Wellhead annulus sleeve

Abstract

A wellhead sleeve configured to be removably mounted to a wellhead at or near an annulus of the wellhead. The wellhead sleeve has a body having a bore therethrough, a skirt mounted to the body and an actuator configured to engage with the body and the skirt such that movement of the actuator relative to the body deforms a resiliently flexible portion of the skirt away from the bore.

1 . A wellhead sleeve configured to be removably mounted to a wellhead at or near an annulus of the wellhead, the wellhead sleeve comprising:
 a body having a bore therethrough;   a skirt mounted to the body; and   an actuator configured to engage with the body and the skirt;   wherein movement of the actuator relative to the body deforms a resiliently flexible portion of the skirt away from the bore.   
     
     
         2 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a wear resistant material. 
     
     
         3 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the wear resistant material comprises a ceramic material. 
     
     
         4 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least an internal region of the body adjacent the bore comprises a wear resistant material. 
     
     
         5 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an end of the body is tapered to reduce an outer diameter of the body. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the outer diameter of the body is reduced by between 1 and 20% over the tapered portion of the body. 
     
     
         8 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve further comprises a compressible seal configured to receive at least a portion of the tapered portion of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the compressible seal is made of a rubber material. 
     
     
         10 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the compressible seal extends along at least a majority portion of the tapered portion of the body. 
     
     
         11 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein another end of the body comprises a recessed portion. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the recessed portion comprises an external thread located on an outer surface of the recessed portion and the actuator comprises an internal thread corresponding to that external thread. 
     
     
         14 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein a recess of the recessed portion comprises one or more profiled portions, comprising one or more of indentations and protrusions, that are shaped to correspond with one or more corresponding profiled portions of the skirt. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein an internal diameter of the end of the body having the recess is tapered between 2° and 20°. 
     
     
         17 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the skirt is configured to receive the recessed portion of the body therein. 
     
     
         18 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the skirt comprises a substantially rigid portion and a resiliently flexible portion. 
     
     
         19 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the resiliently flexible portion comprises a plurality of fingers. 
     
     
         20 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of fingers extend axially from the substantially rigid portion. 
     
     
         21 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of fingers are arranged radially with respective longitudinal axes extending parallel to each other and an axial axis of the skirt. 
     
     
         22 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein each of the fingers decrease in thickness from the substantially rigid portion of the skirt to their ends. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the skirt is made of a resiliently flexible thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         26 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is in the form of a locking ring configured to engage with the body and move longitudinally along the body in response to rotation of the locking ring. 
     
     
         27 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the locking ring comprises one or more gripping portions configured to receive a tool, wherein the gripping portions assist with the transfer of torque from the tool to the locking ring. 
     
     
         28 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is made of thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein rotation of the actuator relative to the body in a first direction drives the actuator into the skirt and rotation of the actuator relative to the body in a second, opposite direction draws the actuator out of the skirt. 
     
     
         34 . The wellhead sleeve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a resiliently flexible portion of the skirt flares outwards in response to the actuator being driven therein.