System, method and apparatus for orifice retention and replacement in a bottom hole assembly

1. A bottom hole assembly (BHA) for a hydrocarbon well, comprising:

a sub having an axis, a first sub axial end and a second sub axial end;

a muleshoe assembly mounted inside the second sub axial end of the sub;

a poppet valve assembly mounted to the muleshoe assembly;

an orifice retainer mounted inside the muleshoe assembly adjacent the first sub axial end, the orifice retainer having a retainer first axial end, a retainer second axial end opposite the retainer first axial end, and a socket adjacent the retainer first axial end, wherein the orifice retainer is configured to be installed in and removed from the muleshoe assembly adjacent the first sub axial end via the socket; and

an orifice mounted in the retainer second axial end, and the orifice is configured to operate in conjunction with the poppet valve assembly.

2. The BHA of claim 1 , further comprising a backup bolt radially mounted to the sub, relative to the axis, adjacent the first sub axial end to engage and retain the orifice retainer inside the muleshoe assembly.

3. The BHA of claim 1 , further comprising a tool configured to install and remove the orifice retainer in the muleshoe assembly, wherein the tool is configured to matingly couple with the socket.

4. The BHA of claim 3 , wherein the tool comprises a hexagonal head, the socket comprises a hexagonal socket and the orifice retainer comprises an external thread coupled to an internal thread in the muleshoe assembly.

5. The BHA of claim 1 , wherein the orifice retainer and the orifice are removable from the first sub axial end without removing the muleshoe assembly and poppet valve assembly from the second sub axial end.

6. The BHA of claim 1 wherein, when the orifice retainer and the orifice are removed from the first sub axial end, the muleshoe assembly and poppet valve assembly remain installed in the second sub axial end.

7. The BHA of claim 1 , wherein the muleshoe assembly comprises a retainer pocket having a pocket axial length that is less than a retainer axial length of the orifice retainer.

8. The BHA of claim 7 , wherein an end portion of the orifice retainer extends out of the retainer pocket of the muleshoe assembly.

9. The BHA of claim 7 , wherein the orifice has an orifice axial length that is less than half of the pocket axial length of the retainer pocket.

10. The BHA of claim 9 , wherein the orifice axial length is less than a socket axial length of the socket.

11. The BHA of claim 1 , wherein the orifice is axially located completely inside the orifice retainer and abuts an axial shoulder inside the orifice retainer.

12. The BHA of claim 1 , further comprising a metal locking ring seated in a groove in the muleshoe assembly to secure the orifice retainer in place, or metal retaining balls installed in a groove formed between the sub and the orifice retainer.

13. The BHA of claim 1 , wherein the orifice retainer is retained in the sub with at least one of:

a backup bolt;

threads;

retention balls; or

a locking ring.

14. The BHA of claim 1 wherein it is not possible to remove the orifice retainer and the orifice from the second sub axial end.

15. A bottom hole assembly (BHA) for a hydrocarbon well, comprising:

a sub having an axis, a first sub axial end and a second sub axial end;

a muleshoe assembly mounted inside the second sub axial end of the sub;

a poppet valve assembly mounted to the muleshoe assembly;

an orifice configured to operate in conjunction with the poppet valve assembly; and

an orifice retainer mounted inside the muleshoe assembly opposite to the poppet valve assembly to secure the orifice therein, wherein the orifice retainer and orifice are removable from the sub without having to remove the muleshoe assembly and poppet valve assembly from the sub, and when the orifice retainer and orifice are removed from the sub, the muleshoe assembly and poppet valve assembly remain installed in the sub.

16. The BHA of claim 15 wherein it is not possible to remove the orifice retainer and the orifice from the second sub axial end.

17. The BHA of claim 15 , wherein the orifice retainer is retained in the sub with at least one of:

a backup bolt;

threads;

retention balls; or

a locking ring.

18. A bottom hole assembly (BHA) for a hydrocarbon well, comprising:

a tubular component having an axis, a first axial end, a second axial end;

a poppet valve assembly mounted in the second axial end of the tubular component;

an orifice retainer removably mounted inside the first axial end of the tubular component, opposite the poppet valve assembly, the orifice retainer having a retainer first axial end, a retainer second axial end opposite the retainer first axial end, and an orifice pocket adjacent the retainer second axial end, wherein the orifice retainer is installed in and can be removed from the first axial end of the tubular component; and

an orifice mounted in the orifice pocket of the orifice retainer, and the orifice is configured to operate in conjunction with the poppet valve assembly.

19. The BHA of claim 18 wherein it is not possible to remove the orifice retainer and the orifice from the second axial end.

20. The BHA of claim 18 , wherein the orifice retainer has a socket adjacent the retainer first axial end, and the orifice retainer is configured to be installed in and removed from the first axial end of the tubular component via the socket.