Method and system for deploying an electric submersible pump in a live well
A method for installing an electric submersible pump (ESP) in a well includes installing a plug in the well below a well tree. An upper and lower master valve on the tree are closed. Closure elements are removed from the lower master valve and replaced with gate seats, and a replacement gate block. The replacement gate block has a seat for a cable hanger. The upper master valve is opened. The plug is removed and the ESP extended into the well on an electrical cable. A cable hanger is affixed to the cable and is seated in the seat. The cable hanger has sealing elements to engage the seat and an electrical connector. The electrical connector is oriented to enable access through a side opening in the replacement gate block.
1. A method for installing an electric submersible pump (ESP) in a well, comprising:
installing at least one plug in the well below a well tree;
closing an upper master valve and a lower master valve in the well tree;
removing valve closure elements from the lower master valve and replacing the closure elements with gate seats and a replacement gate block, the replacement gate block comprising a seat for a cable hanger;
opening the upper master valve;
removing the at least one plug; and
extending the ESP into the well on the end of an electrical cable; and
affixing the cable hanger to the electrical cable and seating the cable hanger in the seat, the cable hanger comprising sealing elements to engage the seat and an electrical connector, the electrical connector oriented to enable access through a horizontal bore in the replacement gate block.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sealing elements on the cable hanger close the horizontal bore to fluid flow when the cable hanger is disposed in the seat.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the installing the at least one plug, extending the ESP into the well and the affixing the cable hanger are performed after affixing a blowout preventer and a lubricator to the well tree after closing the upper master valve.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising inserting a packer into the well after removing the at least one plug and prior to the extending of the ESP.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical cable comprises a tubing encapsulated cable.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising making an electrical connection to the electrical connector and operating the ESP.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising affixing at least one of a blanking plug or a back pressure valve in a profile in an upper one of the gate seats, the upper one of the gate seats disposed in a through bore in the lower master valve.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing an orienting tool coupled to one end of the cable hanger to contact an orienting screw disposed in the horizontal bore, the orienting tool comprising at least one helically shaped orienting tulip to urge the cable hanger into a predetermined rotational orientation.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the orienting screw extends into a through bore in the replacement gate block.