CGE 654

Well
Completion

Wellhead and X-mas Tree

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Wellhead and Christmas Tree

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Purpose of Wellhead
Suspends casing and tubing string

Contains and isolate the pressure of the tubular strings

Provides interface with BOP, Xmas tree and tie back

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Wellhead Configuration
A typical well head assembly for a 3-string casing consist
of:

Xmas Tree
Section C Tubing Head
Section B Casing Head Spool
Section A Casing Head
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A. Casing Head
Attached to the top of the surface casing (screwed or welded onto
the surface casing
It accept the next string of casing either protective string or
production casing depend on the needs of the well

The casing head is the lowest part of the wellhead assembly and is
almost always connected to the surface casing.
It support BOP while the hole is drilled for the intermediate
section and provides suspending and pack-off the next casing
(intermediate casing)
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Protect fresh
water aquifer

Common size
20,16,

Surface
Casing

13 3/8, 9 5/8

1st string that

BOP can be set
provide primary
pressure control

Cemented to
surface/seabed to caseoff unconsolidated or lost
circulation area / support
subsequent casing strings
@ wellhead
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Intermediate
Casing

Common size
13 3/8,

Separates
hole into
workable
sections

10 3/4, 9 5/8

No. of intermediate
casing set depends on:
Fracture last shoe
Hole problems (lost
circulation, differential
sticking)

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Final string
to be run for
production
/testing

Common size
7, 7 5/8,
9 5/8

Production
Casing

Cementing
very important
to prevent
communication
in the annulus
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Primary purpose to
isolate the
production zones
thus allowing proper
control of reservoir

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Casing Head on Surface Casing

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Casing Hanger
Slip Type Casing Hanger

Function
Suspends intermediate or
production casing string
Seals off the casing annulus
Centers of the casing string in
the head (or spool)

Wrap around casing slips with

sealing capability
Seal energized by casing weight

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Casing Hanger
Slip Type Casing Hanger
Non-automatic
hangers have seals
which require means
other than casing
weight to be
energized
Non-automatic hangers
- Typically used when
insufficient casing load is
available or when
cementing back to the
surface

Automatic hangers have

seals which are energized by
casing weight

Slip-type casing hangers

transfer the weight or
tension load of a casing
string to a casing head or
spool

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B. Casing Head Spool

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Casing Head Spool

Casing spool has a top bowl to accommodate the casing hanger
and has a bottom bowl with a packoff seal and a flange / clamp hub
for mounting it on top of a casing head or previous spool

Outlets are provided for annular access

Multiple casing spools may be stacked to hang intermediate and
production casing strings
During production, the well temp. increase and the fluids in
between the casing expand the outlets in the casing spools allow
the bleed-off preventing uncontrolled pressure increase and casing
damage
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Casing Head Spool

Functions
Seals off around surface casing string
Provide support for the next casing with hanger
Provides support for well control equipment (BOP Stack)
Sealing the wellbore from the atmosphere
Controlling access to the wellbore
Pressure control
Fluid returns

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Casing Head Spool

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Casing series & casing heads / spool

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C. Tubing Head

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Tubing Head
Primary functions of Tubing Head:
Suspend tubing with hanger
Provide hydraulic seal between tubing and annulus
Provide access ports to the annulus
Provide mounting for the x-mass tree

The tubing head is the top spool on a surface wellhead assembly. It

is installed after the last casing string to provide a load shoulder to
support the tubing hanger or production casing/tubing annulus seal.
When the well is completed, the tree is installed on top of the tubing
head with a tubing head adapter.
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Tubing Hanger Types

Threaded Hanger Flange
Used in low pressure well

Boll Weevil Type

Unsuitable for completions under tension
or compression

Ram Type Tubing Hanger

Allows free tubing manipulation to latch
tension/compression before landing

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Tubing Hanger and Packoffs

Production tubing is suspended from a tubing hanger
The hanger has an internal threaded section in its base to allow
connection to the tubing
The hanger also allows installation of a plug or check valve to
isolate the tubing pressure beneath the Xmass tree

In some wellhead configurations the hanger also has an extended

neck which projects into the base of the Xmass tree
It uses this to provide a sealed flow path through the wellheadXmass tree interface
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Compact Spool System

The great disadvantage of the conventional spooled wellhead is
a separate spool must be install at each stage of the well
(requiring the BOP to be removed)

This is potentially hazardous, particularly in the lower sections of

the well where zones containing hydrocarbons may be encountered
at high pressure, and time consuming
Many wellhead companies also offer a one piece spool system
which provides the hang-off areas for the suspension of two or more
casing strings (e.g. one intermediate casing string and the
production casing string, as well as the production tubing string)
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Compact Spool System

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Compact Spool System

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Completed Well

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Xmass Tree

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Xmass Tree
Functions:
Primary flow control system for well once in production
Features and access requirements
Outflow from well production
Inflow to well injection or killing
Vertical access to tubing wireline
Access for electrical cable or hydraulic conduits
e.g. ESP or safety valve

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Xmass Tree Components

There are many designs and configuration of trees commonly in use.
However, almost all will be assemble with the following
components:

1. Pressure gauges allow well pressure to be monitored. Tubing

head pressure, casing or annular pressure are generally
monitored with permanent gauges fitted to the Xmass tree
2. Gauge flange / tree cap provides a seal for the top of the tree
but is removed when access to the tubing is required (e.g slick
line work)
3. Swab valve upper most valve of the tree, used to isolate
pressure and allow access to the well for intervention tools such
as wireline or coiled tubing
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Xmass Tree Components

4. Production wing valve first valve on the production wing used
to isolate the well for most routine operations (the easiest to
replace in the event of damage or cutting out of the valve)
5. Kill wing valve enables connection of pumping equipment for
treatment without interfering with the production wing.
6. Choke controls the rate of flow from the well (may be remotely
controlled)

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Xmass Tree Components

7. Master valves the main isolation valves for the well. The
master valves are open for most of the wells life and used as
little as possible since any fault would require an interruption in
production. Two master valves are generally required (legislative
requirement)
Upper Master Valve often a hydraulically controlled valve
which is often linked to emergency production shutown
systems which used in preference to the Lower Master
Valve due to ease of repair or replacement
Lower Master Valve commonly a manually operated valve
and remains open in order not to wear it out. It is considered
as back up for the Upper Master gate Valve
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Monoblock Xmas Tree

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Monoblock Xmas Tree

A monoblock tree comprises an inline or Y shaped of a single
casting/forging. It has less external seal area than a flanged Xmas
tree. The valves arrangement:

Lower valve a manual master gate valve

Upper master valve a remotely controlled master valve
Y piece or side outlet flange houses both choke and kill wing
valves. Normally the production flow wing is a remotely
controlled valve. The kill wing valve is either manually or remotely
operated
Uppermost valve manually operated swab valve
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Multiple Completion
In cases where more than one completion
string is installed, each string must be
independently suspended and must
independently or collectively seal off the tubing
casing annulus

In addition, the control of fluid flow in each

tubing string must be accomplished
independently

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Xmass Tree Selection

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Flanges

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Flanges
Flange sealing is commonly accomplished using metal ring joint
gaskets
The flange face has a circular recess in which a ring gasket is
installed. (gasket is compressed)
Gasket design and the dimensions of the ring groove are
specified in API Specification 6A
Various type are available, depending principally on the pressure
rating. (Gasket provides a pressure seal due to a combination of
the make up load and the differential pressure across the gasket).
API type R ring joint gasket are designed for low to moderate
pressure service
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Flanges

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Flanges
They are primarily energized by the
compressive force applied on make
up of the flanges
The gasket can be oval or octagonal
in shape
An alternative connection more
commonly used in higher pressure
application is the C clap or
Grayloc connector. This type of
connection uses a pair of clamps
which act on the flange profiles to
effect a high force on the seal ring
gasket.

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Gasket
API type R ring joint gaskets are designed
for low to moderate pressure service.
They are primarily energized by the
compressive force applied on make up of
the flanges. The gasket can be oval or
octagonal in shape
The API BX gasket is designed for high
pressures and for use with an API 6BX
flange. The gasket is octagonal in crosssection
Both RC and BX gasket recesses have
pressure relief holes for the release of
trapped fluid behind the gasket

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