Aker Subsea As

Aker Subsea Inc.

André M Smith

Bengt Dahlborg

Glen H Cuiper

Paulo Cezar Silva Paulo

Roar Eide

Magnus Fjørtoft Urke

Birgir Amrén

Lasse E Aarnes

Per Bostedt

Joachim Vilhelmsson

Tanel Telliskivi

The invention provides a bore protector for a tubing hanger, the bore protector is to be arranged in a tubing hanger in a spool in a subsea production Xmas tree for through tubing rotary drilling (TTRD) in an existing production well. The bore protector is distinctive in that it comprises a means to be releasably fastened in at least one of: the spool in the Xmas tree and the tubing hanger, and a wear sleeve extending down into the tubing hanger, covering the tubing hanger sealing surfaces for the tubing hanger plugs, the wear sleeve comprises a shoulder at or near an upper end, the shoulder is arranged on a below positioned seat of a main part of the bore protector, in which position the wear sleeve is releasably fastened.

Bore protector

Seal assembly () for a subsea well assembly with inner and outer circular sealing surfaces () in an annulus (). It has a seal ring () with a cross section exhibiting two legs (), with seal ring seal surfaces (). The seal ring comprises a main metal section () having metal with the same or higher degree of hardness than the metal in said facing circular sealing surfaces (). The seal ring seal surfaces comprise a seal ring surface metal () which is of a softer metal than the metal in the circular sealing surfaces () and the metal in the main metal section (). The seal ring () comprises a second section () comprising said seal ring surface metal (), the second section () extending continuously between said seal ring seal surfaces () on the respective legs.

Metal seal

Internal tree cap () (ITC) adapted to be installed in the bore of a subsea well unit () or to an internal tubular element () of the same, comprising a locking element () for releasably locking the internal tree cap () to said subsea well unit () or internal tubular element (). The ITC further comprises a fluid channel () extending through a fluid barrier between the lower and upper part of the internal tree cap (), which fluid channel () is blocked by a burst element () adapted to break and open for fluid flow through the fluid channel () when exposed to a predetermined pressure difference over the burst element (). The invention also relates to an ITC running tool () and a locking mechanism () for supporting the ITC in the tool.

Internal tree cap and ITC running tool

A connector assembly for connection to a tubular element. The connector assembly includes locking elements with locking profiles, movable in a locking and an unlocking direction. The locking profiles can lock with facing locking profiles of the tubular member. The locking elements can be moved in the locking direction as a result of movement of an activation sleeve in a first direction. The locking elements or the activation sleeve include guiding elements that are adapted to slide against inclined unlocking guiding surfaces of the activation sleeve or the locking elements. Movement of the activation sleeve in a second direction results in movement of the locking element in the unlocking direction. The activation sleeve has axially extending activation sleeve protrusions having spaces formed between them.

Connector assembly

An internal tree cap having a running configuration and a latched configuration to be selectively secured to a tree spool. The tree cap may include an inner sleeve movable between upper and lower positions. The movement of the inner sleeve to the lower position may simultaneously engage a locking profile within the tree spool and energize a sealing element around the exterior of the tree cap. The tree cap may be a low profile tree cap that is flush with the top of the tree spool when installed. The tree cap may provide a collateral beneficial locking means to secure a tubing hanger within the tree spool. A lower housing may be attached to the tree cap to seal on the exterior of the upper neck of the tubing hanger. The tree cap may include a profile to accept a wireline plug.

Growing community of inventors

Lier, Norway

André M Smith