Tubing hanger alignment device with torsional spring alignment mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11686172-B2
Application number	US-202217874216-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2022
Priority date	Oct 19, 2017
Publication date	Jun 27, 2023
Grant date	Jun 27, 2023

Abstract

Systems and methods for landing a tubing hanger in a wellhead and then orienting a tree (or spool, or flowline connection body) relative to the tubing hanger while landing the tree on the wellhead are provided. This alignment is accomplished without the use of either a tubing spool or a BOP stack with an orientation pin. The tubing hanger alignment devices may be used to orientate the tree as the tree is landed so that the couplings and stabs between the tree and the tubing hanger line up with each other just at the moment of landing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a tubing hanger positioned in a wellhead, wherein the tubing hanger comprises one or more hydraulic, electric, or fiber optic couplings;
a tubular housing comprising one or more hydraulic, electric, or fiber optic lines disposed therein;
a tubing hanger alignment device comprising:
an upper body mounted to the tubular housing;
a lower body coupled to the upper body, defining an electrical gallery and a hydraulic gallery in an annular space, the annular space being located between the upper body and the lower body in a radial direction, wherein the lower body comprises one or more couplings disposed thereon; and
a torsional spring disposed in another annular space between the upper body and the lower body.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubing hanger alignment device further comprises a trigger assembly configured to selectively trigger the torsional spring to rotate the lower body relative to the upper body until the one or more couplings on the lower body are aligned with the one or more couplings on the tubing hanger.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the trigger assembly comprises a first button extending radially outward from the lower body and a second button extending radially outward from the upper body into the lower body immediately adjacent the first button.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein:
the trigger assembly comprises a third button biased in a radially outward direction and disposed within the lower body; and
the tubing hanger comprises an alignment slot formed therein for receiving the third button to stop rotation of the lower body in a desired orientation.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubing hanger alignment device is self-aligning between the tubular housing and the tubing hanger.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular housing comprises one of a tree body, a spool, or a flowline connection body.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubing hanger alignment device is coupled to the tubing hanger.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubing hanger alignment device is coupled to the tubular housing.

9. A method, comprising:
coupling a tubing hanger alignment device to a tubular housing, wherein the tubing hanger alignment device comprises one or more couplings, an upper body mounted to the tubular housing, a lower body coupled to the upper body, and a torsional spring disposed in an annular space between the upper body and the lower body;
lowering the tubular housing with the tubing hanger alignment device at least partially into a wellhead having a tubing hanger disposed therein;
triggering the torsional spring to rotate the lower body relative to the upper body via interaction of the tubing hanger alignment device with the tubing hanger;
orienting the one or more couplings of the tubing hanger alignment device so that they align with corresponding one or more couplings on the tubing hanger, via the tubing hanger alignment device; and
landing the tubular housing in the wellhead, wherein the tubing hanger alignment device communicatively couples hydraulic, electric, and/or fiber optic lines of the tubular housing with the one or more couplings on the tubing hanger.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the tubing hanger alignment device further comprises a trigger assembly used to trigger the torsional spring via interaction of the trigger assembly with the tubing hanger.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising stopping rotation of the lower body via a key of the trigger assembly being received in a slot of the tubing hanger.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein coupling the tubing hanger alignment device to the tubular housing comprises coupling the tubing hanger alignment device to one of a tree body, a spool, or a flowline connection body.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the tubing hanger alignment device and the couplings on the tubing hanger self-align as the tubular housing is lowered into the wellhead.

Assignees

• Dril Quip Inc

Inventors

• Deberry Blake T
• Wade Morris B
• Santos Flavio
• Norwood Gregory
• Buxton Robert
• Rye Justin
• Scaggs Todd L

Classifications

• E21B33/03 Primary

  Well heads; Setting-up thereof · CPC title

• E21B33/04 Primary

  Casing heads; Suspending casings or tubings in well heads · CPC title

• E21B33/0407

  with a suspended electrical cable · CPC title

• E21B33/043

  specially adapted for underwater well heads ({E21B33/0407,} E21B33/047 take precedence) · CPC title