Wellhead Sleeve Isolates Production Tree from Corrosive Fluids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wellbore stimulation and cleaning operations face challenges in protecting wellhead equipment from corrosive treatment fluids, such as acid, which can damage steel tubulars and equipment, leading to increased maintenance and resource costs.
Innovation Solution
A wellhead assembly incorporating a sacrificial fluid control assembly and a protective sleeve that isolates the existing production tree from corrosive fluids, allowing for acidizing and other treatments without exposing the permanent equipment to harm, using a removable sacrificial production tree and internal slips to secure the sleeve within the common bore.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the production tree is exposed to treatment fluids during wellbore stimulation, then the treatment can be performed, but the production tree is damaged by corrosive fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The wellhead assembly is segmented into multiple components: a production tree for permanent installation, a sacrificial fluid control assembly for temporary use, and a protective sleeve. This segmentation allows the production tree to be isolated from corrosive fluids while the sacrificial assembly handles the treatment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
A protective sleeve is introduced as an intermediary component between the production tree and the corrosive treatment fluids. The sleeve creates a physical barrier that prevents direct contact, allowing the production tree to remain protected while treatment fluids pass through the sacrificial assembly.
2Reliability
If the production tree is replaced frequently due to corrosion, then equipment integrity is maintained, but maintenance costs and downtime increase
Solution Approach 1:
A sacrificial fluid control assembly is used as a temporary, disposable component that is intentionally designed to be replaced after a single use. This sacrificial assembly protects the permanent production tree from corrosion, eliminating the need for frequent replacements and reducing maintenance downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The sacrificial fluid control assembly is installed in advance of the treatment operation, creating a protective configuration before corrosive fluids are introduced. This preliminary setup ensures the production tree is already protected when treatment begins, preventing corrosion-related replacements.
3Reliability
If a protective barrier is installed between the production tree and treatment fluids, then the production tree is protected, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective barrier is implemented as a separate, modular protective sleeve that can be independently installed and removed. This segmentation allows the protection system to be added without permanently complicating the production tree design, maintaining simplicity while providing protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective sleeve and sacrificial assembly are designed as temporary, dynamic components that can be installed for the duration of treatment operations and then removed. This dynamic approach allows protection during critical operations while maintaining a simpler permanent installation configuration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces the need for frequent replacement of wellhead equipment, saves resources, and enables effective wellbore treatment without removing the existing production tree, by isolating it from corrosive fluids during operations.
Implementation Method 1
The sleeve includes i) a first end configured to form, with the adaptor or the sacrificial fluid control assembly, a first fluid seal, and ii) a second end opposite the first end and configured to form, with the tubing spool, a second fluid seal such that the sleeve fluidly isolates a first section of the common bore from a second section of the common bore
Data Source
AI summary
A wellhead assembly includes a production tree, a sacrificial fluid control assembly, an adaptor assembly, and a sleeve. The sacrificial fluid control assembly is fluidly coupled to the production tree. The adaptor assembly resides between the production tree and the sacrificial fluid control assembly. The adaptor assembly forms, with the adaptor assembly attached to the production tree and the sacrificial fluid control assembly, a common bore. The sleeve is disposed within the common bore and extends from the adaptor assembly to the tubing spool. The sleeve includes i) a first end that forms, with the adaptor or the sacrificial fluid control assembly, a first fluid seal, and ii) a second end opposite the first end and forming, with the tubing spool, a second fluid seal such that the sleeve fluidly isolates a first section of the common bore from a second section of the common bore.