Conductor pipe plug

Claim 2

A removable plug for temporarily sealing the interior of an annular member to prevent the flow of fluid therethrough, said removable plug comprising: plug body means disposed within said annular member, said plug body means comprising: sealing mandrel means; sealing member means located on the sealing mandrel means for sealingly engaging the interior of said annular member; locking dog means pivotally mounted on said plug body means for retaining said plug from axial movement in at least one direction in said annular member; dog locking sleeve means abutting the locking dog means in releasable engagement therewith; and pressure equalization plug means abutting the dog locking sleeve means in releasable engagement therewith for allowing the flow of said fluid through said plug, thereby allowing the pressure of said fluid to substantially equalize in said annular member and across said plug before the removal of said plug from said annular member.

Claim 3

The plug of claim 1 further comprising: first shear type releasing means releasably securing the pressure equalization plug means to the dog locking sleeve means, thereby preventing the flow of said fluid through said plug.

Claim 4

The plug of claim 2 further comprising: second shear type releasing means releasably securing the dog locking sleeve means to the sealing mandrel means, thereby retaining the dog locking sleeve means abutting the locking dog means.

Claim 5

The plug of claim 3 wherein the first shear type releasing means are sheared by a force having a first level of magnitude thereby releasing the pressure equalization plug means from the dog locking sleeve means and the second shear type releasing means are sheared by a force having a second level of magnitude greater than the force having a first level of magnitude thereby releasing the dog locking sleeve from the sealing mandrel means.

Claim 6

The plug of claim 4 wherein the sealing mandrel means comprises: annular member means having circular plug means therein, having sleeve means having an annular recess located therein, the sleeve means secured within the circular plug means, having sealing member retaining means on the exterior thereof, and having dog locking support means on the exterior thereof.

Claim 7

The plug of claim 5 wherein the pressure equalization plug means sealingly engages the sleeve means located within the circular plug means of the sealing mandrel means when the pressure equalization plug means are retained in abutting engagement with the dog locking sleeve means by the first shear type releasing means.

Claim 8

The plug of claim 6 wherein the sealing member means comprises annular elastomeric compression type packer means.

Claim 9

The plug of claim 7 wherein the sealing mandrel means further comprises: packer setting sleeve means located on the sealing mandrel means for compressing the annular elastomeric compression type packer means.

Claim 10

The plug of claim 8 wherein the packer setting sleeve means comprises: packer setting sleeve mandrel means; circular plug means having the packer setting sleeve mandrel means centrally located therein; outer cylindrical member means secured to the circular plug means by pin means extending through slots in the sealing mandrel means and located adjacent the outer diameter of the sealing mandrel means.

Claim 11

The plug of claim 9 further comprising: collet member means having a plurality of spring fingers, each finger having an enlarged end thereon retained in the annular recess in the sleeve in the sealing mandrel means; packer setting mandrel means having one end secured to the collet member means while the other end extends through the packer setting sleeve means; and fastening means located on the other end of the packer setting mandrel means abutting the packer setting sleeve means.

Claim 12

The plug of claim 6 wherein the sealing member means comprises annular elastomeric cup type sealing means.

Claim 13

The plug of claim 6 wherein the sealing member means comprises annular elastomeric inflatable packer means.

Claim 14

The plug of claim 12 further comprising: inflation assembly means having conduit means thereon sealingly engaging the interior of the annular elastomeric inflatable packer means, having connector means having check valve means therein, having on one end of the connector means quick disconnect plug means having attachment means thereon, and having cap means on the other end of the connector means.

Claim 15

The plug of claim 13 further comprising: attachment means secured to the pressure equalization plug means; and cable means having one end secured to the attachment means on the pressure equalization plug means while the other end is secured to the attachment on the quick disconnect plug means, the cable means having a length such that disengagement of the pressure equalization plug means from the sleeve means in the sealing mandrel means causes disengagement of the quick disconnect plug means by removal thereof from the inflation assembly means.

Claim 16

A removable plug for temporarily sealing the interior of a conductive pipe of an offshore platform or other similar annular member to prevent the flow of fluid therethrough, said removable plug comprising: annular plug body housing means having an annular recess therein, said annular plug body housing means being secured to said conductor pipe or other similar annular member; and plug body means disposed within said annular plug body housing means, said plug body means comprising: sealing mandrel means; sealing member means located on said sealing mandrel means for sealingly engaging the interior of said annular plug body housing means; locking dog means pivotally mounted on said plug body means releasably engaging the annular recess in said annular plug body housing means, thereby retaining said plug body from axial movement in at least one direction in said annular member; dog locking sleeve means abutting the locking dog means in releasable engagement therewith; and pressure equalization plug means abutting the dog locking sleeve means in releasable engagement therewith for allowing the flow of said fluid through said plug, thereby allowing the pressure of said fluid to substantially equalize in said conductor pipe or other similar annular member and across said plug before the removal of said plug from said conductor pipe or other similar annular member.

Claim 17

A removable plug for temporarily sealing the interior of a conductive pipe of an offshore platform or other similar annular member to prevent the flow of fluid therethrough, said removable plug comprising: annular plug body housing means having an annular recess therein, said annular plug body housing means being secured to said conductor pipe or other similar annular member; and plug body means disposed within said annular plug body housing means, said plug body means comprising: sealing mandrel means; sealing member means located on said sealing mandrel means for sealingly engaging the interior of said annular plug body housing means; locking dog means pivotally mounted on said plug body means releasably engaging the annular recess in said annular plug body housing means, thereby retaining said plug body from axial movement in at least one direction in said annular member; dog locking sleeve means abutting the locking dog means in releasable engagement therewith; and pressure equalization plug means abutting the dog locking sleeve means in releasable engagement therewith for allowing the flow of said fluid through said plug, thereby allowing the pressure of said fluid to substantially equalize in said conductor pipe or other similar annular member and across said plug before the removal of said plug from said conductor pipe or other similar annular member.

Claim 18

The plug of claim 15 further comprising: first shear type releasing means releasably securing the pressure equalization plug means to the dog locking sleeve means, thereby preventing the flow of said fluid through said plug.

Claim 19

The plug of claim 16 further comprising: second shear type releasing means releasably securing the dog locking sleeve means to the sealing mandrel means, thereby retaining the dog locking sleeve means abutting the locking dog means.

Claim 20

The plug of claim 17 wherein the first shear type releasing means are sheared by a force having a first level of magnitude thereby releasing the pressure equalization plug means from the dog locking sleeve means and the second shear type releasing means are sheared by a force having a second level of magnitude greater than the force having a first level of magnitude thereby releasing the dog locking sleeve from the sealing mandrel means.

Claim 21

The plug of claim 18 wherein the sealing mandrel means comprises: annular member means having circular plug means therein, having sleeve means having an annular recess located therein, the sleeve means secured within the circular plug means, having sealing member retaining means on the exterior thereof, and having dog locking support means on the exterior thereof.

Claim 22

The plug of claim 19 wherein the pressure equalization plug means sealingly engages the sleeve means located within the circular plug means of the sealing mandrel means when the pressure equalization plug means are retained in abutting engagement with the dog locking sleeve means by the first shear type releasing means.

Claim 23

The plug of claim 20 wherein the sealing member means comprises annular elastomeric compression type packer means.

Claim 24

The plug of claim 21 wherein the sealing mandrel means further comprises: packer setting sleeve means located on the sealing mandrel means for compressing the annular elastomeric compression type packer means.

Claim 25

The plug of claim 22 wherein the packer setting sleeve means comprises: packer setting sleeve mandrel means; circular plug means having the packer setting sleeve mandrel means centrally located therein; outer cylindrical member means secured to the circular plug means by pin means extending through slots in the sealing mandrel means and located adjacent the outer diameter of the sealing mandrel means.

Claim 26

The plug of claim 23 further comprising: collet member means having a plurality of spring fingers, each finger having an enlarged end thereon retained in the annular recess in the sleeve in the sealing mandrel means; packer setting mandrel means having one end secured to the collet member means while the other end extends through the packer setting sleeve means; and fastening means located on the other end of the packer setting mandrel means abutting the packet setting sleeve means.

Claim 27

The plug of claim 20 wherein the sealing member means comprises annular elastomeric cup type sealing means.

Claim 28

The plug of claim 20 wherein the sealing member means comprises annular elastomeric inflatable packer means.

Claim 29

The plug of claim 26 further comprising: inflation assembly means having conduit means thereon sealingly engaging the interior of the annular elastomeric inflatable packer means, having connector means having check valve means therein, having on one end of the connector means quick disconnect plug means having the attachment means thereon, and having cap means on the other end of the connector means.

Claim 30

The plug of claim 27 further comprising: attachment means secured to the pressure equalization plug means; and cable means having one end secured to the attachment means on the pressure equalization plug means while the other end is secured to the attachment on the quick disconnect plug means, the cable means having a length such that disengagement of the pressure equalization plug means from the sleeve means in the sealing mandrel means causes disengagement of the quick disconnect plug means by removal thereof from the inflation assembly means.

Claim 31

A removable plug for temporarily sealing the interior of a conductor pipe of an offshore platform or other similar annular member to prevent the flow of fluid therethrough, said removable plug comprising: annular plug body housing means having an annular recess therein, said annular plug body housing means being secured to said conductor pipe or other similar annular member; and plug body means disposed within said annular plug body housing means, said plug body means comprising: sealing mandrel means, the sealing mandrel mean comprising: annular member means having circular plug means therein, having sleeve means having an annular recess located therein, the sleeve means secured within the circular plug means, having sealing member retaining means on the exterior thereof, and dog locking support means on the exterior thereof; annular elastomeric compression type packer means located on the sealing mandrel means for sealingly engaging the interior of said annular plug body housing means, the annular elastomeric compression type packer means having one end abutting the sealing member retaining means on the exterior of the sealing mandrel means; packer setting sleeve means located on the sealing mandrel means for compressing the annular elastomeric compression type packer means, the packer setting sleeve means comprising: packer setting sleeve mandrel means; circular plug means having the packer setting sleeve mandrel means centrally located therein; and outer cylindrical member means secured to the circular plug means by pin means extending through slots in the sealing mandrel of the sealing mandrel means; collet member means having a plurality of spring fingers, each finger having an enlarged end thereon retained in the annular recess in the sleeve in the sealing mandrel means; packer setting mandrel means having one end secured to the collet member means while the other end extends through the packer setting sleeve means; fastening means located on the other end of the packer setting mandrel means abutting the packer setting sleeve means; locking dog means pivotally mounted on the dog locking support means of the sealing mandrel means for retaining said plug from axial movement in at least one direction in said annular member; dog locking sleeve means abutting the locking dog means in releasable engagement therewith; pressure equalization plug means abutting the dog locking sleeve means in releasable engagement therewith, the pressure equalization plug means sealingly engaging the sleeve means located within the circular plug means of the sealing mandrel means when the pressure equalization plug means is retained in abutting engagement with the dog locking sleeve means; first shear type releasing means releasably securing the pressure equalization plug means to the dog locking sleeve means, thereby preventing the flow of fluid through said plug, the first shear type releasing means releasing the pressure equalization plug means when a force having a first level of magnitude is applied to the pressure equalization plug means; and second shear type releasing means releasably securing the dog locking sleeve means to the sealing mandrel means, thereby retaining the dog locking sleeve means abutting the locking dog means, the second shear type releasing means releasing the pressure equalization plug means from the sealing mandrel means when a second force having a second level of magnitude greater than the force having a first level of magnitude is applied to said plug.

Claim 32

A removable plug for temporarily sealing the interior of a conductor pipe of an offshore platform or other similar annular member to prevent the flow of fluid therethrough, said removable plug comprising: annular plug body housing means having an annular recess therein, said annular plug body housing means being secured to said conductor pipe or other similar annular member; and plug body means disposed within said annular plug body housing means, said plug body means comprising: sealing mandrel means, the sealing mandrel mean comprising: annular member means having circular plug means therein, having sleeve means having an annular recess located therein, the sleeve means secured within the circular plug means, having sealing member retaining means on the exterior thereof, and dog locking support means on the exterior thereof; annular elastomeric compression type packer means located on the sealing mandrel means for sealingly engaging the interior of said annular plug body housing means, the annular elastomeric compression type packer means having one end abutting the sealing member retaining means on the exterior of the sealing mandrel means; packer setting sleeve means located on the sealing mandrel means for compressing the annular elastomeric compression type packer means, the packer setting sleeve means comprising: packer setting sleeve mandrel means; circular plug means having the packer setting sleeve mandrel means centrally located therein; and outer cylindrical member means secured to the circular plug means by pin means extending through slots in the sealing mandrel of the sealing mandrel means; collet member means having a plurality of spring fingers, each finger having an enlarged end thereon retained in the annular recess in the sleeve in the sealing mandrel means; packer setting mandrel means having one end secured to the collet member means while the other end extends through the packer setting sleeve means; fastening means located on the other end of the packer setting mandrel means abutting the packer setting sleeve means; locking dog means pivotally mounted on the dog locking support means of the sealing mandrel means for retaining said plug from axial movement in at least one direction in said annular member; dog locking sleeve means abutting the locking dog means in releasable engagement therewith; pressure equalization plug means abutting the dog locking sleeve means in releasable engagement therewith, the pressure equalization plug means sealingly engaging the sleeve means located within the circular plug means of the sealing mandrel means when the pressure equalization plug means is retained in abutting engagement with the dog locking sleeve means; first shear type releasing means releasably securing the pressure equalization plug means to the dog locking sleeve means, thereby preventing the flow of fluid through said plug, the first shear type releasing means releasing the pressure equalization plug means when a force having a first level of magnitude is applied to the pressure equalization plug means; and second shear type releasing means releasably securing the dog locking sleeve means to the sealing mandrel means, thereby retaining the dog locking sleeve means abutting the locking dog means, the second shear type releasing means releasing the pressure equalization plug means from the sealing mandrel means when a second force having a second level of magnitude greater than the force having a first level of magnitude is applied to said plug.

Claim 33

A removable plug for temporarily sealing the interior of a conductor pipe of an offshore platform or other similar annular member to prevent the flow of fluid therethrough, said removable plug comprising: annular plug body housing means having an annular recess therein, said annular plug body housing means being secured to said conductor pipe or other similar annular member; and plug body means disposed within said annular plug body housing means, said plug body means comprising: sealing mandrel means, the sealing mandrel means comprising: annular member means having circular plug means therein, having sleeve means located in the circular plug means, having sealing member retaining means on the exterior thereof, and dog locking support means on the exterior thereof; annular elastomeric cup type sealing means located on the sealing mandrel means for sealingly engaging the interior of said annular plug body housing means, the annular elastomeric cup type sealing means being retained on the sealing mandrel means by the sealing member retaining means thereon; locking dog means pivotally mounted on the dog locking support means of the sealing mandrel for retaining said plug from axial movement in at least one direction in said annular member; dog locking sleeve means abutting the locking dog means in releasable engagement therewith; pressure equalization plug means abutting the dog locking sleeve means in releasable engagement therewith, the pressure equalization plug means sealingly engaging the sleeve means located within the circular plug means of the sealing mandrel means when the pressure equalization plug means is retained in abutting engagement with the dog locking sleeve means; first shear type releasing means releasably securing the pressure equalization plug means to the dog locking sleeve means, thereby preventing the flow of fluid through said plug, the first shear type releasing means releasing the pressure equalization plug means when a force having a first level of magnitude is applied to the pressure equalization plug means; and second shear type releasing means releasably securing the dog locking sleeve means to the sealing mandrel means, thereby retaining the dog locking sleeve means abutting the locking dog means, the second shear type releasing means releasing the pressure equalization plug means from the sealing mandrel means when a second force having a second level of magnitude greater than the force having a first level of magnitude is applied to said plug.

Claim 34

A removable plug for temporarily sealing the interior of a conductor pipe of an offshore platform or other similar annular member to prevent the flow of fluid therethrough, said removable plug comprising: annular plug body housing means having an annular recess therein, said annular plug body housing means being secured to said conductor pipe or other similar annular member; and plug body means disposed within said annular plug body housing means, said plug body means comprising: sealing mandrel means, the sealing mandrel means comprising: annular member means having circular plug means therein, having sleeve means located in the circular plug means, having sealing member retaining means on the exterior thereof, and dog locking support means on the exterior thereof; annular elastomeric cup type sealing means located on the sealing mandrel means for sealingly engaging the interior of said annular plug body housing means, the annular elastomeric cup type sealing means being retained on the sealing mandrel means by the sealing member retaining means thereon; locking dog means pivotally mounted on the dog locking support means of the sealing mandrel for retaining said plug from axial movement in at least one direction in said annular member; dog locking sleeve means abutting the locking dog means in releasable engagement therewith; pressure equalization plug means abutting the dog locking sleeve means in releasable engagement therewith, the pressure equalization plug means sealingly engaging the sleeve means located within the circular plug means of the sealing mandrel means when the pressure equalization plug means is retained in abutting engagement with the dog locking sleeve means; first shear type releasing means releasably securing the pressure equalization plug means to the dog locking sleeve means, thereby preventing the flow of fluid through said plug, the first shear type releasing means releasing the pressure equalization plug means when a force having a first level of magnitude is applied to the pressure equalization plug means; and second shear type releasing means releasably securing the dog locking sleeve means to the sealing mandrel means, thereby retaining the dog locking sleeve means abutting the locking dog means, the second shear type releasing means releasing the pressure equalization plug means from the sealing mandrel means when a second force having a second level of magnitude greater than the force having a first level of magnitude is applied to said plug.

Claim 35

A removable plug for temporarily sealing the interior of a conductor pipe of an offshore platform or other similar annular member to prevent the flow of fluid therethrough, said removable plug comprising: annular plug body housing means having an annular recess therein, said annular plug body housing means being secured to said conductor pipe or other similar annular member; and plug body means disposed within said annular plug body housing means, said plug body means comprising: sealing mandrel means, the sealing mandrel means comprising: annular member means having circular plug means therein, having sleeve means located in the circular plug means, having sealing member retaining means on the exterior thereof, and dog locking support means on the exterior thereof; annular elastomeric inflatable packer means located on the sealing mandrel means for sealingly engaging the interior of said annular plug body housing means, the annular elastomeric inflatable packer means being retained on the sealing mandrel means by the sealing member retaining means thereon; locking dog means pivotally mounted on the dog locking support means of the sealing mandrel means for retaining said plug from axial movement in at least one direction in said annular member; dog locking sleeve means abutting the locking dog means in releasable engagement therewith; pressure equalization plug means abutting the dog locking sleeve means in releasable engagement therewith, the pressure equalization plug means sealingly engaging the sleeve means located within the circular plug means of the sealing mandrel means when the pressure equalization plug means is retained in abutting engagement with the dog locking sleeve means; first shear type releasing means releasably securing the pressure equalization plug means to the dog locking sleeve means, thereby preventing the flow of fluid through said plug, the first shear type releasing means releasing the pressure equalization plug means when a force having a first level of magnitude is applied to the pressure equalization plug means; second shear type releasing means releasably securing the dog locking sleeve means to the sealing mandrel means, thereby retaining the dog locking sleeve means abutting the locking dog means, the second shear type releasing means releasing the pressure equalization plug means from the sealing mandrel means when a second force having a second level of magnitude greater than the force having a first level of magnitude is applied to said plug; inflation assembly means having conduit means thereon sealingly engaging the interior of the annular elastomeric inflatable packer means, having connector means having check valve means therein, having on one end of the connector means quick disconnect plug means having attachment means thereon, and having cap means on the other end of the connector means; attachment means secured to the pressure equalization plug means; and cable means having one end secured to the attachment means on the pressure equalization plug means while the other end is secured to the attachment on the quick disconnect plug means, the cable means having a length such that disengagement of the pressure equalization plug means from the sleeve means in the sealing mandrel means causes disengagement of the quick disconnect plug means by removal thereof from the inflation assembly means.

Claim 36

A removable plug for temporarily sealing the interior of a conductor pipe of an offshore platform or other similar annular member to prevent the flow of fluid therethrough, said removable plug comprising: annular plug body housing means having an annular recess therein, said annular plug body housing means being secured to said conductor pipe or other similar annular member; and plug body means disposed within said annular plug body housing means, said plug body means comprising: sealing mandrel means, the sealing mandrel means comprising: annular member means having circular plug means therein, having sleeve means located in the circular plug means, having sealing member retaining means on the exterior thereof, and dog locking support means on the exterior thereof; annular elastomeric inflatable packer means located on the sealing mandrel means for sealingly engaging the interior of said annular plug body housing means, the annular elastomeric inflatable packer means being retained on the sealing mandrel means by the sealing member retaining means thereon; locking dog means pivotally mounted on the dog locking support means of the sealing mandrel means for retaining said plug from axial movement in at least one direction in said annular member; dog locking sleeve means abutting the locking dog means in releasable engagement therewith; pressure equalization plug means abutting the dog locking sleeve means in releasable engagement therewith, the pressure equalization plug means sealingly engaging the sleeve means located within the circular plug means of the sealing mandrel means when the pressure equalization plug means is retained in abutting engagement with the dog locking sleeve means; first shear type releasing means releasably securing the pressure equalization plug means to the dog locking sleeve means, thereby preventing the flow of fluid through said plug, the first shear type releasing means releasing the pressure equalization plug means when a force having a first level of magnitude is applied to the pressure equalization plug means; second shear type releasing means releasably securing the dog locking sleeve means to the sealing mandrel means, thereby retaining the dog locking sleeve means abutting the locking dog means, the second shear type releasing means releasing the pressure equalization plug means from the sealing mandrel means when a second force having a second level of magnitude greater than the force having a first level of magnitude is applied to said plug; inflation assembly means having conduit means thereon sealingly engaging the interior of the annular elastomeric inflatable packer means, having connector means having check valve means therein, having on one end of the connector means quick disconnect plug means having attachment means thereon, and having cap means on the other end of the connector means; attachment means secured to the pressure equalization plug means; and cable means having one end secured to the attachment means on the pressure equalization plug means while the other end is secured to the attachment on the quick disconnect plug means, the cable means having a length such that disengagement of the pressure equalization plug means from the sleeve means in the sealing mandrel means causes disengagement of the quick disconnect plug means by removal thereof from the inflation assembly means.