1. Field of Invention
The invention relates generally to a wellhead assembly for use subsea, and having wellhead components that align during assembly to register passages in the respective components.
2. Description of Prior Art
Subsea wellbores are formed from the seafloor into subterranean formations lying underneath. Systems for producing oil and gas from subsea wellbores typically include a subsea wellhead assembly set over an opening to the wellbore. Subsea wellheads usually include a high pressure wellhead housing supported in a low pressure wellhead housing and secured to conductor casing that extends downward past the wellbore opening. Wells are generally lined with one or more casing strings coaxially inserted through, and significantly deeper than, the conductor casing. The casing strings are typically suspended from casing hangers landed in the wellhead housing. One or more tubing strings are usually provided within the innermost casing string; that among other things are used for conveying well fluid produced from the underlying formations. The produced well fluid is typically controlled by a production tree mounted on the upper end of the wellhead housing. The production tree, which is a large, heavy assembly, is generally equipped with a number of valves and controls mounted thereon. One of the largest challenges when running and installing tubing hangers in wellheads is ensuring correct orientation to ensure proper communication with downhole equipment, and to prevent damaging the couplers and seals between the production tree and tubing hanger during installation of the production tree. Several systems have been previously employed to achieve orientation, which consume valuable rig resources.
Some subsea wellhead assemblies include a tubing hanger spool that lands on an upper end of the high pressure housing. The tubing hanger is supported within the tubing hanger spool, and can be landed therein prior to or after the production tree mounts to the upper end of the tubing hanger spool. Difficulties are typically encountered when landing the tubing hanger in the tubing spool and ensuring the tubing hanger is properly oriented so that axial passages in the tubing hanger and production are aligned.
Disclosed herein is an example of a subsea wellhead assembly. In an example embodiment the subsea wellhead assembly includes a wellhead assembly with sidewalls and that further has a production tree, a wellhead housing, a main bore axially extending through the production tree and the wellhead housing, an orientation adapter axially rotationally within the main bore and that is selectively landed in the main bore. Also included is a key that protrudes radially outward from the orientation assembly, a communication passage formed in a sidewall of the production tree, a communication port in the orientation adapter in communication with a control line disposed within the main bore. The wellhead assembly also includes a profile on an inner surface of the main bore in interference with the key when the orientation adapter is landed in the main bore, and that is strategically formed to orient the orientation adapter in a designated azimuth so that the communication port registers with the communication passage. In an example, the profile projects radially inward and follows a helically shaped path along the inner surface of the main bore. Further optionally included is a tubing hanger that lands in the main bore and rotationally couples to the orientation. In this example, a lower end of the tubing hanger includes a groove on an outer surface that defines an upward facing shoulder, the lower end of the tubing hanger inserts into a cavity on an upper surface of the orientation adapter, a groove is formed in the cavity to define a downward facing shoulder, and the downward facing shoulder lands on the upward facing shoulder so that the orientation adapter is supported by the tubing hanger. Optionally, the assembly further includes production tubing depending from the tubing hanger that projects through a bore in the orientation adapter, an annular adapter block mounted on the production tubing that is spaced away from a lower end of the orientation adapter and that is connected to the control line. The control line can be flexible tubing that depends from an end of the communication port and that selectively circumscribes production tubing in the main bore when the orientation adapter is in the designated azimuth; and can carry a fluid, an electrical line, or combinations thereof.
Also disclosed is a subsea wellhead assembly that is made up of a wellhead housing set over a wellbore, a production tree set on the wellhead housing, a main bore that extends axially through the wellhead housing and production tree, a profile in the main bore that projects radially inward and follows a helical path along an inner surface of the main bore, a communication passage formed through a sidewall of the production tree, and a tubing hanger assembly. The tubing hanger assembly includes a tubing hanger and an orientation adapter rotatably mounted on a lower end of the tubing hanger. A communication passage is included in a sidewall of the production tree, and a communication path is radially formed through the orientation adapter. A key is on an outer surface of the orientation adapter that engages the profile, and that is strategically located so that when the tubing hanger assembly is landed in the main bore, interference between the key and the helical profile rotates the orientation adapter into a position to register the communication passage and communication path. The profile can be set within the production tree. A control line can be included that has an end connected to a lower end of the orientation adapter and is in communication with a downhole component, so that when the communication passage and communication path are in communication, the downhole component is controllable from surface. The communication path and communication passage can communicate a fluid, an electrical signal, or both a fluid and an electrical signal. Alternatively included is a control line in communication with the communication path, wherein the control line is flexible tubing that depends from the orientation adapter and that selectively circumscribes production tubing in the main bore when the orientation adapter is in the designated azimuth. The tubing hanger and the orientation adapter can be connected via a tongue and groove coupling.
Another example of a wellhead assembly is made up of an axially disposed main bore, a sidewall extending from the main bore and radially outward to an outer surface, a passage through the sidewall, an orientation adapter that selectively lands within the main bore, a communication path that intersects the orientation adapter, a profile in the main bore that is in sliding interference with the orientation adapter when the orientation adapter is being landed in the main bore, and that is strategically formed so that the orientation adapter is azimuthally oriented to register the communication path with the passage. Further optionally included is a tubing hanger having a lower end that coaxially inserts into a cavity on the orientation adapter, and wherein the orientation adapter is rotatable with respect to the tubing hanger. The wellhead assembly can further include production tubing depending from the tubing hanger, an annular adapter block mounted around the production tubing, and a control line in communication with the communication path, that depends from the orientation adapter, and has a lower end connecting to the adapter block. Yet further optionally included is a lower housing that depends from a lower end of the orientation adapter and circumscribes the adapter block. Alternatively, the tubing hanger is mounted in a production tree, and production fluid flows through a bore coaxially formed in the tubing hanger and exits the production tree through a production port.
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:
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.
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.
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.
A casing hanger 22 is shown landed within the high pressure housing 18 and is coupled therein by virtue of a latching assembly 24, which anchors into an inner surface of main bore 20 within high pressure housing 18. Annular casing 26 depends from a lower end of casing hanger 22 and into wellbore 17. Above casing hanger 22 is a tubing hanger assembly 28 shown being inserted within main bore 20 and illustrating a step of completing wellhead assembly 10. Included within the tubing hanger assembly is an annular tubing hanger 30 with an attached orientation adapter 32 that is rotatably coupled on a lower portion of tubing hanger 30. Production tubing 33 is threaded into a lower end of tubing hanger 30; production tubing 33 has an annulus in fluid communication with an axial bore 34 formed through tubing hanger 30. Axial bore 34 registers with a bore 35 axially formed through orientation adapter 32, production tubing 33 inserts through bore 35. After exiting bore 38, production tubing 33 projects downward within main bore 20 and into wellbore 17.
A communication path 36 is illustrated formed through orientation adapter 32; which in this example is a passage or bore that extends through orientation adapter 32 radially outward from bore 35, and extends generally parallel with an axis AX of wellhead assembly 10. Communication path 36 transitions from an axial direction to a radially outward one, and terminates at an outer surface of orientation adapter 32. An optional connector 37 is provided at the outer surface of orientation adapter 32 at the terminal point of communication path 36. A connector 38 is shown at an end of communication path 36 opposite from connector 37, wherein connector 38 provides a means for connecting a flexible tubing 40 which is shown depending from a lower end of orientation adapter 32. Axially downward from connector 38 is connector 42, which connects flexible tubing 40 to an annular adapter block 43. Adapter block 43 is shown circumscribing a portion of production tubing 33. A passage 44 axially extends through adapter block 43 and communicates with a connector 46 on a lower end of adapter block 43. A length of flexible tubing 48 (that optionally can be rigid) is shown attached to connector 46 and couples to a downhole component 49 (
A profile 50 is schematically illustrated within the inner surface of main bore 20 and follows a helical path along the inner surface of main bore 20. As will be described in more detail below, a key 52 shown on an outer surface of orientation adapter 32 engages profile 50 as tubing assembly 28 is being landed within wellhead assembly 10. While tubing hanger assembly 28 is being inserted into wellhead assembly 10, key 52 comes into contact with profile 50 and slides along its path. By directing key 52 along the helical path of profile 50, orientation adapter 32 is rotated when the tubing hanger assembly 28 is lowered within wellhead assembly 10.
Referring now to
In the example of
Further illustrated in the example of
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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.
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Entry |
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PCT Search Report and Written Opinion issued in connection with corresponding PCT Application No. PCT/US2014/068340 on Jul. 14, 2015. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20150159458 A1 | Jun 2015 | US |