Multifunctional key design for metal seal in subsea application

A method of sealing a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. providing an assembly comprising;
• a sealing ring having an axis,
• an energizing ring concentric with the sealing ring and moveable between an upper and a lower position, the sealing ring and the energizing ring having mating cylindrical surfaces that slide against one another while moving from the upper to the lower position;
• an axially extending guide slot on one of the cylindrical surfaces;
• a recess in the guide slot defining an upward facing shoulder;
• a key extending from the other cylindrical surface and having a retainer stud portion extending through the guide slot into the recess, the key having a weak point within the guide slot and at an entrance of the recess, so that a downward three on the energizing ring shears the retainer stud portion at the weak point to allow downward movement of the energizing ring relative to the sealing, and a portion of the key remains within the guide slot to prevent rotation of the energizing ring and sealing ring relative to each other as the energizing ring moves the lower position;
• b. lowering the assembly into a wellbore assembly until downward movement of the annular settling ring is stopped by contact with the wellbore assembly;
• c. exerting increased downward force on the energizing ring until the retainer stud is detached from a guide member thereby allowing, downward movement of the energizing ring relative to the seal assembly;
• and
• d. a portion of the key remaining in the guide slot after the retainer stud is detached, so as to prevent rotation of the energizing, ring and sealing ring relative to each other as the energizing ring moves downward.

A wellbore sealing assembly, the wellbore sealing assembly comprising:

• an annular sealing ring having a sealing ring axis, comprising a sealing member and a sidewall, the sidewall having an aperture therethrough that is perpendicular to the axis;
• an energizing ring concentrically located within the sealing ring and having an axially extending elongated guide slot having a back, surface;
• a recess formed in the back surface of the guide slot, the recess and a portion of the guide slot being radially and axially aligned with the aperture when the energizing ring is in a first position relative to the sealing ring;
• a key having a having a key body, a guide member extending from the key body, and a retainer stud extending from the guide member, at least a portion of the key body being, located in the aperture of the sealing ring with at least a portion of the guide member protruding from the sidewall into the guide slot, and the retainer stud protruding into the recess;
• and
• the energizing ring being movable from the first position to a second position, the movement from the first position to the second position causing the retainer stud to shear off of the guide member, while the guide member remains in the guide slot to prevent rotation between the energizing ring and the sealing, ring while the energizing ring moves to the second position.