# US 2021/0340831 A1 · Non-orientating tubing hanger and tree > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0340831 A1 - Document ID: US20210340831A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/286,214 - Filed: 2019-10-18 - Published: 2021-11-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-18 - Assignees: Dril-Quip, Inc. - Applicants: Dril-Quip, Inc. - Inventors: John E. Nelson; Frank D. Kalb - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210340831A1 ## CPC - E21B 33/04: Casing heads; Suspending casings or tubings in well heads - E21B 17/028: {Electrical or electro-magnetic connections} - E21B 23/01: for anchoring the tools or the like (E21B23/02 - E21B23/06 take precedence; anchoring of drives in the borehole E21B4/18) - E21B 33/03: Well heads; Setting-up thereof - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract Systems and methods for landing a tubing hanger in a wellhead, landing a tree on the wellhead, and making electrical and hydraulic couplings between the tree and the tubing hanger without having to orient the tree or the tubing hanger relative to each other are provided. This is accomplished using a seal sub that is coupled to the tree and lowered with the tree into contact with the tubing hanger located in the wellhead. The seal sub features an electrical conductor that facilitates electrical coupling of the tree to the tubing hanger. The tubing hanger and seal sub may include a metal-to-metal and elastomeric seal arrangement designed to seal off electrical and hydraulic connections between these components when, the tree is positioned within the wellhead. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a tubing hanger for landing in a wellhead, wherein the tubing hanger comprises a bore, a hydraulic fluid conduit, and an electrical or fiber optic line; a tree for landing on the tubing hanger within the wellhead, wherein the tree comprises a bore, a hydraulic fluid conduit, and an electrical or fiber optic line; and a seal sub coupled to a radially inner wall of the tree and configured to be landed in and engaged with a radially inner wall of the tubing hanger, wherein the seal sub comprises: a bore; a hydraulic fluid conduit that is fluidly coupled to the hydraulic fluid conduit of the tree; and an electrical or fiber optic line that is communicatively coupled to the electrical or fiber optic line of the tree; wherein the seal sub provides a hydraulic connection between the hydraulic fluid conduit of the seal sub and the hydraulic fluid conduit of the tubing hanger regardless of an orientation of the tubing hanger relative to the tree, and wherein the seal sub provides an electrical connection between the electrical or fiber optic line of the seal sub and the electrical or fiber optic line of the tubing hanger regardless of an orientation of the tubing hanger relative to the tree. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the seal sub further comprises a first series of metal-to-metal seals disposed along a radially outer wall of the seal sub and a second series of metal-to-metal seals disposed along a radially outer wall of the seal sub, wherein the first series of metal-to-metal seals defines upper circumferential sealed zones between the outer wall of the seal sub and the tree, and wherein the second series of metal-to-metal seals defines lower circumferential sealed zones between the outer wall of the seal sub and the tubing hanger. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the first series of metal-to-metal seals is provided at an upper portion of the outer wall of the seal sub to seal an interface between the seal sub and the tree. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the second series of metal-to-metal seals is provided at a lower portion of the outer wall of the seal sub to seal an interface between the seal sub and the tubing hanger once the seal sub has landed in and is in engagement with the tubing hanger. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the seal sub comprises an electrical conductor disposed between adjacent metal-to-metal seals of the seal sub, wherein the electrical conductor extends 360 degrees about the seal sub. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the seal sub further comprises an electrical shroud disposed around the electrical conductor to insulate the electrical conductor, wherein the electrical shroud comprises a pair of protrusions extending in a radially outward direction from the seal sub, one protrusion on each side of the electrical conductor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the seal sub further comprises metal-to-metal protrusions extending in a radially outward direction to sealingly engage the inner wall of the tubing hanger. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the tubing hanger comprises an electrical contact, wherein the electrical conductor of the seal sub and the electrical contact of the tubing hanger form the electrical connection. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the tubing hanger further comprises an elastomeric shroud disposed around the electrical contact to sealingly contact the electrical conductor when the seal sub is landed in the tubing hanger. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the electrical or fiber optic line of the tubing hanger terminates at and is electrically coupled to the electrical contact, wherein the electrical or fiber optic line of the seal sub terminates at and is electrically coupled to the electrical conductor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the seal sub comprises a first passage for routing the electrical or fiber optic line of the seal sub between one of the upper circumferential sealed zones and one of the lower circumferential scaled zones. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the seal sub comprises a second passage for routing hydraulic fluid between one of the upper circumferential sealed zones and one of the lower circumferential sealed zones through the hydraulic fluid conduit of the seal sub. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the seal sub further comprises a fluid passage that extends radially outward from the second passage of the seal sub. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the tubing hanger comprises a fluid passage that extends radially inward to be fluidly coupled to the fluid passage of the seal sub, wherein the fluid passage of the tubing hanger comprises two portions that are brought into alignment when the seal sub is landed in the tubing hanger. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising a biasing check assembly, wherein the biasing check assembly comprises a piston, an extended portion of the piston, and a spring. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the piston comprises a portion of the hydraulic fluid conduit of the tubing hanger and one of the two portions of the fluid passage of the tubing hanger. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, further comprising a locking ring, wherein the locking ring couples the seal sub to the tree, wherein the locking ring is configured to exert a downward force onto the extended portion of the piston. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the spring biases the piston upward against a shoulder disposed within the tubing hanger, wherein the downward force actuates the spring to compress and align the fluid passage of the tubing hanger with the fluid passage of the seal sub. ### Claim 19 A seal sub, comprising: a bore; a hydraulic fluid conduit; an electrical or fiber optic line; a series of metal-to-metal seals disposed along a radially outer wall of the seal sub; an electrical conductor disposed between adjacent metal-to-metal seals of the seal sub, wherein the electrical conductor extends 360 degrees about the seal sub; and an electrical shroud configured to insulate the electrical conductor, wherein the electrical shroud comprises protrusions. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The seal sub of claim 19, wherein the seal sub is coupled to a radially inner wall of the tree and configured to be landed in and engaged with a radially inner wall of the tubing hanger, wherein the seal sub provides a hydraulic connection between the hydraulic fluid conduit of the seal sub and a hydraulic fluid conduit of the tubing hanger regardless of an orientation of the tubing hanger relative to the tree, wherein the seal sub provides an electrical connection between the electrical or fiber optic line of the seal sub and an electrical or fiber optic line of the tubing hanger regardless of an orientation of the tubing banger relative to the tree.