Abstract: A lateral connector for a tube assembly has a modular unit which can be used to establish a lateral connection through the sidewall of a tubular member positioned around it. The modular unit has a carrier ring, a coupling element, and a carrier body. The coupling element can move radially but not axially. The carrier ring has generally cylindrical inside and outside surfaces. The coupling element is carried by the carrier ring. The coupling element has a longitudinal axis which is generally radially positioned with respect to the longitudinal axis of the carrier ring. The coupling element has an inner end and an outer end and the outer end has a sealing face. A carrier body having a generally cylindrical outside surface is positioned coaxially inside the carrier ring. The cylindrical outside surface of the carrier body is adjacent to the cylindrical inside surface of the carrier ring.

Abstract: The improved structure of the present invention is provided to utilize the drilling riser tension ring and rig tensioning to tension a completion riser. A tension sleeve is provide which is secured to the upper end of the completion riser and is designed to have a diameter sufficiently small to allow it to pass through the spider in the rotary table. An adapter tension ring is also provided which is secured to the drilling riser tension ring and has a design allowing the tension sleeve to pass therethrough and be secured therein so that raising the sleeve may raise the adapter tension ring and tension exerted on the drilling riser tension ring or the adapter tension ring may be utilized in tensioning the completion riser.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved well structure and the method of connecting the support ring to the well string within the well bore which includes the steps of lowering the support ring into the well bore in surrounding relationship to the well string and into seated position in the housing seat, lowering a pressure forming tool through the well string to the level of the support ring, pressurizing the tool to form the well string into tight secured and sealed relationship within the support ring and recovering the tool from the well string. The tool includes a means of increasing the pressure used in the forming process without subjecting the interior of the string along its full length to such forming pressure. The structure includes a support ring with an exterior shoulder for engaging the seat within the housing, a sealing profile of a plurality of internal grooves each of which is partially filled with pressure compensating material and a gripping profile of a plurality of gripping teeth.

Abstract: An improved wellhead seal for sealing across the annular space between the exterior of a hanger and the interior of a wellhead housing having a seal ring with upper and lower rims, resilient metal lips on the interior of said lower rim for engaging the exterior of the hanger and gripping and sealing elements on the exterior of the upper rim and multiple camming surfaces on the interior of the upper rim and an actuating ring having multiple camming surfaces mating with the multiple camming surfaces on the upper rim so that downward movement of said actuating ring cams the gripping and sealing elements on said upper rim into tight metal-to-metal sealing engagement with the housing interior sealing surface. The sealing may be accomplished directly between the exterior of a hanger rim or by a seal ring positioned between the hanger rim and the interior housing surface.

Abstract: An improved subsea wellhead seal assembly include an annular body having a pair of lower annular skirts, one extending downwardly and outwardly and the other extending downwardly and inwardly, a lower landing ring and means movably securing the lower landing ring to the annular body so that, when the lower landing ring is landed, the annular body continues its downward movement to deform the annular skirts outwardly and inwardly into sealing engagement with the walls of the annulus. A reaction ring is provided above landing ring for engagement by the ends of skirts and spacer rings may be used to preselect the level of the sealing surface engagement by the skirts.

Abstract: An improved annular seal between tubular members in a subsea wellhead having an annular seal member with a U shape in section with the opening facing upwardly and two interengaged annular wedges for energizing the sealing surfaces of the inner and outer portions of the seal member at different levels. The interengagement of the wedges includes sufficient play to provide proper energizing of both inner and outer sealing surfaces at the same time. Further, the inner sealing surface is positioned at a much higher level than the outer sealing surface and close to the upper end of the inner member in which it is to seal to minimize the setting force for the inner sleeve and to minimize the amount of drag the seal will incur when retrieved. Also, the location of the outer sealing surface close to the inner member shoulder minimizes the reaction path of the lockdown sleeve.