Abstract: An improved tubing packer including a sleeve connected in the tubing string and having an outer diameter close to the inner diameter of the string into which it is to seal and a plurality of external grooves having pressure compensating material therein, a liner within the sleeve and spaced therefrom, pressure responsive piston between said sleeve and said liner, the pressure responsive piston and said sleeve having coacting multiple camming surfaces which coact to force the sleeve outward into tight gripping and sealing engagement with the interior of the well string and a source of pressure fluid supplied to the pressure responsive piston.
Abstract: An improved wellhead structure including a wellhead housing having a sealing surface with grooves therein and pressure compensating material in the grooves, a sealing sleeve having inner and outer resilient seal rings and an internal actuating groove with upper and lower shoulders, an actuating ring having an outer flange engaged within the internal groove in the sleeve and an external surface tapering downward and inwardly and a hanger with an upstanding rim having external grooves with pressure compensating material in the grooves and having an inner surface which tapers upwardly and outwardly and is engaged by the external tapered surface of the actuating ring and upper and lower external seals and a port extending from the interior of the actuating ring to its exterior into the area between such seals so that pressure applied through the port forges the hanger rim and the sealing sleeve outward to ensure positive metal-to-metal sealing across the annulus between the exterior of the hanger rim and the inte
Abstract: A surface safety valve hydraulic actuator of modular construction. The actuator includes separately installable, removable, and interchangeable wirecutting and non-wirecutting spring modules, used with the same hydraulic cylinder and bonnet. The bonnet is attached to the body of the valve. A lower stem extends through a lower seal and into the valve body cavity, and is connected to the gate segments of the valve. A hydraulic cylinder is removably attached to the bonnet. An upper stem with a central bore is disposed in the cylinder chamber and carries a piston thereon, and extends through an upper seal in the top of the hydraulic cylinder. A spring module is removably attached to the hydraulic cylinder, and includes a spring can telescoped over the top of the cylinder. The spring can is rotatably connected to an annular spring retainer, which in turn is mounted on the cylinder. A coupling rod is inserted through the upper stem and screwed into the top of the lower stem.
Abstract: An improved annular seal between tubular members in a subsea wellhead having an annular seal member with a U shape in section with the opening facing upwardly and two interengaged annular wedges for energizing the sealing surfaces of the inner and outer portions of the seal member at different levels. The interengagement of the wedges includes sufficient play to provide proper energizing of both inner and outer sealing surfaces at the same time. Further, the inner sealing surface is positioned at a much higher level than the outer sealing surface and close to the upper end of the inner member in which it is to seal to minimize the setting force for the inner sleeve and to minimize the amount of drag the seal will incur when retrieved. Also, the location of the outer sealing surface close to the inner member shoulder minimizes the reaction path of the lockdown sleeve.
Abstract: A packoff assembly for sealing the annulus between the outside surface of a tubing hanger and the internal bore of a subsea wellhead includes a packoff sleeve insertable in the annulus and a seal assembly on its lower end. A release sleeve is disposed around the upper end of the packoff sleeve and is axially movable with respect thereto. An internal shoulder on the packoff sleeve receives a lock ring on the tubing hanger when the seal assembly is set to lock the packoff assembly to the tubing hanger. Circumferentially spaced apart dogs on the packoff sleeve and radially slidable on the shoulder are forced inwardly by the release sleeve when it is pulled up to retract the lock ring from the shoulder and release the packoff assembly from the tubing hanger. A running tool for running the tubing hanger and packoff assembly into the well and setting the packoff includes telescoping upper and lower body members.