Mudline suspension metal-to-metal sealing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9580986-B2
Application number	US-201214411041-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2012
Priority date	Jun 28, 2012
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

Generally, the present disclosure is directed to metal-to-metal sealing systems and methods for use with the various pressure-retaining components, and in particular to pressure-retaining components that may be used in mudline suspension systems. In one illustrative embodiment, a system is disclosed that includes a first pressure-retaining component having an outside face, the outside face including first and second metal sealing surfaces proximate an end of the first pressure-retaining component, wherein the second metal sealing surface is positioned along the outside face between the first metal sealing surface and the end of the first pressure-retaining component. The system further includes, among other things, a second pressure-retaining component having an inside face, the inside face of the second pressure-retaining component including a third metal sealing surface that is adapted to sealingly engage at least the first metal sealing surface.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A system, comprising:
a first pressure-retaining component having a first end, said first pressure-retaining component comprising:
a first contact stop surface proximate said first end and positioned on an inside face of said first pressure-retaining component; and
first and second metal sealing surfaces proximate said first end and positioned on an outside face of said first pressure-retaining component, wherein said second metal sealing surface is positioned along said outside face between said first metal sealing surface and said first end of said first pressure-retaining component; and

a second pressure-retaining component having a second end that is adapted to be removably attached to said first end of said first pressure-retaining component, said second pressure-retaining component comprising:
a second contact stop surface; and
a third metal sealing surface proximate said second end and positioned on an inside face of said second pressure-retaining component, wherein said third metal sealing surface is adapted to sealingly engage at least said first metal sealing surface and wherein said second contact stop surface is adapted to contact said first contact stop surface as said third metal sealing surface sealingly engages said first metal sealing surface.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said outside face comprises first and second outside face portions, said first outside face portion comprising said first metal sealing surface and said second outside face portion comprising said second metal sealing surface.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein said second metal sealing surface of said second outside face portion is recessed along said outside face relative to said first metal sealing surface of said first outside face portion.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein said second and third metal sealing surfaces define a first gap therebetween when said third metal sealing surface is sealingly engaged with said first metal sealing surface.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein said first metal sealing surface of said first outside face portion comprises a first frustoconical sealing surface having a first taper angle, said second metal sealing surface of said second outside face portion comprises a second frustoconical sealing surface having a second taper angle, and said third metal sealing surface of said inside face of said second pressure-retaining component comprises a third frustoconical sealing surface having a third taper angle.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein said third taper angle is substantially the same as said first taper angle.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein said second taper angle is substantially the same as said first taper angle.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first contact stop surface comprises a first frustoconical contact stop surface having a first contact stop taper angle and said second contact stop surface comprises a second frustoconical contact stop surface having a second contact stop taper angle.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein said second contact stop taper angle is substantially the same as said first contact stop taper angle.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a third pressure-retaining component having a third end that is adapted to be attached to said first end of said first pressure-retaining component after said second pressure-retaining component has been detached from said first end of said first pressure-retaining component, said third pressure-retaining component comprising an inside face proximate said third end thereof, wherein said inside face of said third pressure-retaining component comprises a fourth metal sealing surface that is adapted to sealingly engage at least said second metal sealing surface when said third end of said third pressure-retaining component is attached to said first end of said first pressure-retaining component.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein said inside face of said third pressure-retaining component comprises first and second inside face portions, said second inside face portion being positioned between said first inside face portion and said third end of said third pressure-retaining component, said first inside face portion comprising said fourth metal sealing surface, and said second inside face portion being recessed relative to said fourth metal sealing surface of said first inside face portion.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein said second inside surface portion and said first metal sealing surface define a second gap therebetween when said fourth metal sealing surface is sealingly engaged with said second metal sealing surface.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein said first metal sealing surface of said first outside face portion comprises a first frustoconical sealing surface having a first taper angle, said second metal sealing surface of said second outside face portion comprises a second frustoconical sealing surface having a second taper angle, and said fourth metal sealing surface of said inside face of said second pressure-retaining component comprises a fourth frustoconical sealing surface having a fourth taper angle.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein said fourth taper angle is substantially the same as said first taper angle.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein said third pressure-retaining component further comprises a third contact stop surface that is adapted to contact said first contact stop surface as said fourth metal sealing surface sealingly engages said second metal sealing surface.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein said first contact stop surface comprises a first frustoconical contact stop surface having a first contact stop taper angle and said third contact stop surface comprises a third frustoconical contact stop surface having a third contact stop taper angle.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein said third contact stop taper angle is substantially the same as said first contact stop taper angle.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein said inside face of said first pressure-retaining component is a tapered surface that angles away from said first end and toward a centerline of said first pressure-retaining component, and wherein said outside face of said first pressure-retaining component is a tapered surface that angles away from said first end and away from said centerline.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first contact stop surface is spaced apart and separate from said first and second metal sealing surfaces.

20. A system, comprising:
a first pressure-retaining component comprising first and second frustoconical metal sealing surfaces proximate a first end of said first pressure-retaining component and on an outside face thereof, wherein said second frustoconical metal sealing surface is positioned along said outside face between said first frustoconical metal sealing surface and said first end of said first pressure-retaining component;
a second pressure-retaining component having a second end that is adapted to be removably attached to said first end of said first pressure-retaining component, said second pressure-retaining component comprising a third frustoconical metal sealing surface proximate said second end of said second pressure-retaining component and on an inside face thereof, wherein said second pressure-retaining component is adapted to cover but not contact said second frustoconical metal sealing surface and said third frustoconical metal sealing surface is adapted to sealingly engage at least said first frustoconical metal sealing sur

Assignees

• Kuo Hao-Ching
• Kumar Ashish
• Fmc Tech Inc

Inventors

• Kuo Hao-Ching
• Kumar Ashish

Classifications

• F16J15/08

  with exclusively metal packing · CPC title

• F16J15/0806

  characterised by material or surface treatment · CPC title

• E21B33/043 Primary

  specially adapted for underwater well heads ({E21B33/0407,} E21B33/047 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16J15/0887

  the sealing effect being obtained by elastic deformation of the packing · CPC title

• E21B33/038

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