Tool arrangement connected to a christmas tree and methods for installing and removing of a christmas tree

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9874076-B2
Application number	US-201515120185-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2015
Priority date	Mar 25, 2014
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

The invention provides a multipurpose tool arrangement for riserless invention of a subsea well. The multipurpose tool ( 40 ) which is adapted to be connected at the lower end to a Christmas tree ( 50 ) which has a tubing hanger ( 52 ) and an annulus bore ( 60 ′) being defined through said tubing hanger ( 52 ). Said tool ( 40 ) comprises a tubular element ( 48 ) and a Christmas tree connector ( 41 ), said multipurpose tool ( 40 ) is adapted to receive a second tool ( 64 ), which is operated by a cable ( 49 ), said second tool ( 64 ) in turn being adapted to install a plug ( 70 ) in said tubing hanger annulus bore ( 60 ′), through said multipurpose tool ( 40 ), said arrangement also comprising a pressure control head ( 47 ) through which said cable ( 49 ) extend. The invention also provides a method for removal or installing of a Christmas tree.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A multipurpose tool arrangement for riserless intervention of a subsea well, the multipurpose tool arrangement comprising:
a multipurpose tool comprising a tubular element and a Christmas tree adaptor connected to a lower end of said tubular element, the Christmas tree adaptor adapted to be connected at a lower end of the Christmas tree adaptor to a Christmas tree, said Christmas tree adapted to land on a wellhead having a tubing hanger, an annulus bore being defined through said tubing hanger; and
a connection flange arranged at a top of said tubular element, the connection flange adapted to be selectively connected to a lifting member when removing or installing said Christmas tree on said wellhead with the multipurpose tool and the lifting member and the connection flange adapted to be selectively connected to a pressure control head comprising a cable operated second tool when installing or retrieving a plug in said tubing hanger annulus bore through the multipurpose tool and the Christmas tree with the cable operated second tool.

2. The multipurpose tool according to claim 1 , wherein a large bore being defined through said tubular element having a diameter substantially similar to a circle circumscribing a production bore and an annulus bore in said Christmas tree.

3. The multipurpose tool according to claim 1 , wherein said tubular element comprises the connection flange for releasable receiving said lifting member.

4. The multipurpose tool according to claim 1 , wherein a cable extends through pressure controlling elements in the pressure control head which prevents leakage of gases or liquids along the cable.

5. The multipurpose tool according to claim 4 , wherein said pressure control head has a check valve which is adapted to close a cable bore if the cable is broken.

6. The multipurpose tool according to claim 4 , wherein said cable is a slick line.

7. The multipurpose tool according to claim 1 , wherein said Christmas tree adapter comprises a Christmas tree adaptor connector and a replaceable inner member.

8. The multipurpose tool according to claim 1 , wherein a Christmas tree annulus bore is defined through said Christmas tree, said Christmas tree annulus bore being in communication with said tubing hanger annulus bore.

9. The multipurpose tool according to claim 7 , wherein the replaceable inner member having a fixed upper interface with said Christmas tree adaptor connector and a lower interface with said Christmas tree, the lower interface, together with the pressure control head being configured to fit each specific configuration of a production bore and an annulus bore of said Christmas tree.

10. The multipurpose tool according to claim 1 , wherein said pressure control head is replaceable and connected to an upper interface of the cable operated second tool.

11. The multipurpose tool according to claim 1 , wherein an opening in said pressure control head for a cable is positioned directly vertical of the tubing hanger annulus bore to be intervened, allowing a straight access for said cable operated second tool to a Christmas tree annulus bore.

12. The multipurpose tool according to claim 1 , wherein said multipurpose tool having a shear valve adapted to cut a cable and seal a passage from a Christmas tree annulus bore or a Christmas tree production bore.

13. The multipurpose tool according to claim 1 , wherein in a miniature lower riser package is arranged between the tubular element and the Christmas tree.

14. The multipurpose tool according to claim 1 , wherein said multipurpose tool is dimensioned to carry weight of a complete Christmas tree.

15. The multipurpose tool according to claim 2 , wherein said multipurpose tool having flushing lines for circulating MEG through said large bore in said tubular element.

16. The multipurpose tool according to claim 7 , wherein MEG is circulated from an umbilical through a first flushing line, through a passage line in said Christmas tree adaptor connector, through a large bore in the Christmas tree adaptor connector and said annulus bore in said tubular element, said MEG is circulated back to the umbilical through a return point in the top of said tubular element and a return flushing line.

17. The multipurpose tool according to claim 1 , wherein said multipurpose tool having lines for killing the subsea well with killing fluid.

18. A method for riserless removal of a Christmas tree from a wellhead having a tubing hanger, said tubing hanger having a production bore and an annulus bore, the method comprises a standard plugging in said tubing hanger production bore with a standard workover system, the method comprising:
removing the standard workover system,
lowering a multipurpose tool with a lifting member attached to a connection flange at a top of said multipurpose tool,
connecting the multipurpose tool to the Christmas tree,
removing the lifting member from the connection flange and attaching a pressure control head with a cable operated second tool to the connection flange at the top of the multipurpose tool,
plugging of the tubing hanger annulus bore with said cable operated second tool,
removing the pressure control head from the connection flange and attaching the lifting member to the connection flange at the top of the multipurpose tool,
removing of the Christmas tree from the wellhead with the multipurpose tool and the lifting member.

19. A method for installing a Christmas tree on a subsea well comprising a tubing hanger landed in a wellhead, said tubing hanger having a production bore and an annulus bore wherein the method comprising the following steps:
connecting a multipurpose tool to the Christmas tree,
connecting a lifting member to a connection flange at a top of the multipurpose tool,
lowering the multipurpose tool with the Christmas tree to the wellhead,
connecting the Christmas tree to the wellhead,
removing the lifting member from the connection flange and connecting a pressure control head with a slick line operated second tool to the connection flange at the top of the multipurpose tool,
removing a plug from the tubing hanger annulus bore with said slick line operated second tool,
removing the pressure control head from the connection flange and connecting the lifting member to the connection flange at the top of the multipurpose tool,
removing the multipurpose tool with use of the lifting member,
lowering a standard workover system to the Christmas tree for removing a plug in the tubing hanger production bore.

Assignees

• Aker Solutions As

Inventors

• Christensen Kim W
• Brown David

Classifications

• E21B33/035 Primary

  specially adapted for underwater installations (E21B33/043, E21B33/064, E21B33/076 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B41/04 Primary

  Manipulators for underwater operations, e.g. temporarily connected to well heads · CPC title