Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02222321 1998-02-24
ELEVATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the past electrical connectors for cables have been located in
the wellhead. For example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,708,201 the lower
electrical connector is fastened to the bottom of the tubing hanger,
an intermediate electrical connector is connected to the lower
electrical connector in the tubing hanger, and the upper electrical
connector is connected to the intermediate electrical connector in the
bonnet. In such at-the-wellhead configurations the electrical
connectors are maintained at wellhead temperature. When the wellhead
is at an elevated temperature the electrical connectors can fail. In
this invention, by displacing or elevating the electrical connectors
and their mutual junctions away from the hot wellhead, ambient air
will provide sufficient cooling of the elevated electrical connector
assembly to prevent connector failure due to high temperatures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, there is provided by the principles of this
invention an elevated electrical connector assembly for use with
electric submersible pumps in wells operating at elevated
temperatures. However, this invention can also be used advantageously
in wells that are not at an elevated temperature since this invention
facilitates some servicing operations of the well.
The elevated electrical connector assembly comprises a removable
tubular assembly housing, a removable lower electrical connector, a
removable retainer member, a removable crossover sealing adapter, a
removable upper electrical connector, and a removable locking member.
The tubular assembly housing includes a first or lower connecting
end, a second or upper connecting end and a passageway therebetween,
threaded first means for attaching the first or lower connecting end
to a threaded coupling port in a first wellhead member, a coupling
first part near the second or upper connecting end, and a pass-through
part located near the first or lower connecting end for traversing a
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bore in a second wellhead member. For some wells the first wellhead
member is a tubing hanger and the second wellhead member i8 a bonnet.
The lower electrical connector includes a plurality of shielded
electrical conductors, a first or lower cable-connecting end for
attachment to a short electrical cable, a second or upper end for
electrical connection to the upper electrical connector, below the
second or upper end a cylindrical upper first section, and below that
a supporting second section. The short electrical cable is for
splicing to a long electrical cable connected to an electric
submersible pump (not shown in the figures).
The annular retainer member includes supporting second means for
maintaining the cylindrical upper first section of the lower-
electrical connector outside the tubular assembly housing a
predetermined distance, D, from second or upper connecting end thereof
and for preventing the lower electrical connector from falling through
the housing.
The crossover sealing adapter includes a first or adapter lower
end, a second or adapter upper end, and an adapter passageway
therebetween, and near the adapter's first or lower end, coupling
third means for connecting to the coupling first part of the tubular
assembly housing. The adapter passageway has a bored first portion
which is slidable over the cylindrical upper first section of the
lower electrical connector. The crossover sealing adapter has sealing
fourth means for preventing leakage between its bored first portion
and the cylindrical upper first section of the lower electrical
connector. Between the adapter's second or upper end and the bored
first portion is a bored second portion for accepting the upper
electrical connector in the adapter passageway. On the outside of the
crossover sealing adapter and near its second or upper end is a
coupling third portion for accepting the annular locking member.
The upper electrical connector includes a first or lower end, a
plurality of shielded electrical conductors, a second or upper cable-
connecting end for electrical connection to a short electrical cable,
a first or cylindrical lower sector which is slidable into the bored
second portion of crossover sealing adapter, and contact means for
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making electrical contact between the conductors in the upper
electrical connector and the conductors in the lower electrical
connector. The short electrical cable is for splicing to a longer
electric cable connected to a power source (not shown in the figures).
The locking member includes coupling fifth means for maint~ining
the first or lower end of the upper electrical connector in abutting
relationship with the second or upper end of the lower electrical
connector. The coupling fifth means is also for coupling to the
coupling third portion of the crossover sealing adapter thereby
securing the assembly.
In one embodiment, the pass-through part of the tubular assembly
housing has means for preventing leakage between its pass-through part
and the bore in the second wellhead member. In another embodiment,
the elevated electrical connector assembly further comprises an
annular member surrounding a portion of the pass-through part, means
for attaching the annular member to the second wellhead member, and a
pliable seal sandwiched between the annular member, the second
wellhead member, and the pass-through part.
In one embodiment, the threaded first means of the housing is an
externally threaded section. In another embodiment, the coupling
first part of the housing is an externally threaded section, and the
coupling third means of the crossover sealing adapter is an internally
threaded section which screws onto the externally threaded section at
the upper end of the housing. In yet another embodiment, the second
or upper connecting end of the tubular assembly housing has flat
surface, and the annular retainer member has a lower flat surface
which abuts the housing flat surface.
In one embodiment, the cylindrical upper first section of the
lower electrical connector is an external cylindrical surface, and the
bored first portion of the crossover sealing adapter has an internal
cylindrical surface which is slidable over the external cylindrical
surface. In another embodiment, the supporting second section of the
lower electrical connector is an externally threaded section, and the
supporting second means of the annular retainer member iB an
internally threaded section which screws onto the externally threaded
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section thereby maintaining the cylindrical upper first section
outside the tubular assembly housing the predetermined distance, D,
from its second or upper connecting end. In still another embodiment,
the lower electrical connector has an external shoulder between its
cylindrical upper first section and its supporting second section, and
the annular retainer member has an internal shoulder which abuts the
external shoulder.
In one embodiment, the annular retainer member has an upper flat
surface, and the crossover sealing adapter ha~ an internal shoulder
between its bored first portion and its coupling third means which
abuts the upper flat surface of the annular retainer member.
In one embodiment, the sealing fourth means of the crossover
sealing adapter includes an inner circumferential recess in the bored
first portion which supports an pliable seal which, when assembled,
abuts the cylindrical upper first section of the lower electrical
connector. In still another embodiment, the coupling third portion of
the crossover sealing adapter is an externally threaded section, and
the coupling fifth means of the locking member is an internally
threaded section which screws onto the externally threaded section of
the crossover sealing adapter.
In one embodiment, the first or cylindrical lower sector of the
upper electrical connector has an external cylindrical surface, and
the bored second portion of the crossover sealing adapter has an
internal cylindrical surface which is slidable over the external
cylindrical surface. In another embodiment, the upper electrical
connector has a lower external shoulder between the first or
cylindrical lower sector and the second or upper end thereof, and the
tubular assembly housing has a flat surface on its second or upper
connecting end which abuts the lower external shoulder. In still
another embodiment, the upper electrical connector has an upper
external shoulder between the first or cylindrical lower sector and
the second or upper end thereof, and the locking member has an
internal shoulder which abuts the upper external shoulder.
In one e~o~i ~nt, the upper electrical connector has a pliable
seal adjacent the first or cylindrical lower sector thereof, and the
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seal abuts the bored second portion of the crossover sealing adapter.
In another embodiment, the upper electrical connector includes an
inner circumferential recess in the first or cylindrical lower sector
supporting a pliable seal that abuts the bored second portion of the
crossover sealing adapter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. lA is a elevational view in cross section illustrating a
first embodiment of the elevated electrical connector assembly
installed in a wellhead.
10FIG. lB is a elevational view in cross section illustrating a
second embodiment of the elevated electrical connector assembly
installed in a wellhead. This embodiment includes a spark containment
cro6sover sealing adapter and tubular assembly housing with swivel.
FIGS. lC and lD are elevational views in cross section
illustrating prior art electrical connector assemblies installed in
two different types of wellheads.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the joint area of the lower
electrical connector and upper electrical connector of the connector
assembly of FIG. lA.
20FIG. 3 is a further enlarged view of the pass-through part of the
connector assembly of FIG. lA.
FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged view of the lower electrical
connector and upper electrical connector of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 shows the lower electrical connector and upper electrical
connector of FIG. 4 when completely separated.
FIG. 6 shows details of the tubular assembly housing of FIG. lA
in cross section in a first and second wellhead members.
FIG. 7 shows details of the lower electrical connector of FIG.
lA.
30FIG. 8 shows details of the annular retainer means of FIG. lA in
cross section.
FIG. 9 shows details of the crossover sealing adapter of FIG. lA
in cross section.
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FIG. 10 shows details of the lower end of the upper electrical
connector of FIG. lA.
FIG. 11 shows details of the locking means of FIG. lA in cross
section.
FIG. 12 i8 an exploded view in cross ~ection of the tubular
assembly housing with swivel of the elevated electrical connector
assembly of FIG. lB.
FIG. 13 is the tubular assembly housing of FIG. 12 assembled.
FIG. 14 is cross-sectional view a tubing hanger with production
tubing, electric cable and support pipe.
FIG. 15 is the tubular assembly housing of FIG. 13 installed in
the tubing hanger of FIG. 14.
FIGS. 16-20 show sequential steps for installing the upper
electrical connectort Pnn~llPr retainer member and crossover sealing
adapter in the housing shown in FIG. 15.
FIG. 21 shows the next step after FIG. 20 of installing the
a~sembly of FIG. 20 in a wellhead through a blowout protector mounted
on the wellhead.
FIGS. 22-24 show sequential steps for landing the partially
assembled assembly of FIG. 21 in the wellhead, installing the bonnet,
and swiveling the upper end of the tubular assembly housing away from
the components connected to the wellhead.
FIG. 25 shows the installation of the upper electrical connector
on the assembly of FIG. 24.
FIG. 26 shows details of the ~park containment features when
electrical contact is broken in the elevated electrical connector
assembly of FIG. 25.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
This invention is especially useful with wells which run at
relatively high temperatures. Examples of such wells are hydrocarbon
producing wells which have been, or are being, steamed to enhance
hydrocarbon production.
Often in such wells it become~ desirable or necessary to assist
the hydrocarbon flow to the wellhead with an electric submersible
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pump. FIGS. lC and lD are typical prior art configuration of
wellheads having electric connectors 100, 101 and 102 attached to a
first wellhead member or tubing hanger 32 and traversing or passing
through second wellhead member or bonnet 31. Cable 48 is connected to
an electric submersible pump and cable 79 to an electrical power
source neither of which is shown in the figures. When a hydrocarbon
formation is at an elevated temperature the flowing hot hydrocarbon
heats wellhead 21 to a high temperature. As a consequence, lower,
middle and upper electrical connectors 100, 101 and 102, respectively,
in wellhead 21 are subjected to this high temperature which can, and
often does, lead to failure of the electrical connectors. Replacement
of heat damaged connectors i8 a time con~llr ing and costly activity
which operators would like to avoid. This invention eliminates
electrical connector failure due to prolong exposure to high
temperatures.
With reference to FIG. lA, there is shown a first embodiment of
an elevated electrical connector assembly of this invention generally
designated by numeral 20 attached to a wellhead 21. In wellhead 21 is
a first wellhead member, namely a production tubing hanger, 32 with
production tubing 32a suspended therefrom. Sleeve 32b connects hanger
32 to the vertical passageway section 31a of a second wellhead member,
namely a bonnet, 31. Connected to the top of section 31a is valve
22a, tee 22b and valve 22d all in the hot production flow path. The
top of tee 22b is closed with removable plug 22c and cap 22e. Valves
23 are connected to wellhead 21 which is connected to casing 21A.
When wellhead 21 is flowing a hot oil, components 31a, 22a and 22b
will also be hot and radiate heat to the surroundings.
In the past, as shown in FIGS. lC and lD, electrical connectors
for cable have been located in the wellhead. However, as shown in
FIGS. lA and lB, by displacing or elevating the electrical connectors
and 28 away from the hot wellhead, the ambient air provides
sufficient cooling of the elevated electrical connector assembly of
this invention to prevent connector failure due to high temperatures.
At the same time, maintenance of the well using the elevated
electrical connector assembly of this invention is facilitated. For
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example, in this invention the lower half of elevated electrical
connector assembly can be installed, removed and reinstalled through a
blowout protector BOP, see FIG. 21.
In the first embodiment shown in PIG. lA, the elevated electrical
connector assembly 20 has a removable tubular assembly housing 24, a
removable lower electrical connector 25, a removable annular retainer
member 26, a removable crossover sealing adapter 27, a removable upper
electrical connector 28, and a removable locking member 29. All of
the above-mentioned components are easily removed and reinstalled as
will explained below with reference to FIGS. 2-11.
FIG. 2 i8 an enlarged view of the area of connection of the upper
electrical connector 28 to the lower electrical connector 25. FIG. 4
is a still greater enlargement of this area. FIG. 5 shows upper
electrical connector 28 separated from lower electrical connector 25.
FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of a pass-through part 30 of the tuhnl~r
assembly housing 24. Pass-through part 30 traverses second wellhead
member or bonnet 31 through bore 31B and is screwed into first
wellhead member or tubing hanger member 32.- Pass-through part 30 can
be sealed by 0-ring 6eals 33 in inner circumferential recesses 39 in
pass-through part 30 as shown in PIG. lA, or alternately by 0-ring
seals (not shown in drawings) in inner circumferential recesses in
bore 31B of bonnet 31. In either embodiment, bonnet 31 may also, or
alternatively, contains internal conical surrace 95 in which another
0-ring seal 96 is sandwiched between internal conical surface 95 and
split annular member 97 which is bolted with bolts or other fastener
means 98 to bonnet 31 thereby providing additional means for
preventing leakage between pass-through part 30 and bonnet 31.
FIGS. 6-11 show the several components of the elevated electrical
connector assembly separated. In particular, FIGS. 6 and 3 show
tubular assembly housing 24 in cross section. Housing 24 is tubular
with housing pas6ageway 34. An externally threaded section or
threaded first means 35 on end 36, i.e. the housing lower connecting
end, provides means for attaching to threaded bore 32C in first
wellhead member 32, which also serves as a production tubing hanger.
The other end, end 37, of housing 24, i.e. the housing upper
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connecting end, also has an externally threaded coupling first part
38.
Lower electrical connector 25, shown in FIG. 2, is insertable
through housing 24 with annular clearance 49 therebetween becoming
smaller in segments as top or upper end 40 is neared. With reference
to FIG. 7, starting with upper end 40, lower electrical connector 25
has protruding conductors or prongs 41 extending from an upper
cylindrical upper first section 42 with a cylindrical surface 43, an
external shoulder 44, an externally threaded supporting second
section 45, another cylindrical section 46 of larger diameter than
section 42, and lower cable-connecting end 47 attached to a cable 48
below section 46. Cable 48 ha~ a length convenient for splicing to a
long length of electrical cable 48a (FIG. 16) connected to a downhole
electric submersible pump (not shown in the drawings). For example,
cable 48 of lower electrical connector 25 can be spliced to the longer
length of cable 48a connected to the electric submersible pump before
lower electrical connector 25 is installed in tubular assembly housing
24.
Annular retainer member 26, shown in FIG. 8, has an internally
threaded supporting second means 50 which screws onto externally
threaded supporting second section 45 of lower electrical connector 25
thereby providing means for maintAining the cylindrical upper first
section 42 of the lower electrical connector 25 outside the tubular
assembly housing 24 a predetermined distance, D, (see FIG. 5) from
upper connecting end 37 of housing 24 or 24A, and means for
preventing lower electrical connector 25 from slipping through housing
24 and falling into the well. Annular retainer member 26 has an upper
flat surface 51, internal shoulder 52, and lower flat surface 53.
Crossover sealing adapter 27, shown in FIG. 9, has a first or
adapter lower end 57, a second end or adapter upper end 58, and an
adapter passageway 59 therebetween. Threaded coupling third means 60
having an internally threaded section, near adapter lower end 57,
screws onto externally threaded coupling first part 38 of tubular
assembly housing 24 thereby providing means for connecting adapter 27
to housing 24. Above section 60, adapter passageway has a bored first
CA 02222321 1998-02-24
-- 10 --
portion 61 which has an internal cylindrical surface 62 that is
slidable over the cylindrical upper first section 42 of the lower
electrical connector 25. Portion 61 contains two spaced apart inner
circumferential reces~es 63 for supporting O-ring seals 64. O-rings
64 and recesses 63 provide sealing fourth means for preventing leakage
between the bored first portion 61 and the cylindrical upper first
section 42 of the lower electrical connector. In adapter passageway
59, between upper end 58 and bored first portion 61 is a bored second
portion 65 which has internal cylindrical surface 66. On the out~ide
of crossover sealing adapter 27 and near its upper end 58, is a
coupling third portion 67 with external threads 68. A flat surface 69
runs across upper end 58.
Between the bored first portion 61 and internally threaded
section 60 there is an internal shoulder 70 which abuts the upper flat
surface 51 of annular retainer member 26, thereby fixing the location
of end 40 of lower electrical connector 25 within crossover sealing
adapter 27. It can be 6een that upon each and every reassembly of
lower electrical connector 25, tubular assembly housing 24, annular
retainer member 26, and crossover sealing adapter 27, the location of
end 40 in the adapter 27 will always be exactly the same, and distance
D will always be the same. Between bored second portion 65 and upper
end 58 is an internal conical surface 71 for abutting seal 84.
Upper electrical connector 28, shown partly in FIG. 10, has a
cylindrical lower sector 73 with an external cylindrical surface 75
near first or lower end 74. Cylindrical surface 75 is insertable into
the internal cylindrical surface 66 of bored second portion 65 of
crossover sealing adapter 27. Above lower sector 73 is lower external
shoulder 76 which upon assembly abuts upper flat surface 69 of
crossover sealing adapter 27. Above shoulder 76 is upper external
shoulder 77 which, when the elevated electrical connector assembly is
assembled, abuts internal shoulder 92 of annular locking member 29.
The other or second end, i.e. upper end 78, of upper electrical
connector 28 is connected to a convenient length of cable 79 for
splicing to an electrical cable connected to a power source (not shown
in the drawings).
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Lower sector 73 contains an inner circumferential recess 81 for
supporting 0-ring seal 82. 0-ring 82 provide means for preventing
leakage between the lower sector 73 and the bored second portion 65 of
tubular asse~bly housing 24. Between recess 81 and lower external
shoulder 76 is an external conical surface under which another 0-ring
seal 84 is sandwiched between such external conical surface and
internal conical surface 71 of crossover sealing adapter 27. Seal 84
provides additional or alternative means for preventing leakage
between the lower sector 73 and assembly crossover sealing adapter 27.
10Locking member 29, shown in FIG. 11, is used to securely fasten
upper electrical connector 28 to lower electrical connector 25.
Locking member 29 has a first or upper end 88, a second or lower end
89 and a passageway 90 therebetween. Internally threaded coupling
means 91, near end- 89, screws onto externally threaded coupling
15portion 67 of crossover sealing adapter 27 until internal shoulder 92
abuts upper external shoulder 77 of upper electrical connector 28,
thereby providing coupling means ~or maint~ining lower end 74 of the
upper electrical connector 28 in abutting relationship with upper end
of the lower electrical connector 25. When installing at the
wellhead, locking member 29 is first slid over the convenient length
of cable 79 attached to upper electrical connector 28, then the cable
is spliced to an electrical cable leading to a power source.
Within both lower electrical connector 25 and upper electrical
connector 28 are a plurality of shielded electrical conductors, 93 and
94, respectively, which in the embodiment illustrated i~ three.
Prongs 41 of lower electrical connector 25, which are connected to
shielded electrical conductors 93, engage sockets 80 of upper
electrical connector 28, which are connected to shielded electrical
conductors 94. Socket 80 provides contact means for making electrical
connection between conductors 93 and 94. The internal construction of
the connectors can be the same as that described in U.S. Patent No.
4,708,201 which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The
reader is particularly referred to FIG. 5 of No. 4,708,201.
A very important advantage of the elevated electrical connector
assembly of this invention is that the lower electrical connector and
CA 02222321 1998-02-24
cable can be feed up through the bottom of the tubing hanger into the
tubular assembly housing and anchored in place, see FIGS. 16-20. This
allows the tubing hanger to be removed without cutting the electric
cable below the lower electrical connector. AB a consequence when
reinstalling the tubing hanger the electric cable does not have to be
respliced thereby saving considerable time and materials. It is
believed that the time saved is about 4 to 6 hours. This advantage by
itself makes the elevated electrical connector assembly useful for
many wells regardless of whether or not the wells are operating at an
elevated temperature.
When the upper electrical connector is disconnected, as shown in
FIG. 5, a cap 72 (FIGS. 20-24) is screwed onto upper end 58 of adapter
27 to protect prongs 41 and threaded coupling portion 67 until the
upper electrical connector i8 installed.
FIG. lB illustrates a second embodiment of this invention which
features a swivel means in the tubular assembly housing and spark
containment means when making or breaking electrical contact between
the upper and lower electrical connectors. Referring to FIGS. lB, 12
and 13, tubular assembly housing 24 comprises lower part 24A, upper
part 24B and coupling part 24C. Lower part 24A comprises lower end
36, externally threaded section 35, pass-through part 30 with
recesses 39 with seals 33, concave spherical surface 110, and
externally threaded section 111. Upper part 24B compri6es upper end
37, externally threaded section 38, and convex spherical surface 112
with outer circumferential recesses 113 supporting 0-ring seals 114.
Coupling part 24C comprises adjunct concave spherical surface 115 and
internally threaded section 116. Tubular assembly housing parts 24A,
24B and 24C form a ball and socket coupling 117 which can be swiveled
through variable angle A away from hot component 31a in the production
flow path and attached to wellhead 21.
The assembled tubular assembly housing 24 (shown in FIG. 13) can
be installed in tubing hanger 32 (shown in FIG. 14) suspended from
suspension tubing 32d and supporting production tubing 32a and power
cable 48a as shown in FIG. 15. Lower electrical connector 25 with a
short length of cable 48 (shown in FIG. 16) can be spliced to long
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- 13 -
cable 48a which is connected to a downhole electric submersible pump
(not shown) as shown in FIG. 17. Annular retainer member 26 can then
be screwed onto externally threaded section 45 of lower electrical
connector 25 as shown in FIG. 18. Crossover sealing adapter 27A can
then be screwed onto externally threaded section 38 of tubular
assembly housing part 24B thereby sealing lower electrical connector
25 in crossover sealing adapter 27A as shown in FIG. 19. A temporary
protective cap 72 is then installed on the top of crossover sealing
adapter 27A to protect the lower electrical connector from the
environment as shown in FIG. 20. The tubing hanger 32 is then lowered
in wellhead 21 through blowout protector "BOP" as shown in FIG. 21.
Tubing hanger 32 is locked into wellhead 21 with locking screws
120 and the BOP removed as shown in FIG. 22. Suspension tubing 32d is
then removed and other wellhead components installed, if not
previously installed, as shown in FIGS. 23 and FIG. lA. Tubular
assembly housing part 24C can be loosened enough to permit upper part
24B to be tilted away from hot component 31a as illustrated by angle A
in FIG. 24. Cap 72 is then removed and upper electrical connector 28A
connected to lower electrical connector as shown in FIG. lB.
Another characteristic of this invention is the spark containment
feature of crossover sealing adapter 27A, upper electrical connector
28A and annular locking member 29A as illustrated in FIG. lB and
greatly enlarged FIGS. 25 and 26. Annular locking member 29A contains
internally counter-threaded section 87 which screws onto externally
counter-threaded section 85 of upper electrical connector 28A. As
internally threaded section 91 of annular locking member 29A is
screwed onto externally threaded section 67 of crossover sealing
adapter 27A, internally counter-threaded section 87 of crossover
sealing adapter 27A is simultaneously screwed onto externally counter-
threaded section 85 of upper electrical connector 28A. For example,
if threaded sections 67 and 91 are right hand threads then threaded
sections 67 and 91 will be left hand threads. If all threads are the
same pitch, then for every rotation of annular locking meDber 29A,
upper electrical connector 28A is drawn two threads closer to, or
farther from, lower electrical connector 25. As can be seen in
CA 02222321 1998-02-24
FIG. 26, just before electrical connection between upper and lower
electrical connectors is broken or made, RnnlllRr locking member 29A iB
still thread-connected to crossover sealing adapter 29A by several
threads, preferably at least about 10 thread~. Thus, if a spark is
generated by the breaking or connecting of the upper and lower
electrical connectors, the spark will be completely contained within
the electrical connector assembly thereby preventing ignition of
combustible material in the environment surrounding the electrical
connector assembly. Spark containment i8 an important safety feature
of this invention and can be used on any electrical connector
regardless of the temperature of, or location in, the wellhead.
Although O-ring seals have been shown in the figures other pliant
seals can be used including cups seals. Although screw connections
have been used other means of connecting the tubular assembly housing
to the tubing hanger member, the housing to the crossover sealing
adapter, and the locking member to the adapter can be used including
flange pairs and other means. Also, if desired, other means of
holding the lower electrical connector in the housing can be used if
desired including a snap ring and groove combination. In such
alternative embodiment, the supporting second section 45 of the lower
electrical connector 25 would include a groove, and the supporting
second means 50 of the Rnnll]Rr retainer member would be a snap ring.
While the preferred e~o~ir rts of the present invention have
been described, it should be understood that various changes,
adaptations and modifications may be made thereto without departing
from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.
It should be understood, therefore, that the invention is not to be
limited to minor details of the illustrated invention shown in
preferred embodiment and the figures, and that variations in such
minor details will be apparent to one skilled in the art.
Therefore it is to be understood that the present disclosure and
embodiments of this invention described herein are for purposes of
illustration and example and that modifications and improvements may
be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or
from the scope of the claims. The claims, therefore, are to be
CA 0222232l l998-02-24
- 15 -
accorded a range of equivalents commensurate in scope with the
advances made over the art.
