Wellhead system with gasket seal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10151167-B2
Application number	US-201615213103-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2016
Priority date	Mar 5, 2012
Publication date	Dec 11, 2018
Grant date	Dec 11, 2018

Abstract

An offshore well system for a subsea well. The system includes a floating platform, an external riser and an internal riser nested within the external riser. A external riser tension device tensions the external riser. The drilling system also includes a surface wellhead system that includes a wellhead, a collet, and a flange assembly. The wellhead, collet, and flange assembly are assembled to establish a common bore for receiving the top of the internal riser. A gasket located between the top of the internal riser and an inner shoulder of the flange assembly seals between the wellhead system and the top of the internal riser. The surface wellhead system also retains the internal riser in tension with the wellhead, the internal riser extending above the wellhead into the collet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system to establish a fluid connection with a riser, comprising:
a spool attachable to a wellhead;
a connector assembly located above and attachable to the spool; and
a seal configured to be located between and in direct contact with a top surface of the riser and the connector assembly such that the seal forms a seal between the connector assembly and the top surface of the riser.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the connector assembly comprises a flange; and
the seal comprises a gasket.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein engagement of the connector assembly with the riser is configured to energize the seal to form the seal against the riser.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the engagement of the connector assembly with the riser compresses the seal to form the seal.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the riser extends through the spool.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a spacer spool attachable to the spool and configured to position the connector assembly to accommodate the height of the riser.

7. A system to establish a fluid connection with a tubular member, comprising:
a collet comprising a tapered upper portion comprising fingers collapsible to grip the outside of the tubular member;
a connector assembly attachable to the collet; and
a seal configured to be located between and in contact with a top surface of the tubular member and the connector assembly such that the seal forms a seal between the connector assembly and the top surface of the tubular member.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein:
the collet is attachable to a wellhead; and
the connector assembly is located above the collet.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein:
the tubular member comprises a riser;
the connector assembly comprises a flange; and
the seal comprises a gasket.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein engagement of the connector assembly with the tubular member energizes the seal to form the seal against the tubular member.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the engagement of the connector assembly with the tubular member compresses the seal to form the seal.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the tubular member extends through the collet.

13. The system of claim 7 , wherein:
the connector assembly further comprises an inner tapered portion that matches the collet tapered upper portion; and
engagement of the connector assembly inner tapered portion with the collet tapered upper portion is configured to collapse the collapsible fingers against the outside of the riser to grip the outside of the tubular member.

14. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a spacer spool attachable to the collet and configured to position the collet and the connector assembly to accommodate the height of the tubular member.

15. A system to establish a fluid connection with a riser, comprising:
a spool attachable to a wellhead;
a gripping mechanism attachable to the spool and configured to directly grip an outer surface of the riser;
a connector assembly located above and attachable to the gripping mechanism; and
a seal located between a top surface of the riser and the connector assembly, the seal configured to form a seal between the connector assembly and the top surface of the riser.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein:
the connector assembly comprises a flange; and
the seal comprises a gasket.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the gripping mechanism is selected from one of a collet and a dog.

Assignees

• Cameron Int Corp

Inventors

• Cain David
• Puccio William F
• Chou Shian J
• Cheruvu Vijay A
• Guidry Kirk P
• Trimble Clint

Classifications

• E21B33/035

  specially adapted for underwater installations (E21B33/043, E21B33/064, E21B33/076 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B33/038 Primary

  Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser · CPC title

• E21B19/006

  including heave compensators · CPC title

• E21B19/004

  supporting a riser from a drilling or production platform · CPC title

• E21B33/04

  Casing heads; Suspending casings or tubings in well heads · CPC title