Method and apparatus for connecting tubulars of a wellsite

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9657536-B2
Application number	US-201214232890-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 9, 2012
Priority date	Aug 8, 2011
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

Abstract

A tubular and tubular connection for joining adjacent tubulars of a tubular string for passage of fluid therethrough is provided. The tubular connection includes a pin end at an end of a first of adjacent tubulars and a box end at an end of a second of the adjacent tubulars. The pin end has an outer locking surface. The box end has a plurality of fingers at an end thereof with slots therebetween. The fingers are selectively extendable for placement about the pin end of the first of the adjacent tubulars. The fingers having an inner locking surface for interlocking engagement with the outer locking surface of the pin end whereby loads are distributed between the adjacent tubulars.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tubular connection for joining adjacent tubulars of a tubular string for passage of fluid therethrough, the tubular connection comprising:
a pin end located at an end of a first of the adjacent tubulars, the pin end having an outer locking surface;
a box end located at an end of a second of the adjacent tubulars, the box end having a plurality of fingers located at an end region thereof with slots positioned therebetween, the plurality of fingers selectively extendable for placement about the pin end of the first of the adjacent tubulars, the plurality of fingers having an inner locking surface for interlocking engagement with the outer locking surface of the pin end whereby loads are distributed between the adjacent tubulars; and
at least one wedge configured to secure the plurality of fingers about the pin end.

2. The tubular connection of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wedge comprises an external wedge securable about the plurality of fingers.

3. The tubular connection of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wedge comprises an inner wedge and an outer wedge securable about the plurality of fingers.

4. The tubular connection of claim 1 , wherein the external wedge has a curved rim for receiving an end of the plurality of fingers.

5. The tubular connection of claim 1 , further comprising a connector for securing the at least one wedge about the box end.

6. The tubular connection of claim 1 , wherein the inner and outer locking surfaces comprise a plurality of interlocking grooves.

7. The tubular connection of claim 1 , wherein the box end has a shoulder for receiving the pin end with a gap therebetween.

8. The tubular connection of claim 1 , wherein the box end terminates in a tapered edge.

9. The tubular connection of claim 1 , further comprising a seal ring positionable along an interior of the pin end and an interior of the box end for forming a seal therebetween.

10. The tubular connection of claim 9 , further comprising at least one gasket positionable about the seal ring.

11. The tubular connection of claim 1 , further comprising a bracket assembly comprising a pin flange positionable about the pin end and a box flange positionable about the box end of the adjacent tubulars.

12. The tubular connection of claim 11 , wherein the pin end has a pin shoulder for supporting the pin flange and the box end has a box shoulder for supporting the box flange.

13. The tubular connection of claim 11 , wherein the pin flange and the box flange have holes for supporting a conduit therethrough.

14. The tubular connection of claim 11 , wherein the bracket assembly further comprises at least one connector for securing the at least one conduit in the pin and box flanges.

15. A tubular for connecting to a tubular string for passage of fluid therethrough, the tubular comprising:
a tubing;
a pin end located at a first end of the tubing, the pin end having an outer locking surface;
a box end located at a second end of the tubing, the box end having a plurality of discrete fingers located at an end region thereof, the plurality of fingers selectively extendable for placement about the pin end of an adjacent tubular, the plurality of fingers having an inner locking surface for interlocking engagement with the outer locking surface of the pin end of the adjacent tubular whereby loads are distributed between the adjacent tubulars; and
at least one wedge positionable about the box end for securing the plurality of fingers about the pin end.

16. The tubular of claim 15 , wherein the at least one wedge comprises an external wedge securable about the plurality of fingers.

17. The tubular of claim 15 , wherein the at least one wedge comprises an inner wedge and an outer wedge securable about the plurality of fingers.

18. The tubular of claim 15 , wherein the inner and outer locking surfaces comprise a plurality of interlocking grooves.

19. The tubular of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of fingers are spreadable by advancing a wedge tool into the box end.

20. The tubular of claim 15 , further comprising a bracket assembly comprising a pin flange positionable about the pin end and a box flange positionable about the box end.

21. The tubular of claim 20 , wherein the pin flange and the box flange have at least one hole therethrough for receivingly supporting at least one conduit.

22. A bracket assembly for connecting adjacent tubulars of a tubular string for passage of fluid therethrough, each of the adjacent tubulars having a pin end and a box end, the bracket assembly comprising:
a pin flange positionable about the pin end of a first of the adjacent tubulars;
a box flange positionable about the box end of a second of the adjacent tubulars; and
at least one wedge securable about the box end of the second of the adjacent tubulars;
wherein the pin flange and the box flange have corresponding holes for supporting at least one conduit therethrough.

23. The bracket assembly of claim 22 , further comprising at least one connector for securing the at least one conduit to the pin and box flanges.

24. The bracket assembly of claim 23 , wherein the pin and box flanges are removably connectable to the pin and box ends.

25. The bracket assembly of claim 23 , wherein the pin and box flanges are affixed to the pin and box ends.

26. The bracket assembly of claim 23 , wherein the pin and box flanges are removably connectable to the at least one wedge.

27. The bracket assembly of claim 23 , wherein the at least one wedge is threadably connectable to the pin flange and the box flange.

28. The bracket assembly of claim 23 , wherein the at least one wedge comprises an external wedge.

29. The bracket assembly of claim 23 , wherein the box end has a plurality of fingers at an end thereof with slots therebetween, the plurality of fingers selectively extendable for placement about the pin end of the second of the plurality of tubulars.

30. The bracket assembly of claim 23 , wherein the conduit is at least one of a choke, kill, hydraulics, riser fill up, electrical, and fluid.

31. The bracket assembly of claim 23 , wherein the at least one wedge comprises an inner wedge and an outer wedge.

32. The bracket assembly of claim 31 , wherein the outer wedge has a rim for receiving the box end.

33. A method of connecting a plurality of tubulars to form a tubular string for passage of fluid therethrough, the method comprising:
providing adjacent tubulars of the plurality of tubulars with a tubular connection therebetween, the tubular connection comprising:
a pin end located at an end of a first of the adjacent tubulars, the pin end having an outer locking surface; and
a box end located at an end of a second of the adjacent tubulars, the box end having a plurality of fingers located at an end region thereof with slots positioned therebetween and an inner locking surface located on an inner surface thereof;

inserting the pin end of the first of the adjacent tubulars in the box end of the second of the adjacent tubulars;
securing at least one wedge about the plurality of fingers; and
distributing the loads between the adjacent tubulars by cooperatively engaging the inner locking surface of the plurality of fingers of the box end with the outer locking surface of the pin end.

Assignees

• Weir James William
• Springett Frank Benjamin
• Nat Oilwell Varco Lp

Inventors

• Weir James William
• Springett Frank Benjamin

Classifications

• F16L23/036

  characterised by the tensioning members, e.g. specially adapted bolts or C-clamps · CPC title

• F16L15/08

  with supplementary elements (F16L15/04 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B17/0853 Primary

  Connections between sections of riser provided with auxiliary lines, e.g. kill and choke lines · CPC title

• E21B17/085 Primary

  Riser connections (connectors for wellhead E21B33/038) · CPC title