US20120152564A1

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Publication number: US20120152564A1
Application number: US13/327,063
Authority: US
Inventors: Terry Peltier
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-12-16
Filing date: 2011-12-15
Publication date: 2012-06-21

Abstract

A horizontal production tree for use on a land-based surface well head. The horizontal production tree may be maintained in place on the well head throughout the life of well, even during fracing.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/425,814, filed Dec. 16, 2010, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention.

This invention relates generally to oil and gas well production trees, and more particularly to a horizontal production tree for use with oil and gas wells located on land.

2. Description of the Related Art.

Producing oil and gas wells frequently utilize production trees to control the flow of oil or gas out of the well. A production tree may also offer additional functions, such as chemical injection points, well intervention means, pressure relief means, tree and well monitoring points, and connection points for devices such as downhole pressure and temperature instrumentation.

Offshore oil and gas wells often utilize horizontal production trees. These offshore horizontal production trees are highly engineered and have many safeguards. The subsea type of offshore horizontal production trees are made to be operated by a Remotely Operated Vehicle.

However, horizontal production trees are not used on onshore surface wells. Rather, production trees for onshore surface wells typically have a vertical configuration. Such onshore vertical production trees must be removed from the well to frac the well and reinstalled when fracing is complete. Such removal and reinstallation can be expensive and dangerous and requires specialized machinery. Additionally, the production tree must be removed to run production tubing through and pull tubing out of the well. Furthermore, vertical production trees are large and difficult to repair without climbing, which is dangerous. Such large vertical production trees are also unsightly and undesirable in urban environments.

It is therefore desirable to provide a horizontal production tree that can be used on onshore surface wells. It is further desirable to provide a horizontal production tree for use with onshore surface wells through which an operator may frac the well and run production tubing through the well without removing the horizontal production tree. It is further desirable to provide a horizontal production tree for use with onshore surface wells that has a compact design allowing for easy repairs and easy concealment from public view in urban environments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, the invention relates to a horizontal production tree with a body with a body bore extending substantially vertically therethrough, where the body bore has an upper portion with a diameter, a middle portion with a larger diameter than the diameter of the upper portion, and a lower portion. A sloped shoulder may be located between the upper portion and the middle portion of the body bore. A flapper valve gate may fit snugly against the sloped shoulder to prevent fluid in the middle portion of the body bore from traveling to the upper portion of the body bore. An arm with a first end and a second end may be is connected to the flapper valve gate. A stern may be perpendicularly connected to the second end of the arm, such that rotating the stem causes the arm and the flapper valve gate to pivot between a closed position, where the flapper valve gate is flush against the sloped shoulder, and an open position, where the flapper valve gate is not in contact with the sloped shoulder, where the stem has a first end and a second end. A recess may be located in the body extending from the middle portion of the body bore, where the first end of the stem is rotatably mounted with the recess. A channel may be located in the body extending from the middle portion of the body bore, where the stem extends through the channel and exits the body, such that the second end of the stem is located outside the body. The horizontal production tree may be configured such that the horizontal production tree may be connected to a land-based surface well head by mounting the horizontal production tree atop the land-based surface well head such that the horizontal production tree is vertically aligned with and in fluid communication with the land-based surface well head.

One or more production valves may be in fluid communication with the body bore and extending horizontally from the body. A pressure gage may be in fluid communication with the body bore mounted atop the body via a nut and plug assembly, or a work flange may be in fluid communication with the body bore mounted atop the body via a nut and sealing mechanism with a frac valve in fluid communication with the work flange and mounted atop the work flange. A frac isolation sleeve may be located at least partially within the body bore when the frac valve is. in use.

The lower portion of the body bore may have a smaller diameter than the middle portion of the body bore, in which case a sloped shoulder may be located between the middle portion and the lower portion. The arm may be connected to the stem via a connector portion of the arm, where the connector portion of the arm runs along a common axis with the stem and has an internal bore into which the stem fits. The body may have a recess extending from the middle portion of the body bore, into which recess the arm may fit when the flapper valve gate is in the open position, such that the flapper valve gate may lie substantially vertically.

The stem may comprise a lower stem with an internal end and an external end, where the internal end is internally threaded and the external end is the first end of the stem, which is rotatably mounted within the recess in the body extending from the middle portion of the body bore; and an upper stem with an internal end and an external end, where the internal end is externally threaded and may be screwed into the internal end of the lower stem and the external end is the second end of the stem. A bearing race assembly may be integral to the lower stem near its external end, such that the bearing race assembly is located within the recess in the body. One or more additional bearing race assemblies, one or more thrust bearings, or both one or more additional bearing race assemblies and one or more thrust bearings may be placed on the lower stem adjacent the bearing race assembly such that the additional bearing race assemblies and/or thrust bearings are located within the recess in the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side cut-away view of the horizontal production tree of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are side cut-away views of the top of the horizontal production tree with the flapper gate in a closed and an open position, respectively;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are side cut-away views of the top of the horizontal production tree with the flapper gate in a closed and an open position, respectively, where the view is rotated90 degrees from the view ofFIGS. 2A and 2B;

FIG. 4 is a cut-away perspective view of the hand wheel, stem, and flapper gate elements of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the stem of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a side cut-away view of the horizontal production tree of the present invention, shown with a work flange and frac valve mounted atop the horizontal production tree.

Other advantages and features will be apparent from the following description, and from the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The devices and methods discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific manners in which to make and use this invention and are not to be interpreted as limiting in scope.

While the devices and methods have been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be noted that many modifications may be made in the construction and the arrangement of the structural and functional details disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the devices and methods are not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification.

Referring to the figures of the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate like elements throughout the several views, and initially toFIG. 1, ahorizontal production tree1 is mounted atop a standardpractice well head2.Production valves3 may extend from abody4 of thehorizontal production tree1. A body bore5 may extend vertically through thebody4 of thehorizontal production tree1, allowing for thehorizontal production tree1 to fluidly connect to thewell head2 at its lower end. Fluidly connected via the body bore5 to the upper end of thehorizontal production tree1 may be a nut and plugassembly6. The nut and plugassembly6 may remain flanged up during the life of the well unless thehorizontal production tree1 is damaged.

The nut and plugassembly6 allows a user to connect a variety of instruments to thehorizontal production tree1 for varied purposes. For example, inFIG. 1, apressure gage7 is connected to the nut and plugassembly6. This configuration is. used to monitor the pressure in thehorizontal production tree1. InFIG. 6, awork flange8 is connected to the nut and plugassembly6 with its own nut and sealing mechanism, with afrac valve9 connected to thework flange8. This configuration allows for fracing through thefrac valve9 without removing thehorizontal production tree1 from thewell head2. Afrac isolation sleeve10 may be placed within the body bore5 spanning thehorizontal production tree1 and thewell head2 to protect thehorizontal production tree1 during fracing.

The body bore5 may have anupper portion11, amiddle portion12, and alower portion13, where theupper portion11 has a smaller diameter than themiddle portion12 and themiddle portion12 has a larger diameter than thelower portion13. A slopedshoulder14 bridges themiddle portion12 and thelower portion13, allowing for easy entry of tubing and tools through the body bore5. A slopedshoulder15 also bridges theupper portion11 and themiddle portion12. Aflapper valve gate16 may fit snugly against the slopedshoulder15 to prevent fluid from the well from traveling throughmiddle portion12 of the body bore5 to theupper portion11 of the body bore5, and ultimately entering the nut and plugassembly6. Theflapper valve gate16 may be made of polyteflon or other suitable material to form a seal against the slopedshoulder15.

Theflapper valve gate16 may be connected to anarm17, allowing theflapper valve gate16 to pivot between a closed position, where theflapper valve gate16 is flush against the slopedshoulder15 and prevents all fluids from traveling throughmiddle portion12 toupper portion11, and an open position, where theflapper valve gate16 is not in contact with the slopedshoulder15 and does not inhibit the travel of fluid from themiddle portion12 to theupper portion11. The closed position is shown inFIG. 2A and the open position is shown inFIG. 2B. Themiddle portion12 of the body bore5 may have arecess50 into which thearm17 may fit when theflapper valve gate16 is in the open position, allowing theflapper valve gate16 to lie substantially vertically to minimize inhibition of fluid movement from themiddle portion12 to theupper portion11.

Thearm17 may be connected to astem18, which may be substantially perpendicular to thearm17, via aconnector portion19. Theconnector portion19 of thearm17 may run along the same axis as thestem18 and may have an internal bore into which thestem18 may fit. Thestem18 may be more clearly seen inFIGS. 3A and 3B, which show a portion of thehorizontal production tree1 rotated90 degrees fromFIGS. 1,2A, and2B.FIG. 3A shows theflapper valve gate16 in the closed position, whileFIG. 3B shows theflapper valve gate16 in the open position.

Thestem18 may be formed from two parts: alower stem20 and anupper stem21. The structure of thestem18 may be more clearly seen inFIGS. 4 and 5. Theconnector portion19 of thearm17 may be secured to theupper stem21 via one ormore keys25, which each fit within aslot27 running latterly along the exterior of theupper stem21, and one or more set screws26. Theupper stem21 may terminate in an externally threadedend22, which screws into an internally threadedend23 of thelower stem20. Theupper stem21 and thelower stem20 may then be secured to each other via aset screw24.

The end of thelower stem20 opposite the internally threadedend23 may be rotatably secured within arecess28 in the wall of themiddle portion12 of the body bore5. Thelower stem20 may have abearing race assembly29 integral to thelower stem20, and additionalbearing race assemblies30 andthrust bearings31 may be placed on thelower stem20 adjacent the bearingrace assembly29.

The end of theupper stem21 opposite the externally threadedend22 may extend through achannel32 in the wall of themiddle portion12 of the body bore5 and terminate outside thebody4 of thehorizontal production tree1 in a flappervalve bonnet assembly33. The flappervalve bonnet assembly33 may comprise aflapper valve bonnet34, which may be secured to the exterior of thebody4 via a plurality of nut andstud assemblies35. Theupper stem21 may extend through aninternal bore36 in theflapper valve bonnet34 and attach at its terminal end to astem adapter37 via ashear pin38 extending through ahole39 in theupper stem21. Ahand wheel40 is attached to thestem adapter37, whereby thehand wheel40 can be turned to turn thestem adapter37 and thestem18 and, resultantly, pivot theflapper valve gate16 between the open and closed positions.

A valve packing elastomer set may attach to theflapper valve bonnet34 and also surround theupper stem21. The valve packing is held in place by a packingretainer45. A bearingcap41 may surround a portion of theflapper valve bonnet34, a portion of the packingretainer45 and a portion of thestem adapter37 such that thebearing cap41 bridges the gaps between those elements. Afirst locking flange42 may be attached to thebearing cap41. Thefirst locking flange42 may have a plurality of holes located around its perimeter. Asecond locking flange43 may be attached to thehand wheel40 such that thesecond locking flange43 abuts thefirst locking flange42 when the flappervalve bonnet assembly33 is fully assembled. Thesecond locking flange43 may have a plurality of holes located around its perimeter such that the holes in thesecond locking flange43 may align with the holes in thefirst locking flange42. A lockingpin44 may be attached to thehand wheel40 via aconnector46 such that the lockingpin44 may be inserted through one of the holes in thefirst locking flange42 and a corresponding hole in thesecond locking flange43 to prevent thehand wheel40 from turning, thus maintaining theflapper valve gate16 in a particular position.

The horizontal production tree can be installed on a well and stay in place for the life of the well. The well operator can frac the well through the horizontal tree by using an isolation sleeve to get into the tree. This will allow the tree to be safeguarded from frac propellant and frac pressures. Keeping the production tree on the well saves the cost of having a service company remove and reinstall the production tree. Using the isolation sleeve in the tree saves cost on purchasing larger equipment to handle frac pressures. The operator can also run production tubing through and pull tubing out of the well with the horizontal production tree still on the well. The tubing can be run under pressure and removed with the tree on the well. There is no need to remove the horizontal production tree on workovers. BOPs and frac valves can be flanged up to the tree. Two mechanical barriers can be set within the horizontal tree if a lubricator is needed to change out equipment above the tree. The unique tubing hanger design of the horizontal production tree allows ease of entry into the tubing bore.

The horizontal production tree features a compact design. In field repairs can therefore be made without the need to climb on the equipment. Oil and gas operators may prefer the horizontal production tree in urban environments as its compact design allows for easy concealment from public view. The horizontal production tree can also be used in fields where the land owner uses irrigation sprayers, where height is an issue.

Whereas, the devices and methods have been described in relation to the drawings and claims, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A horizontal production tree, comprising:

a body with a body bore extending substantially vertically therethrough, wherein the body bore has an upper portion with a diameter, a middle portion with a larger diameter than the diameter of the upper portion, and a lower portion;

a sloped shoulder between the upper portion and the middle portion of the body bore;

a flapper valve gate, wherein the flapper valve gate may fit snugly against the sloped shoulder to prevent fluid in the middle portion of the body bore from traveling to the upper portion of the body bore;

an arm with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the arm is connected to the flapper valve gate;

a stem to which the second end of the arm is perpendicularly connected, such that rotating the stem causes the arm and the flapper valve gate to pivot between a closed position, wherein the flapper valve gate is flush against the sloped shoulder, and an open position, wherein the flapper valve gate is not in contact with the sloped shoulder, wherein the stem has a first end and a second end;

a recess in the body extending from the middle portion of the body bore, wherein the first end of the stem is rotatably mounted with the recess; and

a channel in the body extending from the middle portion of the body bore, wherein the stem extends through the channel and exits the body, such that the second end of the stem is located outside the body;

wherein the horizontal production tree is configured such that the horizontal production tree may be connected to a land-based surface well head by mounting the horizontal production tree atop the land-based surface well head such that the horizontal production tree is vertically aligned with and in fluid communication with the land-based surface well head.

2. The horizontal production tree ofclaim 1 further comprising one or more production valves in fluid communication with the body bore and extending horizontally from the body.

3. The horizontal production tree ofclaim 1 further comprising a pressure gage in fluid communication with the body bore mounted atop the body via a nut and plug assembly.

4. The horizontal production tree ofclaim 1 further comprising a work flange in fluid communication with the body bore mounted atop the body via a nut and sealing mechanism.

5. The horizontal production tree ofclaim 4 further comprising a frac valve in fluid communication with the work flange and mounted atop the work flange.

6. The horizontal production tree ofclaim 5 further comprising a frac isolation sleeve located at least partially within the body bore.

7. The horizontal production tree ofclaim 1 wherein the lower portion of the body bore has a smaller diameter than the middle portion of the body bore, the horizontal production tree further comprising a sloped shoulder between the middle portion and the lower portion.

8. The horizontal production tree ofclaim 1 wherein the arm is connected to the stem via a connector portion of the arm, wherein the connector portion of the arm runs along a common axis with the stem and has an internal bore into which the stem fits.

9. The horizontal production tree ofclaim 1 wherein the body has a recess extending from the middle portion of the body bore, into which recess the arm may fit when the flapper valve gate is in the open position, such that the flapper valve gate may lie substantially vertically.

10. The horizontal production tree ofclaim 1 wherein the stem further comprises:

a lower stem with an internal end and an external end, where the internal end is internally threaded and the external end is the first end of the stem, which is rotatably mounted within the recess in the body extending from the middle portion of the body bore; and

an upper stem with an internal end and an external end, wherein the internal end is externally threaded and may be screwed into the internal end of the lower stem and the external end is the second end of the stem.

11. The horizontal production tree ofclaim 10 further comprising a bearing race assembly integral to the lower stem near its external end, such that the bearing race assembly is located within the recess in the body.

12. The horizontal production tree ofclaim 11 further comprising one or more additional bearing race assemblies, one or more thrust bearings, or both one or more additional bearing race assemblies and one or more thrust bearings placed on the lower stem adjacent the bearing race assembly such that the additional bearing race assemblies and/or thrust bearings are located within the recess in the body.

13. The horizontal production tree ofclaim 1 wherein the second end of the stem terminates in a flapper valve bonnet assembly.

14. The horizontal production tree ofclaim 13 wherein-the flapper valve bonnet assembly further comprises:

a flapper valve bonnet attached to the body, wherein the flapper valve bonnet has an internal bore and the stem extends through the internal bore of the flapper valve bonnet;

a valve packing set and a packing retainer are attached to the flapper valve bonnet, wherein the packing retainer has an internal bore and the stem extends through the internal bore of the packing retainer;

a stem adapter attached to the second end of the stem;

a hand wheel attached to the stem adapter, wherein the hand wheel can be turned to turn the stem adapter and the stem and, resultantly, pivot the flapper valve gate between the open and closed positions; and

a bearing cap attached to the flapper valve bonnet and surrounding a portion of the flapper valve bonnet, a portion of the valve packing, and a portion of the stem adapter such that the bearing cap bridges the gaps between those elements.

15. The horizontal production tree ofclaim 14 further comprising:

a first locking flange attached to the bearing cap;

one or more holes in the first locking flange;

a second locking flange attached to the hand wheel such that the second locking flange abuts the first locking flange;

one or more holes in the second locking flange such that the holes in the second locking flange may align with the holes in the first locking flange when the hand wheel is in a particular position; and

a locking pin, wherein the locking pin may be inserted through a hole in the first locking flange and a corresponding hole in the second locking flange to prevent the hand wheel from turning relative to the bearing cap.

16. A method of using a production tree on a land-based surface well head, said method comprising the steps of:

a) mounting a horizontal production tree atop a land-based surface well head such that the horizontal production tree is vertically aligned with and in fluid communication with the land-based surface well head, wherein the horizontal production tree comprises:

a flapper valve gate, where the flapper valve gate may fit snugly against the sloped shoulder to prevent fluid in the middle portion of the body bore from traveling to the upper portion of the body bore;

b) operating the horizontal production tree atop the land-based surface well head.

17. The method of using a production tree on a land-based surface well head ofclaim 16 further comprising the step of monitoring the pressure in the horizontal production tree by:

turning the hand wheel until the flapper valve gate is in the closed position;

mounting a pressure gage atop the body of the horizontal production tree via a nut and plug assembly, wherein the pressure gate is in fluid communication with the upper portion of the body bore of the horizontal production tree;

turning the hand wheel until the flapper valve gate is in the open position; and

reading the pressure in the horizontal production tree as displayed on the pressure gage.

18. The method of using a production tree on a land-based surface well head ofclaim 16 further comprising the step of fracing the well while maintaining the horizontal production tree in place atop the well head, wherein fracing-the well further comprises the steps of:

turning the hand wheel until the flapper valve gate is in the closed position; and

mounting a work flange atop the body of the horizontal production tree via a nut and sealing plug mechanism, wherein the work flange is in fluid communication with the upper portion of the body bore of the horizontal production tree;

mounting a frac valve atop the work flange;

turning the hand wheel until the flapper valve gate is in the open position;

inserting a frac isolation sleeve within the body bore spanning the horizontal production tree and the well head; and

fracing the well.

19. The method of using a production tree on a land-based surface well head ofclaim 16 further comprising the step of removing an instrument mounted atop the horizontal production tree from the horizontal production tree by:

removing the instrument from atop the horizontal production tree.