Tubing Head Spool Self-Orientation for Single-Trip BOP Installation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Subsea well or completion installations require multiple trips of the blowout preventer (BOP) stack for tubing head spool installation, leading to increased operational costs and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A non-oriented tubing hanger adapter bushing (THAB) with a helical groove and an externally activated key in a full-bore tubing head spool (FBTHS) enables self-orientation of the tubing hanger independent of external orientation applications, such as BOP or running systems, allowing for a single-trip BOP provision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional BOP stack installation methods are used for tubing head spool installation, then the BOP stack can be installed, but multiple trips of the BOP stack are required leading to increased operational costs and reduced efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation efficiencyVSAvoidmultiple BOP trips

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The tubing hanger is equipped with self-orientation capabilities through the interaction between the helical groove on the tubing hanger and the externally activated key on the FBTHS. This self-service mechanism allows the tubing hanger to automatically orient itself during installation without requiring external orientation equipment or multiple BOP trips, thereby reducing operational time and costs while maintaining installation efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If external orientation equipment based on BOP or running system is used, then orientation can be achieved, but device complexity and operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorientation capabilityVSAvoidexternal orientation equipment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses self-orientation where the tubing hanger's helical groove interacts with the FBTHS's externally activated key to automatically achieve proper orientation. This eliminates the need for complex external orientation equipment based on BOP or running systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining ease of operation through automatic self-alignment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and eliminates the need for external orientation equipment from the installation system. By removing the dependency on BOP-based or running system-based orientation mechanisms, the solution simplifies the overall device complexity while preserving the essential orientation capability through the self-orienting helical groove and key mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20260043305A1Tubing head spools with orientation feature

Publication Date: 2026.02.12 BAKER HUGHES ENERGY TECH UK LTD

AI summary

A system to be used with a subsea well or completion installation can include a non-oriented tubing hanger adapter bushing (THAB) to be associated with a sleeve and a full-bore tubing head spool (FBTHS) of the subsea well or completion installation. An externally activated key of the FBTHS can engage with a helical groove associated with the sleeve and with the non-oriented THAB to enable self-orientation of a tubing hanger independent of an external orientation application based in part on a blowout preventer (BOP).