Improvements in or relating to the formation of well bores

Abstract

 A tubular element (20) for location with the bore of a wellhead housing (10). The element (20) is located in a position in the wellhead housing after a bore has been drilled below the housing. The provision of the element (20) allows a bore protector (12) to be maintained in a position to protect the sealing surface of the wellhead bore during the running of casings, casing hangers, tubings and tubing hangers.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to the formation of drilling wells which are used in the extraction of fuel such as oil or gas.

[0002] In the formation of well bores a wellhead is secured in position and a bore is drilled below that wellhead by passing a drill through a bore in the wellhead. The wellhead may be on land, on a platform above sea level or on the seabed. In order to avoid damage to the wall which defines the bore in the wellhead when the drill is passed through it, it is usual to locate within the wellhead a wear bushing which acts to protect the wall of the bore. This is important since the wall of the wellhead bore is later required to act as a sealing surface against elements which locate within that bore. In order to accommodate the drill which is used to carry out the drilling, the bore in the wellhead has to have a certain minimum diameter.

[0003] Once the bore has been drilled, the drill is removed and casing strings and casing hangers are subsequently lowered into the bore by passing them through the wellhead bore. These are usually supported from a casing hanger which rests upon a shoulder formed in the wall of the wellhead bore. Because of the relative diameters which conventionally have been used, it has not been possible to leave the wear bushing in place when the casings and casing hangers have been lowered into the well bore. This has meant that the sealing surface of the wellhead bore can be damaged as the casings and casing hangers are passed through that bore. With the increasing use of metal-to-metal seals which are being used in this type of equipment it is becoming more important to ensure that the sealing surface remains undamaged so that effective metal-to-metal seals can be achieved. There is therefore a requirement for an arrangement in which the wear bushing can be retained in position against the sealing surface of the wellhead bore whilst casings and casing hangers, tubing and tubing hangers and other equipment is run into the wellbore.

[0004] The present invention is concerned with an arrangement which is intended to achieve this object.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a generally tubular element for location within the bore of a wellhead equipment, said element having an external shoulder which when the element is located in said bore lands on a shoulder of the wall of said bore, and an internal shoulder which acts as a landing shoulder for elements which are to be run into said bore.

[0006] The provision of such a tubular element allows the diameter of the casing hangers to be reduced so that they will pass through the internal diameter of a wear bushing within the wellhead bore. Thus it is possible with such an arrangement to maintain the wear bushing in place against the sealing surface of the wellhead bore while the casing and casing hangers are run. This therefore acts as protection for the sealing surface on the wellhead bore.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of forming a well bore which includes the step of locating within a wellhead housing a tubular element of the type defined in said one aspect so that it lands upon a shoulder in the wellhead housing bore.

[0008] The invention will be described now by way of example only, with particular reference to the accompanying drawing. The drawing is a sectional view of a wellhead housing incorporating a tubular element in accordance with the present invention.

[0009] Referring to the drawing there is shown a generally tubular wellhead housing (10) which has a through bore (11). The upper part of the wellhead bore (11) accommodates a generally tubular wear bushing (12) which has been landed upon a shoulder (14) formed in the wall of the wellhead bore. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art the wear bushing (12) is provided to protect the sealing surface (15) of the wellhead bore from damage as elements are passed through the wellhead bore.

[0010] Disposed below the wear bushing is a generally tubular element (20) which comprises a lower tubular part (21) and an upper tubular part (22) of slightly greater diameter with a shoulder (23) formed therebetween. The exterior of the shoulder (23) rests upon a shoulder (24) formed in the wall of the wellhead bore. The internal part of the shoulder (23) has landed thereon a correspondingly shaped shoulder formed on the exterior of a casing hanger (25). As will be apparent to those skilled in the art the casing hanger is lowered into the position shown in the drawing by means of a casing hanger running tool which is illustrated at (26). The casing hanger (25) is used to support casing strings which are run into the well bore and suspended from the casing hanger.

[0011] Prior to formation of the well bore below the wellhead housing (10), it will be appreciated that the tubular element (20) is not in position within the wellhead to allow clearance for a drill bit. The wear bushing (12) is lowered into the position shown in the drawing by means of a wear bushing running tool. A drill bit is then lowered on a drill pipe so that it passes through the wellhead bore, the sealing surface (15) of the bore being protected during such operation by the wear bushing (12). The well bore is then drilled in a manner which will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0012] Once the well bore has been drilled the drill is withdrawn to the surface and the wear bushing (15) is retrieved using the wear bushing running tool. Next the tubular member (20) is lowered into the position shown in the drawing using an appropriate running tool. The tubular member (20) is held in place in the wellhead housing by annular seals (28). The running tool is then recovered and the wear bushing (12) is then lowered into position again using the wear bushing running tool. After this step has been carried out casing strings are then run into the well bore. The casing hanger (25) is attached to the casing string and lowered using the casing hanger running tool (26) to the position shown in the drawing in a manner which will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0013] By providing the tubular member (20) which acts as a false bowl it is possible to employ a casing hanger (25) of slightly reduced diameter relative to one which has to rest upon the shoulder (24). This means that it is possible to use a casing hanger (25) which can pass through the central bore of the wear bushing (15). Hence the wear bushing (15) can be retained in position during the steps of lowering the casing strings into position. Thus the sealing surface of the well bore is protected during this operation and should not be damaged and thereby assist in maintaining a good surface for subsequent metal-to-metal seals which are provided within the wellhead bore.

Claims

1. A generally tubular element for location within the bore of a wellhead equipment, said element having an external shoulder which when the element is located in said bore lands on a shoulder of the wall of said bore, and an internal shoulder which acts as a landing shoulder for elements which are to be run into said bore.

2. A generally tubular element according to claim 1, wherein the element is of generally uniform wall thickness, and the element having two coaxial tubular portions one being of a diameter slightly greater than the other, and the shoulder being formed between the two portions.

3. A wellhead having a bore incorporating a generally tubular element according to claim 1 or claim 2 and a bore protector which can be maintained in its operative position during the running of casings and tubings and the like elements.

4. A method of forming a well bore which includes the step of locating within a wellhead housing a tubular element according to claim 1 or claim 2, so that it lands upon a shoulder in the wellhead housing bore.

5. A method according to claim 4 including the step of protecting the sealing surface of the wellhead housing bore whilst elements such as casing and tubing strings are run through said wellhead.

Drawing