Wells – Processes – Assembling well part
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-27
2001-06-05
Neuder, William (Department: 3672)
Wells
Processes
Assembling well part
C166S242600, C285S342000, C403S368000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241022
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to subsurface well equipment and, more particularly, to an apparatus and related method for aligning eccentric well tools that are connected to a well tubing.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known in the oil and gas industry, when a control line or tubing—such as for delivering hydraulic fluids to downhole fluid-operated well tools or for transmitting chemicals to a desired location for injection into a well—is passed through a downhole well tool, it is often a requirement that the control line or tubing be severed during assembly of various tool components, and then reconnected after tool assembly is complete. Whenever a control line or tubing is severed and then reconnected, there is a possibility of “leak paths” or “weak points” arising in the vicinity where the control line is reconnected. Leak paths and weak points are obviously undesirable, for various reasons well known to those of skill in the art.
There are some mechanisms in the prior art which provide an adequate sealed reconnection to severed lines; however, each of these mechanisms has drawbacks. For instance, it is known in the prior art to reconnect severed lines with a union as long as both severed ends are located outside of well tools. This mechanism has limited application since it is sometimes impractical or impossible to ensure that the ends of severed lines fall outside of well tools. In addition, it is known in the prior art to reconnect severed lines within a well tool utilizing components that are made from non-metal materials. The problems associated with this mechanism are the low reliability and functional life of the non-metal components, particularly when such components are exposed to the harsh downhole environment.
As such, the present invention was developed to provide the industry with a control line connector that meets strength requirements, prevents fluid communication from the control line to the well and/or from the well into the control line, reconnects the relevant severed ends within a well tool (the connection not being externally thereof), and has components that are all made of metal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a broad aspect, the invention is a connector for connecting a first control line in a downhole well tool to a second control line, comprising: a main body having a longitudinal bore therethrough and being threadably secured within a mounting bore in the well tool; a sealing sleeve having a longitudinal bore therethrough and being disposed within the longitudinal bore of the main body, the first and second control lines being disposed within the longitudinal bore of the sealing sleeve at opposite ends thereof; and a retaining fitting having a longitudinal bore therethough and threadably secured to the longitudinal bore of the main body, the second control line being disposed within the longitudinal bore of the retaining fitting, the retaining fitting compressing the sealing sleeve within the longitudinal bore of the main body and about the first and second control lines. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the longitudinal bore of the sealing sleeve includes a first conical surface adjacent a first end of the sealing sleeve and a second conical surface adjacent a second end of the sealing sleeve, and further includes a first ferrule, a second ferrule, and a third ferrule, each being an annular member having an outer conical surface and disposed within the longitudinal bore of the main body, the first ferrule being disposed about the second control line, the outer conical surface of the first ferrule being engaged with the first conical surface on the sealing sleeve, the second ferrule being disposed about the first control line, the outer conical surface of the second ferrule being engaged with the second conical surface on the sealing sleeve, the third ferrule being disposed about the first control line, and the outer conical surface of the third ferrule being engaged with a first conical bore in the main body. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the connector may further include a tubular spacer member disposed about the first control line and between the second and third ferrules. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the connector may further include a metal seal ring disposed between a shoulder on a tubular extension of the main body and having an outer conical surface engaged with a conical surface of the mounting bore. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the metal seal ring is sealably disposed between the shoulder on the tubular extension and the mounting bore.
In another aspect, the present invention may be a connector for connecting a first control line in a downhole well tool to a second control line, comprising: a main body having a longitudinal bore therethrough and a tubular extension threadably secured within a mounting bore in the well tool; a sealing sleeve having a longitudinal bore including a first conical surface adjacent a first end of the sealing sleeve and a second conical surface adjacent a second end of the sealing sleeve; a first ferrule, a second ferrule, and a third ferrule, each being an annular member having an outer conical surface and disposed within the longitudinal bore of the main body; the first ferrule being disposed about the second control line, the outer conical surface of the first ferrule being engaged with the first conical surface on the sealing sleeve; the second ferrule being disposed about the first control line, the outer conical surface of the second ferrule being engaged with the second conical surface on the sealing sleeve; the third ferrule being disposed about the first control line, the outer conical surface of the third ferrule being engaged with a first conical bore in the main body; and a retaining fitting having a longitudinal bore therethough and threadably secured within the longitudinal bore of the main body, the second control line being disposed within the longitudinal bore of the retaining fitting and the longitudinal bore of the sealing sleeve. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the connector may further include a metal seal ring disposed between a shoulder on the tubular extension of the main body and having an outer conical surface engaged with a conical surface of the mounting bore. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the metal seal ring is sealably disposed between the shoulder on the tubular extension and the mounting bore. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the connector may further include a tubular spacer member disposed about the first control line and between the second and third ferrules.
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Deaton Thomas M.
Mailand Jason C.
Camco International Inc.
Hawkins Jennifer M
Neuder William
Williams Morgan & Amerson
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