Connector system and method

A connector is provided, in one embodiment, the connector includes a collar (16) configured to receive first and second components (12,14). In this embodiment, the connector may also include a load ring (50) configured to be received in a groove (46) of the second component (12) and to move into and out of engagement with the collar (16) when the second component (12) is received by the collar (16). The connector of this illustrative embodiment may also include a locking ring (62) configured to inhibit disengagement of the load ring (50) from the collar (16). In some embodiments, engagement of the load ring (50) and the collar (16) effects securing of the first and second components (12, 14) to one another.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to connection systems for various components, such as fluid conduits. More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel stab-type connector for coupling a pair of components together in an end-to-end relationship.

BACKGROUND

As will be appreciated, oil and natural gas have a profound effect on modern economies and societies. Indeed, devices and systems that depend on oil and natural gas are ubiquitous. For instance, oil and natural gas are used for fuel in a wide variety of vehicles, such as cars, airplanes, boats, and the like. Further, oil and natural gas are frequently used to heat homes during winter, to generate electricity, and to manufacture an astonishing array of everyday products.

In order to meet the demand for such natural resources, numerous companies invest significant amounts of time and money in searching for and extracting oil, natural gas, and other subterranean resources from the earth. Particularly, once a desired resource is discovered below the surface of the earth, drilling and production systems are often employed to access and extract the resource. These systems may be located onshore or offshore depending on the location of a desired resource. Further, such systems generally include a wellhead assembly through which the resource is extracted. These wellhead assemblies may include a wide variety of components and/or conduits, such as various casings, valves, and the like, that control drilling and/or extraction operations. Additionally, various production and transport systems may also employ pipes or other fluid conduits, in addition to the components noted above.

As will be appreciated, various fluid conduits or other components of a production or transport system are typically coupled to one another to enable oil, gas, or the like to be extracted from the ground and routed to a desired location. Such fluid conduits (or “tubular members”) are often coupled together in end-to-end relationships via various connectors that facilitate flow of oil, gas, or the like between the conduits. In some instances, these connectors may be subjected to large axial loads, such as gravity (particularly in the case of suspended conduits) or internal pressures within the conduits. Also, it will be appreciated that the space available for connecting conduit members may be limited in some applications. Consequently, there is a need for a durable connector that, among other things, has a low profile, provides a sealed connection between two components (e.g., fluid conduits), and can withstand the axial loads expected within a given system.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a novel connector for joining two components, such as tubular members or conduits. In some exemplary embodiments, the exemplary connector includes a collar configured to receive each of the two components in an end-to-end arrangement. In one embodiment, the collar is configured to be threaded onto a first of the two components and to be coupled to the second of the two components via a load ring disposed between the collar and the second component. A locking ring may also be provided to maintain and/or facilitate engagement of the load ring with the collar and to secure the first and second components to one another.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present invention, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Moreover, the use of “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below,” and variations of these terms is made for convenience, but does not require any particular orientation of the components.

Turning now to the present figures, an exemplary system10including a stab-type connector is illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The exemplary system10includes a pair of connection members configured to be coupled to one another, such as a pin member or component12coupled to a box member or component14. In one embodiment, the connector of the system10includes a union ring or collar16configured to cooperate with a load ring50and a locking ring62to secure the pin member12to the box member14, as discussed in greater detail below.

Either or both of the pin member12and the box member14may include various mounting features18, such as recesses, to facilitate coupling of such members to one or more additional components. In some embodiments, the pin and box members12and14are configured to enable coupling of various tubular members to one another. For example, each of the pin member12and the box member14may be coupled to a respective pipe via recesses or some other mounting features18, allowing the two pipes to be secured to one another via the connector. Similarly, the pin and box members12and14could also be used to couple various other components together, such as a pipe to a wellhead component, a first wellhead component to a second wellhead component (e.g., in a stacked wellhead arrangement), or the like.

While the mounting features18in the presently illustrated embodiment include recesses configured to receive a fastener, it will be appreciated that the pin and box members12and14may be coupled to their respective components in any suitable fashion, including through threaded connections, studs, flanges, clamps, welding, or other mounting techniques. Indeed, in some embodiments, one or both of the pin and box members12and14may be provided as an integral part of such respective components. For instance, in one embodiment, the box member14is integrally formed as a portion of a wellhead and the pin member12is coupled to or integral with a “Christmas tree” or other wellhead component to be mounted on the wellhead. While certain embodiments may be described in an oil or gas (or other resource) production context, it should be noted that the presently-disclosed connection system may also be used to couple component unrelated to oil or gas production in full accordance with the present techniques.

In the presently illustrated embodiment, the box member14includes a bore20and the pin member12includes a bore22. Various additional components may be received within either or both of the bores20and22. For example, in one embodiment, a fluid conduit24, such as a pipe or wellhead member, is received within the bore20of the box member14. The fluid conduit24includes an internal bore26, which is generally aligned with the bore22when the pin and box members12and14are connected to one another. A seal ring28and a plurality of seals30may also be included to inhibit fluid leakage from the various bores of the system10.

In one embodiment, to facilitate coupling of the pin member12and the box member14, the collar16is threaded onto an end32of the box member14via mating threaded surfaces34and36. The collar16may also include recesses38, which are configured to receive set screws that prevent further rotation of the collar16on the end32. The exemplary collar16is configured to receive an end44of the pin member12, in addition to the end32of the box member14, such that the pin member12and the box member14may be secured to one another in an end-to-end arrangement. Notably, in the presently illustrated embodiment, the collar16also includes an aperture or window40that facilitates user access to the load ring50and securing of the pin and box members12and14, as discussed in further detail below.

To facilitate locking of the pin and box members12and14to one another, the pin member12of one embodiment includes a groove46for receiving the load ring50and the locking ring62. The exemplary load ring50is configured to engage the collar16when the pin member12(and at least a portion the groove46containing the load ring50) in inserted into the collar16. In some embodiments, the load ring50includes a number of teeth52configured to engage a plurality of complimentary teeth54provided on an inner surface of the collar16. Such teeth52and54may be provided in various configurations, such as rectangular teeth or angled teeth, as generally depicted inFIGS. 2A and 2B, respectively.

The load ring50may be positioned and retained within the groove46, and secured to the pin connection12, via one or more set screws56inserted through respective apertures58of the load ring50and into threaded recesses60of the pin member12. Likewise, the locking ring62may be secured within the groove46via one or more set screws64inserted through respective apertures66of the locking ring62and into recesses68of the pin member12. Notably, in the presently illustrated embodiment, the dimensions of the groove46, the load ring50, and the locking ring62are such that the load ring50and/or the locking ring62can be substantially positioned and retained within the groove46. As may be appreciated, such an arrangement allows the pin member12to be freely inserted or removed from the collar16without interference from the load ring50and/or the locking ring62.

In some embodiments, the load ring50may be a split ring, such as a C-ring. Further, in the presently illustrated embodiment, the load ring50is outwardly biased when positioned within the groove46to facilitate locking of the pin member12to the box member14as discussed below. The locking ring62may also be split in one or more places61(i.e., a split ring or C-ring) to facilitate attachment of the locking ring62within the groove46.

An exemplary method for coupling the pin member12and the box member14may be better understood with reference toFIGS. 3-7. In some embodiments, following installation of the load ring50and the locking ring62within the groove46, the pin member12is inserted into the collar16, as generally illustrated inFIG. 3. Further, the set screws56in the load ring50may be aligned with the window40of the collar16, such as depicted inFIG. 4, to enable a user to access the set screws56through the window40. It will be appreciated that, while the exemplary window40ofFIG. 4is presently illustrated as a generally rectangular window, other configurations (e.g., elliptical, circular, or the like) are also envisaged.

In some embodiments, the set screws56are then removed from the load ring50to permit the toothed surface76of the load ring50to engage a complementary surface78of the collar16, as generally illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6. As noted above, in some embodiments, the load ring50is outwardly biased such that removal of the set screws56automatically results in radial expansion of the load ring50from the groove46toward the collar16. However, in other embodiments, a user may instead manually bring surfaces76and78into engagement. In addition to removing the set screws56from the load ring50, the set screws64may also be removed from the apertures66to permit movement of the locking ring62.

For instance, in one embodiment, the locking ring62is moved axially from an unlocked position, as generally illustrated inFIG. 5, into a locked position between the load ring50and the pin member12, as generally provided inFIG. 7. It should be noted that such interposition of the locking ring62facilitates positive engagement of the load ring50to the collar16such that the teeth52and54generally prevent relative axial motion of the pin member12, the box member14, and the collar16with respect to one another. Once the locking ring62is positioned between the load ring50and the pin member12, the set screws64may be installed through apertures70to retain the locking ring62in its locked position.

Additionally, once the pin member12is secured to the collar16, the collar16may be rotated on the threads34to remove any axial clearance, or “slack,” in the connection between the pin member12and the box member14. As will be appreciated, such slack may be attributable, at least in part, to the tolerances of the pin member12and the box member14. In some embodiments, the system10is configured to minimize the amount of rotation of the collar16needed to remove such slack. For example, in various embodiments, the collar16can be rotated less than or equal to a one-half turn (i.e., 180 degrees), less than or equal to a one-quarter turn (i.e., 90 degrees), or even less than or equal to a one-eighth turn (i.e., 45 degrees) on the threads34to remove the slack in, and to preload, the connection. Further, in at least one embodiment, the rotation of the collar16on the threads34is the only rotation needed in the system10to couple the pin member12to the box member14. A cover plate (not shown) may also be provided over or within the window40to protect the connection between the collar16and the load ring50.

It should be noted that, in the presently illustrated embodiment, the collar16, the load ring50and the locking ring62are members of a low-profile, or slender, connector suitable for use in an array of connection applications, including those that may provide a limited amount of space for connecting various members, such as in certain conductor sharing, split compact, and/or stacked wellheads. Further, it will be appreciated that the present system10allows for simple installation and coupling of two tubular members or components. Additionally, the pin and box members12and14may also be disconnected from one another in a simple and convenient fashion, as discussed below.

For instance, an exemplary manner of uncoupling of the pin member12from the box member14is generally illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9. In some embodiments, such as those including a split locking ring62, the locking ring62is moved from the space between the load ring50and the pin member12and may be removed from the groove46entirely. Alternatively, a locking ring62(whether split or not) may instead be simply moved out of engagement with the load ring50and the pin member12and optionally secured in the groove46via set screws64, as generally illustrated inFIG. 3. The load ring50may then be secured against the pin member12within the groove46via the set screws56, as depicted inFIG. 8. Particularly, in one exemplary embodiment, a C-clamp may be advantageously used to align apertures58of the load ring50with recesses60of the pin member12such that the set screws56may be inserted through the window40and the apertures58, and into the recesses60. The pin member12may then be pulled apart from the box connection14as provided inFIG. 9.