Remotely operable horizontal connection apparatus and method

A weight set connection apparatus, comprising:

• a wellhead housing with a substantially horizontal annulus access port,
• a valve with remotely operable connection means for sealingly engaging with said access port,
• a support structure for maintaining said wellhead housing in substantially vertical position,
• an inclined guide extending laterally from said support structure, and
• a support frame for installing said valve utilizing the slope of said inclined guide to connect said valve to said access port.

A method for establishing an annulus connection comprising the steps of:

• locating an annulus access port on a wellhead housing,
• installing said wellhead housing in a guidebase in a preferred orientation with respect to an inclined ramp laterally disposed on said guidebase,
• placing a valve with remotely operable connection means for sealingly engaging said annulus access port on a support frame,
• lowering said valve and support frame into proximity with said inclined ramp,
• observing the position of said valve and support frame while lowering said valve and support frame onto said inclined ramp,
• allowing the horizontal component of the weight of said valve and support frame to urge said remotely operable connection means into engagement with said annulus access port, and
• operating said remotely operable connection means to form a sealed connection between said valve and said annulus access port.