Surface swivel for wellhead orientation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12590501-B2
Application number	US-202519082842-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 18, 2025
Priority date	Mar 28, 2024
Publication date	Mar 31, 2026
Grant date	Mar 31, 2026

Abstract

A surface swivel for use in a wellhead includes a mandrel configured to be connected to a first wellhead component. The surface swivel also includes a sub configured to be connected to a second wellhead component. A portion of the mandrel is positioned within the sub and another portion extends axially from the sub. A bore extends radially through the sub. The surface swivel also includes a connector configured to extend radially through the sub and to engage the mandrel so as to prevent relative rotation between the mandrel and the sub while the mandrel is being connected to the first wellhead component, while the sub is being connected to the second wellhead component, or both. The connector is configured to be removed from engagement with the mandrel so as to allow rotation between the mandrel and the sub.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A surface swivel for use in a wellhead, the surface swivel comprising:
a mandrel configured to be connected to a first wellhead component, wherein the mandrel defines a plurality of holes arranged in a first angular interval and a second angular interval, wherein the holes in the first angular interval are closer together than the holes in the second angular interval; a sub configured to be connected to a second wellhead component, wherein a portion of the mandrel is positioned within the sub and another portion extends axially from the sub, wherein a bore extends radially through the sub; and a connector configured to extend radially through the sub and to engage the mandrel so as to prevent relative rotation between the mandrel and the sub while the mandrel is being connected to the first wellhead component, while the sub is being connected to the second wellhead component, or both, and wherein the connector is configured to be removed from engagement with the mandrel so as to allow rotation between the mandrel and the sub.

2 . The surface swivel of claim 1 , wherein the connector is received through the bore and into one of the holes, so as to prevent relative rotation between the mandrel and the sub.

3 . The surface swivel of claim 1 , wherein the connector is received through the bore and one of the holes defined in the first angular interval.

4 . The surface swivel of claim 1 , further comprising a second connector configured to be received through a second bore extending radially through the sub, the second connector being received into another of the holes in the first angular interval.

5 . The surface swivel of claim 1 , further comprising a first seal between the mandrel and the sub and a second seal between the mandrel and the sub, the first and second seals being separated axially apart.

6 . The surface swivel of claim 5 , wherein a cavity is defined axially between the first seal and the second seal, and wherein an injection port is defined radially through the sub and in communication with the cavity, the injection port being configured to receive a sealant therethrough and into the cavity.

7 . The surface swivel of claim 1 , wherein the connector is receivable through the bore and into a torque-transmitting connection with the mandrel at a plurality of discrete, separated locations, and not receivable into the torque-transmitting connection with the mandrel between the plurality of discrete, separated locations.

8 . The surface swivel of claim 1 , wherein the first wellhead component comprises a casing or a casing landing base, and wherein the second wellhead component comprises a casing head housing.

9 . The surface swivel of claim 1 , further comprising a bearing positioned axially and radially between the mandrel and the sub, wherein the bearing permits the mandrel to rotate with respect to the sub while the swivel is under axial compression.

10 . The surface swivel of claim 1 , further comprising a retainer cap that is configured to be positioned at least partially within the bore, and wherein the retainer cap is configured to be positioned radially-outward from the connector when the connector is in the bore.

11 . A method for making-up and operating a wellhead, the method comprising:
connecting a sub of a swivel to a first wellhead component; connecting a mandrel of the swivel to a second wellhead component, wherein a bore extends through the sub, wherein a hole is defined at least partially in the mandrel and aligned with the bore, and wherein a connector extends through the bore and into the hole so as to prevent relative rotation between the sub and the mandrel while the swivel is being connected to the first and second wellhead components; removing the connector from the swivel after the swivel is connected to the first and second wellhead components, so as to permit relative rotation between the mandrel and the sub; and landing a casing string hanger system in the first wellhead component after removing the connector.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first wellhead component comprises a casing head housing, and wherein the second wellhead component comprises a casing or a casing landing base.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising introducing a retainer cap into the bore of the sub of the swivel after the connector is removed, wherein the retainer cap is introduced into the bore at a location that is radially-outward of where the connector was positioned.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising injecting a sealant through an injection port formed in the sub, into a cavity formed in the sub that is axially between first and second seals positioned to form a sealing engagement between the sub and the mandrel.

15 . A method for making-up and operating a wellhead, the method comprising:
connecting a sub of a swivel to a first wellhead component; connecting a mandrel of the swivel to a second wellhead component, wherein a bore extends through the sub, wherein a hole is defined at least partially in the mandrel and aligned with the bore, and wherein a connector extends through the bore and into the hole so as to prevent relative rotation between the sub and the mandrel while the swivel is being connected to the first and second wellhead components; removing the connector from the swivel after the swivel is connected to the first and second wellhead components, so as to permit relative rotation between the mandrel and the sub; and rotating the first wellhead component and the sub with respect to the mandrel after the connector is removed.

16 . A surface swivel, comprising:
a sub configured to be connected to a first wellhead component, wherein the sub defines a plurality of locking pin bores radially therethrough; a mandrel configured to be connected to a second wellhead component, the mandrel being received at least partially within the sub so as to form a flowpath through the sub and the mandrel, wherein the mandrel defines a plurality of holes extending at least partially therein, and wherein the holes are axially aligned with the locking pin bores, wherein there are more of the plurality of holes than the plurality of locking pin bores, and wherein the mandrel defines a first angular interval and a second angular interval, the plurality of holes being closer together in the first angular interval than in the second angular interval; and a plurality of connectors received through circumferentially-aligned pairs of the locking pin bores and into the holes, wherein the plurality of connectors are configured to provide a torque-transmitting connection between the sub and the mandrel, and are removable to permit relative rotation between the sub and the mandrel, and wherein the plurality of connectors are configured to lock the swivel at a plurality of discrete, separate locations and not between the plurality of discrete, separate locations.

17 . The surface swivel of claim 16 , further comprising:
a first seal and a second seal, the first and second seals forming a sealing engagement between the mandrel and the sub; a cavity formed axially between the first seal and the second seal; an injection port extending through the sub and in communication with the cavity, the injection port being configured to receive a sealant therethrough and into the cavity; and an axial bearing between the mandrel and the sub configured to permit relative rotation therebetween while the mandrel and the sub are compressed axially together, wherein the first seal, the second seal, the ca

Assignees

• Innovex Downhole Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Marr Graeme
• Sluys Nicolas
• Viswanathan Alagappan

Classifications

• E21B33/038

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

• E21B33/0415 Primary

  rotating or floating support for tubing or casing hanger · CPC title