US3004602A - Underwater oil well completion - Google Patents
Underwater oil well completion Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3004602A US3004602A US620495A US62049556A US3004602A US 3004602 A US3004602 A US 3004602A US 620495 A US620495 A US 620495A US 62049556 A US62049556 A US 62049556A US 3004602 A US3004602 A US 3004602A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- tubing
- head
- well
- casing
- string
- 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.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 239000003129 oil well Substances 0.000 title description 6
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000005266 casting Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 7
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 description 3
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 210000002445 nipple Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 238000012856 packing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 235000010627 Phaseolus vulgaris Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 244000046052 Phaseolus vulgaris Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000004568 cement Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000009972 noncorrosive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000013535 sea water Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
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
Definitions
- This invention relates to a method and apparatus for completion of underwater wells such as oil wells, gas wells and the like. This invention finds particular usefulness in connection with the safe completion of a producing oil well beneath the ocean surface.
- Another object of this invention is to safely produce an oil or gas well without incurring the expense of a structural platform where the water depth is so great as to make such platforms prohibitively expensive. Another object is to avoid unsightly well heads and related production equipment projecting above the water surface in regions adjacent to recreational beaches, yacht harbors, etc. Another general object is to eliminate navigational hazards caused by oil well installation in the open sea.
- a more particular object is to provide a method of well completion which involves landing a casing string and a tubing string on well head structure at the ocean floor and then providing an enclosure for at least a portion of the well head structure to prevent escape of well fluids into the sea.
- Another more particular object is to provide well completion apparatus including a casing head and a tubing head located at the ocean floor in a submerged position and wherein blowout preventers are mounted above the tubing head during the drilling operation.
- FIGURE 1 is a side elevation partly in section and partly broken away showing a preferred form of apparatus for use in connection with this invention.
- FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the blowout preventers removed and a housing or enclosure installed about a portion of the well head assembly.
- the well head structure generally designated includes a casing head 11, a tubing head 12 and a series of blowout preventers 13, 14 and 15. These devices may be of conventional form except as described in detail herein.
- the casing head 11 rests on I the support flange 16 which is mounted at the upper end of the surface pipe 17.
- a conductor pipe 18 may enclose a portion of the surface pipe 17 and, in a similar way,'a large diameter central column 19 may enclose a portion of the conductor pipe 18.
- the pipes 17, 18 and 19 extend into the ocean floor.
- the well head structure 10 is entirely submerged.
- a base member 20 in the form of a supporting flange is mounted between the casing head 11 and the tubing head 12.
- a central opening 21 in this basemember 20 is aligned with the central passageway 22 in the casing head 11 and the central passageway 23 in the tubing head 12.
- Thecasing 24, better known as the water string is provided with a landing mandrel 25 at its upper end and this mandrel has an enlarged portion 26 adapted to seat on a shoulder 27 provided in the casing head 11 near the lower end thereof.
- a tubing string 28 extends through the interior of the casing 24 and at its upper end is provided with a landing mandrel 29 having an enlarged portion 30 adapted to seat on the shoulder 31 provided in the tubing head 12.
- the bore 23 in the tubing head 12 and the bore 21 in the base member 29 are large enough to permit axial passage of the landing mandrel 25 therethrough.
- the landing mandrels 25 and 29 are provided with portions of reduced diameter 33 and 34 respectively and these reduced diameter portions are engaged by rams 35 and gee-m 36 which are mounted for radial movement on the casing head 11 and tubing head 12 respectively.
- Rams 35 and 36 maye be conventional tubing head rams such as those shown on page 3602, volume 2 of the Composite Catalog of Oil Field and Pipe Line Equipment, 21st, 1955-56 Edi tion, published by World Oil. This engagement of the rams with the landing mandrels prevents any substantial axial movement of the casing 24 or tubing 28.
- the casing head 11 and the tubing head 12 as well as the base member 2% are installed at the time that the surface pipe 17 is set in position.
- the blowout preventers 13, 14 and 15 are then installed above the tubing head 12.
- the here through the interior of the blowout preventers is larger than the inside diameter of the surface pipe 17 and, therefore, drill pipe (not shown) may be lowered through the well head equipment in the conventional manner and rotated to drill the oil well.
- the drill pipe is operated before the casing 24 or tubing 28 is lowered into position.
- the drill pipe (not shown) is withdrawn from the well upwardly through the casing head 11, tubing head 12 and blowout preventers 13, 14 and 15.
- the casing 24 or waterstring is then lowered through the blowout preventers, tubing head 12 and casing head 11 until the enlarged portion 26 on the landing mandrel 25 engages the shoulder 27.
- the rams of the blowout preventer 13 are closed and after a successful test of these rams, that portion of the casing above the mandrel 25 is disconnected at the left hand thread 37 at the top of the landing mandrel 25.
- the blowout preventer rams are then opened and the upper portion of the casing is withdrawn.
- the upper end 3 38 of the landing mandrel 25 is chamfered to form a bit guile for drilling out cement within the casing and for running successive strings of pipe within the casing, if desired.
- the tubing 28 is then lowered through the blowout preventers and through the tubing head 12 and casing head 11 until the enlarged portion 30 of the landing mandrel 29 seats on the shoulder 31.
- the upper end of the mandrel 29 has a packing assembly 39 which may be manually tightened to form a seal with the tubing head 12 after removal of the blowout preventers 13, 14 and 15, as described below.
- the packing assembly 39 is tightened by a diver using a wrench on the bolts to clamp the back-up plate 66 thereby laterally displacing the outer portion of the sealing gasket 67 into sealing contact with the bore 23.
- Shut ofi valves 40 and 41 are mounted in the tubing string 28 above the position of the landing mandrel 29.
- a remote control dilferential valve 42 is also mounted in this portion of the tubing string.
- valve 41 When well fluid has been produced from the well for a period sufiicient to ascertain the characteristics of the well, valve 41 is closed and blowout preventer 13 is disconnected from the upper end of the tubing head 12. The blowout preventers 13, 14 and 15 may then be raised vertically, passing over the tubing string 28 and raised to the surface. The valve 40 is then closed. The upper portion of the tubing string 28 above the difierential valve 42 is then removed and lifted to the surface.
- the permanent well head fittings shown in FIGURE 2 are then lowered to the well head structure 10.
- These well head fittings include nipple 45, swivel joint 46, cross 47, plugs 48 and 49 and piping 50 which extends from the cross 47 to the outlet pipe 51.
- This outlet pipe 51 passes through the support member 28 and communicates with the shut off valve 52 and adjustable flow bean 53.
- the hose 54 carries the well fluid away from the well head to any desired location.
- Gas under pressure in a suitable container 55 is connected by piping 56 and valve 57 to operate the differential valve 42.
- a nipple 58a. is. threaded into the base member 29 connected to a shut oft" valve 55.
- a large housing or closure 59 is secured to the outer periphery of the support member 21 by means of threaded fasteuings 6t and this housing cooperates with the member 20 to form an enclosure for the tubing head 13.
- a gasket oi prevents leakage at the joint between the housing 59 and the support member 20?.
- the valved outlets 58a and 62 function as test ports and circulating outlets for the interior of the enclosure provided by the housing 59.
- the enclosure within the housing may be filled with a noncorrosive liquid such as a soluble oil having a specific gravity approximately the same as sea water.
- valve 52 The well is placed in production by opening valve 52 and the production fluid is removed through the hose 54.
- the valve 63 opens to the vent line 64 which will serve to indicate any leakage of gas or oil around the well head structure.
- the method of completion of an underwater well having a submerged well head structure provided with a blowout preventer including the steps of: lowering a casting string through the well head structure and blowout preventer to bring a shoulder on the casing string to rest on the well head structure, separating an upper portion of the casing string from a remaining lower portion at a location above said shoulder and below the blowout f prevent-er, removing the upper portion of the casing string, lowering a tubing string through the well head structure and blowout preventer into said remaining portion of the casing string to bring a shoulder on the tubing string to rest on the tubing head, removing the blowout preventer by'raising it axially along the tubing string, removing an upper portion of the tubing string from a remaining portion projecting above the well head structure, and installing an enclosure on the well head structure to encompass said projecting portion of the tubing string.
- the method of completion of an underwater well having a submerged well head structure provided with a blowout preventer including the steps of: lowering a casing string through the well head structure and blowout preventer to bring a shoulder on the casing string to rest on the well head structure, separating an upper portion of the casing string from a remaining lower portion at a location above said shoulder and below the blowout preventer, removing the upper portion of the casing string, lowering a valved tubing string through the well head structure and blowout preventer into said remaining portion of the casing string to bring a shoulder on the tubing string to rest on the tubing head, removing the blowout preventer by raising it axially along the tubing string, removing an upper portion of the tubing string above the valve from a remaining portion projecting above the well head structure, and installing an enclosure on the well head structure to encompass said valve and projecting portion of the tubing string.
- the method of completion of an underwater well having a submerged well head structure provided with a blowout preventer including the steps of: lowering a casing string through the well head structure and blowout preventer to bring a shoulder on the casing string to rest on the well head structure, separating an upper portion of a lowering a tubing string through the well head structure and blowout preventer into said remaining portion of the casing string to bring a shoulder on the tubing string to rest on the tubing head, securing the casing string and tubing string against upward movement relative to the well head structure, removing the blowout preventer by raising it axially along the tubing string, removing an upper portion of the tubing string from a remaining portion projecting above the well head structure, and installing an enclosure on the well head structure to encompass said projecting portion oi the tubing string.
- Apparatus for completion of an underwater well comprising in combination: a submerged well head structure positioned on the ocean bottom and having a casing head with a shoulder provided therein, a tubing head with a shoulder provided therein, an apertured flange member interposed between the casing head and the tubing head, a casing string insertable through the well head structure and having an enlarged portion adapted to rest upon the shoulder of said casing head, a tubing string in sortable through the well head structure and into the casing string and having an enlarged portion adapted to rest upon the shoulder of said tubing head, a valve in the tubing string above the well head structure, means for sealing the annulus between said tubing string and said tubing head, a housing detachably mounted upon the flange member and providing an enclosure containing said valve, and a fluid delivery conduit communicating with said valve and extending exteriorly of said enclosure.
- Apparatus for completion of an underwater well comprising in combination: a submerged well head structure positioned on the ocean bottom and having a casing head with a shoulder provided therein, a tubing head, an apertured flange member interposed between the casing head and the tubing head, a casing string insertable through the well head structure and having an enlarged portion adapted to rest upon the shoulder of said casing head, a tubing string insertable through the well head structure and into the casing string and having an enlarged portion adapted to rest upon the shoulder of said tubing head, means on the casing head for preventing longitudinal movement of the casing string, means on the the casing string from a remaining lower portion at a tubing head for preventing longitudinal movement of the tubing string, a valve in the tubing string above the latter said means, means for sealing the annulus between said tubing string and said tubing head, a housing detachably .rnounted upon the flange member and providing an enclosurecontaining said valve, and a fluid delivery conduit communicating with said valve and
- Apparatus for completion of an underwater well comprising in combination: a submerged well head structure'positioned on the ocean bottom and having a casing head with a shoulder provided therein, a tubing head with a shoulder provided therein, an apertured flange member interposed between the casing head and the tubing head, a casing string insertable through the well head structure and having alanding mandrel resting upon the shoulder of said casing head, a tubing string insertable through the well head structure and into the casing string and having a landing mandrel resting upon the shoulder of said tubing head, retractable sealing rams on the casing head engaging the outer surface of the first said landing mandrel, retractable sealing rams on the tubing head engaging the outer surface of the latter said landing mandrel, a valve in the tubing string above the latter said landing mandrel, 'a housing detachably mounted upon the flange member and providing an enclosure containing said valve, and a fluid delivery conduit communicating with said valve and extending exteriorly
Landscapes
- 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)
Description
Oct. 17, 1961 D. c. KOFAHL 3,004,602
UNDERWATER on. WELL COMPLETION Filed Nov. 5, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.
fiflV/O C. 8050 44 INVENTOR.
1951 D. c. KOFAHL 3, 04,602
UNDERWATER OIL WELL COMPLETION Filed Nov. 5, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 04140 6. 0 4,444. INVENTOR.
BY i a FIG. 2 54 aired rates This invention relates to a method and apparatus for completion of underwater wells such as oil wells, gas wells and the like. This invention finds particular usefulness in connection with the safe completion of a producing oil well beneath the ocean surface.
Among the general objects of this invention are to safely produce an oil or gas well without incurring the expense of a structural platform where the water depth is so great as to make such platforms prohibitively expensive. Another object is to avoid unsightly well heads and related production equipment projecting above the water surface in regions adjacent to recreational beaches, yacht harbors, etc. Another general object is to eliminate navigational hazards caused by oil well installation in the open sea.
A more particular object is to provide a method of well completion which involves landing a casing string and a tubing string on well head structure at the ocean floor and then providing an enclosure for at least a portion of the well head structure to prevent escape of well fluids into the sea. Another more particular object is to provide well completion apparatus including a casing head and a tubing head located at the ocean floor in a submerged position and wherein blowout preventers are mounted above the tubing head during the drilling operation. Other and more detailed objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.
In the drawings: 1
FIGURE 1 is a side elevation partly in section and partly broken away showing a preferred form of apparatus for use in connection with this invention.
FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the blowout preventers removed and a housing or enclosure installed about a portion of the well head assembly.
Referring to the drawings, the well head structuregenerally designated includes a casing head 11, a tubing head 12 and a series of blowout preventers 13, 14 and 15. These devices may be of conventional form except as described in detail herein. The casing head 11 rests on I the support flange 16 which is mounted at the upper end of the surface pipe 17. A conductor pipe 18 may enclose a portion of the surface pipe 17 and, in a similar way,'a large diameter central column 19 may enclose a portion of the conductor pipe 18. The pipes 17, 18 and 19 extend into the ocean floor. The well head structure 10 is entirely submerged. t
A base member 20 in the form of a supporting flange is mounted between the casing head 11 and the tubing head 12. A central opening 21 in this basemember 20 is aligned with the central passageway 22 in the casing head 11 and the central passageway 23 in the tubing head 12. Thecasing 24, better known as the water string, is provided with a landing mandrel 25 at its upper end and this mandrel has an enlarged portion 26 adapted to seat on a shoulder 27 provided in the casing head 11 near the lower end thereof. A tubing string 28 extends through the interior of the casing 24 and at its upper end is provided with a landing mandrel 29 having an enlarged portion 30 adapted to seat on the shoulder 31 provided in the tubing head 12. The bore 23 in the tubing head 12 and the bore 21 in the base member 29 are large enough to permit axial passage of the landing mandrel 25 therethrough.
The landing mandrels 25 and 29 are provided with portions of reduced diameter 33 and 34 respectively and these reduced diameter portions are engaged by rams 35 and gee-m 36 which are mounted for radial movement on the casing head 11 and tubing head 12 respectively. Rams 35 and 36 maye be conventional tubing head rams such as those shown on page 3602, volume 2 of the Composite Catalog of Oil Field and Pipe Line Equipment, 21st, 1955-56 Edi tion, published by World Oil. This engagement of the rams with the landing mandrels prevents any substantial axial movement of the casing 24 or tubing 28.
The casing head 11 and the tubing head 12 as well as the base member 2% are installed at the time that the surface pipe 17 is set in position. The blowout preventers 13, 14 and 15 are then installed above the tubing head 12. The here through the interior of the blowout preventers is larger than the inside diameter of the surface pipe 17 and, therefore, drill pipe (not shown) may be lowered through the well head equipment in the conventional manner and rotated to drill the oil well. Of course, the drill pipe is operated before the casing 24 or tubing 28 is lowered into position. When the drilling operation is complete the drill pipe (not shown) is withdrawn from the well upwardly through the casing head 11, tubing head 12 and blowout preventers 13, 14 and 15. The casing 24 or waterstring is then lowered through the blowout preventers, tubing head 12 and casing head 11 until the enlarged portion 26 on the landing mandrel 25 engages the shoulder 27. The rams of the blowout preventer 13 are closed and after a successful test of these rams, that portion of the casing above the mandrel 25 is disconnected at the left hand thread 37 at the top of the landing mandrel 25. The blowout preventer rams are then opened and the upper portion of the casing is withdrawn. The upper end 3 38 of the landing mandrel 25 is chamfered to form a bit guile for drilling out cement within the casing and for running successive strings of pipe within the casing, if desired.
The tubing 28 is then lowered through the blowout preventers and through the tubing head 12 and casing head 11 until the enlarged portion 30 of the landing mandrel 29 seats on the shoulder 31. The upper end of the mandrel 29 has a packing assembly 39 which may be manually tightened to form a seal with the tubing head 12 after removal of the blowout preventers 13, 14 and 15, as described below. The packing assembly 39 is tightened by a diver using a wrench on the bolts to clamp the back-up plate 66 thereby laterally displacing the outer portion of the sealing gasket 67 into sealing contact with the bore 23. Shut ofi valves 40 and 41 are mounted in the tubing string 28 above the position of the landing mandrel 29. A remote control dilferential valve 42 is also mounted in this portion of the tubing string.
With the equipment in place as shown in FIGURE :1, the well can be put on production either by swabbing or by circulating. When well fluid has been produced from the well for a period sufiicient to ascertain the characteristics of the well, valve 41 is closed and blowout preventer 13 is disconnected from the upper end of the tubing head 12. The blowout preventers 13, 14 and 15 may then be raised vertically, passing over the tubing string 28 and raised to the surface. The valve 40 is then closed. The upper portion of the tubing string 28 above the difierential valve 42 is then removed and lifted to the surface.
The permanent well head fittings shown in FIGURE 2 are then lowered to the well head structure 10. These well head fittings include nipple 45, swivel joint 46, cross 47, plugs 48 and 49 and piping 50 which extends from the cross 47 to the outlet pipe 51. This outlet pipe 51 passes through the support member 28 and communicates with the shut off valve 52 and adjustable flow bean 53. The hose 54 carries the well fluid away from the well head to any desired location.
Gas under pressure in a suitable container 55 is connected by piping 56 and valve 57 to operate the differential valve 42. A nipple 58a. is. threaded into the base member 29 connected to a shut oft" valve 55.
A large housing or closure 59 is secured to the outer periphery of the support member 21 by means of threaded fasteuings 6t and this housing cooperates with the member 20 to form an enclosure for the tubing head 13. A gasket oi prevents leakage at the joint between the housing 59 and the support member 20?. The valved outlets 58a and 62 function as test ports and circulating outlets for the interior of the enclosure provided by the housing 59.
After the installation and test of the housing 59 the enclosure within the housing may be filled with a noncorrosive liquid such as a soluble oil having a specific gravity approximately the same as sea water.
The well is placed in production by opening valve 52 and the production fluid is removed through the hose 54. The valve 63 opens to the vent line 64 which will serve to indicate any leakage of gas or oil around the well head structure.
Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.
I claim:
I. The method of completion of an underwater well having a submerged well head structure provided with a blowout preventer, including the steps of: lowering a casting string through the well head structure and blowout preventer to bring a shoulder on the casing string to rest on the well head structure, separating an upper portion of the casing string from a remaining lower portion at a location above said shoulder and below the blowout f prevent-er, removing the upper portion of the casing string, lowering a tubing string through the well head structure and blowout preventer into said remaining portion of the casing string to bring a shoulder on the tubing string to rest on the tubing head, removing the blowout preventer by'raising it axially along the tubing string, removing an upper portion of the tubing string from a remaining portion projecting above the well head structure, and installing an enclosure on the well head structure to encompass said projecting portion of the tubing string.
2. The method of completion of an underwater well having a submerged well head structure provided with a blowout preventer, including the steps of: lowering a casing string through the well head structure and blowout preventer to bring a shoulder on the casing string to rest on the well head structure, separating an upper portion of the casing string from a remaining lower portion at a location above said shoulder and below the blowout preventer, removing the upper portion of the casing string, lowering a valved tubing string through the well head structure and blowout preventer into said remaining portion of the casing string to bring a shoulder on the tubing string to rest on the tubing head, removing the blowout preventer by raising it axially along the tubing string, removing an upper portion of the tubing string above the valve from a remaining portion projecting above the well head structure, and installing an enclosure on the well head structure to encompass said valve and projecting portion of the tubing string.
3. The method of completion of an underwater well having a submerged well head structure provided with a blowout preventer, including the steps of: lowering a casing string through the well head structure and blowout preventer to bring a shoulder on the casing string to rest on the well head structure, separating an upper portion of a lowering a tubing string through the well head structure and blowout preventer into said remaining portion of the casing string to bring a shoulder on the tubing string to rest on the tubing head, securing the casing string and tubing string against upward movement relative to the well head structure, removing the blowout preventer by raising it axially along the tubing string, removing an upper portion of the tubing string from a remaining portion projecting above the well head structure, and installing an enclosure on the well head structure to encompass said projecting portion oi the tubing string.
4. Apparatus for completion of an underwater well, comprising in combination: a submerged well head structure positioned on the ocean bottom and having a casing head with a shoulder provided therein, a tubing head with a shoulder provided therein, an apertured flange member interposed between the casing head and the tubing head, a casing string insertable through the well head structure and having an enlarged portion adapted to rest upon the shoulder of said casing head, a tubing string in sortable through the well head structure and into the casing string and having an enlarged portion adapted to rest upon the shoulder of said tubing head, a valve in the tubing string above the well head structure, means for sealing the annulus between said tubing string and said tubing head, a housing detachably mounted upon the flange member and providing an enclosure containing said valve, and a fluid delivery conduit communicating with said valve and extending exteriorly of said enclosure.
5. Apparatus for completion of an underwater well, comprising in combination: a submerged well head structure positioned on the ocean bottom and having a casing head with a shoulder provided therein, a tubing head, an apertured flange member interposed between the casing head and the tubing head, a casing string insertable through the well head structure and having an enlarged portion adapted to rest upon the shoulder of said casing head, a tubing string insertable through the well head structure and into the casing string and having an enlarged portion adapted to rest upon the shoulder of said tubing head, means on the casing head for preventing longitudinal movement of the casing string, means on the the casing string from a remaining lower portion at a tubing head for preventing longitudinal movement of the tubing string, a valve in the tubing string above the latter said means, means for sealing the annulus between said tubing string and said tubing head, a housing detachably .rnounted upon the flange member and providing an enclosurecontaining said valve, and a fluid delivery conduit communicating with said valve and extending exteriorly of said enclosure.
6. Apparatus for completion of an underwater well, comprising in combination: a submerged well head structure'positioned on the ocean bottom and having a casing head with a shoulder provided therein, a tubing head with a shoulder provided therein, an apertured flange member interposed between the casing head and the tubing head, a casing string insertable through the well head structure and having alanding mandrel resting upon the shoulder of said casing head, a tubing string insertable through the well head structure and into the casing string and having a landing mandrel resting upon the shoulder of said tubing head, retractable sealing rams on the casing head engaging the outer surface of the first said landing mandrel, retractable sealing rams on the tubing head engaging the outer surface of the latter said landing mandrel, a valve in the tubing string above the latter said landing mandrel, 'a housing detachably mounted upon the flange member and providing an enclosure containing said valve, and a fluid delivery conduit communicating with said valve and extending exteriorly of said enclosure.
(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Grinnel et a1. May 23, 1933 Centeno May 29, 1934 McDonough et a1. May 24, 1938 5 6 Yancey 1 May 6, 1941 Yeatman Apr. 4, 1944 Parks et a1. Aug. 19, 1952 Eckel Sept. 16, 1952 Crowell Feb. 16, 1954
Claims (1)
1. THE METHOD OF COMPLETION OF AN UNDERWATER WELL HAVING A SUBMERGED WELL HEAD STRUCTURE PROVIDED WITH A BLOWOUT PREVENTER, INCLUDING THE STEPS OF: LOWERING A CASTING STRING THROUGH THE WELL HEAD STRUCTURE AND BLOWOUT PREVENTER TO BRING A SHOULDER ON THE CASING STRING TO REST ON THE WELL HEAD STRUCTURE, SEPARATING AN UPPER PORTION OF THE CASING STRING FROM A REMAINING LOWER PORTION AT A LOCATION ABOVE SAID SHOULDER AND BELOW THE BLOWOUT PREVENTER, REMOVING THE UPPER PORTION OF THE CASING STRING, LOWERING A TUBING STRING THROUGH THE WELL HEAD STRUCTURE AND BLOWOUT PREVENTER INTO SAID REMAINING PORTION OF THE CASING STRING TO BRING A SHOULDER ON THE TUBING STRING TO REST ON THE TUBING HEAD, REMOVING THE BLOWOUT PREVENTER BY RAISING IT AXIALLY ALONG THE TUBING STRING, REMOVING AN UPPER PORTION OF THE TUBING STRING FROM A REMAINING PORTION PROJECTING ABOVE THE WELL HEAD STRUCTURE, AND IN-
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US620495A US3004602A (en) | 1956-11-05 | 1956-11-05 | Underwater oil well completion |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US620495A US3004602A (en) | 1956-11-05 | 1956-11-05 | Underwater oil well completion |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3004602A true US3004602A (en) | 1961-10-17 |
Family
ID=24486182
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US620495A Expired - Lifetime US3004602A (en) | 1956-11-05 | 1956-11-05 | Underwater oil well completion |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3004602A (en) |
Cited By (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3143172A (en) * | 1961-10-16 | 1964-08-04 | Richfield Oil Corp | Self-aligning landing base for off-shore deep water drilling |
US3202218A (en) * | 1962-06-18 | 1965-08-24 | Gray Tool Co | Submergible apparatus for underwater operations |
US3209829A (en) * | 1961-05-08 | 1965-10-05 | Shell Oil Co | Wellhead assembly for under-water wells |
US3211223A (en) * | 1961-12-26 | 1965-10-12 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Underwater well completion |
US3233666A (en) * | 1962-07-19 | 1966-02-08 | Shell Oil Co | Underwater wellhead with remotelydetachable flow line |
US3256937A (en) * | 1959-07-30 | 1966-06-21 | Shell Oil Co | Underwater well completion method |
US3338302A (en) * | 1964-08-24 | 1967-08-29 | Texaco Inc | Control system for sub-sea apparatus |
US3339632A (en) * | 1964-01-21 | 1967-09-05 | Hydril Co | Underwater connector |
US3347312A (en) * | 1965-03-09 | 1967-10-17 | Armco Steel Corp | Underwater wellhead installations |
US3354970A (en) * | 1965-02-08 | 1967-11-28 | Pan American Petroleum Corp | Controlling high-pressure wells while drilling |
US3372745A (en) * | 1966-04-28 | 1968-03-12 | Mobil Oil Corp | Submersible caisson for subsurface well completion |
US3421579A (en) * | 1965-06-17 | 1969-01-14 | Mobil Oil Corp | Underwater completion |
US3703207A (en) * | 1970-07-29 | 1972-11-21 | Deep Oil Technology Inc | Subsea bunker construction |
DE2652042A1 (en) * | 1976-10-15 | 1978-04-20 | Baker Int Corp | VALVE AND DISPOSAL DEVICE |
EP2971433A4 (en) * | 2013-03-13 | 2017-01-18 | Conoco Phillips Company | A system for detecting, containing and removing hydrocarbon leaks in a subsea environment |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1910762A (en) * | 1932-03-08 | 1933-05-23 | Union Oil Co | Gas lift apparatus |
US1960261A (en) * | 1932-07-30 | 1934-05-29 | Centeno Guillermo | Apparatus to prevent petroleum fires |
US2118094A (en) * | 1937-04-12 | 1938-05-24 | Mcdonough James Moore | Combination casing head and christmas tree |
US2241288A (en) * | 1940-01-26 | 1941-05-06 | Gray Tool Co | Apparatus for completing wells |
US2346060A (en) * | 1941-03-18 | 1944-04-04 | Shell Dev | Method and apparatus for setting well casing |
US2607422A (en) * | 1948-12-03 | 1952-08-19 | Standard Oil Dev Co | Method and apparatus for suspending pipe in boreholes |
US2610689A (en) * | 1946-08-19 | 1952-09-16 | Oil Ct Tool Company | Wellhead seal |
US2669431A (en) * | 1948-04-24 | 1954-02-16 | Crowell Consulting Company | Earth drilling apparatus |
-
1956
- 1956-11-05 US US620495A patent/US3004602A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1910762A (en) * | 1932-03-08 | 1933-05-23 | Union Oil Co | Gas lift apparatus |
US1960261A (en) * | 1932-07-30 | 1934-05-29 | Centeno Guillermo | Apparatus to prevent petroleum fires |
US2118094A (en) * | 1937-04-12 | 1938-05-24 | Mcdonough James Moore | Combination casing head and christmas tree |
US2241288A (en) * | 1940-01-26 | 1941-05-06 | Gray Tool Co | Apparatus for completing wells |
US2346060A (en) * | 1941-03-18 | 1944-04-04 | Shell Dev | Method and apparatus for setting well casing |
US2610689A (en) * | 1946-08-19 | 1952-09-16 | Oil Ct Tool Company | Wellhead seal |
US2669431A (en) * | 1948-04-24 | 1954-02-16 | Crowell Consulting Company | Earth drilling apparatus |
US2607422A (en) * | 1948-12-03 | 1952-08-19 | Standard Oil Dev Co | Method and apparatus for suspending pipe in boreholes |
Cited By (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3256937A (en) * | 1959-07-30 | 1966-06-21 | Shell Oil Co | Underwater well completion method |
US3209829A (en) * | 1961-05-08 | 1965-10-05 | Shell Oil Co | Wellhead assembly for under-water wells |
US3143172A (en) * | 1961-10-16 | 1964-08-04 | Richfield Oil Corp | Self-aligning landing base for off-shore deep water drilling |
US3211223A (en) * | 1961-12-26 | 1965-10-12 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Underwater well completion |
US3202218A (en) * | 1962-06-18 | 1965-08-24 | Gray Tool Co | Submergible apparatus for underwater operations |
US3233666A (en) * | 1962-07-19 | 1966-02-08 | Shell Oil Co | Underwater wellhead with remotelydetachable flow line |
US3339632A (en) * | 1964-01-21 | 1967-09-05 | Hydril Co | Underwater connector |
US3338302A (en) * | 1964-08-24 | 1967-08-29 | Texaco Inc | Control system for sub-sea apparatus |
US3354970A (en) * | 1965-02-08 | 1967-11-28 | Pan American Petroleum Corp | Controlling high-pressure wells while drilling |
US3347312A (en) * | 1965-03-09 | 1967-10-17 | Armco Steel Corp | Underwater wellhead installations |
US3421579A (en) * | 1965-06-17 | 1969-01-14 | Mobil Oil Corp | Underwater completion |
US3372745A (en) * | 1966-04-28 | 1968-03-12 | Mobil Oil Corp | Submersible caisson for subsurface well completion |
US3703207A (en) * | 1970-07-29 | 1972-11-21 | Deep Oil Technology Inc | Subsea bunker construction |
DE2652042A1 (en) * | 1976-10-15 | 1978-04-20 | Baker Int Corp | VALVE AND DISPOSAL DEVICE |
EP2971433A4 (en) * | 2013-03-13 | 2017-01-18 | Conoco Phillips Company | A system for detecting, containing and removing hydrocarbon leaks in a subsea environment |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US3004602A (en) | Underwater oil well completion | |
US2906500A (en) | Completion of wells under water | |
US3592263A (en) | Low profile protective enclosure for wellhead apparatus | |
US3693714A (en) | Tubing hanger orienting apparatus and pressure energized sealing device | |
US3147992A (en) | Wellhead connector | |
US3196958A (en) | Offshore drilling method and apparatus | |
US3211223A (en) | Underwater well completion | |
US3391734A (en) | Subsea production satellite | |
US3722585A (en) | Apparatus for aligning and connecting underwater flowlines | |
US3256937A (en) | Underwater well completion method | |
US9038728B1 (en) | System and method for diverting fluids from a wellhead by using a modified horizontal christmas tree | |
US3098525A (en) | Apparatus for installing and retrieving equipment from underwater wells | |
US3256936A (en) | Drilling underwater wells | |
US3115933A (en) | Apparatus for installing and retrieving equipment from underwater wells | |
US3202218A (en) | Submergible apparatus for underwater operations | |
US3202217A (en) | Submarine cellar for deep water drilling operations | |
US3177942A (en) | Well head assembly with telescoping tubing | |
US3656549A (en) | Underwater completion system | |
US3552903A (en) | Subsea production satellite | |
US4086971A (en) | Riser pipe inserts | |
US3186486A (en) | Well completion | |
US3662822A (en) | Method for producing a benthonic well | |
US6152225A (en) | Method and apparatus for multi-diameter testing of blowout preventer assemblies | |
US3527294A (en) | Underwater exploration and completion system | |
US3062288A (en) | Underwater dual tubing well completion |