CA1224410A - Subsea wellhead connector - Google Patents
Subsea wellhead connectorInfo
- Publication number
- CA1224410A CA1224410A CA000453423A CA453423A CA1224410A CA 1224410 A CA1224410 A CA 1224410A CA 000453423 A CA000453423 A CA 000453423A CA 453423 A CA453423 A CA 453423A CA 1224410 A CA1224410 A CA 1224410A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- lockdown
- dog
- screw
- connector
- wellhead
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- KJLPSBMDOIVXSN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 4-[4-[2-[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propan-2-yl]phenoxy]phthalic acid Chemical compound C=1C=C(OC=2C=C(C(C(O)=O)=CC=2)C(O)=O)C=CC=1C(C)(C)C(C=C1)=CC=C1OC1=CC=C(C(O)=O)C(C(O)=O)=C1 KJLPSBMDOIVXSN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 46
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 claims 2
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 2
- NLZUEZXRPGMBCV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Butylhydroxytoluene Chemical compound CC1=CC(C(C)(C)C)=C(O)C(C(C)(C)C)=C1 NLZUEZXRPGMBCV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 241000282320 Panthera leo Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002674 ointment Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000004224 protection Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
- E21B33/02—Surface sealing or packing
- E21B33/03—Well heads; Setting-up thereof
- E21B33/035—Well heads; Setting-up thereof specially adapted for underwater installations
- E21B33/038—Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S292/00—Closure fasteners
- Y10S292/24—Dogging mechanism from inside operating means
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T292/00—Closure fasteners
- Y10T292/08—Bolts
- Y10T292/096—Sliding
- Y10T292/0969—Spring projected
- Y10T292/097—Operating means
- Y10T292/0998—Screw
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
- Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A pipe connector specially suitable for interconnecting a marine riser to a subsea wellhead, the connector comprising an annular body that telescopes over the wellhead, and a plurality of lockdown screw assemblies extending through radial ports in the body to releasably grip and secure the connector to the wellhead. Each screw assembly comprises a lockdown dog for engaging the recess beneath the wellhead hub flange, a bolt-like dog retainer secured to the dog and slidably extending into a lockdown screw that is threaded into one of the radial ports, and a spring system for biasing the dog away from the lockdown screw towards engagement with the wellhead.
A pipe connector specially suitable for interconnecting a marine riser to a subsea wellhead, the connector comprising an annular body that telescopes over the wellhead, and a plurality of lockdown screw assemblies extending through radial ports in the body to releasably grip and secure the connector to the wellhead. Each screw assembly comprises a lockdown dog for engaging the recess beneath the wellhead hub flange, a bolt-like dog retainer secured to the dog and slidably extending into a lockdown screw that is threaded into one of the radial ports, and a spring system for biasing the dog away from the lockdown screw towards engagement with the wellhead.
Description
- 1- 2249~
Background o~ the_Invention This inven-tion pertains to well apparatus, and more particularly to connectors for joining marine risers -to subsea wellheads.
When preparing ~o produce fluids from an o-Efshore we.l]. tha-t ha~ been completed with a subsea wellhead, a marine riser p.ipe is lowe.red from the surface platform and connec-ted to the wel].head to provide guidance and pro-tection for internally run production casing. In some instances the connection must be accomplished remotely and automatically, i.e., without the assistance of a diver, and the connector also must be capable of being rigidly yet releasably locked to the wellhead with diver assist. Such a connector must have an outside diameter small enough to pass through the platform jacket guides, an ability to adjust for any angular and/or horizontal misalignment with the wellhead, and an inside diameter la.rge enough to pass successive tie-back strings. These requirements seriously restrict the type and design of connector suitable for this purpose, and though many connectors are known none possess all of the required features.
Summary In its preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises an annular connector body that telescopes over the outside of a wellhead and is securable by a plurality of lock- - _ down screw assemblies that automatically engage and secu~ly ~rip ~h@ wellhead a~ ~he connec~or i~ lower~d upon lt, that can be locked rigidly in their gripping position by a diver, and ~hat can be unlocked and with~
S drawn ~rom their gripping position to facilitate removal of the connector ~rom the wellhead. Broadly con~idered, each o~ the scr*w as~emblie~ comprise~ a lockdown dog, a lockdown ~crew, a dog r~tainer ~lement ~ecured to the dog and sl~dably connected to the 6cr~w, an a ~pring 8ystem between the dog and th~ 8C~W to bia~ the dog toward~ it6 gripping position. The lockdown ~crew i8 threaded into a lateral port through the co~n~ctor body, ~hereby facil-itating position ad~ustment of the ~crew to enable the dog ~ to move outwardly against ~pring pre~ure su~ficiently to p~ss by the wellhead hub flange as the connector descends onto the wellhead, and then move suffici~ntly inwardly into the r~cess below the hub ~lange in response to spring pressure to grip the wellhead a~d Recu~e the connector to i~. This threaded relationship between the lockdown screw 29 and th~ wellhead also permitæ rigidly locking the dog lnto the recess by ~otating ~he s~rew to move it inwardly until the ~pring sy~tem has been fully compressed, and then fully withdrawin~ the dog from the recessO by rotating the scr~w in the oth~r direction, when ~elease and removal of the connector i~ de~ired.
Figure 1 i8 a fragmentary v~r~ical ~ec~ion through a wellhead connector acco~ding to ~he presen~
~nv~ntion; and through th~ upp~r portion of a well~.ead onto which th@ connector ha6 been partially lDwered ~lgure 2 is a YieW taken along the line 2 2 of ~igure 1.
Figure 3 i~ a view like Figure 1 but showing the connector landed on th~ wellhead and secured thereto by o~e of it~ lockdown dog~.
Figure 4 i8 a vi~w like Figure 3 but showin~ the lockdown dog rigidly locked in its func~ional positionO
1~ ~igure 5 i~ a view lik~ Pigure 3 but showing the lockdown dog retracted for r~moving th~ connector from the wellhead.
Descri~ ~
A~ illustrated in the dEawing~, the pr~ferred embodlment of a wellhea~ connector 10 in accordance with the pre~ent invention comprises: an upper annular body 12 that, in use, i8 threaded~ bolt~d9 welded or otherwise attached ~o the lower end of a marine ri6er or other pipe or well element ~not ~hown) that i~ to be connected to the upper end or hub of a wellhead 14; an annular low~r body 16 that is secured to the lower end of ~he upper body 12 by, ~or example, a plurali~y of ci~cumf~ren~ially spaced RtUdS 18 and ~uts ~0 (only one o~ each 6hown); a~d a plurality (pre~erably eight) o~ lockdown screw assemblles 22 tonly one shown~ circumferentially spac~d about ~nd extending radially through th~ lower body lb. To correct possihle mi~alignment as the connector 10 i~ being lowered onto the w~llhead 14, the coflnector prefera~ly also in-~ 2--4--cludes a guide assembly compri~ing ~ plurality o~ axially-oriented guide fins 24 (only one ~hown) welded or o~her-wise fix~d to an annular ~r ame including an annul~r base member 26 and a sleev~-like ~ide member 28, and this guide assembly is ~ecured ~o the con~c~or lower body 16 by means of a plurality of circum~erentially spaced cap screw~ 30. An O-ri~g or other ~uitable annular ~eal means 32 provides B fluid-tight seal between ~he upper and lower bodies 12, 16, and when th~ connector i~ properly in-stalled on the wellhead 14 (Fig. 3-5) a pair of o-r ings 34~ 36 provlde a fluid tlght barrier between the upper body and the wellhead.
Each of the lockdown screw a~&emblies 22 com-pri~es a lockdown dog 38~ a dog retainer bolt 40 threaded into the dog 38, a lockdown Qcrew 42 with a central bore 42a through which the retainer bolt 40 extends and a counterbore 42b in which the retainer bolt head 40a re-sides, a back-up plug 44 threaded into the screw counter-bore 42b, and a plurality of annular Belleville ~prings 46 surrounding the shank of ~he retainer bolt 40 between ~he dag 38 and the lockdown screw 42. The retainer bolt head ~Oa i~ of lar~er diameter than the lock~own screw cen~ral bore 42a, and thu~ the annular radial surface 42c between the central bore 42a and ~he count~rbor~ ~b ~unction~ as a stop that prevents axial ~ovement of ~he bol~ 40 towards the center of the connector when the head 40a is against that surace 42co Accordingly, in its assembled condition the Belleville prings 46 oE th~ screw ~ssembly 22 are in ~ 5--comp~ss~lo~, ~he~r~by cons~an~ly bi~ . ing tbe dog 3R away ~rom ~he lockdown ~cr~w 42.
Wh~rl the lockdown ~cr~w a~s~mbly 22 i~ properly ln~talled in the connector 10 (Fi9u~ the lockdown 5 screw ~ extend~ throu~h a ~hreaded late~al po~t 4B in the low~x bod5~r 16, and the lnckâown aog 3B ~lid~bly r~aides ~ n an annular ~rooYe 5D ln ~he lnn2r ~urface 16a of the lswer body~ As the conanector 10 ~ low~red ~rom i~:5 position hown i~ Fi~ure 1 ~nto it8 landed po~ition shown in Figure 10 3 the dog 38, together with the bolt ~0, moves radially outward in re~p~nse to a camlTIing forc~ exerted on the dog's lower lnner tapered su~ace 3~a a~ this surface con-tact6 the upper outer edge 14a o~ the wellhe~d 14. This outward mov~nien~ o~ t~e dog 3B ~urther compresse~ ~he 15 BelleVille springs ~6, and these 6pring8 iEorce the dog inwardly into the annular ~ce~ 14b b~neath the wellhead hub ~lange 14c as th~ connecto3: i~ lar~ded (Figu~e 3~. In this land~d position the ~pring~ ~6 ~xert p~ssure against the dog 38 ~u~icient to prev~rt it ~om moving ou~wardly ~,~; 2û in re~ponse to~ force tending to lift the connector 19 of~ the wellhe~d 14, th~reby secu~ing th~ connector to ~he wellh~ad .
The oute~ d portlon ~2~ o~ th~ lockdown screw 42 is h~xayonal or othe~wi~e Ehaped to ac¢~pt a w~ench, 25 whe~eby the ficr~w 42 can be ~h~eaded inwa~dly into ~he position Ehown in ~igure 4, th~eby ully compr~sing the spr~ng~ 46 a~d rlgidly lock~ng the dog 38 in i~ w~llhead gripping po~$tion.
~6--In o~der to protect ~he exposed portion of the ~crew as~emJ~ly 22 ~rom damage or contamination, a cap 52 can be threaded onto the screw 42 until an O-ring 54 in the cap's forward end face e~tablishe~ a ~eal with the 5 outer ~ur~ace l~b of the lower body 16.
When removal o~ the connector 10 from the well-head 14 i8 desir~d, th~ prot~2ctive cap 52 i~ removed from the lockdswn ~crew 42 and ~he ~crew 42 ~hen backed out of the connector port 48 i~o the position shown in Figure 5, ther~by withdrawing the lockdow~ dog 38 ~rom the wellhead recess 14b an~ pulling it ully ~nto the connector groove 50. With the dog 38 in thi~ position~ the connector 10 can then be lif~ed ~ree of the wellhead 1~ ~or retrieval at the surface platform.
Background o~ the_Invention This inven-tion pertains to well apparatus, and more particularly to connectors for joining marine risers -to subsea wellheads.
When preparing ~o produce fluids from an o-Efshore we.l]. tha-t ha~ been completed with a subsea wellhead, a marine riser p.ipe is lowe.red from the surface platform and connec-ted to the wel].head to provide guidance and pro-tection for internally run production casing. In some instances the connection must be accomplished remotely and automatically, i.e., without the assistance of a diver, and the connector also must be capable of being rigidly yet releasably locked to the wellhead with diver assist. Such a connector must have an outside diameter small enough to pass through the platform jacket guides, an ability to adjust for any angular and/or horizontal misalignment with the wellhead, and an inside diameter la.rge enough to pass successive tie-back strings. These requirements seriously restrict the type and design of connector suitable for this purpose, and though many connectors are known none possess all of the required features.
Summary In its preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises an annular connector body that telescopes over the outside of a wellhead and is securable by a plurality of lock- - _ down screw assemblies that automatically engage and secu~ly ~rip ~h@ wellhead a~ ~he connec~or i~ lower~d upon lt, that can be locked rigidly in their gripping position by a diver, and ~hat can be unlocked and with~
S drawn ~rom their gripping position to facilitate removal of the connector ~rom the wellhead. Broadly con~idered, each o~ the scr*w as~emblie~ comprise~ a lockdown dog, a lockdown ~crew, a dog r~tainer ~lement ~ecured to the dog and sl~dably connected to the 6cr~w, an a ~pring 8ystem between the dog and th~ 8C~W to bia~ the dog toward~ it6 gripping position. The lockdown ~crew i8 threaded into a lateral port through the co~n~ctor body, ~hereby facil-itating position ad~ustment of the ~crew to enable the dog ~ to move outwardly against ~pring pre~ure su~ficiently to p~ss by the wellhead hub flange as the connector descends onto the wellhead, and then move suffici~ntly inwardly into the r~cess below the hub ~lange in response to spring pressure to grip the wellhead a~d Recu~e the connector to i~. This threaded relationship between the lockdown screw 29 and th~ wellhead also permitæ rigidly locking the dog lnto the recess by ~otating ~he s~rew to move it inwardly until the ~pring sy~tem has been fully compressed, and then fully withdrawin~ the dog from the recessO by rotating the scr~w in the oth~r direction, when ~elease and removal of the connector i~ de~ired.
Figure 1 i8 a fragmentary v~r~ical ~ec~ion through a wellhead connector acco~ding to ~he presen~
~nv~ntion; and through th~ upp~r portion of a well~.ead onto which th@ connector ha6 been partially lDwered ~lgure 2 is a YieW taken along the line 2 2 of ~igure 1.
Figure 3 i~ a view like Figure 1 but showing the connector landed on th~ wellhead and secured thereto by o~e of it~ lockdown dog~.
Figure 4 i8 a vi~w like Figure 3 but showin~ the lockdown dog rigidly locked in its func~ional positionO
1~ ~igure 5 i~ a view lik~ Pigure 3 but showing the lockdown dog retracted for r~moving th~ connector from the wellhead.
Descri~ ~
A~ illustrated in the dEawing~, the pr~ferred embodlment of a wellhea~ connector 10 in accordance with the pre~ent invention comprises: an upper annular body 12 that, in use, i8 threaded~ bolt~d9 welded or otherwise attached ~o the lower end of a marine ri6er or other pipe or well element ~not ~hown) that i~ to be connected to the upper end or hub of a wellhead 14; an annular low~r body 16 that is secured to the lower end of ~he upper body 12 by, ~or example, a plurali~y of ci~cumf~ren~ially spaced RtUdS 18 and ~uts ~0 (only one o~ each 6hown); a~d a plurality (pre~erably eight) o~ lockdown screw assemblles 22 tonly one shown~ circumferentially spac~d about ~nd extending radially through th~ lower body lb. To correct possihle mi~alignment as the connector 10 i~ being lowered onto the w~llhead 14, the coflnector prefera~ly also in-~ 2--4--cludes a guide assembly compri~ing ~ plurality o~ axially-oriented guide fins 24 (only one ~hown) welded or o~her-wise fix~d to an annular ~r ame including an annul~r base member 26 and a sleev~-like ~ide member 28, and this guide assembly is ~ecured ~o the con~c~or lower body 16 by means of a plurality of circum~erentially spaced cap screw~ 30. An O-ri~g or other ~uitable annular ~eal means 32 provides B fluid-tight seal between ~he upper and lower bodies 12, 16, and when th~ connector i~ properly in-stalled on the wellhead 14 (Fig. 3-5) a pair of o-r ings 34~ 36 provlde a fluid tlght barrier between the upper body and the wellhead.
Each of the lockdown screw a~&emblies 22 com-pri~es a lockdown dog 38~ a dog retainer bolt 40 threaded into the dog 38, a lockdown Qcrew 42 with a central bore 42a through which the retainer bolt 40 extends and a counterbore 42b in which the retainer bolt head 40a re-sides, a back-up plug 44 threaded into the screw counter-bore 42b, and a plurality of annular Belleville ~prings 46 surrounding the shank of ~he retainer bolt 40 between ~he dag 38 and the lockdown screw 42. The retainer bolt head ~Oa i~ of lar~er diameter than the lock~own screw cen~ral bore 42a, and thu~ the annular radial surface 42c between the central bore 42a and ~he count~rbor~ ~b ~unction~ as a stop that prevents axial ~ovement of ~he bol~ 40 towards the center of the connector when the head 40a is against that surace 42co Accordingly, in its assembled condition the Belleville prings 46 oE th~ screw ~ssembly 22 are in ~ 5--comp~ss~lo~, ~he~r~by cons~an~ly bi~ . ing tbe dog 3R away ~rom ~he lockdown ~cr~w 42.
Wh~rl the lockdown ~cr~w a~s~mbly 22 i~ properly ln~talled in the connector 10 (Fi9u~ the lockdown 5 screw ~ extend~ throu~h a ~hreaded late~al po~t 4B in the low~x bod5~r 16, and the lnckâown aog 3B ~lid~bly r~aides ~ n an annular ~rooYe 5D ln ~he lnn2r ~urface 16a of the lswer body~ As the conanector 10 ~ low~red ~rom i~:5 position hown i~ Fi~ure 1 ~nto it8 landed po~ition shown in Figure 10 3 the dog 38, together with the bolt ~0, moves radially outward in re~p~nse to a camlTIing forc~ exerted on the dog's lower lnner tapered su~ace 3~a a~ this surface con-tact6 the upper outer edge 14a o~ the wellhe~d 14. This outward mov~nien~ o~ t~e dog 3B ~urther compresse~ ~he 15 BelleVille springs ~6, and these 6pring8 iEorce the dog inwardly into the annular ~ce~ 14b b~neath the wellhead hub ~lange 14c as th~ connecto3: i~ lar~ded (Figu~e 3~. In this land~d position the ~pring~ ~6 ~xert p~ssure against the dog 38 ~u~icient to prev~rt it ~om moving ou~wardly ~,~; 2û in re~ponse to~ force tending to lift the connector 19 of~ the wellhe~d 14, th~reby secu~ing th~ connector to ~he wellh~ad .
The oute~ d portlon ~2~ o~ th~ lockdown screw 42 is h~xayonal or othe~wi~e Ehaped to ac¢~pt a w~ench, 25 whe~eby the ficr~w 42 can be ~h~eaded inwa~dly into ~he position Ehown in ~igure 4, th~eby ully compr~sing the spr~ng~ 46 a~d rlgidly lock~ng the dog 38 in i~ w~llhead gripping po~$tion.
~6--In o~der to protect ~he exposed portion of the ~crew as~emJ~ly 22 ~rom damage or contamination, a cap 52 can be threaded onto the screw 42 until an O-ring 54 in the cap's forward end face e~tablishe~ a ~eal with the 5 outer ~ur~ace l~b of the lower body 16.
When removal o~ the connector 10 from the well-head 14 i8 desir~d, th~ prot~2ctive cap 52 i~ removed from the lockdswn ~crew 42 and ~he ~crew 42 ~hen backed out of the connector port 48 i~o the position shown in Figure 5, ther~by withdrawing the lockdow~ dog 38 ~rom the wellhead recess 14b an~ pulling it ully ~nto the connector groove 50. With the dog 38 in thi~ position~ the connector 10 can then be lif~ed ~ree of the wellhead 1~ ~or retrieval at the surface platform.
Claims (17)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A pipe connector especially suitable for connecting a marine riser to a subsea wellhead, said connector comprising:
a) an annular connector body;
b) means for attaching the connector body to a marine riser; and c) a plurality of lockdown screw assemblies extending through radial ports in the connetor body, each of said screw assemblies comprising:
1) a lockdown dog;
2) a lockdown screw movably secured to its respective port in the connector body, said lockdown screw having a central bore and a counterbore communicating therewith;
3) a dog retainer secured to the lockdown dog and slidably extending through the central bore of the lockdown screw, said dog retainer being bolt-shaped with a shank and a head, said shank extending through said bore and said head residing in said counterbore; and 4) a spring system between the lockdown dog and the lockdown screw to bias the dog away from the screw.
a) an annular connector body;
b) means for attaching the connector body to a marine riser; and c) a plurality of lockdown screw assemblies extending through radial ports in the connetor body, each of said screw assemblies comprising:
1) a lockdown dog;
2) a lockdown screw movably secured to its respective port in the connector body, said lockdown screw having a central bore and a counterbore communicating therewith;
3) a dog retainer secured to the lockdown dog and slidably extending through the central bore of the lockdown screw, said dog retainer being bolt-shaped with a shank and a head, said shank extending through said bore and said head residing in said counterbore; and 4) a spring system between the lockdown dog and the lockdown screw to bias the dog away from the screw.
2. A pipe connector according to claim 1 including a backup plug threaded into said counterbore.
3. A pipe connector according to claim 1 wherein the dog retainer is threaded to the lockdown dog.
4. A pipe connector according to claim 1 wherein the lockdown dog includes a tapered surface to cooperate with an edge of a wellhead to establish a camming force tending to move the dog towards the lockdown screw.
5. A pipe connector according to claim 1 wherein the connector body has an inner annular groove, intersected by the radial ports, and wherein the lockdown dog resides slidably in said groove.
6. A pipe connector according to claim 1 wherein the spring system comprises a plurality of Belleville springs.
7. A pipe connector according to claim 1 wherein the connector body comprises an upper body member, a lower body member releasably secured to said upper body member, and means for establishing a pressure seal between said upper and lower body members.
8. A pipe connector according to claim 7 wherein the radial ports extend through the lower body element.
9. A pipe connector according to claim 1 including guide means connected to the connector body for correcting misalignment of said connector with respect to a wellhead onto which it is being lowered.
10. A pipe connector according to claim 1 including a protective cap for the lockdown screw, said cap and screw having cooperative means to removably install said cap over an end portion of said screw.
11. A pipe connector according to claim 1 wherein the lockdown screw includes means for cooperating with a wrench to rotate said screw with respect to the connector body.
12. A pipe connector according to claim 1 including means for establishing a pressure seal between the connector and a wellhead.
13. A lockdown screw assembly for use in a marine riser connector to releasably secure said connector to a subsea wellhead, said screw assembly comprising:
a) a lockdown dog;
b) a lockdown screw having a central bore and a counterbore communicating therewith;
c) a dog retainer secured to the lockdown dog and slidably extending through the central bore of the lockdown screw, said dog retainer being bolt-shaped with a shank and a head, said head residing in said counterbore and said shank extending through said bore; and d) a spring system between the dog and the screw for biasing the dog away from the screw.
a) a lockdown dog;
b) a lockdown screw having a central bore and a counterbore communicating therewith;
c) a dog retainer secured to the lockdown dog and slidably extending through the central bore of the lockdown screw, said dog retainer being bolt-shaped with a shank and a head, said head residing in said counterbore and said shank extending through said bore; and d) a spring system between the dog and the screw for biasing the dog away from the screw.
14. A lockdown screw assembly according to claim 13 including a backup plug threaded into said counterbore.
15. A lockdown screw assembly according to claim 13 wherein the lockdown dog and the dog retainer are threadedly interconnected.
16. A lockdown screw assembly according to claim 13 wherein the spring system comprises a plurality of Belleville springs.
17. A lockdown screw assembly according to claim 13 including a protective cap with means for releasably securing said cap to one end of the lockdown screw.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US491,109 | 1983-05-03 | ||
| US06/491,109 US4606557A (en) | 1983-05-03 | 1983-05-03 | Subsea wellhead connector |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1224410A true CA1224410A (en) | 1987-07-21 |
Family
ID=23950825
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000453423A Expired CA1224410A (en) | 1983-05-03 | 1984-05-02 | Subsea wellhead connector |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4606557A (en) |
| BR (1) | BR8402077A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1224410A (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2545532B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2139306B (en) |
| NO (1) | NO841751L (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2017147667A1 (en) | 2016-03-02 | 2017-09-08 | Fmc Technologies Do Brasil Ltda | Hydraulic wellhead connector |
| WO2018191803A1 (en) | 2017-04-18 | 2018-10-25 | Fmc Technologies Do Brasil Ltda | Hydraulic connector and method for achieving a hydraulic conection |
Families Citing this family (34)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4830121A (en) * | 1988-05-12 | 1989-05-16 | Vetco Gray Inc. | Break-out joint with selective disabler |
| US5149143A (en) * | 1989-07-20 | 1992-09-22 | National-Oilwell | Connector assembly with detachable sleeve |
| US5141257A (en) * | 1991-09-23 | 1992-08-25 | Cooper Industries, Inc. | High preload mechanical connector |
| US5951066A (en) * | 1998-02-23 | 1999-09-14 | Erc Industries, Inc. | Connecting system for wellhead components |
| US6199914B1 (en) | 1998-06-09 | 2001-03-13 | Duhn Oil Tool, Inc. | Drilling quick connectors |
| US6328343B1 (en) * | 1998-08-14 | 2001-12-11 | Abb Vetco Gray, Inc. | Riser dog screw with fail safe mechanism |
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-
1983
- 1983-05-03 US US06/491,109 patent/US4606557A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1984
- 1984-05-02 NO NO841751A patent/NO841751L/en unknown
- 1984-05-02 CA CA000453423A patent/CA1224410A/en not_active Expired
- 1984-05-02 GB GB08411212A patent/GB2139306B/en not_active Expired
- 1984-05-03 FR FR8406862A patent/FR2545532B1/en not_active Expired
- 1984-05-03 BR BR8402077A patent/BR8402077A/en unknown
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2017147667A1 (en) | 2016-03-02 | 2017-09-08 | Fmc Technologies Do Brasil Ltda | Hydraulic wellhead connector |
| US10767434B2 (en) | 2016-03-02 | 2020-09-08 | Fmc Technologies Do Brasil Ltda | Hydraulic wellhead connector |
| WO2018191803A1 (en) | 2017-04-18 | 2018-10-25 | Fmc Technologies Do Brasil Ltda | Hydraulic connector and method for achieving a hydraulic conection |
| US10975652B2 (en) | 2017-04-18 | 2021-04-13 | Fmc Technologies Do Brasil Ltda | Hydraulic connector and process for performing hydraulic connection |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2139306A (en) | 1984-11-07 |
| FR2545532A1 (en) | 1984-11-09 |
| BR8402077A (en) | 1984-12-11 |
| NO841751L (en) | 1984-11-05 |
| US4606557A (en) | 1986-08-19 |
| FR2545532B1 (en) | 1987-11-20 |
| GB8411212D0 (en) | 1984-06-06 |
| GB2139306B (en) | 1986-11-05 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry |