Method and apparatus for aligning a subsea tubing hanger
AssigneeConocoPhillips Company
InventorsEivind C. Eike Halvorsen, Leif Kvarme, Rune Woie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to the alignment of a tubing hanger (14) when installed in a subsea wellhead (11). Sensors (39a,b; 40a,b) detect when the orientation is correct and send a signal to the surface to provide positive confirmation of correct orientation, before a XMT (15) is installed on the wellhead (11) and the HP riser (31) removed, etc.
Claims8
A process for installing a production tubing hanger in a subsea wellhead in a subsea template, the process comprising:
- a) running a tubing hanger and tubing hanger running tool through a riser to install the tubing hanger in a subsea wellhead;
- b) using a sensor to detect the orientation of the tubing hanger around a vertical axis with respect to a subsea template;
- c) adjusting the orientation of the tubing hanger with respect to the subsea template;
- d) installing the tubing hanger;
- wherein an approximate alignment of the tubing hanger with the template is achieved using a pin and complementary groove located respectively on a riser orientation spool or blow out preventer and a tubing hanger orientation tool.
A system for sensing alignment around a vertical well axis of a tubing hanger with respect to a subsea template, the system comprising:
- (a) a sensor pair comprising complementary first and second sensor components;
- (b) the said first sensor element located on a riser orientation spool or blowout preventer, the orientation spool including supports for engaging with a subsea template to locate the orientation spool;
- (c) the said second sensor element located on a wellhead running tool or a wellhead orientation tool;
- (d) said first and/or second sensors being in communication with a display apparatus on the surface, whereby positive confirmation of correct alignment of the tubing hanger running tool may be displayed at the surface;
- wherein a pin and complementary groove are located respectively on a riser orientation spool or blow out preventer and a tubing hanger orientation tool, whereby at least approximate alignment may be achieved.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.