# US 10,309,190 B2 · System and method for accessing a well

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- Number: US 10,309,190 B2
- Document ID: US10309190B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/339,294
- Filed: 2014-07-23
- Published: 2016-01-28
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2014-07-23
- Assignees: OneSubsea IP UK Limited
- Applicants: OneSubsea IP UK Limited
- Inventors: David R. June; Venkatesh Bhat; Christopher G. Kocurek
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309190B2

## CPC

- E21B 34/02: in well heads
- E21B 33/03: Well heads; Setting-up thereof
- E21B 33/0353: {Horizontal or spool trees, i.e. without production valves in the vertical main bore}
- E21B 33/04: Casing heads; Suspending casings or tubings in well heads
- E21B 33/043: specially adapted for underwater well heads ({E21B33/0407,} E21B33/047 take precedence)
- E21B 33/047: for plural tubing strings
- E21B 33/068: having provision for introducing objects or fluids into, or removing objects from, wells (cementing-heads E21B33/05)
- E21B 33/035: specially adapted for underwater installations (E21B33/043, E21B33/064, E21B33/076 take precedence)
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

A system and method for accessing a well, in certain embodiments, includes a production tree, a cap, and a spool including a longitudinal bore configured to receive a tubing hanger. The tubing hanger includes a longitudinal bore configured to transfer product between the spool and the production tree. At least one adjustable fluid barrier is included in the tubing hanger and/or the cap. The adjustable fluid barrier can be used to open and close the longitudinal passage and allow access through the tubing hanger and/or the cap.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for accessing well, comprising:
a spool comprising a longitudinal passage;
a tubing hanger installable and supportable in the spool longitudinal passage and comprising a hanger longitudinal passage through the tubing hanger and an annulus access passage through the tubing hanger; and
fluid barriers within the hanger longitudinal passage and the annulus access passage, the fluid barriers including at least one adjustable barrier within the hanger longitudinal passage to control access to the well and at least two adjustable barriers within the annulus access passage to control access to an annulus below the tubing hanger.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one adjustable barrier within the hanger longitudinal passage comprises an actuatable valve.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, further comprising more than one actuatable valve in the tubing hanger.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a cap supportable by the spool and comprising a cap longitudinal passage through the cap in communication with the spool longitudinal passage; and
an adjustable barrier located in the cap longitudinal passage to control access to the well.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the adjustable barrier in the cap comprises an actuatable valve.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, further comprising more than one actuatable valve in the cap.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, the cap further comprising an actuatable valve in an annulus access passage extending through the cap and separate from the cap longitudinal passage.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the cap comprises an internal tree cap or an external tree cap.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two adjustable barriers within the annulus access passage comprises an actuatable valve.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a vertical tree in fluid communication with the hanger longitudinal passage.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising an additional fluid barrier below the tubing hanger and in communication with the hanger longitudinal passage.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a production tubing suspended from the tubing hanger, an inside of the production tubing being in fluid communication with the hanger longitudinal passage; and
the spool comprising an annulus flow passage open to and extending between an upper region above the tubing hanger and a lower region below the tubing hanger in fluid communication with an area surrounding the outside of the production tubing.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the spool comprises a lateral flow passage extending laterally from and in fluid communication with the hanger longitudinal passage.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, further comprising a valve in the lateral flow passage.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, further comprising:
a production tubing suspended from the tubing hanger, an inside of the production tubing being in fluid communication with the hanger longitudinal passage; and
an additional fluid barrier below the lateral flow passage in fluid communication with the hanger longitudinal passage.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the additional fluid barrier is below the tubing hanger.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the spool comprises a horizontal production tree.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the spool comprises a high pressure wellhead assembly.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the spool is connected to a separate high pressure wellhead assembly.

### Claim 20

A method for accessing a well, comprising:
landing a tubing hanger in a spool;
installing a cap to the spool above the tubing hanger;
operating an adjustable barrier in the tubing hanger to control access to the well through the tubing hanger from above the tubing hanger; and
operating an adjustable barrier in an annulus access passage in the tubing hanger and a second adjustable barrier in the annulus access passage in the tubing hanger to control access to an annulus below the tubing hanger.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, further comprising operating a second adjustable barrier in the tubing hanger to control access to the well through the tubing hanger.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, further comprising operating an adjustable barrier below the tubing hanger to control access to the well.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, further comprising operating an adjustable barrier in the cap to control access through the cap to below the cap.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, further comprising operating a second adjustable barrier in the cap.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, further comprising extending a tool into the well through the cap and the tubing hanger without removing the cap, the adjustable barrier in the cap, the tubing hanger, or the adjustable barrier in the tubing hanger operated to control access to the well from the spool.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, further comprising flowing fluid into the well through the cap and the tubing hanger without removing the cap, the adjustable barrier in the cap, the tubing hanger, or the adjustable barrier in the tubing hanger operated to control access to the well from the spool.

### Claim 27 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, further comprising operating an adjustable barrier in an annulus access passage in the cap to control access to the annulus below the tubing hanger.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, further comprising operating a second adjustable barrier in the annulus access passage in the cap to control access to the annulus below the tubing hanger.

### Claim 29 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, further comprising extending a tool into the well through the tubing hanger without removing the tubing hanger or the adjustable barrier operated to control access to the well from the spool.

### Claim 30 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, further comprising flowing fluid into the well through the tubing hanger without removing the tubing hanger or the adjustable barrier operated to control access to the well from the spool.

### Claim 31

A method for accessing a well, comprising:
landing a tubing hanger in a spool;
installing a cap to the spool above the tubing hanger;
operating an adjustable barrier in the cap to control access to the well through the cap from above the tubing hanger; and
operating an adjustable barrier in an annulus access passage in the tubing hanger and a second adjustable barrier in the annulus access passage in the tubing hanger to control access to an annulus below the tubing hanger.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, further comprising operating a second adjustable barrier in the cap to control access to the well through the cap.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, further comprising operating an adjustable barrier below the tubing hanger to control access to the well.

### Claim 34 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, further comprising operating an adjustable barrier in the tubing hanger to control access to the well through the tubing hanger.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The method of claim 34, further comprising operating a second adjustable barrier in the tubing hanger to control access to the well through the tubing hanger.

### Claim 36 (depends on 34)

The method of claim 34, further comprising extending a tool into the well through the cap and the tubing hanger without removing the cap, the adjustable barrier in the cap, the tubing hanger, or the adjustable barrier in the tubing hanger operated to control access to the well from the spool.

### Claim 37 (depends on 34)

The method of claim 34, further comprising flowing fluid into the well through the cap and the tubing hanger without removing the cap, the adjustable barrier in the cap, the tubing hanger, or the adjustable barrier in the tubing hanger operated to control access to the well from the spool.

### Claim 38 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, further comprising operating an adjustable barrier in an annulus access passage in the cap to control access to the annulus below the tubing hanger.

### Claim 39 (depends on 38)

The method of claim 38, further comprising operating a second adjustable barrier in the annulus access passage in the cap to control access to the annulus below the tubing hanger.

### Claim 40 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, further comprising extending a tool into the well through the tubing hanger without removing the tubing hanger or the adjustable barrier in the cap from the spool.

### Claim 41 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, further comprising flowing fluid into the well through the tubing hanger without removing the tubing hanger or the adjustable barrier in the cap from the spool.

### Claim 42

A method for accessing a well, comprising:
landing a tubing hanger in a spool;
installing a cap to the spool above the tubing hanger;
operating an adjustable barrier in the tubing hanger to control access to the well through the tubing hanger from above the tubing hanger; and
operating an adjustable barrier in an annulus access passage in the cap and a second adjustable barrier in the annulus access passage in the cap to control access to an annulus below the tubing hanger.

### Claim 43 (depends on 42)

The method of claim 42, further comprising operating a second adjustable barrier in the tubing hanger to control access to the well through the tubing hanger.

### Claim 44 (depends on 43)

The method of claim 43, further comprising operating an adjustable barrier below the tubing hanger to control access to the well.

### Claim 45 (depends on 42)

The method of claim 42, further comprising operating an additional adjustable barrier in the cap to control access through the cap to below the cap.

### Claim 46 (depends on 45)

The method of claim 45, further comprising operating a second additional adjustable barrier in the cap.

### Claim 47 (depends on 45)

The method of claim 45, further comprising extending a tool into the well through the cap and the tubing hanger without removing the cap, the additional adjustable barrier in the cap, the tubing hanger, or the adjustable barrier in the tubing hanger operated to control access to the well from the spool.

### Claim 48 (depends on 45)

The method of claim 45, further comprising flowing fluid into the well through the cap and the tubing hanger without removing the cap, the additional adjustable barrier in the cap, the tubing hanger, or the adjustable barrier in the tubing hanger operated to control access to the well from the spool.

### Claim 49 (depends on 42)

The method of claim 42, further comprising operating an adjustable barrier in an annulus access passage in the tubing hanger to control access to the annulus below the tubing hanger.

### Claim 50 (depends on 42)

The method of claim 42, further comprising extending a tool into the well through the tubing hanger without removing the tubing hanger or the adjustable barrier operated to control access to the well from the spool.

### Claim 51 (depends on 42)

The method of claim 42, further comprising flowing fluid into the well through the tubing hanger without removing the tubing hanger or the adjustable barrier operated to control access to the well from the spool.

### Claim 52

A method for accessing a well, comprising:
landing a tubing hanger in a spool;
installing a cap to the spool above the tubing hanger;
operating an adjustable barrier in the cap to control access to the well through the cap from above the tubing hanger; and
operating an adjustable barrier in an annulus access passage in the cap and a second adjustable barrier in the annulus access passage in the cap to control access to an annulus below the tubing hanger.

### Claim 53 (depends on 52)

The method of claim 52, further comprising operating a second adjustable barrier in the cap to control access to the well through the cap.

### Claim 54 (depends on 53)

The method of claim 53, further comprising operating an adjustable barrier below the tubing hanger to control access to the well.

### Claim 55 (depends on 52)

The method of claim 52, further comprising operating an adjustable barrier in the tubing hanger to control access to the well through the tubing hanger.

### Claim 56 (depends on 55)

The method of claim 55, further comprising operating a second adjustable barrier in the tubing hanger to control access to the well through the tubing hanger.

### Claim 57 (depends on 55)

The method of claim 55, further comprising extending a tool into the well through the cap and the tubing hanger without removing the cap, the adjustable barrier in the cap operated to control access to the well, the tubing hanger, or the adjustable barrier in the tubing hanger operated to control access to the well from the spool.

### Claim 58 (depends on 55)

The method of claim 55, further comprising flowing fluid into the well through the cap and the tubing hanger without removing the cap, the adjustable barrier in the cap operated to control access to the well, the tubing hanger, or the adjustable barrier in the tubing hanger operated to control access to the well from the spool.

### Claim 59 (depends on 52)

The method of claim 52, further comprising operating an adjustable barrier in an annulus access passage in the tubing hanger to control access to the annulus below the tubing hanger.

### Claim 60 (depends on 52)

The method of claim 52, further comprising extending a tool into the well through the tubing hanger without removing the tubing hanger or the adjustable barrier in the cap operated to control access to the well from the spool.

### Claim 61 (depends on 52)

The method of claim 52, further comprising flowing fluid into the well through the tubing hanger without removing the tubing hanger or the adjustable barrier in the cap operated to control access to the well from the spool.

### Claim 62

A method for accessing a well, comprising:
landing a tubing hanger in a spool;
operating an adjustable barrier in the tubing hanger to control access to the well through the tubing hanger from above the tubing hanger; and
operating an adjustable barrier in an annulus access passage in the tubing hanger and a second adjustable barrier in the annulus access passage in the tubing hanger to control access to an annulus below the tubing hanger.

### Claim 63 (depends on 62)

The method of claim 62, further comprising operating a second adjustable barrier in the tubing hanger to control access to the well through the tubing hanger.

### Claim 64 (depends on 63)

The method of claim 63, further comprising operating an adjustable barrier below the tubing hanger to control access to the well.

### Claim 65 (depends on 62)

The method of claim 62, further comprising operating an adjustable barrier in a cap above the tubing hanger to control access through the cap to below the cap.

### Claim 66 (depends on 65)

The method of claim 65, further comprising operating a second adjustable barrier in the cap.

### Claim 67 (depends on 65)

The method of claim 65, further comprising extending a tool into the well through the cap and the tubing hanger without removing the cap, the adjustable barrier in the cap, the tubing hanger, or the adjustable barrier in the tubing hanger operated to control access to the well from the spool.

### Claim 68 (depends on 65)

The method of claim 65, further comprising flowing fluid into the well through the cap and the tubing hanger without removing the cap, the adjustable barrier in the cap, the tubing hanger, or the adjustable barrier in the tubing hanger operated to control access to the well from the spool.

### Claim 69 (depends on 62)

The method of claim 62, further comprising operating an adjustable barrier in an annulus access passage in the cap to control access to the annulus below the tubing hanger.

### Claim 70 (depends on 69)

The method of claim 69, further comprising operating a second adjustable barrier in the annulus access passage in the cap to control access to the annulus below the tubing hanger.

### Claim 71 (depends on 62)

The method of claim 62, further comprising extending a tool into the well through the tubing hanger without removing the tubing hanger or the adjustable barrier operated to control access to the well from the spool.

### Claim 72 (depends on 62)

The method of claim 62, further comprising flowing fluid into the well through the tubing hanger without removing the tubing hanger or the adjustable barrier operated to control access to the well from the spool.