Drive pipe adaptor

Claim 2

An adaptor for use at a wellhead on the upper end of a well pipe disposed in and extending above a wellbore, comprising: a cylindrical member having an upper portion and a lower portion and an intermediate stop shoulder therebetween adapted to be positioned on the upper end of a well pipe; a flange on the upper portion of said cylindrical member; a plurality of wedge-shaped pipe attachment means attached to said cylindrical member on an interior surface of the lower portion of said cylindrical member; means for engaging said attachment means and forcing said attachment means inwardly relative to said cylindrical member; and a seal on said interior surface of said cylindrical member between said flange and said pipe attachment means for forming a seal with the well pipe.

Claim 3

The adaptor of claim 1, wherein said attachment means are slip segments and said means for engaging comprise a plurality of set screws threaded through said cylindrical member so as to contact said slip segments.

Claim 4

The adaptor of claim 1, wherein said attachment means are screw actuated lock pins and said means for engaging comprise threaded collars on said lock pins.

Claim 5

The adaptor of claim 1, wherein said attachment means are slip segments and said means for engaging comprises a wedge ring attached to said member by threaded fasteners so that when said fasteners are tightened, said wedge ring rises to urge said slip segments upwardly and inwardly.

Claim 6

The adaptor of claim 2, further comprising: a first annular tapered face on said interior surface of said cylindrical member where said slip segments are attached to said cylindrical member, tapered inwardly from top to bottom of said first tapered face; a second tapered face on an outer surface of each of said slip segments, tapered inwardly from top to bottom of said face, where said segment contacts said annular tapered surface of said cylindrical member so as to move said slip segment inwardly or outwardly as said slip segment is moved downwardly or upwardly.

Claim 7

The adaptor of claim 5, further comprising: a plurality of longitudinal slots formed vertically in a wall of said cylindrical member where said slip segments contact said cylindrical member; and a plurality of pins mounted on said second tapered faces of said slip segments and extending therefrom through said longitudinal slots for aligning said slip segments substantially with said slots as said slip segments move upwardly and downwardly.

Claim 8

The adaptor of claim 5, further comprising: a third tapered face on said outer surface of each of said slip segments, tapered outwardly from top to bottom of said third tapered face; and a conical surface on an inwardly disposed end of each of said set screws slidably engaging said third tapered face on each of said slip segments so as to force said slip segments downwardly as said set screw is threaded inwardly into said cylindrical member.

Claim 9

The adaptor of claim 1, wherein said seal includes: two sealing elements, a first element disposed vertically above a second element; a test port through a wall of said cylindrical member into a space between said sealing elements for measuring a test pressure of test fluid escaping past said sealing elements from inside said cylindrical member; and a pressure port through said wall of said cylindrical member above said seal for applying pressure to a test fluid inside said member.

Claim 10

The adaptor of claim 1, further comprising means for applying sealing fluid under pressure to force said seal inwardly to seal against the well pipe inserted within said cylindrical member.

Claim 11

The adaptor of claim 1, further comprising a means for stopping inward motion of the well pipe when the well pipe is inserted longitudinally into said cylindrical member.

Claim 12

The adaptor of claim 10, wherein said stopping means comprises an annular shoulder on said interior surface of said cylindrical member, disposed above said seal.

Claim 13

The adaptor of claim 10, wherein said stopping means comprises: annular stop threads on said interior surface of said cylindrical member, disposed above said seal; and an annular stop collar, having an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said cylindrical member, threaded into said annular stop threads inside said cylindrical member.

Claim 14

An adaptor for use in at a wellhead on the upper end of a well pipe disposed in and extending above a wellbore, comprising: a cylindrical member having an upper portion and a lower portion and an intermediate stop shoulder therebetween adapted to be positioned on the upper end of a well pipe; a flange on the upper portion of said cylindrical member; a plurality of pipe attachment means attached to said cylindrical member on an interior surface of the lower portion of said cylindrical member; means for engaging said attachment means and forcing said attachment means inwardly relative to said cylindrical member, wherein said attachment means are slip segments and said means for engaging comprise a plurality of set screws threaded through said cylindrical member so as to contact said slip segments; a seal on said interior surface of said cylindrical member between said flange and said pipe attachment means for forming a seal with the well pipe; a first annular tapered face on said interior surface of said cylindrical member where said slip segments are attached to said cylindrical member, tapered inwardly from top to bottom of said first tapered face; and a second tapered face on an outer surface of each of said slip segments, tapered inwardly from top to bottom of said face, where said segment contacts said annular tapered surface of said cylindrical member so as to move said slip segment inwardly or outwardly as said slip segment is moved downwardly or upwardly.

Claim 15

An adaptor for use in at a wellhead on the upper end of a well pipe disposed in and extending above a wellbore, comprising: a cylindrical member having an upper portion and a lower portion and an intermediate stop shoulder therebetween adapted to be positioned on the upper end of a well pipe; a flange on the upper portion of said cylindrical member; a plurality of pipe attachment means attached to said cylindrical member on an interior surface of the lower portion of said cylindrical member; means for engaging said attachment means and forcing said attachment means inwardly relative to said cylindrical member, wherein said attachment means are slip segments and said means for engaging comprise a plurality of set screws threaded through said cylindrical member so as to contact said slip segments; a seal on said interior surface of said cylindrical member between said flange and said pipe attachment means for forming a seal with the well pipe; a first annular tapered face on said interior surface of said cylindrical member where said slip segments are attached to said cylindrical member, tapered inwardly from top to bottom of said first tapered face; and a second tapered face on an outer surface of each of said slip segments, tapered inwardly from top to bottom of said face, where said segment contacts said annular tapered surface of said cylindrical member so as to move said slip segment inwardly or outwardly as said slip segment is moved downwardly or upwardly.

Claim 16

An adaptor for use at a wellhead on the upper end of a well pipe disposed in and extending above a wellbore, comprising: a cylindrical member having an upper portion and a lower portion and an intermediate stop shoulder therebetween adapted to be positioned on the upper end of a well pipe; a flange on the upper portion of said cylindrical member; a plurality of pipe attachment means attached to said cylindrical member on an interior surface of the lower portion of said cylindrical member; means for engaging said attachment means and forcing said attachment means inwardly relative to said cylindrical member, wherein said attachment means are slip segments and said means for engaging comprise a plurality of set screws threaded through said cylindrical member so as to contact said slip segments; a seal on said interior surface of said cylindrical member between said flange and said pipe attachment means for forming a seal with the well pipe; a first annular tapered face on said interior surface of said cylindrical member where said slip segments are attached to said cylindrical member, tapered inwardly from top to bottom of said first tapered face; a second tapered face on an outer surface of each of said slip segments, tapered inwardly from top to bottom of said face, where said segment contacts said annular tapered surface of said cylindrical member so as to move said slip segment inwardly or outwardly as said slip segment is moved downwardly or upwardly; a plurality of longitudinal slots formed vertically in a wall of said cylindrical member where said slip segments contact said cylindrical member; and a plurality of pins mounted on said second tapered faces of said slip segments and extending therefrom through said longitudinal slots for aligning said slip segments substantially with said slots as said slip segments move upwardly and downwardly.

Claim 17

An adaptor for use at a wellhead on the upper end of a well pipe disposed in and extending above a wellbore, comprising: a cylindrical member having an upper portion and a lower portion and an intermediate stop shoulder therebetween adapted to be positioned on the upper end of a well pipe; a flange on the upper portion of said cylindrical member; a plurality of pipe attachment means attached to said cylindrical member on an interior surface of the lower portion of said cylindrical member; means for engaging said attachment means and forcing said attachment means inwardly relative to said cylindrical member, wherein said attachment means are slip segments and said means for engaging comprise a plurality of set screws threaded through said cylindrical member so as to contact said slip segments; a seal on said interior surface of said cylindrical member between said flange and said pipe attachment means for forming a seal with the well pipe; a first annular tapered face on said interior surface of said cylindrical member where said slip segments are attached to said cylindrical member, tapered inwardly from top to bottom of said first tapered face; a second tapered face on an outer surface of each of said slip segments, tapered inwardly from top to bottom of said face, where said segment contacts said annular tapered surface of said cylindrical member so as to move said slip segment inwardly or outwardly as said slip segment is moved downwardly or upwardly; a plurality of longitudinal slots formed vertically in a wall of said cylindrical member where said slip segments contact said cylindrical member; and a plurality of pins mounted on said second tapered faces of said slip segments and extending therefrom through said longitudinal slots for aligning said slip segments substantially with said slots as said slip segments move upwardly and downwardly.

Claim 18

An adaptor for use at a wellhead on the upper end of a well pipe disposed in and extending above a wellbore, comprising: a cylindrical member having an upper portion and a lower portion and an intermediate stop shoulder therebetween adapted to be positioned on the upper end of a well pipe; a flange on the upper portion of said cylindrical member; a plurality of means for attaching to the well pipe wherein said means for attaching are connected to said cylindrical member on an interior surface of the lower portion of said cylindrical member; means for engaging and forcing said means for attaching inwardly relative to said cylindrical member; a seal on said interior surface of said cylindrical member between said flange and said pipe attachment means for forming a seal with the well pipe; and a means for stopping inward motion of the well pipe when the well pipe is inserted longitudinally into said cylindrical member.

Claim 19

An adaptor for use at a wellhead on the upper end of a well pipe disposed in and extending above a wellbore, comprising: a cylindrical member having an upper portion and a lower portion and an intermediate stop shoulder therebetween adapted to be positioned on the upper end of a well pipe; a flange on the upper portion of said cylindrical member; a plurality of means for attaching to the well pipe wherein said means for attaching are connected to said cylindrical member on an interior surface of the lower portion of said cylindrical member; means for engaging and forcing said means for attaching inwardly relative to said cylindrical member; a seal on said interior surface of said cylindrical member between said flange and said pipe attachment means for forming a seal with the well pipe; and a means for stopping inward motion of the well pipe when the well pipe is inserted longitudinally into said cylindrical member.

Claim 20

The adaptor of claim 15, wherein said means for stopping comprises an annular shoulder on said interior surface of said cylindrical member, disposed above said seal.

Claim 21

The adaptor of claim 15, wherein said means for stopping comprises: annular stop threads on said interior surface of said cylindrical member, disposed above said seal; and an annular stop collar, having an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said cylindrical member, threaded into said annular stop threads inside said cylindrical member.