GB2428708A

GB2428708A - Wellbore tubing hanger allowing completion equipment to be rotationally oriented

Info

Publication number: GB2428708A
Application number: GB0515759A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Mccann; Paul Lamont; Euan Jamieson
Original assignee: Schlumberger Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Schlumberger Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2005-07-30
Filing date: 2005-07-30
Publication date: 2007-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 2025-07-30
Also published as: GB2428708B; GB0515759D0

Abstract

A rotary union 30 comprises a tubing hanger 44 and a lower sub 46 that can be axially coupled to the tubing hanger 44. The hanger 44 has a wider flange which is received within an enlarged bore end 54 of the lower sub 46. A screwthreaded lock ring 72 abuts against a shoulder 62 of the flange to hold the sub 46 in place. Dowel pins 90 project into recesses 92,96 to rotationally orientate the hanger 44 and the lower sub 46. There may be more recesses than pins which can be placed at 30 degree intervals.

Description

ORIENTATION SYSTEM FOR USE IN A WELL

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

100011 The present invention generally relates to a tubing orientation system having a rotary union that may be used in a welibore to connect and orient systems, e.g. artificial lift systems, suspended in the weilbore.

Description of Related Art

10002] Many types of equipment are used in a variety of weilbore applications.

Completions are often suspended within a weilbore via tubing, such as production tubing.

The completions can be used for the proauction of desired fluids, such as petroleum, or for other well-related procedures, including well preparation procedures and well treatment procedures. Depending on the specific application, the components in a given completion and the number of completions can vary widely.

3] A tubing hanger is a device used in welibore applications to suspend tubing and many other types of components within the weilbore. Generally, the tubing hanger merely suspends the component or components within the welibore without specific angular orientation. In some applications, however, the orientation of downhole components, e.g. welibore completions, can affect the functionality of those components.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004J In general, the present invention provides a system and methodology for orienting completions within a weilbore. The system utilizes a rotary union having a tubing hanger that may be coupled to a lower sub from which a variety of components may be suspended. A connection system cooperates with the tubing hanger and the lower sub to rotationally or angularly affix the lower sub with respect to the tubing hanger when the lower sub is axially coupled to the tubing hanger.

I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

5] Certain embodiments of the invention will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and: [0006] Figure 1 is an elevation view of an oriented well system, according to an embodiment of the present invention; [0007] Figure 2 i r,artial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the rotary union deployed in the oriented well system illustrated in Figure 1; [0008] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the axis of an embodiment of the tubing hanger illustrated in Figure 2; [0009] Figure 4 is a bottom view of the tubing hangar illustrated in Figure 3; [0010] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the axis of an embodiment of the lower sub illustrated in Figure 2; and [0011J Figure 6 is a top view of the tubing hangar illustrated in Figure 5.

DETATLED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTiON

2] In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible.

100131 The present invention generally relates to a system and methodology for connecting and orienting well-related devices. A variety of devices, e.g. completions, are suspended from tubing within weilbores to accomplish desired well-related processes, such as the production of fluid from the weilbore. In certain types of well applications, it is useful to angularly orient a specific device or devices used within the wellbore. For example, dual bypass systems, used with certain artificial lift systems for the oil and gas industry, orient upper and lower completions to enable movement of the dual bypass system into the well casing. Orientation of the weilbore device or devices is accomplished with a unique rotary union, examples of which are described below.

100141 Referring generally to Figure 1, a system 20 is deployed for use in a well 22 having a weilbore 24 lined with a well casmg 26. Wellbore 24 is formed in a formation 28 that may contain, for example, desirable fluids, such as oil or gas. System is located within the interior of well casing 26 and comprises a rotary union 30 for angularly orienting components within wellbore 24. It should be noted that the illustrated system 20 is provided to facilitate explanation of the technique for angular orientation, and the specific components forming system 20 may vary from one well-related application to another.

[0015J In the embodiment illustrated, rotary union 30 is suspended from a support tubing 32, and one or more weilbore components 34, e.g. one or more completions, are suspended from rotary union 30 within welibore 24. For example, a segment of tubing 36, such as production tubing, can be coupled to rotary union 30. Tubing 36 can be used to support other completion components, such as a Y-tool 38 coupled to other well system devices 40. In this example,Y-tool 38 is connected to one or more artificial lift systems 42 used to produce fluid from welibore 24. The artificial lift systems 42 can comprise a variety of system types, including electric submersible pumping systems and gas lift systems depending on the well-related application. In a specific example, rotary union 30 can be used to support well system devices 40 in the form of upper and lower completions of a dual bypass system disposed within well casing 26.

10016] An embodiment of rotary union 30 is illustrated in greater detail in Figure 2. In this example, rotary union 30 comprises a tubing hanger 44 and a lower sub 46 that may be axially coupled to tubing hanger 44. The illustrated tubing hanger 44 comprises an upper connection end 48 designed for connection to, for example, support tubing 32 via a threaded region 50. Opposite upper connection end 48, the tubing hanger 44 comprises a lower connection end 52 designed for coupling with lower sub 46. A hollow interior 53 extends longitudinally through tubing hanger 44 to allow fluid flow therethrough.

100171 Lower sub 46 comprises an upper connection end 54 designed to engage lower connection end 52 of tubing hanger 44. Additionally, lower sub 46 comprise lower connection end 56 by which componeuL. 34 may be supported below rotary union 30. Similar to upper connection end 48, lower connection end 56 comprises a suitable mechanism for connection, such as threaded region 58. It should be noted, however, that connection mechanisms other than threaded regions 50 and 58 can be used to connect rotary union 30 to weilbore components. As with tubing hanger 44, a hollow interior 59 extends longitudinally through lower sub 46 to allow fluid flow therethrough.

100181 Tubing hanger 44 and lower sub 46 are both axially coupled and angularly or rotationally affixed when lower connection end 52 of tubing hanger 44 and upper connection end 54 of lower sub 46 are fully engaged. As further illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, lower connection end 52 of tubing hanger 44 comprises an annular expanded region 60 that creates an abutment 62 where the annular expanded region transitions to the smaller diameter of a main body portion 64. Additionally, annular expanded region may comprise one or more circumferential grooves 66 for receiving a seal or seals to provide a sealing engagement between tubing hanger 44 and lower sub 46.

100191 The upper connection end 54 of lower sub 46, as further illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, is designed to engage lower connection end 52 of tubing hanger 44. In the illustrated example, upper connection end 54 has an interior cavity 70 sized to slidably receive annular expanded region 60 therein.

10020] When annular expanded region 60 is inserted into interior cavity 70, tubing hanger 44 and lower sub 46 are axially constrained by a lock ring 72, as illustrated in Figure 2. Lock ring 72 has an internal opening 74 therethrough which is sized to slide over main body portion 64 of tubing hanger 44. However, lock ring 72 cannot slide past abutment 62. As illustrated in Figure 2, abutment 62 may comprise an abutment ring or sealing ring 76. Lock ring 72 further comprises an external threaded region 78 designed to threadably engage an internal threaded region 80 disposed along the internal wall of upper connection end 54 of lower sub 46.

100211 Accordingly, tubing hanger 44 may be axially coupled to lower sub 46 by inserting annular expanded region 60 of tubing hanger 44 into upper connecuon end 54 of lower sub 46. Subsequently, lock ring 72 is slid along main body portion 64 of tubing hanger 44 until external threaded region 78 engages internal threaded region 80. By rotating lock ring 72, lock ring 72 and upper connection end 54 are drawn together until lock ring 72 acts against both abutment 62 and internal threaded region 80 to securely couple tubing hanger 44 and lower sub 46 in an axial direction.

100221 Lock ring 72 can be secured in place by an appropriate retainer 82 that prevents backing off of the lock ring during use of rotary union 30 within wellbore 24.

By way of example, retainer 82 may comprise a plurality of set screws 84, e.g. four set screws, that are threadably engaged with corresponding threaded openings 86 formed radially through upper connection end 54, as best illustrated in Figure 5. The set screws 84 are tightened against lock ring 72 to prevent unwanted rotation of lock ring 72 relative to internal threaded region 80 of upper connection end 54.

[00231 Rotary union 30 further comprises a connection system 88 designed to rotationally affix lower sub 46 with respect to tubing hanger 44 once lower sub 46 is axially coupled to tubing hanger 44. Connection system 88 comprises a plurality of projections 90 sized for receipt in a plurality of recesses 92, as illustrated in Figure 2. In the embodiment illustrated, the number of recesses 92 is a multiple of the number of projections 90, and the multiple is greater than one. By way of example, six projections may be positioned for receipt by six recesses out of a total of twelve recesses. This enables the rotational, i.e. angular, position of lower sub 46, and thus weilbore components 34, to be adjusted by predetermined angular increments with respect to tubing hanger 44. Alternatively, the number of recesses 92 may be equal to the number of projections 90.

4] The number of recesses need not necessarily equal twelve, and other numbers of angularly spaced recesses can be selected depending on the desired increments of relative rotation between lower sub 46 and tubing hanger 44. In the illustrated embodiment, the use of twelve recesses enables lower sub 46 to be rotated relative to tubing hanger 44 in 30 degree increments. The number of projections 90 also can be greater or fewer than six, depending on the design objectives for rotary union 30.

5] In the specific embodiment illustrated, projections 90 comprise dowel pins 94 mounted in at least one of the tubing hanger 44 and/or the lower sub 46 such that the dowel pins 94 project for receipt in corresponding recesses 92. In this embodiment, dowel pins 94 have a generally circular cross-section for receipt in recesses formed as holes with generally circular cross-sections sized to receive the projecting dowel pins.

6] The dowel pins 94 may be pemianently or removably mounted in mounting recesses 96 by, for example, press fitting, adhering, welding, securing with a viscous material or other methods of permanently or removably coupling the dowel pins 94 to the component from which they project. For example, tubing hanger 44 may comprise mounting recesses 96 axially oriented in the bottom end of annular expanded region 60, as best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The corresponding recesses 92 are formed in upper connection end 54 of lower sub 46. As best illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, upper connection end 54 comprises an interior abutment ledge 98. The ledge 98 is formed at the region of transition from a larger diameter to the smaller diameter of hollow interior 59 within upper connection end 54, as illustrated. Interior abutment ledge 98 serves as a stop for annular expanded region 60 of tubing hanger 44 and also as a region for forming recesses 92. Recesses 92 are axially oriented to receive the projecting dowel pins 94, as best illustrated in Figure 2.

100271 Alternatively, projections 90, e.g. dowel pins 94, can be permanently or removably mounted in lower sub 46 for receipt in corresponding holes formed in tubing hanger 44. In fact, dowel pins 94 can be mounted in both the tubing banger 44 and in the lower sub 46 for receipt in corresponding holes formed in the opposing component. It also should be noted that projections 90 can be integrally formed with one or both of the tubing hanger 44 and the lower sub 46.

[0028J- The oiientationof components suspendedftom lower sub 46 can be selected by adjusting the orientation of lower sub 46 with respect to tubing hanger 44.

The angular adjustment is accomplished during initial assembly of the rotary union or by unscrewing lock ring 72 from the lower sub 46. This enables the rotational movement of lower sub 46 with respect to tubing hanger 44 in angular increments, e.g. angular increments of 30 degrees. After adjusting the rotary union 30 to the desired angular orientation, the lock ring 72 is then screwed down to both axially couple the tubing hanger 44 and the lower sub 46 and to prevent any angular movement of lower sub 46 with respect to tubing hanger 44. The lock ring 72 may be maintained in its fully engaged position by retainer 82.

[0028J Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the teachings of this invention. Accordingly, such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is: A union for use in a well, comprising: a tubing hanger; a lower sub; and a connection system to rotationally affix the lower sub with respect to the tubing hanger when the lower sub is axially coupled to the tubing hanger, the connection system comprising a plurality of projections sized for receipt in a plurality of recesses.
2. The union as recited in claim 1, wherein the number of recesses is equal to the number of projections.
3. The union as recited in claim 1, wherein the number of recesses is a multiple, greater than one, of the number of projections.
4. The union as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of recesses comprises holes having circular cross-sections.
5. The union as recited in claim 4, wherein the plurality of projections comprises pins having circular cross-sections.
6. The union recited in claim 5, wherein the pins are removable dowel pins.
7. The union as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of projections comprises six projections.
8. The union as recited in claim 7, wherein the plurality of recesses comprises twelve recesses.
9. The union as recited in claim 1, wherein the tubing hanger and the lower sub are selectively axially coupled by a lock ring to hold the plurality of projections in engagement with corresponding recesses when the lower sub is positioned at a desired angle with respect to the tubing hanger.
10. The union as recited in claim 9, wherein the lock ring abuts a portion of the tubing hanger and is threadably engageable with the lower sub.
11. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising a retainer to hold the lock ring in place once threadably engaged with the lower sub.
12. A system for orienting in a welibore, comprising: a rotary union, having: a tubing hanger sized for use within the welibore; a lower sub; and a plurality of dowel pins positioned to prevent rotation of the lower sub relative to the tubing hanger when the lower sub is coupled to the tubing hanger.
13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one of the tubing hanger and the lower sub comprises a plurality of holes to receive the dowel pins.
14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the number of holes is selected to enable coupling of the lower sub to the tubing hanger at selected angular positions separated by approximately 30 degrees.
15. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the plurality of dowel pins comprises dowel pins extending from one of the tubing hanger or the lower sub for receipt by selected holes of a series of twelve holes formed in the other of the tubing hanger or the lower sub.
16. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the lower sub is axially secured to the tubing hangar by a lock ring.
17. A method of orienting a device in a weilbore, comprising: rotationally positioning a lower sub with respect to a tubing hanger at a desired angular position selected from a plurality of angular positions; maintaining the desired angular position by an arrangement of pins and holes that may be selectively engaged in any of the plurality of angular positions; and axially coupling the lower sub to the tubing hanger.
18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein maintaining comprises providing the arrangement of pins and holes in the form of dowel pins received in selected corresponding holes of a plurality of holes.
19. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising forming the plurality of holes in greater number then the number of dowel pins.
20. The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising angularly spacing each hole of the plurality of holes approximately 30 degrees from the next adjacent hole.
2l. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein axially coupling comprises coupling the lower sub to the tubing hanger with a threaded lock ring.
22. A system, comprising: a tubing hanger; a lower sub suspended from the tubing hanger; a completion suspended from the lower sub; and a connection system having a plurality of axially extending pins and a greater number of corresponding holes, the axially extending pins and the corresponding holes being positioned on the tubing hanger and the lower sub for mating engagement, wherein the corresponding holes are located to enable accurate angular positioning of the completion with respect to the tubing hanger.
23. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the plurality of axially extending pins comprises six pins extending from a lower end of the tubing hanger.
24. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein the corresponding holes comprise twelve holes located in the lower sub, each hole being angularly spaced from the next adjacent hole by approximately 30 degrees.
25. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the completion comprises an artificial lift system.
26. The system as recited in claim 22, further comprising a lock ring to axially secure the lower sub to the tubing hanger.
27. The system as recited in claim 22, further comprising a lock ring that acts against an abutment formed on the tubing hanger and against a threaded region formed on the lower sub.