EP0515742A1 - Tieback adapter for a subsea well - Google Patents

Tieback adapter for a subsea well Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0515742A1
EP0515742A1 EP91304875A EP91304875A EP0515742A1 EP 0515742 A1 EP0515742 A1 EP 0515742A1 EP 91304875 A EP91304875 A EP 91304875A EP 91304875 A EP91304875 A EP 91304875A EP 0515742 A1 EP0515742 A1 EP 0515742A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tieback
mandrels
mandrel
casing string
hanger
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP91304875A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Keith Garbett
David J. Jones
Brian Saunders
Stephen C. Smith
James P. Mcever
Jerry D. Smith
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cooper Industries LLC
Original Assignee
Cooper Industries LLC
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Cooper Industries LLC filed Critical Cooper Industries LLC
Priority to EP91304875A priority Critical patent/EP0515742A1/en
Priority to CA002069179A priority patent/CA2069179A1/en
Priority to AU17138/92A priority patent/AU1713892A/en
Priority to NO92922102A priority patent/NO922102L/no
Publication of EP0515742A1 publication Critical patent/EP0515742A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • E21B33/04—Casing heads; Suspending casings or tubings in well heads
    • E21B33/043—Casing heads; Suspending casings or tubings in well heads specially adapted for underwater well heads
    • 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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a tieback adapter with a metal seal to be used with a subsea well to complete the connection from the subsea well to the platform and provide a spacing out or adjusting to the correct length of the tieback casing string so that it may be suitably landed in a short head.
  • a tieback adapter with a metal seal to be used with a subsea well to complete the connection from the subsea well to the platform and provide a spacing out or adjusting to the correct length of the tieback casing string so that it may be suitably landed in a short head.
  • Prior to the present invention it has been the practice to make such length adjustment in the tieback casing string at the platform by tensioning the string and then supporting it with slips in its extended position. If it is too long it may then be cut to the desired length.
  • U. S. Patent No. 4,872,708 discloses a subsea tieback connector which is used to seat in the subsea wellhead and to receive subsequently run conductor strings which are latched into position by the split latching ring.
  • the present invention provides an improved tieback system for a subsea well including an improved tieback adapter for a tieback casing string connecting from a platform to a subsea well.
  • the tieback adapter connects to the hanger and to the top end of the inner tieback casing string and includes two telescoping tubular mandrels and an adjustable means for connecting between the mandrels to provide an adjustment of the length of the inner tieback casing string and to allow landing of the hanger.
  • a tool is used for moving said hanger relative to said head and said inner tieback casing string and for tensioning the inner tieback casing string.
  • the connecting means has a ratcheting latch means allowing such relative movement and means for preventing movement of the inner tieback casing string relative to said hanger against upward loads.
  • the improved tieback adapter includes a means for providing a metal-to-metal seal to ensure that the pressure from the interior of the inner tieback casing string does not reach the annulus surrounding such string and within the outer tieback casing string.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for spacing out a tieback casing string with the use of a hanger.
  • Another object is to provide an improved tieback adapter which allows the precise load for pre-tensioning a tieback string.
  • a further object is to provide an improved tieback adapter with metal-to-metal seals for isolating the internal and external pressures with respect to the inner tieback casing string.
  • Still another object is to provide an improved tieback adapter which allows the releasing of the tieback casing string tension prior to unlatching the subsea wellhead or mudline suspension tieback tool.
  • a still further object is to provide a tieback adapter which can be secured against upward thrusts.
  • system 10 includes outer tieback casing string 12 which is connected at its lower end of the subsea well (not shown) and at its upper end to head 14 which has internal upwardly facing landing coat 16 therein, inner tieback casing string 18 which also connects at its lower end to the subsea well, improved tieback adapter 20 connected to the upper end of inner tieback casing string 18 and is also connected to the lower end of hanger 22 at the upper end of the adapter 20.
  • Hanger 22 includes external landing shoulder 24 which is adapted to engage landing seat 16 in head 14 when properly landed.
  • Tieback adapter 20 includes upper tubular mandrel 26 and lower tubular mandrel 28, means 30 for releasably latching the tubular mandrels 26 and 28 together to allow inward telescoping movement between the two tubular mandrels and means 32 for providing a metal-to-metal seal between said tubular mandrels 26 and 28.
  • Upper tubular mandrel 26 includes skirt 34 secured to its lower end as by threading.
  • End ring 36 is secured to the lower end of skirt 34 and has an inner diameter which slides over the exterior of inner tieback casing string as shown.
  • the upper portion of end ring 36 provide upwardly facing shoulder 38 which supports lower tubular mandrel 28 during initial running and during retrieval.
  • skirt 34 is provided with threads 40 which have upper flat surfaces 42 and lower tapered surfaces 44.
  • Upper tubular mandrel 26 includes inner sealing surface 46 and includes lower depending seal rim 48 which is adapted to seal against exterior sealing surface 50 on the exterior of inner tubular member 28.
  • Upper end of lower tubular mandrel 28 includes upwardly extending sealing rim 52 which is adapted to seal against inner sealing surface 46 on upper tubular mandrel 26.
  • Exterior sealing surface 50 on lower tubular member 28 has an outer diameter above external projection 54 which slides within lower upper tubular mandrel 26 as shown. Sealing rim 52 is biased radially outward to ensure its sealing engagement with sealing surface 46 and sealing rim 48 is biased radially inward to ensure its sealing engagement with sealing surface 50.
  • lower tubular mandrel 28 includes recess 56 which includes tapered lands 58 and 60 which have tapered sides and lower square sided land 62.
  • Split rings 64 and 66 are biased outwardly and are positioned in recess 56 with a space therebetween to accommodate split thrust ring 68 which is biased inwardly.
  • Rings 64 and 66 include threads 70 on their exterior surfaces to mate with and coact with threads 40 on the interior of skirt 34 when mandrels 26 and 28 have been telescoped inwardly to prevent an outward telescoping return.
  • the open ends of split rings 64, as shown in FIGURE 3 are maintained in their desired annular position by band 72 which is secured on the interior of skirt 34 and extends the length of threads 40.
  • the lower interior of lower tubular mandrel 28 is threaded onto the upper end of inner tieback casing string 18 and includes recesses 74 a short distance above the upper end of such connection.
  • sleeve 76 is retained in position protecting sealing surface 46 from damaged.
  • Sleeve 76 is split and is held in place by upper ring 78 and lower ring 80 which are pinned to sleeve 76 to hold it in its position protecting sealing surface 46 and when the telescoping movement begins, the pins holding rings 78 and 80 to sleeve 76 are sheared, to allow all three components to move radially inward into the recess 82 in tool 84 as hereinafter explained.
  • the pinning of rings 78 and 80 span the space in split sleeve 76 so that when released all three which are biased inward will move to such inward position.
  • adapter 20 has been connected to the upper end of inner tieback casing string 18 and to hanger 22 and the assembly is within head 14 and outer tieback casing string 12.
  • tool 84 which is a tensioning and testing tool has been lowered into the position illustrated.
  • Actuator 86 includes upper tubular housing 88 and outer sleeve 90 with annular chamber 92 defined between housing 88 and sleeve 90 in which annular piston 94 is positioned.
  • Suitable communication such as passage 96, is provided to conduct fluid under pressure into chamber 92 above piston 94.
  • Tubular housing 88 extends to a level below recesses 74 and carries engaging lugs 97 in radial openings 98.
  • Bore 100 extends through upper housing 88 and lower tubular housing 102 of tool 84 and communicates with bore 104 in the lower portion of lower tubular housing 102.
  • Bore 104 has a smaller diameter than bore 100 and extends from a short distance above openings 98 to the lower end of lower tubular member 102.
  • Camming plug 106 has its flanged head 108 sealed within bore 100 and includes reduced section below head 108 fitting within lower bore 104 and extending to tapered section 110 which is suitable when plug 106 is moved to the position shown in FIGURE 1B to engage and the inner ends of lugs 97 and force them outward into engagement within recesses 74. Stop ring 112 is secured to the lower end of camming plug 106 and engages the lower end of lower tubular housing 102 when camming plug 106 is in its upper position.
  • Tool 84 also includes test passage 114 which communicates through port 116 to the interior of lower tubular mandrel 28 above resilient seals 118 carried on the exterior of tool 84 and below upper seals 120 carried by ring 122 surrounding the exterior of the upper end of lower tubular mandrel 28. This pressure will be applied directly to test the metal-to-metal seal between sealing rim 52 on lower tubular mandrel 28 and inner sealing surface 46 on upper tubular mandrel 26 after tieback adapter has been moved to its set position as shown in FIGURES 2A, 2B and 2C.
  • Tool 84 also includes passage 113 which communicates through port 115 into bore 100 below head 108. This passage can be used to conduct pressure fluids below head 108 to cause plug 106 to move upwardly and allow lugs 97 to retract from their engagement within recesses 74.
  • tool 84 proceeds with plug 106 being moved downwardly within bore 100 and 104 responsive to pressure supplied through bore 100, and this causes lugs 97 to be forced into recesses 74.
  • the position of the components after completion of the operation of tool 84 are shown in FIGURES 2A, 2B and 2C. Thereafter, pressure is applied to passage 96 causing relative movement of piston 94 downwardly and lower tubular 28 mandrel upward. This moves hanger 22 onto landing seal 16 in bead 14 and thereafter creates an upward force on inner tieback casing string 18.
  • tool 126 shown in FIGURE 6 is used.
  • Tool 126 has substantially the same lower tubular housing 128 as housing 102 but includes a simple tubular mandrel 130 therefor. No actuator is provided with tool 126.
  • FIGURE 6 parts which are the same as previously described have been given the same numbers and changed parts are described and given new numbers. The retrieval is accomplished by landing tool 126 within hanger 22 and adapter 20, setting lugs 97, exerting a tension on string 18 to relieve the load on the ratcheting latch means and thereafter rotation of hanger 22 will cause the unthreading of the connection between upper and lower tubular housings 88 and 102.
  • tieback system 150 is substantially the same as system 10 previously described and the similar parts are given the same numerical designations as those used with respect to system 10.
  • Metal-to-metal sealing means 152 between upper and lower tubular mandrels 26 and 28 includes wedge shaped ring 154 which is positioned between tapered surface 156 on the exterior of lower tubular mandrel 28 and cylindrical surface 158 which is on the interior of the lower end of upper tubular mandrel 26.
  • Setting sleeve 160 is positioned on the interior of upper tubular mandrel 26 and is threaded into threaded surface 162 on the exterior of the lower tubular mandrel 28.
  • Setting sleeve 160 includes lower rim 164 which engages wedge seal ring 154 and when properly rotated will force ring 154 downward in the narrowing space between surfaces 156 and 158 to force it into tight sealing engagement therebetween. This provides an improved metal-to-metal seal to ensure that there is no communication between the annulus between outer tieback casing string and inner tieback casing string and the interior of inner tieback casing string. As is well known, the pressure which is allowed to be exerted upon outer tieback casing string is much lower than the pressure which is allowed to be exerted within inner tieback casing string.
  • tool 170 is used for this rotation and includes annular actuator 172 which includes pins 174 projecting inward in the lower portion of piston 176 into slots 177 in upper tubular housing 178 of tool 170.
  • This causes a relative rotation between torque drive 180 which is mounted on sleeve which is held by key and slot structures to move with piston 176 which is rotated by the engagement of pins 174 in slots 177.

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)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Medicines That Contain Protein Lipid Enzymes And Other Medicines (AREA)
  • Load-Engaging Elements For Cranes (AREA)
EP91304875A 1991-05-30 1991-05-30 Tieback adapter for a subsea well Withdrawn EP0515742A1 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP91304875A EP0515742A1 (en) 1991-05-30 1991-05-30 Tieback adapter for a subsea well
CA002069179A CA2069179A1 (en) 1991-05-30 1992-05-21 Tieback adapter for a subsea well
AU17138/92A AU1713892A (en) 1991-05-30 1992-05-26 Tieback adapter for a subsea well
NO92922102A NO922102L (no) 1991-05-30 1992-05-27 Tilknytningsutstyr for undervanns broenn

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP91304875A EP0515742A1 (en) 1991-05-30 1991-05-30 Tieback adapter for a subsea well

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0515742A1 true EP0515742A1 (en) 1992-12-02

Family

ID=8208292

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91304875A Withdrawn EP0515742A1 (en) 1991-05-30 1991-05-30 Tieback adapter for a subsea well

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0515742A1 (no)
AU (1) AU1713892A (no)
CA (1) CA2069179A1 (no)
NO (1) NO922102L (no)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2503559A (en) * 2012-05-08 2014-01-01 Dril Quip Inc Hybrid-tieback seal assembly
US9745817B2 (en) 2014-09-25 2017-08-29 Vetco Gray Inc. Internal tieback with outer diameter sealing capability

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3721292A (en) * 1971-08-05 1973-03-20 Vetco Offshore Ind Inc Marine riser liner apparatus and methods of installing such apparatus
US4465134A (en) * 1982-07-26 1984-08-14 Hughes Tool Company Tie-back connection apparatus and method
GB2165609A (en) * 1984-10-16 1986-04-16 Vetco Offshore Ind Inc Ratchet pipe connector
EP0379376A1 (en) * 1989-01-18 1990-07-25 National Oilwell (U.K.) Limited A Hanger

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3721292A (en) * 1971-08-05 1973-03-20 Vetco Offshore Ind Inc Marine riser liner apparatus and methods of installing such apparatus
US4465134A (en) * 1982-07-26 1984-08-14 Hughes Tool Company Tie-back connection apparatus and method
GB2165609A (en) * 1984-10-16 1986-04-16 Vetco Offshore Ind Inc Ratchet pipe connector
EP0379376A1 (en) * 1989-01-18 1990-07-25 National Oilwell (U.K.) Limited A Hanger

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2503559A (en) * 2012-05-08 2014-01-01 Dril Quip Inc Hybrid-tieback seal assembly
US9422786B2 (en) 2012-05-08 2016-08-23 Dril-Quip, Inc. Hybrid-tieback seal assembly
GB2503559B (en) * 2012-05-08 2019-07-24 Dril Quip Inc Hybrid-tieback seal assembly
NO345537B1 (no) * 2012-05-08 2021-04-06 Dril Quip Inc Tetningssammenstilling med hybridtilbakekobling
US9745817B2 (en) 2014-09-25 2017-08-29 Vetco Gray Inc. Internal tieback with outer diameter sealing capability

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO922102L (no) 1992-12-01
AU1713892A (en) 1992-12-03
NO922102D0 (no) 1992-05-27
CA2069179A1 (en) 1992-12-01

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