What is the difference between a liner hanger and a liner adapter?
When designing a liner program one of the most important questions is “Do I want to leave the liner on bottom?” Usually the operator will want to hang the liner in suspension for a number of reasons. These include but are not limited to buckling of the liner due to weight and damage to the liner due to running of tools in and out of the hole. For this he will need a liner hanger. Sometimes, though, the operator may prefer to leave the liner on bottom. In this case a liner adapter is the better way to go. In its pure form the adapter is simply a liner hanger without slips. The OD of the adapter is large enough to center the liner in the hole but not so large to restrict flow during circulation and cementing operations. The adapter does have variations. These include rubber or lead seals, hold down slips, and drive-on heads. Overall, from a cost standpoint, the adapter is much less expensive than a liner hanger.
