Patent US4053023A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4053023A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Underwater well completion method and apparatus

Assignee: Cooper Industries LLC
•
Filing: 1974-08-22
•
Granted: 1977-10-11
•
Expires: 1994-08-22
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract Extended casing method and apparatus for completing an underwater well whereby complete and continuous pressure control is maintained at the surface drilling platform. A conductor casing is installed in the floor of a body of water with a casing head and riser attached near the floor. Other casing is installed and supported at the water floor by hanger heads and having other risers extending upwardly therefrom. Pressure control equipment is installed at the upper end of one of the risers. An innermost casing having a tubing hanger-head attached is lowered through the pressure control equipment and installed. An orientation sleeve is aligned with the tubing hanger-head to properly orient the tubing hanger. The tubing hanger and tubing is then passed through the pressure control equipment and the innermost riser, to which the pressure control equipment is attached, and is lowered to engage the orientation sleeve for proper alignment with the innermost hanger-head and remotely latched thereto. All seals are then pressure tested. The tubing is plugged, the riser and control equipment removed and a Christmas tree adapter connected to the tubing hanger-head. A Christmas tree assembly is then attached to the adapter in fluidtight flow communication with the tubing string.

Inventors

  • 👤 David P. Herd
  • 👤 John H. Fowler

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 11:41
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B33/00; E21B33/02; E21B33/03; E21B33/04; E21B33/047; E21B33/035; E21B17/00; E21B17/02; E21B17/08; E21B17/085

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 77 words
A method of installing a string of pipe in the earth, comprising the steps of: axially inserting a first pipe into a second pipe while preventing relative rotation therebetween until further insertion of said first pipe into said second pipe is prevented by a stop, rotating said first pipe within said second pipe less than one revolution until tooth-like projections on said first pipe engage tooth-like projections on said second pipe, driving the pipes into the earth.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 77 words
A method of installing a string of pipe in the earth, comprising the steps of: axially inserting a first pipe into a second pipe while preventing relative rotation therebetween until further insertion of said first pipe into said second pipe is prevented by a stop, rotating said first pipe within said second pipe less than one revolution until tooth-like projections on said first pipe engage tooth-like projections on said second pipe, driving the pipes into the earth.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 179 words
A method of installing a string of pipe in the earth, at least two of the pipes having cooperable male and female coupling elements on their adjacent ends, the coupling elements having cooperable latching means and lands and grooves, with the lands comprising no-lead thread segments, the female coupling element having a shoulder comprising: moving one pipe axially relative to the other pipe, without relative rotation, and inserting the lands of the male coupling element of the first pipe into the grooves of the female coupling element of the second pipe, until the male coupling element of the first pipe engages the shoulder on the female coupling element of the second pipe, rotating the first pipe relative to the second pipe without further axial movement until the thread segments of the male element of the first pipe engage the thread segments of the female element of the second pipe, latching said elements against disengagement of said thread segments, lowering said connected pipes vertically downwardly, and putting at least one of said pipes into the earth in substantially vertical position.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 179 words
A method of installing a string of pipe in the earth, at least two of the pipes having cooperable male and female coupling elements on their adjacent ends, the coupling elements having cooperable latching means and lands and grooves, with the lands comprising no-lead thread segments, the female coupling element having a shoulder comprising: moving one pipe axially relative to the other pipe, without relative rotation, and inserting the lands of the male coupling element of the first pipe into the grooves of the female coupling element of the second pipe, until the male coupling element of the first pipe engages the shoulder on the female coupling element of the second pipe, rotating the first pipe relative to the second pipe without further axial movement until the thread segments of the male element of the first pipe engage the thread segments of the female element of the second pipe, latching said elements against disengagement of said thread segments, lowering said connected pipes vertically downwardly, and putting at least one of said pipes into the earth in substantially vertical position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method as defined by claim 2 wherein the last step is accomplished by driving.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 29 words
A method as defined by claim 2, and including drilling a hole in the sea floor for the pipe prior to step of putting the pipe in the earth.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method as defined by claim 2, and including sealing around the circumference of said male element within said female element.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 111 words
A method of connecting first and second pipes having cooperable male and female coupling elements on the adjacent ends of said pipes, the coupling elements having no-lead thread segments and facing shoulders, comprising: moving one pipe axially relative to the other without relative rotation until the coupling elements are telescoped and the shoulder on the male coupling element of the first pipe engages the shoulder on the female coupling element of the second pipe, rotating one of the pipes relative to the other without further axial movement until the thread segments of the coupling element of the first pipe engage the thread segments of the coupling element of the second pipe.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 111 words
A method of connecting first and second pipes having cooperable male and female coupling elements on the adjacent ends of said pipes, the coupling elements having no-lead thread segments and facing shoulders, comprising: moving one pipe axially relative to the other without relative rotation until the coupling elements are telescoped and the shoulder on the male coupling element of the first pipe engages the shoulder on the female coupling element of the second pipe, rotating one of the pipes relative to the other without further axial movement until the thread segments of the coupling element of the first pipe engage the thread segments of the coupling element of the second pipe.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 18 words
A method as defined by claim 6 and including latching said elements against disengagement of said thread segments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method as defined by claim 6 and including the steps of: stopping said rotation; and latching said elements against disengagement independent of said thread segment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 18 words
A method as defined by claim 6 wherein said step of rotation occurs with the shoulders in engagement.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US314783A Cited
CA642982A Cited
US2228243A Cited
US2645438A Cited
US2950929A Cited
US2893694A Cited
US3098667A Cited
US3189372A Cited
US3163238A Cited
US3353595A Cited
US3315742A Cited
US3442536A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-10-10 1981-04-11 1981-10-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-10-10 1985-04-11 1985-10-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-10-10 1989-04-11 1989-10-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag