Devices and Methods for Locally Replacing Seal Surface

Abstract

Devices and methods useable for repairing seal surfaces in an oil and gas installation used at offshore locations are provided. A removable device useable for locally repair a seal surface of a receiver plate, includes a rigid portion and a seal. The rigid portion is made of a material substantially similar to a material of the receiver plate, and is configured to be removably inserted in a fluid port of the receiver plate, having a seal surface flushed with the seal surface of the receiver plate when the device is inserted in the fluid port, and a channel configured to allow a fluid communication. The seal is made of a rubber-like material and is placed outside the rigid portion, the seal being configured to prevent a fluid leak.

1 . A removable device useable for locally repairing a seal surface of a receiver plate, the removable device comprising:
 a rigid portion made of a material substantially similar to a material of the receiver plate, and configured to be removably inserted in a fluid port of the receiver plate, the rigid portion having (i) a seal surface flushed with the seal surface of the receiver plate when the device is inserted in the fluid port, and (ii) a channel configured to allow a fluid communication; and   a seal made of a rubber-like material and placed outside the rigid portion, the seal being configured to prevent a fluid leak.   
     
     
         2 . The removable device of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid portion has a groove at an end of the rigid portion opposite to the seal surface of the rigid portion, the groove being configured to accommodate the seal. 
     
     
         3 . The removable device of  claim 1 , wherein the seal is an O-ring seal. 
     
     
         4 . The removable device of  claim 1 , wherein the seal is made of an elastomer. 
     
     
         5 . The removable device of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid portion has threads on an outer surface that is substantially perpendicular to the seal surface, the threads having shapes complementary to shapes of threads inside the fluid port of the receiver plate. 
     
     
         6 . A receiver plate configured to engage with one or more removable devices having a seal surface, the receiver plate comprising:
 one or more channels configured to allow fluid to pass therethrough;   at least one fluid port formed at an end of a channel among the one or more fluid channels, the at least one fluid port being configured to receive a removable device; and   a wedge seal surface on which the at least one or more fluid ports open to achieve a fluid communication, the wedge seal surface being configured to prevent fluid leak when the receiver plate is engaged with another wedge having a surface with one or more wedge fluid ports.   
     
     
         7 . The receiver plate of  claim 6 , wherein threads are formed on walls of the at least one fluid port, the threads having shapes complementary to shapes of threads on an outer surface of the removable device to be inserted in the at least one fluid port. 
     
     
         8 . The receiver plate of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one fluid port is formed to be substantially perpendicular to the wedge seal surface. 
     
     
         9 . The receiver plate of  claim 6 , further comprising one or more fluid ports each of which being formed at an end of a channel among the one or more channels, and being configured to allow a removable device to be inserted in the one or more fluid ports to locally repair the wedge seal surface, the one or more fluid ports including the at least one fluid port, and a fluid port being formed for each of the one or more channels. 
     
     
         10 . The receiver plate of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more channels include at least two channels with different diameters. 
     
     
         11 . The receiver plate of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a removable device removably inserted in the at least one fluid port of the receiver plate, the removable device including
 a rigid portion made of a material substantially similar to a material of the receiver plate, and having (i) a seal surface flushed with the wedge seal surface of the receiver plate when the removable device is inserted in the at least one fluid port, and (ii) a channel of the removable device aligned with the channel of the receiver plate; and 
 a seal made of a rubber-like material, which is placed outside the rigid portion, the seal being configured to prevent a fluid leak between the rigid portion and the at least one fluid port. 
   
     
     
         12 . The receiver plate of  claim 11 , wherein the seal is an O-ring seal. 
     
     
         13 . The receiver of  claim 11 , wherein the rigid portion has a groove at an end of the rigid portion opposite to the seal surface of the rigid portion, the groove being configured to accommodate the seal. 
     
     
         14 . The receiver of  claim 11 , wherein the rigid portion is made of a material substantially similar to a material of the receiver plate. 
     
     
         15 . A method of repairing a receiver plate being damaged on a wedged seal surface with one or more fluid ports in an oil and gas installation, the method comprising:
 mounting a removable device with a seal surface configured to flush with the wedged seal surface of the receiver plate, the removable device being mounted inside a fluid port located in a damaged portion of the wedged seal surface; and   machining the seal surface of the removable device and a portion of the wedge seal surface surrounding the fluid port.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 removing an existing removable device from the fluid port.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 forming the fluid port to be able to receive the removable device, when the fluid port has not been configured to receive the removable device.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the removable device includes a seal made of a rubber-like material, and a rigid portion, and the mounting of the removable device includes placing the seal between the rigid portion and the fluid port to prevent a fluid leak. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid port extends into a channel inside the receiver plate, and the removable device includes a rigid portion with an open channel, and the mounting of the removable device includes fluidly connecting the channel inside the receiver plate and the open channel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the removable device includes a rigid portion having outer threads and the fluid port has inner threads with shapes complementary to shaper of the outer threads of the rigid portion, and the mounting of the removable device includes engaging the outer treads with the inner threads.