U.S. patent application number 13/276827 was filed with the patent office on 2013-04-25 for recoverable production module for use with a production tree.
This patent application is currently assigned to VETCO GRAY INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is Stephen P. Fenton. Invention is credited to Stephen P. Fenton.
Application Number | 20130098633 13/276827 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47324953 |
Filed Date | 2013-04-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130098633 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fenton; Stephen P. |
April 25, 2013 |
RECOVERABLE PRODUCTION MODULE FOR USE WITH A PRODUCTION TREE
Abstract
A wellhead assembly having a production module that includes
valves, modules, and passages and mounts onto a production tree. As
the production module lands onto the production tree, flow passages
in the production tree register with corresponding flow passages in
the module. A production spool has an exit connected to a
production flow jumper. The production spool can be supported by
coupling to the production tree and has a stab that connects to a
production flow passage when the production module is landed on the
production tree. The production module can be removed from the
production tree without disturbing the connection between the
production spool and the production flow jumper.
Inventors: |
Fenton; Stephen P.;
(Aberdeen, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Fenton; Stephen P. |
Aberdeen |
|
GB |
|
|
Assignee: |
VETCO GRAY INC.
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
47324953 |
Appl. No.: |
13/276827 |
Filed: |
October 19, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/382 ;
166/85.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 33/035 20130101;
E21B 43/0122 20130101; E21B 33/043 20130101; E21B 34/04
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/382 ;
166/85.1 |
International
Class: |
E21B 23/00 20060101
E21B023/00 |
Claims
1. A wellhead assembly comprising: a tubular wellhead housing; a
tubing hanger landed in the wellhead housing having a lower end
attachable to a tubing string; a production module comprising a
mounting bore extending through the production module and a flow
passage projecting from the mounting bore; a production tree that
selectively inserts into the mounting bore and that is mounted on
an upper end of the wellhead housing; an axial bore in the
production tree that registers with a tubing hanger bore that is
axially formed through the tubing hanger; and a port in the
production tree that intersects the axial bore and an outer surface
of the production tree, so that when the production tree is
inserted into the mounting bore and the production module is landed
on the production tree, the port registers with the flow
passage.
2. The wellhead assembly of claim 1, further comprising a
production spool coupled to the production tree and a production
line in the production module that register when the production
module is landed on the production tree.
3. The wellhead assembly of claim 1, wherein the port is above the
upper end of the tubing hanger.
4. The wellhead assembly of claim 1, wherein the port comprises a
production port for the flow of production fluid.
5. The wellhead assembly of claim 1, wherein the port comprises an
auxiliary line in communication with an axial passage in the tubing
hanger that communicates with an annular space between the tubing
hanger and the wellhead housing.
6. The wellhead assembly of claim 1, further comprising a
selectively removable actuator disposed on the production module
for actuating a valve disposed in the production module.
7. A method of wellbore operations comprising: providing a
production module comprising a mounting bore extending through the
production module and a passage that intersects the mounting bore;
positioning the production module on a production tree that is
mounted on a wellbore and that has a port intersecting an outer
surface of the production tree; and inserting the production tree
into the mounting bore and registering the passage with the port
thereby landing the production module on the production tree.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein a production spool having a
production stab is coupled with the production tree and the
production stab registers with a production flow line formed in the
production module when the production module is landed on the
production tree.
9. The method of claim 7, further comprising producing fluid from a
wellbore in communication with the production tree and removing the
production module from the production tree.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein closing a single valve in the
production tree isolates the production module from communication
with the wellbore.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein a production spool coupled with
a well flow jumper and having a production stab is supported by
being coupled with the production tree, and the production stab
registers with a production flow line formed in the production
module when the production module is landed on the production tree,
so that when the production module is removed from the production
tree, the production spool remains coupled with the well flow
jumper.
12. The method of claim 7, wherein the production tree is mounted
on a wellhead housing in which a tubing hanger is landed.
13. The method of claim 7, wherein an actuator is coupled with the
production tree and mechanically couples with a valve provided with
the production module, the method further comprising operating the
valve with the actuator.
14. The method of claim 7, further comprising producing fluids from
the wellbore through the production module and removing actuators
mounted on the production module.
15. A wellhead assembly comprising: a tubular wellhead housing; a
tubing hanger landed in the wellhead housing having a lower end
attachable to a tubing string; a production module comprising a
mounting bore extending through the production module and a flow
passage projecting from the mounting bore; a production tree that
selectively inserts into the mounting bore and that is mounted on
an upper end of the wellhead housing; an axial bore in the
production tree that registers with a tubing hanger bore that is
axially formed through the tubing hanger; a production passage in
the production tree extending between the axial bore and an outer
surface of the production tree; a production line in the production
module having an entrance that selectively couples with the
production passage when the production module is landed onto the
production tree; and a production stab in selective communication
with an exit of the production line fluid, so that when the
production module is landed on the production tree, the production
passage is in fluid communication with a production fluid jumper
that is connectable to an exit of the production stab.
16. The wellhead assembly of claim 15, further comprising an
auxiliary passage in the production module.
17. The wellhead assembly of claim 16, wherein the auxiliary
passage engages an auxiliary stab when the production module is
landed on the production tree for communicating the auxiliary
passage with a tubing annulus.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The invention relates generally to equipment for controlling
the production of wellbore fluid. More specifically, the invention
relates to a module removable from a production tree and having
passages that register with passages in the production tree.
[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0004] Wellheads used in the production of hydrocarbons extracted
from subterranean formations typically comprise a wellhead assembly
attached at the upper end of a wellbore formed into a hydrocarbon
producing formation. An annular wellhead housing typically makes up
the outermost member where wellhead assemblies connect to a
wellbore. A production tree usually connects to the upper end of a
wellhead assembly for controlling flow in and out of the wellbore
and allowing access into the wellbore. Support hangers are
generally included within the wellhead housing for suspending
production tubing and casing into the wellbore. The casing lines
the wellbore, thereby isolating the wellbore from the surrounding
formation. The tubing typically lies concentric within the casing
and provides a conduit therein for producing the hydrocarbons
entrained within the formation.
[0005] Production trees typically include flow lines that connect
with other lines outside of the wellhead assembly for porting fluid
produced from the wellbore to a location for processing the fluid.
Production trees also usually contain passages that also connect to
a line is external to the production tree. Typically the passages
are used for accessing annuli between concentric wellbore tubulars.
The passages are also often used to provide a return path for fluid
injected within a tubular (e.g. tubing or casing) that exits the
bottom end of the tubular and flows up the wellbore in an annulus
around the tubular. Generally, valves regulate flow through the
lines and passages, which are included inline with the lines and
passages. Thus removing the production tree for service or other
reasons usually requires a separate step of disconnecting the lines
and passages internal to the tree from the lines and passages
external to the tree.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Disclosed herein is an example of a wellhead assembly having
a production module removably mountable on a production tree and a
method of wellbore operations. An example embodiment of a wellhead
assembly includes a tubular wellhead housing with a tubing hanger
landed within, where the lower end of the tubing hanger is
attachable to a tubing string. A production module is included
having a mounting bore that extends through the production module;
a flow passage projects from the mounting bore through the
production module. A production tree is included that selectively
inserts into the mounting bore, the production tree mounts on an
upper end of the wellhead housing. The production tree includes an
axial bore that registers with a bore axially through the tubing
hanger. A port is included in the production tree that intersects
the axial bore and also intersects an outer surface of the
production tree. When the production tree inserts into the mounting
bore and the production module lands on the production tree, the
port registers with the flow passage. A production spool may
optionally be included that couples to the production tree, and
where the production spool registers with a production line in the
production module when the production module is landed on the
production tree. In an example, the port is above the upper end of
the tubing hanger. Optionally, the port includes a production port
for the flow of production fluid. In an example embodiment, the
port has an auxiliary line in communication with an axial passage
in the tubing hanger that communicates with an annular space
between the tubing hanger and the wellhead housing. In an optional
embodiment, the wellhead assembly further includes a selectively
removable actuator disposed on the production module for actuating
a valve disposed in the production module.
[0007] Also included herein is a method of wellbore operations. In
an example embodiment the method includes providing a production
module that has an axial mounting bore and a passage that
intersects the mounting bore. The production module is positioned
on a production tree that mounts on a wellbore and that has a port
intersecting an outer surface of the production tree. The method
further includes inserting the production tree into the mounting
bore to register the passage with the port thereby landing the
production module on the production tree. Optionally, the method
also includes coupling a production spool having a production stab
with the production tree so that the production stab registers with
a production flow line formed in the production module when the
production module is landed on the production tree. In an
alternative, the method further includes producing fluid from a
wellbore in communication with the production tree and removing the
production module from the production tree. In an example, closing
a single valve in the production tree isolates the production
module from communication with the wellbore. In an example
embodiment, a production spool couples with a well flow jumper and
the production spool includes a production stab; where the
production spool is supported by being coupled with the production
tree, and the production stab registers with a production flow line
formed in the production module when the production module is
landed on the production tree, so that when the production module
is removed from the production tree, the production spool remains
coupled with the well flow jumper. Optionally, the production tree
mounts on a wellhead housing in which a tubing hanger is landed. An
actuator may be coupled with the production tree that mechanically
couples with a valve provided with the production module, the
method can further include operating the valve with the actuator.
Fluids may optionally be produced from the wellbore through the
production module and actuators mounted on the production module
can be removed.
[0008] Also disclosed herein is an example embodiment of a wellhead
assembly, that in an example embodiment includes a tubular wellhead
housing, a tubing hanger landed in the wellhead housing with a
lower end attachable to a tubing string, and a production module.
The production module includes an axial mounting bore and a flow
passage projecting from the mounting bore. A production tree is
included that selectively inserts into the mounting bore; the
production tree mounts on an upper end of the wellhead housing. An
axial bore in the production tree registers with a tubing hanger
bore, where the tubing hanger bore is axially formed through the
tubing hanger. Also included is a production passage in the
production tree extending between the axial bore and an outer
surface of the production tree. A production line is provided in
the production module with an entrance that selectively couples
with the production passage when the production module is landed
onto the production tree. A production stab selectively
communicates with an exit of the production line fluid, so that
when the production module is landed on the production tree, the
production passage is in fluid communication with a production
fluid jumper that is connectable to an exit of the production stab.
An auxiliary passage may optionally be included in the production
module. In an example embodiment, the auxiliary passage engages an
auxiliary stab when the production module is landed on the
production tree for communicating the auxiliary passage with a
tubing annulus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] Some of the features and benefits of the present invention
having been stated, others will become apparent as the description
proceeds when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a production module
coupled onto a production tree in accordance with the present
invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of an example of engaging
the production module and production tree of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of an alternate embodiment
of the production module and production tree of FIG. 1 in
accordance with the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of an example of
recovering a production module from a subsea production tree in
accordance with the present invention.
[0014] While the invention will be described in connection with the
preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not
intended to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the
contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications,
and equivalents, as may be included within the spirit and scope of
the invention as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0015] The method and system of the present disclosure will now be
described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which embodiments are shown. The method and system of
the present disclosure may be in many different forms and should
not be construed as limited to the illustrated embodiments set
forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this
disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey its
scope to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like
elements throughout.
[0016] It is to be further understood that the scope of the present
disclosure is not limited to the exact details of construction,
operation, exact materials, or embodiments shown and described, as
modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in
the art. In the drawings and specification, there have been
disclosed illustrative embodiments and, although specific terms are
employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and
not for the purpose of limitation. Accordingly, the improvements
herein described are therefore to be limited only by the scope of
the appended claims.
[0017] Shown in FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an example
embodiment of a wellhead assembly 20 that includes a wellhead
housing 22 with its lower end mounted on a surface 23 above a
formation. In the example of FIG. 1, the surface 23 may be a sea
floor. An annular casing hanger 24 is landed within the wellhead
housing 22 and shown having a string of casing 26 connected on its
lower end that depends downward into a wellbore. FIG. 1 further
illustrates a tubing hanger 28 shown landed on an inner surface of
the wellhead housing 22 and above the upper end of the casing
hanger 24. A tubing string 30 attaches to a lower end of the tubing
hanger 28 and projects downward concentrically within the casing
hanger 24 and casing 26. An annulus 32 is defined between the
tubing 30, wellhead housing 22, casing hanger 24, and casing
26.
[0018] Mounted on an upper end of the wellhead housing 22 is a
production tree 34 that is attached to the wellhead housing 22 by a
clamp 36. Landed on the production tree 34 is a production module
38 that is shown having a bore 40 axially formed through the
production module 38 and in which the upper end of the production
tree 34 is inserted. Within the production module 38 is an
auxiliary line 42 shown extending laterally outward from the bore
40 and intersected by another auxiliary line 44. The production
module 38 is positioned on the production tree 34 so that auxiliary
line 42 registers with a vent line 46 shown formed axially through
the production tree 34. A valve 48 within the vent line 46 is
provided that may be used for regulating or controlling flow
through the vent line 46. Similarly, within the auxiliary lines 42,
44 are valves 50, 52 for controlling flow through the auxiliary
lines 42, 44. An axial passage 54 extends through the tubing hanger
28, thereby providing fluid communication from the tubing annulus
32 and into the vent 46. Thus, communication to the tubing annulus
32 may be obtained via the auxiliary lines 42, 44 and selective
control of the valves 48, 50, 52.
[0019] Also shown formed through the production nodule 38 and
intersecting the bore 40 is a production line 56 that registers
with a production port 58 when the production module 38 is landed
on the production tree 34. A valve 60 is shown disposed within the
production port 58 for controlling flow or communication through
the production port 58. A bypass line 62 intersects the production
line 56 within the production module 38. Valves 64, 66 respectively
provided in the production line 56 and bypass line 62 may be
actuated for selectively diverting flow through the production line
56 or bypass line 62. Also provided in the bypass line 62 is a
choke 68 that restricts the cross-sectional area in the bypass line
62 for reducing pressure of the fluid flowing through the bypass
line 62 into a pressure more manageable for production of fluid
from the wellbore.
[0020] Still referring to FIG. 1, an annular production stab 70 is
shown providing coupling between the tubing hanger 28 and lower end
of the production tree 34 for providing seamless flow from within
the wellbore and up to the production port 58. The tubing 30,
tubing hanger 28, production stab 70, and inner bore of the
production tree 34 are substantially coaxial and define a main
production bore 71 through the wellhead assembly 20. A production
main valve 72 is shown set in the main production bore 71 in the
portion within the production tree 34. The production main valve 72
may be selectively opened or closed to regulate communication to
the wellbore through the main production bore 71. Proximate the
upper end of the production tree 34 is a swab valve 74 also set
within the main production bore 71 and that may be opened or closed
to allow access to within the main bore 71 from the upper end of
the production tree 34.
[0021] An optional sensor 76 is shown coupled on an outer surface
of the production module 38 and in communication with the
production tree 34. A lateral passage 80 formed through the
production module 38 provides a path for the line 78. Similarly, an
actuator 82 is shown mounted on the production module 38 and
coupled to a control line 84 that is set within a passage 86. The
passage 86 enables path for the control line 84 to connect to
actuators or devices within the production tree 34 and/or
production module 38.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 2, a side perspective view is shown of
an example embodiment of landing the production module 38 of FIG. 1
onto the production tree 34. In this example, a bridle assembly 88
is coupled onto an upper end of the production module 38 and
suspended by a line 90. By lowering the production module 38 and
aligning the bore 40 in the production module 38 with the upper end
of the production tree 34, the production tree 34 is inserted into
the bore 40 as the production module 38 is lowered thereon. As the
bore 40 extends through the production module 38, access to the
main production bore 71 in the production tree 34 is unimpeded by
the production bore 38.
[0023] An alternate embodiment of the wellhead assembly 20A is
shown in a side perspective view in FIG. 3 wherein the production
module 38A is set on the production tree 34. In the example of FIG.
3, a production spool stab 92 is shown as part of a production
spool 94. The production spool 94 is supported by a coupling 95
attaching the production spool 94 to the production tree 34. Valves
96, 98 are shown disposed within the production spool 98 for
selectively controlling flow to lines 100, 102 that attach to the
production spool 94. The lines 100, 102 may provide a pathway for
fluids produced from the wellbore to production facilities (not
shown) that process or refine the produced fluids. In the example
of FIG. 3, the production line 56A has an exit shown intersecting a
lower end of the production module 38A. When the production module
38A is landed on the production tree 34 the production spool stab
92 inserts into the exit of the production line 56A. As such, fluid
communication between the production spool 92 and main bore 71 is
established via the production port 58 and production flow line 56A
through the production spool stab 92.
[0024] Also optionally provided in the example of FIG. 3 is an
optional choke actuator 104 shown mounted to the production tree
via coupling 105. Mechanical linkages 106, 108 extend from the
choke actuator 104 to valves 64, 66 for regulating flow through the
production flow line 56A and/or bypass line 62 in the production
module 38A. Thus, by orienting the production module 38A as it
lands on the production tree 34, communication can be established
between the production flow line 56A and production spool stab 92,
as well as automatic coupling of the choke actuator 104 and
mechanical linkages 106, 108 for controlling flow through the
production flow line 56A.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 4, in an example of operation the
production module 38 is shown being removed from the production
tree 34, such as for maintenance or other reasons. An advantage of
the example shown is that the connectivity to the jumper flow lines
100, 102 may be maintained as the module 38 is removed from the
production tree 34. In this example, only the production main valve
72 is required to be closed in order to isolate flow from the
wellbore for allowing removal of the production module 38. Similar
to the production spool 94 is an auxiliary spool 110 mounted to the
production tree 34 and having an auxiliary stab 112 for automatic
coupling with auxiliary line 42A as the production module 38 is
landed onto the production tree 34. Further, in the example of FIG.
4, a work boat 114 is used for raising and lowering the line 94
removal and/or landing of the production module 38.
[0026] The present invention described herein, therefore, is well
adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages
mentioned, as well as others inherent therein. While a presently
preferred embodiment of the invention has been given for purposes
of disclosure, numerous changes exist in the details of procedures
for accomplishing the desired results. These and other similar
modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in
the art, and are intended to be encompassed within the spirit of
the present invention disclosed herein and the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *