Patent ID: 8668021

Claim:
A wellhead assembly with an axis, comprising: an outer wellhead member having a bore; an inner wellhead member in the bore; an annular space between the inner and outer wellhead members; a metal seal member having inner and outer annular walls defining a slot therebetween; an annular energizing ring having a lower end with at least one first tapered surface at a first angle relative to an axis of the ring, and at least one second tapered surface joining and extending upward from the first tapered surface at a second angle relative to the axis of the ring, the second angle being less than the first angle, each of the first and second tapered surfaces being straight frusto-conical surfaces; at least one upward facing shoulder on at least one of the inner and outer annular walls that has a first tapered portion that is a straight frusto-conical surface and at the first angle relative to the axis, the first tapered surface of the energizing ring mating in flush contact with the first tapered portion of the upward facing shoulder while the energizing ring is in an unset position; wherein the energizing member is movable from the unset position into the slot to a set position with the second tapered surface in the slot, which moves the inner and outer annular walls apart from each other into sealing engagement with the inner and outer wellhead members; an elastomeric seal member fastened to a lower end of the metal seal member; a landing shoulder within the annular space onto which the elastomeric seal member lands; and wherein a downward force applied to the energizing ring while in the unset position transfers through the first tapered surface of the energizing ring to the first tapered portion of the upward facing shoulder in the metal seal member, causing the elastomeric seal member to sealingly engage the inner and outer annular wellhead members before the second tapered surface enters the slot.