Space-out mechanism for a tubing hanger and a tree
AssigneeInnovex International, Inc.
InventorsBlake T. DeBerry, Morris B. Wade, Flavio Santos, Gregory Norwood, Robert Buxton, Justin Rye, Todd L. Scaggs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for landing a tubing hanger in a wellhead and then orienting a tree (or spool, or flowline connection body) relative to the tubing hanger while landing the tree on the wellhead are provided. This alignment is accomplished without the use of either a tubing spool or a BOP stack with an orientation pin. The tubing hanger alignment devices may be used to orientate the tree as the tree is landed so that the couplings and stabs between the tree and the tubing hanger line up with each other just at the moment of landing.
Claims17
An apparatus, comprising:
- an upper body;
- a lower body coupled to the upper body, wherein the lower body is configured to rotate relative to the upper body, wherein the upper body comprises one or more hydraulic ports in fluid communication with one or more hydraulic ports of the lower body via a hydraulic gallery;
- one or more couplings disposed in the lower body configured to interface with one or more couplings of a tubing hanger, wherein, when actuated, the one or more couplings are configured to close a gap defined between a top of the tubing hanger and a bottom of the lower body;
- and
- at least one inlet/outlet configured to interface with a tree.
A system, comprising:
- a first subsea component;
- an alignment device, comprising:
- an upper body;
- a lower body coupled to the upper body, wherein the lower body is configured to rotate relative to the upper body, wherein the upper body comprises one or more hydraulic ports in fluid communication with one or more hydraulic ports of the lower body via a hydraulic gallery;
- a torsional spring disposed in an annular space between the upper body and the lower body;
- one or more couplings disposed in the lower body configured to interface with one or more couplings of a second subsea component, wherein, when actuated, the one or more couplings are configured to close a gap defined between a top of the second subsea component and a bottom of the lower body;
- and
- at least one inlet/outlet disposed in the upper body configured to interface with the first subsea component;
- and
- the second subsea component configured to couple to the lower body of the alignment device.
A method, comprising:
- coupling an alignment device to a first subsea component, wherein the alignment device comprises:
- an upper body;
- a lower body coupled to the upper body, wherein the lower body is configured to rotate relative to the upper body, wherein the upper body comprises one or more hydraulic ports in fluid communication with one or more hydraulic ports of the lower body via a hydraulic gallery;
- one or more couplings disposed in the lower body configured to interface with one or more couplings of a second subsea component;
- and
- at least one inlet/outlet configured to interface with the first subsea component;
- lowering the first subsea component with the alignment device at least partially into a wellhead having the second subsea component disposed therein;
- orienting the one or more couplings of the alignment device so that they align with corresponding one or more couplings on the second subsea component;
- and
- landing the first subsea component in the wellhead, wherein the alignment device communicatively couples hydraulic, electric, and/or fiber optic lines of the first subsea component with the one or more couplings on the second subsea component;
- and
- actuating the one or more couplings to close a gap defined between a top of the second subsea component and a bottom of the lower body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.