Abstract: A wellhead or Christmas tree seal assembly that forms a metal-to-metal seal between inner and outer wellhead or Christmas tree members. U-shaped metal seals having legs that face in opposite directions, are bonded to a wiping element. During installation of the seal assembly, the ends of the seal legs seal against the wellhead members and the wiping element compensates for defects on the surfaces of the wellhead members. The wiping element can be of an elastomer, metallic, or intercalated graphite material.

Abstract: A subsea well tubular member has an axial passage with upper and lower retrievable plugs releasably mounted in the passage, the plugs having ends facing each other. A cavity is formed on one of the ends of one of the plugs. A movable barrier is mounted sealingly over the cavity, the barrier being movable repeatedly between inner and outer positions in response to temperature changes. The inner position reduces a volume of the cavity and increases a volume of a trapped fluid space between the ends of the plugs. The outer position increases the volume of the cavity and decreases the volume of the trapped fluid space. The barrier has two metallic layers with different coefficients of expansion.

Abstract: A wellhead or Christmas tree seal assembly that forms a metal-to-metal seal between inner and outer wellhead or Christmas tree members. U-shaped metal seals having legs that face in opposite directions, are bonded to a wiping element. During installation of the seal assembly, the ends of the seal legs seal against the wellhead members and the wiping element compensates for defects on the surfaces of the wellhead members. The wiping element can be of an elastomer, metallic, or intercalated graphite material.

Abstract: A subsea well tubular member has an axial passage with upper and lower retrievable plugs releasably mounted in the passage, the plugs having ends facing each other. A cavity is formed on one of the ends of one of the plugs. A movable barrier is mounted sealingly over the cavity, the barrier being movable repeatedly between inner and outer positions in response to temperature changes. The inner position reduces a volume of the cavity and increases a volume of a trapped fluid space between the ends of the plugs. The outer position increases the volume of the cavity and decreases the volume of the trapped fluid space. The barrier has two metallic layers with different coefficients of expansion.

Abstract: During the completion of a subsea horizontal tree, a tubing hanger and internal tree cap are run together with the same running tool and running string. The running tool has a linking assembly that connects the tree cap to the tubing hanger during running, retrieval, or workover, so that the tree cap supports the weight of the tubing hanger and string of tubing. The linking assembly can be retrieved with the running tool or retrieved on wireline through the running string.

Abstract: A tool is employed with a subsea wellhead assembly for preventing the collapse of a wear bushing located in a drill-through tubular member due to external test forces being applied to it. The tool has a connector that connects to the drill-through tubular member. A stem extends downward from the connector and has a reacting member at its lower end. The reacting member engages an inner diameter of the wear bushing to resist inwardly directed forces due to fluid pressure on the exterior of the wear bushing. The tool can be incorporated with a running tool or with a blowout preventer isolation test tool.

Abstract: An assembly for the completion of a subsea horizontal tree that includes a tubing hanger, an internal tree cap, and a running tool.

Abstract: During the completion of a subsea horizontal tree, a tubing hanger and internal tree cap are run together with the same running tool and running string. The running tool has a linking assembly that connects the tree cap to the tubing hanger during running, retrieval, or workover, so that the tree cap supports the weight of the tubing hanger and string of tubing. The linking assembly can be retrieved with the running tool or retrieved on wireline through the running string.

Abstract: A tool is employed with a subsea wellhead assembly for preventing the collapse of a wear bushing located in a drill-through tubular member due to external test forces being applied to it. The tool has a connector that connects to the drill-through tubular member. A stem extends downward from the connector and has a reacting member at its lower end. The reacting member engages an inner diameter of the wear bushing to resist inwardly directed forces due to fluid pressure on the exterior of the wear bushing. The tool can be incorporated with a running tool or with a blowout preventer isolation test tool.

Abstract: A subsea wellhead assembly has the capabilities of communicating from a tree assembly mounted on an inner wellhead housing to a casing annulus. A passage in the wellhead assembly extends within the bore of the wellhead housing from the casing annulus to the tree assembly. A portion of the passage is located within a casing hanger. The passage is opened and closed by a valve. The valve does not open the passage until the tree assembly is connected to the wellhead housing and a tubing hanger orientation sleeve lands in the wellhead assembly. The tubing hanger orientation sleeve actuates the valve when it lands to open the passage. When the passage is opened, the casing annulus is in fluid communication with the interior surface of the wellhead housing, which is in communication with the tree assembly.

Abstract: In a subsea wellhead assembly, a connector attaches a production riser or subsea tree to a wellhead housing. The connector includes a piston that cams a plurality of dogs into and out of engagement with the wellhead housing while sliding axially upward and downward relative to the wellhead housing. The piston is typically actuated by injecting hydraulic fluid into either an upper chamber or lower chamber to move the piston axially up or down. While in the axially downward, or locked position, the piston houses an override chamber. Hydraulic fluid is injected into the override chamber to move the piston axially upward and unlock the connector when the seals of the lower chamber fail.

Abstract: A susbsea well has communication passages to enable annulus pressure surrounding inner and intermediate strings of casings to be monitored at the surface. The passages both have outlets that allow communication to the tree assembly for monitoring. In one embodiment, the passage outlets are located in the bore of the high pressure well head housing and communicates to the tree assembly along an isolation sleeve. In another embodiment, the passage outlets are located on the exterior of the high pressure wellhead housing and communicate through a flying lead coming down from the tree. In another embodiment, the passage outlets are located on the exterior of the high pressure wellhead housing and communicate to an upward facing connection which is stabbed with a downward facing connection coming down from the tree.

Abstract: A susbsea well has communication passages to enable annulus pressure surrounding inner and intermediate strings of casings to be monitored at the surface. The passages both have outlets that allow communication to the tree assembly for monitoring. In one embodiment, the passage outlets are located in the bore of the high pressure well head housing and communicates to the tree assembly along an isolation sleeve. In another embodiment, the passage outlets are located on the exterior of the high pressure wellhead housing and communicate through a flying lead coming down from the tree. In another embodiment, the passage outlets are located on the exterior of the high pressure wellhead housing and communicate to an upward facing connection which is stabbed with a downward facing connection coming down from the tree.

Abstract: A subsea wellhead assembly has the capabilities of communicating from a tree assembly mounted on an inner wellhead housing to a casing annulus. A passage in the wellhead assembly extends within the bore of the wellhead housing from the casing annulus to the tree assembly. A portion of the passage is located within a casing hanger. The passage is opened and closed by a valve. The valve does not open the passage until the tree assembly is connected to the wellhead housing and a tubing hanger orientation sleeve lands in the wellhead assembly. The tubing hanger orientation sleeve actuates the valve when it lands to open the passage. When the passage is opened, the casing annulus is in fluid communication with the interior surface of the wellhead housing, which is in communication with the tree assembly.