# US 11,078,741 B2 · Alignment mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,741 B2 - Document ID: US11078741B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/386,305 - Filed: 2019-04-17 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-17 - Assignees: OneSubsea IP UK Limited - Applicants: OneSubsea IP UK Limited - Inventors: Alexander Mattey; Paul Osborne; John Maher - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078741B2 ## CPC - E21B 33/03: Well heads; Setting-up thereof - E21B 33/04: Casing heads; Suspending casings or tubings in well heads - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A method includes landing a conductor housing on a wellbay. The method also includes engaging a first alignment feature on the wellbay with an orientation feature on the conductor housing. The method also includes engaging an alignment pin on the conductor housing with a wellhead housing. The wellhead housing includes a second alignment feature. The method further includes landing a tubing hanger alignment gasket using the second alignment feature of the wellhead housing. The tubing hanger alignment gasket provides orientation for a tubing hanger as the tubing hanger is landed through a blow-out preventer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method to angularly orientate a conductor housing, a wellhead and a tubing hanger with respect to each other, comprising: landing the conductor housing inside a wellbay; engaging a first alignment feature on an internal diameter of the wellbay with an orientation feature on an external diameter of the conductor housing; engaging an alignment pin on the conductor housing within a wellhead housing, wherein the alignment pin and the wellhead housing set orientation of the conductor housing within the wellhead, wherein the wellhead housing comprises a second alignment feature; landing a tubing hanger alignment gasket using the second alignment feature of the wellhead housing, wherein the tubing hanger alignment gasket provides orientation for the tubing hanger as the tubing hanger is landed through a blow-out preventer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the alignment pin is on an internal diameter of the conductor housing, and the alignment pin engages an external diameter of the wellhead housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second alignment feature of the wellhead housing is located on an internal diameter of the wellhead housing at a hub face gasket profile or below a tubing hanger lockdown groove. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a weight of the conductor housing and the wellhead housing facilitates a twist to ensure engagement with the first alignment feature, the second alignment feature, or both. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the tubing hanger alignment gasket with a guidance pin extending radially inwardly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the tubing hanger alignment gasket with a guidance pin located on the top side of the tubing hanger alignment gasket. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the tubing hanger alignment gasket with a guidance pin located on the bottom side of the tubing hanger alignment gasket. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the tubing hanger alignment gasket with an anti-rotation key. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first alignment feature, the alignment pin and the second alignment feature are in the same vertical plane. ### Claim 10 A system to angularly orientate a conductor housing, a wellhead and a tubing hanger with respect to each other, comprising: a wellbay comprising an internal diameter with a first alignment feature; a conductor housing concentrically located within the wellbay and comprising an orientation feature on an external diameter of the conductor housing and an alignment pin, wherein the first alignment feature is configured to engage the orientation feature; a wellhead housing in the wellhead, such wellhead housing being configured to receive the alignment pin to set orientation of the conductor housing within the wellhead, wherein the wellhead housing comprises a second alignment feature; a tubing hanger alignment gasket configured to be landed using the second alignment feature of the wellhead housing, wherein the tubing hanger alignment gasket provides orientation for the tubing hanger as the tubing hanger is landed through a blow-out preventer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the alignment pin is on an internal diameter of the conductor housing, and the alignment pin engages an external diameter of the wellhead housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the second alignment feature of the wellhead housing is located on an internal diameter of the wellhead housing at a hub face gasket profile or below a tubing hanger lockdown groove. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein a weight of the conductor housing and the wellhead housing facilitates a twist to ensure engagement with the first alignment feature, the second alignment feature, or both. ### Claim 14 A system to angularly orientate a wellhead and a tubing hanger with respect to each other, comprising: a wellhead housing having an internal diameter with a self-guided alignment feature; and a tubing hanger alignment ring gasket landed concentrically inside the wellhead housing using the alignment feature of the wellhead housing, wherein the tubing hanger alignment ring gasket comprises a guidance feature; wherein the tubing hanger is configured to land inside the wellhead housing at a desired orientation via engagement with the guidance feature during landing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising a conductor housing which receives the wellhead housing, the wellhead housing being oriented via a wellhead housing alignment system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, further comprising a wellbay which receives the conductor housing, the conductor housing being oriented via a conductor housing alignment system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein an alignment pin is located on an internal diameter of the conductor housing, the alignment pin being oriented to engage an external diameter of the wellhead housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the alignment feature of the wellhead housing is located on the internal diameter of the wellhead housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the guidance feature of the tubing hanger alignment ring gasket comprises a pin oriented in a radially inward direction.