US20130341051A1 - Metal to metal packoff for use in a wellhead assembly - Google Patents

Metal to metal packoff for use in a wellhead assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
US20130341051A1
US20130341051A1 US13/530,943 US201213530943A US2013341051A1 US 20130341051 A1 US20130341051 A1 US 20130341051A1 US 201213530943 A US201213530943 A US 201213530943A US 2013341051 A1 US2013341051 A1 US 2013341051A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
bore
inner tubular
packoff
tubular
wellhead assembly
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.)
Abandoned
Application number
US13/530,943
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
William Thompson Higgins
John E. Nelson
Chau Hoang
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.)
Vetco Gray LLC
Original Assignee
Vetco Gray 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 Vetco Gray LLC filed Critical Vetco Gray LLC
Priority to US13/530,943 priority Critical patent/US20130341051A1/en
Assigned to VETCO GRAY INC. reassignment VETCO GRAY INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HIGGINS, William Thompson, HOANG, CHAU, NELSON, JOHN E.
Priority to CN201380032888.0A priority patent/CN104379867A/zh
Priority to PCT/US2013/046955 priority patent/WO2013192485A2/fr
Priority to EP13742065.9A priority patent/EP2864578A2/fr
Priority to CA2876493A priority patent/CA2876493A1/fr
Publication of US20130341051A1 publication Critical patent/US20130341051A1/en
Abandoned 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

Definitions

  • the invention relates generally to wellhead assemblies and in particular to a system and method for sealing between tubulars in a wellhead assembly.
  • Wellheads used in the production of hydrocarbons extracted from subterranean formations typically comprise a wellhead assembly attached at the upper end of a wellbore formed into a hydrocarbon producing formation.
  • Wellhead assemblies usually provide support hangers for suspending production tubing and casing into the wellbore.
  • the casing lines the wellbore, thereby isolating the wellbore from the surrounding formation.
  • the tubing typically lies concentric within the casing and provides a conduit therein for producing the hydrocarbons entrained within the formation.
  • Wellhead assemblies also typically include a wellhead housing adjacent where the casing and tubing enter the wellbore, and a production tree atop the wellhead housing.
  • the production tree is commonly used to control and distribute the fluids produced from the wellbore and selectively provide fluid communication or access to the tubing, casing, and/or annuluses between the tubing and casing.
  • Valves assemblies are typically provided within wellhead production trees for controlling fluid flow across a wellhead, such as production flow from the borehole or circulating fluid flow in and out of a wellhead.
  • the inner wellhead member may be a tubing hanger that supports a string of tubing extending into the well for the flow of production fluid.
  • the tubing hanger lands in an outer wellhead member, which may be a wellhead housing, a production tree, or a tubing head.
  • a packoff or seal seals between the tubing hanger and the outer wellhead member.
  • the inner wellhead member might he an isolation sleeve secured to a production tree.
  • a wellhead assembly that includes an outer tubular having a bore that defines a bore wall, an inner tubular insertable into the bore and selectively set in a landed position in the bore, a packoff on the inner tubular, and a taper strategically located the bore.
  • the packoff When the inner tubular is inserted into the bore, the packoff is in sealing contact with the bore wall when the inner tubular is proximate the landed position, and the packoff is set radially inward from the bore wall when the inner tubular is above a location proximate the landed position.
  • the packoff includes an energizing ring with a protrusion, a seal element having spaced apart legs that terminate on opposing sides of the protrusion, and a retaining nut threaded to the inner tubular and on a side of the seal element distal from the energizing ring.
  • the seal elements a generally annular member.
  • One of the legs can be spaced radially outward from the protrusion when the when the inner tubular is above a location proximate the landed position. Further, one of the legs may be wedged between the taper and the protrusion when the when the inner tubular is proximate the landed position.
  • one of the legs projects radially outward to define a seal between the outer tubular and the seal element and another one of the legs projects radially inward to define a seal between the inner tubular and seal element.
  • the inner tubular is a tubing hanger and the outer tubular is a tithing head.
  • the bore wall projects radially inward at an axial location below the taper to define a shoulder on which the inner tubular lands.
  • a wellhead assembly includes an outer tubular having an axial bore, a taper formed in the bore where a surface of the bore projects radially inward, a shoulder formed in the bore below the taper, an inner tubular landed on the shoulder, and a packoff.
  • the packoff has an outer radius in sealing contact with the taper and that is set radially inward from a portion of the bore between the taper and an upper end of the bore.
  • An inner radius of the packoff is in sealing contact with the inner tubular.
  • the packoff includes an energizing ring, a seal element with legs spaced apart by the energizing ring, and a retaining nut for urging the seal element against the energizing ring, and beads on the legs that form a seal against the inner and outer tubulars.
  • the seal element can be metal.
  • the energizing ring can also include a protrusion on which the legs are supported.
  • the inner tubular is a tubing hanger and the outer tubular is a tubing head.
  • One embodiment of the method includes providing an inner tubular having a packoff circumscribing a portion of the inner tubular, providing an outer tubular having a bore with a taper so that a portion of the bore above the taper has a radius greater than a radius of the packoff, and a portion of the bore below the taper has a radius less than the packoff, and sealing between the packoff and the bore by inserting the inner tubular into the outer tubular at least to a depth that the packoff contacts the portion of the bore having a radius less than the packoff.
  • the method can further include landing the inner tubular in the outer tubular.
  • the packoff includes an energizing ring with a protrusion, a seal element having spaced apart legs that terminate on opposing sides of the protrusion, a soft metal coating on the seal element, and a retaining nut threaded to the inner tubular and on a side of the seal element distal from the energizing ring.
  • FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an example of a portion of a tubing hanger having a packoff in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the tubing hanger of FIG. 1 landing in a tubing head in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the tubing hanger landed in the tubing head of FIG. 2 in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a side partial sectional view of an example embodiment of the tubing hanger of FIG. 1 set in a wellhead assembly in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 An example embodiment of a tubing hanger 10 is shown in side sectional view in FIG. 1 , wherein the tubing hanger 10 includes a packoff assembly 12 .
  • the packoff assembly 12 is made up of an energizing ring 14 that is a generally annular member and having a base 16 with a substantially rectangular cross-section.
  • a lower member 18 Depending downward from the base 16 is a lower member 18 that in the example of FIG. 1 has a width less than the width of the base 16 and tapers axially inward with distance away from the base 16 .
  • the lower member 18 defines a protrusion that extends into a seal element 20 shown disposed on an outer surface of the tubing hanger 10 and just below the energizing ring 14 .
  • the seal element 20 which is a generally U-shaped member, has a base 22 which is generally rectangular in cross-section and a pair of legs 24 that project upward and on opposing lateral sides of the lower member 18 .
  • the leg 24 shown facing outward from an axis A X of the tubing hanger 10 is spaced apart from the energizing ring 14 to define a gap 25 between the leg 24 and energizing ring 14 .
  • the spaced apart legs 24 define a space 26 .
  • beads 28 On opposing outer surfaces of the legs 24 are beads 28 that are raised portions on the inner and outer radial surfaces of the seal element 20 and as will be described in more detail below, enhanced formation of a sealing surface between the seal element 20 and another solid member.
  • a group 30 is provided on the outer circumference of the tubing hanger 10 in which the energizing ring 16 and seal element 20 is disposed.
  • a lower groove 32 also on the outer surface of the tubing hanger 10 extends downward from a lower end of the upper groove 30 and as shown in FIG. 1 has a reduced radius over that of the upper groove 30 .
  • Threads 34 extend along the face of the lower groove 32 and provide connection between the tubing hanger 10 and a retaining nut 36 shown threaded into placed within the lower groove 32 .
  • the retaining nut 36 provides axial support for the seal element 20 .
  • FIG. 2 illustrates in side sectional view, one example of the tubing hanger 10 being inserted within a tubing head 40 for assembly of a wellhead assembly ( FIG. 4 ).
  • the outer radial surface of the tubing hanger 10 is shown sliding into a bowl 42 formed in the tubing head 40 .
  • a shoulder 44 is defined at a lower end of the bowl 42 where the inner surface 46 of the bowl 42 extends radially inward towards axis A X .
  • Above the shoulder 44 is a taper 48 that is defined where the inner surface 46 depends radially inward for an axial distance.
  • the beads 28 on the outer leg 24 are set radially inward from the inner surface 46 as long as the beads 28 are at a location above the taper 48 .
  • the tubing hanger 10 has landed within the tubing head 40 and the lower lateral edge of the nut 36 is being supported on the shoulder 44 .
  • the respective locations of the taper 48 and ridges 28 are strategically disposed so that when tubing hanger 10 is in the landed position of FIG. 3 , the ridges 28 are at a depth where the inner surface 46 is set radially inward so that the beads 28 are in compressive contact against the inner surface 46 .
  • a sealing surface is formed between the seal element 20 and inner surface 46 , the sealing surface against the tubing head 40 , in combination with a sealing surface between beads 28 and groove 30 defines a sealing barrier between the tubing hanger 10 and tubing head 40 .
  • the gap 25 FIG. 1
  • the lower member 18 provides support for legs 24 .
  • FIG. 4 A side partial sectional view of an example of a wellhead assembly 50 having the packoff assembly 12 is illustrated in FIG. 4 .
  • the wellhead assembly 50 is made up of a production tree 50 set above the tubing head 40 and over a bore hole 54 .
  • the bore hole 54 extends through subterranean formation 56 .
  • a string of tubing 58 shown mounted on a lower end of tubing hanger 10 and projecting into the bore hole 54 .
  • a soft metal such as silver
  • the seal element 20 may be set over the seal element 20 provide a lubricating coating for when the tubing hanger 10 is being landed within the tubing head 40 .
  • the packoff assembly 12 ( FIG. 1 ) is formed onto the tubing hanger 10 by first sliding the energizing ring 14 into upper groove 30 and then adding the annular seal element 20 into upper groove 30 so that the lower member 18 extends between the legs 24 for providing support for the legs 24 .
  • the outer leg 24 of the seal element is sized to have an outer circumference just less than the inner circumference of the radius of the inner surface 46 so that during landing, up until the seal element 20 contacts the taper 48 , the seal element 20 is spaced radially inward from the inner surface 46 . Reducing the amount of sliding contact between the seal element 20 and inner surface 46 reduces chances of damage before the tubing hanger 10 is landed within the tubing head 40 . After installing the seal element 20 , the retainer nut 36 is screwed into place thereby locking the packoff assembly 12 to the tubing hanger 10 .
  • the strategic location of the taper 40 engages the seal element 20 to create the seal between the tubing hanger 10 and tubing head 40 .
  • the energizing ring 14 may lift slightly during engagement of the seal element 20 with inner surface 46 , the energizing ring 14 provides a backup force for legs 22 and prevent legs 24 from collapsing.
  • outer diameter of the seal element 24 is electively changed to fit a particular size of the bowl 42 .
  • the seal element 24 includes a flexible material, such as metal, so that when landing in tubing heads having asymmetric bowls 42 , the elasticity and flexibility of the seal element 24 can from a full seal around the entire circumference of the interface between the tubing hanger 10 and tubing head 40 .
  • a seal element 24 made from a metallic material over that of an elastomer is the ability to be deployed in lower depth but higher temperature wells.

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)
  • Excavating Of Shafts Or Tunnels (AREA)
US13/530,943 2012-06-22 2012-06-22 Metal to metal packoff for use in a wellhead assembly Abandoned US20130341051A1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/530,943 US20130341051A1 (en) 2012-06-22 2012-06-22 Metal to metal packoff for use in a wellhead assembly
CN201380032888.0A CN104379867A (zh) 2012-06-22 2013-06-21 用于井口组件中的金属对金属封隔件
PCT/US2013/046955 WO2013192485A2 (fr) 2012-06-22 2013-06-21 Garniture d'étanchéité métal sur métal destinée à être utilisée dans un ensemble tête de puits
EP13742065.9A EP2864578A2 (fr) 2012-06-22 2013-06-21 Garniture d'étanchéité métal sur métal destinée à être utilisée dans un ensemble tête de puits
CA2876493A CA2876493A1 (fr) 2012-06-22 2013-06-21 Garniture d'etancheite metal sur metal destinee a etre utilisee dans un ensemble tete de puits

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/530,943 US20130341051A1 (en) 2012-06-22 2012-06-22 Metal to metal packoff for use in a wellhead assembly

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20130341051A1 true US20130341051A1 (en) 2013-12-26

Family

ID=48875738

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US13/530,943 Abandoned US20130341051A1 (en) 2012-06-22 2012-06-22 Metal to metal packoff for use in a wellhead assembly

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US20130341051A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP2864578A2 (fr)
CN (1) CN104379867A (fr)
CA (1) CA2876493A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2013192485A2 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20170152722A1 (en) * 2015-12-01 2017-06-01 Cameron International Corporation Wellhead assembly with internal casing hanger pack-off
CN113187425A (zh) * 2021-04-26 2021-07-30 建湖县鸿达阀门管件有限公司 一种超高压超高温高抗硫hh级采气井口装置
US11761291B2 (en) 2017-04-12 2023-09-19 Aker Solutions As Wellhead arrangement and method

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5735344A (en) * 1995-01-26 1998-04-07 Fmc Corporation Tubing hanger with hydraulically energized metal annular seal with new design tubing hanger running tool
US20100148447A1 (en) * 2008-12-17 2010-06-17 Seal Science And Technology, Llc Bi-directional wellhead seal

Family Cites Families (9)

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US3068027A (en) * 1958-10-13 1962-12-11 Mcevoy Co Supporting apparatus
US4131287A (en) * 1977-07-11 1978-12-26 Exxon Production Research Company Annular seal
US4298064A (en) * 1980-02-11 1981-11-03 Armco Inc. Remotely operated coupling and well devices employing same
US4790572A (en) * 1987-12-28 1988-12-13 Vetco Gray Inc. Tapered wedge packoff assembly for a casing hanger
US5174376A (en) * 1990-12-21 1992-12-29 Fmc Corporation Metal-to-metal annulus packoff for a subsea wellhead system
CN2821142Y (zh) * 2005-06-07 2006-09-27 重庆新泰机械有限责任公司 高抗硫采油、气井口装置
CN201650211U (zh) * 2009-10-19 2010-11-24 重庆新泰机械有限责任公司 多功能四通
CN201568005U (zh) * 2009-12-30 2010-09-01 中国石油天然气集团公司 一种金属到金属密封回接连接器
CN202055793U (zh) * 2011-04-20 2011-11-30 盐城市阳标石油机械有限公司 一种金属硬密封套管头

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5735344A (en) * 1995-01-26 1998-04-07 Fmc Corporation Tubing hanger with hydraulically energized metal annular seal with new design tubing hanger running tool
US20100148447A1 (en) * 2008-12-17 2010-06-17 Seal Science And Technology, Llc Bi-directional wellhead seal

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
For the American Heritage Dictionary definition: on. (n.d.) American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. (2011). Retrieved July 14 2015 from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/on *

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20170152722A1 (en) * 2015-12-01 2017-06-01 Cameron International Corporation Wellhead assembly with internal casing hanger pack-off
CN108699896A (zh) * 2015-12-01 2018-10-23 卡梅伦技术有限公司 带有内套管悬挂器封隔器的井口组件
US10669803B2 (en) * 2015-12-01 2020-06-02 Cameron Technologies Limited Wellhead assembly with internal casing hanger pack-off
US11761291B2 (en) 2017-04-12 2023-09-19 Aker Solutions As Wellhead arrangement and method
CN113187425A (zh) * 2021-04-26 2021-07-30 建湖县鸿达阀门管件有限公司 一种超高压超高温高抗硫hh级采气井口装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2876493A1 (fr) 2013-12-27
WO2013192485A3 (fr) 2014-07-31
EP2864578A2 (fr) 2015-04-29
CN104379867A (zh) 2015-02-25
WO2013192485A2 (fr) 2013-12-27

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: VETCO GRAY INC., TEXAS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:HIGGINS, WILLIAM THOMPSON;NELSON, JOHN E.;HOANG, CHAU;REEL/FRAME:028431/0065

Effective date: 20120529

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION