Smith International, Inc.

Mcevoy Oilfield Equipment Co.

Other

Hydril Company

John H Fowler

David P Herd

Benton Frederick Baugh

Herman O Henderson, Jr

David L Gruller

Arthur Ahlstone

Richard G Furley

A seal system for sealing between a pair of members is provided wherein a pair of substantially aligned walls on inner faces of the members have internal frustoconical portions. A metal ring includes a pair of lips with external frustoconical portions which sealingly engage the internal frustoconical portions. The metal ring includes at least one convolution between the lips. The convolution permits axial extension of the metal ring upon application of external pressure to the ring.

Bi-directional pressure-energized metal seal

Method for completing an underwater well includes locating drilling apparatus at the well site, and installing conductor casing in the floor of the body of water with a wellhead, blowout preventer stack, and riser attached thereto at a point near the floor, with the riser extending upwardly to the drilling means. A drill string and standard 171/2 inch drill bit is then run through the wellhead and conductor casing, and a hole is drilled for suspending 16 inch casing within the wellhead and conductor casing. A hanger-support member having a casing string attached thereto is lowered into the well until it lands in the wellhead, and it is then rotated less than 360.degree. to connect it within the wellhead. The hanger-support member is then latched within the wellhead. A hole is then drilled for suspending another casing within the wellhead, and a casing hanger with casing string is run through the riser and into the wellhead, and the casing hanger is landed on the hanger-support member.

Breech block hanger support well completion method

A fire responsive stem retention apparatus for a non-rising stem valve including an outer hollow sleeve secured to the top of the valve bonnet around the valve stem. An inner cap is received in the outer hollow sleeve and closely fitted therewithin, and houses upper and lower stem bearings therein. The inner cap has a shoulder which provides an upper support for the upper stem bearing. Under normal environmental conditions, the inner cap is sweated to the outer sleeve with a thin layer of fusible material. The upper bearing and stem are prevented from moving upward by the shoulder on the inner cap, and an annular shoulder on the stem is prevented from engaging a backseat in the bonnet. Under fire conditions, the thin layer of fusible material melts rapidly, freeing the inner cap from the outer sleeve and permitting the stem to rise until the annular shoulder on the stem engages the backseat in the bonnet. A screw in the inner cap rides in a slot in the outer sleeve, preventing removal of the inner cap from the sleeve.

Fire responsive stem retention apparatus

A breech block hanger support member for a subsea wellhead assembly for wells having a working pressure up to approximately 15,000 psi. The assembly includes a wellhead, the support member, a packoff for sealing the support member, and one or more other casing hangers supported by the support member. The support member is connected to the wellhead for itself suspending casing, for supporting at least one other casing hanger and casing, and for containing the working pressure. Breech block teeth are provided on the wellhead and support member to permit the support member to be stabbed into the wellhead and rotated less than 360.degree. for completing the connection therebetween. The teeth include groupings of spaced-apart no-lead teeth having slots therebetween. The slots provide a flow way for passing well fluids. The support member further includes an upper annular flange for arresting its downward movement within the wellhead. This flange includes flutes aligned with the slots for passing well fluids. The support member includes threads for connecting to the top of a casing string. The upper surface of the flange provides a bearing surface for supporting another casing hanger. The bearing surface of the support member will support all of the casing and tubing load and contain the working pressure. The bearing surface between the breech block teeth is greater than that provided by the support member for the other casing hangers. The packoff seals the support member with the wellhead and other casing hangers.

Breech block hanger support

The holddown and packoff apparatus is disposed on the shoulder of a hanger suspending casing in a well. The shoulder engages a seat in the bore of a wellhead. An expansible metal ring is slideably disposed on the hanger shoulder for engagement with an annular groove in the wellhead. A stop ring is insertable behind the expansible ring to expand and positively hold the expansible ring into holddown engagement in the wellhead groove. An independent sealing assembly is disposed on the stop ring and has one seal for the outer surface of the hanger and another seal for the inner surface of the wellhead. The seals operate in series whereby the sealing engagement of one does not hinder the sealing engagement of the other.

Holddown and packoff apparatus

A sealing assembly is releasably disposed on a hanger suspending a string of casing or tubing into a well. A shoulder on the hanger engages a seat in the bore of the wellhead and has passages therethrough for connecting the annular spaces above and below the seat. The seal assembly is lowered into the upper annular space around the hanger to close the annulus. The assembly includes a first tubular body threadingly connectable to the hanger, an outer load ring, an inner load ring, an inner packing ring disposed between the outer load ring and inner load ring, an inner retainer ring, and an outer packing ring disposed between the inner load ring and retainer ring. The inner packing ring singly engages the hanger and the outer packing ring singly engages the head. Such sealing occurs in series. The entire sealing force is applied through the outer diameter and inner diameter seal elements with the lower seal being loaded first. Even when one seal assembly is fully compressed, compression of the other seal assembly may continue.

Packoff apparatus

A fire-resistant seal for maintaining sealing contact between the sealing surfaces within a packing box under high temperature differentials between the inner and the outer members of such packing box, comprising one or more graphite-component seal rings for engaging the sealing surfaces of the inner and outer members, metal seal rings above and below the graphite-component seals for preventing extrusion of the graphite-component seal rings as well as for establishing metal-to-metal sealing contact between said metal rings and the sealing surfaces of the inner and outer members, and load maintaining means in the form of a metal crushable follower of cylindrical shape, having recessed grooves along its outer and inner perimeters, the gap between said grooves being permanently narrowed to approximately half-closure after applying a predetermined make-up load greater than the rated working pressure, which enables said crushable follower to maintain such compressive load on said graphite-component seals over a predetermined load range.

Heat resistant seal

A liquid dispenser, for dispensing discreet amounts of a liquid, such as a mouthwash, comprised of a container for a supply of a liquid and a base member which may be attached to the container in a horizontal position to provide for a free standing condition of the assembly, or, in a vertical position for suspension from a pair of screws preset in a wall. A double acting valve, provided with a laterally extending release bar, is disposed at the bottom of the container, said valve being normally spring urged into a closing relation with a discharge port in the bottom of a dose cup, fixed relative to the bottom end of the container. When the top edge of a receptacle such as a drinking glass or paper cup is pressed upwardly against the release bar, the valve is moved from the discharge port of the dose cup permitting the liquid therein to flow into the drinking glass or other receptacle, and the valve is moved into a closing relation with a discharge port opening from the container into the dose cup. When the glass or other receptacle is removed from the release bar, the dose cup port is again closed and the container port is reopened to replenish the dose cup with a discreet amount of liquid from the container.

Liquid dispenser

Extended casing method and apparatus for completing an underwater well whereby complete and continuous pressure control is maintained at the surface drilling platform. A conductor casing is installed in the floor of a body of water with a casing head and riser attached near the floor. Other casing is installed and supported at the water floor by hanger heads and having other risers extending upwardly therefrom. Pressure control equipment is installed at the upper end of one of the risers. An innermost casing having a tubing hanger-head attached is lowered through the pressure control equipment and installed. An orientation sleeve is aligned with the tubing hanger-head to properly orient the tubing hanger. The tubing hanger and tubing is then passed through the pressure control equipment and the innermost riser, to which the pressure control equipment is attached, and is lowered to engage the orientation sleeve for proper alignment with the innermost hanger-head and remotely latched thereto. All seals are then pressure tested. The tubing is plugged, the riser and control equipment removed and a Christmas tree adapter connected to the tubing hanger-head. A Christmas tree assembly is then attached to the adapter in fluidtight flow communication with the tubing string.

Underwater well completion method and apparatus

Extended casing method and apparatus for completing an underwater well whereby complete and continuous pressure control is maintained at the surface drilling platform. A conductor casing is installed in the floor of a body of water with a casing head and riser attached near the floor. Other casing is installed and supported at the water floor by hanger heads and having other risers extending upwardly therefrom. Pressure control equipment is installed at the upper end of one of the risers. An innermost casing having a tubing hanger-head attached is lowered through the pressure control equipment and installed. An orientation sleeve is aligned with the tubing hanger-head to properly orient the tubing hanger. The tubing hanger and tubing, is then passed through the pressure control equipment and the innermost riser, to which the pressure control equipment is attached and is lowered to engage the orientation sleeve for proper alignment with the innermost hanger-head and remotely latched thereto. All seals are then pressure tested. The tubing is plugged, the riser and control equipment removed and a Christmas tree adapter connected to the tubing hanger-head. A Christmas tree assembly is then attached to the adapter in fluidtight flow communication with the tubing string.

Extended casing method and apparatus for completing an underwater well whereby complete and continuous pressure control is maintained at the surface drilling platform. A conductor casing is installed in the floor of a body of water with a casing head and riser attached near the floor. Other casing is installed and supported at the water floor by hanger heads and having other risers extending upwardly therefrom. Pressure control equipment is installed at the upper end of one of the risers. An innermost casing having a tubing hanger-head attached is lowered through the pressure control equipment and installed. An orientation sleeve is aligned with the tubing hanger-head to properly orient the tubing hanger. The tubing hanger and tubing is then passed through the pressure control equipment and the innermost riser, to which the pressure control equipment is attached, and is lowered to engage the orientation sleeve for proper alignment with the innermost hanger-head and remotely latched thereto. All seals are then pressure tested. The tubing is plugged, the riser and control equipment removed and a Christmas tree adapter connected to the tubing hanger head. A assembly is then attached to the adapter in fluidtight flow communication with the tubing string.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

John H Fowler