Apparatus and method for installation of subsea well completion systems
AssigneeFMC Technologies, Inc.
InventorChristopher D. Bartlett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for installing a subsea completion system comprises installing a conductor housing on the sea floor, landing a wellhead in the conductor housing, securing a BOP to the wellhead, landing a casing hanger in the wellhead through the BOP, connecting a tubing hanger to a THRT, landing the tubing hanger in the wellhead or the casing hanger through the BOP, installing a wireline plug in the tubing hanger production bore through the THRT, retrieving the THRT, retrieving the BOP, securing an ROSL to the christmas tree, landing the christmas tree on the wellhead, and retrieving the wireline plug from the tubing hanger production bore using the ROSL.
Claims67
A method for installing a subsea completion system comprising a conductor housing which is positioned on the sea floor, a wellhead which is landed in the conductor housing, at least one casing hanger which is connected to a corresponding casing string, a tubing hanger which is connected to a production tubing string and which includes at least one tubing hanger production bore, and a christmas tree which is installed over the wellhead and which includes at least one production bore, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) installing the conductor housing on the sea floor;
- (b) landing the wellhead in the conductor housing;
- (c) securing a blowout preventer (BOP) to the wellhead;
- (d) landing the casing hanger in the wellhead through the BOP;
- (e) connecting the tubing hanger to a tubing hanger running tool (THRT);
- (f) landing the tubing hanger in the wellhead or the casing hanger through the BOP;
- (g) installing a wireline plug in the tubing hanger production bore through the THRT;
- (h) retrieving the THRT;
- (i) retrieving the BOP;
- (j) securing an ROV operated subsea lubricator (ROSL) to the christmas tree;
- (k) landing the christmas tree on the wellhead;
- and
- (I) retrieving the wireline plug from the tubing hanger production bore using the ROSL.
An apparatus for installing a subsea completion system comprising a conductor housing which is positioned on the sea floor, a wellhead which is landed in the conductor housing, at least one casing hanger which connected to a corresponding casing string, a tubing hanger which is connected to a production tubing string and which includes at least one tubing hanger production bore, and a christmas tree which is installed over the wellhead and which includes at least one production bore that is aligned with the tubing hanger production bore, the apparatus comprising:
- an ROV operated subsea lubricator (ROSL) which comprises an elongated body;
- a bore which extends longitudinally through the body;
- an elongated stem which is positioned in the bore;
- a plug tool which is connected to an end of the stem;
- means for removably connecting the ROSL to the christmas tree;
- and means for moving the stem through the bore to thereby move the plug tool through the production bore and into engagement with a plug which is located in the tubing hanger production bore;
- and
- at least one of a cable and a drill string which is connected to the ROSL and by which the ROSL and the christmas tree are lowered to the wellhead.
A method for retrieving a plug from a bore of a subsea completion system which is installed over a well, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a retrieval device which comprises an extendable stem and a retrieval tool which is attached to the stem and removably connectable to the plug;
- securing the retrieval device to the subsea completion system;
- retrieving the plug from the bore using the retrieval device;
- and
- removing the retrieval device from the subsea completion system with the plug connected to the retrieval device.
A method for retrieving a plug from a bore of a subsea completion system which is installed over a well, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an ROV operated subsea lubricator (ROSL) which comprises an extendable stem and a retrieval tool which is attached to the stem and removably connectable to the plug;
- securing and sealing the ROSL to the subsea completion system;
- and
- retrieving the plug from the bore using the ROSL.
A method for installing a plug in a bore of a subsea completion system which is installed over a well, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an installation device which comprises an extendable stem and an installation tool which is attached to the stem and removably connectable to the plug;
- connecting the plug to the installation tool;
- securing the installation device to the subsea completion system;
- and
- installing the plug in the bore using the installation device.
A method for installing a plug in a bore of a subsea completion system which is installed over a well, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an ROV operated subsea lubricator (ROSL, which comprises an extendable stem and an installation tool which is attached to the stem and removably connectable to the plug;
- connecting the plug to the installation tool;
- securing and sealing the ROSL to the subsea completion system;
- and
- installing the plug in the bore using the ROSL.
A method for installing a subsea completion system over a well bore, the subsea completion system comprising a wellhead which is installed at an upper end of the well bore;
- a tubing hanger which comprises at least one tubing hanger bore, and a christmas tree which comprises at least one christmas tree bore, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) installing the tubing hanger in the wellhead;
- (b) installing a plug in the tubing hanger bore;
- (c) installing the christmas tree over the wellhead with the christmas tree bore in alignment with the tubing hanger bore;
- (d) providing an ROV operated subsea lubricator (ROSL) which comprises an extendable stem and a retrieval tool which is attached to the stem and removably connectable to the plug;
- (e) with the ROSL secured to the subsea completion system above the christmas tree, retrieving the plug from the tubing hanger bore through the christmas tree bore with the ROSL.
A method for installing a subsea completion system over a well bore, the subsea completion system comprising a wellhead which is installed at an upper end of the well bore;
- a tubing hanger which comprises at least one tubing hanger bore, and a christmas tree which comprises at least one christmas tree bore, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) installing the tubing hanger in the wellhead;
- (b) installing a plug in the tubing hanger bore;
- (c) installing the christmas tree over the wellhead with the christmas tree bore in alignment with the tubing hanger bore;
- (d) providing a retrieval device which comprises an extendable stem and a retrieval tool which is attached to the stem and removably connectable to the plug;
- (e) with the retrieval device secured to the subsea completion system above the christmas tree, retrieving the plug from the tubing hanger bore through the christmas tree bore using the retrieval device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.