US20130098633A1 - Recoverable production module for use with a production tree - Google Patents

Recoverable production module for use with a production tree Download PDF

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Publication number
US20130098633A1
US20130098633A1 US13/276,827 US201113276827A US2013098633A1 US 20130098633 A1 US20130098633 A1 US 20130098633A1 US 201113276827 A US201113276827 A US 201113276827A US 2013098633 A1 US2013098633 A1 US 2013098633A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
production
tree
module
production tree
production module
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
US13/276,827
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Stephen P. Fenton
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.)
Vetco Gray LLC
Original Assignee
Vetco Gray LLC
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
Priority to US13/276,827 priority Critical patent/US20130098633A1/en
Application filed by Vetco Gray LLC filed Critical Vetco Gray LLC
Assigned to VETCO GRAY INC. reassignment VETCO GRAY INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FENTON, STEPHEN P.
Assigned to VETCO GRAY INC. reassignment VETCO GRAY INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FENTON, STEPHEN P.
Priority to BR102012025272A priority patent/BR102012025272A2/pt
Priority to SG10201502859VA priority patent/SG10201502859VA/en
Priority to SG2012075297A priority patent/SG189638A1/en
Priority to NO20121152A priority patent/NO20121152A1/no
Priority to AU2012241145A priority patent/AU2012241145A1/en
Priority to GB1218683.9A priority patent/GB2495836A/en
Priority to CN2012103995506A priority patent/CN103061701A/zh
Publication of US20130098633A1 publication Critical patent/US20130098633A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP 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 DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP 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
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP 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
    • E21B33/043—Casing heads; Suspending casings or tubings in well heads specially adapted for underwater well heads
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP 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
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/01—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations
    • E21B43/0122—Collecting oil or the like from a submerged leakage

Definitions

  • the invention relates generally to equipment for controlling the production of wellbore fluid. More specifically, the invention relates to a module removable from a production tree and having passages that register with passages in the production tree.
  • Wellheads used in the production of hydrocarbons extracted from subterranean formations typically comprise a wellhead assembly attached at the upper end of a wellbore formed into a hydrocarbon producing formation.
  • An annular wellhead housing typically makes up the outermost member where wellhead assemblies connect to a wellbore.
  • a production tree usually connects to the upper end of a wellhead assembly for controlling flow in and out of the wellbore and allowing access into the wellbore.
  • Support hangers are generally included within the wellhead housing for suspending production tubing and casing into the wellbore.
  • the casing lines the wellbore, thereby isolating the wellbore from the surrounding formation.
  • the tubing typically lies concentric within the casing and provides a conduit therein for producing the hydrocarbons entrained within the formation.
  • Production trees typically include flow lines that connect with other lines outside of the wellhead assembly for porting fluid produced from the wellbore to a location for processing the fluid.
  • Production trees also usually contain passages that also connect to a line is external to the production tree.
  • the passages are used for accessing annuli between concentric wellbore tubulars.
  • the passages are also often used to provide a return path for fluid injected within a tubular (e.g. tubing or casing) that exits the bottom end of the tubular and flows up the wellbore in an annulus around the tubular.
  • valves regulate flow through the lines and passages, which are included inline with the lines and passages.
  • An example embodiment of a wellhead assembly having a production module removably mountable on a production tree and a method of wellbore operations.
  • An example embodiment of a wellhead assembly includes a tubular wellhead housing with a tubing hanger landed within, where the lower end of the tubing hanger is attachable to a tubing string.
  • a production module is included having a mounting bore that extends through the production module; a flow passage projects from the mounting bore through the production module.
  • a production tree is included that selectively inserts into the mounting bore, the production tree mounts on an upper end of the wellhead housing.
  • the production tree includes an axial bore that registers with a bore axially through the tubing hanger.
  • a port is included in the production tree that intersects the axial bore and also intersects an outer surface of the production tree.
  • the port registers with the flow passage.
  • a production spool may optionally be included that couples to the production tree, and where the production spool registers with a production line in the production module when the production module is landed on the production tree.
  • the port is above the upper end of the tubing hanger.
  • the port includes a production port for the flow of production fluid.
  • the port has an auxiliary line in communication with an axial passage in the tubing hanger that communicates with an annular space between the tubing hanger and the wellhead housing.
  • the wellhead assembly further includes a selectively removable actuator disposed on the production module for actuating a valve disposed in the production module.
  • the method includes providing a production module that has an axial mounting bore and a passage that intersects the mounting bore.
  • the production module is positioned on a production tree that mounts on a wellbore and that has a port intersecting an outer surface of the production tree.
  • the method further includes inserting the production tree into the mounting bore to register the passage with the port thereby landing the production module on the production tree.
  • the method also includes coupling a production spool having a production stab with the production tree so that the production stab registers with a production flow line formed in the production module when the production module is landed on the production tree.
  • the method further includes producing fluid from a wellbore in communication with the production tree and removing the production module from the production tree.
  • closing a single valve in the production tree isolates the production module from communication with the wellbore.
  • a production spool couples with a well flow jumper and the production spool includes a production stab; where the production spool is supported by being coupled with the production tree, and the production stab registers with a production flow line formed in the production module when the production module is landed on the production tree, so that when the production module is removed from the production tree, the production spool remains coupled with the well flow jumper.
  • the production tree mounts on a wellhead housing in which a tubing hanger is landed.
  • An actuator may be coupled with the production tree that mechanically couples with a valve provided with the production module, the method can further include operating the valve with the actuator. Fluids may optionally be produced from the wellbore through the production module and actuators mounted on the production module can be removed.
  • a wellhead assembly that in an example embodiment includes a tubular wellhead housing, a tubing hanger landed in the wellhead housing with a lower end attachable to a tubing string, and a production module.
  • the production module includes an axial mounting bore and a flow passage projecting from the mounting bore.
  • a production tree is included that selectively inserts into the mounting bore; the production tree mounts on an upper end of the wellhead housing.
  • An axial bore in the production tree registers with a tubing hanger bore, where the tubing hanger bore is axially formed through the tubing hanger.
  • a production passage in the production tree extending between the axial bore and an outer surface of the production tree.
  • a production line is provided in the production module with an entrance that selectively couples with the production passage when the production module is landed onto the production tree.
  • a production stab selectively communicates with an exit of the production line fluid, so that when the production module is landed on the production tree, the production passage is in fluid communication with a production fluid jumper that is connectable to an exit of the production stab.
  • An auxiliary passage may optionally be included in the production module. In an example embodiment, the auxiliary passage engages an auxiliary stab when the production module is landed on the production tree for communicating the auxiliary passage with a tubing annulus.
  • FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a production module coupled onto a production tree in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of an example of engaging the production module and production tree of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the production module and production tree of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of an example of recovering a production module from a subsea production tree in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 Shown in FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an example embodiment of a wellhead assembly 20 that includes a wellhead housing 22 with its lower end mounted on a surface 23 above a formation.
  • the surface 23 may be a sea floor.
  • An annular casing hanger 24 is landed within the wellhead housing 22 and shown having a string of casing 26 connected on its lower end that depends downward into a wellbore.
  • FIG. 1 further illustrates a tubing hanger 28 shown landed on an inner surface of the wellhead housing 22 and above the upper end of the casing hanger 24 .
  • a tubing string 30 attaches to a lower end of the tubing hanger 28 and projects downward concentrically within the casing hanger 24 and casing 26 .
  • An annulus 32 is defined between the tubing 30 , wellhead housing 22 , casing hanger 24 , and casing 26 .
  • a production tree 34 that is attached to the wellhead housing 22 by a clamp 36 .
  • Landed on the production tree 34 is a production module 38 that is shown having a bore 40 axially formed through the production module 38 and in which the upper end of the production tree 34 is inserted.
  • Within the production module 38 is an auxiliary line 42 shown extending laterally outward from the bore 40 and intersected by another auxiliary line 44 .
  • the production module 38 is positioned on the production tree 34 so that auxiliary line 42 registers with a vent line 46 shown formed axially through the production tree 34 .
  • a valve 48 within the vent line 46 is provided that may be used for regulating or controlling flow through the vent line 46 .
  • auxiliary lines 42 , 44 are valves 50 , 52 for controlling flow through the auxiliary lines 42 , 44 .
  • An axial passage 54 extends through the tubing hanger 28 , thereby providing fluid communication from the tubing annulus 32 and into the vent 46 .
  • communication to the tubing annulus 32 may be obtained via the auxiliary lines 42 , 44 and selective control of the valves 48 , 50 , 52 .
  • a production line 56 that registers with a production port 58 when the production module 38 is landed on the production tree 34 .
  • a valve 60 is shown disposed within the production port 58 for controlling flow or communication through the production port 58 .
  • a bypass line 62 intersects the production line 56 within the production module 38 . Valves 64 , 66 respectively provided in the production line 56 and bypass line 62 may be actuated for selectively diverting flow through the production line 56 or bypass line 62 .
  • a choke 68 that restricts the cross-sectional area in the bypass line 62 for reducing pressure of the fluid flowing through the bypass line 62 into a pressure more manageable for production of fluid from the wellbore.
  • annular production stab 70 is shown providing coupling between the tubing hanger 28 and lower end of the production tree 34 for providing seamless flow from within the wellbore and up to the production port 58 .
  • the tubing 30 , tubing hanger 28 , production stab 70 , and inner bore of the production tree 34 are substantially coaxial and define a main production bore 71 through the wellhead assembly 20 .
  • a production main valve 72 is shown set in the main production bore 71 in the portion within the production tree 34 .
  • the production main valve 72 may be selectively opened or closed to regulate communication to the wellbore through the main production bore 71 .
  • Proximate the upper end of the production tree 34 is a swab valve 74 also set within the main production bore 71 and that may be opened or closed to allow access to within the main bore 71 from the upper end of the production tree 34 .
  • An optional sensor 76 is shown coupled on an outer surface of the production module 38 and in communication with the production tree 34 .
  • a lateral passage 80 formed through the production module 38 provides a path for the line 78 .
  • an actuator 82 is shown mounted on the production module 38 and coupled to a control line 84 that is set within a passage 86 .
  • the passage 86 enables path for the control line 84 to connect to actuators or devices within the production tree 34 and/or production module 38 .
  • FIG. 2 a side perspective view is shown of an example embodiment of landing the production module 38 of FIG. 1 onto the production tree 34 .
  • a bridle assembly 88 is coupled onto an upper end of the production module 38 and suspended by a line 90 .
  • the production tree 34 is inserted into the bore 40 as the production module 38 is lowered thereon.
  • access to the main production bore 71 in the production tree 34 is unimpeded by the production bore 38 .
  • FIG. 3 An alternate embodiment of the wellhead assembly 20 A is shown in a side perspective view in FIG. 3 wherein the production module 38 A is set on the production tree 34 .
  • a production spool stab 92 is shown as part of a production spool 94 .
  • the production spool 94 is supported by a coupling 95 attaching the production spool 94 to the production tree 34 .
  • Valves 96 , 98 are shown disposed within the production spool 98 for selectively controlling flow to lines 100 , 102 that attach to the production spool 94 .
  • the lines 100 , 102 may provide a pathway for fluids produced from the wellbore to production facilities (not shown) that process or refine the produced fluids.
  • FIG. 3 An alternate embodiment of the wellhead assembly 20 A is shown in a side perspective view in FIG. 3 wherein the production module 38 A is set on the production tree 34 .
  • a production spool stab 92 is shown as part of a production spool 94
  • the production line 56 A has an exit shown intersecting a lower end of the production module 38 A.
  • the production spool stab 92 inserts into the exit of the production line 56 A.
  • fluid communication between the production spool 92 and main bore 71 is established via the production port 58 and production flow line 56 A through the production spool stab 92 .
  • an optional choke actuator 104 shown mounted to the production tree via coupling 105 .
  • Mechanical linkages 106 , 108 extend from the choke actuator 104 to valves 64 , 66 for regulating flow through the production flow line 56 A and/or bypass line 62 in the production module 38 A.
  • communication can be established between the production flow line 56 A and production spool stab 92 , as well as automatic coupling of the choke actuator 104 and mechanical linkages 106 , 108 for controlling flow through the production flow line 56 A.
  • the production module 38 is shown being removed from the production tree 34 , such as for maintenance or other reasons.
  • An advantage of the example shown is that the connectivity to the jumper flow lines 100 , 102 may be maintained as the module 38 is removed from the production tree 34 .
  • the production main valve 72 is required to be closed in order to isolate flow from the wellbore for allowing removal of the production module 38 .
  • an auxiliary spool 110 mounted to the production tree 34 and having an auxiliary stab 112 for automatic coupling with auxiliary line 42 A as the production module 38 is landed onto the production tree 34 .
  • a work boat 114 is used for raising and lowering the line 94 removal and/or landing of the production module 38 .
US13/276,827 2011-10-19 2011-10-19 Recoverable production module for use with a production tree Abandoned US20130098633A1 (en)

Priority Applications (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/276,827 US20130098633A1 (en) 2011-10-19 2011-10-19 Recoverable production module for use with a production tree
BR102012025272A BR102012025272A2 (pt) 2011-10-19 2012-10-03 montagem de cabeça de poço e método para as operações de furo de poço
SG10201502859VA SG10201502859VA (en) 2011-10-19 2012-10-09 Recoverable production module for use with a production tree
SG2012075297A SG189638A1 (en) 2011-10-19 2012-10-09 Recoverable production module for use with a production tree
NO20121152A NO20121152A1 (no) 2011-10-19 2012-10-11 Gjenvinnbar produksjonsmodul for bruk med et produksjonstre
AU2012241145A AU2012241145A1 (en) 2011-10-19 2012-10-16 Recoverable production module for use with a production tree
GB1218683.9A GB2495836A (en) 2011-10-19 2012-10-18 Wellhead assembly with production module and production tree
CN2012103995506A CN103061701A (zh) 2011-10-19 2012-10-19 用于生产树的可收回生产模块

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/276,827 US20130098633A1 (en) 2011-10-19 2011-10-19 Recoverable production module for use with a production tree

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20130098633A1 true US20130098633A1 (en) 2013-04-25

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US13/276,827 Abandoned US20130098633A1 (en) 2011-10-19 2011-10-19 Recoverable production module for use with a production tree

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US20130098633A1 (pt)
CN (1) CN103061701A (pt)
AU (1) AU2012241145A1 (pt)
BR (1) BR102012025272A2 (pt)
GB (1) GB2495836A (pt)
NO (1) NO20121152A1 (pt)
SG (2) SG10201502859VA (pt)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9702215B1 (en) * 2016-02-29 2017-07-11 Fmc Technologies, Inc. Subsea tree and methods of using the same
US20180119513A1 (en) * 2016-10-28 2018-05-03 Onesubsea Ip Uk Limited Tubular wellhead assembly
US20190292871A1 (en) * 2016-05-11 2019-09-26 Fmc Technologies Do Brasil Ltda Integrated function block for use in subsea systems

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB201414733D0 (en) 2014-08-19 2014-10-01 Statoil Petroleum As Wellhead assembly

Citations (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070246220A1 (en) * 2006-04-20 2007-10-25 Vetco Gray Inc. Retrievable Tubing Hanger Installed Below Tree
US20090211749A1 (en) * 2008-02-25 2009-08-27 Cameron International Corporation Systems, methods, and devices for isolating portions of a wellhead from fluid pressure

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GB2361725B (en) * 2000-04-27 2002-07-03 Fmc Corp Central circulation completion system
US20040262010A1 (en) * 2003-06-26 2004-12-30 Milberger Lionel J. Horizontal tree assembly
KR101164754B1 (ko) * 2003-10-23 2012-07-12 에이비 사이언스 티로신 키나제 억제제로서의 2-아미노아릴옥사졸 화합물
US7770650B2 (en) * 2006-10-02 2010-08-10 Vetco Gray Inc. Integral orientation system for horizontal tree tubing hanger
BRPI0907900A2 (pt) * 2008-04-16 2013-10-22 Vetco Gray Inc Suspensor de tubulação não orientada com a cabeça de árvore de diâmetro pleno de poço
US8371385B2 (en) * 2008-05-28 2013-02-12 Vetco Gray Inc. Christmas tree and wellhead design

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070246220A1 (en) * 2006-04-20 2007-10-25 Vetco Gray Inc. Retrievable Tubing Hanger Installed Below Tree
US20090211749A1 (en) * 2008-02-25 2009-08-27 Cameron International Corporation Systems, methods, and devices for isolating portions of a wellhead from fluid pressure

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9702215B1 (en) * 2016-02-29 2017-07-11 Fmc Technologies, Inc. Subsea tree and methods of using the same
US10184312B2 (en) * 2016-02-29 2019-01-22 Fmc Technologies, Inc. Subsea tree and methods of using the same
US20190120010A1 (en) * 2016-02-29 2019-04-25 Fmc Technologies, Inc. Subsea tree and methods of using the same
US10472916B2 (en) * 2016-02-29 2019-11-12 Fmc Technologies, Inc. Subsea tree and methods of using the same
US20190292871A1 (en) * 2016-05-11 2019-09-26 Fmc Technologies Do Brasil Ltda Integrated function block for use in subsea systems
US11174695B2 (en) * 2016-05-11 2021-11-16 Fmc Technologies Do Brasil Ltda Integrated function block for use in subsea systems
US20180119513A1 (en) * 2016-10-28 2018-05-03 Onesubsea Ip Uk Limited Tubular wellhead assembly
US10890044B2 (en) * 2016-10-28 2021-01-12 Onesubsea Ip Uk Limited Tubular wellhead assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO20121152A1 (no) 2013-04-22
SG189638A1 (en) 2013-05-31
GB201218683D0 (en) 2012-11-28
CN103061701A (zh) 2013-04-24
AU2012241145A1 (en) 2013-05-09
BR102012025272A2 (pt) 2016-02-23
SG10201502859VA (en) 2015-05-28
GB2495836A (en) 2013-04-24

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: VETCO GRAY INC., TEXAS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:FENTON, STEPHEN P.;REEL/FRAME:027088/0253

Effective date: 20111019

AS Assignment

Owner name: VETCO GRAY INC., TEXAS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:FENTON, STEPHEN P.;REEL/FRAME:028796/0522

Effective date: 20120816

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

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