Dril-quip, Inc.

Gregory Dale Williams

Daniel J McLaughlin

James R Bower

Morris B Wade

Bruce Joseph Witwer

Justin Edward Morse

Lionel J Milberger

Larry E Reimert

Todd L Scaggs

John A Beleski

Timothy A Pillow

Eleazar Herrera

Christopher L Ognoskie

Systems and methods for proper orientation of the connections of a tubing hanger and a subsea assembly in a wellhead or tree are provided. The alignment is accomplished with the use of an orientation spool adaptor equipped with positional sensors and an orientation helix. Calibration of the positional sensors at the surface allows for orientation with simple vertical deployment. Positional sensors may provide real time data such as location, speed of installation and orientation back to the surface.

Tubing hanger orientation spool adaptor

A subsea production system and method for installing the same are provided. The subsea production system includes a high pressure subsea wellhead, a tubing hanger landed proximate the wellhead, a production tree disposed above the wellhead downstream of the tubing hanger, a riser, a subsea flowline system coupled between the production tree and the riser, at least one barrier located downstream of the tubing hanger, and a secondary barrier valve disposed within the tubing hanger or in line with and upstream of the tubing hanger. The at least one barrier provides a pressure barrier that controls pressure of fluid flowing from components of the subsea production system located upstream of the barrier to components of the subsea production system located downstream of the barrier, and the secondary barrier valve is remotely actuable between a closed position and an open position.

Subsea system and method for high pressure high temperature wells

In accordance with the present disclosure, a full top-to-bottom subsea system and method used to drill, complete, produce, and perform interventions on HPHT subsea wells is provided. The disclosed systems and methods involve the use of a controlled multiple barrier system, such as a high integrity pipeline protection system (HIPPS), incorporated into the subsea system to divide the system into two sections. The sections on either side of the barrier may be rated for different pressures, temperatures, and/or flow rates. For example, the first section (upstream of the barrier) is rated for operating at pressures/temperatures/flow rates up to a first (higher) threshold. The second section (downstream of the barrier) is rated for operating at pressures/temperatures/flow rates up to a second (lower) threshold. The disclosed subsea production system methodology, which uses barriers to divide the system components between two pressure ratings, may allow for enhanced development of HPHT reservoirs.

A method and system for coupling a riser to a subsea wellhead are disclosed. A first terminal end of a riser comprised of an inner riser and an outer riser is coupled to the platform and a second terminal end of the riser is coupled to a wellhead. The second terminal end of the inner riser is coupled to an inner drilling riser tie-back connector ('ITBC') having a main body. The ITBC is landed on a landing shoulder disposed within the subsea wellhead. A downward weight is applied to the main body. The application of the downward weight to the main body couples the ITBC and the subsea wellhead.

Inner drilling riser tie-back connector for subsea wellheads

Methods and systems relating to subsea wellhead orientation are disclosed. A system may include a wellhead with an orientation key on an outer surface and an opening on an inner surface and a Christmas tree attached to a guide tube having an orientation profile which engages the orientation key and guides the Christmas tree into a desired orientation relative to the wellhead. The system may also include a lockdown sleeve with a mating profile on an inner surface, and a protuberance on an outer surface which engages the opening on the inner surface of the wellhead when the lockdown sleeve is in a desired orientation relative to the wellhead. In addition, the system may include a tubing hanger with a mating profile on an outer surface which engages the mating profile of the lockdown sleeve and guides the tubing hanger into a desired orientation relative to the lockdown sleeve.

Wellhead conversion system and method

The present invention is directed to an assembly for installing and selectively retrieving a wear bushing in the bore of a subsea or surface wellhead. The assembly includes a bit sub, which is adapted for attachment to a drill string, a drill string adapter removably coupled to the bit sub, and a wear bushing removably coupled to the drill string adapter and adapted to be recoupled to the drill string adapter for selective retrieval from the bore of the wellhead.

Selectively retrievable wear bushing for subsea or surface applications

A casing hanger support assembly supports an inner casing string within a well containing an outer casing string and a production tubing string. The casing hanger support housing supports the casing hanger in the well, with a casing hanger being secured to an upper end of the inner casing string. One or more of a rupture disk and a blowout plug are provided in a wall of the casing hanger support housing for maintaining the desired pressure differential between an annulus within the outer casing string and an annulus exterior of the outer casing string, thereby preventing casing collapse or burst.

Casing hanger assembly with rupture disk in support housing and method

A running tool, a lockdown sleeve, and a seal ringare provided for axially fixing upward movement of a tubular hanger with respect to a subsea wellhead. The running toolincludes a tool latching and unlatching mechanismfor axially connecting the running tool to the subsea wellhead housing, a tool force applicatorfor exerting a downward setting force, and a sleeve latching mechanismfor securing the lockdown sleeve to the subsea wellhead housing. The sealis provided between the lockdown sleeve and one of the tubular hanger and the wellhead housing. The method of the invention includes running the tool and sleeve in open water to the subsea wellhead housing, locking the tool to the housing, setting the seal, locking the sleeve to the housing, then retrieving the tool in open water.

Open water running tool and lockdown sleeve assembly

There is disclosed a subsea wellhead connector comprised of a lower tubular member mounted on the upper end of a lower wellhead member, and an upper tubular member suspended from an upper wellhead member for lowering into end-to-end connection with the lower tubular member. Locking teeth are formed about the ends of the tubular members, and circumferentially spaced locking segments are carried by the upper tubular member for movement radially into or out of locking engagement with the grooves about the upper and lower tubular members. The locking segments are moved inwardly to locking position by means of a cam ring which surrounds them, and are withdrawn from locking position by spreader dogs carried by the cam ring and extending between the ends of adjacent locking segments.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Gregory Dale Williams