Patent Application
20060124314
The present invention relates to an assembly for intervention of a subsea well or a well head by means of a wireline or a coiled tubing connected to a tool assembly. The well assembly comprises lubricator means and an injector package. The injector package is adapted to inject the wireline or coiled tubing into the well or well head.
The invention also relates to a method for injecting a wireline or coiled tubing into a subsea well or well head.
The term “well head” shall be interpreted in a broad meaning, and include all equipment normally associated to a subsea well head, such as Christmas tree, tubing hanger, production flowbase (if any) etc. and all equipment associated thereto.
By coiled tubing is meant a continuous and flexible tubing. Said tubing is preferably made of a metallic material or a corresponding material, such as composites.
Subsea wells need maintenance and inspection activities at a regular basis. Such activities can be carried out by means of tools delivered to the well via a wire or coiled tubing that extends from a floating vessel or a platform down into the well. Typical maintenance and inspection activities in the well are measurements and monitoring of well conditions, perforating, gravel packing, production stimulation and repair of a downhole completion or production tubing. Today's systems normally use a so-called riser tube, which extends from the vessel to the top of the well head, via which the wire or coiled tubing is fed down into the well. Such systems require restriction of movements between the vessel and the well head due to the configuration of the riser tube. Thereby, the use of such systems becomes difficult, time-consuming and costly.
As an alternative there has been proposed subsea systems that do not use a riser tube for feeding the coiled tubing down to the well, but let the coiled tubing run freely between the vessel and the well head by means of a so-called riserless system. In for example the U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,823 to Cobb et al. there is disclosed such a system, which is provided with a coiled tubing injector for injecting the coiled tubing into the well through the well head and a blow out preventer stack with associated equipment (well pressure barrier section) between the injector and the well head.
The system according to said US-patent is also provided with coiled tubing stripper elements and a well fluid stuffing box carried by the injector via which the coiled tubing is injected into the well head. The blow out preventer stack and the stuffing box may here mainly be C considered to function as a lubricator assembly or lubricator means. The well pressure barrier section facilitates the connecting of the coiled tubing to the well head with regard taken to the fluid pressure in the well. Prior to lowering the injector down to the well head the coiled tubing is latched in the injector and preferably also positioned in the stuffing box.
For lowering and retrieval of the injector and the well barrier section, there are provided guide wires that extend from the vessel to the well head. When it is desired to retrieve the injector, it is first operated to withdraw the coiled tubing from the well head. The tubing is locked to the drive chains of the injector and lifted up to the vessel. As the injector is bulky this means that a rather large weight has to be retrieved just for the purpose of withdrawal of the coiled tubing/toolstring to the vessel. This is impractical and thus costly, in particular as multiple toolstrings are commonly used to accomplish the operation objectives.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an assembly and a method for intervention of a subsea well or well head that promote an uncomplicated way of handling a coiled tubing or wireline used for delivering tools to the well or well head. The invention shall reduce the costs and the time consumed for handling the coiled tubing, in particular the rig up/rig down time necessary to deploy/retract the coiled tubing/toolstring.
The object of the invention is achieved by means of the initially defined assembly, characterised in that said lubricator or enclosure means is adapted to be fitted in a lubricator package and define a locking chamber via which said wireline or coiled tubing is to be forwarded to the well or well head; said lubricator means being adapted to be connected to said well head; said injector package, comprising an injector module, being adapted to be fitted to said well head, and that the injector module is adapted to forward said lubricator means through it, when said packages are connected to each other and to the well head, for the purpose of injecting said wireline or coiled tubing into the well or well head.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the well assembly further comprises a well barrier package. The lubricator package is adapted to be fitted onto said injector package; said injector package is adapted to be fitted onto said well barrier package, and said well barrier package is adapted to be fitted onto said well head. The injector module is thus adapted to forward said lubricator means through it, when the lubricator, injector and the well barrier package are connected to each other respectively and to the well head.
The injector module is preferably designed to allow for the passage of the lubricator or enclosure means through it The lubricator means is then used as a pressure locking chamber when the coiled tubing/toolstring is running into or out of the wellhead or well through the injector module. The lubricator means is preferably mainly tube-shaped, thereby being easier to forward through the injector module. When the coiled tubing/toolstring is to be injected into the well head or well, the lubricator means is forwarded through the injector module and connected to a well barrier module or package at a lower position below the injector module in order to function as a pressure locking chamber. Preferably, at least a part of the length of the lubricator means is forwarded through the injector module, sufficient for it to be connected to the well barrier module or package. The coiled tubing/toolstring is then run down into the well head or well. After the coiled tubing/toolstring has been run down, the lubricator means is retracted to an upper position above the injector module, and the coiled tubing/toolstring is injected into the well by means of the injector module. The coiled tubing is adapted for delivery of one or more tools to the well or well head, said tools being used e.g. for maintenance or repair work therein. When the coiled tubing/toolstring is to be run out of the well head or well the lubricator means is again forwarded through the injector module from its upper position and connected to the well barrier module in order to function as a pressure locking chamber. Thereby, the coiled tubing is preferably being run down or out of the well head or well through the lubricator means.
The coiled tubing/toolstring is preferably rigged up with the upper part of the lubricator package without the need to retract or lift-off the injector package. Thus, the injector package, which is bulky and heavy, does not need to be rigged up together with the coiled tubing/toolstring.
The movement of the lubricator means between the upper position above the injector module and the lower position below the injector module is preferably accomplished by a hydraulic cylinder, or a hydraulically operated screw device.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the well barrier package comprises an upper well barrier module arranged below the injector package, said upper well barrier module preferably being a part of the injector package. According to another embodiment of the invention, the well barrier package also comprises a lower well barrier module or package, which is preferably separately arranged below the upper well barrier package and connected, via a well tree or a Christmas tree adapter package whenever applicable, to the well head.
The inventive assembly comprises a remote-controlled coupling device, preferably arranged in the interface section between the lubricator package and the injector package, for connecting/disconnecting the lubricator means to/from its upper position, i.e. above the injector module/package, and a corresponding coupling device, preferably arranged between the injector module and the well barrier module/package, especially the upper well barrier module, for connecting/ disconnecting the lubricator means to/from its lower position, i.e. below the injector module/package.
The injector module preferably comprises at least two driving elements between which the lubricator means is forwarded/retracted and by means of and between which the coiled tubing, after the retraction of the lubricator means through the injector module to its upper position above the injector module, is injected into the well head or well. The spacing between said driving elements is adjustable so as to engage the driving elements and the coiled tubing in order to inject the coiled tubing/toolstring during the injecting operation of the injector module. Preferably, said driving elements are extended in the axial direction of the injector package/module, and arranged opposite each other. The two driving elements are preferably fitted to the framework of the injector package by a sliding arrangement so that they can be operated sideways by hydraulic or electric power to leave room for the lubricator means as well as to engage the coiled tubing for the purpose of injecting the coiled tubing/toolstring into the well head or well during the injecting operation of the injector module.
The lubricator or enclosure means preferably comprises a lubricator pipe element, a fixed stripper/packer element that is arranged in the upper part or end of the lubricator pipe element, and an associated moveable stripper/packer element. The moveable stripper/packer element is adapted to feed and retract the coiled tubing together with the tool assembly or toolstring through the lubricator pipe when the lubricator pipe preferably is in its lower position, i.e. connected to the well barrier module/package. Each of said element is preferably sealingly arranged around the coiled tubing and between itself and the lubricator pipe element
The moveable stripper/packer element preferably remains in place at and locked to the coupling device of the well barrier module while the lubricator pipe element is retracted to said upper position in order to hold the coiled tubing in a fixed position before it is to be injected by means of the injector module.
The inventive assembly is based on operation from a floating vessel at the sea surface, preferably a dynamically positioned light intervention vessel or a drilling oil rig/ship, and is designed to operate a wireline or coiled tubing on vertical or horizontal Christmas trees. For the lubricator to be adapted to operate a wireline instead of a coiled tubing, the upper part of the lubricator package including stripper elements is replaced with a wireline sealing device, preferably a stuffing box. Thus, the conversion from coiled tubing to wireline operation and vice versa may easily be performed. Accordingly, the combination of wireline and coiled tubing operation is also within the scope of the present invention, which makes it possible to cover the majority of all required intervention tasks.
The floating vessel comprises means including a surface injector, which is heave compensated, and an associated coiled tubing reel for feeding out the coiled tubing from the vessel and for retracting the same to the vessel. The coiled tubing is freely extending in the water with a tension defined by the system between the surface injector and the injector module. The slack of the coiled tubing and the tension thereon is controlled and maintained by the surface injector and associated reeling mechanism means on the coiled tubing reel. However, there should preferably be provided guide wires extending from the vessel to the well head for the purpose of guiding the modules/packages of the assembly during deployment and retrieval thereof. In addition, especially at large depths, a running tool is preferably used.
The floating vessel, injector package and the wireline or coiled tubing extending between them preferably form a passive system that permits substantial movement of the vessel in relation to the well head.
The object of the invention is also achieved by means of the initially defined method for injecting a wireline or coiled tubing into a subsea well or well head, comprising the steps of: connecting an injector package, having an injector module for injecting the wireline or coiled tubing into the well or wellhead, to the well head; forwarding lubricator means adapted to be fitted in a lubricator package, through the injector module when said packages are connected to each other and to the well head; connecting said lubricator means defining a locking chamber via which the coiled tubing is forwarded to the well or well head, to the well head; and injecting said wireline or coiled tubing by means of the injector module into the well or well head. According to a preferred embodiment of the inventive method a well barrier package is further connected onto the well head; the injector package is connected onto the well barrier package; the lubricator package is connected onto the injector package; and that the lubricator means is forwarded through the injector module when said packages are connected to each other and to the well head.
The coiled tubing is connected to a toolstring or tool assembly in order to deliver one or more tools to the well or well head for maintenance and/or repair work therein.
The lubricator means is thus preferably forwarded/retracted via an opening in the injector module to the well barrier package. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the coiled tubing is forwarded through a lubricator pipe element of the lubricator means when it has been forwarded through the injector module and connected to the well barrier package/module. The coiled tubing/toolstring is thus forwarded through said connected lubricator pipe element, and connected to the well barrier package or generally to the well head. The lubricator pipe element can be moved through the injector module without any need of disconnecting the injector package from the well head.
After the coiled tubing/toolstring has been run into the well the lubricator pipe element is disconnected and retracted through the injection module such that it is displaced in relation thereto, enabling the injector module to grip the coiled tubing by means of driving elements and commence injecting the coiled tubing/toolstring into the well The lubricator pipe element is here preferably retracted to an upper position above the injector module.
The injector is also used for retracting the coiled tubing/toolstring from the well. Before the tubing is disconnected from the well head the lubricator pipe element is forwarded from its retracted position and once again connected to well barrier package in order to operate as a locking chamber. After retracting the toolstring into the lubricator preferably by means of the above mentioned surface injector of the floating vessel, and closing the well barrier module (deployment valve) located below the injector module, the lubricator pipe element is flushed or cleaned from possible well fluids and contamination etc. that has entered into it during the operation, and then run to its upper position. The toolstring is then preferably retracted with the top part of the lubricator package.
The coiled tubing and the lubricator package may either be removed as one single unit or separately from the injector package connected via the well barrier package to the well head.
The coiled tubing is arranged with a constant tension or a tension defined by the system, extending from the surface injector of the floating vessel to the injector module or the well head.
Wires or the like are arranged between the vessel and the well head or the different packages/modules of the well assembly, i.e. the injector package/module, the lubricator package and the well barrier package/module for guiding them in order to fit the separate packages/modules to each other onto the well head. The coiled tubing may also be guided by means of said wires.
The invention will now be explained more closely by the following detailed description of different preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the appended drawings, on which:
a-6f are schematic side views showing the main steps being perform in order to injected the coiled tubing/tool assembly into the well head according to the inventive method.
The vessel 1 is equipped with a derrick with sufficient height and strength to handle the different packages. The derrick will have guide wire winches with constant tension and a lifting winch with a compensation arrangement for handling the packages. The vessel is also provided with a surface injector 38 adapted to be arranged in the derrick, and an associated coiled tubing reel 39 for feeding out the coiled tubing 7 from the vessel and for retracting the same to the vessel.
For the above purpose, guiding wires are used extending, preferably through guide funnels or the like of the frameworks of the packages, between the wellhead and the vessel. At large depths a running tool is used instead or in addition. The Christmas tree is of a usual type well known by the skilled person and, therefore, not further discussed here. The barrier package 11a, comprises in general blow out preventer (BOP) stack, arranged below the injector module/package, and includes a number of valves, and a control pod with all electric/electronic functions to operate the complete subsea system during the intervention operation. The control umbilical 8, which can be remotely connected/disconnected, is here connected to the pod. The blow out preventer stack should preferably, in addition to its valves, be provided by means for various forms of well circulation (e.g. during production stimulation of the well) by connecting passages or bypasses such as hoses or risers to the stack, whereby possible pressure increase in the well may be controlled. The well barrier package 11 has the same function and type of equipment as a lower workover riser package (LRP) of a conventional system. Furthermore, there are hydraulic and electric couplers (not shown) between the Christmas tree and the well barrier package making it possible to control the functions of the Christmas tree and downhole safety valve during intervention.
As shown in more detail in the embodiment according to
As shown in
When the lubricator pipe is to be passed or forwarded through the injector module 12, the driving elements 17, 18 are operated sideways to an outer position, the lubricator pipe element 13 is run down through the module 12, and entered into the coupling device 21, here in the form of a multiconnector, to establish i. a. connection/disconncetion to the upper well barrier package 11b and the well head 4. After pressure controlling, testing of various seals and opening of appropriate valves (gate valve, ball valve etc.) of the well barrier package and well head, the injecting operation is started in order to inject the coiled tubing/toolstring to the well 3.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the lubricator pipe element 13 is forwarded through the injector module 12 by means of a dedicated screw device 15 including guiding rods and jacking screw(s). The screw device 15 is arranged inside the framework of the lubricator package 6.
The assembly is provided with remote-controlled coupling devices 20, 21 preferably arranged at the interface sections of the lubricator/injector package and the injector/upper well barrier package respectively. In particular, the coupling device 20 (only partly shown in
From the above it should be understood that the lubricator pipe element comprises a connector device, which is preferably remote-controlled and arranged at its lower end for connecting the lubricator pipe element 13 to the corresponding coupling device, i.e. the multiconnector 21 seated on the stripper BOP stack 22 of the upper well barrier package 11b, and for disconnecting the lubricator pipe 13 from said multiconnector 21.
Thus, the lubricator means comprises a lubricator pipe 13, a fixed stripper/packer element 29, and the associated moveable stripper/packer element 30, and works as a pressure locking chamber for passing the coiled tubing/toolstring into the well head/well through the lubricator pipe 13, which then is connected at its lower position below the injector module 12 to the coupling device 21 of the upper well barrier package 11b.
The fixed stripper/packer element 29 is dismounted from the lubricator pipe 13, preferably on the vessel, when tools have to be inserted or exchanged; The upper part of the lubricator package 6 may also be provided with a ball valve 33 if the coiled tubing has to be cut (cutting ball valve).
a-f schematically show by way of example the main operation steps of the method being performed of the inventive assembly for injecting the coiled tubing 7 and the tool/toolstring 32 in a subsea well 3 via a horizontal Christmas tree 9. Said tree is of a usual type having a production passage and an annulus passage with associated valves respectively. The assembly comprises the lower well barrier package 11a, the injector package (with the upper well barrier module 11b), and the lubricator package 5. The upper well barrier package 11b comprises a so-called dual stripper BOP 22 (here as a stripper secondary primary and a stripper backup element. The lower well barrier package 11a, comprises a so called tripple BOP. The tripple BOP includes (seen from the top downwardly) a gate valve 34, a shear ram, and a pipe ram. The gate valve 34 is an isolation valve to open and close the access to the well for each tool run in and out of the wellhead/well. The shear ram is used for cutting off tools or coiled tubing. The pipe ram is a valve for sealing around the coiled tubing and is used to grip around it, preventing the tool(s) from falling downwardly in the well, if the coiled tubing suspending the tool(s) has to be cut. It should be noted that additional such valves may be present and arranged in another order than the ones mentioned above. Furthermore, the lower well barrier package 11a may have connection for flexible hoses/pipes up to the surface for so-called well return or killing purposes. The well is completed by a production tubing having a downhole safety valve 35, in accordance with standard practice.
Before starting the intervention operation the cap of the Christmas tree 9 is removed. During normal production the tree cap having a crown plug located in its internal serves as an outer, secondary barrier of the Christmas tree 9. All of the valves in the Christmas tree 9 are, or will thereby be closed. According to one embodiment of the invention, the lower well barrier package 11a and the injector package 5 will be skidded into the derrick and stacked up as a unit (see
a shows the starting position of the intervention operation with the lower end of the coiled tubing 7, located at the upper part of the lubricator package 6, suspending the toolstring 32 inside the lubricator pipe 13. The moveable main stripper/packer element 30 will be activated so as to seal around the coiled tubing 7 during its movement together with the assembled tool 32 down through the lubricator pipe 13. As shown in
In
After said pressure testing, the valves of the Christmas tree 9 will be opened. The above mentioned Christmas tree adapter 10 here comprises passages for supply of hydraulic fluid into the valves in the tree 9, whereby these may be opened and closed during the intervention process. In
In
The coupling of the lubricator pipe 13 is then released and the lubricator pipe 13 is running to an upper position, as shown in
As shown in
For the removal of the coiled tubing 7 and the tool 32 out of the well, the steps described above are performed in the reverse order. Here the driving elements 17, 18 are used to pull the coiled tubing 7 and the tool 32 out of the well until it is withdrawn up to the main stripper/packer element 30. The driving elements 17, 18 are then moved aside and the lubricator pipe 13 is forwarded and locked to the multiconnector 21 in its lower positions and pressurised. The main stripper/packer element and the tool are then run up through the lubricator pipe, and the valves of the well barrier package can be closed. The pressure in the lubricator pipe is drained and the pipe is flushed clean from well fluid and so on.
The coiled tubing (or wireline) 7 is connected to the floating vessel 1 and is freely extending in the water with constant tension between the vessel 1 and the injector module 12. The inventive well assembly comprises means 37 for controlling an intake of the coiled tubing 7 to the vessel and means for a corresponding feeding out of the coiled tubing from the vessel. The vessel 1, injector package 5 and the coiled tubing 7 extending between them form a passive system that permits substantial movement of the vessel 1 in relation to the well head 4, which thereby e.g. reduces the time to position/prepare the vessel for intervention of the subsea well. This is, of course, nevertheless important with regard to the crude conditions that often may prevail off-shore. Other advantages with the assembly according to the invention are reduced rigging time and thereby reduced costs for subsea interventions. The inventive assembly makes it also possible to handle coiled tubing of greater length. Further, it does not require anchor handling, which is difficult especially in areas with large populated seabed.
The assembly is suitable for all kind of water depth applications, i.e. for shallow, medium as well as for deep water applications. Subsea intervention operations with the inventive assembly are typically performed at water depths in the interval 800 to 3000 m.
It should be realised that the invention has been shown by way of example by means of the above described embodiments. A number of alternative embodiments will therefore be obvious for a person skilled in the art without going beyond the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims supported by the description and the annexed drawings.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20023178 | Jun 2002 | NO | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB03/03084 | 6/30/2003 | WO | 10/7/2005 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60449613 | Feb 2003 | US |
