Rigidized seal assembly using automated space-out mechanism
AssigneeInnovex International, Inc.
InventorAndrew B. Mitchell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A seal assembly is provided. The seal includes an upper body; a lower body having a seal for sealing between a first wellhead system component and a second wellhead system component; and a space-out mechanism disposed between the upper body and the lower body, the space-out mechanism comprising a ramp ring having at least one tapered surface. The upper body has at least one tapered surface configured to interface with the at least one tapered surface of the ramp ring, the ramp ring is configured to rotate relative to the upper body and the lower body, and the at least one tapered surface of the ramp ring and the at least one tapered surface of the upper body are configured to bear against each other to rigidize the system.
Claims20
A seal assembly, comprising:
- an upper body;
- and
- a space-out mechanism disposed between the upper body and a lower body, the space-out mechanism comprising a ramp ring having at least one tapered surface,
- wherein the ramp ring is configured to rotate relative to the upper body and the lower body,
- wherein the upper body has at least one tapered surface configured to interface with the at least one tapered surface of the ramp ring, and
- wherein the at least one tapered surface of the ramp ring and the at least one tapered surface of the upper body are configured to bear against each other to rigidize a wellhead system.
A system, comprising:
- a casing hanger disposed at least partially in a wellhead;
- and
- a seal assembly landed on the casing hanger, wherein the seal assembly is configured to seal the casing hanger with the wellhead, comprising:
- a space-out mechanism comprising a ramp ring having at least one tapered surface;
- and
- an upper body having at least one tapered surface configured to interface with the at least one tapered surface of the space-out mechanism, wherein the space-out mechanism is disposed between the upper body and a lower body, wherein the ramp ring is configured to rotate relative to the upper body and the lower body, and
- wherein the at least one tapered surface of the ramp ring and the at least one tapered surface of the upper body are configured to bear against each other to rigidize the system.
A method, comprising:
- landing a seal assembly on a casing hanger in a wellhead housing;
- locking the seal assembly to the wellhead housing;
- and
- actuating a space-out mechanism of the seal assembly to rigidize the seal assembly within the wellhead housing, wherein the space-out mechanism comprises a ramp ring having at least one tapered surface;
- wherein an upper body of the seal assembly has at least one tapered surface, wherein the space-out mechanism is disposed between the upper body and a lower body, wherein the ramp ring is configured to rotate relative to the upper body and the lower body;
- and
- wherein the at least one tapered surface of the ramp ring and the at least one tapered surface of the upper body are configured to bear against each other to rigidize a wellhead system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.