Hard Stop Energizing Ring
AssigneeVetco Gray Inc.
InventorsChad Eric Yates, Detrick Deyon Garner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wellhead seal assembly that forms a metal-to-metal seal between inner and outer wellhead members. A metal seal ring has inner and outer legs separated by a slot. An extension of seal ring contacts an upward facing shoulder of the inner wellhead member. An energizing ring with a tapered nose is moved into the slot. The tapered nose has a downward facing stop shoulder that contacts an upper end of inner leg when the energizing ring is in its lower position.
Claims18
A metal-to-metal seal assembly for sealing in a seal pocket between inner and outer tubular members of a wellhead assembly, comprising:
- a seal ring having an axis, and annular inner and outer legs separated from each other by an annular slot having a run-in radial width;
- an annular energizing ring having a nose portion with a radial thickness greater than the run-in radial width of the seal ring, and carried in a run-in position with a nose end at an entrance of the annular slot;
- an annular stop shoulder on the energizing ring above the nose end;
- the seal ring being energized from the run-in position to a set position by applying an axial energizing force to the energizing ring, so that the energizing ring is pressed into the annular slot causing radial plastic deformation of the annular inner and outer legs of the seal ring into sealing contact with the inner and outer tubular members defining the set position;
- and
- the annular stop shoulder contacting an upper end of one of the legs of the seal ring while in the set position.
A wellhead assembly with an axis, comprising:
- an outer wellhead member having a bore;
- an inner wellhead member in the bore;
- an annular space between the inner and outer wellhead members;
- a seal member having inner and outer annular legs defining a slot therebetween, the inner leg having an upper end at a lower elevation than an upper end of the outer leg;
- an annular energizing ring in the slot and having an annular stop shoulder extending radially inward from the inner surface of the energizing ring positioned in abutment with the upper end of the inner leg of the seal member while the energizing ring is in a set position, preventing further downward movement of the energizing ring in the slot once the energizing ring reaches the set position.
A method for sealing an annular space in a wellhead assembly between inner and outer wellhead members, comprising:
- providing wickers on at least one of the inner and outer wellhead members;
- providing a seal member having inner and outer annular walls defining a slot therebetween, and an annular energizing ring and having an annular stop shoulder,
- inserting the seal member between the inner and outer members;
- inserting energizing ring into the slot by a downward force on the energizing ring, causing the inner and outer legs to move radially into sealing engagement with the inner and outer wellhead members and into engagement with the wickers;
- continuing to apply the downward force after the stop shoulder contacts an upper end of one of the legs, and directing the downward force through said one of the legs to the wickers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.