Fmc Corporation

Fmc Technologies, Inc.

Shiva P Singeetham

Vincent H Vetter

Christopher E Cunningham

Michael R Williams

Christopher D Bartlett

Harold Brian Skeels

William A Valka

Bashir M Koleilat

Russell Eric McBeth

Robert B Baten

Edmund M Mouret

Eric Baltmanis

A connector for securing a first cylindrical member to a second cylindrical member comprises a cylindrical body which includes a first end that is attached to the first member and a second end that is positioned proximate the second member, a cylindrical housing sleeve which is positioned concentrically over the body and which includes an upper end portion that is secured to the body and a lower end portion that is disposed adjacent the second member, a cylindrical primary piston that is positioned between the body and the housing sleeve, a locking mandrel which is connected to or formed integrally with the primary piston and which includes at least first and second annular portions that have different diameters, and a split lock ring which is supported by the lower end portion adjacent a number of locking grooves in the second member and which includes at least first and second cylindrical portions that correspond to the first and second annular portions of the locking mandrel. In operation, movement of the primary piston from a first position to a second position will force the first and second annular portions of the locking mandrel into engagement with the first and second cylindrical portions of the lock ring, respectively, and consequently force the lock ring into engagement with the locking grooves to thereby lock the connector to the second member.

Slimline tieback connector

An externally actuatable tieback connector for establishing fluid communication and force resisting connection of a conduit to a subsea wellhead having an internal locking geometry. The tieback connector has a body structure that is adapted for landing on a wellhead, with a part thereof extending into the wellhead and carrying a split lock ring. A lock energizing element, moveable relative to the body structure, has a locking position expanding the lock ring into locking and pre-load force transmitting engagement with the internal locking geometry of the wellhead and an unlocking position releasing the tieback connector from the wellhead. One or more drive members extend from the lock energizing element and are exposed externally of the connector body and wellhead for engagement and actuating movement by a lock actuating tool such as a ROV or the like.

Externally actuated subsea wellhead tieback connector

A lightweight ROV deployable tree cap (28) for deployment on a subsea production hub (10) of a subsea tree. A tree cap (28) has a lightweight body (30) with parallel planar sides and including suitable openings and slots for mounting of the various operating elements. A seal plate structure (64) includes a piston (66) connected to a seal plate (68) having a pair of downwardly projecting tubular seal members (70, 72) for fitting within the production bore (13) and annulus bore (15) of the tree hub (10) in a sealed landed position. Fluid pressure is applied to fluid line (96) to urge piston (66) and seal plate (68) downwardly into sealing landed position. For removal or retrieval of tree cap (28) from the installed position on subsea tree hub (10), fluid pressure is applied through fluid lines (108, 110) for the upward movement of seal plate (68) and tubular seal members (70, 72) from sealing relation with production bore (13) and annulus bore (15). Hydraulic fluid is supplied from the ROV through fluid coupling devices (98, 112) which are insertable within receptacles (110,114) in the tree cap body (30). The fluid couplers (98, 112) are removed from the operating receptacles after installation of the tree cap (28) and are parked in other receptacles on A tree frame until needed for further service, such as removal of the tree cap (28). A spare tree cap may be positioned on the tree frame and installed on the tree hub by the ROV.

ROV deployed tree cap for a subsea tree and method of installation

A subsea wellhead tieback connector operatively used to connect to a marine riser pipe or a well conductor in a manner that that will not unthread or unloosen the joints of the riser pipe being unlocked. The tieback connector operates with a novel internal latching mechanism having a hydraulic piston, an inner body that stretches and deflects in a unique manner resulting in compression spring forces at two locations, an expanding lock ring, a threaded adjustment ring, and a reaction ring. During operation the tieback connector creates an enhanced mechanical advantage to originate a required pre-load force without the necessity of having to generate a large hydraulic force that would otherwise be needed.

Internally latched subsea wellhead tieback connector

A radially locked subsea housing includes a low pressure housing having upper and lower radial lock regions, each of which regions includes a radial interference surface that is between vertical to only slightly tapered in orientation. A high pressure housing also has upper and lower radial lock regions, each of which regions includes a radial interference surface that is slightly greater in radial diameter than the corresponding interference surface of the low pressure housing. The interference surfaces of the upper and lower radial lock regions form upper and lower interference fits, respectively, between the high pressure and low pressure housings when the housings are assembled subsea. The low pressure housing further includes a landing shoulder defining a landing surface that is substantially more tapered in orientation than are the interference surfaces of the upper and lower radial lock regions, and the high pressure housing includes a landing shoulder defining a landing surface formed to land on the landing surface of the low pressure housing when the housings are assembled subsea. In an alternative embodiment, a zero-clearance, axially extended fit is employed at one or both of the radial lock regions.

Dual radially locked subsea housing

An all-metal, well annulus packoff assembly for establishing a high pressure, corrosion resistant metal-to-metal seal between a wellhead housing and a casing hanger, including an annular metallic seal element having a generally upstanding U-shaped cross section that is adapted for non-rotational sequential setting against the hanger and the housing.

Metal-to-metal annulus packoff for a subsea wellhead system

A well tool assembly for running a casing hanger and a packoff into a wellhead housing during a single trip into the well, comprising a tubular inner mandrel, a locking mandrel, an outer annular body surrounding and rotatably connected to the inner mandrel, an outer sleeve surrounding the outer body, and means to prevent relative rotation between the outer body and the locking mandrel.

Single trip casing hanger/packoff running tool

A splitt clamp assembly for pipe flanges, comprising an outer ring with internal threads for securing it to an externally threaded first pipe flange, and a plurality of arcuate segments interconnected by keys into an inner ring, means to secure the inner ring to a second pipe flange, and means to secure the inner and outer rings together in a relative non-rotable manner.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Shiva P Singeetham