Abstract: A wear bushing (10) and a running tool (32) are provided for a subsea wellhead assembly including a wellhead housing and a casing hanger. The wear bushing is landed on the casing hanger, and a connector (16) axially connects the wear bushing and the wellhead housing. The running tool is actuated to connect the wear bushing, such that at least a portion of the connector is received within a corresponding recess in an interior wall of the wellhead housing. A bushing/casing hanger latch (18) axially connects the wear bushing and the casing hanger.

Abstract: The lockdown mechanism (10) and running tool (50) are provided for securing the casing hanger (12, 13) within the wellhead (14) and sealing the annulus between the casing and the wellhead. The lockdown ring (20) fixes the lockdown sleeve (40) to a wellhead in response to a lockdown piston (22). A first seal (24) energized by the running tool seals between the lockdown sleeve and the wellhead. Ball seat (30) is axially movable within the running tool, and a second seal also energized by the running tool (32) seals between the lockdown sleeve and the casing hanger.

Abstract: A seal assembly (10) is provided for sealing between an interior surface (14) on a wellhead (12) and a tapered exterior surface (18) on a hanger (16). A unitary seal body (20) includes an upper portion for engagement with a force tool and a lower portion for sealing with the wellhead and the hanger. A first locking ring (24) is movable radially inward for securing the sealing assembly to the hanger, and a second locking ring (22) is movable radially outward for securing the seal assembly to the wellhead. An actuation member (60) including a plurality of downward extending fingers passing through slots in the seal body move downward through a portion of the body to force the first and second locking rings into engagement with the wellhead and the hanger.

Abstract: A downhole tool includes a lock for maintaining a slip in a reduced diameter position when running the tool in the well, and selectively releases the slip to move radially outward to a set position to suspend an anchored portion of the tool within a downhole tubular. The tool includes a mandrel having a through passage, with a hydraulic port within the mandrel that is closed to mandrel internal pressure as the tool is run in the wellbore. A ball seat covers hydraulic ports in the mandrel. A ball may be dropped to seat and increase pressure to open the ports. A piston moves in response to mandrel internal pressure applied through the hydraulic port to unlock the locking device, such that further movement of the piston releases the slip from the reduced diameter position to the set position.

Abstract: A downhole tool 100 includes closure seats 116, 176 for seating with a closure, such as a ball. Shear pins or other connectors temporarily limit axial movement of each closure seat which is initially housed within a restricted diameter portion of the central throughbore in the tool body. A piston axially moves in response to fluid pressure to pressurize fluid in a chamber and controllably release fluid through one or more restrictions. The closure seat may be lowered to engage a stop 108, 159, such that the seat may move axially to an enlarged diameter bore portion of the tool, thereby allowing radial expansion of a closure seat to release the ball.

Abstract: A downhole tool 100 includes closure seats 116, 176 for seating with a closure, such as a ball. Shear pins or other connectors temporarily limit axial movement of each closure seat which is initially housed within a restricted diameter portion of the central throughbore in the tool body. A piston axially moves in response to fluid pressure to pressurize fluid in a chamber and controllably release fluid through one or more restrictions. The closure seat may be lowered to engage a stop 108, 159, such that the seat may move axially to an enlarged diameter bore portion of the tool, thereby allowing radial expansion of a closure seat to release the ball.

Abstract: A liner hanger assembly comprises a tool mandrel (104) suspended on a running string, and a slip assembly (120) for engaging a casing to support the liner hanger and liner from the casing. The release assembly (175) releases the set liner hanger from portions of the assembly to be retrieved to the surface. A cementing bushing (130) is releasable and reinsertable into the liner, and includes a circumferential loading ring (226).

Abstract: A downhole tool includes a lock for maintaining a slip in a reduced diameter position when running the tool in the well, and selectively releases the slip to move radially outward to a set position to suspend an anchored portion of the tool within a downhole tubular. The tool includes a mandrel having a through passage, with a hydraulic port within the mandrel that is closed to mandrel internal pressure as the tool is run in the wellbore. A ball seat covers hydraulic ports in the mandrel. A ball may be dropped to seat and increase pressure to open the ports. A piston moves in response to mandrel internal pressure applied through the hydraulic port to unlock the locking device, such that further movement of the piston releases the slip from the reduced diameter position to the set position.

Abstract: A downhole tool 100 includes a closure seat 116, 176 for seating with a closure, such as a ball. Shear pins or other connectors temporarily limit axial movement of the closure seat which is initially housed within a restricted diameter portion of the central throughbore in the tool body. The closure seat may be lowered to engage a stop 108, 157, thereby positioning the seat within an enlarged diameter bore portion of the tool and allowing radial expansion of a closure seat to release the ball.

Abstract: A tieback connector for attaching a riser to a subsea production assembly is provided. The tieback connector includes a main body adapted to be coupled to the subsea production assembly having a central passageway sufficiently large to pass an end of the riser string therein and a connector positioner coupled to the main body, which is adapted to secure the tieback connector around a circumferential surface of a wellhead of the subsea production assembly. The tieback connector further comprises an aligning extension portion defined by a funnel-shaped tip, which aids alignment of the riser terminus during landing of the riser string onto the wellhead. The tieback connector secures the riser to the wellhead.

Abstract: A wellhead assembly with high pressure interface is provided. The wellhead assembly includes a tubing spool that connects the wellhead to a BOP and a casing hanger that is landed in the wellhead and connected thereto. The wellhead assembly further includes a gasket that is disposed between opposing ends of the tubing spool and casing hanger. A connector engages the wellhead and tubing spool forcing the opposing ends of the tubing spool and casing hanger together, which thereby applies a compressive load to the gasket, which in turn forms a fluid tight seal therebetween.

Abstract: A system and method for subsea drilling/completion. The system comprises a high-pressure riser extending from a semi-submersible platform to a subsea wellhead. A landing string extends along the insider of the riser, and has a surface blowout preventer and at least one subsea blowout preventer attached thereto. A tubing hanger running tool is run from the platform toward the wellhead. In one embodiment, hydraulic control for various functions of the tubing hanger running tool is communicated either through the tubing string or through the riser. In another embodiment, hydraulic control lines for the tubing hanger running tool extend from the platform to the tubing hanger running tool through an umbilical line, which may either run through the tubing string, inside the riser but outside the tubing string, or outside and alongside the riser.

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 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: A liner hanger assembly comprises a tool mandrel 104 suspended on a running string, and a slip assembly 120 for engaging a casing to support the liner hanger assembly and liner from the casing. The release assembly 175 releases the set liner hanger from portions of the assembly to be retrieved to the surface. As cementing bushing 130 is releasable and reinsertable into the liner, and includes a circumferential loading ring 226.

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: 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 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 slip assembly carried about a liner for lowering into a wellbore includes a C-ring having an inner conical surface contracted about a matching outer surface of the liner and held in contracted position by disposal of its end closely within a recess in the member. When its end is raised from the recess, the c-ring expands to cause its teeth to engage with the wellbore, whereby the liner may be lowered to further expand the c-ring to cause its teeth to dig into the wellbore to suspend the liner therefrom.

Abstract: The liner hanger running tool 120 includes improvements to the running tool release mechanism, the packoff bushing, and the packer setting assembly. The release mechanism may be operated hydraulically in response to fluid pressure, although the tool may also be released mechanically by right-hand rotation of the running string. The releasing mechanism includes inner piston 340, an outer piston 342, and a clutch 316. The packoff bushing 10 includes a C-shaped lock ring 36 which allows the packoff bushing to be repeatedly restabbed into the top of the liner hanger. The packer setting assembly 52 includes a C-shaped ring 64 for applying set-down weight to a setting sleeve, with pressure assist provided by seals for engaging the mandrel 132 and the setting sleeve 90. A method is provided for reliably releasing a running tool from a liner hanger, for allowing stabbing of the running tool packoff bushing into the top of the liner hanger, and for reliably setting the radial set packer element.