Method and system for hydraulically presetting a metal seal
AssigneeCameron International Corporation
InventorDennis P. Nguyen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method is provided for hydraulically presetting a metal-to-metal seal, which may be installed in an annular space between wellhead components. A hydraulic running tool may be landed on a first wellhead component and coupled to a second wellhead component, for example, via a hydraulic or mechanical coupling assembly. Fluid pressure may then be applied to the hydraulic running tool to move the components axially together, thereby setting the metal-to-metal seal (i.e., axially compressing and radially expanding the seal). A coupling may secure the wellhead components in place relative to one another, while fluid pressure is being applied so that the metal-to-metal seal remains in the set position after the hydraulic tool is removed.
Claims30
A method, comprising:
- operating a removable hydraulic tool to provide an actuation force to cause a relative movement between first and second tubular components of a wellhead system;
- setting a metal-to-metal seal disposed between the first and second tubular components in response to the relative movement caused by the actuation force by the removable hydraulic tool, wherein setting the metal-to-metal seal comprises axially compressing the metal-to-metal seal between the first and second tubular components;
- aligning a coupling assembly between the first and second tubular components while setting the metal-to-metal seal in response to the actuation force by the removable hydraulic tool;
- coupling the first and second tubular components together by securing the coupling assembly after the metal-to-metal seal is set by the removable hydraulic tool, wherein securing the coupling assembly comprises applying a radial force via a fastener;
- and
- removing the removable hydraulic tool after setting the metal-to-metal seal and coupling the first and second tubular components together via the coupling assembly.
A system, comprising:
- a tool configured to preset a metal-to-metal seal between tubular components of a wellhead, the tool comprising:
- an upper tool component configured to land axially on a first tubular component of the wellhead;
- a piston moveably coupled to the upper tool component;
- a shaft coupled to the piston;
- a coupling assembly disposed annularly about a distal end portion of the shaft, wherein the coupling assembly is configured to couple to a second tubular component of the wellhead;
- and
- one or more hydraulic ports configured to apply fluid pressure to the piston to cause a movement of the shaft and the second tubular component coupled thereto axially relative to the first tubular component, thereby presetting the metal-to-metal seal between the first and second tubular components in response to the movement, wherein the tool is configured to disengage the coupling assembly from the second tubular component and separate from the first and second tubular components of the wellhead after presetting the metal-to-metal seal.
A system, comprising:
- a first spool comprising an external groove configured to receive a locking fastener;
- a hanger disposed within and coupled to the first spool, wherein the hanger comprises an internal securement feature configured to couple the hanger to a removable hydraulic tool;
- a second spool landed axially on top of the first spool and comprising a locking fastener configured to engage the external groove of the first spool, wherein the locking fastener is configured to be radially aligned with the external groove of the first spool by the removable hydraulic tool;
- and
- a metal-to-metal seal configured to seal an annular space between the hanger and the second spool, wherein the metal-to-metal seal is configured to be preset in response to a relative movement between the first and second spools caused by the removable hydraulic tool, the locking fastener is configured to engage the external groove to secure the metal-to-metal seal after presetting the metal-to-metal seal and radially aligning the locking fastener with the external groove, and the removable hydraulic tool is configured to be removed after presetting the metal-to-metal seal with the removable hydraulic tool and securing the metal-to-metal seal with the locking fastener.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.