Abstract: A wellbore system includes a sealing assembly for creating an annular seal between wellbore members. The sealing assembly includes a wicker profile defined a first sealing surface for engaging and embedding into a radially adjacent, second sealing surface. The wicker profile includes a first section having a first hardness and a second section adjacent to the first section and having a second hardness greater than the first hardness. Both the first and second sections of wickers are embedded into the second sealing surface, and can thus provide a high degree of both sealing and lockdown performance.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and program code, and methods for monitoring the health and other conditions of the valve, are provided. An exemplary system for monitoring the condition of the gate valve includes a logic module configured to perform the operations of receiving sensor data providing an acoustic emission, vibration, and/or stream level signature and determining the level of lubricity, level of friction, level of surface degradation, and leakage rate at a gate-valve seat interface. An exemplary method for monitoring the condition of the gate valve includes receiving sensor data providing an acoustic emission, vibration, and/or stream level signature and determining the level of lubricity, level of friction, level of surface degradation, and leakage rate at a gate-valve seat interface.

Abstract: A system for joining pipe segments, the system including a first pipe connector connected to a first pipe segment, and a second pipe connector threadingly connectable to the first pipe connector, and connected to a second pipe segment. The system further includes a recess in the outer surface of the first pipe connector, and an elongated key having first and second lengthwise surfaces. One of the lengthwise surfaces has protrusions that embed into a transverse surface of the second pipe connector when the key is mounted into the recess. The thickness of the key decreases with distance radially inward from the outer surface.

Abstract: A pipe connection includes a pin having external threads and a box having internal threads. A circumferentially extending row of pin teeth are located on an exterior portion of the pin. A slot extends through a side wall of the box. A key is carried in the slot, the key having a row of key teeth that mate with the pin teeth. The key is mounted to the box such that a movable portion of the key is radially movable relative to the box between radially outward and radially inward positions. The key is biased toward the inward position, so that the key teeth ratchet on the pin teeth during make-up of the pin and the box. The key and pin teeth have a saw-tooth configuration to resist unscrewing rotation of the pin and the box. The key may be an integral part of the side wall of the box or a separate component.

Abstract: A retention system for limiting axial and radial movement of a wellbore lock ring. The retention system includes pins for resisting axial movement of the lock ring and assemblies for limiting radial outward movement of the lock ring. The lock ring circumscribes and couples to a wellbore hanger. The pins project radially from the hanger into the lock ring and into slots, where the slots extend a distance along the inner surface of the lock ring. The assemblies also project radially into the hanger and each have a portion that registers with a channel on a lower end of the lock ring. Lock ring outer radial movement is limited by contact between the portions of the assemblies and inner surfaces of the channels.

Abstract: A wellbore system includes a sealing assembly for creating an annular seal between wellbore members. The sealing assembly includes a seal body having a u-shaped cross section, with elongate grooves formed on inner and outer walls thereof. A depth of the grooves varies along a length of the grooves to allow wickers to penetrate the groove by differing degrees when the walls are urged toward the wickers. The wickers can thus provide a high degree of both sealing and lockdown performance.

Abstract: A system for load transfer from a wellhead to the sea bed adjacent a subsea well, including a suction pile for securing to the sea bed, and a wellhead housing assembly having a longitudinal axis and attached to the suction pile, the wellhead housing for subjection to an axial load acting in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a bending load acting in a direction not parallel to the longitudinal axis. The system further includes a suction pile connector that transmits the axial load and the bending load from the wellhead housing through the suction pile toward the sea bed, and that is attached to the suction pile, the suction pile connector engaged with the wellhead housing to substantially maintain the relative positions of the wellhead housing and the suction pile.

Abstract: The invention provides a powder coating composition comprising of thermoplastic polymers, ceramic particles, and cermet particles for lowering the friction coefficient, and improving wear and corrosion resistance of coated surfaces in high-temperature, high-pressure, and corrosive environments. It also provides a method of coating application for improving adhesion of the coating to the substrate. The coating compositions are devoid of volatile organic solvents and can be applied on surfaces using thermal spraying, compression molding and other particle sintering approaches. A multilayer architecture consisting of an adhesive bottom layer and a non-adhesive, low friction top layer is disclosed. The coating can be used in oil and gas production and seawater injection.

Abstract: A wellhead assembly includes an outer wellhead member having a bore and an inner wellhead member located in the bore, defining an annular pocket between the outer and inner wellhead members. A sealing assembly is located within the annular pocket, the sealing assembly having an annular seal and an energizing ring. The energizing ring engages inner and outer legs of the annular seal to push the inner and outer legs into sealing engagement with the inner and outer wellhead members. A retainer nut is threadingly attached to the free end of the outer leg of the sealing assembly. Mating grooves are located on one of an inner diameter of the retainer nut and an outer diameter of the energizing ring and mating protrusions located on the other. The mating protrusions mate with the mating grooves to prevent relative axial movement between the energizing ring and the annular seal.

Abstract: A tubular member connection system includes a pin having a central axis, external pin threads, and an annular pin lip at a shoulder surface. A box has internal box threads and an annular box lip at an end surface of the box. The box threads are shaped to mate with the pin threads to releasably secure the pin to the box. A recess is formed in an outer diameter surface of the pin and extends in an axial direction from the pin lip. An anti-rotation key is located within the recess and has a row of teeth along an outer edge. A fastener retains the anti-rotation key in the recess. A circumferentially extending series of grooves on the box lip are sized to engage the teeth and resist a rotation of the pin relative to the box in an unscrewing direction when the pin is releasably secured to the box.

Abstract: A tensioner for maintaining a tensile force in a riser extending from a subsea wellhead assembly to a deck of a floating platform includes a hydro-pneumatic assembly having a first section secured to the deck and a second section secured to a support frame. A pivot joint is coupled to the riser and to the support frame, so that the riser is retained axially static with respect to the support frame and is pivotable with respect to the support frame. A guide assembly has at least two guide elements, the guide elements being axially spaced from each other so that when the deck and the support frame move axially relative to each other, the guide assembly restricts relative rotational movement between the deck and the support frame.

Abstract: A tubular member connection system includes a pin having a central axis, external pin threads, and an annular pin lip at a shoulder surface of the pin. A box has internal box threads and an annular box lip at an end surface of the box. The box threads are shaped to mate with the pin threads to releasably secure the pin to the box. A pin recess is formed in an outer diameter surface of the pin, the pin recess extending in an axial direction from the pin lip. A pin key is selectively fastenable within the pin recess, the pin key having pin teeth on an outer edge of the pin key. The box teeth are located in the box. The box teeth selectively mate with the pin teeth and resist rotation of the pin relative to the box.

Abstract: A subsea well connector for connecting a tubular member to a subsea wellhead assembly includes a tieback connector having an annular stationary connector body that circumscribes a portion of an annular moveable connector body. A tie rod with a tie rod profile extends axially from the stationary connector body. A dog ring circumscribes the tie rod and is moveable between a lockdown open position where the dog ring is spaced from the tie rod, and a lockdown engaged position where a dog ring inner diameter profile engages the tie rod profile, to axially couple the stationary connector body and the moveable connector body. An annular piston circumscribes the dog ring and has a region with a reduced inner diameter that engages an outer diameter of the dog ring to retain the dog ring in the lockdown engaged position. A cylinder circumscribes the annular piston, defining a lockdown piston cavity.

Abstract: A wear bushing assembly protects and locks down a hanger in a wellhead housing; and which includes a wear bushing body that inserts into a wear bushing sleeve. A lock ring extends into registered recesses on the body and sleeve to couple together the body and sleeve. The wellhead housing has a profiled recess circumscribing its inner surface. A lockdown ring selectively mates with the profiled recess; and when mated is in interfering contact with an upper surface of the wear bushing sleeve, thereby coupling the sleeve to the wellhead housing. The sleeve outer surface is profiled to interfere with upward movement of the hanger, so that force is transferred from the hanger to the housing through the sleeve which locks down the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for guiding an anti-rotation key installation tool includes at least one magnet mounting member. A tool positioning member is coupled to the magnet mounting member and has a first end and a second end. An installation tool positioning channel extends from the first end to the second end of the tool positioning member and has an opening at the first end of the tool positioning member for accepting a portion of the anti-rotation key installation tool. At least one mechanically switchable frame securing magnet assembly is mounted to the at least one magnet mounting member for releasably securing the apparatus to an outer surface of a tubular connection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for setting an inner wellhead member in a subsea wellhead housing includes connecting an inner wellhead member to a running tool and running the running tool and wellhead member through a tubular member to a wellhead housing. A plurality of pistons urge fluid through a closed-loop hydraulic system. That fluid actuates a locking mechanism to lock the inner wellhead member into the wellhead housing, and also actuates a release mechanism to release the running tool from the inner wellhead member. The pistons are moved from one position to another in response to fluid pressure from the running string to which the running tool is connected, fluid pressure from the tubular member in which the running tool is located, or in response to fluid in the closed-loop hydraulic system that is being moved in response to the other one of the pistons.

Abstract: A wellhead assembly having a tubular magnetized in at least one selected location, and a sensor proximate the magnetized location that monitors a magnetic field from the magnetized location. The magnetic field changes in response to changes in mechanical stress of the magnetized location, so that signals from the sensor represent loads applied to the tubular. Analyzing the signals over time provides fatigue loading data useful for estimating structural integrity of the tubular and its fatigue life. Example tubulars include a low pressure housing, a high pressure housing, conductor pipes respectively coupled with the housings, a string of tubing, a string of casing, housing and tubing connections, housing and tubing seals, tubing hangers, tubing risers, and other underwater structural components that require fatigue monitoring, or can be monitored for fatigue.

Abstract: An anti-rotation system for use in retaining a threaded connection between a pin and a box. The anti-rotation system includes a key that sets in a recess formed in one of the box or pin. The key is selectively in contact with one of the other of the box or pin, and is activated when the threaded connection begins to decouple. The key is profiled and operates in a cam like fashion to wedge itself between the box and pin when these members begin to decouple and prevents further relative rotation.

Abstract: A high capacity single trip lockdown bushing and a method to operate the same is disclosed. The lockdown bushing includes a tubular body that carries a locking ring and an energizing ring about an upper portion of the tubular body. The energizing ring includes a cam portion interposed between the locking ring and the tubular body so that the cam portion and the locking ring overlap along mating cam surfaces in an unset position. A running tool carries the lockdown bushing to land on a casing hanger. The running tool is actuated to drive the energizing ring downward so that the mating cam surfaces interact to move the locking ring radially outward into engagement with wickers formed in a wellhead.

Abstract: A subsea well connector for connecting a tubular member to a subsea wellhead assembly includes a tieback connector having an annular stationary connector body that circumscribes a portion of an annular moveable connector body. A tie rod with a tie rod profile extends axially from the stationary connector body. A dog ring circumscribes the tie rod and is moveable between a lockdown open position where the dog ring is spaced from the tie rod, and a lockdown engaged position where a dog ring inner diameter profile engages the tie rod profile, to axially couple the stationary connector body and the moveable connector body. An annular piston circumscribes the dog ring and has a region with a reduced inner diameter that engages an outer diameter of the dog ring to retain the dog ring in the lockdown engaged position. A cylinder circumscribes the annular piston, defining a lockdown piston cavity.