Abstract:
An adapter for connecting a casing annulus remediation system to a well having a wellhead with standard lateral ports. The adapter has a body with first and second ends. The first end of the adapter body has a substantially planar surface adapted to cover the lateral ports and be in abutting contact with the wellhead when the two are connected to one another. The second end of the adapter body has a planar surface positioned at an angle greater than 0 degrees and up to 90 degrees to the planar surface of the first end. The second end of the adapter is adapted to be connected to a casing annulus remediation system.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims priority to provisional application 61/054,666, filed May 20, 2008. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    This technique relates to adapters and equipment to provide varying access points for tubing and casing monitoring and casing annulus remediation systems. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]    In wells drilled for petroleum production, a plurality of well casings of different sizes are suspended from a wellhead. A problem encountered in such wells is that of annular pressure control. In the annulus between different casing sizes, pressure may develop due to leaks between strings of casing. To control the pressure, a casing annulus remediation system is employed. The casing annulus remediation system comprises a hose that is inserted into an annulus between strings of casing. Often, the hose is inserted into the annulus through a lateral port that is often perpendicular to the casing, requiring the hose to maintain flexibility to accommodate the angle of entry. A nozzle is affixed to the lower end of the hose. The hose may be inserted several hundred feet into the well. Therefore, the hose must be pressurized and rigid to keep the hose from winding about the well. To keep the hose rigid, internal pressure is maintained in the hose. An angled access port would allow for the hose to be naturally more rigid. However, wells generally have standard lateral access ports. 
         [0004]    A need exists for a technique that allows for more effective and efficient implementation of a casing annulus remediation system and subsequent insertion of a hose into an annulus. The following technique may solve one or more of these problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]    An apparatus and method for connecting a casing annulus remediation system to a well. The well has a wellhead with a longitudinal axis, a lateral port which is substantially perpendicular to the axis, and at least one string of casing supported in the wellhead and extending past the lateral port into the well, defining an annulus. The apparatus has a body with first and second ends. The first end of the body has a planar surface substantially parallel to the axis and is adapted to be in abutting contact with and connected to the wellhead, thereby covering the lateral port. The second end of the body has a planar surface positioned at an angle greater than 0 degrees and up to 90 degrees to the axis and is adapted to be connected to the casing annulus remediation system. A valve removal plug preparation is located in the planar surface of the second end of the body, and a valve removal plug is positioned within the valve removal plug preparation and is adapted to protect the valve removal plug preparation. A pilot hole is located in the planar surface of the second end of the body, perpendicular to the planar surface and is adapted to receive a drilling device. 
         [0006]    The annulus of the well is sealed from the atmosphere by inserting a valve removal plug into the lateral port. The first end of the body is connected to the wellhead such that the planar surface of the first end substantially covers the lateral port and the valve removal plug. The shear capable valve of the casing annulus remediation system is connected to the planar surface on the second end of the body. An angled access port is created from the pilot hole, through the body, through the wellhead, and into the annulus. The remainder of the casing annulus remediation system is then connected to the shear capable valve. 
         [0007]    In alternate embodiment, the body has a curved access port located in and extending through the body from the planar surface of the first end to the planar surface of the second end. The curved access port is aligned with the lateral port at the first end of the body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a wellhead with a remediation system connected to the wellhead. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a wellhead manufactured with an angled entry port. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a wellhead with a remediation system adapter connected to the wellhead. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a wellhead with a standard remediation system adapter connected to the wellhead. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a wellhead with a custom vertical remediation system adapter connected to the wellhead. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a wellhead tree with a vertical remediation system connected to the tree. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a wellhead with a vertical remediation system connected to the wellhead. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a vertical remediation system with lift and hose reel cylinder extended. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of a vertical remediation system with lift and hose reel cylinders compressed. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view of a vertical remediation system with a hose reel and a hose guide assembly connected to the remediation system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a wellhead  15  has annulus access ports  19  that permit access to an annulus section  17  of the well. In a typical wellhead  15 , annulus access ports  19  are located on the wellhead  15 , and run perpendicular to the well casing  16 . In this embodiment, a casing annulus remediation system (CARS)  21  has been connected to the wellhead  15 . In order to connect the CARS equipment  21  to the wellhead  15 , a shear capable valve  23  is connected to port  19  on wellhead  15 . A valve removal (VR) plug (not shown) is then removed from port  19  on the right side of the wellhead  15  through valve  23 . An annular blowout preventer (BOP)  25  is then connected to the shear capable valve  23 . A packoff  27  is located to the right of BOP  25 , and a hose driver  29  is located to the right of packoff  27 . Hose  31  is fed through the CARS equipment  21  by means of driver  29 . An articulated weight device  35  is connected to the end of hose  31 . The entry angle into annulus section  17  created by the orientation of access port  19  requires hose  31  to be extremely flexible. However, hose  31  must also be stiff enough to run downward through annular section  17  without winding or knotting occurring. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , in order to simplify the implementation of a CARS, wellhead  41  is manufactured with an angled annulus access port  43  with the prospect of running the CARS program at some later point in its life. Access port  43  forms an angle greater than zero (0) degrees, and less than ninety (90) degrees with the well casing/structure. Port  43  is angled for easy entry into the annulus  51 . The interface surface  44  will be located ninety (90) degrees opposed to access port  43 . Interface surface  44  will allow for CARS equipment  21  ( FIG. 1 ) to be connected to wellhead  41 . Access port  43  has threads along its inner surface. A valve removal (VR) plug  45  with threads along its outer surface is threaded into access port  43  until the CARS equipment  21  ( FIG. 1 ) is connected to wellhead  41 . The CARS equipment  21  ( FIG. 1 ) is connected to wellhead  41 , beginning with shear capable valve  23  ( FIG. 1 ). VR plug  45  is then removed from port  43  and extracted through valve  23 . Valve  23  is then closed, and whatever exists on the outside of the valve  23  is vented off. The remainder of the CARS equipment  21  ( FIG. 1 ) is attached and the operating procedure for CARS is run. Access port  47  illustrates the standard port orientation. Angled access port  43  allows easier access to annular sections  51  with a hose or similar device. Additionally, the orientation of port  43  reduces the flexibility required of a hose or similar device that may be fed into annulus section  51 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , in order to create an angled access port  65  for a wellhead  61  that contains standard access ports  63 , CARS adapter  69  is employed. CARS adapter  69  is comprised of an interface surface  73 , which is ninety (90) degrees opposed to angled access port  65 . On the interface surface  73 , a VR plug preparation  75  is located within adapter  69 . VR plug preparation  75  has threads along its inner surface. A special VR plug  77  with a hole in it is initially threaded into VR plug preparation  75  and acts as a drill bushing and protects the threads of the VR plug preparation  75  during the installation of adapter  69 . Adapter  69  also contains a pilot hole  76  for drilling access port  65 . 
         [0021]    In order to install adapter  69 , the annulus  64  of wellhead  61  is shut off to the atmosphere by the use of VR plugs  67 , which are placed in access ports  63 . The VR plug  67  on the right access port  63  of wellhead  61  will be a permanent attachment to the wellhead  61  once adapter  69  has been connected. Adapter  69  is bolted to the wellhead by a series of bolts  71 . A seal (not shown) seals between wellhead  61  and adapter  69 . After bolting up adapter  69  to the wellhead  61 , the CARS shear capable valve  23  ( FIG. 1 ) may be mounted to the interface surface  73 . A drilling device (not shown) with a drill is mounted to valve  23  in preparation for entry into the wellhead  61 . This drilling device (not shown) will have a seal such as is found on a VR extraction tool, as known in the art, to prevent anything from reaching the atmosphere as the drill makes entry into the annulus  64  through the valve  23  ( FIG. 1 ). The drilling device will drill through adapter  69  starting at pilot hole  76 . VR plug  77  allows the drill to pass through it and ensures that the threads in VR preparation  75  are protected from damage due to drilling. After annulus  64  is opened by drilling through wellhead  61  to form passage  65 , the drill (not shown) may be extracted, valve  23  ( FIG. 1 ) closed, the open side of valve  23  vented and the special drilling tool (not shown) removed. 
         [0022]    The wellhead  61  is ready for the remainder of the CARS equipment  21  ( FIG. 1 ) to be mounted to the adapter  69  and used. After the use of the CARS equipment, the special VR plug  77  will be removed from the adapter and replaced with a standard VR plug (not shown), similar to VR plug  63 . This plug is solid and does not have a hole in it. The adapter  69  may be a permanent fixture and remain with wellhead  61  throughout its life. The original VR plug  67  and thread in port  63  on the right side of wellhead  61  will not be re-usable as it will be drilled through, and will remain with the wellhead  61  throughout its life. If the CARS system is later re-attached to adapter  69 , the standard VR plug (not shown), similar to VR plug  63  must be removed. In order to remove the standard VR plug, shear capable valve  23  ( FIG. 1 ) is connected to adapter  69 , and the standard VR plug is removed through it, before the remaining CARS equipment is connected. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , CARS adapter  99  is employed in wellhead  91  where close proximity (such as a silo surrounding wellhead  91 ) prevents horizontal entry ( FIG. 1 ) through access port  93 . In order to enable entry into access port  93  on the right side of wellhead  91 , angled CARS adapter  99  is employed. CARS adapter  99  is comprised of an interface surface  103 , which can be positioned between zero (0) and ninety (90) degrees opposed to access port  93 . The adapter  99  contains a curved passageway  107  whose radius of curvature is dependent upon the angle  105  between access port  93  and interface surface  103 . 
         [0024]    In order to connect CARS adapter  99  to wellhead  91 , a VR plug  97  is set in access port  93  of wellhead  91 . CARS adapter  99  is attached to wellhead  91  by a series of bolts  101 . After bolting up adapter  99  to the wellhead  91 , the CARS shear capable valve  23  ( FIG. 1 ) may be mounted to the interface surface  103 . Once the CARS valve  23  ( FIG. 1 ) is mounted to the top of adapter  103 , the VR plug  97  in access port  93  of wellhead  91  can be removed through valve  23 . The atmospheric side of valve  23  can then be vented, and the remainder of the CARS equipment  21  ( FIG. 1 ) is mounted and used. After the CARS service is performed, VR plug  97  can be re-inserted in access port  93  of wellhead  91  and adapter  99  can be removed to be used elsewhere. In  FIG. 4 , no drilling of wellhead  91  occurs, unlike drilling passage  65  in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  illustrates an alternate embodiment of adapter  99  of  FIG. 4 . CARS adapter  111  is employed in wellhead  91  where close proximity prevents full horizontal entry ( FIG. 1 ), but allows sufficient stroke length to horizontally remove VR plug  97 . In order to enable entry into access port  93  on the right side of wellhead  91 , angled CARS adapter  111  is employed. CARS adapter  111  is comprised of an interface surface  117 , which can be positioned from zero (0) and ninety (90) degrees opposed to access port  93 . The adapter  111  contains a curved passageway  119  whose radius of curvature is dependent upon the angle  121  between access port  93  and interface surface  117 . Adapter  111  also contains a VR plug preparation  114 , and VR plug removal tool interface  115 , both of which are positioned directly in line with port  93 . 
         [0026]    In order to connect CARS adapter  111  to wellhead  91 , a VR plug  97  is set in access port  93  of wellhead  91 , CARS adapter  111  is attached to wellhead  91  by a series of bolts  113 . After bolting up adapter  111  to the wellhead  91 , the CARS shear capable valve  23  ( FIG. 1 ) may be mounted to the interface surface  117 . Once the CARS valve  23  ( FIG. 1 ) is mounted to the top of the adapter  111 , a plug retrieval tool (not shown) is used to remove plug  97  from wellhead  91 . This retrieval tool is inserted into tool interface  115  of adapter  111  and will remain in adapter  111  to continue sealing it off from the atmosphere until after the CARS operation is complete. The removal tool (not shown) removes VR plug  97  from access port  93 , and secures the VR plug  97  in VR plug preparation  114  until the CARS operation is complete. The atmospheric side of valve  23  can then be vented, and the remainder of the CARS equipment  21  ( FIG. 1 ) is mounted and used. After the CARS service is performed, VR plug  97  is re-inserted in access port  93  of wellhead  91  and adapter  111  can be removed to be used elsewhere. 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  illustrates “top” or “vertical” entry of the CARS equipment  137  into a wellhead tree  131  without the need for rigging. A standard tree cap (not shown) is replaced with a CARS interface adapter  133 . The shear capable valve  139  will be mounted to the CARS interface adapter  133 , and the remaining CARS equipment  137 , including the annular BOP  141 , packoff  143 , and hose driver  145  are then assembled.  FIG. 6  illustrates “vertical” entry of the CARS equipment  137  directly into the production tubing  135  of the wellhead tree  131 . The CARS equipment  137 , particularly hose  147  would be used inside of the production tubing  135  for implementation of various remediation systems. 
         [0028]      FIG. 7  illustrates “top” or “vertical” entry of the CARS equipment  137  into a wellhead  155  without the need for rigging. A standard wellhead cap (not shown) is replaced with a CARS interface adapter  151 . The shear capable valve  139  will be mounted to the CARS interface adapter  151 , and the remaining CARS equipment  137 , including the annular BOP  141 , packoff  143 , and hose driver  145  are then assembled.  FIG. 7  illustrates “vertical” entry of the CARS equipment  137  through access port  153  directly into the production casing  157  of wellhead  155 , with the production tubing pulled. The CARS equipment  137 , particularly hose  147  would be used inside of the production casing  157  for implementation of various remediation systems. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 8 through 10  illustrate equipment to be implemented with “vertical” entry of CARS equipment. Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , CARS “vertical” entry equipment  161  is comprised of CARS adapter  159 , shear capable valve  163 , bottom frame plate  164 , BOP  165 , cylinders  170 , packoff  167 , top frame plate  169 , and driver  171 . Attached to driver  171  is spool positioning equipment  173 . Spool positioning equipment  173  is comprised of support arms  175 ,  177 , pivot points  178 ,  183 ,  185 , cylinder (or other actuator)  181 , spool  179 , and hose  187 . 
         [0030]    The CARS equipment  161  is fitted with cylinders  170  in order to raise and lower the packoff  167  and driver  171 . With the annular BOP assembly  165  in place, the hose driver  171  will have the packoff  167  attached to it but will not be fixed in its position to the annular BOP assembly  165 . The shear capable valve  163  will have a lower mounting plate  164  attached for two lift cylinders  170  on opposite sides of plate  164 . The hose driver assembly  171  with the packoff  167  attached will have an upper mounting plate  169  for cylinders  170 . As illustrated by  FIG. 8 , the cylinders  170  will raise the hose driver assembly  171  and packoff  167  for attachment of an articulating weight device (not shown) to the hose  187 . The articulating weight device (not shown) can not be sent through the packoff  167  as it will damage the packoff  167 . As a result, the hose  187  is allowed to pass through the driver  171  and packoff  167  before the articulating weight device is attached to hose  187 . Once the articulated weight device is attached to hose  187 , the driver  171  and packoff  167  are lowered by cylinder  170 , and the BOP  165  is securely connected to the packoff  167  ( FIG. 9 ). 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the spool positioning equipment  173  allows the hose spool  179  to be raised and lowered to a desired position. For example, positioning equipment  173  will allow spool  179  to be stored on a deck or level below that of the CARS equipment  161 . This lower position permits easier access and service to the hose reel assembly  179 . Once the CARS system is ready to be implemented, the spool  179  and hose  187  can be raised to a vertical position directly above driver  171 . Support arm  175  is securely attached to driver  171 . Support arm  175  is connected to support arm  177  by way of a hinge joint  178 . Cylinder  181  also connects between support arm  175  and support arm  177 . Cylinder  181  is mounted on support arm  175  with a pivot point  183 , and is mounted on support arm  177  with a pivot point  185 . 
         [0032]    The spool  179  position is determined by extending or retracting cylinder  181 . Cylinder  181  could be hydraulically or pneumatically controlled. When cylinder  181  is extended, as in  FIG. 8 , the spool would be positioned at a level at or below that of CARS equipment  161 . When the cylinder is compressed, support arm  177  rotates counterclockwise about hinge joint  178 , which in turn raises the spool until it is vertically in line with driver  171  ( FIG. 9 ). When the positioning cylinder is closed, it will bring the hose reel into a position to align the hose with the driver. The hose  187  can then be inserted into the driver  171  and fed into the packoff  167 . The spool  178  is lowered in a similar fashion, with cylinder  181  being extended and support arm  177  rotating clockwise about hinge  178 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 10  illustrates a hose guide assembly  191  for use in a CARS system where the hose reel  201  is placed somewhere remotely, such as, on a platform, or on the ground. The hose  203  is guided into the hose driver  171  by way of a hose guide assembly  191 . The guide assembly is comprised of a curved hose guide tube  193  with a pivoting connector  195  on one end and a hose inlet port  197  on the other. The guide tube  193  is constructed of a solid metal, such as steel pipe. Pivoting connector  195  connects the guide tube  193  to the hose driver  171 . Connector  195  is flexible and allows for pivoting and motion associated with feeding the hose  203  from reel  201 . Inlet port  197  accepts tubing  203  from real  201 . The angle of curvature of guide assembly  191  is such that hosing  203  can easily pass through tubing  193  and enter driver  195  with a vertical orientation. 
         [0034]    The technique has significant advantages. The angled access adapter will allow legacy wells in the field to be modified to allow for connection of a casing annulus remediation system. The angled access port will allow for the casing annulus remediation system hoses to range in flexibility from flexible to rigid, due to the decreased angle of entry into the annulus. Additionally, the curved access adapters allow for a casing annulus remediation system to be implemented in wells located in environments that limit or prohibit standard horizontal entry. 
         [0035]    While the technique has been shown in only one of its forms, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible to various changes without departing from the scope of the technique.