Method and apparatus of sealing threaded sections of a well tool

Abstract

A method and apparatus of making up and sealing between threaded sections of a well tool such as a safety valve. The female connection includes an end on one side of its thread and a shoulder on the other side of its thread and the male connection includes an end on one side of its thread and a shoulder on the other side of its thread. A soft metal seal is positioned between the end of the male connection and the shoulder on the female connection for sealing between the connections when the connections are threaded together. A hole is drilled in the made-up connection through the shoulder of the male connection and the end of the female connection and a plug is positioned in the hole with a force fit for maintaining the rotational and longitudinal alignment of the made-up connection. Preferably the metal seal is supported by a recess on one of the connections and a taper on the other of the connections. The plug may include a connection for removing the plug. Preferably the hole and plug are round and a plurality of holes and plugs may be provided.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.