Casing Hanger Compression Ring Interface for Blowout Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing compression seals in casing hangers fail due to breaking, tearing, leaking, or deforming during blowouts, particularly at the interface, leading to loss of annulus pressure.

Innovation Solution

Implementing compression seals with alternative sealing geometries at the cut between segments, featuring various face designs such as recesses, protrusions, grooves, and angled or curved surfaces to increase the contact surface area and prevent leaks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If typical compression seals are used in casing hangers, then the sealing function is provided, but the seals fail during blowouts by breaking, tearing, leaking, or deforming at the cut and cap screw holes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal resistance to failureVSAvoidseal integrity at cut interface

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The seal is divided into multiple segments that can be assembled together to form a complete sealing structure. This segmentation allows for better distribution of stresses and prevents catastrophic failure at any single location, particularly at the cut interfaces where segments join together.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cut interface between seal segments is designed with enhanced local properties including recesses, protrusions, and increased surface area contact regions. These local quality enhancements create stronger bonding and sealing at the critical interface areas where failures typically occur in conventional seals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If compression seals are compressed axially to generate radial sealing force, then fluid loss prevention is achieved, but the seals fail under excess downhole pressure during blowouts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveannulus pressure maintenanceVSAvoidblowout pressure effects

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The seal design incorporates predefined stress distribution features and reinforced interface structures that cushion and distribute blowout pressures before they can concentrate at weak points. The enhanced cut interfaces with increased surface area act as cushioning zones that absorb and distribute extreme pressure loads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The seal utilizes composite construction with multiple segments and interface features that combine different material properties and structural characteristics to resist both the compressive axial loads and the radial blowout pressures, creating a more resilient sealing system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances the resistance to failure of the compression seals, maintaining annulus pressure by reducing leak paths and preventing radial blowouts.

Implementation Method 1

Compression seals are compressed axially to generate a radial sealing force against the casing to prevent a loss of fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

The interface formed at the cut increases a surface area of contact between the first segment and the second segment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS20250389168A1Casing hanger compression ring system

Publication Date: 2025.12.25 BAKER HUGHES PRESSURE CONTROL LLC

AI summary

A compression seal for a piece of oil and gas equipment includes a first segment and a second segment of the seal, a cut defined by the separation in the seal between the first segment and the second segment of the seal, and an interface formable at the cut when a first face of the first segment and a second face of the second segment make contact, wherein the interface increases a surface area of contact between the first segment and the second segment.