Patent ID: 8245776
Filing Date: 2012-08-21
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A wellhead assembly comprising: an outer tubular wellhead member; an inner tubular wellhead member adapted to land within the outer tubular wellhead member, defining a seal pocket between them; an annular recess formed in at least one of the wellhead members, the annular recess having a recess surface; an annular seal disposed within the seal pocket, the annular seal having a yield strength of at least 45 ksi; a sealing surface located in the recess and joined to the recess surface; and a plurality of circumferentially extending, parallel ridges formed in the sealing surface, the sealing surface and the ridges comprising a material having a yield strength greater than the yield strength of the material of the wellhead member having the annular recess and greater than the yield strength of the annular seal, so that when the annular seal is urged against the sealing surface, the annular seal will deform against the ridges and the ridges will not deform against the annular seal.