Vetco Gray Inc Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150361728 | Cold Forming and Heat Treatment Process for Tubulars - A method for forming an elongated tubular member for use with hydrocarbon production includes forming a blank member of a steel material having an outer diameter equal to a first outer diameter. The blank member is mounted on a rotating mandrel. A tubular member is formed by engaging a rotary disk with an outer surface of the blank member and moving the rotary disk in a first axial direction, lengthening the blank member in a second axial direction and reducing the outer diameter of the blank member until the outer diameter of a central portion of the blank member is equal to a second outer diameter and the outer diameter of end portions of the blank member is equal to a third outer diameter. The tubular member is heat treated to reduce a residual stress. A mechanical connection is formed in each of the end portions. | 12-17-2015 |
20150292315 | MULTIFUNCTIONAL TEST TOOL FOR SUBSEA APPLICATIONS - A tool for testing pressure in a wellhead, having a stem for insertion in the wellhead. the stem having an up position and a down position. The tool further includes an energizing member and an isolation seal, so that when the stem is in the down position, the energizing member energizes the isolation seal so that it seals against the wellhead. In addition, the tool includes a plug adapter surrounding the stem and having a variable inner diameter that selectively seals against the stem, so that when the stem is in the up position the interface between the plug adapter and the stem is sealed, and when the stem is in the down position, the interface between the plug adapter and the stem is not sealed. | 10-15-2015 |
20150267819 | Seal Element Having Contoured V-Spring - A gate valve for use in oil field applications having a seal assembly made up of an elastomeric case and a spring in the case having a V-shaped cross section. The spring has legs that depend from one another, and free ends of the legs that are contoured towards one another to define a rounded surface on outer surfaces of the legs. The rounded surface reduces stress contact between the spring and the case, thereby prolonging seal assembly life. The seal assembly can be placed between a stem in the valve and a gland packing. Other seal assembly locations include between a seat ring and counterbore in the valve body. | 09-24-2015 |
20150267479 | Wear Bushing with Hanger Lockdown - A wear bushing assembly protects and locks down a hanger in a wellhead housing; and which includes a wear bushing body that inserts into a wear bushing sleeve. A lock ring extends into registered recesses on the body and sleeve to couple together the body and sleeve. The wellhead housing has a profiled recess circumscribing its inner surface. A lockdown ring selectively mates with the profiled recess; and when mated is in interfering contact with an upper surface of the wear bushing sleeve, thereby coupling the sleeve to the wellhead housing. The sleeve outer surface is profiled to interfere with upward movement of the hanger, so that force is transferred from the hanger to the housing through the sleeve which locks down the housing. | 09-24-2015 |
20150226338 | Valve Vented Redundant Stem Seal System - A valve stem packing assembly can seal a valve stem to a valve body having a body cavity. The packing assembly includes a packing ring circumscribing the valve stem within a stem opening extending axially through the valve body. A primary dynamic seal is positioned to seal a dynamic leak path between the packing ring and the valve stem. A secondary dynamic seal is spaced axially apart and functionally independent from the primary dynamic seal and positioned to redundantly seal the dynamic leak path. A primary static seal is positioned to seal a static leak path between the packing ring and the valve body. A secondary static seal is spaced axially apart and functionally independent from the primary static seal and positioned to redundantly seal the static leak path. | 08-13-2015 |
20150145247 | ALIGNMENT GUIDE FEATURE FOR METAL TO METAL SEAL PROTECTION ON MECHANICAL CONNECTIONS AND COUPLINGS - A connection is established between a pin connector and a box connector defined on a pair of tubular members such as casing segments in the field of oil and gas recovery. The pin connector and box connector include features for the protection of metallic-sealing surfaces during assembly, disassembly, transport and handling of the tubular members. The pin connector includes a stabbing flank with an inwardly tapered annular flank surface thereon, and an alignment protrusion extending outward with respect to the pin-side metallic sealing surface in a direction normal to a cone angle defined by the inwardly tapered annular flank surface. The alignment protrusion engages internal surfaces of the box connector to concentrically align the pin connector with the box connector, and thereby protects the metallic sealing surfaces from damage that might otherwise result from collisions between the pin connector and the box connector. | 05-28-2015 |
20150114666 | TUBE ARRANGEMENT TO ENHANCE SEALING BETWEEN TUBULAR MEMBERS - An well assembly having a housing with an inner surface, the assembly including a tubular member inserted in the housing and having an outer surface. The assembly further includes a plurality of protrusions extending from one of the inner or outer surfaces, the protrusions separated by gaps defined between adjacent protrusions. In addition, the well assembly includes a metal to metal seal pressed against and deformed by the protrusions. A plurality of hollow tubes are provided for insertion in the gaps between the protrusions, the tubes being collapsible upon engagement with the metal to metal seal. | 04-30-2015 |
20150114619 | TUBING HANGER ANNULUS ACCESS PERFORATED STEM DESIGN - A wellhead assembly including a tubing hanger adapted to be connected to a tubing string and landed in a wellhead, and defining a tubing annulus between the tubing string and casing in a well. The wellhead assembly also includes a tubing annulus upper access bore extending downward from an upper end of the tubing hanger, and a tubing annulus lower access bore extending upward from a lower end of the tubing hanger and misaligned with the upper access bore, the lower access bore adapted to communicated with the tubing annulus. A communication cavity connects the upper and lower access bores within the tubing hanger. A remotely actuated valve is in the communication cavity for selectively opening and closing communication between the lower access bore and the upper access bore. | 04-30-2015 |
20150074979 | MAGNETIC FRAME AND GUIDE FOR ANTI-ROTATION KEY INSTALLATION - An apparatus for guiding an anti-rotation key installation tool includes at least one magnet mounting member. A tool positioning member is coupled to the magnet mounting member and has a first end and a second end. An installation tool positioning channel extends from the first end to the second end of the tool positioning member and has an opening at the first end of the tool positioning member for accepting a portion of the anti-rotation key installation tool. At least one mechanically switchable frame securing magnet assembly is mounted to the at least one magnet mounting member for releasably securing the apparatus to an outer surface of a tubular connection. | 03-19-2015 |
20150068725 | POSITIVE RETENTION LOCK RING FOR TUBING HANGER - A wellhead assembly includes a wellhead housing with a bore and an annular lock groove on an inner diameter surface of the bore. A wellbore member is concentrically located within the bore of the wellhead housing, defining an annulus between the wellbore member and the wellhead housing. An annular lock ring is positioned in the annulus. The annular lock ring has an outer diameter profile for engaging the lock groove and is radially expandable from an unset position to a set position. An energizing ring is positioned in the annulus to push the lock ring outward to the set position as the energizing ring moves downward. A retainer selectively engages the energizing ring and limits axial upward movement of the energizing ring relative to the wellbore member, retains the annular lock in the set position, and prevents axial upward movement of the wellbore member relative to the wellhead housing. | 03-12-2015 |
20150041119 | SENSING MAGNETIZED PORTIONS OF A WELLHEAD SYSTEM TO MONITOR FATIGUE LOADING - A wellhead assembly having a tubular magnetized in at least one selected location, and a sensor proximate the magnetized location that monitors a magnetic field from the magnetized location. The magnetic field changes in response to changes in mechanical stress of the magnetized location, so that signals from the sensor represent loads applied to the tubular. Analyzing the signals over time provides fatigue loading data useful for estimating structural integrity of the tubular and its fatigue life. Example tubulars include a low pressure housing, a high pressure housing, conductor pipes respectively coupled with the housings, a string of tubing, a string of casing, housing and tubing connections, housing and tubing seals, tubing hangers, tubing risers, and other underwater structural components that require fatigue monitoring, or can be monitored for fatigue. | 02-12-2015 |
20140353036 | Apparatus and Method for Measuring Inclination in Subsea Running, Setting, and Testing Tools - A system for jetting a borehole in a seafloor, the system including a tubular, and a jetting tool inserted into the tubular and having an end from which fluid is selectively discharged to excavate the borehole. An electrical inclination sensor is attached to the stem of the tubular, and is in communication a transmitter. A receiver is positioned proximate the sea surface and is in communication with the transmitter through the fluid in a drill pipe, so that when the jetting tool is excavating the borehole, an inclination of the tubular is sensed by the inclination sensor, which inclination is communicated from the transmitter to the receiver. | 12-04-2014 |
20140284048 | Thin Wall Active Casing Hanger - A wellbore system includes a housing assembly and first and second position casing hangers supported by the housing assembly. A load member is provided that is adapted to extend between the first position casing hanger and the housing assembly to enable the housing assembly to support the first position casing hanger. The second position casing hanger is stacked onto the first position casing hanger, and an interface is defined between the first and second position casing hangers to aid in alignment and centralization of the second position casing hanger during installation. The interface also provides radial support to the first position casing hanger and enables loads associated with the second position hanger to be transferred to the housing assembly through the load member. | 09-25-2014 |
20140238699 | WELLHEAD ANNULUS SEAL HAVING A WICKERED SURFACE - An annular seal for use in a wellhead assembly has inner and outer legs that each extend in a direction that is generally parallel with an axis of the seal to define an annular space therebetween. Wickers are provided on an outer surface of the seal, so that when the seal is energized and the legs are urged radially apart from one another, the wickers engage with a mating surface of a downhole tubular. Embedding the wickers into the tubular creates a flow barrier across the interface between the seal and the tubular. The wickers deform the surface of the tubular, which creates a lock down force that opposes relative axial movement of the tubular. | 08-28-2014 |
20140183824 | SEAL WITH FLEXIBLE NOSE FOR USE WITH A LOCK-DOWN RING ON A HANGER IN A WELLBORE - A seal system selectively set between coaxial downhole tubulars seals between the tubulars; the system also locks the tubulars together to resist relative axial movement from thermal expansion. The seal system includes a seal element with a nose ring that couples a lock-down ring to both the inner and outer tubulars. Before inserting the seal system between the tubulars, the lock-down ring is disposed in a groove on the inner tubular. Setting the seal system drives a lower tip of the nose ring between the lock-down ring and inner tubular, thereby urging the lock-down ring radially outward. A portion of the lock-down ring remains in the groove, while an outer radial portion of the lock-down ring inserts into a profile on the outer tubular. Axial movement of a tubular transfers force to the other tubular through the lock-down ring, while a minimal amount of force transfers through the seal system. | 07-03-2014 |
20140183396 | MULTI-VALVE SEAT SEAL ASSEMBLY FOR A GATE VALVE - A gate valve for use in oil field applications and including a seat seal assembly. The seat seal assembly includes primary, secondary, and tertiary seals for sealing the space between the seat rings and the valve body. The provision of multiple seals in the seat seal assembly provides redundancy that allows for maintenance of the seal between the components even if one or two of the individual seals fail. | 07-03-2014 |
20140183393 | MULTI-VALVE STEM SEAL ASSEMBLY FOR A GATE VALVE - A gate valve for use in oil field applications and including a stem seal assembly. The stem seal assembly includes primary, secondary, and tertiary seals for sealing the space between the stem and the bonnet. The provision of multiple seals in the stem seal assembly provides redundancy that allows for maintenance of the seal between the components even if one or two of the individual seals fail. | 07-03-2014 |
20140183392 | GATE VALVE ARRANGEMENT INCLUDING MULTI-VALVE STEM AND SEAT ASSEMBLIES - A gate valve for use in oil field applications and including a stem seal assembly and a seat seal assembly. Each of the stem and seat seal assemblies accommodate independent primary, secondary, and tertiary seals for sealing the space between the stem and the bonnet, or the seat ring and the valve body, respectively. The provision of multiple seals in each assembly provides redundancy that allows for maintenance of the seal between the components even if one or two of the individual seals fail. | 07-03-2014 |
20140182381 | Gate Valve Real Time Health Monitoring System, Apparatus, Program Code and Related Methods - Systems, apparatus, and program code, and methods for monitoring the health and other conditions of the valve, are provided. An exemplary system for monitoring the condition of the gate valve includes a logic module configured to perform the operations of receiving sensor data providing an acoustic emission, vibration, and/or stream level signature and determining the level of lubricity, level of friction, level of surface degradation, and leakage rate at a gate-valve seat interface. An exemplary method for monitoring the condition of the gate valve includes receiving sensor data providing an acoustic emission, vibration, and/or stream level signature and determining the level of lubricity, level of friction, level of surface degradation, and leakage rate at a gate-valve seat interface. | 07-03-2014 |
20140174764 | Annulus Seal Utilizing Energized Discrete Soft Interfacial Sealing Elements - A seal assembly for sealing an annulus between inner and outer wellhead members includes an energizer ring formed of a high strength elastic material having inner and outer legs. An annular inner recess with grooves on its base is formed on an inward facing surface of the inner leg. An inner diameter seal ring formed of an inelastic material engages the grooves of the inner recess. An annular outer recess with grooves on its base is formed on an outward facing surface of the outer leg. An outer diameter seal ring formed of an inelastic material engages the grooves of the outer recess. When the energizer ring is coaxially inserted in the annulus, the inner diameter seal ring is compressively and permanently deformed into sealing contact with the inner wellhead member, and the outer diameter seal ring is compressively and permanently deformed into sealing contact with the outer wellhead member. | 06-26-2014 |
20140174554 | Robust Quick-Connection Mechanism For Use With Valve Actuator Assemblies and Linearly Actuated Valves and Related Methods - Apparatus and methods for connecting a linear actuating mechanism of an actuator to a valve stem of a linearly actuated valve, are provided. An example of an apparatus can include an elongate valve stem member of a valve, an extension member of a linear actuating mechanism, a locking cap member, and a locking member insertable into the locking cap member for locking the valve stem member with the extension member through employment of the locking cap member. | 06-26-2014 |
20140167408 | Ratcheting Anti-Rotation Lock for Threaded Connectors - A pipe connection includes a pin having external threads and a box having internal threads. A circumferentially extending row of pin teeth are located on an exterior portion of the pin. A slot extends through a side wall of the box. A key is carried in the slot, the key having a row of key teeth that mate with the box teeth. The key is mounted to the box such that a movable portion of the key is radially movable relative to the box between radially outward and radially inward positions. The key is biased toward the inward position, so that the key teeth ratchet on the pin teeth during make-up of pin and the box. The teeth have a saw-tooth configuration to resist unscrewing rotation of pin and the box. The key may be an integral part of the side wall of the box or a separate component. | 06-19-2014 |
20140166308 | Anti-Rotation Wedge - A key assembly is press fit into an annular space between a box and pin member to resist relative rotation of the box and pin members. The key assembly includes wedge like members that contact one another along complementary tapered surfaces, and when in contact generate radial forces into the box and pin member to secure the connection between the box and pin. The outer wedge is inserted first into the annular space between the box and pin members, and has rows of elongate teeth that project radially outward into contact with an inner surface of the box member. Because the outer wedge is pushed radially outward against the box member rather than axially sliding therebetween, the teeth protrude into the surface of the box member thereby increasing the anti-rotation force created by the outer wedge. | 06-19-2014 |
20140166298 | CLOSED-LOOP HYDRAULIC RUNNING TOOL - A method and apparatus for setting an inner wellhead member in a subsea wellhead housing includes connecting an inner wellhead member to a running tool and running the running tool and wellhead member through a tubular member to a wellhead housing. A plurality of pistons urge fluid through a closed-loop hydraulic system. That fluid actuates a locking mechanism to lock the inner wellhead member into the wellhead housing, and also actuates a release mechanism to release the running tool from the inner wellhead member. The pistons are moved from one position to another in response to fluid pressure from the running string to which the running tool is connected, fluid pressure from the tubular member in which the running tool is located, or in response to fluid in the closed-loop hydraulic system that is being moved in response to the other one of the pistons. | 06-19-2014 |
20140166297 | TENSIONER LATCH WITH SLIDING SEGMENTED BASE - A tensioner assembly for applying tension to a tubular member, such as a riser, can include an upper latch connected to the tubular member, a platform with a bore, and a lower latch ring. After applying tension to the tubular member, the lower latch ring can be closed around the tubular member so that when the tension is released, the upper latch lands on and engages the lower latch. The assembly can include a locking mechanism that prevents axial movement of the upper latch, relative to the lower latch, after engagement. The upper latch can self-center on the lower latch as it is moved into the latching position. | 06-19-2014 |
20140166131 | SWIVEL TOP SHAFT VALVE ACTUATOR - An actuator for operating a linear valve, such as a gate valve, includes a swivel coupling for detachably connecting an indicator stem to a plate within the actuator. In embodiments, the coupling includes a body with a lock ring groove. The detachable stem includes a downward facing recess having a groove on an inner diameter surface. The stem is placed on the body, and a lock ring engages both grooves to prevent axial movement of the stem relative to the body. The lock ring does not, however, prevent rotational movement of the stem relative to the body. | 06-19-2014 |
20140152005 | RAPID MAKE UP DRIVE SCREW ADAPTER - An assembly for clamping flanged tubular components, the assembly including a segmented clamp having a recess configured to accept the flanges of the tubular components, and a hole oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the tubular components. The assembly also includes a housing surrounding an outer portion of the segmented clamp and configured for attachment to at least one of the tubular components, and a drive screw that passes through the housing and is threadedly engaged with the hole of the segmented clamp. As the drive screw rotates, it drives the segmented clamp perpendicularly relative to the tubular components between a locked position, in which the circumferential recess engages the flanges of the tubular components, and an unlocked position, in which the circumferential recess is positioned laterally out of engagement with the flanges of the tubular components. | 06-05-2014 |
20140144650 | LOCKDOWN SYSTEM FOR USE IN A WELLHEAD ASSEMBLY - A wellhead assembly having an outer tubular, an inner tubular inserted into the outer tubular, an annular space between the inner and outer tubulars, a lock ring in the annular space, and an activation ring that axially strokes between the lock ring and one of the tubulars. The lock ring selectively locks together the inner and outer tubulars when the activation ring slides between the lock ring and the one of the tubulars. The surface of the activation ring that contacts lock ring is contoured so that an interface surface between the activation ring and lock ring when the lock ring is in its locked position, is offset an angle from an axis of the wellhead that is less than an offset between the axis of the wellhead and an interface surface between the activation ring and lock ring when the activation ring is stroking downward. | 05-29-2014 |
20140138564 | COMBINATION DIAPHRAGM PISTON ACTUATOR - An actuator for operating a linear valve, such as a gate valve, includes a sealing plate that extends across the diameter of a housing. A diaphragm is located on, and fully supported by, the plate. When pressure media urges the diaphragm and sealing plate downward, the sealing plate urges a step downward to actuate a valve. A hub and an annular support plate can be assembled to form the plate, and the plate can be different sizes by selecting different sized annular support plates. | 05-22-2014 |
20140138086 | Apparatus and Methods For Releasing Drilling Rig and Blowout Preventer (BOP) Prior to Cement Bonding - Apparatus and methods for managing cementing operations are provided. An example method includes connecting a cementing adapter atop a casing head itself positioned atop a surface casing landed within a conductor pipe, connecting a drilling adapter atop the cementing adapter, connecting a blowout preventer to the drilling adapter, and drilling for and running production casing. The method also includes positioning a casing hanger at least partially within a bore of the cementing adapter to be immobilized therein to retain back pressure of cement within an annulus located between the production casing and the surface casing, cementing the production casing within the surface casing, and removing the drilling adapter and blowout preventer after running the cement, but typically prior to cement bonding. | 05-22-2014 |
20140138082 | THERMALLY-SENSITIVE TRIGGERING MECHANISM FOR SELECTIVE MECHANICAL ENERGIZATION OF ANNULAR SEAL ELEMENT - A seal assembly for use in a valve that maintains a seal during operational excursions of high temperature, such as during a fire. The seal assembly includes a eutectic material that retains an energizing element in place during normal conditions, which in turn keeps a secondary seal spaced axially away from a sealing position. During high temperature excursions, the eutectic material degrades and releases the energizing element. When released, the energizing element energizes a secondary seal that is in an annular space between a valve stem and valve housing. | 05-22-2014 |
20140131954 | SHRINKAGE COMPENSATED SEAL ASSEMBLY AND RELATED METHODS - Shrinkage compensated seal assemblies and methods of compensating for shrinkage of a seal due to temperature variations, are provided. According to an exemplary shrinkage compensated seal assembly, the assembly includes a seal, a first compression member for engaging the upper surface of the seal, a second compression member for engaging the lower surface of the seal, and a plurality of pin members each having an elongate body and a head portion. The elongate body of each separate one of the plurality of pin members slidably extends through a different one of a plurality of sets of apertures in the first compression member, the seal, and the second compression member to provide for maintaining a substantially constant pressure on the seal at given pressure under varying temperature conditions that result in variations in the volume size of the seal. | 05-15-2014 |
20140131054 | SLOTTED METAL SEAL - A seal for sealing an annulus between an outer tubular wellhead member and an inner tubular wellhead member is described. In embodiments, the seal is an annular sealing ring that has a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart sealing ring grooves extending at least from a first end to a second end of the sealing surface of at least one of the wellhead members. When the seal is energized, fouling on the sealing surface is urged toward and then through the slot, axially away from the sealing surface. | 05-15-2014 |
20140125053 | BROACH STYLE ANTI ROTATION DEVICE FOR CONNECTORS - A broach style anti-rotation device for connected tubular members is described. In embodiments, the broach tool is inserted into a slot in an outer diameter surface of the pin, and teeth of the broach, which have a successively greater height when moving from the front to the tail of the broach, cut a slot in a surface of the box. Sidewalls of the broach and its teeth engage shoulders of each slot to prevent the rotation of the tubular members relative to each other. | 05-08-2014 |
20140116720 | High Temperature Back Pressure Valve - A back pressure valve for sealing a wellbore. The back pressure valve has a cylindrical body with threads designed to engage threads in the opening of a tubing hanger within the wellbore. The back pressure valve also has a metal sealing surface. When the threads of the back pressure valve engage the threads in the opening of the tubing hanger, the metal sealing surface of the valve seals against the metal of the tubing hanger, forming a metal to metal seal. | 05-01-2014 |
20140110126 | Hard Stop Energizing Ring - A wellhead seal assembly that forms a metal-to-metal seal between inner and outer wellhead members. A metal seal ring has inner and outer legs separated by a slot. An extension of seal ring contacts an upward facing shoulder of the inner wellhead member. An energizing ring with a tapered nose is moved into the slot. The tapered nose has a downward facing stop shoulder that contacts an upper end of inner leg when the energizing ring is in its lower position. | 04-24-2014 |
20140110125 | SUBSEA WELLHEAD STABILIZATION USING CYLINDRICAL SOCKETS - A wellhead assembly for use subsea includes a high pressure housing landed within a low pressure housing. The low pressure housing is an annular member that mounts into the sea floor and having an inner surface engaging the high pressure housing along a loading interface. Upper and lower sockets are formed along axially spaced apart portions of the outer surface of the high pressure housing. As the high pressure housing inserts into the low pressure housing, the high pressure housing sockets engage corresponding sockets formed along axially spaced apart sockets on portions of the inner surface of the low pressure housing. The sockets each have cylindrically shaped outer surfaces, and when engaged with one another define the loading interface. The sockets are strategically located on the upper and lower portions of the housings to maximize their distance apart. | 04-24-2014 |
20140103645 | ANTI-ROTATION SYSTEM FOR BOX AND PIN CONNECTION - An anti-rotation system for use in retaining a threaded connection between a pin and a box. The anti-rotation system includes a key that sets in a recess formed in one of the box or pin. The key is selectively in contact with one of the other of the box or pin, and is activated when the threaded connection begins to decouple. The key is profiled and operates in a cam like fashion to wedge itself between the box and pin when these members begin to decouple and prevents further relative rotation. | 04-17-2014 |
20140096977 | SEMI-RIGID LOCKDOWN DEVICE - A wellhead seal assembly that forms a metal-to-metal seal between inner and outer wellhead members. A seal member has inner and outer seal legs separated by a slot. A locking ring is positioned in the outer seal leg and has wickered sections, where each of the wickered sections protrude through a window in the outer seal leg of the seal member. An energizing ring has an upper tapered surface that is oblique to an axis of the annular energizing ring and extending laterally from the axis over a portion of the locking ring and a lower tapered surface that is oblique to and extending laterally from the axis. As the energizing ring is moved into the slot, the upper tapered surface engages an inner surface of the locking ring, and the lower tapered surface engages an inner annular wall of the slot. | 04-10-2014 |
20140076573 | Casing Debris Cleaner - A downhole tool cleans debris from a subsea well with nozzle assemblies that selectively deploy from the tool. The nozzle assemblies are in fluid communication with an annulus of a drill pipe on which the downhole tool is mounted, so that fluid pumped into the drill pipe discharges from nozzles provided with the nozzle assemblies. The nozzle assemblies are strategically situated so that when deployed, a stream discharged from nozzles on the assemblies clears debris from a surface between a casing hanger and wellhead housing. The nozzle assemblies are coupled to an annular piston coaxially set on the tool; and sliding the piston axially along the tool deploys the nozzle assemblies. Axially spaced apart ports extend radially through the tool to opposing faces on a head of the piston. Blocking one of the ports with a ball dropped down the drill pipe moves the piston and deploys the assemblies. | 03-20-2014 |
20140070526 | Protected Integral Metal to Metal Seal - A pipe connection includes a tubular box having an internal threaded section extending from a rim, and a nose receptacle area joining the threaded section. A box seal surface is formed on the nose receptacle area. A tubular pin has a nose area extending from a pin end, and an external threaded section joining the nose area, the external threaded section mating with the internal threaded section. An annular groove is formed. on the nose area between the pin end and the external threaded section. A pin seal surface is located at least partially in the groove for engaging the box seal surface to form a metal to metal sealing engagement. | 03-13-2014 |
20140069661 | ANNULUS SEAL WITH STEPPED ENERGIZING RING - A wellhead seal assembly that forms a metal-to-metal seal between inner and outer wellhead members. A seal member has inner and outer walls separated by a slot, where the slot has an upper portion that is wider than a lower portion of the slot. An energizing ring having an upper end portion and a nose is moved into the slot, where the upper end portion has a greater cross-sectional thickness than the nose. As the energizing ring is moved into the slot, the nose of the energizing ring engages the lower portion of the slot to form a lock against the walls of the inner and outer wellhead members, and the upper end portion of the energizing ring engages the upper portion of the slot to form a seal against the walls of the inner and outer wellhead members. | 03-13-2014 |
20140069646 | E-RING DIVOT BACK-OUT LOCK - An energizing ring can be used to energize a seal. In embodiments, the energizing ring has a recess, or divot, adjacent to a portion of the seal so that if the seal is deformed during a balloon-type failure, a portion of the deformed seal can occupy the recess. The seal, thus, engages surfaces of the recess to prevent axial movement of the energizing ring relative to the seal. | 03-13-2014 |
20140069632 | Load Enhanced Locking Arrangement - In a wellhead near the top of an oil and gas well, a locking profile configured for locking engagement with an inner well member and including a locking ridge having a rib and a locking shoulder. The locking ridge extends radially inward from an inner surface of the wellhead into a well bore. The rib is located on an end of the ridge distal from the wellhead and protrudes into the inner well member. The locking shoulder is located on an end of the ridge distal from the wellhead and adjacent a lower end of the rib, so that as the inner well member exerts an upward force on the rib, the upward force creates a moment in the locking ridge that pushes the locking shoulder into tighter engagement with the inner well member. | 03-13-2014 |
20140069631 | Pin-Actuated Lock Ring Arrangement - In a wellhead near the top of an oil and gas well, a locking ring assembly for locking an inner tubular wellhead member axially relative to an outer tubular wellhead member. The inner tubular member has a circumferential recess that contains a locking ring. After insertion of the inner tubular member into the outer tubular member, actuating pins radially expand the locking ring so that it partially leaves the circumferential recess and engages a corresponding recess in the outer tubular member. The pins may be deployed by a seal inserted above the inner tubular member. | 03-13-2014 |
20140062025 | Seal Assembly For A Casing Hanger - A seal assembly for use with a casing hanger that includes a pair of split rings held together by a threaded fastener. Torqueing the fastener axially compresses one of the rings so that it expands radially inward into sealing engagement with a wall of wellbore casing, and radially outward against an inner wall of a wellhead housing. Support grommets are provided where the fastener enters and exits the compressible ring. Protrusions on a side of the support grommets project into the compressible ring and create a sealing interface between each support grommet and compressible ring. O-rings line inner circumferences of the support grommets to seal between the support grommets and fasteners. A threaded end on a lower end of the fastener has a diameter less than an inner diameter of the O-rings to prevent damaging the O-rings during assembly. | 03-06-2014 |
20140061522 | Valve Actuator with Degressive Characteristic Spring - An actuator for a gate valve having a gate has a stem coupled to a gate. A spring is coupled to the stem and has an extended length position while the gate is in a closed position and a contracted length position while the gate is in an open position. The spring has a degressive characteristic such that a graph of a force required to move the gate from the closed position to the open position versus a deflection of the spring is a nonlinear curve with a positive slope that decreases when moving from the closed to the open position. The spring may be an array of wavy springs arranged in nested and in valley-to-crest combinations. | 03-06-2014 |
20140060851 | Oil and Gas Riser Spider With Low Frequency Antenna Apparatus and Method - Apparatus and methods for tracking a plurality of marine riser assets are provided. Part of a riser lifecycle monitoring system, the apparatus can include an oil and gas riser spider to connect a plurality of riser pipe sections during assembly of a riser pipe string. The riser spider forms an annulus around a first section of the plurality of riser pipe sections and supports the first section of the plurality of riser pipe sections during connection to a second section. The apparatus can also include a reader including an antenna arrangement to read a plurality of radio frequency identification tags, e.g., directional 125 kHz RFD tags, attached to or embedded within an outer surface portion of each of the plurality of riser pipe sections. | 03-06-2014 |
20140054890 | ELLIPTICAL UNDERCUT SHOULDER FOR SPECIALTY PIPE CONNECTIONS - A tubular connector connects two tubulars of a string of tubular members. The tubular connector has a pin end tubular member having an axis and a pin end. A pin end flange is positioned on an outer diameter of the pin end and has an undercut adjacent the union of the pin end flange with the pin end. The tubular connector also has a box end tubular member having a box end. A box end shoulder is adjacent the union of the box end with the box end tubular member. The box end shoulder has an undercut thereon. The pin end is secured to the box end so that the pin end tubular member and the box end tubular member are joined, stresses applied to the pin end tubular member and the box end tubular member are distributed through the undercuts. | 02-27-2014 |
20140054887 | Tubular Connector Having a Secondary Shoulder - A tubular connector secures two coaxial tubulars using a box and pin connection. A pin end tubular member having an axis and a pin end inserts into a box end tubular member having a box end. A pin end flange formed on an outer diameter of the pin end tubular member receives an end of the box end of the box end tubular member. An inwardly depending flange is disposed on the inner diameter of the box end portion. The inwardly depending flange is spaced apart from the box end planar surface and has a box end shoulder formed at an angle to the axis facing a same direction as the box end planar surface of the box end tubular member. An end of the pin end of the pin end tubular member engages with the inwardly depending flange for compressive load transfer. | 02-27-2014 |
20140000907 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BACKSEATING A GATE VALVE | 01-02-2014 |
20130341051 | METAL TO METAL PACKOFF FOR USE IN A WELLHEAD ASSEMBLY - A wellhead assembly having an inner tubular insertable into an outer tubular. A packoff is provided on an outer surface of the inner tubular for sealing between the inner and outer tubulars. The packoff includes an energizing ring, a U-shaped seal member, and a nut for retaining the seal member against the energizing ring. The seal member includes legs that are spaced apart by interaction with the energizing ring. The outer tubular has a bore wall that is profiled so that when the inner tubular is inserted into the outer tubular, an outer leg of the seal member is spaced radially outward from the bore wall until the inner tubular is landed in the outer tubular. When the inner tubular member is landed, a portion of the bore wall adjacent the outer leg tapers radially inward into sealing contact with the outer leg of the seal member. | 12-26-2013 |
20130299193 | POSITIVE RETENTION LOCK RING FOR TUBING HANGER - An apparatus and method can be used to positively retain a lockdown ring to axially secure a wellbore member in a wellhead housing. In embodiments, the wellbore member, such as a tubing hanger, can be secured by a lockdown ring having a cylindrical surface below a tapered surface. An energizing ring having a cylindrical surface above a tapered surface can be used to move the lockdown ring from an unset position to a set position, thus energizing the lockdown ring. After being energized, the two cylindrical surfaces can engage each other so that axial movement of the energizing ring, of up to a predetermined distance, does not cause the lockdown ring to move from a set position to an unset position. | 11-14-2013 |
20130292132 | METHOD OF FORMING A MACHINABLE SURFACE - A riser assembly and method of forming where the riser assembly is made up of tubular members joined together. A metal spray process applies a layer of cladding onto ends of the tubular members and the ends are threaded to form respective box and pin configurations. Grooves are provided onto the surface of the tubular members beneath where the metal spray is applied for enhancing adhesion of the cladding and tubular members. The layer of cladding provides sufficient material so that threads may be selectively formed on the outer or the inner surface of the tubular members. | 11-07-2013 |
20130284444 | Systems, Spacer Devices and Methods For Aligning Multi-Well Modular Templates and Associated Wells - Systems, devices, and methods for providing proper spacing and alignment of multi-well modular drilling templates and associated wells are provided. An example embodiment of a system includes a primary well upon which a multi-well modular drilling template is landed, and a second well upon which a specially configured spacer device is landed. The spacer device includes an alignment frame which engages guide arms of the template to force the spacer device into proper axial alignment. The spacer device includes an elongated arm and a guide funnel which provide the proper spacing and proper location for inserting a third well. The third well can be used as the central well for a second multi-well modular drilling template. | 10-31-2013 |
20130264117 | DROP AWAY FUNNEL FOR MODULAR DRILLING TEMPLATES - A template for use in positioning subsea wellbores that has a drop away funnel that extends laterally from the template. The drop away funnel is used to locate a piling adjacent the wellbores and is selectively detached from the template after installing the piling. A tang and clevis type assembly mounts the drop away funnel to the template, where the tang and clevis are coupled together with a main stud. The main stud is oriented substantially parallel with an axis of the drop away funnel; so that when the stud is removed, the drop away funnel can decouple from the template and slide axially downward along the piling. | 10-10-2013 |
20130248199 | WELLHEAD ASSEMBLY HAVING A SINUSOIDAL SEALING PROFILE AND A METHOD TO ASSEMBLE THE SAME - An outer tubular wellhead member having wickers formed in a bore of the outer tubular wellhead member that vary in axial position and methods to assemble a subsea wellhead including the same is disclosed. The plurality of circumferentially extending wickers are formed in sealing profiles of the wellhead member. Each wicker varies axially in position around the circumference of the bore so that when a seal member engages each wicker, the wicker deforms the surface of the annular seal to form circumferential sealing bands at each wicker from an upper end of the sealing profile to a lower end of the sealing profile, upper portions of each wicker deforming the surface of the annular seal before lower portions of the same wicker so that fluid between adjacent wickers flows from the higher axial location of the wicker to the lower axial location of the wicker to limit hydraulic lock. | 09-26-2013 |
20130248196 | HIGH-CAPACITY SINGLE-TRIP LOCKDOWN BUSHING AND A METHOD TO OPERATE THE SAME - A high capacity single trip lockdown bushing and a method to operate the same is disclosed. The lockdown bushing includes a tubular body that carries a locking ring and an energizing ring about an upper portion of the tubular body. The energizing ring includes a cam portion interposed between the locking ring and the tubular body so that the cam portion and the locking ring overlap along mating cam surfaces in an unset position. A running tool carries the lockdown bushing to land on a casing hanger. The running tool is actuated to drive the energizing ring downward so that the mating cam surfaces interact to move the locking ring radially outward into engagement with wickers formed in a wellhead. | 09-26-2013 |
20130248171 | SUBSEA MULTIPLE ANNULUS SENSOR - A wellbore assembly includes a housing member, an outer wellbore member, and a second wellbore member, with an outer sensor located in the annulus between the outer wellbore member and the second wellbore member. The outer sensor can sense a condition of the annulus, such as pressure or temperature, and transmit data through a solid portion of the sidewall of the outer wellbore member to a signal receiver located on the housing member. In one embodiment, the signal receiver can transmit an electromagnetic field to inductively charge a power supply on the outer sensor. | 09-26-2013 |
20130240774 | SELF ALIGNING SPHERICAL BACKSEAT ASSEMBLY FOR A VALVE - A gate valve assembly having a body, a gate, a stem, and a backseat for sealing between the stem and the body. The backseat is an annular member with a complementary surface on its inside that fits over a spherically shaped section of the stem; thus allowing the backseat to rotate and pivot with respect to the stem. An outer surface of the backseat is beveled for sealingly engaging a stem passage formed through the body. A flex member is provided that is for sealing a surface adjacent the backseat. The flex member can form a seal between the backseat member and the stem or between an annular retainer and the backseat. | 09-19-2013 |
20130220630 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING ELONGATED COMPOSITE TUBULAR - A method and apparatus for forming an elongate tubular from a composite material. The composite material includes fibers and epoxy resin that are disposed around an elongated mandrel. The fibers are wound around the outer circumference of the mandrel and the epoxy resin may be applied to the fibers, before, during, or after, being wound onto the mandrel. A trough is provided that supports the mandrel between ends of the mandrel. An example trough includes a flexible membrane supported on its lateral ends to resemble a catenary. | 08-29-2013 |
20130214189 | BALL VALVE ENCLOSURE AND DRIVE MECHANISM - A ball valve assembly includes an enclosure for supporting the ball valve during actuation. In one embodiment, the enclosure can be a split enclosure, and can have trunnion support apertures for engaging trunnions on the ball valve. In one embodiment, a pair of link arms are used to transfer force from a pair of actuation members to the ball valve. The link arms can be located in a recess on the actuation members, such the actuation members and the face of the trunnions define a cavity to enclose and protect the link arms. | 08-22-2013 |
20130187338 | Multifunctional key design for metal seal in subsea application - A wellbore sealing assembly can include a sealing ring, an energizing ring, and a multifunctional key for engaging the sealing ring and the energizing ring. The multifunctional key can have a key body, a guide member, and a retainer stud. The key body can be located in an aperture in a sidewall of the sealing ring and the guide member and retainer stud can protrude through the sidewall into a guide slot and recess of the energizing ring. Downward force on the energizing ring can cause the retainer stud to shear away while the guide member travels in the guide slot to prevent rotation of the energizing ring relative to the sealing ring. The guide member can also aid in complete seal retrieval by locking against the bottom of the key-way slot in the energizing ring. | 07-25-2013 |
20130168104 | METAL-TO-METAL SEALING ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTROL LINE AND METHOD OF USING SAME - A well completion system includes a wellhead, a control line assembly for use in completions that is mounted to the wellhead, and a tubing hanger. The control line assembly includes a cylinder, a main housing assembly, a passage and a metal-to-metal seal. A split lockout ring provides a positive lock to the passage. Control lines enter the tubing hanger and exit via the wellhead. This arrangement on the wellhead provides sufficient height and clearance to allow for the installation of a plurality of control lines. | 07-04-2013 |
20130168102 | DRILLING RISER ADAPTER WITH EMERGENCY FUNCTIONALITY - A drilling riser adapter connected to a riser. The drilling riser adapter is mounted to a BOP and has a cylindrical body on which a plurality of ports are disposed. The ports can perform various functions. Ports may connect to choke and kill, booster, injection, or hydraulic lines. Some of ports allow access to riser bore to perform emergency functions such as redirecting escaping oil during oil spills to containment vessels via hoses. These ports can remain deactivated until such emergency situations arise. | 07-04-2013 |
20130168101 | VERTICAL SUBSEA TREE ASSEMBLY CONTROL - A vertical subsea tree is operated by a subsea control module supplied with hydraulic and electric power from the surface through the vertical subsea tree. A landing sub is communicatively coupled to the surface with a landing sub umbilical and run to the vertical subsea tree. The landing sub engages mating penetrations on an upper portion of the master valve block of the vertical subsea tree to supply flow passages extending from the penetrations to the subsea control module through the master valve block. The subsea control module is then operated through the landing sub umbilical to control operation of the vertical subsea tree. | 07-04-2013 |
20130161553 | VALVE VENTED REDUNDANT STEM SEAL SYSTEM - A valve includes a stem seal assembly that prevent fluid flow in a first direction and vents in a second direction opposite the first direction. The assembly includes a packing assembly positioned within a valve stem opening of a valve body of the valve to seal a valve stem to the valve body. The packing assembly includes a first seal and a second seal preventing passage of fluid from a body cavity of the valve body to an exterior of the valve body along the valve stem while venting fluid from an exterior of the valve body to the body cavity along the valve stem. The packing assembly isolates the first seal and the second seal so that a load applied to the first seal ring is not transferred to the second seal ring. | 06-27-2013 |
20130161023 | Standalone Liquid Level Sensing Apparatus for Tensioner System - A riser tensioner has a cylindrical barrel and a piston rod that telescopingly engage each other. An external accumulator containing a hydraulic fluid and a gas is mounted outside of the barrels for communicating the hydraulic liquid to an end of the barrel. Depending on the stroke of the piston rod, the liquid level in the accumulator will fluctuate and the gas pressure vary. A composite rod within the accumulator is embedded with an array of PVDF sensors. The PVDF sensors provide an output signal to indicate the liquid level in the accumulator when the liquid comes in contact with the sensor, allowing for reliable monitoring of liquid levels. | 06-27-2013 |
20130161005 | MODULAR DART LAUNCHER WITH STATUS INDICATOR - A dart launcher launches a dart by placing the dart within a launcher bore formed within a launcher body. The launcher body also defines a central bore coupled inline with a tubing string and in fluid communication with the launcher bore. The launcher bore is formed at an angle to the central bore. A release assembly is coupled to the launcher body and includes a release rod protruding into the launcher bore to selectively release the dart. A visual indicator assembly is coupled to the launcher body downstream from the release assembly and includes a flapper protruding into the launcher bore. The release assembly is actuated by the dart rotating the flapper to rotate an arm from a non-released position to a released position. | 06-27-2013 |
20130146306 | CASING HANGER LOCKDOWN WITH CONICAL LOCKDOWN RING - A seal seals an annulus in a subsea assembly between a wellhead and a casing hanger landed on a shoulder within a bore of the wellhead. The seal includes a casing hanger seal ring disposed within the annulus. The seal ring engaged with an inner diameter surface of the wellhead, and engaged with an outer diameter surface of the casing hanger so that the seal ring prevents flow through the annulus. A nose ring is secured to a lower end of the seal ring so that, when the seal ring is energized, a conical surface of the nose ring engages a mating conical profile formed in the inner diameter surface portion of the wellhead and the nose ring engages a surface opposite the conical surface with a substantially smooth outer diameter surface portion of the casing hanger to limit upwards axial movement of the casing hanger. | 06-13-2013 |
20130146153 | LOCK ASSEMBLY FOR HYDRAULIC FRACING VALVE - A lock open device for use with a valve in a hydraulic fracturing system, which maintains the valve in an open position. The lock open device includes a plate with beveled edges and spring loaded ball bearings strategically disposed to contact the edges and interfere with axial movement of the plate. The plate couples to a gate member in the valve, so that the interference between the plate and the ball bearings maintains the valve in a designated open or closed position. The angle of the bevel regulates how much force is required to urge the plate past the ball bearings to thereby open/close the valve. | 06-13-2013 |
20130140813 | SLIDE ACTUATING TUBULAR CONNECTOR - A subsea riser assembly connects two tubular members with axial movement of an outer sleeve. The assembly includes a first tubular member having an end, and a second tubular member having an end with a plurality of box end fingers separated by slots, the second tubular member coaxial with the first tubular member. The end of the first tubular member is inserted into the end of the second tubular member. An outer sleeve having an inner diameter that engages an outer diameter of each box end finger. Axial movement of the outer sleeve relative to the box end fingers causes the inner diameter of the outer sleeve to interact with the outer diameter of the box end fingers, thereby causing the box end fingers to contract radially. The radial contraction of the box end fingers secures the first tubular member to the second tubular member in a made-up position. | 06-06-2013 |
20130140775 | Seal With Bellows Type Nose Ring - A wellhead assembly having concentric tubulars and a seal assembly in an annulus between the tubulars. The seal assembly includes an upper portion having an annular body with a U-shaped cross section and a nose ring seal. The nose ring seal has a bellows like cross section and provides sealing in the annulus and exerts a lockdown force onto one of the tubulars. Metal inlays are provided on the outer edges of the folds in the bellows and a compressible medium is disposed between the folds. | 06-06-2013 |
20130140042 | SEAL WITH BELLOWS STYLE NOSE RING AND RADIALLY DRIVABLE LOCK RINGS - A seal assembly between a wellhead housing having a bore and a casing hanger, has an inner seal leg for sealing against a hanger and an outer seal leg for sealing against the housing. A bellows style portion is formed on a nose ring carried by the seal assembly to increase lockdown capacity. The bellows style portion has an inner surface that faces an outer profile of the hanger, and an outer surface that faces the bore of the housing. Inner and outer lock rings are disposed on the bellows style portion. When the bellows style portion is axially collapsed, it radially expands into the bore of the housing and the outer profile of the hanger, and urges the inner and outer lock rings into engagement with the outer profile of the hanger and the bore of the housing. | 06-06-2013 |
20130139900 | Power Assisted Manual Valve System - A gate valve includes a gate and a drive train. The drive train includes a gate rod for linearly moving the gate, a translator operatively coupled to the gate rod for moving the gate rod linearly in response to rotational motion, and a coupling device connected to the translator for providing rotational motion. The gate valve also includes a fluid cylinder cooperatively coupled to the drive train for providing an assisting force to move the gate rod linearly and a rotary valve cooperatively connected to the coupling device and in a fluid flow path between the cylinder and a fluid pressure source. Torque applied to the coupling device moves the rotary valve to an open position to supply fluid pressure to the fluid cylinder. | 06-06-2013 |
20130126183 | PRODUCT SAMPLING SYSTEM WITHIN SUBSEA TREE - A method and system for producing fluid from a subsea wellbore. An amount of fluid is sampled from fluid being produced and retained for a period of time until constituents in the fluid stratify. A fluid characteristic is sensed at spaced apart vertical locations in the sampled fluid. A water fraction as well as gas content can be ascertained from sensing the sampled fluid. The fluid characteristic is used for calibrating a multi-phase flowmeter that measures flow of the fluid being produced from the wellbore. | 05-23-2013 |
20130126181 | MULTIPLEX TUBING HANGER - A subsea wellhead assembly having a tubing hanger set in a tubing hanger spool and a ring with axial passages set in an upper end of the tubing hanger. The wellhead assembly includes a production tree that lands on the tubing hanger spool. Tubing extends from the axial passages in the ring through axial bores provided in a sidewall of the tubing hanger. When landed, a lower end of the production tree engages an upper surface of the ring causing the ring to rotate and align its axial passages with axial passages in the production tree. The respective lower and upper surfaces of the tree and ring are strategically castellated to orient the passages. | 05-23-2013 |
20130119288 | GATE SHEAR VALVE - A gate valve capable of shearing through any downhole tooling and maintaining its seal capability after the shearing operation is complete. The gate valve has a body with a flow passage therein and a gate being linearly movable between a closed position blocking flow through the flow passage and an open position. First and second valve seats are mounted on opposite sides of the gate and have sealing surfaces that engage the gate when the gate is in the closed position. Shear elements are connected to and carried by each of the valve seats and are capable of axial movement relative to the valve seats in response to movement of the gate from the open position to the closed position. | 05-16-2013 |
20130115012 | Tensioner Cylinder Connections with Multiaxial Degrees of Freedom - A coupler having two degrees of axial freedom couples a hydro-pneumatic cylinder to a tensioner ring of a riser tensioner mounted to a platform. A post extends along an axis of the cylinder and an intermediate sleeve is disposed around the post to form a post annulus. An outer sleeve is secured to the tensioner ring and defines a cavity into which the post and intermediate sleeve are inserted so that an annulus is formed between the sleeve and the outer sleeve. The Outer sleeve is coupled to the intermediate sleeve so that the outer sleeve may pivot on the coupling between the outer sleeve and the intermediate sleeve relative to the intermediate sleeve. The intermediate sleeve is coupled to the post so that the intermediate sleeve may pivot on the coupling between the intermediate sleeve and the post relative to the post. | 05-09-2013 |
20130105170 | MEASUREMENT OF RELATIVE TURNS AND DISPLACEMENT IN SUBSEA RUNNING TOOLS | 05-02-2013 |
20130105143 | Segmented Seal Ring and Support of Same | 05-02-2013 |
20130098635 | RECEPTACLE SUB - A receptacle sub that increases the venting flowrate during retrieval of a running tool is disclosed. The sub includes a sleeve with a bypass port in a central bore defined by a tubular body. The sleeve is selectively moveable from an upper position to a lower position. A seal on the sleeve seals the sleeve to the bore while a retainer holds the sleeve in the upper position. A bypass passage in the body is in fluid communication with the bypass port. A drop member lands on the sleeve, blocking downward flow through the sleeve and actuating a hydraulic function. The drop member receives a fluid pressure greater than the hydraulic function fluid pressure, releasing the retainer to move the sleeve to the lower position. This allows fluid communication from above the central bore through the bypass passage and through the bypass ports of the sleeve below the drop member. | 04-25-2013 |
20130098633 | RECOVERABLE PRODUCTION MODULE FOR USE WITH A PRODUCTION TREE - A wellhead assembly having a production module that includes valves, modules, and passages and mounts onto a production tree. As the production module lands onto the production tree, flow passages in the production tree register with corresponding flow passages in the module. A production spool has an exit connected to a production flow jumper. The production spool can be supported by coupling to the production tree and has a stab that connects to a production flow passage when the production module is landed on the production tree. The production module can be removed from the production tree without disturbing the connection between the production spool and the production flow jumper. | 04-25-2013 |
20130098626 | Soft Landing System and Method of Achieving Same - A subsea wireline system for soft landing equipment during installation. The subsea soft landing wireline system includes coarse alignment members that can be part of a tree and interact with a funnel located on the equipment to be installed by the soft landing system. Smaller alignment members can provide fine alignment and also interact with a funnel located on the equipment to be installed. The funnels are used to trap sea water that provides a cushion for the equipment being installed. Once in alignment, trapped water can be released from the funnel or funnels via a restricted orifice and/or a control valve located on an ROV. The system achieves soft landing without the use of a running tool, thus reducing expense. | 04-25-2013 |
20130093140 | Soft Skin Metal Seal and Technique of Manufacture - A seal assembly between a wellhead housing having a bore and a casing hanger, has an inner seal leg for sealing against hanger and an outer seal leg for sealing against housing. An extension extends downward from outer seal leg and is connected to a nose ring having a downward facing shoulder that rests on the hanger shoulder to provide a reaction point for setting operations. A sealing surface on the seal legs is heat treated to obtain a lower localized yield strength to provide improved sealing while maintaining mechanical load capability. | 04-18-2013 |
20130092397 | SCALLOPED LANDING RING - A landing ring having at least one scallop groove formed on an interior of the ring. The landing ring interfaces with a fluted mandrel casing hanger such that the scallop groove aligns between flutes of the hanger. This alignment of the scallop groove of the landing ring with the fluted mandrel casing hanger provides sufficient clearance to allow a stabbing in of a cement tube for cement injection during cement topping operations or debris clean out down hole. | 04-18-2013 |
20130092387 | Riser Lifecycle Management System, Computer Readable Medium and Program Code - Systems, computer readable medium, program code, and methods for monitoring and managing a plurality of marine riser assets are provided. An example of a system includes a computer and a computer readable medium containing a program code of instructions that when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform operations for tracking the subsea deployment and retrieval of each of a plurality of riser joints. The operations can include receiving riser joint identification data from a riser joint identification indicator connected to the respective riser joint during the operational deployment thereof, and identifying the respective riser joint being operationally deployed to thereby track the deployment thereof. The operations can also include receiving riser joint identification data from the riser identification indicator of the respective riser joint during retrieval thereof, and identifying the respective one or more riser joints being retrieved to thereby track the retrieval thereof. | 04-18-2013 |
20130088362 | INTELLIGENT WELLHEAD RUNNING SYSTEM AND RUNNING TOOL - Systems and methods communicating between a subsea running tool disposed within a subsea wellhead, a blowout preventer assembly, and/or a subsea tree, and a surface platform are provided. An example of such a system includes a running tool assembly. The running tool assembly can include a running tool and a running tool wireless interface carried by the running tool. Wireless interface is configured to communicate running tool sensor data to a blowout preventer assembly wireless interface through a fluid medium located between the running tool wireless interface and a blowout preventer assembly wireless interface when the running tool is operably positioned within a bore extending through a component of the blowout preventer assembly or a bore extending through the subsea wellhead. The wireless communications scheme for communicating with a sensor data can include radiofrequency communications through the fluid medium between antenna components thereof, mutual inductive coupling, backscatter coupling, and/or capacitive coupling. | 04-11-2013 |
20130083627 | REMOTE COMMUNICATION WITH SUBSEA RUNNING TOOLS VIA BLOWOUT PREVENTER - An acoustic modem located on a blowout preventer stack communicates with a running tool acoustic modem located on a subsea running tool disposed within a subsea wellhead, tree or tubing spool. The acoustic modem and the running tool acoustic modern transmit and receive acoustic signals through a column of fluid in the blowout preventer stack. The acoustic modem is communicatively coupled to a subsea electronics module located on the blowout preventer stack and further communicatively coupled to a central control unit located on a platform at the surface. The running tool acoustic modem is communicatively coupled to a controller that receives data from sensors on the running tool and sends operational signals to functions of the running tool. An operator at the surface may control the running tool through the acoustic modems, and the running tool may communicate the running tool status to the operator through the acoustic modems. | 04-04-2013 |
20130076028 | ROTATIONALLY ACTUATED COLLET STYLE TUBULAR CONNECTION - A collet assembly connects two tubular members with a rotation of an outer sleeve. The collet assembly includes a first tubular member with a grooved outer diameter end. The end is inserted into a collet having grooved inner and outer diameter surfaces, and an outer annular sleeve is threaded onto the collet. A grooved outer diameter end of a second tubular member is inserted into the collet. The outer annular sleeve is rotated relative to the collet. The rotation causes the collet to partially disengage from the outer annular sleeve and fully engage the grooves of the ends of the first tubular member and the second tubular member, thereby securing the first tubular member to the second tubular member. | 03-28-2013 |
20130075104 | GUIDE FUNNEL - A guide funnel for guiding a subsea infrastructure for connection with a subsea wellhead or mandrel profile is provided. The guide funnel comprises a plurality of sections, wherein the sections are collapsible such that the guide funnel can be in an extended state or a collapsed state. | 03-28-2013 |
20130075103 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING AN ELECTRICALLY OPERATED FUNCTION WITH A RUNNING TOOL IN A SUBSEA WELLHEAD - A subsea running tool receives electric potential from a control unit located at a platform through a tubular string having an electrically conductive wire formed in tubular wall of the tubular string. The running tool provides at least one electrically operated function for setting a subsea wellhead component. The running tool is then run on the tubular string from a surface platform to a location within a wellhead. Electric potential is then supplied to the electrically conductive wire by a control unit at the platform to operate the electrically operated function of the running tool to set the subsea wellhead component. | 03-28-2013 |
20130068466 | LATCHING MECHANISM WITH ADJUSTABLE PRELOAD - A well pipe hanger is run and landed within a subsea wellhead assembly using a latching mechanism with an adjustable preload. The well pipe hanger has a latch ring having upward and downward facing shoulders secured to the outer diameter of the tubing hanger so that the latch ring may expand radially into a groove of the landing sub. The outer and inner diameters of the latch ring are larger at a center of the latch ring than at the upper and lower ends. The latch ring is configured to contract radially from a latched to an unlatched position in response to a predetermined overpull force. The predetermined overpull force is adjustable by adjusting the radial distance between an axial center of the latch ring and the outer diameter of the well pipe hanger. | 03-21-2013 |
20130068450 | WICKER PROFILE FOR ENHANCING LOCKDOWN CAPACITY OF A WELLHEAD ANNULUS SEAL ASSEMBLY - A wellhead assembly comprises an outer tubular wellhead member with a bore having an axis and a concentric inner seal surface, an inner tubular wellhead member for receiving an annular seal landed within the outer tubular wellhead member defining a seal pocket between them, the inner tubular member having a concentric outer seal surface, and a plurality of circumferentially extending, parallel wickers formed in at least one of the seal surfaces of the outer tubular and on the outer surface of the inner tubular. A profile of at least one of the wickers differs from a profile of at least some of the other wicker. | 03-21-2013 |
20130056219 | SUBSEA TEST TREE CONTROL SYSTEM - A subsea test tree control system provides operational control and power to subsea test tree equipment located within a subsea riser without an in riser umbilical to supply additional power to the subsea test tree control system. The subsea test tree control system includes a subsea horizontal subsea tree landed on a subsea wellhead, and a subsea control module communicatively coupled to the horizontal subsea tree. A subsea test tree stack is landed through the riser in the horizontal subsea tree. A subsea control module communication line extends through the horizontal subsea tree to terminate at a bore of the horizontal subsea tree proximate to the tubing hanger, and a riser string communication line communicatively couples to the subsea control module communication line to provide operational power and control the subsea test tree stack. Intervention workover control system umbilicals may bypass the subsea control module and directly connect to the subsea control module communication line. | 03-07-2013 |
20130043046 | Wellhead System Having a Tubular Hanger Securable to Wellhead and Method of Operation - A tubular hanger and tubular hanger seal are installed in a wellhead with a setting tool. The tubular hanger has a locking ring that is driven outward into engagement with a profile in the wellhead. The setting tool rotates a moveable member of the tubular hanger relative to the tubular hanger body so as to drive the moveable member to expand the locking ring outward to engage the profile in the wellhead. The moveable member may be wedged between the locking ring and the tubular hanger body. The setting tool enables the moveable member and the tubular hanger body to be rotated independently. The annulus between the tubular hanger and the wellhead may be sealed by a seal that has a plurality of sealing elements that are coupled together by a series of catches. | 02-21-2013 |
20130037271 | Bridging Hanger and Seal Running Tool - A running tool sets and pressure tests a bridging hanger and a packoff in a single trip. The running tool has a stem, an inner body, and a piston. The inner body is connected to the stem so that rotation of the stem relative to the inner body will cause the stem to move longitudinally. The piston is connected to the stem so that the stem and piston rotate and move longitudinally in unison. A piston engagement element is housed in the inner body and is adapted to engage the piston when the bridging hanger is set to prevent premature setting of the packoff. The piston engagement element can be disengaged once the bridging hanger is set, thereby allowing the piston to set the packoff. | 02-14-2013 |
20130032327 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING MULTIPLE BALLS IN A WELL - A ball launcher for dispatching balls into a wellbore that includes a manifold for selective attachment to a wellhead assembly and a magazine mounted on the manifold in which the balls are stored for distribution to the manifold. Chambers are provided in a cylinder in the magazine, so that by rotating the cylinder the chambers register with a bore in the manifold, through which the balls are delivered to the wellbore. Flowing a flushing fluid into the bore in the manifold urges the balls downward. An auxiliary line through the manifold provides a conduit for the flushing fluid into the bore. | 02-07-2013 |
20130020799 | Bi-Directional Pressure Energized Axial Seal and a Swivel Connection Application - A tubular connection has first and second tubular members having aligned bores with a common axis and having first and second seal surfaces, respectively. A metal seal has a first end portion that sealingly engages the first seal surface and a second end portion that sealingly engages the second seal surface. The metal seal has a sidewall with at least two folds. One of the folds defines an axial interior gap. The other of the folds defines an axial exterior gap. An exterior spacer member is positioned in the exterior gap to limit closer of the exterior gap in response to a greater pressure on the interior of the seal than on the exterior. An interior spacer member is positioned in the interior gap to limit closure of the interior gap in response to a greater pressure on the exterior of the seal than on the interior. | 01-24-2013 |
20130020522 | HIGH TEMPERATURE COATING RESISTANT TO DAMAGE FROM DECOMPRESSION - A coating for use in protecting surfaces susceptible to environmental degradation. The coating may be applied to metallic surfaces for providing a barrier against elements and/or ambient conditions that would otherwise degrade the surface material. The coating includes multiple layers, where a thermoplastic polymer is included, wholly or partly, within one or more of the layers. Example applications of the coating are for protecting valve seat seals and valve stem seals of a valve assembly used in conjunction with handling of fluids produced from a subterranean formation. | 01-24-2013 |
20130008672 | Annulus Seal Utilizing Energized Discrete Soft Interfacial Sealing Elements - A seal assembly for sealing an annulus between inner and outer wellhead members comprises an energizer ring having inner and outer legs separated by a slot, formed of a high strength elastic material and having a central axis and an inner diameter seal ring formed of an inelastic material located on an inner side of the inner leg for creating a seal between the inner wellhead member the energizer. An outer diameter seal ring formed of an inelastic material is located on an outer side of the outer leg for creating a seal between the energizer and the outer wellhead member. The seal assembly may have an initial radial dimension from inner surface of the inner diameter seal ring to an outer surface of the outer diameter seal ring that is adapted to be greater than a radial width of the annulus, causing the legs to deflect towards each other when inserted in the annulus. | 01-10-2013 |
20130000920 | Hybrid Seal - A casing hanger seal assembly is lowered into a pocket between a casing hanger and a wellhead housing while in a run-in position. The seal assembly has a metal-to-metal upper seal ring and an elastomeric and metal lower seal ring carried by and below the upper seal ring. The upper and lower seal rings are movable from a run-in position to a set position sealing between the sidewalls of the casing hanger and the wellhead housing by applying a downward force. The downward force required to move the lower seal ring to the set position is less than the downward force required to move the upper seal ring to the set position. A downward force applied to the upper seal ring after the lower seal ring has landed in the pocket transfers to the lower seal ring to cause the lower seal ring to move to the set position before the upper seal ring moves to the set position. | 01-03-2013 |
20130000918 | FLOW MODULE PLACEMENT BETWEEN A SUBSEA TREE AND A TUBING HANGER SPOOL - A subsea wellhead assembly positions a flow module between an outboard flowline of a subsea tree and a tubing hanger spool flowline. The subsea production assembly includes a wellhead, a tubing hanger spool disposed on the wellhead, and a subsea tree disposed on the tubing hanger spool. Production fluid may flow from the wellhead through the tubing hanger spool, and then through the tree. A tubing hanger spool frame mounts to and extends laterally from the tubing hanger spool and supports a downstream flowline having an upward facing hub. A tree frame mounts to and extends laterally from the subsea tree and supports an upstream flowline having an upward facing hub. A flow module having downward facing flowlines that couple to the hubs so that the weight of the flow module is distributed between the frames of the tubing hanger spool and the subsea tree. | 01-03-2013 |
20120318528 | GATE VALVE SEAT AND SEAT RING - A gate valve has a body, the body having a cavity and a flow passage intersecting the cavity. A seat is mounted to the body at the intersection of the flow passage and the cavity. A gate is installed at the cavity and has an engaging face that slidingly engages the seat while the gate is being moved between open and closed positions. The end faces between a seat pocket and the seat are hard-coated and smooth-finished to provide sealing when mated. The hardcoated pocket and seat sealing surfaces extend the life of the valve by eliminating the need for an elastomeric seal of limited life. | 12-20-2012 |
20120318493 | Pipe Guide Arms for Blind Shear Rams - A pipe shear ram assembly has a housing having a bore extending vertically therethrough for the passage of a pipe string. Ram blocks have blades positioned such that one slides over the other when the first and second ram blocks are moved toward each other to shear a well pipe. A pair of guide arms extend from one of the rams. The guide arms have tips protruding a greater distance than the blade. Each of the guide arms has an inboard wedge surface beginning at the tip and extending along a line that intersects the longitudinal axis for guiding the pipe string toward a bore axis of the bore in the event the first and second ram blocks are moved to the closed position. | 12-20-2012 |
20120312542 | EXPANDABLE SOLID LOAD RING FOR CASING HANGER - A subsea wellhead assembly includes a housing with a bore. A hanger is lowered into the housing, the hanger having at least one downward facing load shoulder. An expandable load ring is carried on the hanger. When casing weight is applied to the hanger, the weight energizes the load ring, causing it to expand and thereby increase the contact area between a load shoulder on the load ring and a load shoulder on the housing. The shoulders create a path for the load to be transferred to the housing. The increase in contact area increases the load carrying capacity of the hanger. The load ring expansion is limited to elastic expansion to allow it to return to a retracted position when the casing weight is removed. | 12-13-2012 |
20120305259 | ANNULUS VENT SYSTEM FOR SUBSEA WELLHEAD ASSEMBLY - A wellhead system for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation that includes concentric tubulars that form an annulus. The annulus is vented by flowing fluid from the annulus through a bleed line having a valve that is selectively opened and closed. Upstream of the bleed line valve, the bleed line is routed adjacent a production flow line. The temperature of the fluid in the production flow line is greater than annulus temperature and warms the bleed line. Hydrate formation in the bleed line is thereby inhibited by the thermal energy it receives from the production flow line. | 12-06-2012 |
20120292035 | TUBING HANGER SETTING CONFIRMATION SYSTEM - A subsea wellhead assembly provides a positive indication of landing of a wellhead member and locking of a wellhead member to a wellhead. The subsea wellhead assembly includes at least one positive indicator assembly disposed within a wellhead member, and a communication line extending down a running string from a platform to a running tool disposed in a subsea wellhead. The at least one positive indicator assembly provides confirmation of setting of the wellhead member, and the communication line is in communication with the positive indicator assembly to communicate the confirmation of setting with the platform following setting of the wellhead member. | 11-22-2012 |
20120285676 | PRESSURE ENERGIZED INTERFERENCE FIT SEAL - A seal assembly for use between wellbore tubulars employs an inner seal ring partially circumscribed by an outer seal ring. The seal rings are axially slidable with respect to one another and can be made from pliable inelastic materials such as graphite or a fluoropolymer. The seal rings contact one another along profiled surfaces that are angled such that by axially urging the seal rings towards one another produces a bulge in the seal assembly directed radially outwards and inwards. The bulging seal rings come into contact with opposing sides of the wellbore tubulars to define a sealing surface. Axial supports at opposing lateral ends of the seal rings maintain the seal between the tubulars. | 11-15-2012 |
20120274475 | Automated Well Control Method and Apparatus - A drilling control system monitors and compares drilling and completion operation sensor values and autonomously acts in response to conditions such as a kick or surge. Sensors in various combinations may monitor return fluid flow rate, fluid inflow rate, wellhead bore pressure, temperature of returning fluid, torque, rate of penetration and string weight change. The control system has corresponding control logic to monitor, warn and act based on the sensor inputs. The actions may include the warning of support personnel, closing an annular blowout preventer, shearing drill pipe using a ram shear, pumping heavier fluid down choke and kill lines, disconnecting the riser or various other actions. | 11-01-2012 |
20120273198 | BALL AND DART LAUNCHER WITH PARALLEL AXIS RELEASE - A universal dart launcher launches a dart by moving a dart from a first position to a second position. The universal dart launcher has a launcher body defining a central bore having an axis and lower and upper ends configured to attach to a string of pipe. A cartridge housed within the launcher body may move perpendicular to the axis from a first position to a second position. A drop member is positioned within the cartridge so that it will not be in axial alignment with the central bore while in the first position, and will be in axial alignment with the central bore while in the second position. An actuator assembly couples to the launcher body to move the cartridge from the first position to the second position when actuated. | 11-01-2012 |
20120261603 | Gate Valve Having Low-Friction Coating Over Substrate and Method for Making Same - A gate valve has a body, the body having a cavity and a flow passage intersecting the cavity. A seat fabricated from a ceramic and/or hardfacing alloy matrix composite substrate is mounted to the body at the intersection of the flow passage and the cavity. A gate fabricated from a ceramic and/or hardfacing alloy matrix composite substrate is installed at the cavity and has an engaging face that slidingly engages the seat while the gate is being moved between open and closed positions. The engaging faces of the gate and seats are coated with a low-friction material to facilitate sliding. The ceramic and/or hardfacing alloy matrix composite substrate construction of the gate and seats with low friction engaging surfaces enhances the gate valve's bearing stress capacity. | 10-18-2012 |
20120261134 | WELLHEAD WICKER REPAIR TOOL - A wicker repair tool lands on a casing hanger within a wellhead. The wicker repair tool engages cutters with the inner diameter of the wellhead and rotates to reform wickers in the wellhead. The wicker repair tool includes a tubular member having an upper end that couples to a tubing string. A tubular tool head is formed on a lower end of the tubular member. At least one cutter is coupled to the tool head and is radially moveable between an engaged and a disengaged position. The cutters are adapted to engage an inner diameter surface of a wellhead so that rotation of the tool head relative to the wellhead will reform the wickers. | 10-18-2012 |
20120261133 | BROKEN PIPE BLOCKER - An apparatus for blocking or capping a pipe end is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tubular body defining a central cavity having an inlet, an outlet, and an axis. The apparatus also includes a plurality of conical blocker rings mounted to an inner diameter surface of the tubular body within the cavity, at least some of the blocker rings being rigid and some of the blocker rings being compliant. The blocker rings are adapted to seal to a pipe end inserted into the central cavity. The rigid blocker rings have an outer diameter joined to an inner diameter of the central cavity, and the compliant blocking rings have an inner diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the rigid blocker rings and are adapted to seal around an exterior of the pipe when inserted from the inlet. | 10-18-2012 |
20120261132 | LEAD IMPRESSION WEAR BUSHING - A wear bushing having a lead impression block is landed axially above a casing hanger and actuated to test an elevation of lock ring grooves formed in a wellhead. Then, drilling operations are performed through the wear bushing. The wear bushing includes a first tubular member having an axis and a second tubular member coaxial with the first tubular member. The second tubular member moves down to actuate a lead impression assembly to measure an elevation within the wellhead with the lead impression block. After the drilling operations are completed, the deformed lead impression block is retrieved along with the wear bushing. | 10-18-2012 |
20120256113 | REPLACEABLE FLOATING GATE VALVE SEAT SEAL - A gate valve includes a floating gate valve seat that effects a seal between a gate of a gate valve and a gate valve body using a metal seal. The gate valve includes a floating gate valve seat interposed between a gate and a gate valve body. The gate valve seat has a spring member with a cylindrical portion secured to the gave valve seat. The spring member has a leg that exerts a spring force against the gate valve body to maintain a seal between the floating gate valve seat and the gate. A metal-to-metal seal seals between the cylindrical portion of the spring member and a cylindrical portion of the gate valve seat. | 10-11-2012 |
20120248360 | DIFFERENTIAL SCREW ASSEMBLY FOR VARYING TORQUE FOR VALVE - An assembly for actuating a valve that is in a differential screw assembly when the valve is in a portion of its stroke that experiences high resistance. The actuating assembly is selectively changeable into a direct drive configuration when the valve is in a lower resistance portion of its stroke. A sliding sleeve moves axially within the actuating assembly and has a profile that is strategically dimensioned to change the actuating assembly configuration. | 10-04-2012 |
20120247788 | SEAL WITH BELLOWS STYLE NOSE RING - A seal assembly between a wellhead housing having a bore and a casing hanger, has an inner seal leg for sealing against hanger and an outer seal leg for sealing against housing. An extension extends downward from outer seal leg and has a downward facing shoulder that rests on an upward facing shoulder formed on a nose ring. Connection connects seal ring to the nose ring with a lower portion of the nose ring resting on the upward facing shoulder of the casing hanger. Bellows are formed on the nose ring to increase lockdown capacity. Bellows have an inner surface that faces an outer profile of the hanger, and an outer surface on the bellow that faces the bore of the housing. When the bellows are axially collapsed, they expand radially outward and contract radially inward into the bore of the housing and the outer profile of the hanger. | 10-04-2012 |
20120241175 | Positionless Expanding Lock Ring For Subsea Annulus Seals For Lockdown - Wellhead assemblies, seal assemblies, and methods of locking down an annulus seal disposed within an annulus between outer and inner wellhead members, are provided. A seal assembly is positioned in an annulus. An energizing member is axially translated downward to energize an annulus seal element and outwardly radially compress a high-strength lockdown member into contact with an inner diameter surface of a wellhead member. The wellhead member can include a set of wickers. During compression, the outer diameter surface of the lockdown member is plastically deformed onto the set of wickers. | 09-27-2012 |
20120241162 | CASING HANGER LOCKDOWN SLIP RING - A seal seals an annulus in a subsea assembly between a wellhead and a casing hanger landed on a shoulder within a bore of the wellhead. The seal includes a casing hanger seal ring disposed within the annulus. The seal ring engaged with an inner diameter surface of the wellhead, and engaged with an outer diameter surface of the casing hanger so that the seal ring prevents flow through the annulus. A lockdown slip ring is secured to a lower end of the seal ring so that, when the seal ring is energized, the lockdown slip ring engages a substantially smooth inner diameter surface portion of the wellhead and a substantially smooth outer diameter surface portion of the casing hanger to limit upwards axial movement of the casing hanger. | 09-27-2012 |
20120241159 | Remote Operated Vehicle Interface with Overtorque Protection - A remote operated vehicle (ROV) interface has a retrievable portion and a permanent portion. The permanent portion includes a housing that has a cavity that secures to a drive stem of the subsea well device. The housing has a pod cavity on an opposite end that receives a pod body, which is part of the retrievable portion. The pod body is secured by spring-biased retainer within the pod cavity. The pod body has a cylindrical receptacle that receives a drive pin, which forms another part of the retrievable portion. The drive pin and the cylindrical receptacle are engaged for rotation by a shear element. The pod body has an ROV retrieval profile that is accessible by an ROV. In the event the shear element shears due to excessive torque, an ROV retrieval tool engages the pod body and retrieves the pod body along with the drive pin. | 09-27-2012 |
20120228537 | GATE VALVE ASSEMBLY WITH AN AXIALLY FLEXIBLE SEAT - A gate valve assembly having metallic valve seats that are axially resilient and maintain a static sealing interface between the valve seat and a body pocket and a sliding dynamic sealing interface between the valve seat and a gate in the valve assembly. The valve seats are annular members having slots formed radially through the valve seats from the inner and outer circumferences. Sleeves may be provided that are coaxial to the valve seats; the sleeves may be on the inner surface of the valve seats, outer surface of the valve seats, or both. Shims may optionally be set in the slots. | 09-13-2012 |
20120227988 | Metal Annulus Seal - A wellhead seal assembly forms a metal-to-metal seal between inner and outer wellhead members. A metal seal ring has inner and outer walls separated by a slot. An energizing ring has a C-ring captured on its outer surface. When the energizing ring is moved further into the slot, the C-ring is forced from its pocket and engages a profile on the seal ring, locking the energizing ring to the seal assembly. | 09-13-2012 |
20120223839 | Apparatus and Method for Measuring Weight and Torque at Downhole Locations while Landing, Setting, and Testing Subsea Wellhead Consumables - A dynamometer measures applied weight and torque at a running tool location and transmits the measured information to a drilling rig operator. The system includes a dynamometer stem having a bidirectional torque and weight sensor coupled inline to the drill string, and further coupled to the running tool, so that the dynamometer stem will measure an applied torque and weight at the running tool and produce a signal in response. The dynamometer stem communicatively couples to a receptor stem, so that the receptor stem may receive the signal from the dynamometer stem. The receptor stem couples inline to the drill string at a rotary table of the drilling rig, and further communicatively couples to a display located proximate to an operator of the drilling rig, so that the receptor stem may transmit the signal to the display. The display presents the signal in real time to the operator. | 09-06-2012 |
20120222865 | Drilling Riser Adapter Connection with Subsea Functionality - A drilling riser adapter variably connects and releases a riser from a subsea wellhead assembly. The drilling riser adapter has a hydraulically actuated engagement assembly for selectively engaging and disengaging a lower end of the marine riser. The drilling riser adapter also includes a control panel communicatively coupled to the engagement assembly for actuating the engagement assembly to engage and disengage the lower end of the marine riser. The drilling riser adapter also includes a hydraulic fluid pressure receptacle on the control panel for engagement by a remotely operated vehicle to supply hydraulic fluid pressure to the engagement assembly. The drilling riser adapter may be actuated subsea to release a first riser from the wellhead assembly, and connect to a second riser. | 09-06-2012 |
20120207550 | MARINE RISER TENSIONER - A push-up tensioner for maintaining a tensile force in a riser having an axis couples to a floating platform and maintains the tensile force while the riser tilts variably from the vertical. The tensioner includes a plurality of cylinders having a lower end pivotally coupled to the deck. The cylinders are substantially perpendicular to the deck in the running position and at an angle to the deck in the tensioning position. After running of the riser, a placement assembly moves the cylinders from the running position to the tensioning position. A tensioner ring is run on the riser proximate to an upper end of the cylinders, and the cylinders are then automatically coupled to the tensioner ring. | 08-16-2012 |
20120205111 | REINFORCED FRAC TUBING HEAD - A reinforced wellhead member for use during fracing operations. The wellhead member is preloaded at a flange section by creating compressive stresses via a ring that interacts with a tightening nut on a bolt. The bolt is rigidly attached to an adapter which may also be modified to create stresses on the flange of the wellhead member. The induced stresses counter the tensile stresses experienced by the flange during fracing operations, allowing a standard wellhead member to be utilized. | 08-16-2012 |
20120187634 | METAL SEALING ADJUSTABLE CASING SUB - An adjustable casing sub having an outer housing, an inner housing insertable into the outer housing, and a ratcheting system for coupling the inner housing within the outer housing. An annulus is between a portion of the inner and outer housing, the annulus including an inwardly tapered section. A metal faced seal is disposed in the annulus, wherein the metal faced seal includes a sliding surface and a compressive sealing surface. The sliding surface may include a malleable inlay and the compressive sealing surface may include a spring like element. Moreover, the metal faced seal radial thickness is greater than the inwardly tapered section radial thickness. | 07-26-2012 |
20120186821 | LOCATION-AND-ROTATION FEEDBACK TOOL FOR SUBSEA WELLHEADS AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME - A location-and-rotation feedback tool that provides accurate feedback of the location and orientation of a well component during running operations in wells. The feedback tool device is adapted to be secured on a tool stem above a running tool and comprises a body, a circumferentially extending groove, and a hole in the groove that vents to the bore of a blowout preventer. The circumferential groove aligns with a fluid line port in the blowout preventer to provide location feedback via a fluid line pressure. The hole aligns with the fluid line port in the blowout preventer to provide rotation feedback via fluid line pressure. | 07-26-2012 |
20120168173 | WELLHEAD TREE PRESSURE COMPENSATING DEVICE - A pressure mitigating device is used to reduce pressure in a void within a wellhead housing. In one embodiment, the pressure mitigating device includes two plates that define a void between them. Increased pressure in the wellhead housing causes the plates to elastically displace towards each other. The plates contact each other, limiting the displacement prior to plastic deformation. | 07-05-2012 |
20120168169 | SUBSEA TREE WORKOVER CONTROL SYSTEM - An electrical and hydraulic configuration on a subsea tree that facilitates the use of an ROV control system to operate the tree during well installations, interventions, and workovers. An SCM at the tree is in communication with a fixed junction plate that receives a production umbilical during normal operation. The ROV can be deployed to disconnect and park the production umbilical during well installations, interventions, and workovers to prevent accidental operation of the SCM or tree. The junction plate is configured to connect with the ROV and thereby establish communication with the hydraulic lines of the SCM. The ROV may carry an umbilical from a vessel to provide electrical and hydraulic service to the SCM during well operations. In addition, the ROV has facilities to repressurize spent control fluid to thereby allow reuse of the control fluid by the SCM. | 07-05-2012 |
20120160513 | TUBING HANGER SHUTTLE VALVE - A wellhead assembly made up of a wellhead housing, a production tree mounted on the wellhead housing, tubing suspended into a wellbore from within the wellhead housing, and an annulus between the tubing and the wellhead housing. A shuttle valve is provided within a tubing hanger that supports the tubing from within the wellhead housing. An accumulator is disposed in the annulus that is in fluid communication with a closed position port on the shuttle valve. Pressure is maintained in the accumulator for closing the shuttle valve when a force for opening the valve is removed. | 06-28-2012 |
20120160512 | WELLHEAD TREE PRESSURE LIMITING DEVICE - A pressure relief device is used to relieve pressure in a void within a wellhead housing. In one embodiment, the pressure relief device includes a plunger having a stepped plug, wherein the plug can be fully open to allow flow from the void, restricted to allow a predetermined flow to relieve pressure, or closed to prevent flow from the void. In another embodiment, the pressure relief device includes a vacuum puller that creates negative pressure in a vessel. As fluid in the void expands, it is able to enter the space formerly occupied by the plunger. In yet another embodiment, a rupture disc is used to prevent fluid from flowing from the void, through a passage, to the wellbore. If pressure in the void exceeds a predetermined value, the rupture disc yields and allows the trapped fluid to flow to the wellbore. | 06-28-2012 |
20120160511 | ACTIVE CASING HANGER HOOK MECHANISM - A subsea wellhead assembly includes a housing with a bore. A hanger is lowered into the housing, the hanger having at least one centralizing finger with a hook for engaging a corresponding hook an activation ring carried by the hanger via a shear pin. A load ring is carried on the hanger and supported initially within a recess formed on the exterior of the hanger. At the correct depth within the housing, coinciding with a shoulder on the inner diameter of the housing, the pin is sheared under the weight of the casing string and the hooks disengage to allow the load ring on the hanger to slide outward and create a path for the casing load to be transferred from the hanger to the hanger load ring, to a housing load ring, and ultimately the housing. | 06-28-2012 |
20120152561 | EMERGENCY SUBSEA WELLHEAD CLOSURE DEVICES - Wellhead-based systems, apparatus, and methods for controlling a well are provided. During a failure of an emergency system such as a blowout provider, a wellhead based emergency control apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention can be employed to control the well. A casing strings compression assembly can radially compress each of the casing strings and/or drilling pipe extending through the wellhead housing to restrict or stop well fluid passage. A casing strings penetrator of an emergency well fluid diversion assembly can also or alternatively be employed to form an aperture in the casing strings. A diverter, integral with or connected to the penetrator, is extended through an aperture in a side of the wellhead housing and one or more of the apertures cut by the penetrator to divert well fluid from within the wellhead housing through a passageway in the diverter and to an external conduit. | 06-21-2012 |
20120152559 | System and Method for Cathodic Protection of a Subsea Well-Assembly - Disclosed herein is a subsea well assembly; wherein in an example embodiment the subsea well assembly includes an umbilical attached to a power source. The power source can be on a platform. Also included is a connector for connecting the umbilical to a receptacle included with the subsea well assembly and a subsea control module delivering power and control signals to the subsea well assembly. An impressed current protection module is integrated in the subsea control module that receives power from the umbilical. | 06-21-2012 |
20120145411 | Running Tool with Feedback Mechanism - A running tool has a stem for connecting to a string of conduit, a body, and a plurality of functional positions selected in response to rotation of the stem relative to the body. A feedback mechanism assembly is connected to the running tool and is operational with rotation of the stem relative to the body. The feedback mechanism assembly increases the torque required to rotate the stem relative to the body when the running tool has reached one of the plurality of its functional positions. The increased torque thereby provides a positive indication that the running tool has reached and is in the desired and proper functional position. | 06-14-2012 |
20120138835 | Low Friction Coatings for Dynamically Engaging Load Bearing Surfaces - A gate valve has a body, the body having a cavity and a flow passage intersecting the cavity. A seat ring is mounted to the body at the intersection of the flow passage and the cavity, the seat ring having an engaging face. A gate in the cavity has an engaging face that slidingly engages the face of the seat ring while being moved between open and closed positions. A friction-resistant coating is on at least one of the faces. | 06-07-2012 |
20120132842 | Metal Seat Seal With Flexible Sealing Edge - A gate valve seat has structure formed on it to provide a sealing edge or lip which flexes when loaded. The lip forms a dual seal against portions of the gate valve body when the seat is placed under load. | 05-31-2012 |
20120132441 | Wellhead Assembly With Telescoping Casing Hanger - A wellhead housing has a casing hanger with an actuator mechanism to provide for direct transfer of casing and pressure loads to the housing even in conditions where the casing hanger may be set in a high position in the wellhead housing on a load shoulder, or in a casing hanger in the wellhead housing for an earlier installed, larger diameter casing string. | 05-31-2012 |
20120118581 | SELF SEALING HYDRAULIC COUPLER - A hydraulic coupler for providing fluid communication between adjacent members that includes a two way check valve formed from a double headed poppet set in a hollow cylinder with corrugated bellows like walls. Contoured bores are provided in the cylinder ends and the poppet heads are profiled to match the contour of the bores. When the heads are seated in the bores they form a sealing surface to block fluid from flowing through the coupler. Compressively preloading the cylinder before assembly provides a sealing force between the heads and the bores. Axially compressing the cylinder with respect to the poppet unseats the heads from the bores to form a flow path through the coupler. | 05-17-2012 |
20120103625 | SUBSEA WELLHEAD KEYLESS ANTI-ROTATION DEVICE - An anti-rotation device prevents an inner wellhead housing from rotating within an outer wellhead housing. The anti-rotation device provides cam rollers within the inner wellhead housing that wedge between opposing surfaces of the inner wellhead housing and outer wellhead housing to arrest either clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of the inner wellhead housing. The cam rollers are circumferentially spaced apart around the inner wellhead housing. | 05-03-2012 |
20120103622 | EFFICIENT OPEN WATER RISER DEPLOYMENT - A riser for use in subsea operations that is parked subsea deployed as needed onto wellheads disposed proximate where the riser is parked. A base anchored into the seafloor provides a pedestal for parking the riser. The riser emits a beacon signal so it can be located when needed. When parked, the riser can be kept in a vertical orientation by a buoyancy module mounted on an upper portion of the riser. A workboat, or other vessel, attaches to the parked riser and positions it onto a designated wellhead. An extension connects the riser to platform or other vessel above the sea surface. | 05-03-2012 |
20120103597 | Overpull Indicator - An outer wellhead member has a bore with a first profile portion and an annular recess. A tubular inner wellhead member with a centralizer/overpull ring is lowered into the outer wellhead member. The centralizer/overpull ring is biased to expand outward to engage the bore of the outer wellhead member to center the inner wellhead member within the bore as the inner wellhead member is lowered through the bore. The recess of the outer wellhead member is adapted to receive the centralizer/overpull ring and oppose axial movement of the centralizer/overpull ring to enable an upward test pull of the inner wellhead member. | 05-03-2012 |
20120099930 | SYSTEM FOR SUPPLEMENTAL TENSIONING FOR ENHANCED PLATFORM DESIGN AND RELATED METHODS - Riser management systems, apparatus, and methods to maintain a selected range of tension on a plurality of risers extending between subsea well equipment and a floating vessel, are provided. A riser management system can include a mono-buoyancy can platform operably coupled to a plurality of risers extending between subsea well equipment and a moored floating vessel, and a plurality of tensioner units each connected to a top portion of a separate one of the risers to provide tension to each of the risers. The mono-buoyancy can platform can provide tension to each of the risers sufficient to compensate for a relative vertical offset between the risers and the vessel due to vessel movement, which generally affects each of the risers equally, within tolerances, while the tensioner units can simultaneously provide tension to compensate for one or more additional factors which can affect each riser differently. | 04-26-2012 |
20120098203 | ENERGIZING RING NOSE PROFILE AND SEAL ENTRANCE - A wellhead seal assembly that forms a metal-to-metal seal between inner and outer wellhead members. A metal seal ring has inner and outer walls separated by a slot. An elastomeric seal is located below the seal ring and has a bottom portion that contacts an upward facing shoulder of a hanger. An energizing ring with a tapered nose is moved into the slot. The tapered nose has a compound angle that determines how much the nose travels into the slot when a force is applied to the energizing ring. Once the elastomeric seal is compressed to a desired level, the load on the energizing ring has increased to the point that the tapered nose of the energizing ring will further enters the slot and force the outer and inner walls of the metal seal into sealing engagement with the inner and outer wellhead members. | 04-26-2012 |
20120097877 | Selective Torque Operator For A Valve - A low torque operator for selectively engaging a gear unit in an actuating drive stem of a valve having a collar with an axial bore and a slot through its side. The slot includes a projection directed towards an upper end of the collar and has an edge oriented oblique to the collar axis. A drive shaft inserts in the bore, and a pin mounted in the drive shaft engages the slot during low torque conditions. The operator also includes an idler gear and a bullgear. A driven shaft with two drive pins inserts into the bore on a lower side of the collar. The upper of the two pins remains in contact with a shoulder formed on a lower end of the collar during low torque conditions. The lower of the two pins engages a shoulder formed on a lower side of the bullgear during high torque conditions. | 04-26-2012 |
20120097399 | EXPANDABLE ANCHORING MECHANISM - A bridging hanger with an expandable anchoring mechanism lands on a casing hanger in a subsea wellhead and actuates to anchor to the casing hanger. The anchoring mechanism includes a tubular main body, and a tubular sealing sleeve. The tubular sealing sleeve is coaxial with and mounted on an exterior diameter portion of the tubular main body. The body is moveable from an upper run-in position to a lower set position relative to the sealing sleeve. The anchoring mechanism also includes a first and second locking ring, both carried by the sealing sleeve. The first locking ring engages a profile within an interior of the casing hanger in response to movement of the main body from the run-in to the set position. The second locking ring locks the tubular main body in the set position in response to movement of the main body from the run-in to the set position. | 04-26-2012 |
20120097390 | SYSTEM FOR REMEDIATING A WELLBORE ANNULUS - A casing annulus remediation hose assembly having a hose with an inlet in selective fluid communication with a fluid supply and an exit connected to a nozzle. On the nozzle is an insertion tip for facilitating insertion and retrieval of the hose assembly in and out of an annulus in a wellhead assembly. The insertion tip has an outer annular flexible housing that is coaxially attached to the nozzle and spherical weighted members arranged in series in the housing. A cable extends coaxially from a downstream end of the nozzle and through each weighted member. | 04-26-2012 |
20120097383 | System and Method for Inductive Signal and Power Transfer from ROV to In Riser Tools - A subsea wellhead assembly having a completion landing string inside a drilling riser is described herein and comprises a power source for generating an alternating electrical current; a connector for connecting the power source to a receptacle in the subsea well assembly; a first inductor electrically connected to the power source through the connector; a subsea control module delivering power and control signals to the subsea well assembly; and a second inductor spaced from the first inductor, and located in the subsea control module, the second inductor positioned so that an EMF is produced on the second inductor when the alternating electrical current is passed through the first inductor to thereby generate an alternating current signal on the second inductor. | 04-26-2012 |
20120094041 | THICK WALLED COMPOSITE TUBULAR AND METHOD OF MAKING - A method and apparatus for forming a tubular from a composite material. The composite material includes fibers and epoxy resin that are formed into plies that are wound around an axis to form an annular member. The fibers in each ply are arranged axially and hoopwise. The axially oriented fibers are angled from about 10° up to about 20° with respect to an axis of the tubular. The hoopwise fibers are wound in the plies ranging from about 60° at the innermost ply up to about 90° in the outermost ply. The hoop fibers in the intermediate plies are arranged at increasing angles with distance away from the innermost layer. Transitioning the hoop fiber alignment in the successive plies better distributes hoop stress through the wall of the tubular thereby reducing stress concentrations on the innermost ply. | 04-19-2012 |
20120085554 | Seal with Enhanced Nose Ring - A seal assembly between a wellhead housing having a bore and a casing hanger, has an inner seal leg for sealing against hanger and an outer seal leg for sealing against housing. An extension extends downward from outer seal leg and is connected to a nose ring having a downward facing shoulder that rests on the hanger shoulder to provide a reaction point for setting operations. A lock ring is retained within interior portion of the nose ring. An upward facing shoulder formed on an upper portion of nose ring contacts the lower surface of the inner seal leg. The shoulder prevents the downward deflection of the inner leg and eliminates buckling due to Poisson effect from the resulting axial force due to growth of the seal legs during setting operations. The shoulder thus prevents crooked or twisted setting of the seal to prevent plastic strain in the seal. | 04-12-2012 |
20120080634 | VALVE BORE SEALING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A gate valve has a body, the body having a cavity and a flow passage intersecting the cavity. A seat ring is mounted to the body at the intersection of the flow passage and the cavity, the seat ring having an engaging face. A gate in the cavity has an engaging face that slidingly engages the face of the seat ring while being moved between open and closed positions. A seat sealing element is located in a cavity between seat rings and a counterbore formed in the flow passage and body of the valve. The sealing element blocks flow from the flow path to the interior of the valve. The sealing element also prevents debris from entering the counterbore-to-seat interface to improve sealing integrity. The sealing element has an axial spring property that enhances contact between the seat and gate and accounts for thermal expansion of the valve internals. | 04-05-2012 |
20120080193 | RUNNING TOOL FOR DEEP WATER - A running tool for use in handling control modules on a subsea production tree. The running tool is deployable on wire line and includes a column like body and a connector adapted for connection to the production tree. The running tool also includes a hoist system that is selectively positioned by a swiveling jib crane for handling the control modules. A replacement control module can be included with the running tool when the tool is deployed from above the sea surface. After the running tool connects to the production tree, the jib crane can position the hoist for attachment to and removal of an existing control module on the production tree. The hoist can then to attach to and install the replacement control module and can be further manipulated to retrieve the existing control module and stow it onto the body. | 04-05-2012 |
20120070225 | HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATED SAFETY LOCK RING - A connector assembly that can be used to connect a tension ring to a telescoping joint on a riser by using a lower set of hydraulically actuated dogs. A set of hydraulically actuated hang-off dogs on the connector assembly can be used to connect the tension ring to a diverter housing mounted on a rig. To prevent accidental disengagement of the hang-off dogs, a hydraulically actuated lock ring is used to provide a positive stop against the back of the hang-off dogs. | 03-22-2012 |
20120067589 | RISER EMERGENCY DISCONNECT CONTROL SYSTEM - An emergency riser disconnection system for disconnecting a riser from a subsea installation having disconnect actuators and a signal and power circuit for controlling the actuators. The signal and power circuit is made up of an umbilical with signal lines and hydraulic lines. At an umbilical termination, the signal and hydraulic lines exit the umbilical and can be routed separately to the disconnect actuators. The umbilical termination is disposed above the uppermost break away point on the riser and can be recovered after the riser is disconnected. | 03-22-2012 |
20120061091 | Riser Lifecycle Management System, Program Product, and Related Methods - Methods, systems, and program product for monitoring and managing a plurality of marine riser assets are provided. An example of a method includes tracking the subsea deployment and retrieval of each of a plurality of riser joints. This can include deploying the plurality of riser joints from a vessel to form an operationally deployed marine riser string, reading riser joint identification data from a riser joint identification indicator connected to the respective riser joint during the operational deployment thereof, and identifying the respective riser joint being operationally deployed to thereby track the deployment thereof. The method can also include retrieving one or more of the operationally deployed riser joints, reading riser joint identification data from the riser identification indicator of the respective riser joint during retrieval thereof, identifying the respective one or more riser joints being retrieved to thereby track the retrieval thereof. | 03-15-2012 |
20120043094 | Packoff With Internal Lockdown Mechanism - A packoff is located within a wellhead housing and a casing hanger. The packoff has an internal ratchet ring that engages a threaded profile on the exterior of the casing hanger thereby allowing installation of the packoff to be achieved by simply stabbing the packoff over the protruding neck of the casing hanger. This ratchet ring significantly reduces the rotation required during installation, decreasing potential for damage to seals. The casing hanger has an external lock ring that is inwardly biased. During installation of the packoff, the packoff acts to activate the lock ring to thereby force it outward. The lock ring is forced outward and into a recess formed in the interior of the wellhead housing. The lock ring and the ratchet ring locks the packoff and casing hanger into place with the wellhead housing without the need of external lockdown screws, thereby minimizing leak paths. | 02-23-2012 |
20120037382 | Running Tool - An embodiment of a running tool for setting and testing a packoff seal of a well pipe hanger has an elongated stem having an axial passage, a body, a cam, a cam tail, a stem engagement element, and a piston. A method of setting and testing a packoff seal comprises rotating the stem relative to the body to a delivery position, thereby disengaging the engaging element from the stem. The stem moves axially downward relative to the body to land the packoff. The engagement element reengages the stem in a landing position. Fluid pressure is applied to the axial passage to set and seal the packoff, thereby moving the running tool to a set position. | 02-16-2012 |
20120037378 | TREE PROTECTION SYSTEM - A subsea wellhead assembly having a net that protects the wellhead assembly from impacts with falling objects. The net can be deployed from a vessel onto a wellhead on the seafloor, or mounted onto a wellhead component above the sea surface and lowered with the wellhead component. The net can be retractable, so that an ROV can access the wellhead assembly by temporarily moving the net into a retracted configuration, then redeploying the net when finished accessing the wellhead assembly. | 02-16-2012 |
20120031620 | MARINE COMPOSITE RISER FOR STRUCTRUAL HEALTH MONITORING USING PIEZOELECTRICITY - A structural health monitoring system for a marine composite riser string is provided. Each riser pipe section includes a cylindrical form having an axis and also a carbon epoxy matrix. A sensor is associated with (e.g., embedded in) and substantially circumscribes the riser pipe section. The sensor includes a PolyVinyliDene Fluoride laminate and electrodes (e.g., conductive silver ink coating) so that the sensor generates electricity at the electrodes responsive to mechanical stresses and strains of the riser section, including vibrations. The system can also include a data acquisition system and digital signal analyzer to analyze signals responsive to the generated electricity at the electrodes of sensors and to provide health monitoring and damage detection for the marine riser pipe string, including impact damage and fatigue crack initiation. The system can further include a subsurface energy storage device and a plurality subsurface microelectromechanical devices coupled to the subsurface energy storage device. | 02-09-2012 |
20120025470 | BI-DIRECTIONAL METAL-TO-METAL SEAL - A wellhead seal assembly that forms a metal-to-metal seal between inner and outer wellhead members. A metal seal ring has inner and outer legs that are threaded to each other and separated by a slot and provide bi-directional sealing. The threaded connection provides a pathway for annular pressure into the slot. The inner and outer legs have inner and outer walls, respectively Inner and outer legs have a soft metal inlay on their interior surfaces. Wickers may be located on the outer surface of the inner wellhead member and on the inner surface of the outer wellhead member. An energizing ring is moved into the slot to force the outer and inner walls of the seal into sealing engagement with the inner and outer wellhead members. The soft metal inlays deform onto the energizing ring. If present, wickers on the wellhead members embed into the walls of the seal ring. | 02-02-2012 |
20120024541 | Drill Pipe Running Tool - A system and method for verifying support hanger orientation within a wellhead housing. In an example, a profile is included at a designated location on an inner surface of the wellhead housing. When the support hanger is landed in the wellhead housing, an impression is taken of the inner surface of the wellhead housing from a reference location. Analyzing the impression can indicate the position of the support hanger within the wellhead housing. A running tool that can land the support hanger within the wellhead housing can be equipped with an impression block for taking the impression of the profile in the wellhead housing. | 02-02-2012 |
20120024536 | WELLHEAD TREE PRESSURE LIMITING DEVICE - A pressure relief device is used to relieve pressure in a void within a wellhead housing. In one embodiment, the pressure relief device includes a plunger having a stepped plug, wherein the plug can be fully open to allow flow from the void, restricted to allow a predetermined flow to relieve pressure, or closed to prevent flow from the void. In another embodiment, the pressure relief device includes a vacuum puller that creates negative pressure in a vessel. As fluid in the void expands, it is able to enter the space formerly occupied by the plunger. In yet another embodiment, a rupture disc is used to prevent fluid from flowing from the void, through a passage, to the wellbore. If pressure in the void exceeds a predetermined value, the rupture disc yields and allows the trapped fluid to flow to the wellbore. | 02-02-2012 |
20120024385 | ADVANCED FLUIDICS GATE VALVE WITH ACTIVE FLOW CONTROL FOR SUBSEA APPLICATIONS - A valve assembly for use in a wellhead assembly that includes a valve body, a cavity formed in the valve body, and a flow passage through the valve body that intersects the cavity. Also included is a gate slidable in the cavity between an open position and a closed position. A bore is formed through the gate. A fluidic passage is also formed through the gates that provides fluid communication between the bore and an upstream side of the valve member. The fluidic passage is formed so that when the gate is being moved into the closed position, fluid upstream of the gate enters the fluidic passage and exits into the bore to assist closing the valve. | 02-02-2012 |
20120023725 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING ELONGATED COMPOSITE TUBULAR - A method and apparatus for forming an elongate tubular from a composite material. The composite material includes fibers and epoxy resin that are disposed around an elongated mandrel. The fibers are wound around the outer circumference of the mandrel and the epoxy resin may be applied to the fibers, before, during, or after, being wound onto the mandrel. A trough is provided that supports the mandrel between ends of the mandrel. An example trough includes a flexible membrane supported on its lateral ends to resemble a catenary. | 02-02-2012 |
20120012336 | CASING HANGER PROFILE FOR MULTIPLE SEAL LANDING POSITIONS - A wellhead assembly having a wellhead housing, a casing hanger set within the wellhead housing, and sealing areas provided on opposing surfaces of the wellhead housing and casing hanger. The sealing areas circumscribe an axis of the wellhead assembly along respective axial distances on the wellhead housing and casing hanger. A seal is included with the wellhead assembly that has inner and outer legs that respectively engage the sealing areas and form sealing surfaces against the sealing areas. The axial distances of the sealing areas exceeds the length of the inner and outer legs, so that an original seal can be removed and replaced by a secondary seal, wherein the secondary seal engages sealing areas different from the sealing areas engaged by the original seal. | 01-19-2012 |
20110316236 | Wicker-Type Face Seal and Wellhead System Incorporating Same - A wellhead seal assembly that forms a metal-to-metal seal between inner and outer wellhead members and a face seal between inner wellhead members. The face seal is created by two opposing sealing surfaces on inner wellhead members that sealingly engage each other. The inner wellhead members that interact to form a face seal may be a casing hanger, bridging hanger, or lockdown hanger. A wicker profile formed on one of the opposing seal surfaces bites into the opposing seal surface in response to a load. The face seal is designed such that well pressure enhances the face seal. | 12-29-2011 |
20110308793 | HIGH INTEGRITY HANGER AND SEAL FOR CASING - Casing segments and an expansion cone are positioned and cemented within a new section of a wellbore with a lower casing segment in an overlapping relationship with an upper casing segment. The lower casing segment is radially expanded such that an upper end of the lower casing segment comes into contact with the interior wall of the upper casing segment at the overlap region. The upper casing segment has an inward facing profile at the overlap region that includes a set of wickers that are driven into the lower casing exterior when it is expanded. This forms a metal-to-metal seal between the upper and lower casing segments at the overlap region. | 12-22-2011 |
20110278007 | TOOL AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO A WELLHEAD ANNULUS - A system and method for accessing an annulus within a wellhead assembly while the annulus is pressurized. The system includes a tubular body with an attached valve assembly and adapter. The adapter to the wellhead assembly with a sealed annular fitting. The body houses a selectively extendable plunger assembly rotatable by an attached motor. A bit or milling device is provided on the end of the plunger assembly, so that selectively extending the plunger assembly through the valve assembly and adapter contacts the bit against the wellhead assembly. An opening is formed through the wellhead assembly with the rotating bit allowing access to the annulus. | 11-17-2011 |
20110260445 | Cam Style Anti-Rotation Key for Tubular Connections - An anti-rotation key inserts into a pocket formed on an outer surface of a male threaded connector. The key has a lower inner side portion for contact with the base of the pocket. An array of teeth on a lower outer side portion of the key bite into an inner wall of a female threaded connector as the key is forced into the pocket. One of the edges of the key is configured such that a line tangent to the first side edge where it intersects the lower outer side portion will intersect a line tangent to a central portion of the lower inner side portion at an angle less than 90 degrees. Relative motion between the male and female threaded connectors in a loosening direction causes the key to pivot about an engagement of the first side edge with the first side wall and bite more deeply into the inner wall of the female threaded connector. | 10-27-2011 |
20110240306 | Bridging Hanger and Seal Running Tool - A running tool sets and pressure tests a bridging hanger and a packoff in a single trip. The running tool has a stem, an inner body, and a piston. The inner body is connected to the stem so that rotation of the stem relative to the inner body will cause the stem to move longitudinally. The piston is connected to the stem so that the stem and piston rotate and move longitudinally in unison. A piston engagement element is housed in the inner body and is adapted to engage the piston when the bridging hanger is set to prevent premature setting of the packoff. The piston engagement element can be disengaged once the bridging hanger is set, thereby allowing the piston to set the packoff. | 10-06-2011 |
20110214877 | ACTUATION ASSEMBLY FOR RISER CONNECTION DOG - A box and pin coupling for a drilling riser having an actuator assembly with an attached dog. The actuator assembly includes an actuation rod having an end affixed to the dog. A portion of the rod is circumscribed by an annular sleeve, where the outer surface of the sleeve is threadingly attached to one of the box or pin. A shoulder is formed on the rod outer circumference between the sleeve and the end of the rod attached to the dog. A retainer cap is provided on the end of the rod opposite where it attaches to the dog. The sleeve abuts the rod on one end, and the retainer cap on the other, so that rotating the sleeve axially moves the actuation rod, that in turn moves the attached dog into or out of engagement with a profile on the other of the box or pin. | 09-08-2011 |
20110204143 | Oil and Gas Riser Spider With Low Frequency Antenna Apparatus and Method - An apparatus and methods for tracking a plurality of marine riser assets is provided. Part of a riser lifecycle monitoring system, the apparatus can include an oil and gas riser spider to connect a plurality of riser pipe sections during assembly of a riser pipe string. The riser spider forms an annulus around a first section of the plurality of riser pipe sections and supports the first section of the plurality of riser pipe sections during connection to a second section. The apparatus can also include an antenna to read a plurality of radio frequency identification tags, e.g., directional 125 kHz RFID tags, attached to outsides of the plurality of riser pipe sections. The antenna can include an oblong loop attached to and substantially spanning about half of an internal surface of the riser spider so that the antenna follows the contour of the riser spider. | 08-25-2011 |
20110200397 | Ram Style Tensioner with Fixed Conductor and Floating Frame - A riser tensioner for an offshore floating platform has a frame stationarily mounted to the upper portion of the riser. Pistons and cylinders are spaced circumferentially around the riser and connected between the frame and the floating platform. A tubular guide member is mounted to the floating platform for movement in unison in response to waves and currents. The riser extends through the guide member. A guide roller support is mounted to and extends downward from the frame around the guide member. At least one set of guide rollers is mounted to the guide roller support in rolling engagement with the guide member as the guide member moves in unison with the platform. | 08-18-2011 |
20110192611 | Riser Joint Coupling - An offshore riser system has riser joints, each having a pin and a box. The pin has an external grooved profile that is engaged by a locking element carried by the box of another riser joint. An actuating ring engages with the locking element to move it into the locked position. A retractable spider supports the string of riser while the new joint is being made up. A makeup tool on the riser deploying floor moves the ring relative to the locking element, causing the locking element to move to the locked position. | 08-11-2011 |
20110180275 | Bi-Metallic Annular Seal and Wellhead System Incorporating Same - A wellhead seal assembly that forms a metal-to-metal seal between inner and outer wellhead members. A bi-metallic U-shaped seal with legs having a low yield metal on the outer portions. During installation of the seal assembly, the legs of the seal are forced outward against the surfaces of the wellhead members, by pressurization of a interim non-metallic seal which forces a wedge into the U-shaped seal, causing localized yielding of the low yield metal to fill defects on wellhead member surfaces. | 07-28-2011 |
20110174506 | Wellhead Annulus Seal Assembly - A ring like seal assembly for a wellhead assembly that seals between a pair of coaxial tubulars. The seal assembly includes a spring member for exerting an axial force on the seal. The spring member projects from an end of the seal assembly substantially parallel to the axis of the seal assembly and is compressed when installing the seal assembly between the tubulars. Compressing the spring member maintains an axial force on the seal assembly to keep the seal assembly radially deformed so that it can maintain sealing contact with both coaxial tubulars. | 07-21-2011 |
20110174495 | Latch System for Friction-Locked Tubular Members - A technique for securing drilling riser joints in a drilling riser string is presented. The drilling riser joints have a tubular housing that has a box configuration on one end and a pin configuration on the other end. The drilling riser string is assembled by connecting the pin end of one drilling riser joint to the box end of an adjoining drilling riser joint. A moveable ring is used to connect adjoining drilling riser joints. The moveable ring is used to drive a fastener, such as a dog, of one drilling riser joint against the adjoining drilling riser joint. The moveable ring is driven axially from a first position, where the fastener is not engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint, to a second position where the fastener is engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint. A latch is used to prevent the moveable ring from moving inadvertently from the second position. This prevents the drilling riser joints from disconnecting inadvertently. | 07-21-2011 |
20110168409 | High Capacity Running Tool - A high capacity running tool sets and internally tests a casing hanger packoff during the same trip. The running tool has a stem and a body. The body is secured by threads to the stem of the running tool so that rotation of the stem relative to the body will cause the stem to move longitudinally. An engagement element connects the tool body to the casing hanger by engaging the inner surface of the casing hanger. Longitudinal movement of the stem relative to the body moves the engaging element between inner and outer positions and lines up ports in the stem and in the body for setting and testing functions. | 07-14-2011 |
20110155382 | Internal Tieback for Subsea Well - A tieback connector connects a tieback conduit from an offshore platform to a subsea wellhead assembly. The tieback connector has a mandrel that is connected to a string of tieback conduit and a sleeve and load ring that are carried by the mandrel. The load ring is radially expansible and has a conical portion with internal threads. The load ring has an external grooved profile that engages an internal grooved profile in the subsea assembly. The mandrel is rotatable relative to the sleeve while in its lower position, causing the load ring to further expand outward into engagement with the internal profile. A locking member is carried below the load ring on an exterior cam surface of the mandrel. The cam surface moves the locking member outward when the mandrel moves downward into engagement with an internal profile in the subsea assembly. | 06-30-2011 |
20110139341 | System, Method, and Apparatus for Pre-Tensioned Pipe for Load-Sharing with Composite Cover - A pipe is wrapped with a composite to form a pre-stressed interface to facilitate load sharing between the materials. Prior to being wrapped, the pipe is placed in tension via hydraulic devices or the like. Alternatively, a combination of cured and uncured composite wraps is used in proximity to each other to apply compressive stress to the pipe. In addition, the pipe may be subjected to cold temperatures to change its dimensions prior to being wrapped with a composite material. | 06-16-2011 |
20110129358 | PUMPING MUD BY ELECTROHYDRODYNAMIC PROPULSION - A section of riser casing urges drilling mud through the riser, either upward from the sea floor to reduce head pressure or downward toward the wellbore. The section of riser casing may use an electromagnet, two or more electrodes, or a combination of electromagnets and electrodes to urge drilling mud having electrohydrodynamic properties through the riser casing. | 06-02-2011 |
20110129357 | Pumping Mud By Electrohydrodynamic Propulsion - A section of riser casing urges drilling mud upward from the sea floor to reduce head pressure associated with pumping drilling mud through riser casing in dual-gradient drilling operations. The section of riser casing may use an electromagnet, two or more electrodes, or a combination of electromagnets and electrodes to urge drilling mud having electrohydrodynamic properties through the riser casing. | 06-02-2011 |
20110120697 | METAL-TO-METAL SEAL WITH WIPER ELEMENT AND WELLHEAD SYSTEM INCORPORATING SAME - A wellhead or Christmas tree seal assembly that forms a metal-to-metal seal between inner and outer wellhead or Christmas tree members. U-shaped metal seals having legs that face in opposite directions, are bonded to a wiping element. During installation of the seal assembly, the ends of the seal legs seal against the wellhead members and the wiping element compensates for defects on the surfaces of the wellhead members. The wiping element can be of an elastomer, metallic, or intercalated graphite material. | 05-26-2011 |
20110114333 | Casing Annulus Management - A wellbore tubular set concentrically between an inner an and outer annulus has a pressure relief valve that opens when pressure in the outer annulus exceeds pressure in the inner annulus by an amount that can damage the tubular. The relief valve closes and reseats when the pressure differential is reduced to below the damaging threshold. The relief valve can include a spring for reseating the valve. A pressure gauge can be included within the outer annulus for monitoring whether or not the relief valve is operating properly. | 05-19-2011 |
20110114330 | Combination Well Pipe Centralizer and Overpull Indicator - A subsea wellhead assembly includes an outer wellhead member with a bore containing at least one conical generally upward facing load shoulder that inclines relative to an axis of the bore. The outer wellhead member also contains an overpull recess having a generally downward facing overpull shoulder positioned below the at least one generally upward facing load shoulder. An inner wellhead member is lowered into the housing, the inner wellhead member having at least one conical downward facing load shoulder that inclines relative to an axis of the bore. A load ring has an inner profile that slidingly engages the downward facing load shoulder and an outer profile that slidingly engages the upward facing load shoulder. | 05-19-2011 |
20110108275 | WELLHEAD ISOLATION PROTECTION SLEEVE - An isolation sleeve extends from an adapter into the bore of a tubing head to isolate high pressure frac fluid from the body of the tubing head. The isolation sleeve may be installed by a running tool that can screw the sleeve onto a packoff bushing located within the tubing head. The running tool can also retrieve the isolation sleeve by unscrewing it from the packoff bushing. | 05-12-2011 |
20110088893 | WELLHEAD SYSTEM HAVING WICKER SEALING SURFACE - A wellhead system comprising an outer wellhead housing, an inner wellhead member, and an annulus therebetween. The inner wellhead member, such as a casing hanger, is adapted to land in the outer wellhead housing. The outer wellhead housing may comprise a wickers formed in a hardened metal inlay. Alternatively, or in addition to the wickers formed in the outer wellhead housing, wickers may be formed in a hardened metal inlay in the inner wellhead member. An annular metal seal may be disposed in the annulus and driven into the wickers to seal the annulus between the inner wellhead member and the outer wellhead housing and to axially restrain the seal within the annulus. | 04-21-2011 |
20110084490 | ELECTRICAL MUDLINE SYSTEM - An electrical mudline system that includes a turbine-type power generation assembly that can be lowered by wireline and installed at the seabed or mudline. A generator may be installed on a wellhead for support and located on a lower part of the generation assembly or may be installed through a tree if a cap on the tree is removed. A frame is included to provide additional support for the generation assembly and protect the turbine blades on the periphery of the turbine. The turbine rotates in response to water currents and thereby rotates a shaft coupled to the turbine to generate electrical power. The electrical power is generated local to the well to power various types of equipment at the well or in the vicinity of the well. | 04-14-2011 |
20110083854 | CASING HANGER NESTING INDICATOR - A casing hanger nesting indicator generates a signal to notify personnel on the surface that a wellhead member has properly landed on a predetermined surface within the wellbore. The casing hanger nesting indicator comprises a signaling device such as an explosive charge or a frequency shift key wherein the noise or vibration of the signaling device travels through the wellbore, via the drilling conduit in some embodiments, up to the surface platform. | 04-14-2011 |
20110073324 | Self Sealing Hydraulic Coupler - A hydraulic coupler for providing fluid communication between adjacent members that includes a two way check valve formed from a double headed poppet set in a hollow cylinder with corrugated bellows like walls. Contoured bores are provided in the cylinder ends and the poppet heads are profiled to match the contour of the bores. When the heads are seated in the bores they form a sealing surface to block fluid from flowing through the coupler. Compressively preloading the cylinder before assembly provides a sealing force between the heads and the bores. Axially compressing the cylinder with respect to the poppet unseats the heads from the bores to form a flow path through the coupler. | 03-31-2011 |
20110067880 | BELLOWS TYPE ADJUSTABLE CASING - A subsea assembly for producing fluids froth a well having a casing string in the well supported with a hanger on an upper end. Cement is in a portion of an annulus between the casing string and walls of the well, thereby leaving segment of the casing string unsupported in the well. A motion compensating element is coaxially provided in the unsupported segment of the casing string to absorb axial expansion and/or contraction that may occur in the unsupported segment of the casing string. | 03-24-2011 |
20110008099 | DOG-TYPE LOCKOUT AND POSITION INDICATOR ASSEMBLY - A connector assembly for connecting two members that allows manual lockdown to prevent accidental disengagement. The connector assembly can be used to connect a tension ring to a housing on a riser by using a lower set of hydraulically actuated dogs. A set of upper hydraulically actuated dogs on the connector assembly can be used to connect the tension ring to a diverter housing mounted on a rig. The connector assembly also has position indicators that ride along with the dogs to indicate whether the dogs are in the engaged or disengaged position. | 01-13-2011 |
20110005774 | SINGLE TRIP, TENSION SET, METAL-TO-METAL SEALING, INTERNAL LOCKDOWN TUBING HANGER - A system, apparatus, and method to apply tension to completion tubing in a wellbore. The system, apparatus, and method comprises an inner and outer tubing hanger, with the string of tubing attached to the inner tubing hanger. A running tool lands the outer tubing hanger on a landing shoulder and continues to lower the inner tubing hanger into the wellbore until the lower end of the inner tubing hanger latches into a retaining device. The running tool then sets a seal which holds the outer tubing hanger in position and causes a ratcheting mechanism to move to an engaged position. The running tool then withdraws the inner tubing hanger a predetermined distance until the inner tubing hanger engages the ratcheting mechanism. | 01-13-2011 |
20100327532 | METAL-TO-METAL ANNULUS SEAL ARRANGEMENT - A metal-to-metal seal is used to seal between two tubular members. In one embodiment, a metal-to-metal seal forms a seal in an annulus housing between an inner and outer diameter of tubular members of an adjustable casing sub. The seal can have an inner and an outer sealing ring, or more than one pair of inner and outer sealing rings, that can be set in place by a running tool. An energizing ring can have a tapered or bulbous surface, and can create a pre-load force against the sealing rings. | 12-30-2010 |
20100326666 | SPLIT ASSEMBLY ATTACHMENT DEVICE - A spider assembly is a round platform with a central bore used to support sections of casing as the sections of casing are joined to one another and lowered below a drilling platform. The spider assembly comprises two c-shaped section joined together at two seams, one seam at the end of each leg of the c-shape. A clamping plate is used to join each seam and apply a preload force on the joint. The preload force minimizes axial deflection at the joint. | 12-30-2010 |
20100326664 | Running Tool That Prevents Seal Test - A running tool sets a casing hanger packoff and ensures that the packoff is not pressure tested unless the proper setting stroke was made by the running tool. The running tool has a stem, an inner body, and a piston. The inner body is connected to the stem so that rotation of the stem relative to the inner body will cause the stem to move longitudinally. The piston is connected to the stem so that the stem and piston rotate and move longitudinally in unison. A test slot is located in the outer surface of the inner body. A limit pin is connected to the piston and is adapted to engage the test slot when the piston moves longitudinally relative to the inner body. The stem has a raised profile on a portion of its exterior surface. | 12-30-2010 |
20100314097 | Acoustically Measuring Annulus Probe Depth - A casing annulus is remediated by inserting a hose into a casing annulus, the hose having a nozzle on its lower end. An acoustic signal is directed into the annulus. A sensor in the hose receives the acoustic signal and transmits data from the sensor to the surface. The data represents the acoustic signal arrival time to the sensor, and an analyzer estimates the sensor depth based on the data. The hose is inserted from a reel into a wellhead above the annulus. An electrical transducer mechanically coupled to the hose creates the acoustic signal. The signal is propagated along the hose and transferred to the fluid in the annulus, where it then propagates further into the annulus. The transducer can be installed on a hose roller along which the hose is fed into the wellhead. | 12-16-2010 |
20100307764 | Bimetallic Diaphragm for Trapped Fluid Expansion - A subsea well tubular member has an axial passage with upper and lower retrievable plugs releasably mounted in the passage, the plugs having ends facing each other. A cavity is formed on one of the ends of one of the plugs. A movable barrier is mounted sealingly over the cavity, the barrier being movable repeatedly between inner and outer positions in response to temperature changes. The inner position reduces a volume of the cavity and increases a volume of a trapped fluid space between the ends of the plugs. The outer position increases the volume of the cavity and decreases the volume of the trapped fluid space. The barrier has two metallic layers with different coefficients of expansion. | 12-09-2010 |