Claims
- 1. In a wellhead assembly of the type having a wellhead housing, a casing hanger landed in a bore of the wellhead housing for supporting a string of casing, an annular space located between the casing hanger and the wellhead housing bore, a metal seal member located in the annular space having cylindrical inner and outer walls spaced radially apart from each other, defining a central annular cavity, an annular energizing member carried by the seal member and movable between an upper position spaced above the cavity and a lower position in the cavity forcing the inner and outer walls apart to seal the annular space, the improvement comprising in combination:
- a wellhead housing test passage extending laterally from the exterior of the wellhead housing to the bore of the wellhead housing in the annular space;
- a seal member test passage extending laterally through each of the inner and outer walls of the seal member in communication with the wellhead housing test passage;
- an energizing member test passage extending laterally through the energizing member in communication with the seal member test passage when the energizing member is in the lower position, enabling an operator to apply pressure to the wellhead housing, seal member, and energizing member test passages to determine if leakage past the seal exists.
- 2. The wellhead assembly according to claim 1 wherein the energizing member has an upper portion and a lower portion terminating in a tapered nose, the upper portion locating above the seal member test passage and the lower portion and nose locating below the seal member test passage when the energizing member is in the lower position; and wherein
- the upper portion of the energizing member has a cross-sectional thickness and the lower portion of the energizing member has a cross-sectional thickness that is less than the cross-sectional thickness of the upper portion.
- 3. The wellhead assembly according to claim 1 wherein the energizing member has an upper portion and a lower portion, terminating in a tapered nose, the upper and lower portions each having concentric cylindrical inner and outer walls, the upper portion locating above the seal member test passage and the lower portion and nose locating below the seal member test passage when the energizing member is in the lower position; and wherein
- the upper portion of the energizing member has a constant cross-sectional thickness and the lower portion of the energizing member has a constant cross-sectional thickness that is slightly less than the cross-sectional thickness of the upper portion.
- 4. The wellhead assembly according to claim 1 wherein the energizing member has an upper portion and a lower portion, terminating in a tapered nose, the upper portion having parallel inner and outer walls, the upper portion locating above the seal member test passage and the lower portion and nose locating below the seal member test passage when the energizing member is in the lower position; and wherein
- the upper portion of the energizing member has a constant cross-sectional thickness and the lower portion of the energizing member has a tapered cross-sectional thickness that has an upper margin that is of no greater thickness than the upper portion and which decreases in thickness in a downward direction to a lower margin at the junction with the nose.
- 5. In a wellhead assembly of the type having a wellhead housing, a casing hanger landed in a bore of the wellhead housing for supporting a string of casing, an annular space located between the casing hanger and the wellhead housing bore, a metal seal member located in the annular space, an annular energizing member carried by the seal member and movable to a lower position to deform the seal member to seal the annular space, the improvement comprising in combination:
- a wellhead housing test passage extending laterally from the exterior of the wellhead housing to the bore of the wellhead housing in the annular space;
- a seal member test passage extending laterally through the seal member in communication with the wellhead housing test passage; and
- an energizing member test passage extending laterally through the energizing member in communication with the seal member test passage when the energizing member is in the lower position, enabling an operator to apply pressure to the wellhead housing, seal member, and energizing member test passages to determine if leakage past the seal exists.
- 6. The wellhead assembly according to claim 5 wherein a lower portion of the seal member below the seal member test passage and an upper portion of the seal member above the seal member test passage sealingly engage the casing hanger and bore of the wellhead housing, forming primary and secondary seals, respectively.
- 7. In a wellhead assembly of the type having a wellhead housing, a casing hanger landed in a bore of the wellhead housing for supporting a string of casing, an annular space located between the casing hanger and the wellhead housing bore, a metal seal member located in the annular space, an annular energizing member carried by the seal member and movable to a lower position to deform the seal member to seal the annular space, the improvement comprising in combination:
- a wellhead housing test passage extending from the exterior of the wellhead housing to the bore of the wellhead housing in the annular space;
- a seal member test passage extending through the seal member in communication with the wellhead housing test passage; and
- an energizing member test passage extending through the energizing member in communication with the seal member test passage when the energizing member is in the lower position, enabling an operator to apply pressure to the wellhead housing, seal member, and energizing member test passages to determine if leakage past the seal exists; and wherein
- the energizing member has an upper portion and a lower portion terminating in a tapered nose, the upper portion locating above the energizing member test passage and the lower portion and nose locating below the energizing member test passage when the energizing member is in the lower position; and wherein
- the upper portion of the energizing member has a cross-sectional thickness and the lower portion of the energizing member has a cross-sectional thickness that is less than the cross-sectional thickness of the upper portion.
- 8. In a wellhead assembly of the type having a wellhead housing, a casing hanger landed in a bore of the wellhead housing for supporting a string of casing, an annular space located between the casing hanger and the wellhead housing bore, a metal seal member located in the annular space, an annular energizing member carried by the seal member and movable to a lower position to deform the seal member to seal the annular space, the improvement comprising in combination:
- a wellhead housing test passage extending from the exterior of the wellhead housing to the bore of the wellhead housing in the annular space;
- a seal member test passage extending through the seal member in communication with the wellhead housing test passage; and
- an energizing member test passage extending through the energizing member in communication with the seal member test passage when the energizing member is in the lower position, enabling an operator to apply pressure to the wellhead housing, seal member, and energizing member test passages to determine if leakage past the seal exists; and wherein
- the energizing member has an upper portion and a lower portion, terminating in a tapered nose, the upper and lower portions each having concentric, cylindrical inner and outer walls, the upper portion locating above the energizing member test passage and the lower portion and nose locating below the energizing member test passage when the energizing member is in the lower position; and wherein
- the upper portion of the energizing member has a constant cross-sectional thickness and the lower portion of the energizing member has a constant cross-sectional thickness that is slightly less than the cross-sectional thickness of the upper portion.
- 9. In a wellhead assembly of the type having a wellhead housing, a casing hanger landed in a bore of the wellhead housing for supporting a string of casing, an annular space located between the casing hanger and the wellhead housing bore, a metal seal member located in the annular space, an annular energizing member carried by the seal member and movable to a lower position to deform the seal member to seal the annular space, the improvement comprising in combination:
- a wellhead housing test passage extending from the exterior of the wellhead housing to the bore of the wellhead housing in the annular space;
- a seal member test passage extending through the seal member in communication with the wellhead housing test passage; and
- an energizing member test passage extending through the energizing member in communication with the seal member test passage when the energizing member is in the lower position, enabling an operator to apply pressure to the wellhead housing, seal member, and energizing member test passages to determine if leakage past the seal exists; and wherein
- the energizing member has an upper portion and a lower portion, terminating in a tapered nose, the upper portion having parallel cylindrical inner and outer walls, the upper portion locating above the seal member test passage and the lower portion and nose locating below the seal member test passage when the energizing member is in the lower position; and wherein
- the upper portion of the energizing member has a constant cross-sectional thickness and the lower portion of the energizing member has a tapered cross-sectional thickness that has an upper margin that is of no greater thickness than the upper portion and which decreases in thickness in a downward direction to a lower margin at the junction with the nose.
- 10. In a wellhead assembly of the type having a wellhead housing, a casing hanger landed in a bore of the wellhead housing for supporting a string of casing, an annular space located between the casing hanger and the wellhead housing bore, a seal member located in the annular space having cylindrical inner and outer walls spaced radially apart from each other, defining a central annular cavity, an annular energizing member carried by the seal member and movable between an upper position spaced above the cavity and to a lower position in the cavity forcing the inner and outer walls apart to seal the annular space, the improvement comprising in combination:
- a wellhead housing test passage extending from the exterior of the wellhead housing to the bore of the wellhead housing in the annular space;
- a seal member test passage extending through each of the inner and outer walls of the seal member in communication with the wellhead housing test passage;
- an energizing member test passage extending through the energizing member in communication with the seal member test passage when the energizing member is in the lower position, enabling an operator to apply pressure to the wellhead housing, seal member, and energizing member test passages to determine if leakage past the seal exists;
- the energizing member having an upper portion and a lower portion terminating in a tapered nose, the upper portion locating above the energizing member test passage and the lower portion and nose locating below the energizing member test passage when the energizing member is in the lower position; and
- the upper portion of the energizing member having a cross-sectional thickness and the lower portion of the energizing member has a cross-sectional thickness that is less than the cross-sectional thickness of the upper portion.
- 11. The wellhead assembly according to claim 10 wherein the upper portion and the lower portion each has parallel inner and outer walls, providing constant cross-sectional thicknesses in the upper and the lower portion.
- 12. The wellhead assembly according to claim 10 wherein the upper portion has a constant cross-sectional thickness and the lower portion of the energizing member has a tapered cross-sectional thickness that has an upper margin that is of no greater thickness than the upper portion and which decreases in thickness in a downward direction to a lower margin at the junction with the nose.
- 13. The wellhead assembly according to claim 10 wherein a lower portion of the seal member below the seal member test passage and an upper portion of the seal member above the seal member test passage sealingly engage the casing hanger and bore of the wellhead housing, forming primary and secondary seals, respectively.
- 14. The wellhead assembly according to claim 10 further comprising:
- displacement passage means extending from a lower end of the energizing member upward for allowing trapped fluid contained in the cavity to flow out of the cavity as the energizing member moves to the lower position.
- 15. In a wellhead assembly of the type having a wellhead housing, a casing hanger landed in a bore of the wellhead housing for supporting a string of casing, an annular space located between the casing hanger and the wellhead housing bore, a seal member located in the annular space having cylindrical inner and outer walls spaced radially apart from each other, defining a central annulus cavity, an annular energizing member carried by the seal member and movable between an upper position spaced above the cavity and a lower position in the cavity, forcing the inner and outer walls apart to seal the annular space, the improvement comprising in combination:
- a wellhead housing test passage extending laterally from the exterior of the wellhead housing to the bore of the wellhead housing in the annular space;
- a seal member test passage extending laterally through each of the inner and outer walls in communication with the wellhead housing test passage, the seal member test passage dividing the seal member into a lower portion which forms a primary seal with the wellhead housing and the casing hanger and an upper portion which forms a secondary seal with the wellhead housing and casing hanger;
- an energizing member test passage laterally extending through the energizing member in communication with the seal member test passage when the energizing member is in the lower position, enabling an operator to apply pressure to the wellhead housing, seal member, and energizing member test passages to determine if leakage past the primary and secondary seals exist; and
- a displacement passage extending through the energizing member to the exterior of the energizing member from a lower end of the energizing member upward for allowing trapped fluid contained in the cavity to flow out of the cavity as the energizing member moves to the lower position.
- 16. In a wellhead assembly of the type having a wellhead housing, a casing hanger landed in a bore of the wellhead housing for supporting a string of casing, an annular space located between the casing hanger and the wellhead housing bore, a metal seal member located in the annular space having cylindrical inner and outer walls spaced radially apart from each other, defining a central annulus cavity, an annular energizing member carried by the seal member and movable between an upper position spaced above the cavity and a lower position in the cavity, forcing the inner and outer walls apart to seal the annular space, the improvement comprising in combination:
- a wellhead housing test passage extending from the exterior of the wellhead housing to the bore of the wellhead housing in the annular space;
- a seal member test passage extending through each of the inner and outer walls in communication with the wellhead housing test passage, the seal member test passage dividing the seal member into a lower portion which forms a primary seal with the wellhead housing and the casing hanger and an upper portion which forms a secondary seal with the wellhead housing and casing hanger;
- an energizing member test passage extending through the energizing member in communication with the seal member test passage when the energizing member is in the lower position, enabling an operator to apply pressure to the wellhead housing, seal member, and energizing member test passages to determine if leakage past the primary and secondary seals exist; and
- a displacement passage extending through the energizing member to the exterior of the energizing member from a lower end of the energizing member upward for allowing trapped fluid contained in the cavity to flow out of the cavity as the energizing member moves to the lower position; and wherein
- the displacement passage is isolated from the energizing member test passage.
- 17. The wellhead assembly according to claim 15 wherein an annular recess extends around each side of the energizing member at an entrance and exit of the energizing member test passage.
- 18. The wellhead assembly according to claim 15 wherein the energizing member has an upper portion and a lower portion terminating in a tapered nose, the upper portion locating above the energizing member test passage and the lower portion and nose locating below the energizing member test passage when the energizing member is in the lower position; and wherein
- the upper portion of the energizing member has a cross-sectional thickness and the lower portion of the energizing member has a cross-sectional thickness that is less than the cross-sectional thickness of the upper portion.
- 19. In a wellhead assembly of the type having a wellhead housing, a casing hanger landed in a bore of the wellhead housing for supporting a string of casing, an annular space located between the casing hanger and the wellhead housing bore, a metal seal member located in the annular space having cylindrical inner and outer walls spaced radially apart from each other, defining a central annulus cavity, an annular energizing member carried by the seal member and movable between an upper position spaced above the cavity and a lower position in the cavity, forcing the inner and outer walls apart to seal the annular space, the improvement comprising in combination:
- a wellhead housing test passage extending from the exterior of the wellhead housing to the bore of the wellhead housing in the annular space;
- a seal member test passage extending through each of the inner and outer walls in communication with the wellhead housing test passage, the seal member test passage dividing the seal member into a lower portion which forms a primary seal with the wellhead housing and the casing hanger and an upper portion which forms a secondary seal with the wellhead housing and casing hanger;
- an energizing member test passage extending through the energizing member in communication with the seal member test passage when the energizing member is in the lower position, enabling an operator to apply pressure to the wellhead housing, seal member, and energizing member test passages to determine if leakage past the primary and secondary seals exist; and
- a displacement passage extending through the energizing member to the exterior of the energizing member from a lower end of the energizing member upward for allowing trapped fluid contained in the cavity to flow out of the cavity as the energizing member moves to the lower position; and wherein
- the energizing member has an upper portion and a lower portion, terminating in a tapered nose, the upper and lower portions each having parallel cylindrical inner and outer walls, the upper portion locating above the energizing member test passage and the lower portion and nose locating below the energizing member test passage when the energizing member is in the lower position; and wherein
- the upper portion of the energizing member has a constant cross-sectional thickness and the lower portion of the energizing member has a constant cross-sectional thickness that is slightly less than the cross-sectional thickness of the upper portion.
- 20. In a wellhead assembly of the type having a wellhead housing, a casing hanger landed in a bore of the wellhead housing for supporting a string of casing, an annular space located between the casing hanger and the wellhead housing bore, a metal seal member located in the annular space having cylindrical inner and outer walls spaced radially apart from each other, defining a central annulus cavity, an annular energizing member carried by the seal member and movable between an upper position spaced above the cavity and a lower position in the cavity, forcing the inner and outer walls apart to seal the annular space, the improvement comprising in combination:
- a wellhead housing test passage extending from the exterior of the wellhead housing to the bore of the wellhead housing in the annular space;
- a seal member test passage extending through each of the inner and outer walls in communication with the wellhead housing test passage, the seal member test passage dividing the seal member into a lower portion which forms a primary seal with the wellhead housing and the casing hanger and an upper portion which forms a secondary seal with the wellhead housing and casing hanger;
- an energizing member test passage extending through the energizing member in communication with the seal member test passage when the energizing member is in the lower position, enabling an operator to apply pressure to the wellhead housing, seal member, and energizing member test passages to determine if leakage past the primary and secondary seals exist; and
- a displacement passage extending through the energizing member to the exterior of the energizing member from a lower end of the energizing member upward for allowing trapped fluid contained in the cavity to flow out of the cavity as the energizing member moves to the lower position; and wherein
- the energizing member has an upper portion and a lower portion, terminating in a tapered nose, the upper and lower portion having parallel cylindrical inner and outer walls, the upper portion locating above the seal member test passage and the lower portion and nose locating below the seal member test passage when the energizing member is in the lower position; and wherein
- the upper portion of the energizing member has a constant cross-sectional thickness and the lower portion of the energizing member has a tapered cross-sectional thickness that has an upper margin that is of no greater thickness than the upper portion and which decreases in thickness in a downward direction to a lower margin at the junction with the nose.
- 21. In a method of installing a casing hanger within a bore of a wellhead housing, including installing between the casing hanger and wellhead housing a seal member with cylindrical inner and outer walls spaced radially from each other, moving an annular energizing member downward to a lower position between the inner and outer walls and forcing apart the inner and outer walls to seal between the wellhead housing and the casing hanger, the improvement comprising:
- providing a wellhead housing test passage extending laterally from the exterior of the wellhead to the bore of the wellhead housing;
- providing a seal member test passage extending laterally through each of the inner and outer walls in communication with the wellhead housing test passage;
- providing an energizing member test passage extending laterally through the energizing member in communication with the seal member test passage when the energizing member is in the lower position; and
- applying pressure to the wellhead housing, seal member and energizing member test passages and monitoring the bore of the wellhead housing to determine if leakage exists.
- 22. The method according to claim 21 wherein the step of providing a seal member test passage locates the seal member test passage so that the downward movement of the energizing member provides a primary seal below the seal member test passage and a secondary seal above the seal member test passage.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 07/805,416, filed Dec. 10, 1991 abandoned now.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
805416 |
Dec 1991 |
|