JOINT METAL SUR METAL

In order to provide a metal-to-metal annular seal for use in a high pressure environment typical of a wellhead assembly that is provided on a high pressure, high temperature gas well, especially circumferentially between the outside surface of a tubular part and the inside surface of a relatively massive part, where these parts are to have a fixed longitudinal position relative to one another in use: the available strength for developing the seal are determined; like tapering surfaces are provided on the two parts such as would provide an allowable interference fit when the two parts are brought to the fixed longitudinal position; portions of the outside surface of the tubular part are machined-away to leave tapered land areas, e.g. in two axially closely spaced bands, so that when the two parts are forced to assume the fixed longitudinal position, the seal bands provide an elastic seal that avoids total plastic deformation yet provide the required unit loading. The invention is useful on many types of frusto-conical sealing annuli.