Basic Surface

Wellhead School
Wellhead and Tree Design
 Drilling & Completion
Introduction to Drilling - CD-ROM
 Wellhead Terminology

A-section
– Lowermost Casing Head
– Casing Housing
– Bradenhead
B-section
– Intermediate Head
– Casing Spool
C-section
– Tubing Spool
– Tubing Head
Seal Flange
– Tubing Head Adapter
– Bonnet
– Adapter Flange
 Flanged & Independent Screwed
Wellheads
Features:
– Wellhead supports suspended
casing strings
– Provides a connection point for
the pressure control equipment
– Contains well pressure
– Allows access into the
production and annulus bores
 Independent Screwed Wellheads
Low cost option
Low pressure wells
Adaptable for Tubingless completions
Forged heads
All-threaded joints
Slip or mandrel tubing suspension
 Flanged Wellheads

High Pressure
Severe service
Robust with high integrity seals
 Casing Housing
Lowermost Casing Head
Casing Housing
Bradenhead

Bottom connection
Side outlets
Top connection
Hanger
 Casing Spool
Intermediate head
Casing Spool
Bottom connection
Secondary Seal
Side outlets
Top connection
Hanger
 Tubing Spool
Tubing Spool
Tubing Head
Bottom connection
Side outlets
Top connection
Mandrel Hanger
Tie-down Screws
Penetrations
 Casing Hangers

Manual Slip-type Casing Hangers

Automatic Slip-type Casing Hangers
Mandrel Tubing Hangers
Dual Hangers
 Slip-type Casing
Hangers
Automatic or manually energized.
Double shoulder prevents full string
weight crushing casing during test.
Allow tension to be pulled on casing.
Mud returns can be routed up annulus
during cementing before hanger landed.
 Casing Hangers
Slip and Grip

After cementing, casing pulled up to add tension

Slips work harder as with more weight/tension added.
Seal can be energized automatically by casing weight or
manually by torque screws (internal), or tie-down screws
(external).
 Mandrel Hangers
Simplest setting procedure.
Provides a machined interface for
the seal flange.
Control line ports available.
Space out is important.
Accommodates Back Pressure
Valve.
 Dual Tubing Hangers

Used for multiple

completions.
2-piece hanger design.
Continuous control
line ports.
 Hanger Penetrations

Production
SCSSV & down-hole P&T
Electric Submersible Pump
TUBING HANGER
Surface Controlled Subsurface Safety Valve
 Tubing Hangers
Electrical Submersible Pumps

Special hanger
arrangement to
accommodate
electrical cable.
Electrical cable has
discrete conduit.
Tubing and cable run
in hole together.
Tubing Head Adapter
Tubingless Completions
Tubing cemented into hole

Dual
Mandrel hanger
Completion

Slip-type hanger
for use if pipe sticks
while reciprocating
 Gaskets and Seal Technology

3 Categories …
“Primary Seal” used to pack
off between the casing spool
and casing
“Secondary Seal” used to
seal the last casing string to
the next casing spool
“Hanger neck seals” used to
seal a mandrel style hanger
to the tubing head adapter
flange.
 Gaskets and Seal Technology

Primary Seals Secondary Seals

1. Casing Hangers: Installed in the bottom of
Energized either by weight the casing spool.
of casing, or by torque Self-energized by radial
screws or tie-down screws. squeeze or manually by
Large, elastomeric packing adding plastic packing.
used as the sealing Seals against un-machined
element. casing.
2. Tubing Hangers: Metal or elastomer seals
Metal or elastomer sealing available.
Machined surface finish
sealing area.
 Gaskets and Seal Technology
Secondary Seals

Secondary Seals Comparison Chart

Description P Seal Canh Seal T Seal YB Bushing

Service Standard and/or

Severe/ Corrosive Standard
Standard and/or
Moderately Severe Moderately Severe
Rating

Seal Type Elastomeric Metal-To-Metal Elastomeric Elastomeric

Working Upto 15,000 psi 15,000 - 20,000 psi 5,000 psi 10,000 psi
Pressure
Means of
Flange or Tie-
Energizing Plastic Packing
down Make-up
Radial Interference Plastic Packing
Seal

Size Range 4-1/2 in. to 24 in. 3-1/2 in. to 16 in. 4-1/2 in. to 18-5/8 in. 4-1/2 in. to 16 in.
 Seal Technology
Elastomer/Metal Seal Selection

FACTORS WHICH DRIVE SELECTION OF ELASTOMER OR METAL SEALS

REQUIREMENT ELASTOMER METAL

TOLERANCE TO SURFACE FINISH

TOLERANCE TO SURFACE CORROSION/DAMAGE
TOLERANCE TO SEALING BORE DIA VARIATION
LEAK FREE PERFORMANCE IN DYNAMIC APPLICATIONS
LONGEVITY (DETERIATION WITH AGE)
ABILITY TO WITHSTAND EXTREMES OF TEMPERATURE
LEAST LIKELY TO SCORE/GALL SEAL SURFACE
SUITABILITY FOR SEALING AT HIGH PRESSURE
RESISTANCE TO A WIDE RANGE OF CORROSIVE FLUIDS
CONTROL OF MATERIAL & MANUFACTURING PROCESS
LOWEST INSTALLATION FORCE
 Commonly Used Seals\Gaskets
Metal Seals Gaskets (Flanges)
DX R Ring Joint
D Seal RX Ring Joint
CANH Seal BX (face-to-face contact)
Metal Annulus Seal RX Face-to-face (for clamp hubs)
SRL Metal AX Gasket
PRL Seal CX Gasket
U Cup
RLH
Lip Seal
MT Seal

Elastomer Seals (Secondary)

P Seal
T Seal
Metal End Cap
S Seal
 Examples of Seals
YB Bushing

Used up to 10,000 psi.

Mechanically energized
with plastic packing.
Independent bushing that
fits into pocket in casing
spool.

YB Bushing

Seal test port Plastic packing injection

 Examples of Seals
Metal End Cap (MEC) Seal Elastomer

Radially Energized
Metal
Robust and reliable Caps
Elastomer shielded
from well fluids
Pack-off Bowl Pack-off Ring

MEC Seal
Housing id

Back-up
Ring
 Examples of Seals
MT Metal Seal

Stainless steel sandwich

with a Teflon filler
0.010 in. gap between
casing hanger
0.005 in. gap from tubing Stainless
hanger Steel Seal

Tubing Hanger
Casing Hanger
Used in tubing hanger
neck seal applications.
Similar to downhole PBR PTFE
seals used in hot
geothermal wells. Stainless
Steel Seal

UNSET POSITION SET POSITION

Examples of Seals
SLS Stem Seal Assembly

Stem

Gland Nut

Back-up Ring

Stem Packing
 Back Pressure Valves
Installed into tubing hanger to Seal Ring
close in a well, (for tree
removal).
Single or double check Valve
available to release bore Spring
pressure.
Valve stem
Run through polished rod
lubricator.

Lubricator
 Flanges and Ring Gaskets

API Flanges
Non-API flanges
Ring Gaskets

API standard uses R or RX

gaskets for 2,000 to 10,000 psi,
flanges and BX above 10,000
psi.
 Ring Gasket Design
R Ring Gaskets RX Ring Gaskets RX Face to Face Gaskets
API approved for 6B API approved for 6B flanges. Standard for Clamp Hubs.
flanges. RX seals on only OD of gasket. Sealing on only OD of gasket.
R seals on both ID and Large load-bearing surface on Slightly enlarged groove
OD of gasket. ID to transmit loads. ensures face to face contact.
Not pressure energized. Does not allow face to face Gasket may be unsupported
Does not allow face to contact. on ID.
face contact. Flange bolting may need Pressure energized seal.
Flange bolting may need periodic tightening.
periodic tightening.

R Gasket RX Gasket RX Face to Face Gasket

 Ring Gasket Design
RX Ring Gaskets
RX face to face modified by
Cameron to prevent possibility
of gasket buckling and leaking.
Grooves modified to allow
gasket to contact on ID and OD.
Tolerance controlled to avoid
flange face stand-off.
RX Face to Face modified Gasket
BX Ring Gaskets
API approved for 6BX flanges.
Primary sealing on OD of
gasket.
Face to face contact. (Note this
may not be possible in worst
case tolerances).
Pressure energized seal.
BX Gasket
 Gasket
Examples of Gaskets retainer
AX Gasket

Sealing takes place along small

bands of contact.
Seal diameter only slightly AX Gasket
larger than the bore minimising Running
axial separation force.
Face-to-face contact of hubs. Face-to-face contact
External loads not transmitted
to gasket. Sealing
Areas
Tapered flanks facilitate angular
disconnect.

Energized
 Christmas Trees

Valves
Tees and Crosses
Actuators
Tree Cap
Gauges
Choke
Flowlines
 Christmas Trees
Loose Valves

Cost effective
Alternative stack-up
arrangements possible
Repair by replacement as
needed
Flexible manufacturing
Large bore, high pressure
available.
 Christmas Trees
Solid Block

Single forging, minimum leak paths

Compact design
High structural strength
Ideal for offshore platform
applications
 Valve Technology

Slab-type gate valves

Expanding gate valves
Ball valves
Valve Selection
 Gate Valves - Slab Gate

Features:
– Easily maintained, no special
tools needed
– Metal Sealing
– Back-seat capability
– High-integrity
– Low-torque operation
– Corrosion resistant materials
 Gate Valves - Expanding Gate
Features:
– Upstream/downstream seal.
– Low-torque operation.
– Does not require lubricants to seal.
– Seat Faces are isolated when valve
is open.
– Cast body.
– Metal Sealing.

Limitations:
– May trap
pressure in
body
 Gate Valves - Rising/Non-rising
Stems

View Slab Gate Valve:

View Expanding Gate Valve:
View Rising stem, actuated
valve:
 Ball Valves

Features:
– Used for annulus side outlets.
– All-welded construction for
minimum leak paths.
– Easily maintained, no special
tools needed.
– Elastomer or Metal Sealing.
– High-integrity.
– Corrosion resistant materials.
– Sizes typically 2 in. (available
up to 60 in.)
 Valve Selection
Wellhead Applications

Size Pressure Rating (psi)

(in.) 2,000 3,000 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000
1-13/16
2-1/16
FL Slab type or FLS Slab type
2-9/16 gate valves
M expanding gate
3
Note 1:
4
5-1/8 FLS slab
FLS Slab type type gate
6-3/8 gate valves valves with
tailrod for
7-3/8 manual
9 valves

Note 1: Use FLS Slab type gate valves for Clad or subsea applications.
2: FL and FLS are forged, Model M is cast.
 Actuators
Pneumatic diaphragm and piston

Actuators used on surface safety valves to

remotely operate valves and chokes.

Use basic air supply to

operate.
170 psi operating pressure.
Simple, robust design.
Inexpensive to install and
maintain.
Manufactured to NACE
MR0175, (H2S)
 Actuators
Hydraulic piston

Hydraulic Actuators often used offshore

where space and weight are critical.

Used in multiple applications.

Available for valves from 2 in.
to 9 in.
Single or double piston
design available.
Threaded connection to valve
bonnet allows precise
alignment to control tubing.
Visual indicators for easy
viewing.
Wireline cutting capability if
needed. Animation
 Chokes
Fixed

Production chokes used to

maintain the optimum back-
pressure on the reservoir to:
– Maximize total recovery
– Control rate of pressure decline
– Eliminate formation damage Fixed orifice to regulate flow
and reduce sand production
Bleed screw to vent body
– Avoid erosional damage to before removing bonnet
surface equipment
Erosion resistant trim to
minimize wear
 Chokes
Adjustable

Adjustable chokes allow

flexibility to constantly adjust the
orifice size and thus control flow
characteristics.
Cage-style trims reduce noise
and erosion.
Plug & cage for high flow, low
pressure drop.
External Sleeve for moderate
flow, high pressure drop.
Needle and Seat used in
heavy sediment flow, eg
drilling.
 Summary
Wellhead - an arrangement of pressure containing housings and
spools, connected together in a pressure-tight assembly supporting
multiple, concentric strings of down-hole casing.
Casing Hangers - the head of the casing string landed in a housing
bowl to support the weight of string and seal off the annulus. Seal
energized by string weight, lock-down screws or manually torquing
up energizing screws.
Tubing Hangers - the head of the tubing to support the tubing
weight, seal off from the annulus and allow down hole conduits to
penetrate the hanger.
Christmas Tree - an assembly of valves, flanges, crosses, tees and
chokes to control flow from (or into) a well.
Chokes - a restriction in the flowline to control flowrate and
pressure of the well.
Actuators - pneumatic or hydraulic actuated devices to remotely
close in a valve.