Wellhead Side Outlet for Annulus Measurement Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wellheads lack direct access to the annulus between production tubing and production casing, leading to inconclusive data from downhole measurements and a time-consuming, costly process for leak detection.
Innovation Solution
A well system with a production tubing head housing that includes side outlets extending at an acute angle, allowing a downhole assembly to be conveyed into the tubing-casing annulus for direct measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If downhole measurements are taken through production tubing walls, then measurements can be obtained without removing tubing, but the data quality is inconclusive and measurement precision is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The production tubing head housing is segmented to include a separate access port that provides direct entry to the annulus space. This segmentation allows measurement tools to access the annulus directly without penetrating the production tubing walls, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary access port is introduced between the production tubing head housing and the annulus. This port serves as a mediator that enables direct tool access to the annulus for precise measurements, eliminating the need to remove production tubing while providing conclusive data quality.
2Measurement precision
If production tubing is entirely removed to deploy survey instruments, then direct annulus access is achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The access port is pre-configured into the production tubing head housing during installation. This preliminary action ensures that direct annulus access is already available when needed for surveys, eliminating the time-consuming process of removing production tubing and enabling rapid deployment of measurement tools.
Solution Approach 2:
A permanently installed access port acts as an intermediary channel that provides direct access to the annulus. This mediator eliminates the need to remove production tubing for survey operations, significantly reducing survey time and costs while maintaining direct access capability for precise measurements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional wellhead configuration is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but direct annulus access is prevented and measurement capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The production tubing head housing is segmented to include a dedicated access port section. This segmentation provides direct annulus access capability while maintaining the overall structural integrity of the housing. The added complexity is minimal and localized to the access port region, while adaptability for direct measurements is significantly improved.
4Ease of operation
If side outlets are added to production tubing head housing, then direct annulus access is enabled, but housing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The access port is implemented as a localized feature on the production tubing head housing rather than a complete structural redesign. This local quality approach enables easy tool deployment to the annulus while minimizing the increase in overall housing complexity. The access port is a focused modification that provides operational ease without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A well system includes a wellhead arranged at a well surface and having a wellbore extending therefrom, the wellhead including a production tubing head housing, production casing extending from the wellhead and into the wellbore, production tubing extending from the production tubing head housing and into the production casing and thereby defining a tubing-casing annulus between the production tubing and the production casing, one or more side outlets extending outwardly from the production tubing head housing at an acute angle and in fluid communication with the tubing-casing annulus, and a downhole assembly conveyable into the tubing-casing annulus via the one or more side outlets and configured to obtain direct measurements of the tubing-casing annulus.