Lockdown mechanism and lockdown system for wellhead connector
AssigneeVetco Gray Inc.
InventorsRockford Dee Lyle, Irving Jair Villasenor, Viviana Resendiz, Sergio Romero
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mechanical lockdown system for a subsea wellhead connector includes a lockdown member or plate that engages with a tie rod that is connected to the wellhead assembly. The lockdown system includes a support member that is permanently secured to an annular ring through which the tie rod passes. The lockdown system also includes a first handle and a second handle that are installed using a plunger or spring loaded system such that mechanical lockdown system can be easily moved from a lockdown open position to a lockdown engaged position as and when desired with minimal ROV interface.
Claims20
A lockdown system for a subsea wellhead connector connecting a tubular member to a subsea wellhead assembly, the lockdown system comprising:
- a tie rod extending in an axial direction from a stationary connector body of a tieback connector through a lockdown support member circumscribing the tubular member, the tie rod having a tie rod profile on a tie rod outer diameter;
- a lockdown member with an inner diameter profile corresponding to the tie rod profile, the lockdown member being moveable between a lockdown open position where the member is spaced radially outward from the tie rod, and a lockdown engaged position where the inner diameter profile engages the tie rod profile to axially couple the stationary connector body and the lockdown support member, the lockdown support member including a stopper that engages an engagement feature in the lockdown member as the engagement feature passes over the stopper;
- and
- a lockdown member rod extending radially outward relative to an axis of the tie rod profile, the lockdown member rod adapted to move the lockdown member from the lockdown open position to the lockdown engaged position, wherein the lockdown member rod is supported by a lockdown member rod support that is adapted to be secured to the lockdown support member circumscribing the tubular member.
A lockdown assembly for a subsea wellhead connector connecting a tubular member to a subsea wellhead assembly, the lockdown assembly comprising:
- a tie rod extending in an axial direction from a stationary connector body of a tieback connector through an annular ring circumscribing the tubular member, the tie rod having a tie rod profile on a tie rod outer diameter;
- a lockdown member with an inner diameter profile corresponding to the tie rod profile, the lockdown member being moveable between a lockdown open position where the member is spaced radially outward from the tie rod, and a lockdown engaged position where the inner diameter profile engages the tie rod profile to axially couple the stationary connector body and the annular ring, the lockdown member being slidable on the annular ring, the annular ring including a stopper that engages an engagement feature in the lockdown member as the engagement feature passes over the stopper;
- and
- a rod extending radially outward from the lockdown member, the rod adapted to move the lockdown member from the lockdown open position to the lockdown engaged position, wherein the rod is supported by a rod support that is secured to the annular ring circumscribing the tubular member.
A method of connecting a tubular member to a subsea wellhead assembly having a tie rod extending along an axis from a stationary connector body of a tieback connector, the tie rod having a tie rod profile on a tie rod outer diameter, the method comprising:
- mounting an annular ring to the stationary connector body with the tie rod extending through the annular ring;
- mounting a lockdown member with an inner diameter profile corresponding to the tie rod profile on the annular ring, the lockdown member being moveable between a lockdown open position where the member is spaced radially outward from the tie rod, and a lockdown engaged position where the inner diameter profile engages the tie rod profile to axially couple the stationary connector body and the annular ring, the annular ring including a stopper that engages an engagement feature in the lockdown member as the engagement feature passes over the stopper;
- extending a rod radially outward from the lockdown member, the rod adapted to move the lockdown member from the lockdown open position to the lockdown engaged position, wherein the rod is supported by a rod support that is secured to the annular ring circumscribing the tubular member;
- and
- pulling the rod radially outward to radially move the lockdown member relative to the annular ring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.