Non-rotating mechanically enhanced and passively preloaded connection for oilfield equipment

Abstract

A system for oilfield equipment includes a wellhead adapter to be associated with a wellhead of the oilfield equipment and to include a tapered spool having thereon a tapered sleeve that is secured on the tapered spool by a retention mechanism, where the tapered sleeve is loaded between the tapered spool and the wellhead adapter, and where the tapered spool is to enable coupling of a tubing thereon.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for oilfield equipment, comprising:
 a wellhead adapter to be associated with a wellhead of the oilfield equipment; and   a tapered spool within the wellhead adapter and comprising thereon a tapered sleeve that is secured on the tapered spool by a retention mechanism, wherein the tapered sleeve is to be loaded between the tapered spool and the wellhead adapter, and wherein the tapered spool is to enable coupling of a tubing to the wellhead adapter.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a saver sub to be between the tapered spool and the tubing.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a first portion of the tapered spool to be within the wellhead adapter; and   a second portion of the tapered spool to protrude from the wellhead adapter, wherein the saver sub is associated with the second portion of the tapered spool.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 non-premium threading on the retention mechanism to enable the securing of the first portion of the tapered spool within the wellhead adapter.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 slots on the tapered sleeve to allow elastic deflection of the tapered sleeve based in part on the tapered sleeve being under loads between the tapered spool and the wellhead adapter.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an anti-rotation feature of the tapered spool to be within a receiving feature of the wellhead adapter, the anti-rotation feature of the tapered spool to prevent rotation of the tapered spool during installation of the wellhead adapter and the tubing.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 textured surface on an outside circumference of the tapered sleeve, the textured surface to engage an inner surface of the wellhead adapter.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a gap is provided between a top of the tapered sleeve and a shoulder portion of the wellhead adapter, the gap to enable the tapered sleeve to be disassembled from the wellhead adapter. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a barrel nut to be the retention mechanism and to comprise threading on an outer surface to engage the wellhead adapter as part of the securing of the tapered sleeve within the wellhead adapter.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered spool is to receive a first preload during installation and to receive a second preload during operation, wherein the second preload is higher than the first preload. 
     
     
         11 . A method to suspend tubing in oilfield equipment, the method comprising:
 providing a wellhead adapter to be associated with a wellhead of the oilfield equipment and to comprise a tapered spool having thereon a tapered sleeve that is secured on the tapered spool by a retention mechanism; and   installing the tapered spool within the wellhead adapter with the tapered sleeve loaded between the tapered spool and the wellhead adapter, wherein the tapered spool is to enable at least a tubing coupled thereto.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing a saver sub to be between the tapered spool and the tubing.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 providing a first portion of the tapered spool to be within the wellhead adapter; and   allowing a second portion of the tapered spool to protrude from the wellhead adapter, wherein the saver sub is associated with the second portion of the tapered spool.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 providing non-premium threading on the retention mechanism to enable the securing of the first portion of the tapered spool within the wellhead adapter.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing slots on the tapered sleeve to allow an elastic deflection of the tapered sleeve based in part on the tapered sleeve being under loads between the tapered spool and the wellhead adapter.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing an anti-rotation feature of the tapered spool to be within a receiving feature of the wellhead adapter, the anti-rotation feature of the tapered spool to prevent rotation of the tapered spool during installation of the wellhead adapter and the tubing.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing a textured surface on an outside circumference of the tapered sleeve to engage an inner surface of the wellhead adapter.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing a gap between a top of the tapered sleeve a shoulder portion of the wellhead adapter, the gap to enable the tapered sleeve to disassemble from the wellhead adapter.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing a barrel nut as the retention mechanism, the barrel nut to comprise threading on an outer surface to engage the wellhead adapter as part of the securing of the tapered sleeve within the wellhead adapter.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing the tapered spool with a first preload during installation; and   allowing the tapered spool to receive a second preload during operation, wherein the second preload is higher than the first preload.