Flowhead and method
AssigneeWorldwide Oilfield Machine, Inc.
InventorsAlagarsamy Sundararajan, John Paul Ribeyre
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flowhead for a well testing system is disclosed. The well testing system comprises a plurality of threaded connection pipes extending from the surface to a subterranean zone of interest which is isolated for testing purposes. Fluid flows from the subterranean zone into the flowhead and is directed to a flare and related measuring instrumentation. The flowhead includes a swab inlet with a swab valve, a kill line with an associated valve and a flow line with an associated valve. The line connecting directly to the well preferably comprises an outer swivel element integral with a body of the flowhead and a roller bearing supported inner swivel element rotatably mounted therein.
Claims22
A flowhead for a well testing system, said well testing system comprising piping extending from a subterranean zone in a well to a well surface for fluid connection with said flowhead, said flowhead comprising:
- a flowhead body, said flowhead body defining at least four openings and associated flow passageways to permit fluids to flow into and out of said flowhead body;
- a plurality of valves mounted to said flowhead body for controlling fluid flow through said at least four openings and said associated flow passageways;
- at least one of said at least four openings in said flowhead body being defined by an outer swivel tubular portion permanently formed so as to be integral with said flowhead body without seals between said flowhead body and said outer tubular swivel portion;
- an inner swivel tubular portion mounted within said outer swivel portion, said inner swivel tubular portion being rotatable with respect to said outer swivel tubular portion;
- a sealing assembly between said inner swivel tubular portion and said outer swivel tubular portion to prevent fluid flow therebetween;
- a bearing assembly between said inner swivel tubular portion and said outer swivel tubular portion to reduce friction of rotation of said inner swivel tubular portion with respect to said outer swivel tubular portion.
A method for making a flowhead, said flowhead being a component for a well testing system for testing a well, said well testing system comprising piping extending into said well to a subterranean zone, said method comprising:
- forming a flowhead body;
- forming an outer swivel tubular portion integral with said flowhead body;
- mounting an inner swivel tubular portion within said outer swivel tubular portion to form a first opening into said flowhead body;
- sealing between said outer swivel tubular portion and said inner swivel tubular portion;
- forming a second opening on an opposite side of said flowhead body from said first opening to thereby form a straight passageway through said flowhead body;
- mounting a second opening valve to said flowhead body for controlling said second opening;
- forming a third opening and a fourth opening in said flowhead body;
- mounting a third opening valve to said flowhead body for controlling communication between said first opening and said third opening;
- and
- providing a fourth opening valve to said flowhead body for controlling communication between said first opening and said fourth opening.
A flowhead for a well testing system, said well testing system comprising piping extending from a subterranean zone in a well to a well surface for fluid connection to said flowhead, said flowhead comprising:
- a flowhead body;
- said flowhead body defining a first opening with an outer swivel tubular portion permanently integral with said flowhead body;
- an inner swivel tubular portion mounted within said outer swivel portion, said inner swivel tubular portion being rotatable with respect to said outer swivel tubular portion, said inner swivel tubular portion and said outer swivel tubular portion defining a bearing assembly cavity therebetween;
- a sealing assembly between said inner swivel tubular portion and said outer swivel tubular portion to prevent fluid leakage therebetween;
- a bearing assembly mounted in said bearing assembly cavity between said inner swivel tubular portion and said outer swivel tubular portion;
- a second opening on an opposite side of flowhead body from said first opening, said flowhead body defining a straight passageway between said first opening and said second opening;
- a second opening valve mounted to said flowhead body for controlling fluid flow between said first opening and said second opening;
- a third opening in said flowhead body, said flowhead body defining a passageway between said first opening and said third opening;
- a third opening valve in said flowhead body for controlling fluid flow between said first opening and said third opening;
- a fourth opening in said flowhead body, said flowhead body defining a passageway between said first opening and said fourth opening;
- and
- a fourth opening valve in said flowhead body for controlling fluid flow between said first opening and said fourth opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.