FMC’s High Capacity Subsea Wellhead Systems are engineered to meet the increasing capacities and pressures in the subsea drilling environment.
The FMC UWD-HC family is based on the field proven UWD-15 wellhead systems including the use of fewer running and test tools.
FMC’s high capacity tools are designed to handle higher capacities while performing multi-functions
The FMC 20,000 psi High Capacity Wellhead System (HC-20) has advanced the traditions of excellence by integrating performance features of the field proven UWD-15 wellhead family such as the modular design and weight-set, metal-to-metal seal design. The HC-20 system has an improved wellhead housing design providing for additional casing strings and increased capabilities in high-pressure and deepwater applications.
FMC’s HC-20 wellhead has an increased casing string capacity of 4M pounds with each active shoulder capable of handling 2M pounds plus the maximum BOP pressure test load. This extensive capacity permits our customers to drill deeper wells with longer and heavier casing strings. This innovative HC wellhead system, with a 20,000 psi working pressure, allows the 42” x 22” annulus to be completely cemented back to the mudline providing a stronger structural foundation. The design of the HC-20 system also allows the 16” casing hanger to be landed submudline or in the 1st hanger position in the wellhead.
The HC-20 System includes the Super Heavy Duty Rigid Lock Mechanism which rigidizes the low pressure housing to the high pressure housing to create a preloaded system granting higher fatigue and torsional resistance to handle the loads generated by TLP, SPAR, DP drill ships and DP semi-submersible vessels in deepwater applications.
Incorporating the same features of the HC-20 system, the HC-15 Systems includes the Super Heavy Duty Rigid Lock Mechanism, a low pressure housing designed for 42” or 38” conductor pipe, intermediate open water casing strings of 32” or 30” and 28” or 26”, and the same metal-to-metal seal assemblies and submudline equipment as the HC-LB wellhead system.
However, the high pressure wellhead housing incorporates the more commonly connection H4 profile and is suited for 4M lbs. string capacity with a 15,000 psi operating pressure.