US3360042A - Well-heads for hydrocarbons and auxiliary exploitation and maintenance arrangement - Google Patents

Well-heads for hydrocarbons and auxiliary exploitation and maintenance arrangement Download PDF

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Publication number
US3360042A
US3360042A US438302A US43830265A US3360042A US 3360042 A US3360042 A US 3360042A US 438302 A US438302 A US 438302A US 43830265 A US43830265 A US 43830265A US 3360042 A US3360042 A US 3360042A
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Prior art keywords
well
christmas tree
head
vessel
ballast
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Marion Henri Albert
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D'etude Du Transport Et de la Valorisation Des Gaz Naturels Du Sahara Segans Ste
TRANSP ET de la VALORISATION D
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TRANSP ET de la VALORISATION D
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    • 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
    • E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
    • E21B7/12—Underwater drilling
    • 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
    • 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
    • E21B41/00—Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00
    • E21B41/0007—Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00 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
    • 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

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An underwater oil well comprising a production tu-be carrying a well-head connected to a Christmas tree by a releasable quick-action remotely controlled connection, a lateral guiding system for the Christmas tree between the lowermost and a raised position thereof, and hollow ballast means connected to the Christmas tree and adapted to be put in communication with a source of compressed air or a source of liquid for raising or lowering the Christmas tree relative to the Well-head.
  • the invention relates to wells which are sunk in a region covered with water and more particularly to wells for extraction of mineral oil sunk in coastal regions or under a lake, at depths at which the maintenance of the well can no longer be effected by means of independent divers. This limit is actually less than 100 meters and the diiculties of extraction rather than those of sinking prevent the sinking of deeper wells.
  • the invention also relates to wells with shaft heads at a depth less than that specified above.
  • the invention has-the object of providing an arrangement permitting the raising of the production tube, the Christmas tree, and the ends of the distributor conduits connected thereto, to a shallow zone including Ithe surface, where divers can carry out effective maintenance work and subsequently put the well back into production.
  • the invention consists in combining an improved Christmas tree with a lateral guide system therefor in the submerged and raised positions, and sealing means surrounding the production tube, the outer ends of which are smooth.
  • the bottom end of the Christmas tree has a quick-action connection to the Well head, such as is known in the art, and is integral with at least one ballast tank connected by a control conduit to a iioat near the surface.
  • a control vessel recovers this oat and after connecting compressor-s to the control conduit, it can supply compressed air to the system, whereby the Christmas tree which was previously connected with the head, is disconnected therefrom and may be gradually raisedtogether with the production tube and the ends of the distributing conduits.
  • the gradual filling of the ballast tank or tanks by a liquid, such as water makes it possible to reverse this operation for placing the Christmas tree into position after the maintenance therefor or of the well base.
  • ballast tanks serve respectively for the unlocking and lifting of the Christmas tree and its acces- 3,360,042 Patented Dec. 2 6, 1967 ICC sories. Moreover, these ballast tanks are symmetrical relative to the axis and of ring shape.
  • the raising means comprise a submergible vessel -carrying divers. These means are capable, in shallow depths of resting on the ground underwater immediately -adjacent to the well head and permitting the -divers to carry out their work on the well heads and their accessories, and are equipped, for work in greater depths, with means for attaching the raising means to the well head there being provided a device for unlocking and raising the wells, the vessel remaining fixed to the head during the raising and during the return of the well head to the assembled position on the underwater bottom so as to -guide the vertical movement of the -well head, the said underwater vessel -being moved in the vertical plane by acting on the ballast means therefor and acting merely as guide during the rising or descending movement of the head a full stop.
  • the vessel comprises a ⁇ device for effecting a certain number of reconditioning operations (workover)
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical side elevation and shows the raised and submerged state of the device according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a partial cross-section taken along the median plane of a mineral oil well equipped with such an arrangement
  • FIG. 3 isan axial cross-section of al submerged well head and its accessories and the hull ofasubmergib-le vessel, attached and locked to the well head;
  • FIG. 4 is a detail of FIG. 3 and shows the iixing means fixing the vessel to the well head;
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-section along the line 5 5 in FIG. 3; v
  • FIG. 6 is a cross-section along the line 6 6 in FIG.
  • FIG. 7 is an axial cross-section on a larger scale of a union between two conduits according to another feature of the invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a cross-section along the line 8-8 in FIG. 7;
  • FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a half-union, showing the arrangement for locking the jacks.
  • FIG. ⁇ 10 shows diagrammatically the hull of a submergible vessel equipped with a diving bell mounted on a platform on which is located the shaft head.
  • the drawings show a mineral oil well, the depth of which is naturally not shown to scale and which comprises in the usual manner a casing 1a, 1b, 1c, externally cemented together, the different parts being retained together by a suspension arrangement 2a, 3b; 2b, 3c.
  • Reference numerals 3b, 3c signify hangers which rest on supports 2a, -2b. The latter may ⁇ be integral with bayonet locks, the top one of which is integral in turn with the actual well head 4.
  • the well head 4 has in its upper part a conical guide 6 and an annular shoulder 8 serving for mounting a connection 7 integral with a Christmas tree or ⁇ distributor 15.
  • This connection comprises, as known in the art, several latches 9, and external centering housing 7a which cooperates with the guide 6 of the shaft head, 'and an annular double-acting, hydraulic piston 10 which actuates and locks the latches 9 when in the lowest position.
  • Connected to this piston are several rods 11, integral at their other ends with a ballast tank 12 which is symmetrical relative to the axis of the shaft, and has, for example, a ring shape.
  • the housing 7a may be fixed by means of struts 13 to a further ballast tank 14, also of ring shape.
  • a plurality of conduits 26 connect this ballast tank with a oat 27 immersed at a sufficient distance from the surface to avoid any damage thereto by surface traffic.
  • Cables or chains 116 connect the connection 7 to stationary members or weights 18 arranged on the bed symmetrically, relative to the well head assembly 2. These cables may be equipped with a ballast 17.
  • Conduits 19, forming the distributing network and either submerged or located on the surface lead to the Christmas tree 15. They may be supported by means of oats 20 distributed over the region where these conduits are subjected to maximum exions.
  • a production tube 21, mounted at its top end by any known means on the Christmas tree 15, is smooth in its upper part and equipped for this purpose with threaded connectors 2lb which differ from the conventional connectors 21a.
  • At its lower end it has an intake 24 which passes through one or more sets of seals or packers 22 of conventional type, which have a non-return valve 23.
  • the seal between the intake end 24 and the packer or packers 22 may be effected by a plurality of seals 25 mounted on the intake end 24.
  • the seal of the upper end of the production tube is effected by means of several conventional seals 5, for ex ample by several superimposed seals having annular lip portions.
  • the upper part of the Christmas tree 15 may also be equipped with a conical flange 6a and a shoulder 8a, for attaching any desired auxiliary equipment, which may be guided by cables fixed to the members 13, up to the surface, if this is required.
  • one or more packers 22 equipped with non-return valves 23, are lowered into the lowermost tube 1c.
  • the production tube 21 is placed into position, passing through the head via a plurality of seals.
  • the well is completed by lowering the Christmas tree 15, connected with the distributing conduits 19, from which the production tube is suspended.
  • the production is remotely controlled by conventional means, for example, by means of hydraulic valves, the control circuits of which extend along the conduits leading to the ballast tank.
  • the workshop ship drilling and finishing the wells can now travel to another well and the oats 27 which oat at a small depth beneath the surface facilitate the finding and the control of the well head in production.
  • the workshop vessel When this well is to be maintained or repaired, the workshop vessel returns and locates the immersed fioat 27, e.g., by means of ultrasonic detectors.
  • the vessel is positioned above the well and divers connect the cornpressed air conduit 27 to compressors on board the vessel.
  • the compressed air supplied to the :ballast tank 12 results in a sufiicient tractive force to lift the annular piston 10, if the hydraulic actuation of this piston has been ineffective, and the latches 9 release the shoulder ⁇ 8 of the well head 4.
  • the forcing of compressed air into the ballast tank 14 results in sufficient upward force to lift the assembly formed by the Christmas tree 15, the conduits 19, the connection 7, the guide cables 16 and the production tube 21.
  • the upper part of the tube 21 slides through the seals and intake end portion 24 travels through the packers 22, whilst the seal of the lower part of the tube is effected by means of seals 25.
  • the lifting height y may -be such that the intake end 24 leaves completely the lowermost packer whose non-return valve closes immediately under the action of the pressure and of a spring with which it is equipped.
  • the flexibility of the conduits net 19 and of the cables 16 is sufficient in view of the small displacement of the Christmas tree in the vertical direction to enable them to reach the surface from their horizontal position.
  • the apparent weight a of the production tube is the apparent weight a of the production tube.
  • connection 7-11 and ballast tank 14 (b may be in the upward or downward direction according to the contents ofthe ballast tank)
  • the apparent weight c of the guide assembly 16, 17 in the lifted position.
  • a l60 tons
  • c l10 t.
  • d vl6 t.
  • f i20 t.
  • the oatability of the ballast tank is determined by the inequalities (l) and (4), the value being in this example 65 tons, which is an easily obtainable value.
  • the arrangement of the invention permits the repeated lifting of the production-tube, and thus a variety of operations which are normally irnpossible with a submerged well (maintenance oflvalves, servicing of the tube by cables, maintenance of the shaft by a land-type snubbing unit, injections of acid, mud or cement, fracturing operations, and generally any operation connected with the exploitation and maintenance covered by the general term servicing).
  • the raising can be effected by means of the improved arrangement shown in FIGS. 3-9.
  • the well head assembly T (shown by the dash-dot lines) is surrounded at a suitable distance by an annular casing 101 whose base is conveniently ballasted and anchored .on the underwater bed or oor.
  • This casing 101 may serve on the one hand as protection for the head assembly against water currents and on the other hand as support for the conduits 19 which are mounted by known means on the casing, for example, by a system of collars or flanges, 102.
  • the well head has an upper part 103 with a cover 104 of externally cylindrical shape above its Christmas tree this cover is mounted on the well head by suitable means, e.g., by bolting (not shown).
  • Machined in this cover 104 is a preferably conical aperture 105 which extends into a cylindrical portion 105 and a circular recess or chamber 107 (FIG. 4) and terminates in a cavity 108 which is also conical.
  • an aperture 109 equipped with a valve, not shown, which replaces the compressed air inlet 27 and the pipelines 26 for supplying compressed air to the ballast tanks 12 and 14, as shown in FIG. .2.
  • a submergible vessel, shown diagrammatically at 110 is formed integrally with a hollow rod 111 via a member 112 o-f the vessel 110; this rod 111 terminates at its lower end in a male conical nozzle 113.
  • the rod is equipped with a locking arrangement 114, and the arrangement is actuated, for example hydraulically, by jacks controlling the keying of the rod 111 in the recess 107, as in FIG. 4, as well as the unkeying of the rod.
  • a tubular sleeve 115 with two conduits 115a and 115b is adapted to slide in the rod 111 under the action of a jack (not shown). This sliding action connects the conduits 115a, 115b with a valve box 118, connected to a conduit 119.
  • Another valve box 120 connects the conduit 119 with ducts 116, 117.
  • control members In order to enable several control ⁇ operations to Abe carried out on the well head, control members, described hereunder are provided.
  • the network of conduits 19 of the well head comprises the Christmas tree 15 connected to the conduits 19 through a circular collector 121 which rests on the annular casing 101.
  • the collector is connected to the Christmas tree by one or more pipes 122 which form part of the well head assembly and comprise a part, not shown, permitting a slight sliding action along the pipes 122, such as a flexible joint.
  • Each pipe 122 terminates adjacent the collector 121 in a valve 123; the connection with the collector 121 is made by a union arrangement 124 and a second valve 125.
  • the union arrangement is of special construction and shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9.
  • the valves 123, 125 may be of any suitable type, adapted for underwater use. Preferably they are Iof the stopcock type with integral passage, while the seats of the valves may be self-lubricating. Opening and closing may be effected by means known in the art, for example, by rotating through a quarter turn a spindle carrying a rotating key, the spindle itself being controlled from the underwater vessel 110.
  • valves 123, 125 and other controls are controlled from a control platform 126.
  • this platform may be circular, but it may also be a rim of light construction or a crown concentric with the axis of the rod 111 having sectors in the form of radial spokes.
  • the remote control means, such as 127, 128, 129, 130 are fixed radially ⁇ on this platform 126.
  • the platform may be moved vertically relative to the vessel 110 by means of a ring of vertical jacks 131, for
  • the heads of the jacks 132 are fixed rigidly on a base 133 of the -vessel 110 and their bases are vertically fixed with the platform 126, by means of an assembly shown generally at 135 (FIG. 3).
  • This locked assembly comprises circular members 134a which have a circular recess 136 sliding in a groove having annular edges 137, 138, and are concentric relative to the tubular sleeve 115.
  • the edges 137, 138 form part of the platform 126.
  • the outer edge is equipped with a toothed ring or rack 139 mating with pinions 140, mounted on shafts of electric motors 141 located in the jacks 131.
  • the platform 126 may he subjected to two movements, namely:
  • Each movement is limited by stops; the limits of the movements may be indicated by electric indicating means known in the art which produce signals on board the Vessel.
  • abutment surfaces 143 On the periphery of the platform 126 are projecting portions 142 (FIG. 5) forming abutment surfaces 143 which may make contact with corresponding abutments 144 on the annular casing 101.
  • the platform 126 is guided in its rotational movement by plastic rollers 145 or rollers of other suitable material which bear against a circular base formed on the rod 111.
  • the vertical movement is limited by annular stops 147, 148 fixed, respectively, on the base 146 and .on the platform 126 and serving as an electric signal contact.
  • the tools 127-130 mounted on the platform 126 control the valves 123, 125, the connecting arrangement 124 and one or more control devices 149 for controlling the output .of hydrocarbons by rotation of a conventional drum.
  • the tools 127, 129 and 130 control the valves 123, 125 and the output control device 149, previously equipped with tools in the form of tubular spanners or keys on their shaftsrEach tool comprises an electric motor under a tight cover which controls the rotation of the shafts by means of the tubular keys and a suitable reduction gearing (not shown). Their positions may be controlled, for example, by electric contacts producing a signal on the vessel 110.
  • the connecting device 124 will now be described with reference to FIGURES 7-9.
  • This device 124 makes possible the connection of pipes such as pipe 122 to the corresponding aperture of the ycollector 121 and comprises a connecting head 151, formed integrally with the valve 123 and a hook member 152 fixed to the valve 125.
  • the connecting head is equipped with two jack half-collars 153, 154, one of said collars being provided in a circular end wall 155 of the connecting head 151 whereas the other is provided in a half end wall 156. Extending through this head are water conduits 157 connected to the jacks 153a, 154b for controlling them by pressurized water.
  • a suitable seal 158 operating under Icompression is mounted in the end wall 155 to ensure a good seal between the two parts of the connection.
  • the hook member 152 comprises a circular end wall 159 and a half end wall 160 the shape of which is complementary to that of the connecting head 151.
  • connection is made by lowering the head 151 to the level of the hook member so that the end wall 159 is hooked behind the half end wall 156 and the end wall 155 behind the half end wall 160.
  • a sealing is achieved under the action of the jacks 153a, 154a which exert a thrust against the end wall 159 and the half end wall 160, Whilst crushing the seal 158 between the faces 161 and 162.
  • the jacks 153a, 154a are controlled by a control box 128, containing a pump and the necessary valves for controlling these jacks through a conduit 163 and a nozzle 164, also equipped with valves.
  • the unhooking of the pipes 122 from the collector 121 is effected by eliminating the pressure of the jacks 153s, 154g so that the corresponding end walls of the head 151 and the member 152 are no longer pressed together and are released.
  • a spring may be provided between these parts to aid in the separation.
  • the underwater vessel 110 equipped with the rod 111 and the nozzle 113 is lowered by introducing water into its ballast tanks.
  • the approach'and engagement of the vessel can be supervised and controlled on one hand by ultrasonic waves, and on the other hand by means of portholes and conventional projectors of submarine work suitably arranged on the underwater vessel by means of a submarine television camrea mounted in a suitable position under the vessel.
  • the conical nozzle centered by the conical surface 105, enters the cover 104.
  • the nozzle passes through the cylindrical portion 106 and enters the cavity 10S.
  • an electric contact closes and produces a visual and/ or audible signal on the control panel of the vessel 110.
  • the locking arrangement 114 is actuated which keys the rod 111 in the recess 107.
  • a circuit is formed for supplying compressed air from the vessel 110 into the ballast tanks 12 and 14 of the well head through the conduits 115e, the valve assembly 113, the passage 119, the valve 120 and the conduits 116, 117, by sliding the sleeve 115 in the rod 111 under the action of a ram. Water is expelled from the ballast tanks 12 and 14, causing the unlocking and then the raising of the well head.
  • the pipe 122 was uncoupled from the collector 121 by actuating the connecting device 124 after closing the valves 123, 125.
  • the vessel 110 moves vertically under the effect of its own ballast tanks and remains fixed to the well head by the locking arrangement 114.
  • the vessel serves therefore as guide for the well head during its upward movement up to the operating level of the divers. These can leave the vessel through a port and carry out all maintenance work required on the well head and on its accessories whilst the vessel 110 remains locked to the cover 104.
  • the raising can be continued until the well head reaches the surface.
  • the well head may be returned to its position on the sea bed by lling the ballast tanks again with water through the conduits 115b disposed in the sleeve 115 and connected to the valves 118.
  • the vessel 110 descends with the well head under the action of its own ballast tanks and remains connected with the cover 104 due to the locking arrangement 114 so that it guides the descent of the well head.
  • the vessel 110 carries out the reconnection of the well head to the collector 121 by means of the connecting device 124; then the valves 123 and 125 can be opened.
  • the vessel 110 can be disconnected from the cover .104 by retracting the locking device 114 by hydraulic action.
  • the sleeve 115 is again raised in the rod 111 and the vessel 110 can be moved to other submerged Well heads.
  • platform 126 can be positioned by rotation so as to cause the surface 143 to abut the corresponding surfaces of the abutment members 144 so that the tools on the platform are opposite the corresponding members such as the valves 123, 125, the members 149 and the connecting device 124.
  • the abutment faces are equipped with suitable electric contacts which produce signals on the control panel of the vessel 110 indicating the correct alignment of the platform 126 with the well head.
  • the jacks 131 are actuated in order to lower the platform 126 vertically until the stops 147, 14S come to rest one on the other.
  • the correct vertical positioning is again signalled by electrical means. These positioning movements may be supervised and controlled, for example, by underwater television.
  • the positions of the valves 123, 125 may be controlled, for example, by means of a plate fixed to the outside of each valve body, each plate having two phosphorescent markings corresponding to the open and closed position 0f the valve, while the spindle of each valve has also a phosphorescent lug which is aligned with one of the two markings according to whether the valve is open or closed. Supervision is again by underwater television.
  • any other control apparatus such as an ultrasonic acoustic system can also be used, wherein each valve position controls a transducer, the emission frequencies being diferent for each of the two positions of the valve, and the supply circuit of the transducer being closed when the tool controlling the valve is placed in position.
  • the control of the position of the member 149 may again be effected by .any suitable means, for example, by a fixed sector with phosphorescent markings and a phosphorescent pointer which is mounted on the spindle of the member 149 and moves relative to the sector when the output of the member 149 is adjusted supervision being by underwater television.
  • the submerged well heads may thus be serviced by means of an underwater vessel according to the invention.
  • the vessel is capable of lifting the same by means of the upward thrust its own ballast tanks after locking the vessel to the head, disconnecting the network of conduits 19 and closing the valves.
  • the submergible vessel can be fixed to a well head which is not adapted to be raised and the workover effected in this position while the vessel remains at the bottom.
  • these well heads may be mounted on a base 165 (FIG. 10) which forms a platlform, the conduits 19 extending out of the side of this ase.
  • the vessel may be equipped for constant use or for given inspections with a skirt 166 which forms a diving bell and is connected to the hull of the vessel 110 by a conduit 167.
  • the vessel is seated on the platform by means of a guide socket 168, which may, for example, be conical Iand forms part of the platform 165.
  • the well head and its accessories are thus enclosed within the diving bell surrounding them and compressed air supplied by the vessel 110 transforms the bell 166 into a diving bell.
  • the divers after getting accustomed to the required pressure by stages enter the bell through the port 167 under the vessel 110 and carry out the necessary work. After the completion of the work, the divers re-enter the vessel 110 and, after the gradual reduction in the pressure, the vessel can move off to other well heads in order t-o carry out the required maintenance work.
  • An oil well structure for oil production from an earth formation under a body of water comprising in combination a well casing, a well head, a Christmas tree carrying at its base a releasable connecting means connecting said Christmas tree to said Wellhead, a production tube to which said Christmas tree is xed, said Christmas tree having hollow ballast means connected thereto, an underwater vessel capable of carrying independent divers and including for work .at great depth releasable means attaching the vessel to said Christmas tree, means putting the hollow ballast means selectively in communication with a source of compressed air and a source of liquid, whereby said Christmas tree is raisable from said well-head by supplying compressed air to said ballast means, and lowerable to said well-head by supplying liquid to said ballast means, the vessel remaining attached to the Christmas tree during said raising and during the lowering of the Christmas tree so as to laterally guide the Christmas tree in the vertical movement thereof the vessel having and being vertically movable by hollow ballast tank-s combined therewith and acting merely as a guide
  • said Christmas tree comprises a cover structure carrying conduits for putting said ballast means -selectively in communication with said source of compressed air and said source of liquid, said attaching means attaching the vessel to said cover structure.
  • a well structure as claimed in claim l wherein the well head is mounted on a foundation forming a platform on said earth formation, -a diving bell which forms part of the said vessel resting on said platform.
  • a well structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said Christmas tree comprises a plurality of oil collecting conduits radially extending therefrom and a ring-shaped manifold interconnecting said collecting conduits and coaxial with said Christmas tree, an annular sleeve coaxial with said well head and supporting said manifold and adapted to be secured to said earth formation.
  • a well structure as claimed in claim 5, comprising a tool-carrying platform which is carried by said vessel and rotatable and vertically movable relative to said vessel by control means and carries tools releasably engaging control devices of said Christmas tree and releasable means interconnecting said platform and said sleeve.
  • each of said collecting conduits has an oil output regulating means, the connection between the manifold and that part of each collecting conduit adjacent said Christmas tree comprising two remote-controlled valves and a remotecontrolled releasable connecting device interconnecting said valves.
  • the said connecting device comprises a connecting head, a hook member engaging said connecting head, a releasable clamping device clamping said connecting head to said hook member and sealing means between said connecting head and said hook member.
  • An oil well structure for oil production from an earth formation under a body of water, said well structure comprising in combination a well casing, a well-head, a Christmas tree, a releasable connection means interconnecting said Christmas tree and said well-head and comprising an upwardly movable member for releasing said connection means and disconnecting said Christmas tree from said well-head, lateral guide means connected to said Christmas tree for the guiding thereof in movements between a lowermost position adjacent said wellhead and an upper position in which work to be carried out on said Christmas tree is facilitated, an oil production tube connected to and depending from said Christmas tree into said well casing, hollow ballast means connected to said Christmas tree and said releasing member, means for supplying liquid to the interior of said ballast means, conduit means connected to and extending upwardly from said ballast means and having an upper end for connection to a source of compressed air, and iioat means connected to said conduit means adjacent said upper end thereof for maintaining said upper end at a desired level in said body of water, whereby said Christmas tree can be disconnected from
  • the lateral guide means comprises a plurality of cables connected to and radially extending from the Chri-Stmas tree, the cables being substantially taut and having ends remote from the Christmas tree connected to said earth formation, the lateral guide means having suicient ilexibility to allow said movements of the Christmas tree.
  • ballast means comprise a ballast tank for said releasing member which is separate from an upwardly movable relative to a ballast tank connected to said Christmas tree.
  • An oil well structure for oil production from an earth formation under a body of water, said well structure comprising in combination a Well casing, a well-head, a Christmas tree, a releasable connection means interconnecting said well-head and said Christmas tree, means for releasing said connection means, guide means associated with said Christmas tree for the guiding thereof in movements between a lowermost position adjacent said well-head and an upper position in which work to be carried out on said Christmas tree is facilitated, an oil production tube connected to and depending from said Christmas tree into said well casing, hollow ballast means connected to said Christmas tree, said ballast means being adapted to be put selectively in communication with a source of compressed air and a source of liquid whereby said Christmas tree is selectively raisable to said upper position by said ballast means after release of said connection means and supply of compressed air to said ballast means and lower-able to said lowermost position by supplying liquid to said ballast means.
  • An oil well structure for oil production from an earth formation under a body of water comprising in combination a well casing, a wellhead, a Christmas tree, a quick-action releasable connection means interconnecting said well-head and said Christmas tree, a control element upwardly movable relative to said Christmas tree and combined with said connection means for releasing said connection means, a first ballast tank connected to said control element, guide means associated with said Christmas tree for the guiding thereof in movements between a lowermost position adjacent said well-head and an upper position in which work to be carried out on said Christmas tree is facilitated, an oil production tube connected to and depending from said Christmas tree into said well casing, a second ballast tank connected to said Christmas tree, said ballast tanks being adapted to be connected selectively to a source of compressed air and a source of liquid whereby said Christmas tree is selectively raisable relative to said Well-head by supplying compressed air to said first ballast tank to release said connection means and to said second ballast tank and lowerable by supplying liquid to said bal

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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)
  • Mutual Connection Of Rods And Tubes (AREA)
  • Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)
US438302A 1964-03-14 1965-03-09 Well-heads for hydrocarbons and auxiliary exploitation and maintenance arrangement Expired - Lifetime US3360042A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR967471A FR1396585A (fr) 1964-03-14 1964-03-14 Perfectionnements aux têtes de puits immergées, applicables notamment à l'exploitation de puits de pétrole
FR6777A FR87349E (fr) 1964-03-14 1965-02-24 Perfectionnements aux têtes de puits immergés applicables notamment à l'exploitation de puits de pétrole

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US (1) US3360042A (fr)
DE (1) DE1240486B (fr)
FR (2) FR1396585A (fr)
GB (1) GB1107391A (fr)
NL (1) NL6503189A (fr)
NO (1) NO123566B (fr)

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US3450201A (en) * 1967-08-03 1969-06-17 Pan American Petroleum Corp Extensible caisson for underwater well
US3461958A (en) * 1967-01-16 1969-08-19 Cicero C Brown Methods and apparatus for installation and removal of preventer stacks in offshore oil and gas wells
US3517736A (en) * 1968-07-18 1970-06-30 North American Rockwell Subsurface wireline system
US3556231A (en) * 1968-08-30 1971-01-19 Homer I Henderson Bit weight maintainer for marine earth boring
US5318384A (en) * 1990-03-30 1994-06-07 Coflexip Device for depositing and recovering a heavy load on the ocean floor
US6113357A (en) * 1998-05-21 2000-09-05 Dobbs; Rocky Hydraulic turbine compressor
CN113482566A (zh) * 2021-08-18 2021-10-08 姜水 掺水工艺组合井口
CN115012887A (zh) * 2022-06-23 2022-09-06 邓家祥 一种具有环保型密封机构的掺水井口

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NL161403C (nl) * 1965-08-06 1980-08-15 Shell Int Research Werkwijze en duikinrichting voor het uitvoeren van werk- zaamheden onder water.
CN117404040B (zh) * 2023-12-13 2024-03-08 中国石油集团川庆钻探工程有限公司 一种压裂井口泄漏封堵装置及封堵方法

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US2512783A (en) * 1946-05-04 1950-06-27 Augustine J Tucker Marine drilling
US3017934A (en) * 1955-09-30 1962-01-23 Shell Oil Co Casing support
GB874178A (en) * 1957-04-15 1961-08-02 California Research Corp Apparatus for drilling offshore wells
US3177942A (en) * 1958-01-27 1965-04-13 Shell Oil Co Well head assembly with telescoping tubing
US3186486A (en) * 1959-02-24 1965-06-01 Mcevoy Co Well completion
US3256937A (en) * 1959-07-30 1966-06-21 Shell Oil Co Underwater well completion method
US3064735A (en) * 1959-08-17 1962-11-20 Shell Oil Co Wellhead assembly lock-down apparatus
US3170518A (en) * 1960-05-23 1965-02-23 Brown Oil Tools Well method and apparatus which is particularly adapted for use in multiple zone wells
US3160850A (en) * 1960-12-27 1964-12-08 Honeywell Inc Underwater locating apparatus
US3163222A (en) * 1961-04-24 1964-12-29 Shell Oil Co Wellhead apparatus
US3221816A (en) * 1961-12-07 1965-12-07 Shell Oil Co Underwater oil gathering installation
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Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3461958A (en) * 1967-01-16 1969-08-19 Cicero C Brown Methods and apparatus for installation and removal of preventer stacks in offshore oil and gas wells
US3450201A (en) * 1967-08-03 1969-06-17 Pan American Petroleum Corp Extensible caisson for underwater well
US3517736A (en) * 1968-07-18 1970-06-30 North American Rockwell Subsurface wireline system
US3556231A (en) * 1968-08-30 1971-01-19 Homer I Henderson Bit weight maintainer for marine earth boring
US5318384A (en) * 1990-03-30 1994-06-07 Coflexip Device for depositing and recovering a heavy load on the ocean floor
US6113357A (en) * 1998-05-21 2000-09-05 Dobbs; Rocky Hydraulic turbine compressor
CN113482566A (zh) * 2021-08-18 2021-10-08 姜水 掺水工艺组合井口
CN115012887A (zh) * 2022-06-23 2022-09-06 邓家祥 一种具有环保型密封机构的掺水井口
CN115012887B (zh) * 2022-06-23 2023-04-25 大庆丹枫石油技术开发有限公司 一种具有环保型密封机构的掺水井口

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR87349E (fr) 1966-07-22
NO123566B (fr) 1971-12-13
GB1107391A (en) 1968-03-27
FR1396585A (fr) 1965-04-23
NL6503189A (fr) 1965-09-15
DE1240486B (de) 1967-05-11

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