Low pressure starter wellhead system for oil and gas applications with potential thermal growth

1. A wellhead system comprising:

a housing defining an axial bore and a quick connect profile for connection to a well-control device;

an outer pipe secured to the housing, extending axially from the housing, and comprising an outer pipe wall and a landing ring that protrudes radially inward from the outer pipe wall;

an inner pipe passing through the axial bore and through the outer pipe and having an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the outer pipe; and

a sealing device positioned along an inner surface of the housing and comprising:

a body seated within an inner recess of the housing above an annular region defined between the inner and outer pipes, wherein the body is radially aligned with the annular region and defines an upper end of the annular region such that the annular region terminates at the body,

a rubber interference fit sealing element carried on an inner surface of the body and sealed to the inner pipe, and

an outer interference fit sealing element carried on an outer surface of the body and sealed to the housing at the inner recess,

wherein the sealing device is configured to accommodate axial movement of the inner pipe due to thermal expansion of the inner pipe while maintaining a seal integrity against the inner pipe at the rubber interference fit sealing element to seal the annular region at the body of the sealing device, the inner pipe, and the housing.

2. The wellhead system of claim 1 , further comprising a lock ring that secures the sealing device to the inner recess of the housing.

3. The wellhead system of claim 1 , wherein the sealing device comprises a test port for testing an integrity of the seal.

4. The wellhead system of claim 1 , wherein the sealing device is configured to be reenergized following a reduction in sealing performance.

5. The wellhead system of claim 4 , wherein the sealing device comprises an injection port for injecting a substance to reenergize the sealing device.

6. The wellhead system of claim 1 , wherein the inner pipe comprises an inner pipe wall and an abutment ring that protrudes radially outward from the inner pipe wall.

7. The wellhead system of claim 6 , wherein the inner pipe is configured such that the abutment ring can land on the landing ring, and the outer pipe is configured to support a load of the inner pipe.

8. The wellhead system of claim 6 , wherein the landing ring is a first landing ring, and wherein the inner pipe comprises a second inner landing ring that protrudes radially inward from the inner pipe wall.

9. The wellhead system of claim 1 , further comprising a base plate positioned atop the housing.

10. The wellhead system of claim 1 , wherein the housing defines an exterior quick connect profile for attachment to an accessory component.

11. The wellhead system of claim 1 , further comprising a valve carried on the housing for relieving a pressure within the annular region.

12. The wellhead system of claim 1 , wherein the housing is a first housing, the sealing device is a first sealing device, and the inner pipe is a first inner pipe, the wellhead system further comprising:

a second housing positioned above the first housing and secured to the first inner pipe such that the first inner pipe extends axially from the second housing;

a second inner pipe passing through an axial bore of the second housing and through the first inner pipe and having an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the first inner pipe; and

a second sealing device positioned along an inner surface of the second housing and sealed to the second inner pipe to seal a second annular region defined between the first and second inner pipes.

13. The wellhead system of claim 12 , wherein the second sealing device is configured to accommodate thermal expansion of the second inner pipe while maintaining a seal integrity against the second inner pipe.

14. The wellhead system of claim 12 , wherein the lock ring is a first lock ring, the wellhead system further comprising a second lock ring that secures the second sealing device to the second housing.

15. The wellhead system of claim 1 , wherein the body and the outer interference fit sealing element of the sealing device are made of metal.

16. A method of installing a wellhead system at a pipe assembly, the method comprising:

securing an outer pipe to a pipe segment of the pipe assembly, the outer pipe secured to and extending axially from a housing defining an axial bore and a quick connect profile for connection to a well-control device, and the outer pipe comprising an outer pipe wall and an inner landing ring that protrudes radially inward from the outer pipe wall;

landing an outer abutment ring of an inner pipe on the inner landing ring protruding from the outer pipe wall such that the inner pipe passes through the axial bore of the housing and through the outer pipe, the inner pipe having an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the outer pipe;

installing a body of a sealing device to an inner recess of the housing;

contacting a rubber interference fit sealing element carried on the body of the sealing device with the inner pipe to seal an annular region defined between the inner and outer pipes, wherein the body of the sealing device is located above the annular region, is radially aligned with the annular region, and defines an upper end of the annular region such that the annular region terminates at the body;

contacting an outer interference fit sealing element carried on an outer surface of the body with the housing at the inner recess to seal the body to the housing; and

maintaining a seal integrity of the sealing device against the inner pipe at the rubber interference fit sealing element to maintain sealing of the annular region at the body of the sealing device, at the inner pipe, and at the housing while the inner pipe moves axially due to thermal expansion.