One-trip wellhead installation systems and methods
AssigneeVetco Gray Inc.
InventorEugene A. Borak JR.
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims18
A wellhead assembly system for assembling a tubing head onto a floating vessel and for testing the integrity of a riser string disposed between a floating vessel and a subsea wellhead, the assembly system comprising:
- a) a tubing hanger to be landed upon a stem of a floating vessel, the tubing hanger comprising a housing having a generally vertically-disposed bore therethrough and a landing profile for selectively engaging a stem of a floating vessel;
- 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 casing section member;
- 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.
A running and setting tool for landing portions of a wellhead upon the stem of a floating platform, the tool comprising:
- a central piston assembly 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 casing section member;
- 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 a tubing head.
A method of assembling a tubing head onto a floating vessel and testing the integrity of a riser string disposed between a floating vessel and a subsea wellhead, 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 a central piston assembly to a casing member in a casing string;
- pressure testing the casing string;
- landing the tubing head onto the stem of a floating platform;
- and
- energizing a riser seal between the landing sub and a surrounding sleeve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.