Installable load shoulder for a wellhead

A load shoulder adapted to be installed in a wellhead, the wellhead having a cylindrical vertical bore extending therethrough defined by a wall having a wall surface, the load shoulder comprising:

• an installable, annular load shoulder adapted to be received in an enlarged first circumferential groove formed in the wall of the wellhead, the annular load shoulder forming an inner surface adapted to support a tubing hanger within the vertical bore of the wellhead,
• the annular load shoulder being formed from at least three arc-shaped shoulder segments adapted to be received within the first circumferential groove,
• at least one of the arc-shaped shoulder segments having an engagement member extending generally upwardly or downwardly from the arc-shaped shoulder segment and configured to be received in a second circumferential groove formed in the wall of the vertical bore and extending upwardly or downwardly from the first circumferential groove, the engagement member being configured to pass through an opening formed in a portion of the wall surface of the wellhead so as to communicate with the second circumferential groove, such that the engagement member is received in the second circumferential groove, whereby by rotating the annular load shoulder such that the engagement member is out of alignment with the at least one opening, the annular load shoulder may be installed and secured within the wellhead.

A method for installing a load shoulder in a wellhead, the method comprising:

• providing a wellhead having a cylindrical vertical bore extending therethrough defined by a wall having a wall surface, an enlarged first circumferential groove formed in the wall, a second circumferential groove formed in the wall and extending generally upwardly or downwardly from the first circumferential groove, a portion of the wall being disposed in a spaced relationship with respect to the second circumferential groove, and at least one opening formed in the portion of the wall surface, the opening being in communication with the second circumferential groove in the wall;
• providing an annular load shoulder sized to be received within the first circumferential groove, the annular load shoulder having an inner surface adapted to support a tubing hanger within the vertical bore of the wellhead, the annular load shoulder being formed from at least three arc-shaped shoulder segments adapted to be received within the first circumferential groove, at least one of the arc-shaped shoulder segments having an engagement member configured to pass through the at least one opening in the portion of the wall surface of the wellhead to be received within the second circumferential groove;
• sequentially installing the at least three arc-shaped shoulder segments in the first circumferential groove, with the last installed of the arc-shaped load shoulder segments having the engagement member which passes through the at least one opening to be received in the second circumferential groove;
• and
• rotating the annular load shoulder such that the engagement member is out of alignment with the at least one opening to secure the annular load shoulder within the wellhead.