IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0025021
(2011-02-10)
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등록번호 |
US-8622121
(2014-01-07)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Udipi, Mahesha
- Olvera, Alfredo
- Hwang, Jim
- Brunjes, Jean
- Borak, Jr., Eugene A.
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
14 |
초록
▼
A reinforced wellhead member for use during fracing operations. The wellhead member is preloaded at a flange section by creating compressive stresses via a ring that interacts with a tightening nut on a bolt. The bolt is rigidly attached to an adapter which may also be modified to create stresses on
A reinforced wellhead member for use during fracing operations. The wellhead member is preloaded at a flange section by creating compressive stresses via a ring that interacts with a tightening nut on a bolt. The bolt is rigidly attached to an adapter which may also be modified to create stresses on the flange of the wellhead member. The induced stresses counter the tensile stresses experienced by the flange during fracing operations, allowing a standard wellhead member to be utilized.
대표청구항
▼
1. A wellhead apparatus, comprising: a wellhead member having a vertical bore for receiving an upper end of a string of conduit extending into a well;a sleeve carried within the bore of the wellhead member, wherein the sleeve isolates the bore of the wellhead member from a high pressure fluid inject
1. A wellhead apparatus, comprising: a wellhead member having a vertical bore for receiving an upper end of a string of conduit extending into a well;a sleeve carried within the bore of the wellhead member, wherein the sleeve isolates the bore of the wellhead member from a high pressure fluid injected into the sleeve;a flange formed on an upper end of the wellhead member, the flange having an upper surface and a lower surface, the flange having a passage extending therethrough from the upper to the lower surface for receiving a threaded bolt;an annular wedge ring located adjacent the lower surface of the flange and having a downward facing tapered shoulder formed on an outer diameter so that when a nut is tightened onto the bolt, a radial inward component of a tightening force on the bolt is applied through the tapered shoulder of the ring and to the flange, the radial component of the force countering tensile stress induced on the flange by the high pressure fluid injected into the sleeve; anda segmented washer installed between the nut on the bolt and the lower surface of the flange, wherein a gap is maintained between the washer and the lower surface of the flange when the flange is made up and the nut is tightened on the bolt, wherein the washer is comprised of two semi-circular halves that are fastened to each other by screws that correspond to passages formed at joining ends of the washer, and wherein the washer has a tapered shoulder formed on an interior diameter of the washer that is in contact with the correspondingly tapered shoulder formed on the outer diameter of the wedge ring so that the tightening force from the nut is transmitted from the washer, to the tapered shoulder of the washer, to the tapered shoulder of the wedge ring, such that a radial inward component of the tightening force is applied to the flange. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an adapter mounted and sealed to the upper surface of the flange, the adapter having an upper surface and a lower surface and having a bore that is coaxial with the bore of the wellhead member;an outer shoulder formed on the lower surface of the adapter; andan inner shoulder formed on the lower surface of the adapter and located radially inward from the outer shoulder, the inner shoulder protruding further downward than the outer shoulder such the inner shoulder contacts the upper surface of the flange of the wellhead member before the outer shoulder when the nut is tightened on the bolt during make up of the adapter to the flange. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the inner shoulder is radially offset from an axis of the bolt so that when the inner shoulder contacts the upper surface of the flange, a moment is created that increases as the nut is tightened on the bolt and counters the tensile stresses induced on the flange by the high pressure fluid injected into the sleeve. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the outer shoulder of the adapter contacts the upper surface of the flange to further prevent movement of the adapter when the nut is tightened on the bolt to a final bolt torque. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: the adapter comprises a plate that overlies the flange on an upper end of the wellhead member, the flange on the wellhead member containing a bolt hole pattern that includes the passage extending through the flange;a plurality of threaded bolts including the threaded bolt received in the passage extending through the flange, the plurality of threaded bolts rigidly mounted in the plate of the adapter, the bolts extending downward from the plate and through the bolt hole pattern of the wellhead member to secure the adapter to the wellhead member, the bolts extending upward from the plate of the adapter for insertion into a bolt hole pattern of a fluid injection valve. 6. An apparatus for reinforcing a wellhead apparatus, comprising: a flange formed on an upper end of a wellhead member having a vertical bore for receiving an upper end of a string of conduit extending into a well, the flange having an upper surface and a lower surface, the flange having a passage extending therethrough from the upper to the lower surface for receiving a bolt, a sleeve carried within the bore of the wellhead member, wherein the sleeve isolates the bore of the wellhead member from a high pressure fluid injected into the sleeve;an annular wedge ring located adjacent the lower surface of the flange and having a downward facing tapered shoulder formed on an outer diameter so that when a nut is tightened onto the bolt, a radial inward component of a tightening force on the bolt is applied through the tapered shoulder of the ring and to the flange, the radial component of the force countering tensile stress induced on the flange by the high pressure fluid injected into the sleeve; anda segmented washer installed between the nut on the bolt and the lower surface of the flange, wherein a gap is maintained between the washer and the lower surface of the flange when the flange is made up and the nut is tightened on the bolt, wherein the washer is comprised of two semi-circular halves that are fastened to each other by screws that correspond to passages formed at joining ends of the washer, and wherein the washer has a tapered shoulder formed on an interior diameter of the washer that is in contact with the correspondingly tapered shoulder formed on the outer diameter of the wedge ring so that the tightening force from the nut is transmitted from the washer, to the tapered shoulder of the washer, to the tapered shoulder of the wedge ring, such that a radial inward component of the tightening force is applied to the flange. 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: an adapter mounted and sealed to the upper surface of the flange, the adapter having an upper surface and a lower surface and having a bore that is coaxial with the bore of the wellhead member;an outer shoulder formed on the lower surface of the adapter; andan inner shoulder formed on the lower surface of the adapter and located radially inward from the outer shoulder, the inner shoulder protruding further downward than the outer shoulder such the inner shoulder contacts the upper surface of the flange of the wellhead member before the outer shoulder when the nut is tightened on the bolt during make up of the adapter to the flange. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the inner shoulder is radially offset from an axis of the bolt so that when the inner shoulder contacts the upper surface of the flange, a moment is created that increases as the nut is tightened on the bolt and counters the tensile stresses induced on the flange by the high pressure fluid injected into the sleeve. 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the outer shoulder of the adapter contacts the upper surface of the flange to further prevent movement of the adapter when the nut is tightened on the bolt to a final bolt torque. 10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein: the adapter comprises a plate that overlies the flange on an upper end of the wellhead member, the flange on the wellhead member containing a bolt hole pattern that includes the passage extending through the flange;a plurality of threaded studs rigidly mounted in the plate of the adapter, the studs extending downward from the plate and through the bolt hole pattern of the flange formed on the upper end of the wellhead member to secure the adapter to the wellhead member, the studs extending upward from the plate of the adapter for insertion into a bolt hole pattern of a fluid injection valve. 11. A method for reinforcing an apparatus in a well, comprising: installing a wellhead member having a vertical bore for receiving an upper end of a string of conduit extending into the well, the wellhead member having a flange with a bolt hole pattern located at an upper end of the wellhead member;running and installing a sleeve into the bore of the wellhead member, wherein the sleeve isolates the bore of the wellhead member from a high pressure fluid injected into the sleeve;installing an annular wedge ring adjacent to a lower surface of the flange formed on the upper end of the wellhead member; wherein, the wedge ring has a downward facing tapered shoulder formed on an outer diameter so that when a nut is tightened onto a bolt in one of the bolt holes, a radial inward component of a tightening force on the bolt is applied through the tapered shoulder of the ring and to the flange, the radial component of the force countering tensile stress induced on the flange by the high pressure fluid injected into the sleeve; andinstalling a segmented washer between the nut on the bolt and the lower surface of the flange, wherein, a gap is maintained between the washer and the lower surface of the flange when the flange is made up and the nut is tightened on the bolt;the washer is comprised of two semi-circular halves that are fastened to each other by screws that correspond to passages formed at joining ends of the washer; andthe washer has a tapered shoulder formed on an interior diameter of the washer that is in contact with the correspondingly tapered shoulder formed on the outer diameter of the wedge ring so that the tightening force from the nut is transmitted from the washer, to the tapered shoulder of the washer, to the tapered shoulder of the wedge ring, such that a radial inward component of the tightening force is applied to the flange. 12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising installing an adapter mounted and sealed to the upper surface of the flange, the adapter having an upper surface and a lower surface and having a bore that is coaxial with the bore of the wellhead member; wherein,an outer shoulder is formed on the lower surface of the adapter; andan inner shoulder formed on the lower surface of the adapter and located radially inward from the outer shoulder, the inner shoulder protruding further downward than the outer shoulder such the inner shoulder contact the upper surface of the flange of the wellhead member before the outer shoulder when the nut is tightened on the bolt during make up of the adapter to the flange. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the inner shoulder is radially offset from an axis of the bolt so that when the inner shoulder contacts the top surface of the flange, a moment is created that increases as the nut is tightened on the bolt and counters the tensile stresses induced on the flange by the high pressure fluid injected into the sleeve. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the outer shoulder of the adapter contacts the upper surface of the flange to further prevent movement of the adapter when the nut is tightened on the bolt to a final bolt torque. 15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising mounting a fluid injection valve to the upper end of the adapter, wherein, the adapter comprises a plate that overlies the flange on an upper end of the wellhead member; anda plurality of threaded studs are rigidly mounted to the plate of the adapter, the studs extending downward from the plate and through the bolt hole pattern of the wellhead member to secure the adapter to the wellhead member, the studs extending upward from the plate of the adapter for insertion into a bolt hole pattern of a fluid injection valve.
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