Retrievable Spool Tree Seal Assembly for Wellhead Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wellhead systems require expensive and complex equipment to replace seals, as they are typically integrated with the hanger and must be removed to access for maintenance or replacement, leading to high operational costs and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A sealing assembly that can be independently installed and removed from the wellhead system without necessitating the removal of the hanger, allowing for seal replacement or repair without using a drilling rig, thereby reducing costs and operational complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If seals are integrated with the hanger, then seal reliability is improved, but maintenance complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The seal assembly is segmented into separate components: the hanger body and the seal assembly can be independently removed. The seal assembly includes seals, a seal carrier, and sealing elements that can be accessed and replaced without removing the entire hanger from the wellhead, thus maintaining reliability while reducing maintenance complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal assembly is extracted as a separate removable component from the hanger. The seal assembly can be independently removed from the wellhead through the production flow bore, allowing seal maintenance without removing the hanger, thereby reducing maintenance complexity while preserving seal reliability.
2Reliability
If seals are integrated with the hanger, then sealing performance is improved, but operational cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seal assembly is segmented into a separate removable unit that can be independently accessed through the production flow bore. This allows rapid seal replacement without the time-consuming process of removing the entire hanger and wellhead assembly, significantly reducing maintenance time while preserving sealing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal assembly is designed with preliminary access features including a production flow bore and removable seal assembly structure that enables direct access to seals. This preliminary design allows maintenance personnel to quickly remove and replace seals without extensive disassembly, reducing maintenance time while maintaining sealing integrity.
3Strength
If seals are integrated with the hanger, then structural integrity is improved, but equipment requirement and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into the hanger body and a separate seal assembly. The seal assembly can be independently removed through the production flow bore using simpler equipment, avoiding the need for expensive drilling rigs and blowout preventers required for traditional hanger removal, thus reducing equipment requirements while maintaining structural integrity of the hanger.
Solution Approach 2:
The production flow bore acts as an intermediary pathway that allows the seal assembly to be removed independently from the hanger. This intermediary access route enables the use of simpler, less expensive equipment for seal maintenance while preserving the structural integrity of the hanger and wellhead assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward a seal assembly comprising a main body comprising a production fluid port configured to align with a production fluid bore of a tubing spool of a mineral extraction system, a first annular seal supported by the main body and disposed on a first side of the production fluid port, and a second annular seal supported by the main body and disposed on a second side of the production fluid port, wherein the seal assembly is configured to be disposed in an annular region between a hanger and the tubing spool of the mineral extraction system, the first annular seal and the second annular seal are configured to isolate the production fluid port from the annular region, and the seal assembly is configured to be removed from the tubing spool without the hanger.