Tubing hanger shuttle valve

#This invention relates generally to subsea oil and gas production methods and apparatus and, more particularly, to a tubing hanger valve design for facilitating annulus access in a subsea wellhead and Christmas tree system.

#There is disclosed in one embodiment a tubing hanger and shuttle valve, the shuttle valve including: a body; a first radial bore through the body; a first tubing with a sealing face arranged adjacent and substantially perpendicular to the body, wherein the first tubing is slidingly positionable; and wherein the first tubing defines a first passageway facilitating fluid communication with a first bore in the tubing hanger. According to this embodiment the body may include first and second cylindrical portions, the first cylindrical portion having a larger diameter than the second cylindrical portion. The first and second cylindrical portions may each include a seal arranged about the body.

#In one embodiment of the tubing hanger and shuttle valve, the body includes a first flat machined face at the first bore.

#The foregoing and other features and aspects of the invention will become further apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which

#FIG. 1 depicts a tubing hanger design in accordance with one aspect of the invention.

#FIG. 2 depicts the tubing hanger design according to FIG. 1 in a second position.

#While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

#Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, that will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

#Turning now to the Figures, and in particular FIG. 1, one embodiment of a tubing hanger 2 for installation in a wellhead is shown. Tubing hanger 2 is designed to facilitate both chemical injection and isolation of annulus pressure from a production stream but may have multiple injection lines, or other connections downhole. Tubing hanger 2 may be installed substantially concentrically within a wellhead or, in alternate embodiments, in a Christmas tree (not shown). Tubing hanger 2 is preferably a concentric tubing hanger, 7 inches in diameter, but may be eccentric and/or range in size as required for a particular field development. Tubing hanger 2 includes a shoulder 4 which may rest on a mating shoulder in the wellhead (Not shown). A tubing hanger lock down apparatus 8 at the proximal end of tubing hanger 2 may be used to secure the tubing hanger within an installed wellhead or tree (not shown). The lower end of tubing hanger 2 may suspend a downhole tubing (not shown) to facilitate a production flow from wellbore to surface when a downhole safety valve (not shown) is open.