Tubing hanger orientation spool adaptor
Systems and methods for proper orientation of the connections of a tubing hanger and a subsea assembly in a wellhead or tree are provided. The alignment is accomplished with the use of an orientation spool adaptor equipped with positional sensors and an orientation helix. Calibration of the positional sensors at the surface allows for orientation with simple vertical deployment. Positional sensors may provide real time data such as location, speed of installation and orientation back to the surface.
1. A system for aligning one or more connections between a tubing hanger and a subsea assembly, comprising:
(a) an orientation spool adaptor having one or more position sensors, which generate at least one signal;
(b) an orientation helix disposed inside an inner circumferential surface of the orientation spool adapter, wherein the one or more position sensors are disposed at or immediately adjacent an inner diameter of the orientation helix;
(c) an orientation key disposed on a tubing hanger running tool and adapted to couple the orientation helix to the tubing hanger; and
(d) a controller in communication with the one or more position sensors;
wherein the one or more position sensors are configured to detect information indicative of a rotational orientation and/or a speed of the tubing hanger during rotation of the tubing hanger with respect to the orientation spool.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is connected to a user interface for conveying real-time feedback of the at least one signal.
3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more position sensors are further configured to detect information indicative of a location of the tubing hanger during rotation of the tubing hanger.
4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller operates the one or more position sensors to detect the rotational orientation of the tubing hanger during rotation of the tubing hanger.
5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the orientation spool adaptor is connected to a wellhead via a wellhead connector.
6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the one or more connections of the tubing hanger are aligned within a wellhead.
7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the one or more connections of the tubing hanger are aligned within a horizontal tree.
8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the orientation key is spring-loaded and biased in a radially outward direction to engage the orientation helix.
9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one position sensor comprises multiple position sensors.
10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein during rotation of the tubing hanger the orientation key and the orientation helix engage to rotate the tubing hanger to a position defined by at least one of the multiple position sensors.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the multiple position sensors are located at different locations along an axial length of the spool adaptor.
12. A method for aligning one or more connections of a tubing hanger, comprising:
(a) lowering the tubing hanger toward a subsea assembly;
(b) coupling the tubing hanger to an orientation helix via an orientation key, wherein the orientation helix is coupled to an orientation spool adapter;
(c) obtaining information about the tubing hanger using at least one signal generated by at least one position sensor, wherein the at least one position sensor is disposed at or immediately adjacent an inner diameter of the orientation helix; and
(d) rotating the tubing hanger using the orientation helix until the one or more connections of the tubing hanger are oriented to a predetermined position; wherein
the obtaining information about the tubing hanger comprises obtaining information indicative of an orientation and/or a speed of the tubing hanger during the rotation of the tubing hanger using the orientation helix.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising connecting the orientation spool adaptor to a wellhead via a wellhead connector.
14. The method of claim 12 further comprising sending real-time feedback of the obtained information about the tubing hanger to a controller.
15. The method of claim 12 further comprising obtaining information indicative of the location of the tubing hanger during rotation of the tubing hanger using the at least one signal generated by the at least one position sensor.
16. The method of claim 12 further comprising calibrating the at least one position sensor before lowering the tubing hanger.
17. The method of claim 12 further comprising calibrating the at least one position sensor to the position defined by the at least one position sensor, allowing for at least one of a flowline line, jumper, the orientation spool adapter, or another wellhead component to be correctly made up.
18. The method of claim 12 wherein rotating the tubing hanger to the defined position comprises, orienting the tubing hanger in a wellhead or in a horizontal tree.
19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the orientation key is disposed on a tubing hanger running tool used to lower the tubing hanger.
20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one position sensor comprises multiple position sensors, and wherein the predetermined position is defined by at least one of the multiple position sensors.