Connector apparatus for subsea blowout preventer

1. An apparatus adapted to be operably coupled to a subsea blowout preventer, the apparatus comprising:

a first tubular member defining a first internal passage adapted to receive a casing, the first tubular member comprising:

axially opposing first and second end portions, and

a first internal shoulder positioned axially between the first and second end portions;

a counterbore formed in the second end portion of the first tubular member and coaxial with the first internal passage, wherein the first internal shoulder of the first tubular member is defined by the counterbore;

a sealing assembly disposed in the counterbore, wherein the sealing assembly defines an exterior side and an interior side spaced radially inward from the exterior side, wherein the sealing assembly comprises a sealing element, and wherein a portion of the sealing element is located at the interior side of the sealing assembly; and

a second tubular member defining a second internal passage, the second tubular member extending within the first internal passage, wherein the second tubular member has:

a first axial position, relative to the first tubular member, in which the second tubular member covers the portion of the sealing element located at the interior side of the sealing assembly, and thus facilitates protecting the sealing element from any fluid flow through the first internal passage; and

a second axial position, relative to the first tubular member, in which the second tubular member does not cover the portion of the sealing element located at the interior side of the sealing assembly;

wherein the sealing assembly extends radially between the first and second tubular members when the second tubular member is in the first axial position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second tubular member moves, relative to the first tubular member, from the first axial position to the second axial position as the casing is received by the first internal passage.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first tubular member comprises a second internal shoulder positioned axially between the first end portion and the first internal shoulder; and

wherein, when the second tubular member is in the second axial position, the second tubular member abuts the second internal shoulder of the first tubular member.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sealing assembly defines a first axial length; and

wherein the second tubular member defines a second axial length that is equal to, or greater than, the first axial length.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a shear element engaged with each of the first and second tubular members;

wherein, when the second tubular member is in the first axial position, the shear element resists relative movement between the first and second tubular members.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first end portion of the first tubular member is adapted to be connected to the subsea blowout preventer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third tubular member connected to the first tubular member at the second end portion thereof, the third tubular member defining a third internal passage that is coaxial with the first internal passage; and

one or more casing slips at least partially disposed in the third internal passage.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sealing assembly abuts the first internal shoulder of the first tubular member; and

wherein the sealing element is adapted to sealingly engage the casing after the casing has been received by the first internal passage.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:

a spacer disposed in the counterbore and abutting the sealing assembly;

wherein the sealing assembly is positioned axially between the spacer and the first internal shoulder of the first tubular member.

10. An apparatus adapted to be operably coupled to a subsea blowout preventer, the apparatus comprising:

a first tubular member defining a first internal passage, the first tubular member comprising axially opposing first and second end portions;

a second tubular member defining a second internal passage, the second tubular member extending within the first internal passage; and

a sealing assembly disposed radially between the first and second tubular members, wherein the sealing assembly defines an exterior side and an interior side spaced radially inward from the exterior side, wherein the sealing assembly comprises a sealing element, and wherein a portion of the sealing element is located at the interior side of the sealing assembly;

wherein the second tubular member covers the portion of the sealing element located at the interior side of the sealing assembly, and thus facilitates protecting the sealing element from any fluid flow through the first internal passage; and

wherein the second tubular member is slidable, within the first internal passage and relative to the first tubular member, so that the second tubular member does not cover the portion of the sealing element located at the interior side of the sealing assembly.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first internal passage is adapted to receive a casing; and

wherein the first end portion of the first tubular member is adapted to be connected to the subsea blowout preventer.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first tubular member further comprises a first internal shoulder positioned axially between the first and second end portions;

wherein the apparatus further comprises a counterbore formed in the second end portion of the first tubular member and coaxial with the first internal passage, wherein the first internal shoulder of the first tubular member is defined by the counterbore; and

wherein the sealing assembly is disposed in the counterbore.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:

a spacer disposed in the counterbore and abutting the sealing assembly, wherein the sealing assembly is positioned axially between the spacer and the first internal shoulder of the first tubular member.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:

a shear element engaged with each of the first and second tubular members, wherein the shear element resists relative movement between the first and second tubular members.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:

a third tubular member connected to the first tubular member at the second end portion thereof, the third tubular member defining a third internal passage that is coaxial with the first internal passage; and

one or more casing slips at least partially disposed in the third internal passage.

16. A method, comprising:

providing a connector adapted to be operably coupled to a subsea blowout preventer, the connector comprising a first tubular member that defines a first internal passage, and a sealing assembly disposed within the first tubular member, wherein the sealing assembly defines an exterior side and an interior side spaced radially inward from the exterior side, wherein the sealing assembly comprises a sealing element and wherein a portion of the sealing element is located at the interior side of the sealing assembly;

protecting the sealing element of the connector before engaging the connector with a subsea casing, comprising:

positioning a second tubular member at a first position within the first internal passage so that the sealing element is disposed radially between the first and second tubular members and the second tubular member covers the portion of the sealing element located at the interior side of the sealing assembly;

engaging the connector with the subsea casing while continuing to protect the sealing element, comprising:

effecting relative movement between the connector and the subsea casing so that the first internal passage receives the subsea casing while the first position of the second tubular member is maintained;

continuing to engage the connector with the subsea casing while continuing to protect the sealing element until a positive stop for the subsea casing is achieved; and

sealingly engaging the outside surface of the subsea casing with the sealing element.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the subsea casing is part of a producing well and the sealing element is fluidically isolated from any flow of wellbore fluids or produced fluids through the connector during the engagement of the connector with the subsea casing.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein continuing to engage the connector with the subsea casing while continuing to protect the sealing element until the positive stop for the subsea casing is achieved comprises:

continuing to receive the subsea casing within the first internal passage so that the subsea casing engages the second tubular member and forces the second tubular member to move, relative to the first tubular member, within the first internal passage and away from the sealing element so that the second tubular member does not cover the portion of the sealing element located at the interior side of the sealing assembly;

wherein, during the relative movement between the first and second tubular members, the portion of the sealing element located at the interior side of the sealing assembly is covered by the second tubular member, the first tubular member, or both of the second and first tubular movements, to continue to protect the sealing element.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first internal passage continues to receive the subsea casing, while the sealing element continues to be protected, until the positive stop for the subsea casing is achieved.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the connector comprises a plurality of casing slips; and

wherein the method further comprising mechanically gripping the casing using the plurality of casing slips.