Wellhead Housing Bore Diameter Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wellhead systems for oil and gas wells require a large diameter diverter assembly for initial drilling operations, which can be cumbersome and inefficient, especially when dealing with large diameter conductor pipes.
Innovation Solution
A wellhead system and method that secures a wellhead housing with a smaller interior diameter to the upper end of a conductor pipe, accompanied by a blowout preventer also with a smaller diameter, allowing for fluid communication and enabling drilling operations through a 'thru-bore' system without the need for a large diameter diverter assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large diameter diverter assembly is used for initial drilling operations with large diameter conductor pipes, then the structural integrity and safety of the wellhead system is ensured, but the device complexity and operational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the large diameter diverter assembly from the wellhead system. By using a wellhead housing with a smaller interior diameter than the conductor pipe, the system removes the need for a diverter assembly entirely, simplifying the device while maintaining safety through the blowout preventer system
Solution Approach 2:
The wellhead housing serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the blowout preventer, maintains pressure containment, and enables drilling operations through its central interior bore. This multi-functional design replaces the need for separate diverter assembly components
2Adaptability or versatility
If a large diameter diverter assembly is used for initial drilling operations, then the wellhead system can accommodate large diameter conductor pipes, but the installation time and operational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the wellhead components into modular units: the wellhead housing, blowout preventer, and casing hanger are separate, installable components. This modular segmentation allows for faster installation compared to integrating a large diameter diverter assembly, while still accommodating the conductor pipe through the housing's central bore
3Device complexity
If a wellhead housing with smaller interior diameter is used, then the device complexity is reduced and installation is simplified, but the ability to conduct initial drilling operations through the housing is constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The blowout preventer is pre-installed on the wellhead housing before drilling operations begin. This preliminary action ensures that pressure control capability is already in place, allowing drilling operations to proceed through the smaller diameter housing without requiring a larger diverter assembly, thus maintaining ease of operation while reducing complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A wellhead system for supporting at least one section of a casing in a borehole for use with a conductor pipe and a method for installing a wellhead system upon a conductor pipe are disclosed. The wellhead system may include a wellhead housing having a central interior bore with a diameter that is smaller than the interior diameter of the conductor pipe and a blowout preventer having an interior bore having a diameter which is less than the diameter of the conductor pipe. The method may include securing a wellhead housing having a central interior bore with a diameter that is smaller than the interior diameter of the conductor pipe and associating with the wellhead housing a blowout preventer having a central interior bore with a diameter that is smaller than the interior diameter of the conductor pipe.