One-trip wellhead installation systems and methods

• US 6,918,446 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vetco Gray Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Vetco Gray Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Borak, Eugene A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsay, Frank
• Application Number:
  US10/681,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20040069493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 166/338, 166/344, 166/342, 166/351, 166/368, 166/95.1, 166/382
• US Class Current: 166/382
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/00 Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/035 specially adapted for underwater installations E21B33/043, E21B33/064, E21B33/076 take precedence

Abstract

Methods and devices are described for efficiently installing sea-borne wellhead components and tying back sub-sea wellhead components with them. In specific aspects, a single running and setting tool is used to land a tubing head housing upon the stem of a floating platform and tension and pressure testing casing string risers extending between a subsea wellhead and a floating vessel.

Claims

1. A wellhead assembly system comprising:

a) a tubing head adapted to be landed upon a floating structure, the tubing head comprising a housing having a generally vertically-disposed bore therethrough and a landing profile for selectively engaging a floating structure;

b) a running and setting tool comprising;

a central piston assembly radially disposed within the bore of the tubing head and being axially moveable therewithin,

a landing sub affixed to a lower end of the central piston assembly and being selectively securable to a riser section member of a riser string extending to a subsea wellhead;

a fluid bore disposed through the central piston assembly and landing sub; and

a matching profile upon the central piston assembly for reversably interconnecting the central piston assembly with the tubing head housing.

2. The wellhead assembly system of claim 1 further comprising a tubular riser sleeve secured to a lower end of the tubing head and sized to retain an upper portion of the riser string member radially within, and a securing assembly for securing an upper end of the riser string member radially within the riser sleeve.

3. The wellhead assembly system of claim 2 wherein the securing assembly further comprises a ratchet suspension assembly having a plurality of radially interior teeth to interengage a radial exterior of a riser string member.

4. The wellhead assembly system of claim 1 further comprising a fluid chamber formed between the tubing head and the central piston assembly that can be selectively filled to move the piston assembly axially with respect to the tubing head.

5. The wellhead assembly system of claim 1 wherein the tubing head further includes a load cell for measuring tension upon the riser string.

6. The wellhead assembly system of claim 1 further comprising means for selectively securing the central piston assembly within the tubing head to preclude axial movement between the central piston assembly and the tubing head.

7. The wellhead assembly system of claim 6 wherein the means for selectively securing comprises a set screw.

8. A running and setting tool for landing portions of a wellhead upon a floating structure, the tool comprising:

a central piston assembly adapted to be radially disposed within a bore of a tubing head to be axially moveable therewithin,

a landing sub affixed to a lower end of the central piston assembly and being selectively securable to a riser section member of a riser string;

a fluid bore disposed through the central piston assembly and landing sub; and

a profile upon the central piston assembly for reversably interconnecting the central piston assembly with the tubing head.

9. The running and setting tool of claim 8 wherein the landing sub further comprises a seal assembly for selectively creating a fluid seal within a surrounding riser sleeve depending from the tubing head.

10. The running and setting tool of claim 8 further comprising means for selectively securing the central piston assembly within the tubing head to preclude axial movement between the central piston assembly and the tubing head.

11. The running and setting tool of claim 10 wherein the means for selectively securing comprises a set screw.

12. A method of assembling a tubing head onto a floating structure, comprising the steps of:

reversibly securing an upper portion of a central piston assembly to a tubing head;

reversibly affixing a landing sub on a lower portion of the central piston assembly to a riser section member of a riser string;

pressure testing the riser string;

landing the tubing head onto the floating structure; and

energizing a riser seal between the landing sub and a surrounding sleeve that depends from the tubing head.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of pressure testing the riser seal.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of energizing the riser seal comprises axially moving the central piston assembly with respect to the tubing head.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of axially moving the central piston assembly with respect to the tubing head further comprises the step of pressurizing a fluid chamber.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of tensioning the riser string.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of measuring the tension load upon the riser string via a load cell mounted to the tubing head.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of landing a blowout preventer atop the tubing head.

19. A method of connecting a riser string between a subsea wellhead and a floating structure, comprising:

(a) lowering a riser string through an opening in the floating structure;

(b) connecting a running tool to a tubing head that has a depending a riser sleeve, lowering the riser sleeve over an upper portion of the riser string and connecting a lower end of the running tool to an upper end of the riser string;

(c) connecting a lower end of the riser string to the subsea wellhead;

(d) while supporting the riser string with the running tool, lowering the tubing hanger and riser sleeve relative to the running tool and landing the tubing head on the floating structure;

then

(e) with the running tool, setting a seal between the riser sleeve and an upper portion of the riser string;

then

(f) disengaging the running tool from the riser string and removing the running tool from the tubing head.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein step (d) comprises providing the running tool with a piston and a fluid chamber located above the piston, then expelling liquid from the fluid chamber in a controlled manner as the tubing head descends.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein step (d) comprises:

providing the running tool with a seal setting member on its lower end;

providing the running tool with a piston and a fluid chamber located above the piston, then applying fluid pressure to the fluid chamber to cause the piston to move downward in the fluid chamber, the downward movement of the piston causing downward movement of the seal setting member to energize the seal.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising testing the seal after setting by applying fluid pressure between the seal and a lower side of the piston.