Inner drilling riser tie-back connector for subsea wellheads
AssigneeDril-Quip, Inc.
InventorGregory Dale Williams
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system for coupling a riser to a subsea wellhead are disclosed. A first terminal end of a riser comprised of an inner riser and an outer riser is coupled to the platform and a second terminal end of the riser is coupled to a wellhead. The second terminal end of the inner riser is coupled to an inner drilling riser tie-back connector (“ITBC”) having a main body. The ITBC is landed on a landing shoulder disposed within the subsea wellhead. A downward weight is applied to the main body. The application of the downward weight to the main body couples the ITBC and the subsea wellhead.
Claims20
A system for coupling a platform to a subsea wellhead comprising:
- a riser extending between the platform and the subsea wellhead, wherein the riser comprises an inner riser and an outer riser;
- an inner drilling riser tie-back connector (“ITBC”) having a main body, wherein the ITBC is coupled to the inner riser;
- a seal assembly disposed at an interface of the subsea wellhead and the main body;
- and
- a ratch latch threaded ring disposed within the ITBC, wherein the ratch latch threaded ring is movable downhole along the subsea wellhead.
A method of coupling a subsea wellhead to a platform comprising:
- coupling a first terminal end of a riser to the platform and a second terminal end of the riser to the subsea wellhead, the riser comprising an inner riser and an outer riser;
- coupling the second terminal end of the inner riser to an inner drilling riser tie-back connector (“ITBC”) having a main body;
- landing the main body on a landing shoulder disposed within the subsea wellhead;
- applying a downward weight to the main body, wherein the application of the downward weight to the main body couples the ITBC and the subsea wellhead.
A method of coupling a riser having an inner riser and an outer riser to a subsea wellhead comprising:
- coupling the inner riser to an inner drilling riser tie-back connector (“ITBC”) having a main body;
- directing the ITBC into the subsea wellhead;
- landing the main body on a landing shoulder;
- applying a downward weight to the main body,
- wherein the application of the downward weight engages a groove in the subsea wellhead by a locking ring disposed on the main body,
- wherein the application of the downward weight activates a seal assembly disposed at an interface between the subsea wellhead and the main body, and
- wherein the application of the downward weight directs a ratch latch threaded ring downhole along threads disposed on an interior surface of the ITBC, wherein the movement of the ratch latch thread ring internally locks the ITBC.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.