Abstract: A tubing hanger lands in a tubular outer wellhead member and supports a string of production tubing. The tubing hanger has a production passage for communicating with the interior of the production tubing and an annulus passage for communicating with a tubing annulus on the exterior of the production tubing. An access port leads from the annulus passage to an exterior portion of the body for communicating the tubing annulus with the annulus passage. A valve stem is movable along an axis of the annulus passage between a closed position, blocking the access port, and an open position, exposing the annulus port. A pressure equalizing passage extends from the annulus passage above the valve stem to the annulus passage below the valve stem.

Abstract: An adjustable mandrel hanger system is employed for maintaining tension in a string of casing extending between a subsea wellhead assembly and a surface wellhead housing. The system has a mandrel which connects into the string. A locking member locks to the exterior of the mandrel. The locking member has a cocked position which allows both upward and downward movement of the mandrel relative to the locking member. The locking member has a weight supporting position which will prevent downward movement of the mandrel but allows upward movement of the mandrel relative to the locking member. The locking member lands on an internal shoulder in the surface wellhead housing while the string is being lowered into the well. The running tool has an actuating member which will hold the locking member in the cocked position and in engagement with the internal shoulder while the running tool secures the lower end of the casing string into engagement with the subsea wellhead assembly.

Abstract: An offshore well system for a jackup drilling rig enables tensioning of the upper casing strings. An upper running tool is secured to a mandrel, which in turn is connected to the upper casing string. A locking member is located on the mandrel and lands on an internal shoulder in the surface wellhead while the upper string is being lowered by the upper running tool through the surface wellhead. The locking member has a cocked position which allows further downward movement of the mandrel after the locking member has landed on the internal shoulder. A torque member connected between the upper running tool and the mandrel allows left-hand rotation of the upper casing string without risk of the upper running tool unscrewing from the mandrel. This exposes wash ports for circulating fluid back up the annulus around the upper casing string. Flow passages in the locking member allows cement returns and circulation during washout operations after the locking member has landed on the internal shoulder.

Abstract: A metal stem seal for sealing between a movable stem and a stem opening in a valve body has an annular seal body through which the stem extends. The seal has a flexible annular seal leg depending from the seal body for sealing against the stem. The inner surface of the seal leg has at least one groove defining a plurality of sealing lands, including at least a lower sealing land and upper sealing land. The undeflected inner diameter of the lower sealing land is selected so that upon insertion of the stem through the seal, the seal leg deflects outward. The undeflected diameter of the upper sealing land is selected so that it is larger than the undeflected inner diameter of the lower sealing land. The undeflected diameters of additional sealing lands are selected so that they are successively larger than the undeflected inner diameters of the sealing lands below them. Increased fluid pressure in the stem opening causes the seal leg to flex inward causing additional sealing lands to contact the stem.

Abstract: An improved gate for a gate valve will allow shearing of a wireline extending through the gate valve while preserving post-shear seal integrity. The improved gate comprises an inlay of a hard ductile material such as Stellite along the shearing edge of the gate. The gate also comprises a coating of an extremely hard material such as tungsten carbide on the sealing surface of the gate. The invention also covers an improved gate seat. The improved seat also comprises an inlay of a hard ductile material such as Stellite along its shearing edge. The improved seat can also have a coating of an extremely hard material such as tungsten carbide on part of its sealing surface.

Abstract: A well assembly utilizes a casing tensioning system that allows a preselected amount of stretch to be applied in the casing. The assembly includes a tubular mandrel that secures to the upper end of the string of casing. A load ring has internal grooves that mate with exterior grooves on the mandrel, the load ring being of a ratcheting type. A retainer will latch the load ring in the wellhead housing. A positioning ring mounts to an upper portion of the mandrel to position the load ring at a desired distance above a stop shoulder on the lower portion of the mandrel and the load ring. During tensioning, the load ring remains stationary in the wellhead housing as the mandrel is pulled upward until the stop shoulder contacts the load ring.

Abstract: A casing or tubing hanger has a metal seal which also incorporates a locking device which locks the seal to the wellhead housing. An annular recess is formed in the bore of the wellhead housing. The seal has an energizing ring that moves downward to set the seal. A split lock ring is carried by the assembly and moves between a contracted position to an expanded position located in the wellhead housing recess. A wedge ring is carried above the lock ring by the energizing ring. The wedge ring moves with the energizing ring and has a tapered surface that engages the lock ring to push it to the expanded position when the energizing ring moves to the lower position. The lower portion of the wedge ring has a thickness that is selected so as to allow the lower portion to deflect once the lock ring is in an expanded position. This allows the energizing ring to continue downward movement if necessary to fully set the seal.

Abstract: An emergency casing hanger and packoff allows casing to be set when it has been stuck. The hanger has a slip body that slides over the casing after the casing is cut. The slip body lands in a wellhead housing. The slip body has a bowl which carries slips for gripping the casing. A split ring carried by the body engages a recess in the wellhead housing to lock the hanger in place. A wedge moves the split ring outward when rotated by a running tool. An energizing ring carried by the slip body moves the slips downward to energize them. The packoff has a metal seal ring with an annular cavity, defining inner and outer faces. The inner face contains a plurality of deformable bands. A wedge member urges the faces apart, causing the bands to deform and seal against the casing.