Retrievable Frac Mandrel Well Control Adapter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wellhead isolation tools are expensive, difficult to remove without killing or plugging the well, and often get stuck, making them unsuitable for retrievable frac mandrel applications in hydrocarbon well completion, re-completion, or workover operations.
Innovation Solution
A retrievable frac mandrel with a well control adapter that includes a contoured bottom end for high-pressure fluid seal and a top end that fits into a well control adapter, allowing for secure locking and easy removal without damaging the well, featuring O-ring grooves and lockdown screws for secure positioning and axial passages for full-bore access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prior art wellhead isolation tools are used to protect sensitive wellhead equipment during high-pressure stimulation, then pressure isolation is provided, but the tools are expensive to use due to labor costs associated with delivering and operating them
Solution Approach 1:
The frac mandrel is divided into distinct functional segments: a body portion with pressure isolation features, a top portion with connection interfaces, and removable well control adapters. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and facilitates easier installation and removal operations, reducing labor costs while maintaining pressure isolation reliability
2Reliability
If prior art wellhead isolation tools are used to provide pressure isolation, then high-pressure fluid containment is achieved, but they cannot be removed from a live well
Solution Approach 1:
The frac mandrel incorporates dynamic features including removable well control adapters that can be detached from the top portion, and a design that allows the entire assembly to be removed from the wellhead after the stimulation operation is complete. This dynamic design maintains pressure isolation during the operation while enabling removal afterward, unlike static prior art tools
3Reliability
If prior art wellhead isolation tools are used for pressure isolation, then high-pressure stimulation is enabled, but they are known to get stuck in the wellhead making them difficult or impossible to remove without killing or plugging a casing
Solution Approach 1:
The well control adapters are designed as separate, removable components that can be extracted from the frac mandrel body. This extraction capability allows the well control functions to be removed independently, and the frac mandrel itself can be removed from the wellhead without killing or plugging the casing, eliminating the stuck condition problem associated with integrated prior art tools
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables cost-effective and safe well completion, re-completion, or workover operations by allowing the frac mandrel and well control adapter to be left on the wellhead and removed without killing the well or plugging the casing, reducing labor costs and operational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of O-ring grooves with high pressure O-rings that seal off against a seal bore
Implementation Method 2
the bottom end being contoured to be received in the tubing head spool and to provide a high-pressure fluid seal with a seal bore
Data Source
AI summary
A retrievable frac mandrel and a well control adapter are used to efficiently accomplish well completion, re-completion or workover. The retrievable frac mandrel is inserted in a tubing head spool of a well to be completed, re-completed or re-worked. The well control adapter is mounted to a top of the tubing head spool and seals off against a top of the retrievable frac mandrel. After well completion, re-completion or workover is completed, the frac mandrel can be retrieved from the tubing head spool without killing or plugging the well.