Blowout resistant frictionless hydraulic connector

Abstract

The method of providing a hydraulic stab sub for sealing in a receptacle bore of a first diameter comprising providing the hydraulic stab subs with two or more composite seals each having two metal rings having an outer second diameter less than the first diameter and an inner third diameter and bonding a resilient material between the two metal rings with an outer seal diameter less that the first diameter and an inner seal diameter less than the inner third diameter, providing a seal expander having an expander outside diameter which is smaller than the third inner diameter and greater than the seal inner diameter, such that when the hydraulic stab sub is within the receptacle bore and the seal expander is moved to within the inner seal diameter of the composite seals, the resilient material is expanded into sealing engagement with the receptacle bore.

1 . The method of providing a hydraulic stab sub for sealing in a receptacle bore of a first diameter comprising:
 providing said hydraulic stab subs with two or more composite seals each having two metal rings having an outer second diameter less than said first diameter and an inner third diameter and bonding a resilient material between said two metal rings with an outer seal diameter less that said first diameter and an inner seal diameter less than said inner third diameter,   providing a seal expander having an expander outside diameter which is smaller than said third inner diameter and greater than said seal inner diameter,   such that when said hydraulic stab sub is within said receptacle bore and said seal expander is moved to within said inner seal diameter of said composite seals, said resilient material is expanded into sealing engagement with said receptacle bore.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising a lock ring with a lock ring inner diameter which is eccentric to a lock ring outer diameter such that when said expanded engages said lock ring inner diameter a portion of said lock ring outer diameter has a radial extent greater than the radial extent of said first diameter. 
     
     
         3 . A hydraulic stab sub, which is insertable into a receptacle bore, comprising:
 a composite seal mounted around said hydraulic stab sub which is operable between an activated state for sealing engagement with said receptacle bore and a non-activated state for insertion and removal of said composite seal with respect to said receptacle bore, said composite seal comprising an inner ring of resilient material, said inner ring of resilient material being bonded on opposite sides between two metal rings, in said non-activated state said inner ring of resilient material comprising a resilient material inner diameter less than an inner diameter of said two metal rings wherein a difference between said resilient material inner diameter and said inner diameter of said two metal rings is an inner diameter offset, said resilient material comprising a resilient material outer diameter wherein a difference between said resilient material outer diameter and an outer diameter of said two metal rings is an outer diameter offset, and wherein in said non-activated state said inner diameter offset is greater than said outer diameter offset;   a seal expander comprising a seal expander outer diameter which is smaller than said inner diameter of said two metal rings and larger than said resilient material inner diameter, said seal expander being moveable such that when said composite seal is positioned within said receptacle bore and said seal expander is moved to within said resilient material inner diameter to place said composite seal in an activated state, then said resilient material is expanded into sealing engagement with said receptacle bore.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising a lock ring with a lock ring inner diameter which is eccentric to a lock ring outer diameter such that when said seal expander engages said lock ring inner diameter a portion of said lock ring outer diameter has a radial extent greater than the radial extent of said first diameter.