Cameron Iron Works Usa, Inc.

Kvaerner Oilfield Products, Inc.

Other

Kvaerner National, Inc.

Steven Dwayne Gullion

Robert Lee Wilkins

Charles Edward Jones

Thomas G Cassity

Larry M Hoes

A coupling element having two ends, and outer surface and a longitudinal axis extending between the ends, wherein the first end of the coupling element defines a sealing surface where extends normally to the longitudinal axis and the outer surface of the other end defines a cam follower surface forming an angle on the range of from about 2 to about 10 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis and wherein the second end defines the cam follower surface and the coupling element defines a passage extending from the sealing surface to the outer surface and apparatus comprising the coupling element and valve elements.

Lateral connector for tube assembly

A lateral connector for a tube assembly has a modular unit which can be used to establish a lateral connection through the sidewall of a tubular member positioned around it. The modular unit has a carrier ring, a coupling element, and a carrier body. The coupling element can move radially but not axially. The carrier ring has generally cylindrical inside and outside surfaces. The coupling element is carried by the carrier ring. The coupling element has a longitudinal axis which is generally radially positioned with respect to the longitudinal axis of the carrier ring. The coupling element has an inner end and an outer end and the outer end has a sealing face.

In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a tubular assembly having a lateral connection. The assembly comprises a spool body, a carrier ring, penetrators, and an urging means. The carrier ring is built to carry the radial penetrator(s) for the carrier body. The carrier ring is mounted in sliding relationship, concentric with the carrier body. The ring is spring loaded down relative to the carrier body, against a stop shoulder (device) there. This fixes or at least stabilizes the ring on the body during running into the spool body or retrieving from the spool body. The carrier ring fits into the spool body and seats on a stop in the spool body. The carrier body also seats in the spool body, but on a different stop. Radially extending penetrators are mounted in radial ports or passages in the carrier ring, and are fixed to control fluid lines which conduct the fluid down into the well. The penetrators can move radially relative to the ring, but not axially. The urging means includes a wedge which is also mounted in the ring, one wedge for each penetrator, a carrier for the ring, and a detent mechanism which establishes cooperation between the penetrator and the carrier. The wedge(s) can move axially relative to the ring, but not radially. Finally, the wedge devices are 'fixed' to the carrier body by a flexible spring detent (or similar). This arrangement links the wedge in downward movement to the carrier body, as the carrier body moves downward in turn relative to the carrier ring (and penetrators).

A lateral connector for a tube assembly has a modular unit which can be used to establish a lateral connection through the sidewall of a tubular member positioned around it. The modular unit has a carrier ring, a coupling element, and a carrier body. The coupling element can move radially but not axially. The carrier ring has generally cylindrical inside and outside surfaces. The coupling element is carried by the carrier ring. The coupling element has a longitudinal axis which is generally radially positioned with respect to the longitudinal axis of the carrier ring. The coupling element has an inner end and an outer end and the outer end has a sealing face. A carrier body having a generally cylindrical outside surface is positioned coaxially inside the carrier ring. The cylindrical outside surface of the carrier body is adjacent to the cylindrical inside surface of the carrier ring. A wedge positioned within a slot and grove arrangement is used to radially move the coupling element in the carrier ring in response to relative longitudinal movement between the carrier ring and the carrier body. A special seal is used to seal the coupling element.

The present invention relates to an improved well structure and the method of connecting the support ring to the well string within the well bore which includes the steps of lowering the support ring into the well bore in surrounding relationship to the well string and into seated position in the housing seat, lowering a pressure forming tool through the well string to the level of the support ring, pressurizing the tool to form the well string into tight secured and sealed relationship within the support ring and recovering the tool from the well string. The tool includes a means of increasing the pressure used in the forming process without subjecting the interior of the string along its full length to such forming pressure. The structure includes a support ring with an exterior shoulder for engaging the seat within the housing, a sealing profile of a plurality of internal grooves each of which is partially filled with pressure compensating material and a gripping profile of a plurality of gripping teeth. The improved well structure includes the support ring and a tubular element within the support ring deformed into tight gripping and sealing engagement with the interior of the support ring.

Method of securing a tubular member within an annular well member, the

An improved wellhead seal for sealing across the annular space between the exterior of a hanger and the interior of a wellhead housing having a seal ring with upper and lower rims, resilient metal lips on the interior of said lower rim for engaging the exterior of the hanger and gripping and sealing elements on the exterior of the upper rim and multiple camming surfaces on the interior of the upper rim and an actuating ring having multiple camming surfaces mating with the multiple camming surfaces on the upper rim so that downward movement of said actuating ring cams the gripping and sealing elements on said upper rim into tight metal-to-metal sealing engagement with the housing interior sealing surface. The sealing may be accomplished directly between the exterior of a hanger rim or by a seal ring positioned between the hanger rim and the interior housing surface.

Wellhead seal

An improved subsea wellhead seal assembly include an annular body having a pair of lower annular skirts, one extending downwardly and outwardly and the other extending downwardly and inwardly, a lower landing ring and means movably securing the lower landing ring to the annular body so that, when the lower landing ring is landed, the annular body continues its downward movement to deform the annular skirts outwardly and inwardly into sealing engagement with the walls of the annulus. A reaction ring is provided above landing ring for engagement by the ends of skirts and spacer rings may be used to preselect the level of the sealing surface engagement by the skirts.

Subsea wellhead seal assembly

An improved annular seal between tubular members in a subsea wellhead having an annular seal member with a U shape in section with the opening facing upwardly and two interengaged annular wedges for energizing the sealing surfaces of the inner and outer portions of the seal member at different levels. The interengagement of the wedges includes sufficient play to provide proper energizing of both inner and outer sealing surfaces at the same time. Further, the inner sealing surface is positioned at a much higher level than the outer sealing surface and close to the upper end of the inner member in which it is to seal to minimize the setting force for the inner sleeve and to minimize the amount of drag the seal will incur when retrieved. Also, the location of the outer sealing surface close to the inner member shoulder minimizes the reaction path of the lockdown sleeve. A ring engages with the upper interior of the outer leg of the seal and has a lower surface which is tapered downwardly and inwardly and is engaged by a mating taper on the upper surface of the outer wedge member to ensure release of the seal from set position.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Steven Dwayne Gullion