SURFACE SYSTEMS

SSMC Wellhead Systems

™

Save More. Drill More. Offshore and Onshore.

 A
t Cameron we understand that time is money and that safety is crucial.
We know that you need equipment you can trust today and count on to last. As one of

Cameron’s most popular wellhead systems, the SSMC has stood up to these demanding

challenges in a wide range of applications across the world for decades. Designed with the operator

in mind, the SSMC utilizes a single housing design. This feature provides the ability to run up to four

strings without removing the BOP stack, thus saving valuable time and increasing safety by eliminat-

ing work under the BOP stack. Utilizing internal lockdown mechanisms instead of lockdown pins,

penetrations in the wellhead are minimized, reducing potential leak paths and translating to high

reliability in critical service applications. The SSMC wellhead system is a total system solution designed

to accommodate a variety of casing programs and working pressures while using a maximum number

of interchangeable components throughout, translating to 30% fewer parts and reduced inventories.

If you are looking to save more so you can drill more, look no further.

SSMC vs. Conventional Wellheads

Ti me Sav ings Co mparison
The SSMC wellhead has many technical advantages over conventional
wellhead systems including reduced height, enhanced safety, savings in rig Total Time:
99.25 Hrs
time, through-BOP operations, and a decrease in system cost. In addition,
many components of the conventional wellhead are eliminated by using
a single compact housing for multiple casing and tubing hangers. 9-5/8” Casing — Wait on cement, spool nipple up,
install BOP, prepare 9-5/8” casing, install slips
13-3/8” Casing — Wait on cement, spool nipple up,
Rig Time Savings 33.50 Hrs
install BOP, prepare 13-3/8” casing, install slips
20” Casing — Run 20” through diverter, land on
• Reduced number and faster BOP connections landing ring, install BOP, versus slip-on weld housing
• Weldless diverter connection 30” Conductor — Weld diverter connection
• Through-BOP/diverter operations and nipple up

• No expensive hydraulic tooling

TOTAL SSMC
Enhanced Safety TIME SAVINGS
•C  omplete well control at all times — no need to remove BOP stack at any 53.5 Hours
stage of installation 27.00 Hrs
• Fewer leak paths — minimum penetrations in wellhead, no lock screws Total Time:
• Through-BOP operations means fewer BOP connections, requiring less 45.75 Hrs
2.00 Hrs
time working below the rig floor
9-5/8” Casing — Wait on cement, spool nipple up,
• Mud returns via riser install BOP, prepare 9-5/8” casing, install slips
13-3/8” Casing — Wait on cement, spool nipple up,
install BOP, prepare 13-3/8” casing, install slips 15.50 Hrs
20” Casing — Run 20” through diverter, land on
Flexibility landing ring, install BOP, versus slip-on weld housing
30” Conductor — Weld diverter connection
• Modular design, interchangeable components
and nipple up

29.25 Hrs
• Field proven for tie-back to mudline
• Wide range of tubing programs including single, dual and tension
tubing hangers 22.00 Hrs

• Wide range of casing programs available with options to land up to four

strings of casing as well as tubing in one compact housing
• Compact design reduces necessary platform space in offshore and cellar
9.50 Hrs
space in land applications 6.25 Hrs

• Ability to complete multiple terminations gives compatibility with

Conventional SSMC
smart-well technology Wellhead Wellhead
(2-Stage System)
Additional Savings with 3- and 4-Stage Systems
 SURFACE SYSTEMS

Total Time:
99.25 Hrs

33.50 Hrs
Save More. Drill More.

C ameron introduced the SSMCSSMC

TOTAL
North Sea as a solutionTIME
system to a major operator in the
SAVINGS
to minimize
53.5ofHours
and enhance safety. The utilization
installation time, reduce cost
Cameron’s proprietary FastLock™
connectors, combined with the ability to run numerous strings of casing
27.00 Hrs
Total Time:
without removing the BOP stack, reduced the operator’s installation time
45.75 Hrs
by 56%. An average cost savings of $8457
2.00 Hrs per hour saved the operator

$8.5MM in the first five years. This operator continues to trust the
56%
SSMC system with over 80 installations
15.50to
Hrsdate in the North Sea alone.
REDUCTION

Cameron’s extensive experience combined with a large global

installation base supports multiple national and international operators. Before
29.25 Hrs
Cameron standardizes its wellhead products across a growing number After

of end users. This allows us to single-source SSMC running tools and

22.00 Hrs
rental equipment to maximize utilization and keep cost at a minimum
by reducing the overall number of tools required. Replacement parts
management has been streamlined with 30% of the parts typically
9.50 Hrs
required, turning at a much higher rate and with ensured availability.
6.25 Hrs

With thousands of systems installed, the success of the SSMC continues.

Conventional SSMC
Wellhead Wellhead
(2-Stage System)
Additional Savings with 3- and 4-Stage Systems

Using SSMC to drill 46 wells

reduced installation time by 56%
and saved $8.5MM
Two-Stage System
The two-stage SSMC is most commonly
utilized for 11” and 13-5/8” nominal
completions, allowing installation of a
production casing hanger and tubing
hanger inside the compact housing. The
system offers considerable time savings by
eliminating a BOP nipple-up operation when
compared to the equivalent conventional
wellhead system.

System Flexibility
• Allows termination of multiple hydraulic
control lines and electric gauge lines.
Cameron has terminated up to 10 lines
in a 13-5/8” nominal SSMC wellhead
system, proving its compatibility with
smart-well technology.
• Frequently used in conjunction with
artificial lift solutions, including ‘A’
annulus injection for gas lift, and
electrical penetration termination for
electric submersible pumps.
• Commonly used with annular cuttings
re-injection.
• Designed, manufactured and tested in
accordance with the latest edition of API
6A (ISO 10423) specification for wellhead
and Christmas tree equipment.

Emergency Equipment
The SSMC wellhead includes a full range of
casing slip-based emergency options, should
the casing “stick” during installation.
Internal casing cutters are used to prepare
the casing for the seal assembly.

30” Casing

20” Casing

13-3/8” Casing

9-5/8” Casing

Tubing

AVAILABLE Options
Utilizing internal lockdown pins,
Cameron was able to minimize
penetration in the wellhead —
reducing potential leak paths
and translating to high reliability
in critical service applications.
The metal-end cap seal is a
premium seal system that
combines the benefits of a
metal-to-metal seal with the
tolerance and robustness of
an elastomer seal. Its metal
caps as well as its elastomeric
core provide a high intensity
sealing system that excels in
field applications under
critical service conditions.
Studded
connection
available
Option without 20” casing
Contingency Options
The same wellhead includes
a full range of casing slip
based emergency options
should casing “stick” during
installation. Internal casing
cutters are used to prepare
the casing for the seal
assembly.
SURFACE SYSTEMS­­
Split SSMC
Wellhead System
Shown with Dual Tubing Hanger
The split SSMC wellhead system is a
split version of the standard SSMC
wellhead system. This split version
uses many of the same components
and offers the same advantages as
the standard SSMC, as well as the
following added features:
• Wellhead housing can be supplied
with all annulus equipment
installed and tested. Upper
annulus outlets can be oriented
independently of casing.
• Emergency casing hanger
installation is performed without
internal casing cutting.
• Annular seals, seal faces and
wellhead housing can be replaced
or repaired without disturbing
the casing, meaning maximum
maintainability.
Three-Stage System
A three-stage system gives even greater
rig time savings when compared to
the equivalent conventional wellhead,
by allowing three strings to be installed
through one BOP make-up. Housing for
the three-stage system are commonly
used for 18-3/4” nominal systems
allowing intermediate and production
casing strings, together with the tubing
completion string, to be installed inside
the housing. 13-5/8” nominal three-
stage systems can also be supplied,
typically where a 7” or 7-5/8” production
casing string is accommodated in the
casing program.

The system shown here is a 13-5/8” three-

stage system supplied to a major operator
in the Middle East.
 SURFACE SYSTEMS­­

Four-Stage System
Cameron is able to supply four-stage
SSMC systems that maximize rig time
savings. The system shown here is a 21-1/4”
5000 psi nominal wellhead supplied to
a major operator in the North Sea. High
loads are accommodated by installation
of a secondary internal load shoulder,
separating the accumulated weight of
the top three strings from the lower
casing hanger. Although a larger
nominal size, the four-stage SSMC
wellhead system maintains the simplicity
of installation that has secured the SSMC
wellhead reputation as a system favored
by the end user.

The system shown here is a 21-1/4” 5000 psi

nominal wellhead supplied to a major
operator in the North Sea.
Seal Technology
The ability of a wellhead to withstand pressure is
determined in large part by the integrity of its seal-
ing system. The seals must be designed to match the
service application in which they are used. That is why
Cameron’s SSMC wellhead system features a choice
of elastomeric seals on the seal assemblies and metal-
to-metal seals on tubing hanger necks. Seals available
for the SSMC include metal-to-metal seals in primary
sealing applications and either LS elastomer seals or
Cameron’s exclusive Metal-End Cap (MEC) seal in the
annulus. Metal seals and the MEC seals meet the re-
quirement of API 6FB fire specifications
Elastomer seals used on the SSMC are available in a
range of premium elastomer compounds such as Camer-
on’s proprietary CAMLAST ™ material. Cameron has many
years of experience in elastomer design, life prediction
and rapid gas decompression testing such that, when
elastomer compounds are selected on an ad-hoc basis to
optimize performance, the end user will have peace of
mind that well integrity will not be compromised.

Seal Types

CF Gasket

SRL Seal

LS Seals

Straight Radial Lip (SRL) seal CF gasket LS seal

Primary barrier to production fluids
between tubing hanger neck and
Christmas tree.
Primary barrier between the wellhead
housing and riser/BOP when drilling
and serves as a secondary barrier
between the wellhead and tree in
completion mode.
In less severe environments, a cost-
effective alternative to MEC seal
for primary annular pack-off.
Also utilized as a back-up/test seal
where MEC is selected.

S Seals
T Seals

MEC
Seals

S seal T seal MEC seal

One-piece elastomer interference- Cost-effective, field-proven elasto- Premium seal system that combines
type seal used as either an annulus meric interface seal used as an annu- the benefits of a metal-to-metal seal
seal or tubing hanger neck seal. lus seal to seal on un-machined casing with the tolerance and robustness of
in emergency situations. an elastomeric seal.
 SURFACE SYSTEMS­­

Metal-End Cap Seals

A versatile, easy to install,
high integrity sealing system

C ameron’s SSMC wellhead family features interchangeable Metal-

End Cap (MEC) seals for maximum versatility. The MEC assembly is
a premium seal system that combines the benefits of a metal-to-metal
seal with the tolerance and robustness of an elastomeric seal. These seals
are the same for all production casing strings and tubing hangers in
3000 through 15,000-psi WP systems.
Features Stainless steel metal-end caps provide an anti-extrusion
barrier and encapsulate the premium elastomeric seal protecting it from
annular fluids. The MEC seal’s radically squeezed, pressure-energized
elastomeric core allows it to tolerate surface imperfections and mechani-
cal damage on the wellhead bore such as those caused by casing central-
izers. Further, the metal-end caps have interference fits with the wellhead
and casing hanger body providing full metal-to-metal contact. Together
the metal-end caps as well as the elastomeric core provide a high integrity
sealing system that excels in field applications under adverse conditions.
It is easy to install as it is set using minimal loads and does not require
expensive or complex hydraulic or high torque setting tools.
Fast Make Up Connections
The SSMC wellhead incorporates two of Cameron’s ex- FlangeLOCK™ CONNECTOR
clusive fast make up methods to connect the Christmas
The FlangeLock connector is
tree to the compact housing—the FastLock and Flange-
designed as a low-cost con-
Lock Connectors. On the split SSMC wellhead system,
nection for 5000 psi applica-
either the FastClamp or Fastlock connector can be used
tions. It can be bolted directly
to quickly connect the upper and lower housing.
onto FastLock connector hubs,
allowing for a smaller, more
FASTLOCK™ CONNECTOR cost-effective overall connec-
The FastLock connector is designed as an efficient tion and providing maximum flexibility for drilling and
replacement for flanged connections on surface well- workover operations.
heads. Its unique design requires low torque to operate
and allows the operator to dramatically reduce connec- FASTCLAMP™ CONNECTOR
tion times. Typically, FastLock connectors are utilized
The FastClamp connector fits
on BOP stacks to help take full advantage of the quick
standard clamp hub profiles
make up capabilities.
using conventional API ring
gaskets. FastClamp sections
are pre-installed on the hub
via the guide rods to eliminate
safety concerns in handling the sections during installa-
tion. Low make up torque increases ease of installation.

Total System Solution

For decades, Cameron has been providing SSMC SSMC System Availability
wellhead systems to meet the challenges faced by
Wellhead Size Pressure Maximum Casing Strings
customers. Saving time. Increasing safety. This is all
accomplished by eliminating work under the BOP 7” 5K 2
stack and minimizing penetrations in the wellhead. 9” 5K 2
The SSMC total system solution is designed to 11” 5K 2
accommodate various casing programs and working
13-5/8” 5K 3
pressures while using a maximum number of
interchangeable components throughout. All of 13-5/8” 10K 2*

which enables you to save more and drill more. 18-3/4” 5K or 10K 3

21-1/4” 5K 4
* 3 max. casing strings with reduced casing loads
 SURFACE SYSTEMS­­

Cameron quality, experience, reliability.

History of Wellhead Leadership

Cameron’s wellheads have set the standard for dependability,

quality and innovation for over 80 years. From the Texas and
Oklahoma oil boom of the 1920s to the heavy oil fields of
western Canada and Venezuela, Cameron’s wellheads have
evolved with the oilfield industry.

Engineering Excellence

The desire of Cameron engineers to excel is defined by their

non-compromising adherence to quality, ability to simplify
designs by eliminating extraneous parts or requirements
and desire to continually push the envelope of wellhead
technology with innovations.

R&D Leadership

With dedicated R&D and testing facilities and the largest R&D
staff of any wellhead producer, Cameron leads the field with
innovative, purpose-built R&D facilities with a full range of
analysis, design, build and test capabilities.

Ultimate Savings

Cameron’s wellhead systems are renowned for quality and

dependability. For the operator, that means less maintenance,
fewer parts and the barest minimum of rig downtime.
Surface Systems
PO Box 1212
Houston, Texas 77251-1212
USA
Tel 1.713.939.2211
Fax 1.713.939.2620

5 Mondial Way
Harlington
Hayes, UB3 5AR
England
Tel 44.208.990.1800
Fax 44.208.990.1888

No. 2 Gul Circle, Jurong Industrial Est

Singapore 629560
Singapore
Tel 65.6861.3355
Fax 65.6861.6197

DRILLING & PRODUCTION Systems

PO Box 1212
Houston, Texas 77251-1212
USA
Tel 1.713.939.2211
Fax 1.713.939.2620

Learn more about

SSMC Wellhead Systems at:
www.c-a-m.com

HSE Policy Statement

At Cameron, we are committed ethically, financially and personally to a working environment
where no one gets hurt, nothing gets harmed.

© 2010 Cameron | ­­­Cameron, SSMC, CAMLAST, FastLock, FlangeLock, and FastClamp are trademarks of Cameron. | SWP, 5M | 01/10 TC9603