SEAL WITH SOFT MATERIAL INLAY

• Main Authors: Ford, David Lawrence, Gadre, Aniruddha D
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 03.03.2016
• Subjects: EARTH DRILLING; EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; MINING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

A wellhead assembly includes an inner wellhead member with wickers extending outwardly therefrom and an outer wellhead member with wickers extending inwardly therefrom. A seal assembly having an inner leg and an outer leg is inserted between the wellhead members. An energizing ring forces the legs radially apart from each other. An inlay is located along at least one of an inner diameter of the inner leg and an outer diameter of the outer leg, positioned to sealingly engage the wickers. The inlay is located in a single groove configured so that no part of the seal member body contacts an exterior wall of the inner wellhead member or an interior wall of the outer wellhead member. The inlay has a smooth outer surface flush with the diameter and is made of a material softer than the inner wellhead member, the outer wellhead member, and the seal member body.