Drilling flange and independent screwed wellhead with metal-to-metal seal and method of use
US7159652B2 · kind B2 · utility
55Cited by
35References
26Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 4, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jan 9, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 3, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B33/03
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A drilling flange and an independent screwed wellhead provides a metal-to-metal seal that supplements the traditional elastomeric O-rings for providing a fluid seal between the drilling flange and the wellhead. The metal-to-metal seal may be achieved using a metal ring gasket or two contacting metal surfaces that are machined to required tolerances and are configured to be forced together when the drilling flange is mounted to the wellhead. The metal-to-metal seal ensures a fluid seal between the flange body and the wellhead in the event that the O-rings malfunction or are destroyed by fire.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.