The present disclosure describes systems and methods for pressure testing a wellhead.
During a well's exploitation period, wellheads are exposed to extreme conditions, such as high pressure, exposure to abrasive and corrosive fluids that will adversely impact the well integrity by the reduction of wall thickness, weakening connection area, and effects on sealing systems. Additionally, extreme changes of temperature, pressure, and loads on wellhead equipment and an upper part of a tubing casing can adversely impact and weaken the whole wellhead system over time. In cases of planned applications of high pressure operations on the well through the wellhead, it may be required to test the system prior to the operations to ensure that the wellhead condition is acceptable for the planned operations ratings. The use of cup type testers with drilling or workover rigs are common in such operations. However, cup type testers cannot be applied without the drilling or workover rig.
In an example implementation, a wellhead isolation tool includes a hydraulic assembly including at least one hydraulic line fluidly and a setting tool hydraulic ram that includes a mandrel head; a mandrel coupled to the hydraulic ram, the mandrel including an uphole end coupled to the mandrel head and a downhole end configured to sting into a wellhead; a packing assembly including a bore that is configured to receive the mandrel; and a pack-off cup assembly coupled to the downhole end of the mandrel. The pack-off cup assembly includes at least one cup mounted on the mandrel and including a circular frustum that includes an uphole end defined by a first diameter; a downhole end opposite the uphole end and defined by a second diameter less than the first diameter; a bore that extends between the uphole end and the downhole end and is configured to receive a least a portion of the mandrel therethrough; and a radial surface between the uphole and downhole ends.
In an aspect combinable with the example implementation, the at least one cup is a first cup, and the pack-off cup assembly includes a second cup mounted on the mandrel and including a circular frustum that includes an uphole end defined by a third diameter; a downhole end opposite the uphole end and defined by a fourth diameter less than the third diameter; a bore that extends between the uphole end and the downhole end and is configured to receive a least another portion of the mandrel therethrough; and a radial surface between the uphole and downhole ends.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the first and third diameters are substantially equal, and the second and fourth diameters are substantially equal.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the at least one cup is formed of a sealing material configured to fluidly seal against a portion of the wellhead.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the sealing material includes at least one elastomer.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the at least one cup is configured to compress in response to circulation of a pressurized fluid in an annulus between the mandrel and the wellhead when the mandrel is stung into the wellhead.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the pressurized fluid is at about 15,000 psi.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the mandrel includes at least one seat, the at least one cup positioned on the mandrel such that the downhole end abuts the at least one seat.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the at least one cup is configured to compress against the at least one seat in response to circulation of the pressurized fluid in the annulus between the mandrel and the wellhead when the mandrel is stung into the wellhead.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the at least one cup is a first cup, and the tool further includes a first seat positioned on the mandrel, the first cup positioned on the mandrel such that the downhole end of the first cup abuts the first seat; a second cup mounted on the mandrel and including a circular frustum that includes an uphole end defined by a third diameter; a downhole end opposite the uphole end and defined by a fourth diameter less than the third diameter; a bore that extends between the uphole end and the downhole end and is configured to receive a least another portion of the mandrel therethrough; and a radial surface between the uphole and downhole ends; and a second seat positioned on the mandrel and spaced apart from the first seat, the second cup positioned on the mandrel such that the downhole end of the second cup abuts the second seat.
In another example implementation, a method of pressure testing a wellhead includes installing a wellhead isolation tool on a wellhead. The wellhead isolation tool includes a hydraulic assembly including at least one hydraulic line fluidly and a setting tool hydraulic ram that includes a mandrel head; a mandrel coupled to the hydraulic ram, the mandrel including an uphole end coupled to the mandrel head and a downhole end; a packing assembly including a bore that is configured to receive the mandrel; and a pack-off cup assembly coupled to the downhole end of the mandrel. The pack-off cup assembly includes at least one cup mounted on the mandrel and including a circular frustum that includes an uphole end defined by a first diameter; a downhole end opposite the uphole end and defined by a second diameter less than the first diameter; a bore that extends between the uphole end and the downhole end and is configured to receive a least a portion of the mandrel therethrough; and a radial surface between the uphole and downhole ends. The method includes operating the hydraulic assembly to insert the mandrel into the wellhead to sting the pack-off cup assembly into a wellbore tubing; sealing a portion of an annulus between the mandrel and the wellbore tubing with the at least one cup; circulating a pressurized fluid into the annulus between the mandrel and the wellbore tubing; and pressure testing the wellhead with the pressurized fluid.
In an aspect combinable with the example implementation, the at least one cup is a first cup, and the pack-off cup assembly includes a second cup mounted on the mandrel and including a circular frustum that includes an uphole end defined by a third diameter; a downhole end opposite the uphole end and defined by a fourth diameter less than the third diameter; a bore that extends between the uphole end and the downhole end and is configured to receive a least another portion of the mandrel therethrough; and a radial surface between the uphole and downhole ends.
Another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects includes sealing another portion of the annulus between the mandrel and the wellbore tubing with the second cup.
Another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects includes compressing the at least one cup in response to circulating the pressurized fluid in the annulus between the mandrel and the wellbore tubing.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, compressing the at least one cup includes flattening the at least one cup to increase the first diameter to further seal the portion of the annulus between the mandrel and the wellbore tubing.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, compressing the at least one cup includes the mandrel includes compressing the at least one cup against a seat positioned on the mandrel downhole of the at least one cup and abutting the downhole end of the at least one cup.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, circulating the pressurized fluid includes circulating the pressurized fluid at about 15,000 psi.
Another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects includes sealing at least a portion of the wellbore tubing downhole of the at least one cup against circulation of the pressurized fluid into the wellbore tubing with the at least one cup.
Another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects includes circulating the pressurized fluid into the wellhead through a hydraulic secondary wing valve that includes an inlet oriented orthogonally to the annulus.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the at least one cup is a first cup, and the pack-off cup assembly includes a second cup mounted on the mandrel and including a circular frustum that includes an uphole end defined by a third diameter; a downhole end opposite the uphole end and defined by a fourth diameter less than the third diameter; a bore that extends between the uphole end and the downhole end and is configured to receive a least another portion of the mandrel therethrough; and a radial surface between the uphole and downhole ends.
Another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects includes sealing the portion of the annulus by compressing the first cup against a first seat positioned on the mandrel downhole of the first cup and abutting the downhole end of the first cup; and sealing another portion of the annulus by compressing the second cup against a second seat positioned on the mandrel downhole of the second cup and abutting the downhole end of the second cup.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, the first and third diameters are substantially equal, and the second and fourth diameters are substantially equal.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, installing the wellhead isolation tool on the wellhead includes installing the wellhead isolation tool on the wellhead exclusive of the wellhead having a back pressure valve profile, a two way check valve profile, a test plug profile, or a tubing hanger landing profile.
In another aspect combinable with any of the previous aspects, installing the wellhead isolation tool on the wellhead includes installing the wellhead isolation tool on the wellhead exclusive of a drilling rig, a coil tubing unit, a snubbing unit, or a workover rig.
The details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
The illustrated wellhead isolation tool 100 can be installed (“stung”) into a production tree and wellhead to protect the wellhead against high pressures and/or abrasive fluids during pressure pumping operations. For example, oil and gas wells often require fracturing operations (or other secondary or enhanced recovery operations) in which a pressurized liquid is pumped into a subterranean zone at high pressures in order to break up rock formation in the zone. Abrasive materials, such as sand or bauxite (in other words, proppants) are also pumped through the wellhead and into fractures created in the rock formation to prop the fractures open to allow an increase in hydrocarbon fluid flow into the wellbore.
However, while the wellhead is usually rated to handle anticipated pressures that might be produced by the well when it first enters production, wellhead pressures encountered during a fracturing process can be considerably higher than those of the producing well. For the sake of economy, it is desirable to have equipment on the well rated for the normal pressures to be encountered. In order to safely fracture the well, equipment must be provided whereby the elevated pressures are safely contained and well pressures are controlled. The wellhead isolation tool 100 can accomplish these requirements and can be rated for the pressures to be encountered, whether in production operations or completion operations, such as high pressure fracture operations or operations with erosive/corrosive stimulation fluids.
The wellhead isolation tool 100 can be operated in a wellhead to pressure test the wellhead (rather than just bypass the production tree and wellhead section) with test fluid pressures, for example, up to 15,000 psi, while still being operable in the case of secondary operations, such as fracturing, thereby eliminating the need to upgrade the wellhead to account for formation breakdown pressures during completion operations. The use of the wellhead isolation tool 100 can also enhance safety at the well site, extend the life of wellhead equipment and eliminate damage to valves. Further, the wellhead isolation tool 100 can extend a life of the wellhead and valves utilized during completion operations and reduces the need to kill the well for equipment changes. The use of the wellhead isolation tool 100 can also eliminate unnecessary damages to valves during high pressure pumping.
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The example implementation of the wellhead isolation tool 100 includes a hydraulic assembly 101 that is operable to urge a mandrel 118 into a wellhead to sting a pack-off cup assembly 124 into at least a portion of a wellbore tubular (a casing or tubing) on which the wellhead is installed. While some components of the wellhead isolation tool 100 are not delineated in
As shown in
In operation, the hydraulic assembly 101 of the wellhead isolation tool 100 controls stroke penetration of the mandrel 118 into a wellhead. A piston movement length of the hydraulic ram 108 allows the mandrel 118 to be inserted into the wellhead to sting the pack-off cup assembly 124 inside of the wellhead and be positioned within a wellbore tubular below the wellhead, itself.
The pressure equalizing components of the wellhead isolation tool 100 allow oil and gas operators to have precise control over the flow and pressure in the wellhead during insertion and retraction of the mandrel 118 into the wellbore tubular. For example, during insertion, pressure can be equalized below and above a wellhead master valve without opening the master valve. This gives operators additional flexibility during installation of a tree saver on the wellhead. When retracting the mandrel 118, a pressure differential is created between a bore or interior of the mandrel 118 that is open to the wellbore tubular and an annulus between the mandrel 118 and the wellhead and wellbore tubular. Using the equalizing components of the wellhead isolation tool 100, operators can equalize this differential pressure in order to safely unseal pack-off nipples from the wellbore tubular, thereby protecting the wellhead and tree saver from dangerous hydraulic shock loads.
As shown in
With particular attention to the enhanced view of the pack-off cup assembly 124 in
As further shown in the enhanced view of the pack-off cup assembly 124 in
Thus, in this example implementation, the cups 126 are installed on the mandrel 118 in an inverted fashion as compared to conventional seals or cups on conventional wellbore isolation tools. This is because, for example, wellhead isolation tool 100 is operable to be installed in a wellhead and operated to pressure test the wellhead with a flow of pressurized fluid that flows into an annulus between the mandrel 118 and the wellhead (and a wellbore tubular) in a downhole direction (in other words, in a direction from the uphole ends 132 of the cups 126 toward the downhole ends 130 of the cups 126). This differs from conventional wellhead isolation tools designed to pressure test wellbore components downhole (for example, only downhole) of the wellhead in which a flow of pressurized fluid flows out of a mandrel and returns in an uphole direction in an annulus between the mandrel and the wellhead (and a wellbore tubular).
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During the wellhead pressure test 300 and contrary to conventional testing of components downhole of the wellhead 302, the pressurized fluid 308 is not introduced into the wellhead isolation tool 100 and through the mandrel 118 to portions of the well downhole of the wellhead 302. Instead, the pressurized fluid 308 is introduced into the wellhead 302, in this example, through a secondary wing valve 310 to flow in the annulus 306. Due to the sealing operability of the cups 126 against an inner wall of the wellbore tubular 304, the pressurized fluid 308 is not circulated (or not significantly circulated) downhole of the cups 126 in the annulus 306. Indeed, as described, as the pressurized fluid 308 acts on the cups 126, the cups 126 (as inverted frustums) compress and expand to create even more sealing contact with the wellbore tubular 304 (as compared to contact with no pressurized fluid 308 being applied).
As shown, this figure illustrates a state in which the mandrel 118 has been inserted into the wellhead 400 and stung into a wellbore tubular 412 such that the cup 126 (one shown here) is sealingly installed in a portion of the wellbore tubular 412. In this example, an annulus 410 is created between the mandrel 118 and the wellbore tubular 412.
During the wellhead pressure test, the pressurized fluid 401 is introduced into the wellhead 400 and flows in the annulus 410 until it contacts the cup 126. Due to the sealing operability of the cups 12 against an inner wall of the wellbore tubular 412, the pressurized fluid 401 is not circulated (or not significantly circulated) downhole of the cup 126 in the annulus 410. Indeed, as the pressurized fluid 401 builds to pressure test the wellhead 400, it acts on the cup 126, and the cup 126 (as inverted frustums) compresses and expands to create even more sealing contact with the wellbore tubular 412.
The example implementation of the wellhead isolation tool 100 can be installed and used as described in a variety of wellheads. For example, the wellhead isolation tool 100 can be used in a wellhead seal integrity test even if there is no back pressure valve profile or two-way check valve profile in the wellhead (or tubing hanger section). The wellhead isolation tool 100 can be used in a wellhead seal integrity test even without a drilling rig or a workover rig, or even downhole or bridge plugs or packers to be installed. The wellhead isolation tool 100 can be used for wellhead pressure rating and testing for old wells, re-frac wells, and corroded wells after long production. The wellhead isolation tool 100 can also be used as a cup type tester if there is no test plug profile or BPV profile in a wellhead without a drilling rig or a workover rig.
The wellhead isolation tool 100 also allows the evaluation and testing of an upper tubing/casing portion right below a tubing hanger in the wellhead (such as the top 1-3 feet and without removing a production tree). This testing can be important, as the upper section can face relatively more corrosion due to a higher exposure to oxygen. If a wellhead section or the upper part of the tubing is not strong enough, by operating the wellhead isolation tool 100 in a wellhead pressure test, safe implementation of an operation to initially pump a very low rate of pressurized fluid and apply the pressure gradually can be accomplished. In contrast, without the wellhead pressure test with the wellhead isolation tool 100, during a fracturing operation, if the wellhead fails, it may not be possible to immediately stop pumping 60-120 bbl/min of fracturing fluid.
While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any inventions or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular implementations of particular inventions. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results.
A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. For example, example operations, methods, or processes described herein may include more steps or fewer steps than those described. Further, the steps in such example operations, methods, or processes may be performed in different successions than that described or illustrated in the figures. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.