# US 12,006,782 B2 · Wellhead side-outlet contingency VR plug integral adaptor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,006,782 B2 - Document ID: US12006782B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/874,376 - Filed: 2022-07-27 - Published: 2024-02-01 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2022-07-27 - Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Inventors: Mansour Abdullah Alamer; Mohammed Eid Almukhlifi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12006782B2 ## CPC - E21B 33/03: Well heads; Setting-up thereof - E21B 33/068: having provision for introducing objects or fluids into, or removing objects from, wells (cementing-heads E21B33/05) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A contingency adaptor for a wellhead side-outlet with a damaged valve removal plug profile. The adaptor includes a neck on one end which may be extended into the wellhead side-outlet for creating a fluid seal between the neck and an inner surface of the wellhead side-outlet. A flange at the one end is configured to receive a gasket for creating a separate fluid seal between the adaptor and an outer surface of the wellhead side-outlet. The adaptor includes a valve removal plug profile at an opposite end to accommodate installation of a valve removal plug. The adaptor also includes a test port for pressure testing the connection between the adaptor and the wellhead side-outlet in order to confirm the integrity of the fluid seal(s) formed there between. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus configured as a contingency adaptor for a wellhead side-outlet of a wellhead component, the apparatus comprising: an outer side comprising an first flange and a valve removal (VR) plug profile configured to accommodate installation of a VR plug; an inner side opposite the outer side, the inner side comprising a second flange and a neck; and a test port; wherein the second flange is configured to be coupled to the wellhead side-outlet and to receive a gasket for creating a first fluid seal between the second flange and an outer surface of the wellhead side-outlet; wherein the neck is configured to receive a seal around an outer diameter of the neck for creating a second fluid seal between an outer surface of the neck and an inner surface of the wellhead side-outlet; and wherein the test port is configured to accommodate pressure testing a volume defined by the apparatus, the wellhead component, the seal, and the gasket. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a single, unitary structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gasket is a ring gasket and the second flange comprises a ring groove for receiving the ring gasket. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seal comprises an elastomeric material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second flange comprises a plurality of openings for receiving a plurality of fasteners for coupling the second flange to the wellhead side-outlet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wellhead component is a casing head housing, a casing head spool, or tubing head adaptor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the neck is further configured to receive at least one additional seal around the outer diameter of the neck for creating at least one additional second fluid seal between the outer surface of the neck and the inner surface of the wellhead side-outlet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the VR plug profile comprises a machine threaded interior surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first flange is configured to be coupled to another wellhead side-outlet component. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the neck extends beyond the second flange. ### Claim 11 A method of adapting a wellhead side-outlet of a wellhead component to accommodate the installation of a valve removal (VR) plug, the method comprising: providing an apparatus configured as a contingency adaptor for the wellhead side-outlet, wherein the apparatus comprises: an outer side comprising a first flange and a VR plug profile configured to accommodate installation of the VR plug; an inner side opposite the outer side, the inner side comprising a second flange and a neck; and a test port; coupling the apparatus to the wellhead side-outlet, wherein coupling the apparatus to the wellhead side-outlet comprises: positioning the neck within the wellhead side-outlet such that an outer surface of the neck faces an inner surface of the wellhead side-outlet; creating, with a gasket, a first fluid seal between the second flange and an outer surface of the wellhead side-outlet; and creating, with a seal placed around an outer diameter of the neck, a second fluid seal between the outer surface of the neck and the inner surface of the wellhead side-outlet; and pressure testing, via the test port, a volume defined by the apparatus, the wellhead component, the seal, and the gasket. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising, prior to coupling the apparatus to the wellhead side-outlet, polishing a damaged valve removal profile of the wellhead side-outlet to provide a sealing surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the gasket is a ring gasket and the second flange comprises a ring groove for receiving the ring gasket and creating the first fluid seal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the seal comprises an elastomeric material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the second flange comprises a plurality of openings for receiving a plurality of fasteners for coupling the apparatus to the wellhead side-outlet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the wellhead component is a casing head housing, a casing head spool, or tubing head adaptor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising creating, with at least one additional seal, at least one additional second fluid seal between the outer surface of the neck and the inner surface of the wellhead side-outlet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the VR plug profile comprises a machine threaded interior surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising coupling the first flange to another wellhead side-outlet component. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein coupling the apparatus to the wellhead side-outlet further comprises coupling the second flange to the wellhead side-outlet following a standard API flange make-up process.