US20050241821A1 - System and method for well workover with horizontal tree - Google Patents

System and method for well workover with horizontal tree Download PDF

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Publication number
US20050241821A1
US20050241821A1 US10/527,224 US52722405A US2005241821A1 US 20050241821 A1 US20050241821 A1 US 20050241821A1 US 52722405 A US52722405 A US 52722405A US 2005241821 A1 US2005241821 A1 US 2005241821A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
annulus
tree
tubing hanger
subsea
tubing
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.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/527,224
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English (en)
Inventor
Lionel Milberger
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.)
Dril Quip Inc
Original Assignee
Dril Quip Inc
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 Dril Quip Inc filed Critical Dril Quip Inc
Priority to US10/527,224 priority Critical patent/US20050241821A1/en
Assigned to DRIL-QUIP, INC. reassignment DRIL-QUIP, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MILBERGER, LIONEL J.
Publication of US20050241821A1 publication Critical patent/US20050241821A1/en
Abandoned 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
    • E21B33/0353—Horizontal or spool trees, i.e. without production valves in the vertical main bore
    • 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
    • E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
    • E21B17/01—Risers
    • 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
    • E21B29/00—Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windows; Deforming of pipes in boreholes or wells; Reconditioning of well casings while in the ground
    • E21B29/12—Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windows; Deforming of pipes in boreholes or wells; Reconditioning of well casings while in the ground 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
    • E21B33/035—Well heads; Setting-up thereof specially adapted for underwater installations
    • E21B33/038—Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the techniques for workover of wells and, more particularly, to a system and method for workover of a well with a horizontal tree.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,551 provides a method of workover in a well with a horizontal tree.
  • the techniques disclosed in this patent have several shortcomings which have limited acceptance.
  • First, the shuttle valve in the tree cap may be prone to sticking open when the riser is removed.
  • the flow path from the annulus line on the riser to the well annulus goes into the horizontal tree, through the aforementioned shuttle valve, and then bypasses the tubing hanger by going radially outwardly and then radially inwardly through the tree housing making for a complex annulus flow path that may be prone to problems.
  • the tree cap must seal to both the tubing hanger and the test tree. With this tree cap/tubing hanger arrangement, the entire tubing hanger may need to be removed if problems occur with the tree cap, or with seals between the tree cap and the tubing hanger, and/or the complicated annulus flow path through the tree cap.
  • a small diameter riser which may be referred to as a slimline OD riser, connected to the top of the tree, with a small diameter BOP on the surface, and to establish a communication path to both the tubing bore and the tubing annulus below the tubing hanger.
  • the bore in the slimline riser needs to have a sufficient ID to pull and reinstall the plugs in the tree cap and tubing hanger, and to provide full bore access to the tubing in the well but does not require an ID large enough to pull the tubing hanger.
  • a workover system for a subsea horizontal tree which does not utilize a subsea drilling BOP.
  • the subsea horizontal tree comprises a tubing hanger supporting a production tubing string in a well such as an oil and/or gas well.
  • the well comprises a casing string wherein an annulus or volume is provided between the casing string and the tubing string.
  • the workover system may comprise one or more elements such as, for instance, a riser extending from the subsea horizontal tree towards the surface and an adapter for connecting the riser with the subsea horizontal tree.
  • An annulus line for communication with the annulus extends upwardly towards the surface with the riser and may be utilized to establish circulation through the production tubing and the annulus.
  • a lower end of the annulus line may be connected to a port such as a side port for communication with the annulus.
  • One or more valves are preferably mounted between the lower end of the annulus line and the annulus for controlling fluid flow between the annulus line and the annulus.
  • a control valve may be mounted, for instance, externally to the subsea horizontal tree.
  • a valve may be provided for annulus control at a position within the tubing hanger.
  • a receptacle may be mounted to the horizontal tree for receiving and guiding a lower end of the annulus line into fluid communication with the side port.
  • One or more annulus control valves may, for example, be mounted adjacent to the receptacle external to the horizontal tree.
  • the system may further comprise a tree cap, and/or an insertable isolation sleeve insertable through the tree cap.
  • the isolation sleeve preferably seals with the tubing hanger.
  • the side port is spaced axially above the tree cap and communicates with the annulus along a flow path adjacent to the insertable isolation sleeve through the tree cap.
  • the side port is defined within the adapter.
  • the side port is defined between the tree cap and the tubing hanger.
  • the side port is defined below the tubing hanger.
  • the tree cap and the tubing hanger are formed as separate components axially spaced apart with respect to each other.
  • the tubing hanger defines a tubing hanger central bore therethrough in communication with the tubing.
  • the tubing hanger may further define a vertical flow path positioned radially offset from the tubing hanger central bore.
  • a control valve may also be positioned along the vertical flow passageway for controlling fluid flow between the annulus line and the annulus.
  • FIG. 1 discloses one version of a horizontal tree adapted for a workover operation using a slimline OD riser.
  • FIG. 2 is another embodiment of a horizontal tree adapted for a quickie workover.
  • FIG. 3 is a third alternative of a horizontal tree adapted for a quickie workover.
  • FIG. 4 is yet another embodiment of a horizontal tree workover application using a slimline OD riser.
  • the system and method of the present invention includes various embodiments for conducting a quickie workover on a horizontal tree.
  • the workover operations do not involve the installation of a subsea BOP stack, and only a slimline OD riser and an annulus flow line in parallel with the riser are required, along with ancillary surface equipment, to perform the workover operation.
  • the workover system 10 includes a wellhead W having a conductor casing string CC extending downward therefrom, and supporting a casing hanger CH from the wellhead, with a casing string CS extending downward from the casing. hanger.
  • a production tubing string PTS passes upward through the wellhead W and into the horizontal spool tree 12 , which includes a production valve 14 for controlling fluid flow through the side port in the tree which is in communication with the production tubing string PTS.
  • Production valve 14 may be hydraulically and/or manually controllable.
  • a slimline OD riser 16 may be run in the well together with an annulus line umbilical 18 external of the riser 16 .
  • the plugs (not shown in FIG. 1 —but see FIG. 2 ) are pulled from both the tree cap 22 and the tubing .hanger 24 .
  • An isolation sleeve 26 may then be run inside the riser 16 and mechanically locked into a locking profile on the adapter 20 , with the isolation sleeve 26 , at least in this embodiment, being sealed to both the adapter 20 and the tubing hanger 24 by one or more seals 28 , 30 .
  • the bore on the isolation sleeve 26 thus provides full bore access to the production tubing string PTS.
  • Annulus access is achieved utilizing the annulus line umbilical 18 which passes through a side port 19 in the adapter 20 .
  • adaptor 20 is utilized above tree cap 22 .
  • the flow path then extends past tree cap 22 by any suitable means such as a flow path between isolation sleeve 26 and tree cap 22 , or other suitable flow path (not shown), through preferred substantially vertical flow path 34 , and into the annulus of the tree surrounding the isolation sleeve 26 .
  • a ball valve 32 provided in a vertically extending passageway 34 in the tubing hanger 24 thus provides control between the annulus surrounding the production tubing string and the annulus line umbilical 18 .
  • Ball valve 32 is preferably hydraulically and/or manually operable, like valve 14 . Unlike, the prior art valve system, ball valve 32 can be tested as desired. Latching dogs 36 or a latching ring may be used to axially fix the isolation sleeve 26 to the adapter or other latching means may be utilized. Conventional dogs or locking rings may be used to secure each of the tree cap 22 and the tubing hanger 24 within the horizontal tree 12 , with conventional seals between the tree cap and the horizontal tree, and between the tubing hanger 10 and the horizontal tree. In one presently preferred embodiment, significant complexity over the prior art is achieved because no seal is required between the tree cap 22 and either the adapter 20 , the tubing hanger 24 , or the isolation sleeve 26 .
  • FIGS. 2, 3 , and 4 the same numerals are used to depict similar components.
  • the slimline OD riser 16 is also run in with an annulus line umbilical 18 positioned alongside the riser.
  • the riser again is latched to the top of the tree 12 with connector 52 , which is a simplified adapter.
  • the lower end of the annulus line 18 is stabbed into a receptacle 42 positioned on or about the tree spool.
  • One or more valves 43 are positioned on the receptacle, exterior of the receptacle, or between the receptacle and the tree spool 12 to control fluid flow from the umbilical line 18 to the annulus surrounding the production tubing string.
  • Plugs 46 , 48 are pulled from the tree cap and the tubing hanger to allow access to the inside of the production tubing string in the well. Annulus access is achieved by providing a connection from the umbilical 18 to the annulus at a position below the tubing hanger thereby bypassing the need to circulate fluid through the preferably vertical flow path in tubing hanger 24 . Therefore, one advantage of the system 40 as shown in FIG. 2 is that the annulus valve 32 in the tubing hanger does not have to be operated by opening and/or closing during the quickie workover operation. FIG. 2 shows the plugs 46 , 48 still in the tree cap and the tubing hanger, respectively.
  • this embodiment does not require the use of an isolation sleeve as shown. However, if desired, the isolation sleeve or a protection sleeve may be utilized.
  • the slimline OD riser 16 is run with the annulus line umbilical 18 alongside.
  • the riser 16 is latched to the top of the tree spool 12 with connector 52 .
  • the lower end of the annulus line 18 is stabbed into receptacle 42 positioned on or about the tree spool.
  • valve 54 thus controls fluid flow between the annulus line 18 and the annulus about the isolation sleeve 26 .
  • the plugs are then pulled from the tree cap and the tubing hanger, and the isolation sleeve 26 is run in through the riser and locked into the tree cap by connector 36 .
  • the isolation sleeve 26 may be sealed to the tree cap 22 (instead of adaptor 20 as in FIG.
  • the bore through the isolation sleeve 26 again provides full bore access from the riser ID to the production tubing string PTS for fluid flow or, if desired, for running a wireline tool or a coiled tubing string into the production tubing string, or other purposes.
  • the annulus access is obtained from a line 18 for connection to the region below the tree cap 22 and above the tubing hanger 24 through port 55 in the tree spool 12 .
  • the annulus path continues through the annulus valve 32 , through the preferably vertical passageway in the tubing hanger 24 to the annulus between CS and PTS below the tubing hanger 24 .
  • Valve 55 is preferably hydraulically or manually controllable.
  • the slimline OD riser is run with the annulus line umbilical 18 , and the riser 16 may be latched to the top of the tree with adapter 20 .
  • the lower end of the annulus line is then stabbed into a receptacle 42 on or about the tree spool below tubing hanger 24 to provide direct access to the annulus between the production tubing string PTS and the casing string CS.
  • the plugs are pulled from the tree cap and the tubing hanger, and an isolation sleeve 26 is run inside the riser and locked into a profile in the adapter 20 by connector 36 , with the isolation sleeve being sealed to both the adapter and the tubing hanger.
  • the bore in the isolation sleeve again provides full access to the production tubing string PTS. Annulus access is achieved from the line 18 to the tubing annulus below the production tubing hanger 24 . Suitable controllable valves for annulus line 18 may be provided, such as in the general mounting stabbing structure 42 . Note that the isolation sleeve and arrangement shown in FIG. 2 might be utilized, if desired, to avoid the need for adaptor 20 .
  • valves for controlling annulus flow do not require a special physical connection between the annulus valve and the connection to the riser, such as that shown in the prior art wherein in one embodiment the weight of the connection opens the valve.
  • the present invention provides a simpler, more reliable, and much more flexible system and methods for well workovers with horizontal tree.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (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)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
US10/527,224 2002-09-12 2003-09-12 System and method for well workover with horizontal tree Abandoned US20050241821A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/527,224 US20050241821A1 (en) 2002-09-12 2003-09-12 System and method for well workover with horizontal tree

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US41006502P 2002-09-12 2002-09-12
PCT/US2003/028876 WO2004025068A2 (en) 2002-09-12 2003-09-12 System and method for well workover with horizontal tree
US10/527,224 US20050241821A1 (en) 2002-09-12 2003-09-12 System and method for well workover with horizontal tree

Publications (1)

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US20050241821A1 true US20050241821A1 (en) 2005-11-03

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US10/527,224 Abandoned US20050241821A1 (en) 2002-09-12 2003-09-12 System and method for well workover with horizontal tree

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US (1) US20050241821A1 (no)
AU (1) AU2003272387A1 (no)
GB (1) GB2408280B (no)
NO (1) NO20051096L (no)
WO (1) WO2004025068A2 (no)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050279504A1 (en) * 2003-11-18 2005-12-22 Wolff Danny K Intervention spool for subsea use
US20090266551A1 (en) * 2008-04-23 2009-10-29 Cuiper Glen H Low profile internal tree cap
GB2479552A (en) * 2010-04-14 2011-10-19 Aker Subsea Ltd Subsea wellhead with controlled access to the annulus.
US20120318521A1 (en) * 2011-06-17 2012-12-20 Bp Corporation North America Inc. Subsea containment cap adapters
WO2016024940A1 (en) * 2014-08-11 2016-02-18 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Subsea mechanism to circulate fluid between a riser and tubing string
US9556685B2 (en) * 2015-04-14 2017-01-31 Oceaneering International, Inc. Inside riser tree controls adapter and method of use
CN114856504A (zh) * 2022-05-18 2022-08-05 中海石油(中国)有限公司 一种用于浅水水下卧式采油树的修井系统及其操作方法

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7331396B2 (en) * 2004-03-16 2008-02-19 Dril-Quip, Inc. Subsea production systems
US20060278397A1 (en) * 2005-06-13 2006-12-14 Mentor Subsea Technology Services, Inc. Top tensioned riser adaptor

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5372199A (en) * 1993-02-16 1994-12-13 Cooper Industries, Inc. Subsea wellhead
US5544707A (en) * 1992-06-01 1996-08-13 Cooper Cameron Corporation Wellhead
US5941310A (en) * 1996-03-25 1999-08-24 Fmc Corporation Monobore completion/intervention riser system
US6053252A (en) * 1995-07-15 2000-04-25 Expro North Sea Limited Lightweight intervention system
US6367551B1 (en) * 1998-12-18 2002-04-09 Abb Vetco Gray Incorporated Monobore riser
US6675900B2 (en) * 2000-01-27 2004-01-13 David C. Baskett Crossover tree system
US6719059B2 (en) * 2002-02-06 2004-04-13 Abb Vetco Gray Inc. Plug installation system for deep water subsea wells
US6755254B2 (en) * 2001-05-25 2004-06-29 Dril-Quip, Inc. Horizontal spool tree assembly
US6817418B2 (en) * 2000-01-14 2004-11-16 Fmc Technologies, Inc. Subsea completion annulus monitoring and bleed down system
US6942028B2 (en) * 2002-01-30 2005-09-13 Vetco Gray Inc. Slim-bore tubing hanger
US7025132B2 (en) * 2000-03-24 2006-04-11 Fmc Technologies, Inc. Flow completion apparatus

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5544707A (en) * 1992-06-01 1996-08-13 Cooper Cameron Corporation Wellhead
US5372199A (en) * 1993-02-16 1994-12-13 Cooper Industries, Inc. Subsea wellhead
US6053252A (en) * 1995-07-15 2000-04-25 Expro North Sea Limited Lightweight intervention system
US5941310A (en) * 1996-03-25 1999-08-24 Fmc Corporation Monobore completion/intervention riser system
US6367551B1 (en) * 1998-12-18 2002-04-09 Abb Vetco Gray Incorporated Monobore riser
US6817418B2 (en) * 2000-01-14 2004-11-16 Fmc Technologies, Inc. Subsea completion annulus monitoring and bleed down system
US6675900B2 (en) * 2000-01-27 2004-01-13 David C. Baskett Crossover tree system
US7025132B2 (en) * 2000-03-24 2006-04-11 Fmc Technologies, Inc. Flow completion apparatus
US6755254B2 (en) * 2001-05-25 2004-06-29 Dril-Quip, Inc. Horizontal spool tree assembly
US6942028B2 (en) * 2002-01-30 2005-09-13 Vetco Gray Inc. Slim-bore tubing hanger
US6719059B2 (en) * 2002-02-06 2004-04-13 Abb Vetco Gray Inc. Plug installation system for deep water subsea wells

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050279504A1 (en) * 2003-11-18 2005-12-22 Wolff Danny K Intervention spool for subsea use
US7121346B2 (en) * 2003-11-18 2006-10-17 Cameron International Corporation Intervention spool for subsea use
US20090266551A1 (en) * 2008-04-23 2009-10-29 Cuiper Glen H Low profile internal tree cap
US8230928B2 (en) 2008-04-23 2012-07-31 Aker Subsea Inc. Low profile internal tree cap
GB2479552A (en) * 2010-04-14 2011-10-19 Aker Subsea Ltd Subsea wellhead with controlled access to the annulus.
GB2479552B (en) * 2010-04-14 2015-07-08 Aker Subsea Ltd Subsea wellhead providing controlled access to a casing annulus
US20120318521A1 (en) * 2011-06-17 2012-12-20 Bp Corporation North America Inc. Subsea containment cap adapters
WO2016024940A1 (en) * 2014-08-11 2016-02-18 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Subsea mechanism to circulate fluid between a riser and tubing string
US10006270B2 (en) 2014-08-11 2018-06-26 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Subsea mechanism to circulate fluid between a riser and tubing string
US9556685B2 (en) * 2015-04-14 2017-01-31 Oceaneering International, Inc. Inside riser tree controls adapter and method of use
CN114856504A (zh) * 2022-05-18 2022-08-05 中海石油(中国)有限公司 一种用于浅水水下卧式采油树的修井系统及其操作方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2004025068A2 (en) 2004-03-25
WO2004025068A3 (en) 2005-01-06
GB2408280B (en) 2007-03-07
AU2003272387A8 (en) 2004-04-30
AU2003272387A1 (en) 2004-04-30
GB0504347D0 (en) 2005-04-06
NO20051096D0 (no) 2005-03-01
NO20051096L (no) 2005-04-06
GB2408280A (en) 2005-05-25

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AS Assignment

Owner name: DRIL-QUIP, INC., TEXAS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MILBERGER, LIONEL J.;REEL/FRAME:016797/0183

Effective date: 20050307

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION