Method for deploying subsurface safety valve having integral pack off
To deploy a capillary string through a wellhead to a downhole safety valve, a control port and a retention port are drilled in an adapter between a casing hanger and a gate valve or elsewhere. The capillary string is connected to a first port of a capillary hanger and installed through the wellhead. The capillary hanger is landed on a tubing hanger, and a side port on the capillary hanger communicates with the control port. Because the side port's location may not align with the control port, operators may need to measure how long the capillary hanger should be. A control line connects to the control port in the wellhead's side to communicate with the capillary line, and a retention rod inserts in the retention port to support the capillary hanger.
1. A method of deploying a safety valve in a conduit of a well, the method comprising:
deploying a safety valve to seat in the conduit with a deployment capillary string coupled to a solitary port exposed within an internal bore passing through the safety valve;
communicating hydraulic fluid to the solitary port via the deployment capillary string;
seating the safety valve within the conduit with the communicated hydraulic fluid by actuating a packing element on the safety valve to engage within the conduit;
retrieving the deployment capillary string by uncoupling the deployment capillary string from the solitary port;
coupling, after the seating of the safety valve, an operating capillary string to the solitary port exposed within the internal bore passing through the safety valve;
communicating hydraulic fluid to the solitary port of the safety valve via the operating capillary string; and
opening a biased flapper within the safety valve by actuating the flapper with the communicated hydraulic fluid.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein actuating the packing element and the flapper comprises communicating the hydraulic fluid from the solitary port to both a first movable sleeve engaging the packing element and a second movable sleeve engaging the flapper.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein coupling, after the seating of the safety valve, the operating capillary string to the solitary port comprises:
coupling a first end of the operating capillary string to the solitary port within the valve, and
coupling a second end of the operating capillary string on a capillary hanger.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising landing the capillary hanger in a tubing hanger at the wellhead.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising communicating a first port in the capillary hanger with a second port tapped at the wellhead.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
inserting a retention rod in a third port tapped at the wellhead, and
engaging an end of the retention rod in an external pocket on the capillary hanger.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein deploying the safety valve to seat in the conduit with the deployment capillary string comprises using the operating capillary string or a different capillary string for the deployment capillary string coupled to the solitary port.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein deploying the safety valve to seat in the conduit, retrieving the deployment capillary string, and coupling the operating capillary string further comprises:
removing the operating or different capillary string from the safety valve and the wellhead after seating of the safety valve in the conduit;
tapping a first cross port in the wellhead;
attaching the operating capillary string to a capillary hanger;
conveying the operating capillary string through the wellhead;
mating a distal end of the operating capillary string to the safety valve downhole;
landing the capillary hanger in the wellhead; and
aligning a side port on the capillary hanger with the first cross port, the side port communicating with the capillary string.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein tapping the first cross port comprises tapping a second cross port in the adapter, and wherein the method further comprises:
installing a retention rod through the second cross port after landing the capillary hanger in the wellhead, and
engaging an end of the retention rod in an external pocket on the capillary hanger.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein landing the capillary hanger in the wellhead comprises engaging seals on the capillary hanger above and below the side port with an inside bore of the wellhead.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein before attaching the operating capillary string to the capillary hanger, the method comprises:
landing the capillary hanger in the wellhead without the operating capillary string;
determining a length on an end of the capillary hanger to remove to align the side port on the capillary hanger with the first cross port;
removing the capillary hanger; and
removing the length of the distal end from the capillary hanger.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein before deploying the safety valve, the method comprises:
installing a tubing hanger in a hanger bowl at the wellhead,
installing an adapter on the hanger bowl and the tubing hanger, and
installing one or more components of a tree above the adapter.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein tapping the first cross port in the wellhead comprises drilling the first cross port from an exterior of the adapter to a central bore of the adapter.
14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising attaching a control line outside the wellhead to the first cross port, the control line communicating with the operating capillary string via the first cross port at the wellhead and the side port in the capillary hanger.
15. The method of claim 8 , wherein attaching the operating capillary string to the capillary hanger comprises connecting the operating capillary string to a bottom port on the end of the capillary hanger with a fitting, the bottom port communicating with the side port.