Cooper Industries, Inc.

Frank Close

Sean McAvoy

Brian MacIntyre

The invention relates to a method and apparatus suitable for example in enabling the installation of a casing hanger within a bore in an oil-drilling wellhead in a manner so that the installation and the sealing-in of the casing hanger is accomplished in a single operation. The invention thus comprises installing a component (2) within a bore (4) so as to be received therewithin in a fluid-type manner utilizing expandible seals (8) and a shoulder (36) within the bore (4) adapted to be contacted by a leading edge (32) of one of two concentrically arranged sleeve members (12, 14) which are driven downwardly within the bore towards the shoulder, the two sleeve members which encircle the component (2) being secured together by shearable links (25). The movement of one (12) of the sleeve members towards the shoulder (36) is arrested by its abutment against the shoulder, but the driving force continues to be applied to the second sleeve member (14) so as to shear the shearable link (25) and permit further movement of second member (14), so as to vertically compress and thus expand the seals (8) radially and ensure a fluid-tight seal between the component (2) and the inner surface of the bore (4).

Positioning components and energizing sealing assemblies therefor

The invention provides an emergency suspension system for use particularly with drill casings in a wellhead. The system, which is intended to surround the casing, comprises an annular bowl member (6) having an internal tapered annular space (16) which reduces in diameter from its upper to its lower end and a support means comprising an annular support element arrangement (28) at least partially formed from resilient material and a plurality of support members (20,22,24) at least partially embedded in said resilient material and having a circular cross-section in at least one direction, said members forming a plurality of annular arrays adapted to surround said tubular member, the uppermost of said arrays (20) comprising support members having said circular cross-section larger than that of a lowermost (24) of said arrays.

Emergency suspension system for drill casings

The invention relates to a method and apparatus suitable for angularly adjusting an attachment member to be sealed to a bore, for example a wellhead body (2) in the bore of a conductor (4). The attachment body (2) is to be sealed through the intermediary of a housing (6) and a metal-to-metal wedge seal. A support ring (14) encircling the external peripheral surface of the housing (6) is movable between two axially spaced positions on the peripheral surface, and movable pins are provided to maintain the support ring (14) in a first, out-of-the-way position until the housing (6) is positioned in the bore (4) mouth, the pins (9) being releasable to permit axial movement of the annular support member ring (14) from the first position towards a second position in which the member body (2) is in direct contact with the bore mouth. There are further provided ball bearings (8) for permitting rotation between the body (2) and the housing (6) prior to the support ring (14) taking up its second position, the pins (9), when withdrawn, then acting to immobilize rotation between the body (2) and the housing (6). Screws (26) are then used in a conventional manner to energize the sealing device when the support member ring (14) is in its second position.

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Airdrie, United Kingdom

Frank Close