throbber
United States Patent
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`5,544,707
`
`US0055447O7A
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Aug. 13,1996
`
`......................... .. 166/348
`1/1967 Brown et al.
`3/1967 Yancey . ... .. . . . ..
`.. .. .... 166/348
`11/1970 Sizer ..................
`166/368 X
`8/1971 Kenneth et al.
`..... .. 166/368
`5/1972 Wakefield, Jr.
`................... .. 166/368 X
`
`
`
`3,295,600
`3,310,107
`3,542,125
`3,602,303
`3,662,822
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`8601852
`
`3/1986 WIPO.
`
`'
`
`Primary Examiner—Hoang C. Dang
`_ Attorney, Agent, or Firm——Conley, Rose & Tayon
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A wellhead having, instead of a conventional Christmas tree,
`a spool
`tree in which a tubing hanger is landed at a
`predetermined angular orientation. The tubing string can be
`pulled without disturbing the tree and access may be had to
`the production easing hanger for monitoring production
`casing annulus pressure and for the introduction of larger
`tools into the well hole without breaching the integrity of the
`well. In the embodiment described, a valve is used to open
`and close a fluid pressure passage between the production
`casing annulus and a production casing annulus monitoring
`port in the spool tree.
`
`Hopper et al.
`
`[54] WELLHEAD
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Hans P. Hopper, Aberdeen, Scotland;
`Thomas G. Cassity, Cobham, England
`
`[73] Assignec: Cooper Cameron Corporation,
`Houston, Tex.
`'
`
`[21] Appl. No.:
`
`204,397
`
`[22] PCT Filed:
`
`May 28, 1993
`
`[86] PCT No.:
`
`PCT/US93l052.46
`
`§ 371 Date:
`
`Mar. 16, 1994
`
`§ 102(c) Date: Mar. 16, 1994
`
`[87] PCT Pub. No.: W093l2.4730
`
`PCT Pub. Date: Dec. 9, 1993
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30]
`Jun. 1, 1992
`[EP]
`European Pat. Off.
`
`92305014
`
`Int. Cl.5 ...................................................... E2113 33/03
`[51]
`
`[52] U.S. Cl.
`............. ..
`.. 166/382; 166/368
`[58] Field of Search ..................................... 166/348, 339,
`166/368, 341, 347, 382, 88, 89, 95, 208
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2,889,886
`
`6/1959 Gould ........................................ 166/89
`
`13 Claims, 16 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`nII.fis:Ii.'P__-«
`‘‘};}t/'V////////
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`\
`
`
`
`
`
`
`\\\V_‘ u:
`
`s\\:
`
`FMC 1006
`
`
`
`
`‘'7'’:11.’
`
`
`/,1JlIII
`|»////////
` 1,,‘}}\'.'‘I
`9:
`II\
`at?
`\\\\\{\\'\\\'f{{{v
`
`:7//7’(4:\\"?~_-7iill"“
`
`
`
`I ;/
`
`in I
`
`
`
`
`
`%fl'/
`I
`x.
`\
`
`1
`
`FMC 1006
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`5,544,707
`
`%.I.IY
`
`¢=
`
`l¢fl%...._flfl
`
`
`
`/
`
`___,__i_“__“
`’4r"Cum.ud...1|n.Ifl
`
`:=:._M2
`
`2
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`5,544,707
`
`m
`
`
`
`m./...LL--”\”’4r5flWfi...u.uu.l.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`/Df
`S_:,_&
`zl..|.,...u.......\iiiiiInx!IZ____q_wvH",Mww«.vVv,M¢««//go.’_\
`Isl
`
`__H
`
`\%
`
`
`
`3
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 13, 1996
`
`Sheet 3 of 16
`
`5,544,707
`
`in:
`
` 2
`
`,,z#/.,,,....\1\_\\\.\\\._.“..~....”,,,.w,.,1////,/\.\.A\.\m®W:W_,“I./III//ash_
`
`Ia.'4ntuF¢n.f....m.mf...a.-nu
`
`1I..r.a«\..~..sh.Vs
`
`
`his
`
`.1.nnm
`
`4
`
`
`

`
`“US. Patent
`
`Aug. 13, 1996
`
`5,544,707
`
`PVi!/oe
`
`J
`
`
`
`
` wfiuMM
`
`.D\\.V.\....V\btlHM.@
`
`
`
`V|‘MuH...-I..,;.,.,....-.\q.\\\7!A...zfiiW_______.\l\l\lI,.1151:
`r/aw//4n.fi,m.»..»n/..~.»u.w,%.%%%%%%\\\\.__;
`
`hr/4'/.//17/énr./€.muVs§\\.\\\s«::::.\fi.,.........u.S1/z2!_...i.II4_.\\\\7
`
`
`
`j
`
`/
`
`
`
`5
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 13, 1996
`
`Sheet 5 of 16
`
`’
`
`5,544,707
`
`22
`
`7////////g
`7/////A
`
`
`
`AT
`
`% 7//////////é
`////////////
`>4->4
`
`;
`
`‘
`I ..,'|\
`$1“ WJN
`70
`X3
`. -== =§\?
`
`E’ 1
`63 M:\
`"’
`//1571111
`
`\\\\\\\\\\\"¢’;’_II"r7///// !“Q-‘|][]|3:-1—'.4:-2:3.-3:
`
`
`.¢.'(I_I]l('_£(\\\\\%
`,\\\\\\\\”///A
`
`} {3} {
`
`73
`
`72
`
`'
`

`
`‘
`
`—
`
`'3?-,_‘\— ‘E: {g e.-
`
`'
`
`.
`
`.\
`
`lu'P!".
`
`§/52;: v
`
`44
`
`/ i
`//
`/49’
`/1%
`£17‘
`¢r§3
`
`
`;\/M Mé§:|':M :l§§J.
`
`
`20
`21
`
`O‘)
`
`6
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 13, 1996
`
`Sheet 6 of 16
`
`5,544,707
`
`
`
`i
`
`3&0W.@W\,._W
`
`AM“\-\\§:\fI
`\\
`\\\\\
`
`3
`
`.\/1.‘11.I;SS,..!.3r.
`fl __m______wm_.,_fl\_
`P4>4\.uHw\\vx
`.5\\‘\\§.
`mi_.___Emym%§§_m%.I.u®§W
`7n.\.x_M._.
`
`
`
` .no,f!¥./’//II.......-..14\.\\\VN\ifl/AH/W/I.
`
` H‘,jav//Ill/////.!/.¢_rfl<.\.j..a.|
`
`
`I1‘'\//17,’,/””’Jr’_w/I/.4.;r
`
`...-.._.\.n.\\lIIl\\|QMM:AA.)Ii\\u\\u\u\.n
`\\..,,,,v./é
`
`.‘‘.-
`
`
`
`I,4.<3.If..§\“\\klltl
`
`7
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 13, 1996
`
`Sheet 7 of 16
`
`5,544,707
`
`“H
`
`A4
`
`mmD
`
`Q
`
`ma_.c.lflmE;Z
`
`3
`
`
`
`m«_h§!.§.muvNuNwnN.m_flwm.\\.
`
`
` H..?C1..\\\..x.“......>\\L
`
`_»6t¢mlnW..V\\H\\\\\\\\\..v.\....%%W..«_.N\\_\w\\\\\\N.\\&.........--é..x.....L_...:Z...
`
`\V1.V ///////IV/f /4
` I|1Il||W!% __v«_\\\\smT/
`
`
`
`...___
`
`
`
`A
`
`8
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 13, 1996
`
`Sheet 8 of 16
`
`5,544,707
`
`Ilal
`
`.II
`
`II
`
`riff!$rff/IV\
`\\__.\\
`
`Vx
`\‘W
`
`llllllIti.1,
`K.3:
`
`IrI.'.I‘.II“‘arIllIl.I"."l¢l
`
`1‘I‘E
`
`57
`
`62
`
`Vr.’/fl\\71.5.’
`
`
`
`I........
`
`‘
`
`
`
`59
`
`E"II.‘E'-‘-I"f"""””
`
`’/._ -u — -o’.
`
`
`
`/ur/4
`
`I.lI1.W‘I..\\‘|..I-\I.\§\'.I-.I/.’.I”.I./’.’.”’
`
`.iIl u- .p’ai‘l'I
`
`9
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 13,1996
`
`Sh t9 f16
`
`5,544,707
`
`V 5
`.
`
`IA E
`
`3
`
`i 7
`
`/
`
`4
`
`7
`
`6 /
`
`6
`
`I.‘lI-u_..,.
`
`in.N.
`
`W7/’!
`
`3
`
`O
`
`E!
`
`I._._._,
`
`-/_\1«.\.,.x.
`m...!i__m_«flM___1_@1
`
`.
`
`/vV////
`H.///V/v/./fin
`ll“
`V\\\\VnR
`
`
`
`5.....\.&s\\\\
`
`10
`
`mM.-3._m./7u/WU._mzMnuuMnuJ1:..
`
`
`
`
`
`:........u.....--!7V.1W_h/ .7/Ram
`
`
`........2,....,/.._L////hi..I.\1M\:\u...\vl
`
`97/1.I
`
`46
`
`\\._1|
`
`N
`
`10
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U S Patent
`
`1996
`
`Sheet 10 of 16
`
`5,544,707
`
`aw
`
`/3
`
`7 i I I J
`
`_I....._||I1....l4“.au__.
`
`Ir/////4
`
`
`
`7/47/14la.5..
`
`\\\.\\‘~‘.\~\r H
`
`:52?.. _1.1,.///fia7/// «~
`\\"..m.»v.\\\\.\\\
`
`53
`
`/5..L-
`
`.E\\||.uv
`
`’A" l
`
`./////.r.unuuw.§A.x
`
`'
`
`'
`
`mF_,.”¢/\%///_M”1fl__M_..----.M.-._,_..__,_____
`
`
`
`1:‘?1.\....‘\.\§\§‘.\‘\'.I:Hm__l.I"H1I
`
`3//1|.-..---lua3-a-s;5..a...aA
`
`
`1."III:.n-ul-.I|[u.o.l“
`
` _II':rI.TI I11:!
`
`fl7///.4
`._5F1.f1I1.L
`sufln.
`
`45
`
`Fig. 6A
`
`11
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 13, 1996
`
`4
`
`
`
`e._._,-mo..O oem0uII\‘\\\
`
`43!W.7.I.I.:l:_._.
`
`/
`
`Ir///A
`
`,
`
`
`
`
`
`7711..4....////11_Mllzi,
`
`.=I
`
`
`m.m.mB.a=..T \.
`W////anmnMw..-V\
`
`/%
`
`
`IE3!»/Quin!_/wi
` -11%,..-.|,.,.v.\\\;..|............u.mat/A../2.
`
`
`\V
`
`;x\\.\\\\\\...wv.a...\~\\\\\§...\§///A,....\.\,\V\\NVwv/m
`
`
`
`»»¢ww4flw..mm__m.I..z/vvfl///4uzu..
`
`12
`
`;../4.
`
`///////1
`
`12
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`5,544,707
`
`.m.
`
`F07
`
`IooI.i!..!l\
`
`/%._10
`f,....1\..\.
`
`,.,,.,,,.,,%W,.N\%mlH,\m«\\\\\..u........m.u..§.w..n..,M
`
`
`
`gm\§\\_www.sww.su\u,,.“.‘.§.%\\m,x/,,,/
`
`13
`
`2
`
`7-.-.1M.W34I//_/%77
`
`
`
`
`w.75mmww$3..a«iii!.....ksHPIHHEN_mwu._.."1..:.C...a....-VvV-..||.4.
`
`13
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 13, 1996
`
`Sheet 13 of 16
`
`5,544,707
`
`Fig. '3 85
`
`34
`
`Fig. 13A
`
`Fig. I33
`
`34A
`
`84B
`
`14
`
`14
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug.13, 1996
`
`Sheet 14 of 16
`
`5,544,707
`
`
`
`Fig
`
`{R
`
`C!) E‘
`
`-II
`
`
`
`:,=!_w,7M_51»
`A.
`1
`.5mags
`ZAl.‘n_.l.._\49/;
`..Cm
`
`6
`
`\
`
`
`
`
`
`3»;//%.r/../,,//,a_m._..,__1....,m.¢,__u“_",“,1H.1».,,»_w1mm"M_M1u_“1_gwu.__M
`
`__._N\\_\.\\\u\§N.s.z.¢¢,////1//,.vA,,.,..v.uw_//,//4»/71_.w/v//41,.4,.,4...wmn./n/1,,//.,,1.,
`Ir/
`
`J-lI1ilIssks..5M6m __
`w.L-l...n_mq.,$...M./46AQ\./.B34:97___Z@=.Am
`____o_3
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`_II:K\xx\\\\\\\.\\\....\..1...\\.n\fl\m.w».Mnun»4\N..._
`
`
`
`
`
`.,tI/.7
`
`|\\-\\\\\\x1u
`
`I//I/IV
`
`
`
`fllflfl‘Jr’
`
`53A
`
`15
`
`15
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U S P t nt
`
`5,544,707
`
`C,.._.__.._. _._.__.
`».
`'~_._._._.._.
`
`Fig 11
`
`__<
`
` 4§-_a__.k,MIIlIlI} V”""awm’4
`“nm_mEfi%__:..N.u.nr.4rJ!.r£zC./M
`..nWW8
`
`
`
`S\‘~‘\§nIP.I.
`
`16
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`‘ Aug.13, 1996
`
`5,544,707
`
`..M
`
`
`
`is!”\\\..\.\.\.V\..-o«III!-uhr.
`
`H.i____IE
`
`
`
`
`
`‘WV:3:
`
`..q
`
`.
`
`17
`
`
`
`
`

`
`5,544,707
`
`1
`WELLHEAD
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Conventionally, wells in oil and gas fields are built up by
`establishing a wellhead housing, and with a drilling blow out
`preventer stack (BOP) installed, drilling down to produce
`the well hole whilst successively installing concentric casing
`strings, which are cemented at the lower ends and sealed
`with mechanical seal assemblies at their upper ends. In order
`to convert the cased well for production, a tubing string is
`run in through the BOP and a hanger at its upper end landed
`in the wellhead. Thereafter the drilling BOP stack is
`removed and replaced by a Christmas tree having one or
`more production bores containing actuated valves and
`extending vertically to respective lateral production fluid
`outlet ports in the wall of the Christmas tree.
`This arrangement has involved problems which have,
`previously, been accepted as inevitable. Thus any operations
`down hole have been limited to tooling which can pass
`through the production bore, which is usually no more than
`five inch diameter, unless the Christmas tree is first removed
`and replaced by a BOP stack. However this involves setting
`plugs or valves, which may be unreliable by not having been
`used for along time, down hole. The well is in a vulnerable
`condition whilst the Christmas tree and BOP stack are being
`exchanged and neither one is in position, which is a lengthy
`operation. Also, if it is necessary to pull the completion,
`consisting essentially of the tubing string on its hanger, the
`Christmas tree must first be removed and replaced by a BOP
`stack. This usually involves plugging and/or killing the well.
`A further dilficulty which exists, particularly with subsea
`wells, is in providing the proper angular alignment between
`the various functions, such as fluid flow bores, and electrical
`and hydraulic lines, when the wellhead equipment, including
`the tubing hanger, Christmas tree, BOP stack and emergency
`disconnect devices are stacked up. Exact alignment is nec-
`essary if clean connections are to be made without damage
`as the devices are lowered into engagement with one
`another. This problem is exacerbated in the case of subsea
`wells as the various devices which are to be stacked up are
`run down onto guide posts or a guide funnel projecting
`upwardly from a guide base. The post receptacles which ride
`down on to the guide posts or the entry guide into the funnel
`do so with appreciable clearance. This clearance inevitably
`introduces some uncertainty in alignment and the aggregate
`misalignment when multiple devices are stacked, can be
`unacceptably large. Also the exact orientation will depend
`upon the precise positions of the posts or keys on a particular
`guide base and the guides on a particular running tool or
`BOP stack and these will vary significantly from one to
`another. Consequently it is preferable to ensure that the same
`running tools or BOP stack are used for the same wellhead,
`or a new tool or stack may have to be specially modified for
`a particular wellhead. Further misalignments can arise from
`the manner in which the guide base is bolted to the conduc-
`tor casing of the wellhead.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In accordance with the present invention, a wellhead
`comprises a wellhead housing; a spool tree fixed and sealed
`to the housing, and having at least a lateral production fluid
`outlet port connected to an actuated valve; and a tubing
`hanger landed within the spool
`tree at a predetermined
`angular position at which a lateral production fluid outlet
`
`2
`port in the tubing hanger is in alignment with that in the
`spool tree.
`With this arrangement, the spool tree, takes the place of a
`conventional Christmas tree but diifers therefrom in having
`a comparatively large vertical
`through bore without any
`internal valves and at least large enough to accommodate the
`tubing completion. The advantages winch are derived from
`the use of such spool tree are remarkable, in respect to safety
`and operational benefits.
`Thus, in workover situations the completion, consisting
`essentially of the tubing string, can be pulled through a BOP
`stack, without disturbing the spool
`tree and hence the
`pressure integrity of the well, whereafter full production
`casing drift access is provided to the well through the large
`bore in the spool tree. The BOP can be any appropriate
`workover BOP or drilling BOP of opportunity and does not
`have to be one specially set up for that well.
`Preferably, there are complementary guide means on the
`tubing hanger and spool tree to rotate the tubing hanger into
`the predetermined angular position relatively to the spool
`tree as the tubing hanger is lowered on to its landing. With
`this feature the spool tree can be landed at any angular
`orientation onto the wellhead housing and the guide means
`ensures that the tubing string will rotate directly to exactly
`the correct angular orientation relatively to the spool tree
`quite independently of any outside influence. The guide
`means to control rotation of the tubing hanger into the
`predetermined angular orientation relatively to the spool tree
`maybe provided by complementary oblique edge surfaces
`one facing downwardly on an orientation sleeve depending
`from the tubing hanger the other facing upwardly on an
`orientation sleeve carried by the spool tree.
`Whereas modern well
`technology provides continuous
`access to the tubing annulus around the tubing string, it has
`generally been accepted as being diflicult, if not impossible,
`to provide continuous venting and/or monitoring of the
`pressure in the production casing annulus, that is the annulus
`around the innermost casing string. This has been because
`the production casing annulus must be securely sealed whist
`the Christmas tree is fitted in place of the drilling BOP, and
`the Christmas tree has only been fitted after the tubing string
`and hanger has been run in, necessarily inside the production
`casing hanger, so that the production casing hanger is no
`longer accessible for the opening of a passageway from the
`production casing annulus. However, the new arrangement,
`wherein the spool tree is fitted before the tubing string is run
`in provides adequate protected" access through the BOP and
`spool tree to the production casing hanger for controlling a
`passage from the production casing annulus.
`For this purpose, the wellhead may include a production
`casing hanger landed in the wellhead housing below the
`spool tree; an isolation sleeve which is sealed at its lower
`end to the production casing hanger and at its upper end to
`the spool tree to define an annular void between the isolation
`sleeve and the housings and an adapter located in the annular
`space and providing part of a passage from the production
`casing annulus to a production casing annulus pressure
`monitoring port in the spool tree, the adapter having a valve
`for opening and closing the passage, and the valve being
`operable through the spool
`tree after withdrawal of the
`isolation sleeve up through the spool tree. The valve may be
`provided by a gland nut, which can be screwed up and down
`within a body of the adapter to bring parts of the passage
`formed in the gland nut and adapter body, respectively, into
`and out of alignment with one another. The orientation
`sleeve for the tubing hanger maybe provided within the
`isolation sleeve.
`
`5 .
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`18
`
`18
`
`

`
`5,544,707
`
`3
`Production casing annulus pressure monitoring can then
`be set up by method of completing a cased well in which a
`production casing hanger is fixed and sealed by a seal
`assembly to a wellhead housing, the method comprising,
`with BOP installed on the housing, removing the seal
`assembly and replacing it with an adapter which is manipu-
`latable between configurations in which a passages from the
`production casing annulus up past the production easing
`hanger is open or closed; with the passage closed, removing
`the BOP and fitting to the housing above the production
`casing hanger a spool tree having an internal landing for a
`tubing hanger; installing a BOP on the spool trees running
`a tool down through the BOP and spool tree to manipulate
`the valve and open the passage; inserting through the BOP
`and spool tree an isolation sleeve, which seals to both the
`production casing and spool tree and hence defines between
`the sleeve and easing an annular void through which the
`passage leads to a production casing annulus pressure moni-
`toring port in the spool tree; and running a tubing string
`down through the BOP and spool tree until the tubing hanger
`lands in the spool tree with lateral outlet ports in the tubing
`hanger and spool tree for production fluid flow, in alignment
`with one another.
`
`According to a further feature of the invention the spool
`tree has a downwardly depending location manure] which is
`a close sliding fit within a bore of the wellhead housing. The
`close fit between the location mandrel of the spool tree and
`the wellhead housing provides a secure mounting which
`transmits inevitable bending stresses to the housing from the
`heavy equipment, such as a BOP, which projects upwardly
`from the top of the wellhead housing, without the need for
`excessively sturdy connections. The location mandrel may
`be formed as an integral part of the body of the spool tree,
`or maybe a separate part which is securely fixed, oriented
`and sealed to the body.
`Pressure integrity between the wellhead housing and
`spool tree may be provided by two seals positioned in series
`one forming an environmental seal (such as an AX gasket)
`between the spool tree and the wellhead housing, and the
`other forming a production seal between the location man-
`drel and either the wellhead housing or the production
`casing hanger.
`During workover operations, the production casing annu-
`lus can be rescaled by reversing the above steps, if necessary
`after setting plugs or packers down hole.
`When production casing pressure monitoring is unneces-
`sary, so that no isolation sleeve is required, the orientation
`sleeve carried by the spool tree for guiding and rotating the
`tubing hanger down into the correct angular orientation
`maybe part of the spool tree location mandrel itself.
`Double barrier isolation, that is to say two barriers in
`series, are generally necessary for containing pressure in a
`well. If a spool
`tree is used instead of a conventional
`Christmas tree,
`there are no valves within the vertical
`production and annulus fluid flow bores within the tree, and
`alternative provision must be made for sealing the bore or
`bores through the top of the spool tree which provide for
`wire line or drill pipe access.
`In accordance with a further feature of the invention, at
`least one vertical production fluid bore in the tubing hanger
`is scaled above the respective lateral production fluid outlet
`port by means of a removable plug, and the bore through the
`spool tree being scaled above the tubing hanger by means of
`a second removable plug.
`With this arrangement, the first plug, takes the function of
`a conventional swab valve, and may be a wireline set plug.
`
`4
`The second plug could be a stopper set in the spool tree
`above the tubing hanger by, e.g., a drill pipe running tool.
`The stopper could contain at least one wireline retrievable
`plug which would allow well access when only wire line
`operations are called for. The second plug should seal and be
`locked internally into the spool tree as it performs a barrier
`to the well when a BOP or intervention module is deployed.
`A particular advantage of this double plug arrangement is
`that, as is necessary to satisfy authorities in some jurisdic-
`tions, the two independent barriers are provided in mechani-
`cally separate parts, namely the tubing hanger and its plug
`and the second plug in the spool tree.
`A further advantage arises if a workover port extends
`laterally through the wall of the spool tree from between the
`two plugs; a tubing annulus fluid port extends laterally
`through the wall of the spool tree from the tubing annulus;
`and these two ports through the spool tree are interconnected
`via an external flow line containing at least one actuated
`valve. The bore from the tubing annulus can then terminate
`at the port in the spool tree and no wireline access to the
`tubing annulus bore is necessa.ry through the spool tree as
`the tubing annulus bore can be connected via the interplug
`void to choke or kill lines,
`i.e. a BOP annulus, so that
`downhole circulation is still available. It is then only nec-
`essary to provide wireline access at workover situations to
`the production here or bores. This considerably simplifies
`workover BOP andlor riser construction. When used in
`conjunction with the plug at the top of the spool tree, the
`desirable double barrier isolation is provided by the spool
`tree plug over the tubing hanger, or workover valve from the
`V production flow.
`When the well is completed as a multi production bore
`well, in which the tubing hanger has at least two vertical
`production through bores each with a lateral production fluid
`flow port aligned with the corresponding port in the spool
`tree, at least two respective connectors may be provided for
`selective connection of a single bore wire line running tool
`to one or other of the production bores, each connector
`having a key for entering a complementary fonnation at the
`top of the spool tree to locate the connector in a predeter-
`mined angular orientation relatively to the spool tree. The
`same type of alternative connectors may be used for pro-
`viding wireline or other running tool access to a selected one
`of a plurality of functional connections, e.g. electrical or
`hydraulic couplings, at the upper end of the tubing hanger.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The development and completion of a subsea wellhead in
`accordance with the present invention are illustrated in the
`accompanying drawings, in which:
`FIGS. 1 to 8 are vertical axial sections showing successive
`steps in development and completion of the wellhead, the
`Figure numbers bearing the letter A being enlargements of
`part of the corresponding Figures of same number without
`the A:
`
`FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing external connections
`to the spool 3;
`FIG. 10 is a vertical axial section through a completed
`dual production bore well in production mode;
`FIGS. 11 and 12 are vertical axial sections showing
`alternative connectors to the upper end of the dual produc-
`tion bore wellhead during work over; and,
`FIGS. 13, 13A and 13B show the seating of one of the
`connectors in the spool tree.
`
`10
`
`I5
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`,
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`19
`
`19
`
`

`
`5,544,707
`
`6
`
`5
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`FIG. 1 shows the upper end of a cased well having a
`wellhead housing 20, in which easing hangers, including an
`uppermost production casing hanger 21 for, for example, 9
`5/s" or 10%" production casing is mounted in conventional
`manner. FIG. 1 shows a conventional drilling BOP 22
`having rams 23 and kill and choke lines 24 connected to the
`upper end of the housing 20 by a drilling connector 25.
`As seen in more detail in FIG. 1A, the usual mechanical
`seal assemblies between the production casing hanger 21
`and the surrounding Wellhead housing 20 have been
`removed and replaced through the BOP with an adapter 26
`consisting of an outer annular body part 27 and an inner
`annular gland nut 28 which has a screw threaded connection
`to the body 27 so that it can be screwed between a lowered
`position shown on the right hand side of FIG. 1A, in which
`radial ducts 29 and 30, respectively in the body 27 and nut
`28, are in communication with one another, and a raised
`position shown on the left hand side of FIG. 1A, in which the
`ducts are out of communication with one another. The duct
`
`29 communicates through a conduit 31 between a depending
`portion of the body 27 and the housing 20, and through a
`conduit 32 passing through the production casing hanger 21,
`to the annulus surround the production casing. The duct 30
`communicates through channels 33 formed in the radially
`inner surface of the nut 28, and hence to a void 10 be
`described. The cooperation between the gland nut 28 and
`body 27 of the adapter therefore acts as a valve which can
`open and close a passage up past the production casing
`hanger from the production casing annulus. After "appropri-
`ate testing, a tool is run in through the BOP and, by means
`by radially projecting spring lugs engaging in the channels
`33, rotates the gland nut 28 to the valve closed position
`shown on the right hand side on FIG. 1A. The well is thus
`resealed and the drilling BOP 22 can temporarily be
`removed.
`
`As shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A, the body of a tree spool 34
`is then lowered on a tree installation tool 35, using conven-
`tional guide post location, or a guide funnel in case of deep
`water, until a spool tree mandrel 36 is guided into alignment
`with and slides as a close machined fit, into the upper end of
`the wellhead housing 20, to which the spool tree is then fixed
`via a production connector 37 and bolts 38. The mandrel 36
`is actually a separate part which is bolted and sealed to the
`rest of the spool tree body. As seen particularly in FIG. 2A
`a weight set AX gasket 39, forming a metal
`to metal
`environmental seal is provided between the spool tree body
`and the wellhead housing 20. In addition two sets of sealing
`rings 40 provide, in series with the environmental seal, a
`production fluid seal externally between the ends to the
`spool
`tree mandrel 36 to the spool tree body and to the
`wellhead housing 20. The intervening cavity can be tested
`through a test part 40A. The provision of the adapter 26 is
`actually optional, and in its absence the lower end_of the
`spool tree mandrel 36 may form a production seal directly
`with the production easing hanger 21. As is also apparent
`from reasons which will subsequently become apparent, the
`upper radially inner edge of the spool tree mandrel projects
`radially inwardly from the inner surface of the spool tree
`body above, to form a landing shoulder 42 and at least one
`machined key slot 43 is formed down through the landing
`shoulder.
`'
`
`As shown in FIG. 3, the drilling BOP 22 is reinstalled on
`the spool tree 34. The tool 44 used to set the adapter in FIG.
`1, having the spring dogs 45, is again run in until it lands on
`
`the shoulder 42, and the spring dogs 45 engage in the
`_ channels 33. The tool is then turned to screw the gland nut
`28 down within the body 27 of the adapter 26 to the valve
`open position shown on the right hand side in FIG. 1A. It is
`now safe to open the production casing annulus as the well
`is protected by the BOP.
`The next stage, shown in FIGS. 4 and 4A, is to run in
`through the BOP and spool tree on an appropriate tool 44A
`a combined isolation and orientation sleeve 45. This lands
`on the shoulder 42 at the top of the spool tree mandrel and
`is rotated until a key on the sleeve drops into the mandrel key
`slot 43. This ensures precise angular orientation between the
`sleeve 45 and the spool tree 34, which is necessary, and in
`contrast to the angular orientation between the spool tree 34
`and the wellhead casing, which is arbitrary. The sleeve 45
`consists of an external cylindrical portion, an upper external
`surface of which is sealed by ring seals 46 to the spool tree
`34, and the lower external surface of which is sealed by an
`annular seal 47 to the production casing hanger 21. There is
`thus provided between the sleeve 45 and the surrounding
`wellhead casing 20 a void 48 with which the channels 33,
`now defined radially inwardly by the sleeve 45, communi-
`eate. The void 48 in turn communicates via a duct 49
`through the mandrel and body of the spool tree 34 to a lateral
`port. It is thus possible to monitor and vent the pressure in
`the production easing annulus through the passage provided
`past the production casing hanger via the conduits 32, 31 the
`ducts 29 and 30, the channels 33, shown in FIG. 1A, the void
`48, the duct 49, and the lateral port in the spool tree. In the
`drawings, the radial portion of the duct 49 is shown appar-
`ently communicating with a tubing annulus, but this is
`draughtsman’ s licence and the ports from the two annuli are,
`in fact, angularly and radially spaced.
`Within the cylindrical portion of the sleeve 45 is a lining,
`which may be fixed in the cylindrical portion, or left after
`internal machining of the sleeve. This lining provides an
`orientation sleeve having an upper/edge forming a cam 50.
`The lowermost portion of the cam leads into a key slot 51.
`As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 6A a tubing string of
`productionitubing 53 on a tubing hanger 54 is run in through
`the BOP 22 and spool tree 34 on a tool 55 until the tubing
`hanger lands by means of a keyed shoulder 56 on a landing
`in the spool
`tree and is locked down by a conventional
`mechanism 57. The tubing hanger 54 has a depending
`orientation sleeve 58 having an oblique lower edge forming
`a cam 59 which is complementary to the cam 50 in the sleeve
`45 and, at the lower end of the cam, a downwardly project-
`ing key 60 which is complementary to the key slot 51. The
`effect of the earns 50 and 59 is that, irrespective of the
`angular orientation of the tubing string as it is run in, the
`cams will cause the tubing hanger S4 to be rotated to its
`correct angular orientation relatively to the spool tree and
`the engagement of the key 60 in the key slot 51 will lock this
`relative orientation between the tubing hanger and spool
`tree, so that lateral production and tubing annulus fluid flow
`ports 61 and 62 in the tubing hanger 54 are in alignment with
`respective lateral production and tubing annulus fluid flow
`ports 63 and 64 through the wall of the spool tree. Metal to
`metal annulus seals 65, which are set by the weight of the
`tubing string, provide production fluid seals between the
`tubing hanger 54 and the spool tree 34. Provision is made in
`the top of the tubing hanger 54 for a wireline set plug 66. The
`keyed shoulder 56 of the tubing hanger lands in a comple-
`mentary machined step in the spool
`tree 34 to ensure
`ultimate machined accuracy of orientation between the
`tubing hanger 54 and the spool tree 34.
`FIG. 7 shows the final step in the completion of the spool
`tree. This involves the running down on drill pipe 67 through
`
`16
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`20
`
`20
`
`

`
`5,544,707
`
`7
`the BOP, an internal isolation stopper 68 which seals within
`the top of the spool tree 34 and has an opening closed by an
`in situ wireline activated plug 69. The BOP can then be
`removed leaving the wellhead in production mode with
`double barrier isolation at the upper end of the spool tree
`provided by the plugs 66 and 69 and the stopper 68. The
`production fluid outlet is controlled by a master control
`valve 70 and pressure through the tubing annulus outlet
`ports 62 and 64 is controlled by an annulus master valve 71.
`The other side of this valve is connected, through a work-
`over valve 72 to a lateral workover port 73 which extends
`through the wall of the spool tree to the void between the
`plugs 69 and 66. With this arrangement, wireline access to
`the tubing annulus in and downstream of a tubing hanger is
`unnecessary as any circulation of fluids can take place
`through the valves 71 and 72, the ports 62, 64 and 73, and
`the kill or choke lines of any BOP which has been installed.
`The spool tree in the completed production mode is shown
`in FIG. 8.
`
`FIG. 9 shows valve circuitry associated with the comple-
`tion and, in addition to the earlier views, shows a production
`fluid isolation valve 74, a tubing annulus valve 75 and a
`cross over valve 76. With this arrangement a wide variety of
`circulation can be achieved down hole using the production
`bore and tubing annulus, in conjunction with choke and kill
`lines extending from the BOP and through the usual riser
`string. All the valves are fail/safe closed if not actuated.
`The arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 is a mono
`production bore wellhead which can be accessed by a single
`wireline or drill pipe, and the external loop from the tubing
`annulus port to the void between the two plugs at the top of
`the spool tree avoids the need for wireline access to the
`tubing annulus bore.
`FIG. 10 corresponds to FIG. 8 but shows a 55/: inch X23/la
`inch dual production bore wellhead with primary and sec-
`ondary production tubing 53A and 53B. Development and
`completion are carried out as with the monobore wellhead
`except that the spool tree 34A and tubing hanger 54A are
`elongated to accommodate lateral outlet ports 61A, 63A for
`the primary production fluid flow from a primary bore 80 in
`the tubing hanger to a primary production master valve 70A,
`and lateral outlet ports 62A,64A for the secondary produc-
`tion fluid flow from a secondary bore 81 in the tubing hanger
`to a secondary production master valve 70B. The upper ends
`of the bores 80 and 81 are closed by wireline plugs 66A and
`66B. A stopper 68A, which closes the upper end of the spool
`tree 34A has openings, in alignment with the plugs 66A and
`66B, closed by wireline plugs 69A a.r1d 69B.
`FIGS. 11 and 12 show how a wireline 77 can be applied
`through a single drill pipe to activate selectively one or other
`of the two wireline plugs 66A and 66B in the production
`bores S0 and 81 respectively. This involves the use of a
`selected one of two connectors 82 and 83. In practice, a
`drilling BOP 22 is installed and the stopper 68A is removed.
`Thereafter the connector 82 or 83 is run in on the drill pipe
`or tubing until it lands in, and is secured and sealed to the
`spool
`tree 34A. FIGS. 13, 13A and 13B show how the
`c

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket