Patent Application
20250020038
Embodiments described herein generally relate to methods for wellhead workover.
In oil and gas drilling, a wellhead usually includes casing spools and tubing spools, and a production tree (e.g., a christmas tree) is coupled to on the top of the wellhead. In case of wellhead workover, adding a new casing spool may increase the height of the wellhead. The production tree is usually coupled to a production line, and changing the height may require reconstruction on the production tree. For example, a well may not be connected to a production line directly as a result of workover. Therefore, wellhead workover is a potentially time consuming and costly repair operation. A wait time of workover may be about 30 days or more on average.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method is provided. The method includes providing a wellhead comprising a first casing spool and an extended tubing spool disposed above the first casing spool, and a production tree comprising a wing valve disposed above the extended tubing spool. The method further includes decoupling the extended tubing spool from the wellhead, coupling a replacement tubing spool and an additional casing spool below the replacement tubing spool to the wellhead replacing the extended tubing spool. A combined length of the replacement tubing spool and the additional casing spool is the same as the length of the extended tubing spool. The method further includes maintaining a consistent vertical length between the first casing spool and the wing valve while replacing the extended tubing spool with the replacement tubing spool and the additional casing spool.
Additional features and advantages of the described embodiments will be set forth in the detailed description, which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the described embodiments, including the detailed description, which follows, as well as the claims.
The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by the claims. The following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a method for wellhead workover.
Referring initially to
Further below the production wing 112 are an upper master valve 116, a lower master valve 118, and a tubing head adapter 119. A master valve controls all flow from the wellbore, and thus a correctly functioning master valve is important. Therefore, two master valves (e.g., the upper master valve 116 and the lower master valve 118) may be used in embodiments. The upper master valve 116 may be used on a routine basis, and the lower master valve 118 may provide backup or contingency function in the event that the upper master valve 116 is leaking and needs replacement. The tubing head adapter 119 may provide a means of attaching the production tree to the wellhead 120. Instead of the two master valve (e.g., the upper master valve 116 and the lower master valve 118) configuration as described above, one master valve may be utilized in embodiments.
Still referring to
In embodiments, the wellhead 120 may further include a second casing spool 124 and a corresponding second casing valve 125. As shown in
In embodiments, the extended tubing spool 122 has a vertical length X that is longer than a vertical length of the first casing spool 126. A vertical length used herein is defined as a length in a vertical direction between a longitudinal end and an opposite longitudinal end. For example, the vertical length X is a length in the vertical direction between a longitudinal end 122a and a longitudinal end 122b of the extended tubing spool 122. The first casing spool 126 has a vertical length C1 that is a length in the vertical direction between a longitudinal end 126a and a longitudinal end 126b. The second casing spool 124 has a vertical length C2 that is a length in the vertical direction between a longitudinal end 124a and a longitudinal end 124b. In embodiments, the vertical length X of the extended tubing spool 122 may be the same as a combined length of the vertical length C1 of the first casing spool 126 and the vertical length C2 of the second casing spool 124. In embodiments, the vertical length C1 of the first casing spool 126 may be the same as the vertical length C2 of the second casing.
A vertical length Y shown in
Referring to
In embodiments, the workover includes decoupling the extended tubing spool 122 from the wellhead 120, coupling a replacement tubing spool 222 and an additional casing spool 224 below the replacement tubing spool 222, maintaining a consistent vertical length between the first casing spool 126 and the wing valve 114 while replacing the extended tubing spool 122 with the replacement tubing spool 222 and the additional casing spool 224. In embodiments, the replacement tubing spool 222 has a corresponding valve 223, and the additional casing spool 224 has a corresponding additional casing valve 225. A combined length of the replacement tubing spool 222 and the additional casing spool 224 are the same as the length of the extended tubing spool 122 (
In embodiments, the workover may include maintaining a consistent radial direction of the wing valve 114 while replacing the extended tubing spool 122 with the replacement tubing spool 222 and the additional casing spool 224. For example, the wing valve 114 before the workover as shown in
In embodiments, the workover may include maintaining connection between the wing valve 114 and a production line while replacing the extended tubing spool with the replacement tubing spool and the additional casing spool. For example, the production line connects the wing valve 114 to a production facility.
In embodiments, a length of the additional casing spool 224 may be the same as a length of the first casing spool 126. For example, the vertical length X1 is the same as the vertical length C1. In embodiments, a length of the replacement tubing spool 222 is the same as a length of the first casing spool 126. For example, the vertical length X2 is the same as the vertical length C1. In embodiments, the first casing spool 126, the replacement tubing spool 222, and the additional casing spool 224 may each have the same length. For example, the vertical length C1, the vertical length X1, and the vertical length X2 are the same. In embodiments, the length of the additional casing spool 224 may be the same as a length of the second casing spool 124. For example, the vertical length X1 is the same as the vertical length C2. In embodiments, the length of the replacement tubing spool 222 is the same as the length of the second casing spool 124. For example, the vertical length X2 is the same as the vertical length C2. In embodiments, the second casing spool 124, the replacement tubing spool 222, and the additional casing spool 224 may each have the same length. For example, the vertical length C2, the vertical length X1, and the vertical length X2 are the same. In embodiments, the length of the first casing spool 126, the length of the second casing spool 124, the length of the additional casing spool 224, and the replacement tubing spool 222 are the same. For example, the vertical length C1, the vertical length C2, the vertical length X1, and the vertical length X2 are the same.
In embodiments, the wellhead 220 may further include the second casing spool 124 and the corresponding second casing valve 125. As shown in
It is noted that recitations herein of a component of the present disclosure being “configured” in a particular way, to embody a particular property, or to function in a particular manner, are structural recitations, as opposed to recitations of intended use. More specifically, the references herein to the manner in which a component is “configured” denotes an existing physical condition of the component and, as such, is to be taken as a definite recitation of the structural characteristics of the component.
It is noted that the term “the same” utilized herein to include “substantially the same” or “approximately the same.” For the purposes of describing and defining the present invention it is noted that the term “substantially” or “approximately” is utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. The term “substantially” or “approximately” is also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.
Having described the subject matter of the present disclosure in detail and by reference to specific embodiments thereof, it is noted that the various details disclosed herein should not be taken to imply that these details relate to elements that are essential components of the various embodiments described herein, even in cases where a particular element is illustrated in each of the drawings that accompany the present description. Further, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, including, but not limited to, embodiments defined in the appended claims. More specifically, although some aspects of the present disclosure are identified herein as preferred or particularly advantageous, it is contemplated that the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to these aspects.
It is noted that one or more of the following claims utilize the term “wherein” as a transitional phrase. For the purposes of defining the present invention, it is noted that this term is introduced in the claims as an open-ended transitional phrase that is used to introduce a recitation of a series of characteristics of the structure and should be interpreted in like manner as the more commonly used open-ended preamble term “comprising.”
One or more aspects of the present disclosure are described here.
A first aspect of the present disclosure may be a method including providing a wellhead comprising a first casing spool and an extended tubing spool disposed above the first casing spool, and a production tree comprising a wing valve disposed above the extended tubing spool. The method further includes decoupling the extended tubing spool from the wellhead, coupling a replacement tubing spool and an additional casing spool below the replacement tubing spool to the wellhead replacing the extended tubing spool. A combined length of the replacement tubing spool and the additional casing spool is the same as the length of the extended tubing spool. The method further includes maintaining a consistent vertical length between the first casing spool and the wing valve while replacing the extended tubing spool with the replacement tubing spool and the additional casing spool.
A second aspect of the present disclosure may include the first aspect, wherein the method further includes maintaining a consistent radial direction of the wing valve while replacing the extended tubing spool with the replacement tubing spool and the additional casing spool.
A third aspect of the present disclosure may include the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein the method further includes maintaining connection between the wing valve and a production line while replacing the extended tubing spool with the replacement tubing spool and the additional casing spool.
A fourth aspect of the present disclosure may include the any of the first through third aspects, wherein a length of the additional casing spool is the same as a length of the first casing spool.
A fifth aspect of the present disclosure may include the any of the first through fourth aspects, wherein a length of the replacement tubing spool is the same as a length of the first casing spool.
A sixth aspect of the present disclosure may include the any of the first through fifth aspects, wherein the first casing spool, the replacement tubing spool, and the additional casing spool have the same length.
A seventh aspect of the present disclosure may include the any of the first through sixth aspects, wherein the wellhead further comprises: a second casing spool disposed below the extended tubing spool, wherein the length of the extended tubing spool is the same as a combined length of the first casing spool and the second casing spool.
An eighth aspect of the present disclosure may include the any of the first through seventh aspects, wherein the second casing spool, the replacement tubing spool, and the additional casing spool have the same length.
A ninth aspect of the present disclosure may include the any of the first through eighth aspects, wherein the second casing spool and the first casing spool have the same length.
