Disconnectable pressure-preserving electrical connector and method of installation
View Patent ↗The present disclosure provides a dis-connectable wellhead hanger arrangement permitting a pig tail set of a electrical conductors to be inserted within the wellhead hanger arrangement which seals against the wellhead hanger upon separation of an electrical power cable. If the power cable separates from the production tubing for any reason, the compressively fit plugs disconnect the power cable from the pathway leaving the electrical mandrel sealed within the wellhead hanger, thereby sealing the wellhead hanger from loss of fluid after separation.
1. A wellhead connector comprising:
a wellhead hanger ( 101 ) adapted to seat in a wellhead;
an electrical connector mandrel ( 103 ) inserted in the wellhead hanger ( 101 );
a female pin connection socket ( 113 ) inserted in the electrical connector mandrel ( 103 );
a mini-mandrel ( 105 ) inserted in the wellhead hanger ( 101 ) having one or more electrical conductors ( 121 ) sealed within the mini-mandrel ( 105 ) and extending from the mini-mandrel ( 105 );
a male pin ( 118 ) attached to a stripped end ( 119 ) of the one or more electrical conductors ( 121 ) extending from the mini-mandrel ( 105 ) inserted into the female pin socket ( 113 ); and,
a connection between the female pin socket ( 113 ) and the male socket pin ( 118 ), within the wellhead hanger ( 101 ), adapted to permit separation between the electrical connector mandrel ( 103 ) from the mini-mandrel ( 105 ) upon parting, retaining a seal of the well bore without disconnecting the electrical connection and preventing fluids from release upon disconnection.
2. The wellhead connector of claim 1 wherein the electrical connector mandrel ( 103 ) is seated against a shoulder ( 104 ) with the wellhead hanger ( 101 ) and provides O-rings ( 123 ) to seal against migration of fluids up the wellhead hanger ( 101 ).
3. The wellhead connector of claim 2 wherein the electrical connector mandrel ( 103 ) is fabricated from polyether ether ketone (“PEEK”).
4. The wellhead connector of claim 3 wherein the electrical connector mandrel ( 103 ) provides a shoulder ( 114 ) to seat the female pin socket ( 113 ) within the electrical connector mandrel ( 103 ) and a snap ring ( 117 ) to retain the female pin socket ( 113 ) within the electrical connector mandrel ( 103 ).
5. The wellhead connector of claim 4 wherein the exterior of the female pin socket ( 113 ) provides O-rings ( 115 ) to seal against migration of fluids up the interior of the electrical connector mandrel ( 103 ).
6. The wellhead connector of claim 5 wherein the interior of the female pin socket ( 113 ) provides contact bands ( 116 ) to establish a low resistance electrical connection with the male pin ( 118 ).
7. The wellhead connector of claim 6 wherein the exterior of the mini-mandrel ( 105 ) provides O-rings ( 125 ) to seal against migration of fluids up the interior of the electrical connector mandrel ( 103 ) and the wellhead hanger ( 101 ).
8. The wellhead connector of claim 7 wherein the interior of the mini-mandrel ( 105 ) is filed with epoxy ( 126 ) around each of the one or more electrical conductors ( 121 ).
9. The wellhead connector of claim 8 wherein the electrical connector mandrel ( 103 ) seats on a stainless-steel collar ( 204 ) between the wellhead hanger shoulder ( 201 a ) and the shoulder ( 205 ) on the electrical connector mandrel ( 103 ).
10. The wellhead connector of claim 9 wherein the electrical connector mandrel ( 203 ) provides threads ( 206 ) for connection of a wellhead sub assembly ( 307 ) to the electrical connector mandrel ( 103 ).
11. The wellhead connector of claim 10 wherein the electrical connector mandrel ( 203 ) provides an annular space ( 202 ) permitting the packing of the wellhead hanger with a dielectric grease to inhibit the ingress of water or other contaminants into a space ( 213 , 313 ) between the exterior of the electrical connector mandrel ( 203 ) and the interior surface of wellhead hanger ( 201 ) from the top of the wellhead ( 201 ).
12. The wellhead connector of claim 11 wherein the electrical connector mandrel ( 203 ) provides threads ( 206 ) for connection of a wellhead sub assembly ( 307 , 407 ) to the electrical connector mandrel ( 203 ) and the wellhead hanger sub assembly ( 407 ) provides threads ( 409 ) for connection of the wellhead sub assembly ( 407 ) to the wellhead hanger ( 401 ).
13. The wellhead connector of claim 12 wherein an exterior surface of the male pin ( 118 ) provides a longitudinal groove ( 131 ) permitting excess dielectric grease covering the male pin ( 118 ) to be extruded from the female pin socket ( 113 ).
14. A method for installing a wellhead connector as described in claim 1 for use in a wellhead hanger comprising the steps of:
connecting a female pin connector socket ( 113 ) to a stripped end of a upper pig tail conductor ( 111 );
inserting the female pin connector socket ( 113 ) into an electrical connector mandrel ( 103 ) until an upper end of the female pin socket seats against an internal shoulder ( 104 , 201 a , 401 a ) within the electrical connector mandrel ( 103 );
connecting a male pin connector socket ( 118 ) to a stripped end of a lower electrical conductor ( 119 ); and,
inserting the male pin connector ( 118 ) through a snap ring for insertion in the electrical conductor mandrel ( 103 ) until the male pin ( 118 ) engages a plurality of contact bands ( 116 ) within the female socket ( 113 ) end and the snap ring ( 117 ) engages in a channel ( 130 ) formed within an interior surface of the electrical connector mandrel ( 103 ).
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of covering the male pin ( 118 ) with a dielectric grease before insertion in the female pin socket ( 113 ) to prevent ingress of fluids into the pin connection.
16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of inserting the completed assembly into a wellhead hanger ( 101 ).