Split carrier annulus seal assembly for wellhead systems
AssigneeDril-Quip, Inc.
InventorsLarrey E. Reimert, Lionel J. Milberger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The seal assembly 10 seal between a subsea wellhead housing 12 and a casing hanger 16. A metal seal body 20 includes fingers 32 and 34 and one or more elastomeric seals 38. An upper seal body 64 may include threads for engagement with the metal seal body. According the method of the invention, an initial elastomeric seal is first formed, and fluid pressure is applied from above to set the high temperature metal seal.
Claims38
A seal assembly for sealing between an outer member and an inner member, the seal assembly comprising:
- a metal seal body including one or more radially extending stops;
- another body for selective engagement with the metal seal body;
- a high temperature seal ring spaced axially between one of the one or more stops and the another body, such that the high temperature seal ring may be positioned axially between the metal seal body and the another body during assembly of the seal assembly;
- and
- one of the seal assembly and tapered surface being axially movable relative to the other of the seal assembly and the tapered surface for moving the seal assembly radially to a set position.
A seal assembly for sealing between a housing and a tubular hanger within the housing, the seal assembly comprising:
- a metal seal body including one or more radially extending metal fingers;
- another body for selective engagement with the metal seal body, the another body including another radially extended finger;
- a high temperature seal ring spaced axially between one of the one or more metal fingers and the another finger, such that the high temperature seal ring may be positioned between one of the one or more metal fingers and the another finger during assembly of the seal assembly;
- and
- one of the seal assembly and a tapered surface being axially movable with respect to the other of the seal assembly and the tapered surface for moving the seal assembly radially to a set position.
A method of forming a seal between an outer member and an inner member, comprising:
- providing a seal assembly having a metal seal body including one or more radially extending metal fingers;
- providing another body for selective engagement with the metal seal body;
- axially spacing a high temperature seal ring between metal seal body and the another body during assembly of the seal assembly;
- thereafter positioning the seal assembly between the outer member and the inner member;
- and
- moving one of the seal assembly and a wedge ring relative to the other of the seal assembly and the wedge ring to move the seal assembly to a set position, such that the seal assembly seals between the outer member and the inner member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.