Rotating indexing coupling (ric) assembly for installation and orientation of a subsea production tree

An apparatus, comprising:

• a stab body (37);
• first (61A) and second (61B) inlets/outlets;
• a coupler body (35) positioned around the stab body (37), the coupler body (35) adapted to rotate relative to the stab body (37);
• first (70X) and second (70Y) hydraulic coupling elements positioned on the coupler body (35);
• first (52A) and second (52B) separate coiled tubes positioned around the stab body (37);
• a first pressure-tight conduit (99A) that comprises the first inlet/outlet (61A), the first coiled tube (52A) and the first hydraulic coupling element (70X);
• a second pressure-tight conduit (99B) that comprises the second inlet/outlet (61B), the second coiled tube (52B) and the second hydraulic coupling element (70Y), wherein the first pressure-tight conduit (99A) is isolated from the second pressure-tight conduit (99B);
• a tubing hanger (12);
• first (26A) and second (26B) hydraulic coupling elements positioned on the tubing hanger (12), wherein the first and second hydraulic coupling elements (26A, 26B) are, respectively, operatively coupled to the first and second hydraulic coupling elements (70X, 70Y);
• a first orientation structure (18, 80) positioned on one of the coupler body (35) or the tubing hanger (12);
• and
• a second orientation structure (18, 80) positioned on the other of the coupler body (35) or the tubing hanger (12), wherein the second orientation structure and the first orientation structure are adapted to engage one another so as to establish a desired relative orientation between the coupler body (35) and the tubing hanger (12).

A method, comprising:

• attaching at least one hydraulic coupling element (26) to a tubing hanger (12);
• securing the tubing hanger (12) within a subsea well;
• operatively coupling an apparatus (30) to a bottom of a subsea production tree (32), the apparatus (30) comprising:
• a stab body (37)
• at least one inlet/outlet (61);
• a coupler body (35) positioned around the stab body (37), the coupler body (35) adapted to rotate relative to the stab body (37);
• at least one hydraulic coupling element (70) positioned on the coupler body (35);
• and
• at least one coiled tube (52) positioned around the stab body (37), the at least one coiled tube (52) being in fluid communication with the at least one hydraulic coupling element (70) and the at least one inlet/outlet (61);
• lowering at least the production tree (32) and the attached apparatus (30) toward the subsea well until an orientation key (80) engages at least one angled surface (16), the production tree (32) and the attached apparatus (30) having a combined weight;
• continue lowering at least the production tree (32) and the attached apparatus (30) so as to further insert the apparatus (30) into the subsea well, whereby the combined weight of at least the production tree (32) and the attached apparatus (30) forces the orientation key (80) to travel along at least a portion of the at least one angled surface (16) and causes the coupler body (35) to rotate relative to the stab body (37);
• continue lowering at least the production tree (32) and the attached apparatus (30) so as to further cause the coupler body (35) to rotate until the orientation key (80) registers in the orientation slot (18) thereby vertically aligning the at least one hydraulic coupling element (70) positioned on the coupler body (35) with the at least one hydraulic coupling element (26) on the tubing hanger (12);
• and
• continue lowering at least the production tree (32) and the attached apparatus (30) so as to cause the at least one hydraulic coupling element (70) positioned on the coupler body (35) and the at least one hydraulic coupling element (26) on the tubing hanger (12) to operatively engage one another.

A method, comprising:

• attaching at least one hydraulic coupling element (26) to a tubing hanger (12);
• installing the tubing hanger (12) in its final installed position within a subsea well, the tubing hanger (12) comprising a first orientation structure (18, 80);
• determining an as-installed orientation of the first orientation structure (18, 80) with respect to a reference grid or another structure;
• positioning an apparatus (30) at a surface location, the apparatus (30) comprising:
• a stab body (37);
• at least one inlet/outlet (61);
• a coupler body (35) positioned around the stab body (37), the coupler body (35) adapted to rotate relative to the stab body (37);
• at least one hydraulic coupling element (70) positioned on the coupler body (35);
• at least one coiled tube (52) positioned around the stab body (37), the at least one coiled tube (52) being in fluid communication with the at least one hydraulic coupling element (70) and the at least one inlet/outlet (61);
• and
• a second orientation structure (18, 80) on the coupler body (35), wherein the second orientation structure and the first orientation structure are adapted to engage one another so as to establish a desired relative orientation between the coupler body (35) and the tubing hanger (12);
• coupling the apparatus (30) to a production tree (32);
• with the apparatus (30) positioned at a surface location and coupled to the production tree (32), rotating the coupler body (35) around the stab body (37) until such time as the second orientation structure is at a desired orientation, whereby, when the second orientation structure is in a final registered position with respect to the first orientation structure, the at least one hydraulic coupling element (70) positioned on the coupler body (35) will be operatively coupled to the at least one hydraulic coupling element (26) on the tubing hanger (12);
• and
• lowering at least the production tree (32) and the attached apparatus (30) until the second orientation structure on the apparatus (30) is positioned in its final registered position with respect to the first orientation structure and the at least one hydraulic coupling element (70) is operatively coupled to the at least one hydraulic coupling element (26) on the tubing hanger (12).