Abstract: A drilling head has a body which lands in an external housing. The body is removably secured to the housing with an annular split ring which is moveable in response to a cam member. The body has an outer body and a rotatable inner body with an axial bore. An annulus extends between the inner and outer bodies. Inlet and outlet ports communicate hydraulic fluid to the annulus which is sealed. The inner body has a gripping member with inner and outer portions. The inner portion has a solid annular elastomer which is free to slide radially relative to the inner body. The outer diameter of the inner portion abuts the outer portion. The outer portion has an energizable elastomer with an annular cavity. The cavity communicates with the annulus through a passage. A primary seal extends from a lower end of the inner body. The seal has a conical elastomer and reinforcement webs to give the elastomer greater rigidity in the upward direction.

Abstract: A coiled tubing completion system has a gripping mechanism on a lower end which land in a tubing hanger and engage coiled tubing extending through the tubing hanger. A tubular member is located above the gripping member and receives the upper end of the tubing. A tapered metal seal seals between the tubular member and the coiled tubing. A threaded nut, when rotated, causes the seal to energize.

Abstract: A horizontal tree having a vertical bore and a horizontal production passage is landed in a wellhead housing. A tubing hanger lands in the bore and has a vertical passage and a horizontal passage that aligns with that of the tree. A retrievable first plug seals the vertical passage. A tree cap seals in the tree bore above the tubing hanger and has an axial passage. A retrievable second plug having a valve seals the tree cap passage. A vent port extends laterally through the tree cap between its axial passage and outer surface. A pair of seals on the second plug seal above and below the vent port. A tubing annulus passage communicates with the vent port and an annulus passage. The second plug serves as a second pressure barrier to the first plug and blocks the vent port when the valve is closed. The annulus passage is sealed from communication with a void between the plugs. The valve may be opened to release pressure in the void by applying pressure to an upper end of the check valve.

Abstract: A bottom connector for the tendon of a tension leg platform uses a latch ring with an outer profile to engage a mating profile in a receptacle on the sea floor. The latch ring moves radially within a housing, relative to the receptacle, between an engaged position and a retracted position. The latch ring engages the receptacle by lowering the connector into the receptacle below the mating profile and then lifting it until the latch ring locks into the receptacle. The latch ring disengages the receptacle by lowering the connector beyond a recess located below the mating profile and then lifting the connector out of the receptacle. As the connector is lifted above the recess, a retaining ring is actuated by the recess to retain the latch ring in its retracted position.

Abstract: A subsea well has a an outer wellhead housing with a tree on an upper end and a tubing hanger landed in the bore of the tree. A tree cap lands on and is secured to the tree. The tree cap has a plurality of production and annulus valves and a dual-bore control pod assembly. The tree has annulus bypass passages which communicate with a tubing annulus on a lower end and upper ports in the tubing hanger on an upper end. Production fluids flow up the tubing hanger bore to the tree cap and circulates through a flowline in the control pod. Access to the tubing annulus is through the annulus passages and tree cap annulus passage to a separate flowline.

Abstract: A centralizing device is provided for a riser of an offshore well platform having a frame that defines an opening through which the riser passes from the platform to a subsea wellhead. The centralizing device has a centralizing ring with an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the riser so that the riser can be passed longitudinally therethrough. The centralizing ring is positioned within the opening of the frame. Adjustable mounting means are used for mounting the centralizing ring to the frame at different positions within the opening. A roller assembly of the centralizing device is carried upon the riser as the riser is lowered through the centralizing ring. The roller assembly is configured to engage the centralizing ring as the riser is lowered through the centralizing ring so that the centralizing ring stops further carriage of the roller assembly by the riser.

Abstract: An offshore well system has an assembly for tensioning an inner riser or casing string. The system has a hanger which lands on an internal load shoulder. The hanger has a gripping mechanism on its lower end which engages a mandrel, the mandrel being connected to tieback casing. The gripping mechanism allows upward moving of the mandrel relative to the hanger, but not downward movement. A running tool releasably engages an interior portion of the mandrel. A launch adapter secures to an upper end of the hanger. The launch adapter slidingly engages a running string which also extends upward through a blowout preventor. Closing the blowout preventor and applying pressure to the launch adapter causes it to move downward, pushing the hanger onto the load shoulder. Subsequently, the running tool is pulled upward to apply tension to the casing which is held by the griping mechanism. The running tool is retrieved along with the launch adapter.

Abstract: A casing annulus remediation system for overcoming problems associated with lowering a flexible hose into an annulus between strings of casing in a petroleum well by pressurizing the hose so that the hose is rigid and may be forced down the annulus. It is necessary to insert the hose through an outlet into the annulus region for brine displacement when pressure builds up in the annulus between casing strings due to leaks in the casing. Pressure build-up in the annulus is reduced by pumping a heavy liquid through the hose into the annular space experiencing the pressure build-up. A nozzle is affixed to the lower end of the hose. The hose may be inserted several hundred feet into the well. Therefore, the hose is pressurized to maintain rigidity to keep the hose from winding about the well during deployment. To keep the hose rigid, internal pressure is maintained in the hose. The nozzle is provided with a burst disk that holds the pressure.

Abstract: A guidance system comprising two guide tubes is lowered into a well with a conductor. The guide tubes are connected together by partitions which are about 100 feet apart and divide the conductor into two halves. Each partition comprises two symmetrically formed, semi-cylindrical sections facing in opposite directions. A threaded collar is secured to the upper end of each of the guide tubes. The collars are then landed on a lower plate at the upper end of the conductor. An upper plate is secured to the upper end of the conductor on top of the lower plate. The operator lowers a string of drill pipe through holes in the plates into the conductor to drill a first smaller diameter well at the bottom of the conductor. After drilling to the desired depth, the operator runs a first string of casing down the conductor and through the new well bore. The casing is located on one side of each partition and cemented in place.

Abstract: A segmented ring forms a set of latches for a tendon top connector on a floating platform. The latches reside in a housing and have either a groove or thread profile on an upper internal surface. The grooves interface with a mating groove profile on the tendon. The latches rotationally pivot backward and forward from the outer portion of the bottom surface. When the latches are forward, the profile in the internal surface engages the mating profile of the tendon top joint. When the latches are swung out, these profiles clear and permit the top joint to pass through the connector. Retraction of the latches is provided by application of force on the inside surface of an annular extension on the outer portion of the latches. This force can be provided by a variety of actuators. This top connector allows for passive dynamic engagement of the connector to the tendon top joint. When the latches are permitted to move inward, contact is made with the mating profile on the tendon top joint.

Abstract: A test tool having a body, a mandrel, a ball valve with an actuating mechanism and a bore is lowered on a string of drill pipe and landed in a wellhead housing. A retainer ring with internal threads is carried by the mandrel and engages threads on the body. The retainer ring has a slot which is engaged by a tab on the mandrel, causing the retainer ring and the mandrel to rotate together. The ball valve engages a drive plate which couples with a clutch so that the drive plate may rotate relative to the clutch. A rocker arm engages the drive plate and the mandrel to open and close the ball valve in response to rotation of the mandrel. The test tool is lowered through a riser into a wellhead on pipe below a blowout preventer. The blowout preventer closes around the pipe to form a seal and fluid is pumped down a line to test the blowout preventer. After this test, rotation of the mandrel closes the ball valve automatically.

Abstract: A diverter body having an upper portion, a central portion and a lower portion is secured to the upper end of a riser and lands in a housing. The central portion has lateral flow openings that axially align with a lateral flowline outlet in the housing. A pair of identical gallery seals locate above and below the lateral flowline outlet. The upper gallery seal is located between the upper portion, the central portion and the housing. The upper gallery seal has upper and lower metal rings and a central elastomer sandwiched therebetween. An outer diameter of the elastomer seals against the housing bore. The rings are symmetric and are mated to the elastomer along interfaces which are S-shaped in cross-section to form shoulders. The shoulders face radially inward. An annular cavity and a pair of flexible annular lips are formed along the inner diameter portion of the elastomer. A passage extends through the diverter bodies and communicates with the cavity.

Abstract: The internal tree cap of this invention has an isolation sleeve that stabs into a receptacle in the upper end of the tubing hanger. A seal on the exterior of the isolation sleeve seals an inner void within the isolation sleeve from an outer void. The inner void is the area between the tubing hanger wireline plug and the tree cap. The outer void is an area surrounding the tubing hanger above the tubing hanger upper seal and below the tree cap seal. The internal tree cap may have a bore and an upper crown plug that is wireline retrievable. Fluid will be trapped in the inner void when the isolation sleeve is stabbed into the receptacle above the tubing hanger. To allow displacement of the fluid when landing the upper crown plug, or when landing the upper crown plug and internal tree cap together, a vent passage leads through the tubing hanger to the outer void. This vent passage is preferably controlled by a metal sealing needle valve which is shut by an ROV or diver.

Abstract: A tubular wellhead member has an inner seal surface. A hydraulic passage extends through the wellhead member and terminates at a port at the seal surface. A tubing hanger having an outer mating surface lands in the wellhead member. A hydraulic line extends from a hydraulically operated downhole safety valve to a passage in the tubing hanger and terminates at a tubing hanger port. A seal is located at the tubing hanger port for sealing the junction with the tubular member port. A check valve is located within the seal to maintain the tubing hanger fluid passage closed until the tubing hanger lands in the wellhead. An adapter is employed to apply a running-in hydraulic fluid pressure to the tubing hanger hydraulic fluid passage with the check valve open. Then, the adapter closes the check valve to trap hydraulic fluid pressure in the line leading to the downhole safety valve. This pressure is sufficient to maintain the downhole safety valve in an open position during running in.

Abstract: A fill-up valve is provided for a riser having a longitudinal axis that is connected at one end to a subsea wellhead and at the other end to a platform of an offshore oil or gas well. The fill-up valve is formed from a gate valve that mounts to an exterior of the riser and occupies a position extending less than the entire transverse periphery of the riser. The gate valve has a transverse profile projecting outward from the exterior of the riser that allows passage of the riser and fill-up valve through confined areas, such as through a rotary table of the well. A flow passage of the gate valve communicates with the interior of the riser to allow water to flow into the interior of the riser.

Abstract: A lower casing hanger including a cylindrical block with two holes is landed on a shoulder in the bore of a wellhead housing. The first hole has shoulders that are inclined relative to the axis of the housing. The second hole is smooth and has a constant diameter. A first string of casing is run through the first hole and a C-shaped annular slips is placed around the casing. The outer surface of the slips has shoulders for engaging the shoulders on the lower casing hanger. The casing is lowered until the shoulders engage, thereby preventing further downward movement of the casing. An upper casing hanger then is placed on top of the lower casing hanger. The upper casing hanger has two holes that align with the holes in the lower casing hanger. The second hole has shoulders that mate with exterior shoulders on a second slips. A second string of casing is run through the second hole and the second slips is placed around the second casing.

Abstract: Using additional load shoulders on wellhead casing hangers when multiple casing hangers are needed increases the capacity of the casing hangers to withstand loads. The shoulders of the casing hangers are not required to land simultaneously. Either the upper or lower set of shoulders may contact prior to the other, with the first set to make contact plastically or elastically deforming to allow the other set to land. Other tubular members, such as a test plug may be inserted to pressure test the shoulders of the casing hanger for a casing string that is supported by the casing hanger.

Abstract: A guidance system comprising two guide tubes are lowered into a well with a conductor. The guide tubes are connected together by partitions which divide the conductor into two halves. Each partition comprises two symmetrical half sections facing in opposite directions. The operator lowers a string of drill pipe into the conductor to drill a first smaller diameter well at the bottom of the conductor. After drilling to the desired depth, the operator runs a first string of casing down the conductor and through the new well bore. The casing is located on one side of each partition and cemented in place. The operator then lowers the drill pipe down the other side of the partitions and repeats the drilling and casing of a second well.

Abstract: A connector for a dual subsea flowline simultaneously connects a primary pipe and an offset auxiliary pipe carried alongside of the primary pipe. The connector has mating hub members, each having a face, a primary bore and an auxiliary passage. The auxiliary passages intersect annular concentric grooves formed in the faces. Inner and outer auxiliary seals seal the grooves, and a primary seal seals the junction of the primary bores. The seals are linked together with a seal retainer which is installed with a remote operated vehicle in one of the hubs prior to make-up.

Abstract: A tool is employed to shift an external valve sleeve on an outer wellhead housing at a subsea location. The tool has an engaging member that moves between upper and lower positions. The tool has a locking member that locks to the inner wellhead housing with the engaging member sliding over the outer wellhead housing. In one embodiment, the tool also is employed to run the inner wellhead housing and preload it. The engaging member moves to a lower position to shift the valve sleeve after the inner wellhead housing has been preloaded by the tool. In another embodiment, the tool is lowered over a previously installed inner wellhead housing to retrieve the valve sleeve for repair or replacement.