System and method for a secondary pressure boundary tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12049800-B2
Application number	US-202217752444-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2022
Priority date	May 24, 2022
Publication date	Jul 30, 2024
Grant date	Jul 30, 2024

Abstract

A system includes a Christmas tree (XT) having at least one valve, the XT being coupled to a wellbore. The system also includes a pressure boundary tool adapted to provide a secondary boundary for the XT. The pressure boundary tool includes a plug body to be positioned against a valve member of the at least one valve; a seal to be energized into a valve body of the at least one valve; and a plate arranged proximate the seal, the plate being moveable between a first position and a second position, the first position energizing the seal and a second position deenergizing the seal. The pressure boundary tool is positioned within the XT on a side of the valve member closer to the wellbore.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
pressure boundary tool, comprising:
a plug body, the plug body having an orifice extending from a first end to second end;
a plate coupled to the second end via one or more fasteners, the plate positioned for axial movement along an axis of the pressure boundary tool;
a seal arranged within a seal groove formed between the plug body and the plate;
a retaining assembly positioned at the second end within the orifice; and
a capture plate arranged over the retaining assembly to maintain a position of the retaining assembly within the orifice; and

an installation and retrieval tool, comprising:
a shaft having first threads on a first shaft end and being non-threaded at a second shaft end, the threads configured to engage mating threads of the plate; and
a sleeve having second threads on a first sleeve end and couplers on a second sleeve end, the second threads configured to engage the plug body and the couplers configured to engage the retaining assembly;

wherein the first threads and the second threads are configured for use during an installation process and the couplers are configured for use during a retrieval process.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a nut associated with the installation and retrieval tool, the nut configured to drive movement the shaft along the axis to move the plate toward the plug body to energize the seal.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising;
a disk arranged over the capture plate.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a piston configured to couple to the first threads during the removal process, the piston to apply a force to drive the plate away from the plug body and deenergize the seal.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the capture plate is coupled to the plug body via one or more second fasteners.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more second fasteners are within a common passage as the one or more fasteners.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
extensions formed on the plate, the extensions to be aligned with the seal such that movement of the plate toward the plug body drives the extensions into the seal groove.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the retaining assembly is a collet and the collet engages the couplers during the retrieval process.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pressure boundary tool is positioned downstream of a valve member such that the seal engages a valve body.

10. A system, comprising:
a Christmas tree (XT) having at least one valve, the XT being coupled to a wellbore;
a pressure boundary tool adapted to provide a secondary boundary for the XT, the pressure boundary tool comprising:
a plug body to be positioned against a valve member of the at least one valve;
a seal to be energized into a valve body of the at least one valve; and
a plate arranged proximate the seal, the plate being moveable between a first position and a second position, the first position energizing the seal and a second position deenergizing the seal;

wherein the pressure boundary tool is positioned within the XT on a side of the valve member closer to the wellbore.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:
an installation and retrieval tool associated with the pressure boundary tool, the installation and retrieval tool having a first end that couples to both the plug body and the plate during an installation process and a second end that couples to a retaining component of the plug body during a removal operation.

12. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a disk positioned along an end of the plug body proximate the valve member, the disk being formed of a material that is softer than the valve member.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein threaded fittings are used during installation and energizing of the pressure boundary tool and non-threaded fittings are used during deenergizing and removal of the pressure boundary tool.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein a plug body length is greater than a valve seat length.

15. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:
an installation and retrieval tool having a shaft and a sleeve, wherein rotation of the shaft, driven by a nut, drives movement of the plate from the second position to the first position.

16. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a collet positioned within an orifice of the plug body, the collet being maintained within the orifice via a capture plate, wherein the collet engages grooves of an installation and retrieval tool when the pressure boundary tool is being removed.

17. A method, comprising:
coupling an installation and retrieval tool to a pressure boundary tool;
opening a specified valve of a Christmas tree (XT);
running the pressure boundary tool past a valve member of the specified valve;
energizing a seal of the pressure boundary tool;
decoupling the installation and retrieval tool from the pressure boundary tool;
removing the installation and retrieval tool from a flow passage of the specified valve; and
closing the specified valve.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
reopening the specified valve;
running the installation and retrieval tool to the pressure boundary tool;
engaging a retaining assembly within the pressure boundary tool;
deenergizing the seal; and
removing the pressure boundary tool from the XT.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein deenergizing the seal comprises:
applying a force to a plate of the pressure boundary tool.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein energizing the pressure boundary tool comprises:
moving a plate in an uphole direction toward a plug body to compress the seal.

Assignees

• Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc

Inventors

• Garcia Javier
• Udipi Mahesha
• Mitelman Guy
• Munk Brian
• Adams Keith M

Classifications

• E21B33/068

  having provision for introducing objects or fluids into, or removing objects from, wells (cementing-heads E21B33/05) · CPC title

• E21B34/02 Primary

  in well heads · CPC title