Casing hanger seal assembly with diverging taper

Patent · Tue Oct 02 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6410769

Nelson, J E

This patent describes, in a well having a wellhead housing with a bore defining an inner wall, a casing hanger located in the bore and having an outer wall radially spaced from the inner wall of the wellhead housing, defining an annular clearance, an improved means for sealing the annular clearance. It comprises: a downward inclined tapered section on at least one of the walls in the annular clearance, defining a width of the annular clearance in the tapered section which increases in a downward direction; a metal seal member for sealing in the annular clearance, having annular inner and outer legs radially spaced apart from each other to define an annular slot, the outer leg having an outer sealing surface, the inner leg having an inner sealing surface, the inner and outer sealing surfaces being of substantially the same length; the tapered section having an axial length that is substantially the same axial length as the inner and outer sealing surfaces; the seal member being movable downward from an initial position located above the tapered section during cementing to a setting position with its outer sealing surface facing the inner wall of the wellhead and its inner sealing surface facing the outer wall of the casing hanger, and with one of the sealing surfaces located adjacent the tapered section; and an energizing member carried with the seal member for movement from an upper position to a lower position within the slot.

• Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc., Houston, TX (USA)
• Patent Number(s): US 4960172; A
• Application Number: PPN: US s 7-395809
• OSTI ID: 6410769
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
OIL WELLS
SEALS
SUPPORTS
WELL CASINGS
WELLHEADS
WELLS