removed, leaving the bowl protector 21 on the casing string 24, as show in in FIG. 5C.

Looking at FIGS. 5C-5D, when the joints of casing 23 of the casing string 24 are detached from each other to allow for the casing hanger 71 to be attached, the bowl protector 21 can be slid over the exposed end of casing string 24 to remove the bowl protector 21 from the casing string 24. The casing hanger 71 can then be attached to the casing string 24 and landed in wellhead 15. If wellhead 15 is a multibowl wellhead, the method can be repeated with a bowl protector 21 that protects the remaining open bowls of wellhead 15.

The present disclosure described herein, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as others inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of the disclosure has been given for purposes of disclosure, numerous changes exist in the details of procedures tor accomplishing the desired results. These and other similar modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and are intended to be encompassed within the spirit of the present disclosure disclosed herein and the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for completing a well, comprising:

(a) drilling the well through a wellhead having an annular bowl protector inserted therein, the bowl protector having an internal recess;

(b) lowering a lower end of a casing string through the bowl protector;

(c) installing a centralmer on a retrieval joint of casing of the casing string, the centralizer having a plurality of logs on an outer surface;

(d) lowering the retrieval joint of casing and the centralizer so the lugs engage the internal recess of the bowl protector; and

(e) raising the retrieval joint of casing to lift the centralizer and bowl protector out of the wellhead.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bowl protector has a plurality of slots extending from the internal recess to a top end of the bowl protector, the method further comprising removing the bowl protector from the centralizer by rotating the bowl protector relative to the centralizer to align the lugs with the slots and sliding the lugs axially through the slots.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the bowl protector has a plurality of slots extending from the internal recess to a top end of the bowl protector, the method further comprising removing the bowl protector from the centralizer by rotating the bowl protector clockwise relative to the centralizer to align the lugs with the slots and sliding the lugs axially through the slots.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the bowl protector has four slots extending from the internal recess to a top end of the bowl protector and the number of lugs is four, the method further comprising removing the bowl protector from the centralizer by rotating the bowl protector relative to the centralizer to align the four lugs with the four slots and sliding the lugs axially through the slots.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the bowl protector has a plurality of slots extending from the internal recess to a top end of the bowl protector, and a lug stop located on a lateral side of at least one slot, the method bather comprising rotating the bowl protector relative to the centralizer until at least one of the lugs contacts the lug stop, then sliding the lugs axlaljy through the slots to remove the bowl protector from the centralizer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each lug has a top surface and the internal recess has a downward facing ledge, wherein raising the bowl protector out of the wellhead comprises engaging each lug top surface with the downward facing ledge.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method timber comprises after step (e);

removing the bowl protector from the centralizer;

removing the centralizer from the retrieval joint of casing; and

landing a casing hanger in the wellhead.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the retrieval joint of casing is below a joint of casing for attaching to a casing hanger, the method further comprising, after step (e), landing the casing hanger in the wellhead.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the centralizer comprises two or more centralizer segments, and wherein step (c) farther comprises completing a connection between the eentralizer segments.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the centrahzer comprises two or more centralizer segments, and wherein step (c) further comprises completing a plurality of connections between the centralizer segments so that each centrahzer segment is releasably attached to an adjacent centralizer segment and the eentralizer can move axially along a portion of the retrieval joint of casing.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the eentralizer comprises a plurality of bowed members and the lugs are located on an outer surface of the bowed members, wherein step (d) comprises urging the bowed members inward then allowing the bowed members to move outward to engage the lugs with the internal recess of the bowl protector.

12. A method for completing a well, comprising:

(a) drilling the well through a wellhead having a bowl protector inserted therein, the bowl protector having an internal recess;

(b) lowering a lower end of a casing string through the bowl protector;

(c) installing a centralizer having a plurality of centralizer segments on a retrieval joint of casing of the casing string, and completing connections between each centrahzer segment, the centralizer having a plurality of hags on an outer surface;

(d) lowering the retrieval joint of casing and the centralizer so the lugs engage the internal recess of the bowl protector;

(e) raising the retrieval joint of casing to lift the centralizer and bowl protector out of the wellhead;

(f) removing the bowl protector from the centralizer and removing the centralizer from the retrieval joint of casing; and

(g) attaching a casing banger to the casing string and landing the casing hanger in the wellhead.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the bowl protector has a plurality of slots extending from the internal recess to atop end of the bowl protector, and wherein:

step (f) comprises rotating the bowl protector relative to the centralizer to align the lugs with the slots and sliding the lugs axially through the slots to remove the bowl protector from the centralizer; and

step (f) further comprises removing the bowl protector from the casing string.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein each centralizer segment has a hinge connecting member, and wherein completing connections between each centralizer segment comprises coupling the binge connecting member of one of the centralizer segments with the binge connecting member of the adjacent centralizer segment.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein each centralizer segment has a hinge connecting member, and wherein removing the centralizer from the retrieval joint of casing comprises uncoupling the hinge connecting member of one of the centralizer segments from the hinge connecting member of the adjacent centralizer segment.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the centralizer comprises a plurality of bowed members and the lugs are located on an outer surface of the bowed members, wherein the bowed members are urged inward then the bowed members are allowed to move outward to engage the lugs with the internal recess of the bowl protector.

17. A method for completing a well, comprising:

(a) drilling the well through a wellhead having a bowl protector inserted therein, the bowl protector having an internal recess and a plurality of slots extending from the internal recess to a top end of the bowl protector;

(b) lowering a lower end of a casing string through the bowl protector;

(c) installing a retrieval tool on a retrieval joint of casing of the casing string, the retrieval tool comprising two or more centralizer segments and a plurality of bowed members with lugs fastened to an outer surface of the bowed members;

(d) lowering the retrieval joint of casing and the retrieval tool so the lugs engage the internal recess of the bowl protector; and

(e) raising the retrieval joint of casing to lift the retrieval tool and bowl protector out of the wellhead.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein each centralizer segment has an upper ring portion with an upper hinge connecting member and a lower ring portion with a lower hinge connecting member, and wherein releasably securing the retrieval tool to the retrieval joint of casing comprises coupling the upper and lower image connecting members of one of the centralizer segments with the upper and lower hinge connecting members of the adjacent centralizer segment.

19. The method of claim l7 wherein step (d) comprises urging the bowed members inward then allowing the bowed members to move outward to engage the lugs with the internal recess of the bowl protector.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein step (e) further comprises rotating the bowl protector relative to the cage centralizer to align the lugs with the slots and sliding the lugs through the slots to remove the bowl protector from the centralizer.