Remote connection to wellhead for multiple operations

Abstract

A connector adapter for use with a subterranean well includes a generally cylindrical body defining a coaxial passage therethrough, a connector end at one end of the cylindrical body, the connector end having external threads and configured to connect the cylindrical body to a remote connector, and an equipment end at another end of the cylindrical body, the equipment end having external threads and configured to connect the cylindrical body to well equipment. The remote connector comprises multiple circumferentially distributed engagement structures which clamp directly together first and second radially enlarged hubs and a biasing device which biases the engagement structures toward an open configuration thereof in which the second hub is separable from the first hub. This allows the well equipment to be connected to the wellhead without worker intervention and while a second well operation is being performed near the wellhead.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A connector adapter for use with a subterranean well, the connector adapter comprising:
 a generally cylindrical body defining a coaxial passage therethrough;   a connector end at one end of the cylindrical body, the connector end having threads and configured to connect the cylindrical body to a remote connector; and   an equipment end at another end of the cylindrical body, the equipment end having threads and configured to connect the cylindrical body to well equipment;   wherein the remote connector comprises multiple circumferentially distributed engagement structures which clamp directly together first and second radially enlarged hubs and a biasing device which biases the engagement structures toward an open configuration thereof in which the second hub is separable from the first hub.   
     
     
         2 . The connector adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the well equipment is one of a lubricator and a well servicing line, the well servicing line including a frac line. 
     
     
         3 . The connector adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the remote connector further comprises a sleeve which encircles the engagement structures and prevents the engagement structures from displacing radially outward from the open configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The connector adapter of  claim 2 , wherein the remote connector further comprises an actuator which, in response to a first pressure differential applied across a piston of the actuator, displaces the sleeve to an open position in which the biasing device displaces the engagement structures to the open configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The connector adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator, in response to a second pressure differential applied across the piston, displaces the sleeve to a closed position in which the sleeve biases the engagement structures into clamping engagement with the first and second hubs. 
     
     
         6 . The connector adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement structures are pivotably mounted relative to the first hub between first and second ends of the engagement structures. 
     
     
         7 . The connector adapter of  claim 6 , wherein the biasing device inwardly biases the first ends of the engagement structures. 
     
     
         8 . The connector adapter of  claim 7 , wherein the second ends of the engagement structures are displaced outward by a biasing force exerted by the biasing device. 
     
     
         9 . The connector adapter of  claim 1 , wherein engagement between the second hub and the engagement structures in the open configuration aligns the first and second hubs. 
     
     
         10 . A method of connecting well equipment to a wellhead, the method comprising:
 connecting the well equipment to a connector adapter at an equipment end thereof;   connecting a connector end of the connector adapter to a remote connector;   connecting the remote connector to the wellhead;   applying pressure to the remote connector from a remote location, thereby allowing multiple circumferentially distributed engagement structures of the connector to displace outward to an open configuration thereof; and   displacing a first hub of the connector into contact with a second hub secured to the wellhead, the engagement structures axially aligning the second hub with the first hub during the displacing.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the well equipment includes one of a lubricator and a well servicing line, the well servicing line including a frac line. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the well equipment is connected to the wellhead while a second well operation is being performed near the wellhead. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second well operation includes a fracking operation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pressure applying further comprises displacing a sleeve of the connector to an open position thereof, the sleeve in the open position preventing outward displacement of the engagement structures from the open configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the pressure applying further comprises applying a first pressure differential across a piston of an actuator, thereby displacing the sleeve to the open position. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising applying a second pressure differential across the piston, thereby displacing the sleeve to a closed position in which the sleeve biases the engagement structures into clamping engagement with the first and second hubs. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the engagement structures are pivotably mounted relative to the first hub between first and second ends of the engagement structures. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a biasing device biases the engagement structures toward the open configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the biasing device inwardly biases ends of the engagement structures. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein opposite ends of the engagement structures are displaced outward by a biasing force exerted by the biasing device. 
     
     
         21 . A connector adapter for use with a subterranean well, the connector adapter comprising:
 a generally cylindrical body defining a coaxial passage therethrough;   a connector end at one end of the cylindrical body, the connector end having threads and configured to connect the cylindrical body to a remote connector; and   an equipment end at another end of the cylindrical body, the equipment end having threads and configured to connect the cylindrical body to well equipment, the coaxial passage having a first inner diameter that transitions to a second inner diameter near the equipment end, the second inner diameter being larger than the first inner diameter;   wherein the remote connector comprises multiple circumferentially distributed engagement structures which clamp directly together first and second radially enlarged hubs and a sleeve which encircles the engagement structures and prevents the engagement structures from displacing radially outward from an open configuration thereof in which the second hub is separable from the first hub.   
     
     
         22 . The connector adapter of  claim 21 , wherein the well equipment is one of a lubricator and a well servicing line, the well servicing line including a frac line. 
     
     
         23 . The connector adapter of  claim 21 , wherein engagement between the second hub and the engagement structures in the open configuration aligns the first and second hubs. 
     
     
         24 . The connector adapter of  claim 21 , further comprising an actuator which, in response to a first pressure differential applied across a piston of the actuator, displaces the sleeve to an open position in which the engagement structures are in the open configuration. 
     
     
         25 . The connector adapter of  claim 24 , wherein the actuator, in response to a second pressure differential applied across the piston, displaces the sleeve to a closed position in which the sleeve biases the engagement structures into clamping engagement with the first and second hubs. 
     
     
         26 . The connector adapter of  claim 21 , wherein the engagement structures are pivotably mounted relative to the first hub between first and second ends of the engagement structures. 
     
     
         27 . The connector adapter of  claim 21 , further comprising a biasing device which biases the engagement structures toward the open configuration. 
     
     
         28 . The connector adapter of  claim 27 , wherein the biasing device inwardly biases ends of the engagement structures. 
     
     
         29 . The connector adapter of  claim 28 , wherein opposite ends of the engagement structures are displaced outward by a biasing force exerted by the biasing device. 
     
     
         30 . A wellhead assembly for mounting to a wellhead in a subterranean well, the wellhead assembly comprising:
 a remote connector comprising (i) multiple circumferentially distributed engagement structures which clamp directly together first and second radially enlarged hubs, (ii) a biasing device which biases the engagement structures toward an open configuration thereof, in which the second hub is separable from the first hub, (iii) a sleeve which encircles the engagement structures and prevents the engagement structures from displacing radially outward from the open configuration, and (iv) an actuator which, in response to a first pressure differential applied across a piston of the actuator, displaces the sleeve to an open position in which the biasing device displaces the engagement structures to the open configuration, (v) wherein the engagement structures and the piston of the actuator are circumferentially aligned with one another so as to define a flow path therethrough extending coaxially with the first and second hubs when the engagement structures clamp together the first and second hubs;   a connector adapter connected to the remote connector, the connector adapter comprising a generally cylindrical body defining a coaxial passage therethrough, a connector end at one end of the cylindrical body configured to connect to the remote connector, and an equipment end at another end of the cylindrical body, wherein the coaxial passage has a first inner diameter that transitions to a second inner diameter near the equipment end, the second inner diameter being larger than the first inner diameter; and   well equipment connected to the connector adapter at the equipment end thereof, the well equipment being one of a lubricator and a well servicing line, the well servicing line including a frac line;   wherein the wellhead assembly is preassembled as a single assembly for mounting to the wellhead.