Patent ID: 6805200
Filing Date: 2004-10-19
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
A method of drilling and completing a subsea production well with a casing installed in the wellbore and a wellhead housing having a wellhead housing bore installed on the upper end of the casing, the method of comprising:lowering a spool of a horizontal tree into connection with an upper end of the wellhead housing, the spool having a spool bore and at least one spool side port extending radially from the spool bore; installing a BOP at the upper end of the spool, the BOP having with a BOP bore aligned with the spool bore and the wellhead housing bore; drilling a first hole with a first bit having first cutting diameter by passing the first bit through the BOP and the tree spool; lowering a casing string carrying a casing hanger through the bores of the BOP and the spool tree and landing the casing hanger in the wellhead housing; after lowering the casing string, drilling at least one second hole with a second bit having a second cutting diameter less than the first cutting diameter by passing the second bit through the BOP, the tree spool, and at least a portion of the casing string; and thereafter installing an orientation sleeve between the wellhead housing and the spool, the orientation sleeve having a predetermined rotational orientation with the spool of the tree.