Fire-resistant structures for wellhead outlets and methods of using same

Abstract

The present application teaches fire-resistant structures and methods for wellhead outlets, and methods of using same. In one embodiment, the fire-resistant structure includes a plurality of spacing assemblies ( 32 a - f ) that space a plurality of fire-resistant panels ( 42, 44, 46, 48, 49, 50, 53, 55 ) away from the exterior surface of a wellhead outlet ( 1 ), such that a space or volume is created between the fire-resistant panels ( 42, 44, 46, 48, 49, 50, 53, 55 ) and the exterior surface of the wellhead outlet ( 1 ).

1 . A kit for retrofitting an existing wellhead outlet, the existing wellhead outlet having at least one exterior surface, the kit comprising:
 a plurality of independent, elongated spacing assemblies including at least a first and a second elongated spacing assembly, the first and the second elongated spacing assembly each being attachable at a first end thereof to the at least one exterior surface of the existing wellhead outlet, the first and the second elongated spacing assembly being attachable at a first and a second respective attachment position along the at least one exterior surface, the first attachment position being spaced apart laterally along the at least one exterior surface from the second attachment position, the first and the second elongated spacing assembly each further comprising an opposite second end that is spaced apart along the respective assembly from the first end; and   at least one panel that is attachable to the second end of each of the first and the second elongated spacing assembly, the at least one panel being attachable to the first and the second elongated spacing assembly at a first and a second respective support position along the at least one panel, the first support position being spaced apart laterally along the at least one panel from the second support position;   wherein the plurality of independent, elongated spacing assemblies and the at least panel are attachable with the at least one exterior surface to form an enclosure for the existing wellhead outlet that is spaced apart to be offset from the at least one exterior surface and is supported by the plurality of laterally-spaced, independent, elongated spacing assemblies.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one panel includes at least one frameless fire-resistant panel comprised of a unitary, flame-retardant, high-strength material configured to be attached directly to the second end of each of the first and the second elongated spacing assembly without having a frame support structure. 
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of independent, elongated spacing assemblies is comprised of an elongated spacing fastener and an insulated material. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 2 , wherein the unitary, flame-retardant, high-strength material for the at least one panel is selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material and a fiber-reinforced composite. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one panel and the plurality of independent, elongated spacing assemblies can fully enclose the wellhead outlet, except for any port that extends from the wellhead outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of independent, elongated spacing assemblies includes at least one removable fastener that attaches the independent, elongated spacing assembly to the wellhead outlet. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of independent, elongated spacing assemblies including at least a first and a second elongated spacing assembly, the first and the second elongated spacing assembly each being attachable at a first end thereof to at least one exterior surface of an existing wellhead outlet, the first and the second elongated spacing assembly being attachable at a first and a second respective attachment position along the at least one exterior surface, the first attachment position being spaced apart laterally along the at least one exterior surface from the second attachment position, the first and the second elongated spacing assembly each further comprising a second end that is spaced apart along the respective assembly from the first end; and   at least one frameless fire-resistant panel attached to the second end of each of the first and second elongated spacing assembly, the at least one frameless fire-resistant panel being attached to the second end of the first and second elongated spacing assembly at a first and a second respective support position along the at least one frameless fire-resistant panel, the first support position being spaced apart laterally along the at least one frameless fire-resistant panel from the second support position;   wherein the plurality of independent, elongated spacing assemblies and the at least one frameless fire-resistant panel are configured to be attached with the at least one exterior surface of the wellhead outlet such that a frameless fire-resistant enclosure is configured to be formed for the existing wellhead outlet that is spaced apart to be offset from the at least one exterior surface of the wellhead outlet and is supported by the plurality of laterally spaced, independent, elongated spacing assemblies.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one frameless fire-resistant panel is comprised of a unitary, flame-retardant, high-strength material configured to be attached directly to the second end of each of the first and the second elongated spacing assembly without having a frame support structure. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of independent, elongated spacing assemblies is comprised of an elongated spacing fastener and an insulated material. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the elongated spacing fastener is selected from the group consisting of a bolt, a portion of a bolt, a lag, a screw, a rod, a pipe and a tube. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one frameless fire-resistant panel includes a plurality of frameless fire-resistant panels that are configured to be spaced apart to be offset from the at least one exterior surface of the existing wellhead outlet and to be attached together to fully enclose the wellhead outlet, except for any port that extends from the wellhead outlet. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein each of the first and second elongated spacing assemblies includes a removable fastener, and the at least one frameless fire-resistant panel is removably attached to the second end of each of the first and second elongated spacing assembly. 
     
     
         13 . A method of protecting a wellhead outlet, the wellhead outlet having at least one exterior surface, the method comprising:
 attaching to the at least one exterior surface of the wellhead outlet a plurality of independent, elongated spacing assemblies that include at least a first and a second elongated spacing assembly, each of the first and the second elongated spacing assembly comprising a first end and a second end that is spaced apart along the assembly from the first end, the step of attaching including:
 attaching the first end of the first elongated spacing assembly to the at least one exterior surface at a first attachment position along the at least one exterior surface; and 
 attaching the first end of the second elongated spacing assembly to the at least one exterior surface at a second attachment position along the at least one exterior surface that is spaced apart laterally along the at least one exterior surface from the first attachment position; and 
   attaching one or more panels to the plurality of independent, elongated spacing assemblies such that the one or more panels are spaced apart to be offset from the at least one exterior surface of the wellhead outlet.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of tapping a plurality of threaded holes into the at least one exterior surface of the wellhead outlet including tapping at least a first threaded hole into the at least one exterior surface at the first attachment position and a second threaded hole into the at least one exterior surface at the second attachment position, wherein the step of attaching to the at least one exterior surface of the wellhead outlet a plurality of independent, elongated spacing assemblies one comprises attaching the first and the second elongated spacing assembly to the first and the second threaded hole respectively at the first and the second attachment position. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of attaching one or more panels to the plurality of independent, elongated spacing assemblies comprises attaching the one or more panels to the plurality of independent, elongated spacing assemblies, wherein the one or more panels comprise one or more frameless fire-resistant panels. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of attaching one or more panels to the plurality of independent, elongated spacing assemblies further comprises fully enclosing the wellhead outlet within the one or more panels, except for any port that extends from the wellhead outlet. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of attaching one or more panels to the plurality of independent, elongated spacing assemblies further comprises including one or more holes in the one or more panels to permit one or more ports that extends from the wellhead outlet to extend through the one or more panels. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of filling any gap between the one or more ports and a respective one of the one or more holes located in the one or more panels with a flame-retardant ceramic material. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of attaching one or more panels to the plurality of independent, elongated spacing assemblies comprises attaching the one or more panels to the plurality of independent, elongated spacing assemblies that are removable from the one or more spacing assemblies. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 removing the one or more panels from the one or more spacing assemblies; and   reattaching the one or more panels to the one or more spacing assemblies.   
     
     
         22 - 28 . (canceled)