Abstract: A flow completion apparatus comprises a wellhead housing installed at an upper end of a well bore and a tubing spool connected over the wellhead housing. The tubing spool includes a central bore extending axially therethrough, a production outlet communicating with the central bore and an annulus passageway communicating with the tubing annulus. A tubing hanger is supported in the central bore and includes a production bore extending axially therethrough and a production passageway communicating between the production bore and the production outlet. The tubing spool comprises a workover passageway extending between the annulus passageway and a portion of the central bore located below the top of the tubing hanger. Furthermore, the tubing hanger comprises an annulus bore extending between the workover passageway and the top of the tubing hanger.

Abstract: An annular metal-to-metal sealing system comprises at least one metal member defining an annular sealing surface and an annular seal body which is comprised of a high strength metal material and which is positioned substantially concentrically relative to the annular sealing surface. The seal body has at least one flexible portion which is flexed during assembly to develop a seal activating force, and the metal-to-metal sealing system further comprises at least one annular soft metal sealing insert which is supported by the flexible portion and which is maintained in sealing engagement with the annular sealing surface by the seal activating force.

Abstract: A gate valve comprises a valve body, a stem bore which extends through the valve body, a stem which is disposed in the stem bore and which includes a first stem portion that is sealed to the stem bore, a second, smaller diameter stem portion that is sealed to the stem bore, and a gate pocket that is located between the first and second stem portions, and gate which is disposed within the gate pocket between the first and second seats.

Abstract: A gate valve is disclosed which comprises a valve body which includes a flow bore that extends completely therethrough and a gate cavity that extends partially therethrough and intersects the flow bore, a bonnet which is connected to the valve body over the gate cavity, a gate which is disposed in the gate cavity across the flow bore and includes a transverse opening that extends completely therethrough, a valve stem which includes a first portion that is connected to the gate and a second portion that extends through the gate cavity, a handwheel, and a roller screw assembly which is connected between the handwheel and the second portion of the valve stem and which converts rotation of the handwheel into translation of the valve stem. In this manner, translation of the valve stem raises or lowers the gate to bring the opening into or out of alignment with the flow bore to either open or close the gate valve, respectively.

Abstract: A metal-to-metal sealing element for a wellhead assembly which includes at least first and second adjacent components and first and second generally annular sealing surfaces that are each formed on a corresponding one of the components. The sealing element comprises an annular base, an annular sealing lip which projects radially toward at least one of the first and second sealing surfaces and which comprises a seal retaining groove, a soft metal sealing insert which is disposed within the seal retaining groove and which in use engages the at least one sealing surface, and an annular intermediate portion which extends between the base and the sealing lip. The intermediate portion presses the sealing insert against the at least one sealing surface in an interference fit relationship.

Abstract: A flow completion apparatus comprises a wellhead housing installed at an upper end of a well bore and a tubing spool connected over the wellhead housing. The tubing spool includes a central bore extending axially therethrough, a production outlet communicating with the central bore and an annulus passageway communicating with the tubing annulus. A tubing hanger is supported in the central bore and includes a production bore extending axially therethrough and a production passageway communicating between the production bore and the production outlet. The tubing spool comprises a workover passageway extending between the annulus passageway and a portion of the central bore located below the top of the tubing hanger. Furthermore, the tubing hanger comprises an annulus bore extending between the workover passageway and the top of the tubing hanger.

Abstract: An annular metal-to-metal sealing system comprises at least one metal member defining an annular sealing surface and an annular seal body which is comprised of a high strength metal material and which is positioned substantially concentrically relative to the annular sealing surface. The seal body has at least one flexible portion which is flexed during assembly to develop a seal activating force, and the metal-to-metal sealing system further comprises at least one annular soft metal sealing insert which is supported by the flexible portion and which is maintained in sealing engagement with the annular sealing surface by the seal activating force.

Abstract: A flow completion apparatus comprises a wellhead housing installed at an upper end of a well bore and a tubing spool connected over the wellhead housing. The tubing spool includes a central bore extending axially therethrough, a production outlet communicating with the central bore and an annulus passageway communicating with the tubing annulus. A tubing hanger is supported in the central bore and includes a production bore extending axially therethrough and a production passageway communicating between the production bore and the production outlet. An annular seal is positioned between the tubing hanger and the central bore above the production passageway, and the tubing spool comprises a workover passageway extending between the annulus passageway and a portion of the central bore located above the seal. Furthermore, the tubing hanger comprises an annulus bore extending between the workover passageway and the top of the tubing hanger.

Abstract: A metal-to-metal sealing element for a wellhead assembly which includes at least first and second adjacent components and first and second generally annular sealing surfaces that are each formed on a corresponding one of the components. The sealing element comprises an annular base, an annular sealing lip which projects radially toward at least one of the first and second sealing surfaces and which comprises a seal retaining groove, a soft metal sealing insert which is disposed within the seal retaining groove and which in use engages the at least one sealing surface, and an annular intermediate portion which extends between the base and the sealing lip. The intermediate portion presses the sealing insert against the at least one sealing surface in an interference fit relationship.

Abstract: An annular metal-to-metal sealing system, for use in wellhead systems and having many other uses, has a metal member defining an annular internal or external sealing surface for which sealing is intended. An annular seal body composed of high strength metal material is positioned in concentric relation with the annular sealing surface and is sufficient flexible to become spring loaded, typically during assembly, for continuous application of a spring force. The annular seal body defines one or more annular seal retainer grooves each having an annular soft metal sealing insert therein, with a portion thereof exposed for sealing engagement with the annular sealing surface. The spring loaded characteristic of the annular seal body applies constant force to maintain the soft metal seal insert in constantly energized sealing relation with the annular sealing surface and maintains effective sealing even when dimensional changes to the sealing surface occur due to temperature or pressure changes.

Abstract: A gate valve is disclosed which comprises a valve body which includes a flow bore that extends completely therethrough and a gate cavity that extends partially therethrough and intersects the flow bore, a bonnet which is connected to the valve body over the gate cavity, a gate which is disposed in the gate cavity across the flow bore and includes a transverse opening that extends completely therethrough, a valve stem which includes a first portion that is connected to the gate and a second portion that extends through the gate cavity, a handwheel, and a roller screw assembly which is connected between the handwheel and the second portion of the valve stem and which converts rotation of the handwheel into translation of the valve stem. In this manner, translation of the valve stem raises or lowers the gate to bring the opening into or out of alignment with the flow bore to either open or close the gate valve, respectively.

Abstract: A gate valve comprises a valve body which includes a stem bore that extends therethrough and a seat bore that extends therethrough and intersects the stem bore generally transversely. A stem is disposed in the stem bore and includes a first stem portion that is sealed to the stem bore, a second stem portion that is sealed to the stem bore, and a gate pocket that is located between the first and second stem portions. First and second seats are each positioned at least partially within the seat bore proximate the gate pocket and each include a flow bore that extends therethrough. The gate valve also includes a gate which is disposed within the gate pocket between the first and second seats, a first actuator for moving the gate from a first position to a second position, and a second actuator for moving the gate from the second position to the first position.

Abstract: An annular metal-to-metal sealing system, for use in wellhead systems and having many other uses, has a metal member defining an annular internal or external sealing surface for which sealing is intended. An annular seal body composed of high strength metal material is positioned in concentric relation with the annular sealing surface and is sufficient flexible to become spring loaded, typically during assembly, for continuous application of a spring force. The annular seal body defines one or more annular seal retainer grooves each having an annular soft metal sealing insert therein, with a portion thereof exposed for sealing engagement with the annular sealing surface. The spring loaded characteristic of the annular seal body applies constant force to maintain the soft metal seal insert in constantly energized sealing relation with the annular sealing surface and maintains effective sealing even when dimensional changes to the sealing surface occur due to temperature or pressure changes.

Abstract: A gate valve is disclosed which comprises a valve body having an internal flow passage which extends between an inlet port and an outlet port, a pair of seats mounted in respective seat pockets formed in the body coaxial with the flow passage, a gate disposed between the seats and having a transverse opening therethrough, and a valve stem threadedly connected to the gate, wherein rotation of the valve stem raises or lowers the gate to bring the opening into or out of alignment with the flow passage to either open or close the gate valve, respectively. Each seat comprises a generally cylindrical body portion having a substantially uniform outer diameter surface and first and second end faces which are adapted to seal with the gate. In this manner, each seat may be mounted in its seat pocket with either the first end face or the second end face adjacent the gate.

Abstract: The strength and wear resistance of a steel component is improved by adhering to it a material of higher strength compatible metal alloy, such as Inconel (RTM) 725 or like precipitation or age hardenable alloy. The higher strength alloy may be adhered by welding, plasma spraying, dip coating or electroplating. The component may be subjected to post-deposition heat treatment which preferably simultaneously softens a heat affected zone in the component and hardens the higher strength material.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a gate valve which in one embodiment comprises a valve body having an internal flow passage which extends between an inlet port and an outlet port; a pair of seats mounted in respective seat pockets formed in the body coaxial with the flow passage; a gate disposed between the seats and having a transverse opening therethrough; and a valve stem threadedly connected to the gate; wherein rotation of the valve stem raises or lowers the gate to bring the opening into or out of alignment with the flow passage to either open or close the gate valve, respectively; and wherein each seat comprises a generally cylindrical body portion having a substantially uniform outer diameter and first and second end faces which are adapted to seal with the gate; whereby each seat may be mounted in its seat pocket with either the first face or the second face adjacent the gate.

Abstract: A centralizer for guiding a well servicing tool through the bore of a BOP stack or the like and into a radially eccentric position within a wellhead assembly, the centralizer comprising a mandrel having a top end which is connected to a running string and a bottom end to which the well servicing tool is connected, a collar having at least one eccentric hole through which the mandrel extends, the collar being rotatably connected to the mandrel, and an energy absorbing bumper supported above the collar and having at least one opening in alignment with the hole in the collar through which the top end of the mandrel projects; wherein the distance between the center of the collar and the center of the eccentric hole is selected to correspond to the radial distance between the center of the BOP bore and the eccentric position within the wellhead assembly; and wherein the outer diameters of both the collar and the bumper are selected to be only slightly smaller than the diameter of the BOP bore; such that the collar

Abstract: A flow completion apparatus for controlling the flow of fluid through a tubing string which extends into a well bore and defines a tubing annulus surrounding the tubing string, the flow completion apparatus comprising a wellhead housing which is installed at an upper end of the well bore; a tubing spool which is connected over the wellhead housing and which includes a central bore that extends axially therethrough, a production outlet which communicates with the central bore, and an annulus passageway which communicates with the tubing annulus; a tubing hanger which is supported in the central bore, is connected to an upper end of the tubing string, and includes a production bore which extends axially therethrough and a production passageway which communicates between the production bore and the production outlet; a first closure member which is positioned in the production bore above the production passageway; and a first annular seal which is positioned between the tubing hanger and the central bore above t

Abstract: A diverless subsea tubular connector with male and female elements that can be remotely connected and disconnected using only axial movement of one of the elements with respect to the other. The connector elements are secured together by a snap spring that prevents their disengagement so long as an axial tension tending to pull them apart is maintained. A release of that axial tension facilitates unlocking the two elements so that they can be pulled apart without requiring hydraulic, manual, or rotational manipulation.

Abstract: A diverless subsea tubular connector with male and female elements that can be remotely connected and disconnected using only axial movement of one of the elements with respect to the other. The connector elements are secured together by a snap spring that prevents their disengagement so long as an axial tension tending to pull them apart is maintained. A release of that axial tension facilitates unlocking the two elements so that they can be pulled apart without requiring hydraulic, manual, or rotational manipulation.