US3638722A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for reentry of subsea wellheads
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
•
Filing: 1969-12-11
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Granted: 1972-02-01
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Expires: 1989-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A lubricator for use in reentry of a subsea well and a workover tool enshrouded within the lubrication are lowered from the surface to a subsea wellhead on a wire line. The lubricator is then connected to the wellhead by a hydraulically actuated latch and the workover tool is lowered into the well to perform a workover operation.
Inventors
- 👤 William A Talley Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:30
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B33/00; E21B33/02; E21B33/03; E21B33/035; E21B33/038; E21B33/068; E21B33/076
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A wire line lubricator assembly for workover operations at a subsea wellhead comprising: a wire line adapted to be lowered from the surface to said wellhead; a lubricator having a substantially closed end receiving said wire line and an open end including hydraulically actuated means adapted to latchably connect said lubricator to said wellhead; and a workover tool supported on said wire line and adapted to support said lubricator at said closed end as said lubricator is lowered to said subsea wellhead to be latched thereto at said open end and further adapted to move through said lubricator after said lubricator is latched to said wellhead.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A wire line lubricator assembly for workover operations at a subsea wellhead comprising: a wire line adapted to be lowered from the surface to said wellhead; a lubricator having a substantially closed end receiving said wire line and an open end including hydraulically actuated means adapted to latchably connect said lubricator to said wellhead; and a workover tool supported on said wire line and adapted to support said lubricator at said closed end as said lubricator is lowered to said subsea wellhead to be latched thereto at said open end and further adapted to move through said lubricator after said lubricator is latched to said wellhead.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The wire line lubricator assembly of claim 1 wherein said means adapted to latchably connect said lubricator to said wellhead comprises a plurality of collet fingers adapted to engage a nipple on said wellhead.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
134 words
A system for workover of subsea wells comprising: a submerged wellhead of a suBsea well; a wellhead cap connected to said wellhead during production periods, said wellhead cap being connected to and disconnected from said wellhead by a latching mechanism; a wire line adapted to be lowered from the surface to said wellhead; a lubricator having a substantially closed end receiving said wire line and an open end for receiving said wellhead, said open end being connected to and disconnected from said wellhead by a latching mechanism, and a reentry apparatus supported on said wire line and adapted to support said lubricator at said closed end as said lubricator is lowered to said wellhead and adapted to be moved through said lubricator and into said wellhead after said lubricator is latched to said wellhead.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
134 words
A system for workover of subsea wells comprising: a submerged wellhead of a suBsea well; a wellhead cap connected to said wellhead during production periods, said wellhead cap being connected to and disconnected from said wellhead by a latching mechanism; a wire line adapted to be lowered from the surface to said wellhead; a lubricator having a substantially closed end receiving said wire line and an open end for receiving said wellhead, said open end being connected to and disconnected from said wellhead by a latching mechanism, and a reentry apparatus supported on said wire line and adapted to support said lubricator at said closed end as said lubricator is lowered to said wellhead and adapted to be moved through said lubricator and into said wellhead after said lubricator is latched to said wellhead.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said latching mechanism at said wellhead cap and said latching mechanism of said lubricator are hydraulically actuated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said wellhead cap includes hydraulic terminals external thereto, said lubricator includes hydraulic terminals external thereto, said wellhead cap hydraulic terminals being substantially identical to said lubricator hydraulic terminals and substantially identically spaced.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said submerged wellhead includes a nipple and said latching mechanism of said wellhead cap and said latching mechanism of said lubricator includes a plurality of collet fingers for engaging said nipple.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of reentering subsea wells having subsea wellheads including the following steps: suspending a lubricator tube from a wire line; lowering said lubricator tube to one of said subsea wellheads with said wire line; unlatching a wellhead cap from said one of said wellheads; removing said wellhead cap from said one of said wellheads; hydraulically latching said lubricator tube to said one of said wellheads; and lowering the reentry apparatus into said one of said wellheads.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of reentering subsea wells having subsea wellheads including the following steps: suspending a lubricator tube from a wire line; lowering said lubricator tube to one of said subsea wellheads with said wire line; unlatching a wellhead cap from said one of said wellheads; removing said wellhead cap from said one of said wellheads; hydraulically latching said lubricator tube to said one of said wellheads; and lowering the reentry apparatus into said one of said wellheads.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said wellhead cap is hydraulically unlatched from said one of said wellheads.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-31 | 1975-08-02 | 1976-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-31 | 1979-08-02 | 1980-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-31 | 1983-08-02 | 1984-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |