Subsea Tree Alignment Sleeve for Free-Heading Tubing Hangers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for installing a tubing hanger and tree on a subsea wellhead are time-consuming and require bespoke equipment and modifications due to the lack of a universal interface, leading to lengthy rig preparation times and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A method involving landing the tubing hanger without orientation control, determining its orientation relative to an alignment feature on the wellhead, and manufacturing a customized vertical tree alignment sleeve to facilitate hydraulic, electrical, and optical connections, eliminating the need for orientation control devices and simplifying the installation process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional orientation control methods are used during tubing hanger installation, then alignment precision is improved, but installation time and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of controlling the orientation of the tubing hanger during installation as in traditional methods, the invention inverts the approach by allowing free landing without orientation control and then achieving alignment through a customizable alignment sleeve that adapts to the actual orientation. This reversal eliminates time-consuming orientation control operations while maintaining precise alignment through post-installation adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of orientation control from a fixed constraint during installation to a flexible adjustment parameter after installation. The alignment sleeve can be customized with different orientation parameters to match the actual tubing hanger orientation, thereby achieving precise alignment without the need for strict orientation control during the installation process.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional orientation control methods are used during tubing hanger installation, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity and equipment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the complex orientation control devices and procedures from the installation system. By eliminating the need for BOP pins, THOJ devices, and other orientation control equipment, the system is simplified to use only a basic alignment sleeve that can be customized to match the actual orientation, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment sleeve serves as a universal component that can adapt to different tubing hanger orientations through customization. Rather than requiring multiple specialized orientation control devices for different scenarios, a single versatile alignment sleeve design can be adjusted to accommodate various orientations, thereby reducing overall equipment complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If bespoke equipment and modifications are manufactured for each installation, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing time and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary measurement of the tubing hanger orientation after installation, then uses this information to manufacture a customized alignment sleeve. This preliminary action allows the alignment sleeve to be precisely tailored to the actual orientation without requiring complex bespoke equipment design and manufacturing before installation, thereby improving both adaptability and productivity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a system and method to prepare a subsea tree to be installed onto a subsea Tubing Hanger, set in a subsea wellhead. The Tubing Hanger orientation / heading is not controlled by traditional subsea methods (i.e. Tubing Head Spool or BOP Pin) and instead is allowed to land inside the wellhead at random 'free' heading. Following subsea measurement of the Tubing Hanger heading, relative to wellhead, the Subsea Tree Alignment Sleeve is manufactured to suit the specific well measurements. The Alignment Sleeve provides the connection between Tubing Hanger and Tree and is the component which provides the correct tree heading to suit the required subsea field architecture.