Static wellhead plug and associated methods of plugging wellheads

A method of setting a plug within an internally formed profile, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing the plug having a housing, an engagement member, and an expander member, the expander member being disposed at least partially within the housing, the expander member being capable of being displaced from a first position to a second position relative to the housing, such that the expander member radially outwardly displaces the engagement member into engagement with the profile to thereby statically position the housing within the profile when the expander member is in the second position;
• providing a running tool capable of displacing the expander member from the first position to the second position in response to fluid pressure applied to the running tool;
• positioning the expander member in the first position;
• operatively attaching the running tool to the plug;
• disposing the housing within the profile;
• and
• applying fluid pressure to the running tool to thereby displace the expander member from the first position to the second position.

Apparatus for installation in an internal profile formed proximate a subterranean well, the profile having an at least partially axially facing surface and an at least partially oppositely facing shoulder, and the profile surface and shoulder being axially spaced apart from each other, the apparatus comprising:

• a structure configured to operatively engage the profile shoulder and prevent displacement of the structure in a first axial direction when the structure is positioned in the profile;
• an engagement member configured to operatively engage the profile surface and prevent displacement of the structure in a second axial direction opposite to the first axial direction when the engagement member is biased into contact with the profile surface;
• and
• an expander meber having atapered external surface formed thereon, the external surface biasing the engagement member into contact with the profile surface when the structure is operatively engaged with the profile shoulder, thereby preventing displacement of the structure relative to the profile.

A method of setting a plug within an internally formed profile, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning an expander member having a tapered external surface formed thereon adjacent an engagement member, displacement of the expander member relative to the engagement member causing the external surface to bias the engagement member outward;
• attaching the expander member and the engagement member to a structure;
• disposing the structure in the profile, the structure engaging a first portion of the profile, thereby preventing displacement of the structure in a first direction relative to the profile;
• and
• displacing the expander member relative to the engagement member, the external surface thereby biasing the engagement member into contact with a second portion of the profile and preventing displacement of the structure in a second direction opposite to the first direction relative to the profile.