Method and apparatus for inserting a tubing hanger into a live well

Apparatus for setting a tubing hanger in a tubing head spool on a live well, comprising:

• a) a lifting spool adapted to be mounted to a blowout preventer (BOP) mounted above the tubing head spool, and further adapted to provide a high-pressure fluid seal when mounted to the BOP, the lifting spool including at least two attachment points for the connection of a lift mechanism used to raise and lower the tubing string;
• b) a landing spool adapted to be mounted to the lifting spool, and to provide a high-pressure fluid seal with the lifting spool;
• and
• c) a landing joint reciprocally movable through a high-pressure fluid seal provided at a top end of the landing spool, the landing joint including a top end adapted for connection to the lift mechanism and a bottom end adapted for connection to the tubing hanger.

A method of setting a tubing hanger in a tubing head spool of a live well, comprising steps of:

• a) supporting a plugged tubing string, run into the well through a blowout preventer (BOP), using slips to inhibit the tubing string from falling into the well, so that a tubing hanger connected to a top end of the tubing string is supported above the BOP;
• b) hoisting a landing spool with a landing joint into vertical alignment with the tubing hanger and connecting the landing joint to the tubing hanger;
• c) lifting the landing joint and the tubing string to free the slips;
• d) removing the slips and lowering the landing spool, and the landing joint if required, until the landing spool can be sealingly connected to a top flange of the BOP;
• e) equalizing pressure between the subterranean well and the landing spool;
• f) opening the BOP and running the tubing hanger into the tubing head spool;
• g) securing the tubing hanger in the tubing head spool;
• h) disconnecting the landing joint from the tubing hanger, and withdrawing the landing joint from the BOP;
• and
• i) closing the BOP, bleeding off pressure from the landing spool and removing the landing spool from the BOP.

A method of setting a tubing hanger in tubing head spool of a live well, comprising steps of:

• a) mounting a lifting spool to a top of a blowout preventer (BOP) mounted above a tubing head spool of the well;
• b) running a plugged tubing string into the well through the lifting spool and the BOP;
• c) supporting the plugged tubing string with slips at a top flange of the lifting spool to inhibit the tubing string from falling into the well, so that a tubing hanger connected to a top end of the tubing string is supported above the lifting spool;
• d) hoisting a landing spool with a landing joint and lift mechanisms adapted for connection to the lifting spool into vertical alignment with the tubing hanger;
• e) connecting the landing joint to the tubing hanger, and connecting the lift mechanisms to attachment points on the lifting spool;
• f) operating the lift mechanisms to lift the landing joint with the tubing string to free the slips;
• g) removing the slips and lowering the landing spool, and the landing joint if required, until the landing spool can be sealingly connected to a top flange of the lifting spool;
• j) equalizing pressure between the subterranean well and the landing spool;
• k) opening the BOP and running the tubing hanger into the tubing head spool;
• l) securing the tubing hanger in the tubing head spool;
• m) disconnecting the landing joint from the tubing hanger, and withdrawing the landing joint from the BOP;
• n) closing the BOP, bleeding off pressure from the landing spool and removing the landing spool from the lifting spool;
• and
• o) removing the lifting spool from the BOP.