Hanger and penetrator for through tubing ESP deployment with a vertical production tree

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9593561-B2
Application number	US-201314020222-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2013
Priority date	Sep 6, 2013
Publication date	Mar 14, 2017
Grant date	Mar 14, 2017

Abstract

A hanger assembly for use in a vertical production tree that includes an annular piping spool member having a side opening, and a hanger having an outer surface profiled to selectively land in the piping spool member and a side opening registered with the side opening of the piping spool member. The hanger assembly also includes a vertical penetrator having an end selectively connected to a submersible device and an opposing end inserted into the hanger, and that is in communication with the side openings.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hanger assembly for use in a piping spool of a vertical production tree, the hanger assembly comprising:
an annular piping spool member having a side opening;
a hanger having an outer surface profiled to selectively land in the piping spool member and a side opening registered with the side opening of the piping spool member; and
a vertical penetrator having an end inserted into the hanger, and that is in communication with the side openings, the vertical penetrator circumscribing a cable attached to the submersible device.

2. The hanger assembly of claim 1 , the submersible device is electrically connected to surface equipment through the side openings of the hanger and the piping spool member.

3. The hanger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vertical production tree has a master production valve, and the piping spool member has a shoulder and is located in the vertical production tree below the master production valve, and wherein the hanger has a lip arranged to contact the shoulder of the piping spool member to limit downward movement of the hanger relative to the piping spool member.

4. The hanger assembly of claim 3 , wherein the piping spool member has a pin and the hanger has a slot, the pin and the slot positioned so that the slot must accept the pin for the hanger to be fully seated against the piping spool member with the lip of the hanger contacting the shoulder of the piping spool member, and so that when the pin and slot are aligned, the opening on the side of the hanger is aligned with the side opening of the piping spool member.

5. The hanger assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plug for insertion into the side opening of the piping spool member to seal the opening during makeup and breakdown of the assembly.

6. The hanger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the piping spool member has multiple fluid bypass ports, the aggregate cross-sections of which are large enough to limit fluid velocity below a predetermined velocity.

7. The hanger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hanger includes a latching shape at an upper end configured for releasable attachment to a running tool.

8. The hanger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vertical penetrator contains cables for connection to the submersible device, and wherein the openings in the hanger and the piping spool member are isolated from pressure in a well bore.

9. A vertical production tree having a tubing bonnet, comprising:
a piping spool; and
a hanger assembly positioned in the piping spool, the hanger assembly comprising:
a piping spool member having a shoulder, a side opening, and a fluid bypass port, the piping spool member attached to the tubing bonnet;
a hanger adapted for insertion in the piping spool member, and having a lip arranged to contact the shoulder of the piping spool member to limit downward movement of the hanger relative to the piping spool member, the hanger having a vertical penetrator that is open to a side of the hanger and that can be accessed via the side opening of the piping spool member; and
a submersible device suspended from the hanger by a cable, the submersible device electrically connected to surface equipment through the hanger and the side opening of the piping spool member.

10. The vertical production tree of claim 9 , wherein the inner diameter of the piping spool member is large enough to allow passage of the submersible device.

11. The vertical production tree of claim 9 , wherein the fluid bypass port of the piping spool member is separate from the side opening, so that an operator can control the submersible device by communicating with the submersible device and providing power through the side opening while oil and gas is simultaneously being produced through the fluid bypass port.

12. The vertical production tree of claim 9 , further comprising a plug for insertion into the side opening of the piping spool member to seal the opening during insertion and removal of the hanger assembly.

13. The vertical production tree of claim 9 , wherein the hanger includes a latching shape at an upper end configured for releasable attachment to a running tool.

14. A method of through tubing electric submersible pump deployment on a vertical production tree attached to the opening of a well, the method comprising the steps of:
attaching a piping spool with a shoulder and a fluid bypass port to a wellhead tubing hanger below the master valve of a vertical production tree so that an opening on the sidewall of the piping spool aligns with an opening in a sidewall of the wellhead tubing hanger;
sealing the opening in the wellhead tubing hanger with a plug;
deploying an electric submersible pump through the piping spool and wellhead tubing hanger, and down the wellbore to a predetermined location in the production tubing, the electric submersible pump suspended by a cable;
attaching a cable hanger having a circumferential lip and a side port to the cable, the cable hanger having a vertical penetrator that is open to a side of the cable hanger and that can be accessed via the opening on the sidewall of the piping spool;
running the cable hanger into the piping spool and landing the cable hanger so that the circumferential lip contacts the shoulder of the piping spool and the side port of the cable hanger is aligned with the openings of the piping spool and the wellhead tubing hanger;
removing the plug from the opening in the wellhead tubing hanger and electrically communicating with the electric submersible pump through the openings in the wellhead tubing hanger and piping spool, and the side port of the cable hanger.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of:
installing a lubricator and blow-out preventer above the lower master valve before the step of deploying the electric submersible pump.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
installing the electric submersible pump in the lubricator; and
opening the blow-out preventer and pressurizing the to the well pressure before deploying the into the well.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of closing the blow-out preventer on the cable attached to the electric submersible pump before the electric submersible pump reaches its setting depth.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising the steps of:
bleeding the pressure from the lubricator; and
removing the lubricator, thereby exposing the cable prior to the step of attaching the cable hanger to the cable.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising the steps of:
reinstalling the lubricator after attaching the cable hanger to the cable; and
opening the blow-out preventer to release the cable, thereby allowing the electric submersible pump to travel further down the well.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising the step of:
attaching a running tool to the cable hanger and using the running tool to run the cable hanger into position relative to the piping spool.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising the steps of:
closing the lower master valve; and

removing the blow-out preventer and lubricator prior to the step of removing the plug from the opening in the wellhead tubing hanger.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Xiao Jinjiang
• Roth Brian
• Bouldin Brett

Classifications

• E21B33/0407

  with a suspended electrical cable · CPC title

• E21B43/12 Primary

  Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells (E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00) · CPC title

• E21B43/128 Primary

  Adaptation of pump systems with down-hole electric drives · CPC title