GB2192921A - Wellhead apparatus - Google Patents

Wellhead apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2192921A
GB2192921A GB08716593A GB8716593A GB2192921A GB 2192921 A GB2192921 A GB 2192921A GB 08716593 A GB08716593 A GB 08716593A GB 8716593 A GB8716593 A GB 8716593A GB 2192921 A GB2192921 A GB 2192921A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
christmas tree
wellhead
assembly
tree assembly
housing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08716593A
Other versions
GB8716593D0 (en
Inventor
James Arthur Graser
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of GB8716593D0 publication Critical patent/GB8716593D0/en
Publication of GB2192921A publication Critical patent/GB2192921A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/02—Surface sealing or packing
    • E21B33/03—Well heads; Setting-up thereof
    • E21B33/035—Well heads; Setting-up thereof specially adapted for underwater installations
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/02—Surface sealing or packing
    • E21B33/03—Well heads; Setting-up thereof
    • E21B33/04—Casing heads; Suspending casings or tubings in well heads
    • E21B33/047—Casing heads; Suspending casings or tubings in well heads for plural tubing strings
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B34/00—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells
    • E21B34/02—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in well heads
    • E21B34/04—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in well heads in underwater well heads

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  • Geology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Paper (AREA)
  • Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)
  • Telephone Function (AREA)

Abstract

Wellhead apparatus comprises a cylinder 1 formed integrally with a conventional wellhead and having outlet valves 2, and 3. A master valve 6 and flow tee assembly 9 are located and sealed into a socket 8 on a tubing hanger 7 which allows replacement of the master valve 6 without disturbing the tubing hanger 7 and its associated tubing. The flow tee assembly 9 has a socket 10 at its upper end which receives and seals a plug section 11. A swab valve 12 is located inside the plug 11 and is thus easily replaced or serviced. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Welihead apparatus This invention relates to oil well wellhead apparatus.
Conventionally in offshore drilling operations the welihead has a christmas tree assembly and blow out preventer apparatus mounted on it. Downhole safety valves are provided below the wellhead for shutting off the well in emergency or during maintenance when parts such as christmas tree valves are being replaced.
The blow out preventer and christmas tree assembly connect onto the outside profile of the welihead and this means that the blow out preventer has to be removed when the christmas tree is being installed thus leaving the well temporarily unprotected. This is becuase conventional christmas trees have a larger diameter than the bore of the blow out preventor and cannot be inserted through it. For safety reasons therefore alternative protection has to be provided in the form of plugs set in the flow tubing. These plugs are set by running them into the tubing on a wire. Should the plugs fail it is possible that the well could flow into the sea with no way of controlling it. The whole operation is also time consuming and weather sensitive.
According to the present invention there is provided wellhead apparatus comprising a housing extending from a wellhead, the housing containing a tubing hanger, a christmas tree assembly and a top plug assembly.
Preferably the christmas tree assembly and the top plug assembly are provided with latching means for engaging the tubing hanger and the christmas tree assembly respectively.
Preferably also external valves are provided on the housing for communicating with the christmas tree assembly and the tubing hanger.
Preferably also the christmas tree assembly incorporates a master valve selected from the group consisting of ball valves, gate valves and flapper valves.
Preferably also the housing is adapted to receive a blow out preventer, the christmas tree assembly being removable through a bore of the blow out preventer.
Further according to the present invention there is provided a christmas tree assembly adapted for fitment within the internal bore of a wellhead housing.
Preferably the christmas tree assembly has latching means for engaging the internal bore of the wellhead housing in the form of projections for engaging complimentary recesses in the bore.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a sectional side view of wellhead apparatus in accordance with the present invention.
Referring to the drawing, wellhead apparatus comprises a cylinder 1 which extends upwardly as an extension of a wellhead housing 1 b. The cylinder 1 may alternatively be a separate item which is connected to the wellhead with a hydraulic drilling connector. A blow out preventer shown generally at 15 is fitted over the end of the cylinder 1.
The cylinder 1 has a first outlet valve 2, which serves to vent a tubing casing annulus 16 and is connected below seals 17 on a tubing hanger 7 and a second outlet valve 3 which is a tubing wing valve which vents the tubing to a flowline. A first control connection 4 is provided for connecting a hydraulic control line for pressurising a subsea safety valve which is positioned below the mudline. A second control connection 5 is provided for hydraulic operation of a master valve 6.
The cylinder 1 has a throughbore 1 a. This throughbore 1 a has located at its lower end the tubing hanger 7. The tubing hanger 7 differs from a conventional subsea tubing hanger in that because of the position of the valve 2 it does not require to be ported to vent the tubing casing annulus 16 and is thus of simple construction. A socket 18 on the tubing hanger 7 has an internal profile 8 which allows for it to be set and released and also provides an engagement point for an extension 19 of a master valve 6 and a flow tee assembly 9 which is latched into the profile 8. A seal 20 is also provided.
As the master valve 6 and flow tee assembly 9 is latched and sealed into the profile 8 on the tubing hanger 7 the master valve 6 can be replaced without disturbing the tubing hanger 7 and its associated tubing. Alternatively the master valve 6 and flow tee assembly 9 could be an integral part of the tubing hanger 7 or provided with threaded connections. In the embodiment illustrated the tubing hanger 7 and flow tee assembly 9 has a single bore 21 but alternative embodiments may have two or three bores each having its own valve closure means. In these cases multiple flow tee assemblies 9 and associated wing valves 3 would be required each at different levels within the cylinder 1 separated by seals. Each flow tee assembly 9 could be provided with a vee groove to match a vee formation in the cylinder throughbore la to position each flow tee towards the appropriate wing valve 3.
The flow tee assembly 9 has a socket 10 at its upper end which has an internal profile 22 which provides an engagement point for an extension 23 on a top plug section 11.
The extension 23 also has a seal 24 . The plug section 11 also has latches 25 which engage the top of the cylinder throughbore 1 a. A swab valve 12 is located inside the plug 11 and is thus easily replaced or serviced. Alternatively the swab valve 12 can be located as an integral part of the flow tee assembly 9 or can be located in a- separate section of its own. Extending from the top of the plug 11 is a reentry hub tube 13. This tube 13 has a number of functions. An external profile 14 on the tube 13 allows a running and pulling tool to latch and seal on to the apparatus. The tube 13 also provides an attachment point for wireline reentry of the tubing bore so that the tubing bore can be entered without pulling the tubing. The tube 13 has a pair of ports located below the profile 14 which are connected to a plug unlatch mechanism and a swab valve operator.Seals to separate the ports from each other and from the sea are located in the inside diameter of the tube 13.
The apparatus has a number of important features. The master 6 and swab valves 12 are located inside the wellhead extension formed by the cylinder 1 and not above it as on a conventional subsea tree. The top plug 11 is located totally inside the bore 1 a of the wellhead and can be set and removed with a drilling riser in place. The swab valve 12 is located within the top plug 11 rather than as an integral part of the christmas tree as in conventional practice. The control ports of the swab valve are part of the re-entry hub tube 13 so that control over the swab valve 12 and plug unlatch mechanism is provided when the re-entry connection is latched. The christmas tree can be inserted through a bore 26 of the blow out preventer 15 as the external diameter of the christmas tree is less than the internal diameter of the blow out preventer.
As the christmas tree assembly is now fitted into the inside diameter of the wellhead housing the design of the master valve is important. The embodiment illustrated has a ball valve. Other types of valves which can be used are gate and flapper valves.
The latching of the master valve 6 and flow tee assembly to the profile 8 on the tubing hanger 7 can be a basic expandable profile tool which latches into a correspondingly shaped recess in the wellhead housing and is held in place by a locking mandrell.
The plug section 11 can latch in a similar manner, to the master valve 6 and flow tee assembly.
The apparatus has a number of advantages over conventional apparatus. The apparatus allows easy installation and removal and provides increased safety while these operations are being carried out.
A well can be completed or worked over without the time consuming job of setting and pulling wireline tubing plugs. Workover or completion blow out preventors can be installed on the apparatus with the christmas tree in place. As the tubing and casing valves remain in place with the wellhead extension the well can be worked over without disconnecting the flowline and the casing vent line.
The master valve or valves can be replaced through a lubricator without the need to kill the well. The wellhead need never be exposed through the need to remove the blow out preventer while the christmas tree is installed as before.
Also as the tubing hanger is not vented and the safety of the well does not depend on the tubing hanger vent holding pressure there is no longer a valid reason for utilising a vertical entry annulus which allows the use of a concentric tree rather than the more complicated dual tree.
Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

1. Wellhead apparatus comprising a housing extending from a wellhead, the housing containing a tubing hanger, a christmas tree assembly and a top plug assembly.
2. Wellhead apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the christmas tree assembly and the top plug assembly are provided with latching means for engaging the tubing hanger and the christmas tree assembly respectively.
3. Wellhead apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein external valves are provided on the housing for communicating with the christmas tree assembly and the tubing hanger.
4. Welihead apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the christmas tree assembly incorporates a master valve selected from the group consisting of ball valves, gate valves and flapper valves.
5. Wellhead apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the housing is adapted to receive a blow out preventer, the christmas tree assembly being removable through a bore of the blow out preventer.
6. A christmas tree assembly adapted for fitment within the internal bore of a wellhead housing.
7. A christmas tree assembly as claimed in claim 6 having latching means for engaging the internal bore of the welihead housing in the form of projections for engaging complimentary recesses in the bore.
8. Wellhead apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as.
shown in the accompanying drawing.
9. A christmas tree assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.
GB08716593A 1986-07-19 1987-07-14 Wellhead apparatus Withdrawn GB2192921A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB868617698A GB8617698D0 (en) 1986-07-19 1986-07-19 Wellhead apparatus

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8716593D0 GB8716593D0 (en) 1987-08-19
GB2192921A true GB2192921A (en) 1988-01-27

Family

ID=10601385

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB868617698A Pending GB8617698D0 (en) 1986-07-19 1986-07-19 Wellhead apparatus
GB08716593A Withdrawn GB2192921A (en) 1986-07-19 1987-07-14 Wellhead apparatus

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB868617698A Pending GB8617698D0 (en) 1986-07-19 1986-07-19 Wellhead apparatus

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (2) GB8617698D0 (en)
NO (1) NO872987L (en)

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2267920A (en) * 1992-06-17 1993-12-22 Petroleum Eng Services Improvements in or relating to well-head structures
US5865246A (en) * 1995-06-05 1999-02-02 Petroleum Engineering Services Limited Ball valves
US5992527A (en) * 1996-11-29 1999-11-30 Cooper Cameron Corporation Wellhead assembly
US6039119A (en) * 1992-06-01 2000-03-21 Cooper Cameron Corporation Completion system
US6659181B2 (en) 2001-11-13 2003-12-09 Cooper Cameron Corporation Tubing hanger with annulus bore
US6675900B2 (en) 2000-01-27 2004-01-13 David C. Baskett Crossover tree system
US6810954B2 (en) 2000-01-27 2004-11-02 Kvaerner Oilfield Products, Inc. Production flow tree cap
WO2006133350A2 (en) 2005-06-08 2006-12-14 Bj Services Company, U.S.A. Wellhead bypass method and apparatus
US7654329B2 (en) 2003-05-22 2010-02-02 Fmc Kongsberg Subsea As Dual-type plug for wellhead
WO2014048794A1 (en) * 2012-09-25 2014-04-03 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Christmas tree and method
EP2687672B1 (en) * 2012-07-20 2016-03-30 Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC Cartridge valve assembly for wellhead
US9435174B2 (en) 2011-07-06 2016-09-06 Shell Oil Company System and method for injecting a treatment fluid into a wellbore and a treatment fluid injection valve
US9771775B2 (en) 2011-11-08 2017-09-26 Shell Oil Company Valve for a hydrocarbon well, hydrocarbon well provided with such valve and use of such valve
US10240424B2 (en) * 2015-06-25 2019-03-26 Stuart Brown Christmas tree
US20220389781A1 (en) * 2018-12-05 2022-12-08 Dril-Quip, Inc. Barrier arrangement in wellhead assembly

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108386144B (en) * 2018-04-26 2024-04-09 四川宏华石油设备有限公司 Riser conveying device

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1027599A (en) * 1962-01-31 1966-04-27 Fmc Corp Well head apparatus
US3494421A (en) * 1965-11-29 1970-02-10 Otis Eng Corp Method of installing a wellhead system
US3601190A (en) * 1969-05-15 1971-08-24 Brown Oil Tools Well production apparatus with fluid operated valve
US3821984A (en) * 1972-03-07 1974-07-02 Fishing Tools Inc Emergency valve shut-off assembly for offshore multiple well pipes
GB1574953A (en) * 1976-03-22 1980-09-10 Schlumberger Technology Corp Valve apparatus and method for controlling a well
GB2097444A (en) * 1981-04-29 1982-11-03 Otis Eng Co Test tree

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1027599A (en) * 1962-01-31 1966-04-27 Fmc Corp Well head apparatus
US3494421A (en) * 1965-11-29 1970-02-10 Otis Eng Corp Method of installing a wellhead system
US3601190A (en) * 1969-05-15 1971-08-24 Brown Oil Tools Well production apparatus with fluid operated valve
US3821984A (en) * 1972-03-07 1974-07-02 Fishing Tools Inc Emergency valve shut-off assembly for offshore multiple well pipes
GB1574953A (en) * 1976-03-22 1980-09-10 Schlumberger Technology Corp Valve apparatus and method for controlling a well
GB2097444A (en) * 1981-04-29 1982-11-03 Otis Eng Co Test tree

Cited By (32)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7093660B2 (en) 1992-06-01 2006-08-22 Cooper Cameron Corporation Well operations system
US6039119A (en) * 1992-06-01 2000-03-21 Cooper Cameron Corporation Completion system
US6547008B1 (en) 1992-06-01 2003-04-15 Cooper Cameron Corporation Well operations system
US7314086B2 (en) 1992-06-01 2008-01-01 Cameron International Corporation Well operations system
US7314085B2 (en) 1992-06-01 2008-01-01 Cameron International Corporation Well operations system
US7308943B2 (en) 1992-06-01 2007-12-18 Cameron International Corporation Well operations system
GB2267920B (en) * 1992-06-17 1995-12-06 Petroleum Eng Services Improvements in or relating to well-head structures
US5535826A (en) * 1992-06-17 1996-07-16 Petroleum Engineering Services Limited Well-head structures
GB2267920A (en) * 1992-06-17 1993-12-22 Petroleum Eng Services Improvements in or relating to well-head structures
US5865246A (en) * 1995-06-05 1999-02-02 Petroleum Engineering Services Limited Ball valves
US5992527A (en) * 1996-11-29 1999-11-30 Cooper Cameron Corporation Wellhead assembly
US6675900B2 (en) 2000-01-27 2004-01-13 David C. Baskett Crossover tree system
US6810954B2 (en) 2000-01-27 2004-11-02 Kvaerner Oilfield Products, Inc. Production flow tree cap
US6681852B2 (en) 2000-01-27 2004-01-27 Kvaerner Oilfield Products, Inc. Tubing hanger shuttle valve
USRE44520E1 (en) 2001-11-13 2013-10-08 Cooper Cameron Corporation Tubing hanger with annulus bore
US6659181B2 (en) 2001-11-13 2003-12-09 Cooper Cameron Corporation Tubing hanger with annulus bore
US7654329B2 (en) 2003-05-22 2010-02-02 Fmc Kongsberg Subsea As Dual-type plug for wellhead
NO344578B1 (en) * 2005-06-08 2020-02-03 Bj Services Co Usa Procedure and apparatus for wellhead circulation
EP1899572B1 (en) * 2005-06-08 2019-10-16 Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC Wellhead bypass method and apparatus
WO2006133350A2 (en) 2005-06-08 2006-12-14 Bj Services Company, U.S.A. Wellhead bypass method and apparatus
US9435174B2 (en) 2011-07-06 2016-09-06 Shell Oil Company System and method for injecting a treatment fluid into a wellbore and a treatment fluid injection valve
US9771775B2 (en) 2011-11-08 2017-09-26 Shell Oil Company Valve for a hydrocarbon well, hydrocarbon well provided with such valve and use of such valve
EP2687672B1 (en) * 2012-07-20 2016-03-30 Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC Cartridge valve assembly for wellhead
US9945200B2 (en) 2012-07-20 2018-04-17 Weatherford Technology Holdings, Llc Cartridge valve assembly for wellhead
US20180187505A1 (en) * 2012-07-20 2018-07-05 Weatherford Technology Holdings, Llc Cartridge Valve Assembly for Wellhead
US10837250B2 (en) * 2012-07-20 2020-11-17 Weatherford Technology Holdings, Llc Cartridge valve assembly for wellhead
GB2524399A (en) * 2012-09-25 2015-09-23 Shell Int Research Christmas tree and method
WO2014048794A1 (en) * 2012-09-25 2014-04-03 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Christmas tree and method
US10240424B2 (en) * 2015-06-25 2019-03-26 Stuart Brown Christmas tree
US20220389781A1 (en) * 2018-12-05 2022-12-08 Dril-Quip, Inc. Barrier arrangement in wellhead assembly
US11773678B2 (en) * 2018-12-05 2023-10-03 Dril-Quip, Inc. Barrier arrangement in wellhead assembly
US12084937B2 (en) 2018-12-05 2024-09-10 Dril-Quip, Inc. Barrier arrangement in wellhead assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO872987L (en) 1988-01-20
NO872987D0 (en) 1987-07-17
GB8617698D0 (en) 1986-08-28
GB8716593D0 (en) 1987-08-19

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)