U.S. patent application number 09/816610 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-22 for tubing hanger saddle valve.
Invention is credited to Gatherar, Nicholas, Kent, Richard D..
Application Number | 20010042619 09/816610 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9888296 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010042619 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gatherar, Nicholas ; et
al. |
November 22, 2001 |
Tubing hanger saddle valve
Abstract
A tubing hanger incorporates a flow control valve that is
ordinarily found in a horizontal christmas tree. A branch passage
forming a production fluid outlet has a mouth that intersects with
a vertical production bore. A valve closure element in the form of
a rotatable sleeve or saddle is disposed in the bore for
co-operation with a seat disposed in the branch passage. Rotation
of the sleeve, e.g. by means of a shaft extending through a crown
plug, brings a hole into or out of alignment with the seat to
control production fluid flow. In other embodiments, the sleeve is
axially movable.
Inventors: |
Gatherar, Nicholas; (Juniper
Green, GB) ; Kent, Richard D.; (Newburgh,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Henry C. Query, Jr.
504 S. Pierce Ave.
Wheaton
IL
60187
US
|
Family ID: |
9888296 |
Appl. No.: |
09/816610 |
Filed: |
March 23, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/86.3 ;
166/75.14; 166/89.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 34/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/86.3 ;
166/89.3; 166/75.14 |
International
Class: |
E21B 019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 23, 2000 |
GB |
GB 00 07092.0 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A tubing hanger (10) comprising a fluid flow passage (12), a
branch passage (16) having a mouth intersecting with the fluid flow
passage (12), a valve seat (18) disposed in the branch passage (16)
proximate to the mouth and a valve closure element (14) disposed in
the fluid flow passage (12), the closure element (14) being movable
across the mouth and co-operating with the valve seat (18)
selectively to open or close off fluid communication between the
flow passage (12) and branch passage (16).
2. A tubing hanger as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the
fluid flow passage (12) comprises a vertically extending through
passage connected to the tubing and the branch passage (16)
comprises a production fluid side outlet.
3. A tubing hanger as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the
valve closure element (14) is disposed in a tubing annulus bypass
passage.
4. A tubing hanger as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the
valve closure element (14) is movable in use substantially axially
of the fluid flow passage (12).
5. A tubing hanger as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the
valve closure element (14) is movable in use about an axis
extending along the fluid flow passage (12).
6. A tubing hanger as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the
valve closure element (14) is coupled to an operating shaft (28)
extending through a plug (24) in the fluid flow passage (12).
7. A tubing hanger as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the
valve closure element (14) comprises gear teeth (52) engageable
with a rack on a penetrator extending transversely of the fluid
flow passage (12).
8. A tubing hanger as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the
valve closure element (14) comprises gear teeth (52) engageable
with a pinion gear on a shaft extending lengthwise of the fluid
flow passage (12).
9. A tubing hanger as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the
valve closure element (14) is hydraulically actuated.
10. A tubing hanger as defined in claim 1, characterized in that
the valve closure element (14) is biased towards the closed
position, to provide fail safe closure.
11. A tubing hanger as defined in claim 1, characterized in that
the valve closure element (14) comprises a sleeve or part sleeve
disposed adjacent to a wall of the fluid flow passage (12).
12. A tubing hanger as defined in claim 1, characterized in that
the valve closure element (14) comprises an aperture (20)
selectively alignable with the branch passage mouth to provide said
fluid communication.
13. A tubing hanger as defined in claim 12, characterized by one or
more further smaller apertures (74) likewise alignable with the
mouth, to provide choked flow between the flow (12) and branch (16)
passages.
14. A tubing hanger as defined in claim 1, characterized in that
the valve seat (18) and/or closure element (14) is/are mounted for
floating movement axially of the branch passage (16) in a manner
that provides bi-directional sealing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention concerns tubing hangers for horizontal
Christmas trees and the control of fluid flows from and within such
trees.
[0002] A tubing hanger is used in oil and gas wells to hang the
downhole tubing. In a horizontal Christmas tree arrangement it is
landed in and makes an annular seal with the Christmas tree spool.
Control of the production flow is via valves situated on the
horizontal Christmas tree, separate from the tubing hanger.
[0003] There are advantages in relocating the valves associated
with the horizontal tree system from the Christmas tree assembly
itself to the tubing hanger. For example a production master valve
located in the tubing hanger remains fully effective, independently
of the condition of the tubing hanger/tree seal. Thus it may enable
ready replacement of such seals. Moreover, such a valve is
retrievable with the tubing hanger, whereas servicing of valves
integral to the horizontal tree requires retrieval of the tubing
hanger followed by retrieval the tree, a time consuming and costly
operation. The positioning of valves in the tubing hanger
simplifies the tree design and also enables other valves hitherto
normally found in Christmas trees to be located remotely from the
wellhead, with advantages for installation, servicing and
subsequent modification of well components and production flow
control/processing equipment.
[0004] However relocation of valves from the tree to the tubing
hanger is difficult, due to the size of the valves. Gate valves and
ball valves are commonly used subsea equipment barriers, and have
been used or proposed for use in tubing hangers or similar
equipment such as internal tree caps. However the space required to
accommodate these valves dictates larger tubing hanger and wellhead
designs, with increased capital costs, increased component handling
difficulties and hence increased operational costs.
[0005] A more effective valve design for use in tubing hangers for
horizontal Christmas trees is therefore desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to the invention there is provided a tubing hanger
comprising a fluid flow passage and a branch passage having a mouth
intersecting with the fluid flow passage, characterized in that a
valve seat is disposed in the branch passage proximate to the mouth
and a valve closure element is disposed in the fluid flow passage,
the closure element being movable across the mouth and co-operating
with the valve seat selectively to open or close off fluid
communication between the flow passage and branch passage.
[0007] This valve configuration is suited to tubing hangers for
horizontal Christmas tree systems, in which the fluid flow passage
comprises a vertically extending through passage connected to the
tubing and the branch passage comprises a production fluid side
outlet. However, this valve configuration may also be used
elsewhere in the tubing hanger, for example in a tubing annulus
bypass passage.
[0008] In either case, the valve closure element disposed in the
fluid flow passage for selective closure of the branch passage in
the manner defined above provides a particularly compact valve
arrangement. The valve closure element may be movable in use
substantially axially of the fluid flow passage, or about an axis
extending along the fluid flow passage. Various means can be used
to actuate the valve closure element. For example, it may be
coupled to an operating shaft extending through a plug in the flow
passage. It may comprise gear teeth engageable with a rack on a
penetrator extending transversely of the fluid flow passage, or
engageable with a pinion gear on a shaft extending lengthwise of
the fluid flow passage. Alternatively, the closure element may be
hydraulically actuated. The valve closure element may be biased
towards the closed position, to provide fail safe closure.
[0009] The valve closure element may comprise a sleeve or part
sleeve disposed adjacent to a wall of the fluid flow passage. It
may contain an aperture selectively alignable with the branch
passage mouth to provide said fluid communication. There may be one
or more further smaller apertures likewise alignable with the
mouth, to provide choked flow between the flow and branch
passages.
[0010] The valve seat and/or the valve closure element may be
mounted for floating movement axially of the branch passage in a
manner that provides bi-directional sealing.
[0011] Further preferred features and advantages of the invention
are in the following description of illustrative embodiments, made
with reference to the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 diagrammatically represents a tubing hanger embodying
the invention;
[0013] FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrammatic representations of further
embodiments;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cut away perspective view of a valve closure
element and valve seat such as may be used in the above
embodiments;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a cut away perspective view of an alternative
valve closure element and valve seat such as may be used in the
FIGS. 2 and 3 embodiments;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another alternative valve
closure element;
[0017] FIGS. 7 and 8 are part sectional views diagrammatically
illustrating two further tubing hangers embodying the invention;
and
[0018] FIGS. 9 and 10 show yet further alternative valve closure
elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] The tubing hangers 10 shown in FIGS. 1-3, 6 and 7 each
incorporate a saddle or sleeve valve. This valve includes a valve
closure element in the form of a sleeve 14 that sits astride and is
retained in the fluid flow passage formed by the vertical
production bore 12.
[0020] A horizontal production fluid outlet passage 16 branches off
from the production bore 12. The mouth of the production fluid
outlet passage 16 where it joins the production bore 12
accommodates a valve seat 18 arranged to seal against the outside
surface of the sleeve 14. The seat 18 is allowed to float axially
within the passage 16 and the sleeve 14 is allowed to float
radially within the production bore 12 (i.e., also axially of the
passage 16) so as to provide bi-directional sealing. The sleeve 14
wall contains a hole 20 whose cross section corresponds to that of
the passage 16 and which can be moved into alignment with the seat
18 to permit fluid flow between the production bore 12 and the
fluid outlet passage 16. An axial sliding seal 22 is provided
between the seat 18 and the surrounding wall of the outlet passage
16, in known manner.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the sleeve 14 is generally cylindrical.
A plug 24, e.g. a wireline crown plug, and an annular seal 26 are
used to seal the production bore 12 above the production fluid
outlet passage 16. A rotatable actuating shaft 28 having a drive
formation 30 engageable from above the tubing hanger 10 by a
suitable tool (not shown) extends through the plug 24. A packing 32
is used to seal the shaft 28 within the plug 24. The connection 34
between the shaft 28 and the sleeve 14 is by means such as splines
(not shown), capable of accommodating the radial floating movement
of the sleeve 14. A thrust bearing 36 may be provided between an
upper edge of the sleeve 14 and a shoulder in the production bore
16, the bearing likewise capable of accommodating the sleeve
floating movement. Rotation of the drive formation 30 will bring
the hole 20 into or out of alignment with the valve seat 18, so
opening up or closing off fluid communication between the
production bore 12 and production fluid outlet 16. The saddle valve
thus formed effectively performs the function of a Christmas tree
master valve.
[0022] The tubing hanger shown in FIG. 2 is similar to that of FIG.
1, except that the plug 24 and seal 26 are provided in the upper
end of the sleeve 14, above the hole 20, instead of directly in the
production bore 12. The packing 32 is repositioned to surround the
sleeve in the production bore 12 above the production fluid outlet
16, and in this embodiment accommodates the sleeve radial floating
movement.
[0023] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the shaft 28 is linearly
movable by a suitable tool (not shown) engageable with a bayonet
fitting 31. The sleeve 14 is thereby raised or lowered to bring the
hole 20 into and out of register with the seat 18. If desired, a
full bore plug or internal tree cap (not shown) installed in the
Christmas tree above the tubing hanger 10 can be used to hold the
fitting 31 and shaft in the depressed (valve open) position.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing half of a sleeve 14 and
half of a corresponding seat 18, as may be used in the FIG. 1-3
embodiments. For illustrative purposes only, each component is
shown cut along an axial central plane, to render interior surfaces
visible. The seat 18 has a part cylindrical contoured end face 46
to match and form a metal to metal seal with the outer surface of
the sleeve 14.
[0025] FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 4, but shows a sectioned sleeve
14 and seat 18 for use in the FIG. 3 embodiment. The sleeve has a
flat 48 machined along one side, for cooperation with a planar end
face 50 on the seat 18. Vertically movable sleeves as used in FIG.
3 may take a wide variety of cross-sectional forms, as long as that
cross section is uniform along that length of the sleeve which has
to co-operate with the seat 18 or seals 38, 40, as the case may
be.
[0026] FIG. 6 shows an alternative rotatable sleeve having
circumferential gear teeth 52. These may co-operate with a rack
axially driven by a horizontal penetrator suitably positioned on
the Christmas tree. Other geared drive arrangements are possible.
For example the rack may be replaced by a pinion gear carried on a
drive shaft extending upwardly through the tubing hanger.
Alternatively, the circumferential gear teeth may be provided
inside the upper end of the sleeve, for co-operation with a pinion
gear and shaft extending through the plug 24, to replace the shaft
28 and drive connection 34 of the FIG. 1 embodiment, but offset
from the plug central axis.
[0027] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the invention in which
the sleeve 14 has end extensions 54 of reduced outside diameter.
These slide in increased diameter portions 56 of the production
bore 12. The full diameter portion of the sleeve 14 slides in a
further increased diameter portion 58 of the production bore 12.
Annular seals 60 are provided at the ends of the sleeve extensions
54 for co-operation with the increased diameter production bore
portions 56. Further annular seals 62 are provided about the
further increased diameter production bore portion 58, above and
below the production fluid outlet 16, for sealing co-operation with
the full diameter portion of the sleeve 14. This arrangement
defines opposed annular hydraulic chambers 64, 66. A port 68 is
used to supply hydraulic fluid to chamber 64, moving the sleeve 14
downwardly to the valve closed position. A port 70 supplies fluid
to the chamber 70 to raise the sleeve 14 and open the valve.
[0028] FIG. 8 is a modification of FIG. 7 in which chamber 64 is
enlarged to accommodate a fail safe closure bias spring 72. Similar
fail safe closure bias means could be provided in the other
embodiments shown.
[0029] FIGS. 9 and 10 show sleeves 14 modified to provide choked
flow as well as full flow and no flow. In the choked flow position,
an array of small diameter through holes 74 is brought adjacent to
the seat 18 (or between the seals 38, 40, FIG. 3). FIG. 9 shows the
relative positions of holes 20, 74 in a rotationally positioned
sleeve 14, and FIG. 10 an axially slidable sleeve 14. Still further
arrays of choked flow holes could be provided, providing various
flow rates. A continuous array of choked flow holes is possible,
having a hole distribution density which varies in the direction of
movement of the sleeve. Bringing different parts of the array into
co-operation with the seat 18 thereby provides substantially
continuously variable control of the flow rate. The FIG. 10 sleeve
could include a flat as shown in FIG. 5.
[0030] Other forms of valve closure element will be apparent. The
sleeve may not be a complete tubular structure, but instead could
include an axial gap whereby it only partly surrounds the
production bore 12 interior wall. In that case if rotationally
positioned, the sleeve need not incorporate hole 20. In the case of
an axially positioned sleeve, instead of having a hole 20,
substantially the entire sleeve could be moved out of register with
the seat 18. The closure element could take the form of a slab-like
component having a sealing face shaped to conform to the
co-operating surface of the seat and the adjacent interior wall
surface portion of the production bore, the closure element lying
near or against that surface portion.
[0031] It should be recognized that, while the present invention
has been described in relation to the preferred embodiments
thereof, those skilled in the art may develop a wide variation of
structural and operational details without departing from the
principles of the invention. For example, the various elements
illustrated in the different embodiments may be combined in a
manner not illustrated above. Therefore, the appended claims are to
be construed to cover all equivalents falling within the true scope
and spirit of the invention.
* * * * *