System and methods of use for a blind plug

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11828140-B2
Application number	US-201917597931-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 2, 2019
Priority date	Aug 2, 2019
Publication date	Nov 28, 2023
Grant date	Nov 28, 2023

Abstract

A valve block may be provided with a plurality of flow bores within a body the valve block. In addition, valve block may have a plurality of openings opening at an outer surface of the valve block and in fluid communication with the plurality of flow bores. Further, a blind plug may be within at least one of the openings. The blind may include a cap coupled to an inner surface of the at least one opening and a plug having a first end face in contact with the cap and a second end face extending into the flow bore. Furthermore, the blind plug may seal the at least one opening from a surrounding environment.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A valve block, comprising:
a plurality of flow bores within a body of the valve block;
a plurality of openings opening at an outer surface of the valve block and in fluid communication with the plurality of flow bores;
a blind plug within at least one of the openings, the blind plug comprising:
a cap coupled to the valve block; and
a plug extending from the cap into the flow bore,

wherein the blind plug seals the at least one opening from a surrounding environment;
a first seal disposed between an outer surface of the plug and an inner surface of the flow bore; and
an area between the blind plug and the flow bore sealed between the first seal and a second seal disposed around the blind plug.

2. The valve block of claim 1 , wherein a pressure energizer is disposed within the plug and in communication with the first seal.

3. The valve block of claim 2 , wherein the pressure energizer is in fluid communication with the area between the first seal and the second seal.

4. The valve block of claim 1 , wherein the plug comprises a threaded cylinder to position and hold the first seal.

5. The valve block of claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises a bore extending through the thickness of the cap.

6. The valve block of claim 1 , wherein the second end face comprises a wear resistant material.

7. The valve block of claim 1 , further comprising an anti-erosion cap disposed at an end face of the plug.

8. The valve block of claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises a threaded surface to thread with a threaded portion of the inner surface of the at least one opening.

9. The valve block of claim 1 , wherein the cap is bolted to the outer surface of the valve block.

10. The valve block of claim 1 , wherein the cap and the plug are integrally formed.

11. A method for manufacturing a valve block, comprising:
machining one or more flow bores in a body of the valve block;
providing at least one opening in fluid communication with the one or more flow bores;
positioning a blind plug within the at least one opening;
coupling a cap of the blind plug to the valve block;
sealing the at least one openings with the blind plug from an environment surrounding the body of the valve block by sealingly engaging an outer surface of the blind plug to an inner surface of the flow bore;
applying pressure through a pressure energizer in the blind plug to a first seal disposed between the blind plug and the inner surface of the flow bore; and
sealing an area between the first seal and the cap with a second seal.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the coupling comprises engaging a threaded surface provided on the cap of the blind plug to a threaded portion of the inner surface of the at least one opening.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the coupling comprises bolting the cap of the blind plug to an outer surface of the valve block.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising cladding the one or more flow bores and/or the at least one opening.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising coating the blind plug with erosion resistant materials.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising using the applied pressure to pressure test the sealing of the area between the first seal and the second seal.

17. A blind plug, comprising:
a cap having a first end surface and a second end surface opposite the first end surface, wherein an outer surface of the cap comprises a connecting surface;
a plug having a first end face and a second end face opposite the first end face, wherein the first end face of the plug is in contact with the second end surface of the cap;
a first seal disposed around an outer surface of the plug between the first end face and the second end face; and
a second seal disposed adjacent a beveled edge of the cap to seal an area between the plug and the cap.

18. The blind plug of claim 17 , wherein the plug is removably attached to the cap.

19. The blind plug of claim 17 , wherein the plug comprises a pressure energizer in communication with the first seal.

20. The blind plug of claim 17 , further comprising at least one anti-erosion cap in contact with the second end face of the plug.

Assignees

• Fmc Tech Inc

Inventors

• Faisca Andre
• Bernardo Leonardo
• Bonfim Jorge
• Bernardo Renato
• Moura Guilherme
• Lai Huei
• Galvao Rafael

Classifications

• E21B43/017 Primary

  Production satellite stations, i.e. underwater installations comprising a plurality of satellite well heads connected to a central station · CPC title

• E21B41/0007

  for underwater installations (E21B41/005, E21B41/04, E21B41/06, E21B41/08, E21B41/10 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B43/013

  Connecting a production flow line to an underwater well head · CPC title

• E21B43/01

  specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations · CPC title

• F16J13/14

  attached exclusively by spring action or elastic action · CPC title