Thru diverter wellhead with direct connecting downhole control

• US 8,196,649 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2008
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-3 Property Holdings, Inc. (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: T-3 Property Holdings, Inc. (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Allen, Robert Steven, Cain, David Earl, Koleilat, Bashir M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Kenneth L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sayre, James
• Application Number:
  US12/286,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20090032241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 285/123.1, 285/123.2, 285/123.5, 285/123.12, 166/90.1, 166/305, 166/88.4, 166/75.13, 166/75.14, 166/375, 166/379
• US Class Current: 166/72
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/03 Well heads; Setting-up thereof

Abstract

A single or multi-bowl wellhead may be positioned in a diverter housing over the wellbore. Protrusions on the wellhead may be installed after the diverter housing is removed. The wellhead accommodates the direct connection of hydraulic lines to a hanger seated therein. An overshot running tool protects the wellhead during placement and certain operations.

Claims

1. A method for assembling a wellhead system, comprising the steps of:

positioning a first housing with a wellbore tubular extending into a wellbore;

coupling a wellhead having a first side bore with a wellhead tubular;

moving said wellhead into said first housing;

positioning said wellhead with said wellbore tubular;

removing said first housing; and

coupling a second housing with said wellhead first side bore.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said wellhead second housing is threadably coupled to communicate with said wellhead first side bore.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising an alignment pin, wherein said second housing supporting said alignment pin.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising a retainer pin, wherein said second housing supporting said retainer pin.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said second housing comprises a flange having an opening, and further comprising the step of aligning said flange opening with said wellhead first side bore.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said wellhead having an exterior surface including a thread, and further comprising the step of threading a rim with said wellhead exterior surface thread.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of moving said wellhead comprises lowering an overshot running tool.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

positioning a blowout preventer with said wellhead.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

coupling a blowout preventer adapter housing with said wellhead.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

positioning a hydraulically operated tool with a tool tubular;

coupling a first hanger with said tool tubular, wherein said first hanger comprises a first hanger side port in fluid communication with a first hanger tool port;

coupling a first tool hydraulic line between said hydraulically operated tool and said first hanger tool port;

moving said first hanger into said wellhead; and

aligning said first hanger side port with said wellhead first side bore.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said wellhead has a second side bore, and further comprising the steps of

coupling a third housing with said wellhead second side bore, and

moving one end of an alignment pin through said wellhead second side bore.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said first hanger comprises an alignment slot, and further comprising the step of positioning said alignment slot to receive one end of said alignment pin.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of coupling a first side hydraulic line with said first hanger side port through said wellhead first side bore.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said hydraulically operated tool is a downhole deployment valve.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said first hanger is a mandrel hanger.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said first hanger is a slip hanger.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said wellhead comprises a single bowl wellhead.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said wellhead comprises a multi-bowl wellhead.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said wellhead is monolithic.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said wellhead comprises a casing head coupled with a casing spool.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said first housing is a diverter housing.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

positioning a support pack-off bushing in said wellhead above said first hanger;

coupling a second hanger with a second hanger tubular;

moving said second hanger into said wellhead; and

positioning said second hanger in said wellhead above said support pack-off bushing.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said second hanger is a slip hanger.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said second hanger is a mandrel hanger.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of moving the top end of a second hanger tubular up into the wellhead before the step of coupling the second hanger with the second hanger tubular.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the wellhead has a second side bore, and further comprising the step of:

coupling a third housing with said wellhead second side bore.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said third housing is threadably coupled to communicate with said wellhead second side bore.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising a retainer pin, wherein said third housing supports said retainer pin.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said support pack-off bushing having a groove, and further comprising the step of:

moving one end of said retainer pin through said wellhead second side bore and into said bushing groove.

30. A wellhead system for use with a wellbore, comprising:

a wellhead tubular;

a wellbore tubular extending into the wellbore;

a casing head having a side bore and directly coupled with said wellhead tubular;

a split support ring to block movement of said casing head, said wellbore tubular supports said split support ring; and

a first housing configured for being threadably coupled with said casing head side bore after said casing head is supported by said wellbore tubular.

31. The wellhead system of claim 30, wherein said casing head having an exterior surface comprising a thread, and further comprising:

a rim threadly coupled with said casing head exterior surface thread.

32. The wellhead system of claim 30 further comprising an alignment pin, wherein said first housing supports said alignment pin.

33. The wellhead system of claim 30 further comprising a retainer pin, wherein said first housing supports said retainer pin.

34. The wellhead system of claim 30, wherein said first housing comprises a flange having an opening aligned with said casing head side bore.

35. The wellhead system of claim 30, further comprising:

a tool tubular;

a hydraulically operated tool positioned with said tool tubular;

a casing hanger coupled with said tool tubular, wherein said casing hanger having a hanger side port in fluid communication with a hanger tool port;

a tool hydraulic line coupled between said hanger tool port and said hydraulically operated tool; and

said hanger positioned in said casing head.

36. The wellhead system of claim 30 wherein said split support ring is eccentric.

37. A method for positioning a wellhead with a wellbore, comprising the steps of:

releasably positioning a diverter housing with a wellbore tubular extending into a wellbore;

coupling a wellhead having a side bore independent of a protrusion with a wellhead tubular;

moving said wellhead into said diverter housing;

positioning said wellhead with said wellbore tubular;

removing said diverter housing; and

coupling a protrusion with said wellhead side bore.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said protrusion is threadably coupled with said wellhead side bore to communicate with said wellhead side bore.

39. The method of claim 37 further comprising an alignment pin, wherein said protrusion supporting said alignment pin.

40. The method of claim 37 further comprising a retainer pin, wherein said protrusion supporting said retainer pin.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein said protrusion comprises a flange having an opening, and further comprising the step of aligning said flange opening with said wellhead side bore.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein said wellhead exterior surface including a thread, and further comprising the step of threading a rim with said wellhead exterior surface thread.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein said wellhead sized for positioning at least two casing hangers.

44. The method of claim 37, wherein said wellhead comprises a single bowl wellhead.

45. The method of claim 37, further comprising the steps of:

positioning a hydraulically operated tool with a tool tubular;

coupling a hanger with said tool tubular, wherein said hanger comprises a hanger side port in fluid communication with a hanger tool port;

coupling a tool hydraulic line between said hydraulically operated tool and said hanger tool port;

moving said hanger into said wellhead; and

aligning said hanger side port with said wellhead side bore.

46. A wellhead system for use with a wellbore, comprising:

a wellhead tubular;

a wellbore tubular extending into the wellbore;

a casing head having a side bore and directly coupled with said wellhead tubular;

a first housing configured for being threadably coupled with said casing head side bore;

said casing head coupled with said wellbore tubular; and

a diverter housing, wherein said casing head configured to be disposed in said diverter housing while drilling operations are conducted therethrough independent of said first housing threadably coupled with said casing head.