Method of installing a multi-bowl wellhead assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9534465-B2
Application number	US-201314051687-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2013
Priority date	Oct 31, 2012
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

A method of completing a well includes lowering a wellhead onto a base at an upper end of the well. A hub with internal threads and an external circumferential stepped recess is secured to external threads of the wellhead. A blowout preventer assembly with an annular locking member having a plurality of locking elements is landed on the hub, and the locking elements are engaged with the recess of the hub. The well is drilled through the blowout preventer assembly to a greater depth then the blowout preventer assembly and the hub are removed. A threaded flange with a plurality of bolt holes spaced around the flange is secured to the external threads of the wellhead and a wellhead member is bolted to the bolt holes of the threaded flange.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of completing a well, comprising:
(a) extending a conductor pipe into the well and connecting a riser to an upper end of the conductor pipe with a riser connector, the riser connector sealingly engaging an outer diameter of the conductor pipe and then lowering a wellhead onto a base at an upper end of the well, the wellhead having external threads on an outer diameter;
(b) providing a hub with internal threads and an external circumferential stepped recess, and securing the hub to the external threads of the wellhead;
(c) providing a blowout preventer assembly with an annular locking member having a plurality of locking elements, landing the blowout preventer assembly on the hub, and engaging the locking elements with the recess;
(d) drilling the well through the blowout preventer assembly and restraining at least one hanger within the wellhead with a restraining assembly entirely internal to the wellhead; then
(e) removing the blowout preventer assembly and the hub and securing a threaded flange to the external threads of the wellhead, the threaded flange having a plurality of bolt holes spaced around the flange; and
(f) bolting a wellhead member to the bolt holes of the threaded flange.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a landing ring and before lowering the wellhead onto the base, the method further comprises securing the landing ring to the upper end of the well.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein before lowering the wellhead onto the base, the method further comprises providing a running tool with internal threads and securing the running tool to the external threads of the wellhead and wherein lowering the wellhead onto the base comprises lowering the wellhead with the running tool.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein step (a) further comprises lowering the wellhead through a riser.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the wellhead has an upper rim and the blowout preventer assembly has a blow out preventer and a quick connector spool located between the blowout preventer and the annular locking member and landing the blowout preventer assembly on the hub comprises landing the quick connector spool on the upper rim of the wellhead.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the blowout preventer assembly has a blow out preventer and a quick connector spool located between the blowout preventer and the annular locking member and step (c) further comprises connecting the blow out preventer to the quick connect spool with bolts before landing the blow out preventer assembly on the hub.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the blowout preventer assembly has a blow out preventer and a quick connector spool located between the blowout preventer and the annular locking member and step (c) further comprises bolting the blow out preventer to the quick connect spool and connecting the spool to the annular locking member before landing the blow out preventer assembly on the hub.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein step (d) further comprises:
running an intermediate casing string through the blowout preventer assembly and into the wellhead, and if an upper end of the intermediate casing string protrudes above the wellhead when the casing string can no longer be lowered into the well:
disengaging the locking elements from the recess and removing the blowout preventer assembly;
cutting the upper end of the intermediate casing string within the wellhead; and
returning the blowout preventer assembly to the hub and engaging the locking elements with the recess.

9. A method of completing a well, comprising:
(a) extending a conductor pipe into the well and connecting a riser to an upper end of the conductor pipe with a riser connector, the riser connector sealingly engaging an outer diameter of the conductor pipe and then providing a wellhead with a bore, a rim, and external threads on an outer diameter portion of the wellhead joining the rim;
(b) securing an upper end of a surface casing string to the wellhead, securing a running tool to the external threads, lowering the wellhead onto a base at an upper end of the well, then cementing the surface casing string;
(c) providing a hub with internal threads and an external circumferential stepped recess, removing the running tool, and securing the hub to the external threads;
(d) providing a blowout preventer and an annular locking member having a plurality of locking elements, bolting the blowout preventer to the annular locking member to define a blowout preventer assembly and landing the blowout preventer assembly on the hub and moving the locking elements inward into engagement with the recess;
(e) drilling the well through the blowout preventer assembly and cementing at least one inner casing string in the well, the at least one inner casing string extending from a hanger within the wellhead, the hanger restrained within the wellhead with a restraining assembly entirely internal to the wellhead; then
(f) removing the blowout preventer assembly and the hub and securing a threaded flange having bolt holes to the external threads; and
(g) bolting a tubing head to the bolt holes of the threaded flange.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein step (b) further comprises running the wellhead with the running tool through a riser.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein step (c) further comprises removing the riser before connecting the hub to the wellhead.

12. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the blowout preventer assembly of step (d) further comprises a connector spool bolted between the blowout preventer and the annular locking member.

13. The method according to claim 9 , wherein step (b) further comprises opening a view port in the riser connector and visually confirming that the wellhead has properly landed on the base.

14. The method according to claim 9 , wherein before step (a), the method further comprises extending a conductor pipe into the well and connecting a riser to an upper end of the conductor pipe with a riser connector, drilling through the riser, then removing the riser from the upper end of the well, wherein the riser connector sealingly engages an outer diameter of the conductor pipe.

15. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the locking elements comprise threaded members and moving the locking elements inward into engagement with the recess comprises rotating the threaded members with a tool.

16. A method of completing a well, comprising:
(a) connecting a riser to an upper end of a conductor pipe extending into the well with a riser connector, the riser connector sealingly engaging an outer diameter of the conductor pipe;
(b) providing a wellhead with a support ring at its lower end and lowering the wellhead through the riser, the wellhead having external threads on an outer diameter;
(c) landing the support ring of the wellhead on a landing ring located at an upper end of the conductor pipe;
(d) removing the riser;
(e) providing a hub with internal threads and an external circumferential stepped recess, and securing the hub to the external threads of the wellhead;
(e) providing a blowout preventer, a connector spool, and an annular locking member having a plurality of locking elements, bolting the blowout preventer to one end of the connector spool and connecting the annular locking member to an opposite end of the connector spool, defining a blowout preventer assembly, then landing the blowout preventer assembly on the hub, and engaging the locking elements with the recess;
(f) drilling th

Assignees

• Ge Oil & Gas Pressure Control Lp

Inventors

• Nguyen Khang V
• Kajaria Saurabh
• Wright Knox F
• Adkinson Sheila A

Classifications

• E21B33/03 Primary

  Well heads; Setting-up thereof · CPC title