US 12,252,948 B2
External wellhead sealing and clamping system
Steve Wehrenberg, Mustang, OK (US); Shane Ramsfield, Tuttle, OK (US); and Bernt Olsen, Edmond, OK (US)
Assigned to KLX Energy Services LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by KLX Energy Services LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Aug. 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/229,042.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/394,390, filed on Aug. 2, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0068317 A1, Feb. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. E21B 33/03 (2006.01); F16B 2/08 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 33/03 (2013.01) [F16B 2/08 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A seal and clamping system for a wellhead assembly, wherein the wellhead assembly is of the type comprising:
a top cap having a lower circumferential lip;
a tubing head defining a central head bore, the tubing head having an upper section and lower section;
a stripper adapter, the stripper adapter having;
an upper end;
a lower end;
an outer adapter surface extending from the upper end to the lower end, wherein the outer adapter surface has a first outward-projecting shoulder between the upper end and lower end so as to define an upward facing ledge; and
an inner adapter surface defining a central adapter bore, and
wherein the upper end is configured to mate with the top cap such that the circumferential lip overlaps a first portion of the outer adapter surface at the upper end, and the lower end is configured to mate with the tubing head such that at the lower end the stripper adapter extends over the upper section of the tubing head so that the outer adapter surface at the lower end forms a second outward-projecting shoulder so as to define an downward facing ledge; and
wherein the seal and clamping system comprises:
a housing having:
a first end configured to seal to the outer adapter surface above the first outward-projecting shoulder;
a second end configured to seal to the tubing head below the second outward-projecting shoulder;
an inner curved surface extending between the first end and the second end; and
an outer curved surface extending between the first end and the second end; and
a clamping system configured to hold the housing in position about the wellhead assembly so as to ensure sealing contact at the upper end and lower end with the wellhead assembly.