Abstract: A gate valve actuator including an housing, a piston, a lower end closure, and a piston cylinder end cap. The piston is situated within the housing, and the lower end closure connects the housing and the piston. The piston cylinder end cap also connects the housing and the piston. The housing, the piston, the lower end closure, and the end cap define a main actuator cavity. The connection between the lower end closure and the piston and the connection between the piston cylinder end cap and the piston are sealable connections. The main actuator cavity is substantially isolated from ambient air and from a control fluid, which prevents moisture build-up and hence prevents corrosion of the internal components of the actuator.

Abstract: A subsea production system is disclosed. The subsea production system may comprise a well head, a tubing spool, a tubing hanger, an annulus, a production tree, and a bypass flow path.

Abstract: An assembly for connecting a jumper to a subsea structure. The assembly comprises a jumper connector attached to an end of the jumper that has a vertically disposed main body adapted for receiving a plurality of lines, which connect into a corresponding plurality of vertically oriented female couplers disposed within the main body. The connector assembly further comprises a mating socket attached to the subsea structure that has a substantially cylindrically shaped main housing formed with a longitudinal slot and a corresponding plurality of vertically oriented male couplers. A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) vertically aligns the jumper connector with the mating socket and connects the plurality of female couplers to the corresponding plurality of male couplers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an subsea valve assembly having a fixed orifice insert that can be removed and replaced using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The valve assembly includes a removable orifice insert holder and a threaded receptacle housing into which the removable orifice insert holder is received. The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) installs the removable orifice insert holder into the threaded receptacle in situ. The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) can remove an existing removable orifice insert by removing the removable orifice insert holder and replacing the removable orifice insert holder with another the removable orifice insert holder that has been pre-assembled at the surface with a removable orifice insert of a different size. Thus, the valve assembly according to the present invention can be used to control the flow rate of a subsea fluid using a replaceable fixed orifice insert.

Abstract: An insert for a high stress connection. The insert has a housing having a generally cylindrical body and a flanged end with a generally cylindrical inner surface that may accommodate a bolt. The insert may have either an end cap or a thinned portion, or both. The end cap may be attached to the flanged end of the housing and sized such that the bolt does not pass through the end cap. The body may have the thinned portion.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an assembly for installing and selectively retrieving a wear bushing in the bore of a subsea or surface wellhead. The assembly includes a bit sub, which is adapted for attachment to a drill string, a drill string adapter removably coupled to the bit sub, and a wear bushing removably coupled to the drill string adapter and adapted to be recoupled to the drill string adapter for selective retrieval from the bore of the wellhead.

Abstract: An inner riser adjustable hanger and seal assembly are provided for applying tension to a casing string secured at a lower end within a well and supported at an upper end by a wellhead housing. The wellhead housing has a locking member on an inner surface thereof. A tensioning mechanism tensions the casing string and secures the upper end to the wellhead housing. A seal body locking member is radially moveable into engagement with the housing locking member to fix the axial position of the seal body relative to the wellhead housing. An upper seal assembly seals between the seal body and the wellhead housing, and a lower assembly seals between the seal body and the casing string. The casing string is tensioned without appreciable rotation of the hanger body or the upper and lower seal assemblies.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to rotary valve assemblies and, more particularly, to a rotary valve assembly for use in an oil and gas production system. The valve assembly comprises a movable actuator sleeve movable in response to hydraulic pressure and at least one seat, the at least one seat having at least one fluid channel capable of providing fluid flow therethrough. The valve assembly also comprises a rotating disk disposed between the at least one seat and a support bushing, the rotating disk capable of rotating in response to movement of the movable actuator sleeve, the rotating disk having an open position and a closed position, wherein the open position permits fluid flow through the at least one fluid channel of the at least one seat and the closed position stops fluid flow through the at least one fluid channel of the at least one seat.

Abstract: A subsea well assembly includes a wellhead housing 50 having a cylindrical inner sealing surface and a tubular hanger 10 having a tapered external sealing surface. The running tool 30 includes a central stem 40 connected to the running string. A setting piston 72 is responsive to fluid pressure in the annulus about the running string, and has a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface each for sealing with the running tool body. Fluid pressure to set the seal assembly may be applied to the setting piston through an annulus about the running string, and may also act directly on an initially set seal assembly 20.

Abstract: A splitter assembly 10 is positioned downhole within a conductor 50 for separating two or more tubular strings placed within the conductor. A splitter housing may include a first bore 26 and a second bore 28 for separating a first well from a second well, and a plug 24 positioned in one of the bores including a top face 25 sloping downwardly toward the other bore. One or more guide plates 18 secured to the splitter housing and positioned above the plug guide a bit or other tool toward one of the first bore and the second bore. The splitter housing 10 may be positioned along the conductor 50 after the conductor is jetted in place. According to the method, the plug in one of the bores is retrieved after a casing is run in one well, so that the second bit and the second casing will pass through the bore which previously included the plug.

Abstract: An adjustable hanger system and related method connect a hanger to a wellhead, with a hanger supporting a tubular secured at its lower end in the well. The wellhead includes a housing 20 having a plurality of axially spaced support grooves 23, and a hanger 30 including a support ring 32 radially moveable into a selected one of the support grooves on the wellhead housing. A lock down ring 34 may limit axially upward movement of the hanger with respect to the wellhead, while a support ring 32 may be used to limit axially downward movement of the hanger with respect to the wellhead housing. Both the support ring and the lock ring may be a substantially C-shaped rings which move radially outward into a selected one of the support grooves or locking grooves.

Abstract: A running tool 10, a lockdown sleeve 27, and a seal ring 24 are provided for axially fixing upward movement of a tubular hanger with respect to a subsea wellhead. The running tool 10 includes a tool latching and unlatching mechanism 51 for axially connecting the running tool to the subsea wellhead housing, a tool force applicator 64 for exerting a downward setting force, and a sleeve latching mechanism 73 for securing the lockdown sleeve to the subsea wellhead housing 20. The seal 24 is provided between the lockdown sleeve and one of the tubular hanger and the wellhead housing. The method of the invention includes running the tool and sleeve in open water to the subsea wellhead housing, locking the tool to the housing, setting the seal, locking the sleeve to the housing, then retrieving the tool in open water.

Abstract: A composite metal sealing ring and method are provided for sealing between tubular members. First and second tubular members have first and second conical inner sealing surfaces. A metal sealing ring has corrosion-resistant inlays defining opposing conical outer sealing surfaces for sealing with the first and second conical inner sealing surfaces. The resulting composite sealing ring has the corrosion-resistant benefits of stainless steel at the sealing surfaces, along with the desired expansion ratio of a conventional carbon steel.

Abstract: A connection structure is disclosed for connecting a riser to a subsea wellhead assembly. The connection structure allows components of the tie-back connector (16) to be assembled over the tie-back connector before the tie-back connector is secured to a long stress joint, to avoid the need to maneuver the components over the long stress joint. High strength materials are used in the construction of the stress joint to minimize the effects of stresses in the wellhead connector. The connection fixture provides electrical insulation (34) between the engagement points of the stress joint and the tie-back connector to minimize corrosive galvanic action. The connection structure provides an upwardly facing flange (18) that may be threaded or otherwise connected to the top of the tie-back connector and is adapted to mate with and secure to a downwardly facing flange (12a) carried at the bottom of the stress joint (12).

Abstract: A horizontal spool tree wellhead system 10 utilizes a casing 18, 19 installed in a well bore and a wellhead housing 20 at the upper end of the casing. A spool 23 of the horizontal tree 22 is connected to the upper end of the wellhead housing, and includes at least one radially extending side port. The BOP 28 is also installed at the upper end of the housing with a bore aligned with the wellhead housing bore. After drilling the well, the casing string 19 carrying a casing hanger 42 may be lowered through the bores of the BOP, the spool tree, and the wellhead housing and into the well. An orientation/isolation sleeve 60 may be installed in a predetermined rotational orientation with the spool tree. A tubing hanger 70 having a side port is landed onto the orientation sleeve and is automatically oriented to align the tubing hanger side port with the spool side port.

Abstract: An inner riser adjustable hanger and seal assembly are provided for applying tension to a casing string secured at a lower end within a well and supported at an upper end by a wellhead housing. The wellhead housing has a locking member on an inner surface thereof. A tensioning mechanism tensions the casing string and secures the upper end to the wellhead housing. A seal body locking member is radially moveable into engagement with the housing locking member to fix the axial position of the seal body relative to the wellhead housing. An upper seal assembly seals between the seal body and the wellhead housing, and a lower assembly seals between the seal body and the casing string. The casing string is tensioned without appreciable rotation of the hanger body or the upper and lower seal assemblies.

Abstract: The seal assembly 10 seal between a subsea wellhead housing 12 and a casing hanger 16. A metal seal body 20 includes fingers 32 and 34 and one or more elastomeric seals 38. An upper seal body 64 may include threads for engagement with the metal seal body. According the method of the invention, an initial elastomeric seal is first formed, and fluid pressure is applied from above to set the high temperature metal seal.

Abstract: The horizontal spool tree assembly 10 controls fluid flow through a production tubing string 18 within a well. The horizontal spool tree assembly is adapted for use with a workover string for fluid communication with the tree assembly. The spool body 12 has a central bore 14 for receiving a tubing hanger 22 therein, with a production passageway extending laterally through the spool body to a production line 36. The spool body also includes an annulus passageway extending laterally through the spool body for fluid communication between the tubing annulus 16 and the annulus line 52. The spool tree assembly has improved porting for the production line and the annulus line, and also for both workover and crossover operations.

Abstract: A latchdown mechanism 11 latches a control pod 10 to a lower mounting plate 14 of a subsea tree. A receptacle housing 12 secured to subsea tree receives the control pod therein and has an interior latching surface 13 at an upper end of the receptacle housing. A latchdown actuator 15 is supported on the control pod, and moves a plurality of gripping arms 22 for engagement and disengagement with the latching surface to selectively connect and disconnect the control pod 12 to the structure in response to the latchdown actuator.

Abstract: A tubular connection 7 is provided for connecting an upper tubular member 10 with a lower tubular member 12. A radially movable latch body 20 is positioned outward of the tubular members. Outer load flanks 25 on the latch body are slidably engageable with inner load flanks 24 on the tubular members. A radially projecting member 32 and a corresponding guide recess 34 are provided for guiding the latch body with respect to one of the tubular members. A safety actuator 30 and corresponding mating surface 38 may also be provided for urging the latch body outward.