Subsea wellhead connector
AssigneeFMC Corporation
InventorWilliam M. Coffey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pipe connector especially suitable for interconnecting a marine riser to a subsea wellhead, the connector comprising an annular body that telescopes over the wellhead, and a plurality of lockdown screw assemblies extending through radial ports in the body to releasably grip and secure the connector to the wellhead. Each screw assembly comprises a lockdown dog for engaging the recess beneath the wellhead hub flange, a bolt-like dog retainer secured to the dog and slidably extending into a lockdown screw that is threaded into one of the radial ports, and a spring system for biasing the dog away from the lockdown screw towards engagement with the wellhead.
Claims17
A pipe connector especially suitable for connecting a marine riser to a subsea wellhead, said connector comprising:
- (a) an annular connector body;
- (b) means for attaching the connector body to a marine riser;
- and
- (c) a plurality of lockdown screw assemblies extending through radial ports in the connector body, each of said screw assemblies comprising:
- (1) a lockdown dog;
- (2) a lockdown screw movably secured to its respective port in the connector body, said lockdown screw having a central bore and a counterbore communicating therewith;
- (3) a dog retainer secured to the lockdown dog and slidably extending through the central bore of the lockdown screw, said dog retainer being bolt-shaped with a shank and a head, said shank extending through said bore and said head residing in said counterbore;
- and
- (4) a spring system between the lockdown dog and the lockdown screw to bias the dog from the screw.
A lockdown screw assembly for use in a marine riser connector to releasably secure said connector to a subsea wellhead, said screw assembly comprising:
- (a) a lockdown dog;
- (b) a lockdown screw having a central bore and a counterbore communicating therewith;
- (c) a dog retainer secured to the lockdown dog and slidably extending through the central bore of the lockdown screw, said dog retainer being bolt-shaped with a shank and a head, said head residing in said counterbore and said shank extending through said bore;
- and
- (d) a spring system between the dog and the screw for biasing the dog away from the screw.
A lockdown screw assembly according to claim 18 including a backup plug threaded into said counterbore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.