MECHANICAL-HYDRAULIC SUBJECTION SECTIONED COUPLER, TO SEAL WELLS FOR OIL OR GAS

• US 20120306198A1
• Filed: 05/29/2012
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hector Smith Mc Donald Pinedo
• Original Assignee: Hector Smith Mc Donald Pinedo
• Inventors: Mc Donald Pinedo, Hector Smith
• Application Number:
  US13/482,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20120306198A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/323
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/038 Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/032 characterised by the shape or composition of the flanges
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/62 pneumatically or hydraulically actuated

Abstract

The present invention relates to a subjection sectioned mechanical-hydraulic coupler to seal oil and gas wells including in association: a flange pistons holder; a support bracket attached to the flange pistons holder; a plurality of pistons housed inside the flange pistons holder, the pistons act on a washer plate housed inside the support bracket when a hydraulic fluid is injected through the flange pistons holder; and a tightening crown located inside the support bracket, the tightening crown located under the washer plate, wherein the tightening crown slides down over inside walls of the support bracket when it is pushed by the washer plate.

Claims

1. A subjection sectioned mechanical-hydraulic coupler to seal oil and gas wells comprising in association:

a flange pistons holder;

a support bracket attached to the flange pistons holder;

a plurality of pistons housed inside the flange pistons holder, the pistons act on a washer plate housed inside the support bracket when a hydraulic fluid is injected through the flange pistons holder; and

a tightening crown located inside the support bracket, the tightening crown located under the washer plate, wherein the tightening crown slides down over inside walls of the support bracket when is pushed by the washer plate.

2. The subjection sectioned mechanical-hydraulic coupler according to claim 1, wherein the flange pistons holder includes an annular body and a projection located on a perimeter of the annular body extending away from the outer surface of the annular body, the annular body includes in an entire lower face a plurality of housings equally disposed and separated from each other, the housings are extended ascending from the lower face of the annular body toward an interior of the annular body until reaching a depth that goes beyond half of a thickness of the annular body, wherein diameters of the housings are slightly larger than diameters of the pistons, the pistons are accommodated under pressure inside the housings.

3. The subjection sectioned mechanical-hydraulic coupler according to claim 2, wherein the annular body includes in an entire upper face a plurality of holes equally distributed and separated from each other, the holes coincide with the housings, the holes are axially arranged with respect to the housings, holes are located in a concentric relationship with the housings.

4. The subjection sectioned mechanical-hydraulic coupler according to claim 2, wherein the projection includes centrally located over an entire surface a plurality of openings, the openings are equally distributed and separated from each other, the openings receive a plurality of fasteners to fasten the flange pistons holder to the support bracket.

5. The subjection sectioned mechanical-hydraulic coupler according to claim 1, wherein the support bracket comprises a ring shaped body including a chamfer edge on a lower end and a plurality of apertures on an upper end equally distributed and separated from each other, wherein the apertures match with the openings located on the projection of the flange pistons holder, the support bracket is firmly secured to the flange pistons holder.

6. The subjection sectioned mechanical-hydraulic coupler according to claim 5, wherein the central hole of the annular body includes a first diameter and a second diameter throughout the thickness of the annular body, the first diameter goes from the upper end of the annular body until about half the thickness of the annular body, and the second diameter goes from the half of the thickness to the lower end of the annular body, the first diameter is larger than the second diameter forming a step between the first and the second diameters, the second diameter includes a chamfer producing the second diameter to be smaller towards the lower end of the annular body.

7. The subjection sectioned mechanical-hydraulic coupler according to claim 1, wherein the washer plate is a washer with a hole having a diameter approximately equal to an inside diameter of the flange piston holder.

8. The subjection sectioned mechanical-hydraulic coupler according to claim 1, wherein the tightening crown includes a body having an inverted frustum-conical shape and includes a central hole, the body comprises a plurality of sections, the central hole of the body includes a first diameter located on an upper portion;

a second diameter located on a middle portion of the thickness of the body, the second diameter is larger than the first diameter; and

a third diameter located at a lower portion, the second diameter includes a first inclination that projects inward with an angle between 45° and

65°

, and the third diameter includes a second inclination as a continuation and opposed to the first inclination projecting outward forming a ridge between the second diameter and the third diameter.

9. The subjection sectioned mechanical-hydraulic coupler according to claim 8, wherein the first inclination of the second diameter is projected outward at an angle of 60°

.

10. The subjection sectioned mechanical-hydraulic coupler according to claim 8, wherein the tightening crown comprises three sections, each section is cut to a 120°

angle and lateral walls of the section converge together.

11. The subjection sectioned mechanical-hydraulic coupler according to claim 1, wherein during operation the tightening crown is inserted inside the support bracket, and then the washer plate is placed over the tightening crown, in the housings of the flange pistons holder the pistons are inserted, and the flange pistons holder is placed and fixed to the support bracket by suing fasteners, when the subjection sectioned mechanical-hydraulic coupler is assembled then the conical flange is inserted and attached, the conical flange is fixed to a flange located on a containment system LMRP (Lower Marine Riser Package) to obtain a metal-metal hermetic seal.

12. The subjection sectioned mechanical-hydraulic coupler according to claim 11, wherein the hydraulic fluid is injected through the holes located on the top face of the flange piston holder exerting pressure over the pistons, the pistons act on the washer plate pushing down the tightening crown, the tightening crown slides down on the internal walls of the support bracket until the projection located on the tightening crown is inserted into a neck on the conical flange until completely closing the well hole.

13. The subjection sectioned mechanical-hydraulic coupler according to claim 1, wherein the subjection sectioned mechanical-hydraulic coupler is removable.

14. The subjection sectioned mechanical-hydraulic coupler according to claim 1, wherein the subjection sectioned mechanical-hydraulic coupler is fixed to the conical flange and a containment system LMRP, the fluid is injected just in some of the holes of the flange pistons holder and to the remaining holes a cement hardening agent is injected.