GB977641A - Wellhead connector - Google Patents

Abstract

977,641. Wells &c. SHELL INTERNATIONALE RESEARCH MAATSCHAPPIJ N.V. April 25, 1962 [April 27, 1961], No. 15767/62. Heading E1F. A wellhead connector assembly comprises a member 67 in telescopic relation with a member 54, 55, 57, a shoulder 74 on the member 67, latches 75 on the member 54, 55, 57 engageable with the shoulder, and packing 80 carried by the member 54, 55, 57 and sealing between adjacent walls of the members. The latches are forced into engagement with the shoulder by springs 76 and are retracted by fluid supplied by a conduit 78. The packing is forced into engagement with a groove 85 on the member 67 by fluid supplied by a conduit 86 to raise a piston 83. Interrupted threads on the lower end of the piston are engaged by interrupted threads on a fluid actuated rotary ring 90, to lock the packing in its sealing position. In an underwater well, the member 67 is the casing head, and the member 54, 55, 57 is fixed to a blowout preventer. The upper end of the preventer may carry a member similar to the member 67, engaged by a member, similar to the member 54, 55, 57, attached to a running string. In a modification the packing is locked in sealing position by screw jacks which engage the bottom of the piston, the jacks having sprockets engaged by a chain driven by an hydraulic motor. In the construction shown in Fig. 10, pivoted latches 113 and a hollow seal 118 carried by the member 110 are actuated by fluid supplied by ducts 115, 116, 117 to engage the member 67b. In the construction shown in Fig. 12, the seal 124 and latches 133 are forced into engagement with the member 67c by fluid supplied by a pipe 132, the latches being spring returned.