GB2598159A - Adjustable well bore alignment adapter - Google Patents

Adjustable well bore alignment adapter Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2598159A
GB2598159A GB2013120.7A GB202013120A GB2598159A GB 2598159 A GB2598159 A GB 2598159A GB 202013120 A GB202013120 A GB 202013120A GB 2598159 A GB2598159 A GB 2598159A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
centerline
tree
spool
access system
offset
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.)
Granted
Application number
GB2013120.7A
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GB2598159B (en
GB202013120D0 (en
Inventor
Mcgennis Eamonn
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Shelf Solutions Ltd
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Shelf Solutions Ltd
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Publication date
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Priority to GB2013120.7A priority Critical patent/GB2598159B/en
Publication of GB202013120D0 publication Critical patent/GB202013120D0/en
Publication of GB2598159A publication Critical patent/GB2598159A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2598159B publication Critical patent/GB2598159B/en
Active 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
    • 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

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)

Abstract

An apparatus and method to align bores using two interconnected offset spools 10, 20 that can be rotated independently. The apparatus and method may be used to align the centerlines 13, 23 of the bores of a well access system with the centerline 24 of the main or annular bores in a tree connector on the top of a tree of known types 40. The assemblies may be subsea, the spools may be upper and lower offset spools.

Description

Adjustable Well Bore Alignment Adapter The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for the alignment of bores that are not concentric within a larger bore. In particular the present invention concerns methods and apparatus for the oil and gas industry to allow well access systems of various known types to connect with production or injection trees of various known types. The invention also concerns the case of offshore oil and gas installations and most particularly the subsea oil and gas industry and the like.
In the subsea oil and gas industry the invention is intended to align well access systems of various known types with either the production or annulus bores of conventional dual bore trees of various known types. The invention is adjustable so that it allows mono bore subsea well access systems to connect with subsea trees and align with either of the dual bore flow paths through the subsea tree where the two bores in the tree are offset from the centerline of the subsea tree top connection.
When required to deploy oilfield tools into subsea wells it is necessary to align the bore of the well access system with the bore of the subsea tree that is located on the subsea well. In many cases the subsea tree will be equipped with through bores for both production and annular access. These two bores will be offset from the centerline of the tree connector on the top of the subsea tree.
As the spacing between the production and annular bores can vary among subsea tree designs and as the offset of the production and annular bores can also vary among subsea tree designs a conventional solution is to fabricate a number of different adapter spools to ensure that the bore of the well access system can align exactly with either the production or annular bore as required.
A conventional method to connect well access systems to dual bore subsea trees is to use a single purpose built adapter machined to the specific dimensions required. As a conventional adapter can only be used on these exact dimensions it is not possible to re-use it on any other different bore arrangements. The present invention describes an adjustable well bore alignment adapter that can align with a range of different dimensions and so can be reused on various different bore arrangements within subsea trees of known types.
The present invention concerns an adjustable well bore alignment adapter apparatus and method that allows the centerline of well access systems to be aligned exactly with the centerline of bores within subsea trees without the need for any conventional purpose built adapter spools. The present invention describes methods and apparatus that allows a single piece of equipment to adjust the alignment of bores which is not possible with existing conventional solutions.
The present invention also allows for the adjustment by rotation of the component spools without having to completely disassemble and remove the component spools from either the well access system or the subsea tree connector.
In accordance with the first aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus and method to align bores using two interconnected offset spools that can be rotated independently.
Preferably also the apparatus and method is used to align the centerline of the bore of a well access system with the centerline of the main or annular bores in a tree connector on the top of a tree of known types.
Preferably also the apparatus and method is used to align the centerline of the bore of a well access system with the centerline of the main or annular bores of an oil and gas production tree.
Preferably also the apparatus and method is used to align the centerline of the bore of a well access system with the centerline of the main or annular bores of an oil and gas injection tree.
Preferably also the apparatus and method is used to align the centerline of the bore of a subsea well access system with the centerline of the main or annular bores of a subsea production tree.
Preferably also the apparatus and method is used to align the centerline of the bore of a subsea well access system with the centerline of the main or annular bores of a subsea injection tree.
Preferably the invention is a lower offset spool connected to an upper offset spool.
Preferably the invention is connected between a tree and a well access system.
Preferably the invention is connected between a subsea tree and a subsea well access system.
Preferably also the upper offset spool is rotated around the axis of its bottom connection relative to the top connection of the lower offset spool as required to obtain alignment of the well access system and tree along the first horizontal axis.
Preferably also the lower offset spool is rotated around the axis of its bottom connection relative to the top connection of the tree as required to obtain alignment of the well access system and tree along the second horizontal axis.
Preferably also the centerline of the bottom connection of the lower offset spool is offset horizontally from the centerline of the top connection of the lower offset spool.
Preferably also the centerline of the top connection of the upper offset spool is offset horizontally from the centerline of the bottom connection of the upper offset spool.
Preferably also the centerline of the bottom connection of the lower offset spool is offset horizontally from the centerline of the top connection of the lower offset spool by the same distance as the centerline of the bottom connection of the upper offset spool is offset horizontally from the centerline of the top connection of the upper offset spool.
Preferably also there is no restriction in the angle of rotation of the upper offset spool relative to the lower offset spool.
Preferably also there is no restriction in the angle of rotation of the lower offset spool relative to the tree.
Preferably also the lower offset spool is secured into a conventional API guide frame of known types such that the orientation of the lower offset spool is that required to obtain alignment of the well access system and subsea tree along the second horizontal axis.
Preferably also the well access system is aligned directly above the required tubing bore in the tree avoiding any dogleg, deviation or offset such that tools with a diameter up to the drift diameter of the tubing in the well can be run from the well access system into the tubing in the well without restriction.
With the arrangement described in the invention it is possible to rotate the centerline of the well access system along two independent horizontal axes such that the centerline of the well access system can be placed directly above any point within the top connection on the subsea tree and more specifically above either the annular bore or production bore of the subsea tree.
Preferably also the lower offset spool has a bottom connection that can connect to the standard connections of various known types used on subsea trees.
Preferably also the lower offset spool is generally cylindrical in shape with a top connection that is a circular hub profile of various known types and this top connection is parallel to the bottom connection.
Preferably also the lower offset spool has a circular bore that passes vertically through it perpendicular to the horizontal face of both the bottom and top connections.
Preferably also the top hub of the lower offset spool connects to the bottom hub of the upper offset spool.
Preferably also the upper offset spool is generally cylindrical in shape with a top connection that can connect to the standard connections of various known types used on well access systems.
Preferably also the top connection of the upper offset spool is parallel to the bottom connection of the upper offset spool.
Preferably also the upper offset spool has a circular bore that passes vertically through it perpendicular to the horizontal face of both the bottom and top connection.
Preferably also the upper offset spool is secured leak tight to the lower offset spool once the rotational alignment has been arranged.
Preferably also the lower offset spool is secured leak tight to the tree once the rotational alignment has been arranged.
Additional equipment may be inserted between the lower offset spool and the tree without departing from the scope of the invention.
Additional equipment may be inserted between the upper offset spool and the well access system without departing from the scope of the invention.
The centerline of the bottom connection of the lower offset spool can be offset horizontally from the centerline of the top connection of the lower offset spool by a different distance as the centerline of the bottom connection of the upper offset spool is offset horizontally from the centerline of the top connection of the upper offset spool without departing from the scope of the invention.
Both offset spools can be identical without departing from the scope of the invention.
The bottom connection of the lower offset spool can be a conventional 18-3/4 inch H4 wellhead connector with AX gasket of various known types without departing from the scope of the invention.
The use of flanged connectors rather than hub connectors may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.
Flow ports can be added through the side wall of either the upper offset spool or lower offset spool without departing from the scope of the invention.
The use of a sealing stab mandrel of known types between the bottom of the well access system and the top of the tree can be used without departing from the scope of the invention.
The subsea tree can have one, two or more offset bores without departing from the scope of the invention.
The apparatus and method described can be deployed on subsea trees with a single concentric bore without departing from the scope of the invention.
Improvements and modifications may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 illustrates a cross-section of the lower offset spool (20) showing how the centerline (24) of the axis of the bottom connector (22) of this lower offset spool (20) is offset from the centerline (23) of the axis of the top connector (21) of this lower offset spool (20).
Figure 1 also illustrates a cross-section of the upper offset spool (10) showing how the centerline (14) of the axis of the bottom connector (12) of this upper offset spool (10) is offset from the centerline (13) of the axis of the top connector (11) of this upper offset spool (10).
Figure 1 also illustrates how the subsea well access system (30) is connected to the upper offset spool (10) so that the centerline (31) of the axis of the subsea well access system (30) aligns with the centerline (13) of the axis of the top connector (11) of the upper offset spool (10).
The centerline (31) of the axis of the subsea well access system (30) can also be offset from the centerline (13) of the axis of the top connector (11) of the upper offset spool (10) without departing from the scope of the invention.
Figure 1 also illustrates that once the subsea well access system (30) has been fixed into place on the upper offset spool (10) that rotation of the upper offset spool (10) around the centerline (14) of the axis of the bottom connector (12) of the upper offset spool (10) allows the centerline (31) of the axis of the well access system (30) to rotate around the centerline (23) of the axis of the top connection (21) of the lower offset spool (20). This rotation allows the centerline (31) of the axis of the subsea well access system (30) to move along the first horizontal axis relative to the centerline (41) of either the annular bore or production bore of the subsea tree (40).
Figure 1 also illustrates that once the upper offset spool (10) has been fixed into place on the lower offset spool (20) that rotation of the lower offset spool (20) around the centerline (24) of the axis of the bottom connector (22) of the lower offset spool (20) allows the centerline (31) of the axis of the well access system (30) to rotate around the centerline (24) of the axis of the bottom connection (22) of the lower offset spool (20). This rotation allows the centerline (31) of the axis of the subsea well access system (30) to move along the second horizontal axis relative to the centerline (41) of either the annular bore or production bore of the subsea tree (40).
With independent rotation in two horizontal axes it is possible to locate the centerline (31) of the subsea well access system (30) as required to align exactly with the centerline (41) of either the annular bore or production bore of the subsea tree (40).
Figure 1 also illustrates the outline of a typical clamp (15) of known types for the hub connectors (12) and (21). Item (42) shows the outline of a typical tree connector of known types to fix the lower offset spool (20) to the top of the subsea tree (40).
Figure 2 illustrates the use of an optional sealing stab (25) of known types inserted between the bottom connection (12) of the upper offset spool (10) and the top of the subsea tree (40).
The bore (17) of the upper offset spool (10) can be increased to allow the sealing stab (25) to connect to the bottom of the well access system (30) without departing from the scope of the invention.
Figure 2 also illustrates the upper offset spool (10) with an optional flow port (16) that can be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention. This flow port can be used in conjunction with the sealing stab (25) to allow flow down one of the tree bores to be isolated from the returns up the other tree bore.
The flow port (16) shown in the upper offset spool (10) can be incorporated into the lower offset spool (20) without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (18)

  1. Claims 1. In accordance with the first aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus and method to align bores using two interconnected offset spools that can be rotated independently.
  2. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the apparatus and method is used to align the centerline of the bore of a well access system with the centerline of the main or annular bores in a tree connector on the top of a tree of known types.
  3. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the apparatus and method is used to align the centerline of the bore of a well access system with the centerline of the main or annular bores of an oil and gas production tree.
  4. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the apparatus and method is used to align the centerline of the bore of a well access system with the centerline of the main or annular bores of an oil and gas injection tree.
  5. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the apparatus and method is used to align the centerline of the bore of a subsea well access system with the centerline of the main or annular bores of a subsea production tree.
  6. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the apparatus and method is used to align the centerline of the bore of a subsea well access system with the centerline of the main or annular bores of a subsea injection tree.
  7. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is a lower offset spool connected to an upper offset spool.
  8. 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the apparatus is connected between a tree and a well access system.
  9. 9. The method of claim 7 wherein the apparatus is connected between a subsea tree and a subsea well access system.
  10. 10. The method of claim 7 wherein the upper offset spool is rotated around the axis of its bottom connection relative to the top connection of the lower offset spool as required to obtain alignment of the well access system and tree along the first horizontal axis.
  11. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the lower offset spool is rotated around the axis of its bottom connection relative to the top connection of the tree as required to obtain alignment of the well access system and tree along the second horizontal axis.
  12. 12. The method of claim 7 wherein the centerline of the bottom connection of the lower offset spool is offset horizontally from the centerline of the top connection of the lower offset spool.
  13. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the centerline of the top connection of the upper offset spool is offset horizontally from the centerline of the bottom connection of the upper offset spool.
  14. 14. The method of claims 12 and 13 wherein the centerline of the bottom connection of the lower offset spool is offset horizontally from the centerline of the top connection of the lower offset spool by the same distance as the centerline of the bottom connection of the upper offset spool is offset horizontally from the centerline of the top connection of the upper offset spool.
  15. 15. The method of claim 10 wherein there is no restriction in the angle of rotation of the upper offset spool relative to the lower offset spool.
  16. 16. The method of claim 11 wherein there is no restriction in the angle of rotation of the lower offset spool relative to the tree.
  17. 17. The method of claim 11 wherein the lower offset spool is secured into a conventional API guide frame of known types such that the orientation of the lower offset spool is that required to obtain alignment of the well access system and subsea tree along the second horizontal axis.
  18. 18. The method of claim 11 wherein the well access system is aligned directly above the required tubing bore in the tree avoiding any dogleg, deviation or offset such that tools with a diameter up to the drift diameter of the tubing in the well can be run from the well access system into the tubing in the well without restriction.
GB2013120.7A 2020-08-21 2020-08-21 Adjustable well bore alignment adapter Active GB2598159B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2013120.7A GB2598159B (en) 2020-08-21 2020-08-21 Adjustable well bore alignment adapter

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2013120.7A GB2598159B (en) 2020-08-21 2020-08-21 Adjustable well bore alignment adapter

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GB202013120D0 GB202013120D0 (en) 2020-10-07
GB2598159A true GB2598159A (en) 2022-02-23
GB2598159B GB2598159B (en) 2022-11-30

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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3473605A (en) * 1967-06-12 1969-10-21 Fmc Corp Underwater well completion apparatus
US3545541A (en) * 1968-08-08 1970-12-08 Shell Oil Co Wellhead assembly including diverter means
CA1299094C (en) * 1989-02-14 1992-04-21 Lehman T. Reed Oil and gas well diversionary spool assembly
US5494110A (en) * 1991-11-11 1996-02-27 Alpha Thames Engineering Limited Two-part connector for fluid carrying conduits

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3473605A (en) * 1967-06-12 1969-10-21 Fmc Corp Underwater well completion apparatus
US3545541A (en) * 1968-08-08 1970-12-08 Shell Oil Co Wellhead assembly including diverter means
CA1299094C (en) * 1989-02-14 1992-04-21 Lehman T. Reed Oil and gas well diversionary spool assembly
US5494110A (en) * 1991-11-11 1996-02-27 Alpha Thames Engineering Limited Two-part connector for fluid carrying conduits

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Publication number Publication date
GB2598159B (en) 2022-11-30
GB202013120D0 (en) 2020-10-07

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