Dril-quip, Inc.

Exxon Production Research Company

James M Walker

Lionel J Milberger

Larry E Reimert

William T Ilfrey

Philippe H Schaeffer

A downhole toolincludes a closure seatfor seating with a closure, such as a ball. Shear pins or other connectors temporarily limit axial movement of the closure seat which is initially housed within a restricted diameter portion of the central throughbore in the tool body. The closure seat may be lowered to engage a stopthereby positioning the seat within an enlarged diameter bore portion of the tool and allowing radial expansion of a closure seat to release the ball.

Downhole tool with C-ring closure seat and method

A composite metal sealing ring and method are provided for sealing between tubular members. First and second tubular members have first and second conical inner sealing surfaces. A metal sealing ring has corrosion-resistant inlays defining opposing conical outer sealing surfaces for sealing with the first and second conical inner sealing surfaces. The resulting composite sealing ring has the corrosion-resistant benefits of stainless steel at the sealing surfaces, along with the desired expansion ratio of a conventional carbon steel.

Metal seal with corrosion resistant alloy overlay

A weld-on female casing connector is disclosed having an upper threaded section and a lower cylindrical section that is welded to the casing. Located between the two sections is a connecting section that has a downwardly decreasing cross-sectional area until the cross-sectional area approaches the cross-sectional area of an ideal transition section and has a stress in the range of other high stress sections of the connector than an increasing cross-sectional area until the outside diameter of the connecting section is sufficient to provide a downwardly facing elevator shoulder of sufficient area to support the casing on an elevator.

Weld-on casing connector

There is disclosed a remotely operable, subsea wellhead connector for connecting the lower end of one wellhead member to the upper end of another wellhead member which is mounted in an upright position beneath the water surface, such connector including a tubular member adapted to be connected to the lower end of the one wellhead member so that it may be lowered therewith into end-to-end relation with the lower wellhead member, and a split lock ring having upper and lower locking teeth carried by the tubular member for radial movement together between an expanded position in which the upper teeth are generally opposite and spaced from grooves about the tubular member and the lower teeth are movable past the upper end of the lower wellhead member for disposal opposite and spaced from grooves thereabout, and a contracted position in which the upper and lower teeth thereof are in locking engagement with the grooves in the tubular member and lower wellhead member, respectively, when the tubular member has been lowered in end-to-end relation with the lower wellhead member. The lock ring assumes either its expanded or its contracted positions when unstressed, and a ring surrounds the lock ring for movement between a first position in which the lock ring is expanded and a second position in which the cam ring is slidable over follower means on the lock ring to wedge it into contracted position. The cam ring is moved between its first and second positions by a plurality of remotely operable, extendible and retractible actuators arranged about the cam ring and connected at their opposite ends to the tubular member and the cam ring.

Subsea wellhead connectors

There is disclosed apparatus for releasably connecting first and second tubular members in end-to-end relation including a split lock ring having first and second axially spaced locking teeth which are carried by the first member for radial movement together being expanded positions opposite from first and second locking grooves about the first and second members, respectively, and contracted positions in locking engagement with such grooves, and a cam ring which surrounds the lock ring for movement between a first position in which the lock ring is expanded and a second position in which the cam ring is slidable over follower means on the lock ring to wedge said lock ring into expanded position.

Apparatus for releasably connecting tubular members in end-to-end

An improved marine riser is described which is comprised of a plurality of conduit sections joined together end to end. Buoyancy cans for retaining a compressed gas are flexibly connected to the riser at selected locations along its length and form a fluid tight seal therewith.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

James M Walker