Wireline Back Pressure Valve Conveyance with Lubricator Polished Rod

This disclosure relates to wellbore completions.

An offshore platform (sometimes called by other names such as oil production platform, gas production platform, barge, etc.) is an offshore structure with facilities to extract and process hydrocarbons (e.g., petroleum, natural gas, combinations of them) that are entrapped in subterranean zones (e.g., a formation, a portion of a formation, multiple formations) beneath the seabed. The offshore platform can be fixed to the seabed or can float. The offshore platform includes wellbore completions to both form (i.e., drill) the wellbore and to produce the hydrocarbons from the formed wellbore. Some portions of the wellbore surface completions can reside on the offshore platform. Some portions (sub-surface completions) can extend below the offshore platforms and into the subterranean zones.

A production wellbore (i.e., a wellbore through which the hydrocarbons are produced) includes, among other equipment, a production tubing. Hydrocarbons from the subterranean zone flow through the production tubing to other equipment on the offshore platform. To control the pressure of the hydrocarbons flowing through the production tubing, back pressure valves are deployed.

This specification describes technologies relating to wireline back pressure valve conveyance with lubricator polished rod.

The details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.

A wellbore completion is a collection of wellbore equipment used to control hydrocarbon production through a wellbore. The wellbore equipment can include downhole tubulars and other equipment used to control flow of hydrocarbons through the wellbore. A back pressure valve (BPV) is an example of equipment that is a part of a wellbore completion. The BPV is a type of check valve that is installed in one of the wellbore tubulars (tubing hanger) to isolate production tubing through which the hydrocarbons flow to the surface. The BPV isolates pressure downhole of the BPV while permitting fluid uphole of the BPV to be raised to the surface.

A Christmas tree is another example of a wellbore completion. The Christmas tree is a group of wellbore equipment installed at a top of a wellbore (i.e., on the surface at an entrance to the wellbore). The equipment that collectively form the Christmas tree also control fluid flow through the wellbore. Often, the Christmas tree at the top of the wellbore is coupled to well completion equipment within the wellbore. The Christmas tree can include a stack of valves.

One technique to install a BPV in an offshore wellbore is to make up a nipple-type wireline BPV, wireline BOP, lubricator and tool string (e.g., a tubular made up with well tools), and to rig the same on top of a Christmas tree. When installed above the Christmas tree, such a wireline conveyance is tall. The height of the conveyance can pose a challenge for limited space on the offshore platform. The height also poses challenges of the wireline setting depth and affects the accuracy of the depth measurement. Moreover, the conveyance is heavy. To support the additional weight, flange to flange connections are used to accommodate the bearing and bending of the conveyance. The excessive stresses on the conveyance can result in breaks and repeated make ups of the top flange connection of the Christmas tree. Excessive make ups can also risk leaks in the flange ring groove sealing area.

This disclosure describes techniques to convey a well completion into an offshore wellbore formed from an offshore platform. The well completion includes a BPV that is conveyed into the wellbore by utilizing a lubricator polished rod. The well completion described here has a lower height compared to the wireline conveyance described above. Consequently, the buckling capacity of the well completion is improved for the same pressure rating. The rig up for this well completion is simpler, occupies less space, uses less equipment and requires fewer personnel compared to the wireline conveyance described above. Implementing the well completion described here improves operational safety as well as time and cost efficiency.

is schematic diagram of an example of an offshore platform deployinga wellbore completion as described in this disclosure. The offshore platformis deployed to drill a wellborefrom the seabedthrough a subterranean zone(e.g., a formation, a portion of a formation, multiple formations). The subterranean zoneincludes hydrocarbon reservoirs in which hydrocarbons (e.g., petroleum, natural gas, combinations of them) are trapped. A wellbore completionis deployed from the offshore platformto the entrance of the wellboreon the seabed. Some portions of the wellbore completionreside on the offshore platform. Such portions include a Christmas tree. Some portionsof the wellbore completion reside above the Christmas tree.

is each a schematic diagram of an example of the wellbore completion portion. The wellbore completion portionincludes a BPVconfigured to regulate/isolate pressure of hydrocarbons flowed from the wellbore(). The wellbore completion portionincludes a lubricator polished rodthat is coupled to the BPV. The lubricator polished rodis a tubular having an uphole end and a downhole end. The downhole end of the lubricator polished rodis coupled to an uphole end of the BPV.

A hydraulic lubricatoris coupled to the lubricator polished rod. The hydraulic lubricatoris configured to apply hydraulic lubrication to the lubricator polished rod. The lubricator polished rodruns the BPVinto the wellborein response to the hydraulic lubrication applied by the hydraulic lubricator. In some implementations, the hydraulic lubricatorfunctions with hydraulic pressure to stroke (i.e., extend and retract) the lubricator polished rod. Such an operation allows setting depth measurement to be more accurate compared to a wireline setting method.

The schematic diagram inshows the hydraulic lubricatorwith wireline crossover on bottom and quick connect adapter for a tree cap of the Christmas tree. The hydraulic lubricatorincludes a lubricator cylinder. The lubricator polished rodresides within the lubricator cylinder. The lubricator polished rodworks like a piston, and moves up and down within the lubricator cylinder. The hydraulic lubricatorincludes an upper sealand a lower sealfor hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic lubricatoralso includes a tubingfor pressure up of the lubricator polished rod. Pressure applied through the tubingallows the lubricator polished rodto move down. When the lubricator polished rodmoves up, then the return hydraulic fluid can be taken by the tubing.

The hydraulic lubricatoralso includes a sealto isolate wellbore pressure not entering the hydraulic lubricator. The well completion portionalso includes a crossover adapterfor the lubricator polished rod. Details of the crossover adapterare described with reference to. The well completion portionfurther includes a quick connect crossover adapterwith the coupling nutto couple to the Christmas tree.

The hydraulic lubricatorincludes a hydraulic fluid flow assembly to flow hydraulic fluid through the lubricator cylinderto drive the lubricator polished rod. The hydraulic fluid flow assembly includes multiple hoses (e.g., hose, hose) to flow the hydraulic fluid into the lubricator cylinder. The hydraulic fluid can include hydraulic oil or similar fluid that can provide lubrication (i.e., reduce friction) and also be compatible with elastomer seals utilized in the hydraulic lubricator. The hydraulic fluid flow assembly includes two needle valve/pressure gauge combinations (e.g., combination, combination)-one per hose. The hydraulic fluid flow assembly also includes a pump tank, which serves as a reservoir for the hydraulic fluid. The pump tankincludes an opening, e.g., to fill up the hydraulic fluid. A pumpis connected to the pump tankand is operable to flow the hydraulic fluid in the pump tankthrough the multiple hoses. The pumpcan be a hand pump or a pneumatic pump. A pump selectorconnects the pump tankto the needle valve/pressure gauge combinations. The pump selectorcan be set to different positions. In these positions, the pumpcan pump the hydraulic fluid from the pump tankselectively through one of the needle valve/pressure gauge combinations and one of the hoses. Flowing the hydraulic fluid through one of the hoses can cause the polished rodto be run downhole. Flowing the hydraulic fluid instead through the other hose can cause the polished rodto be pulled uphole.

is a schematic diagram of a component included in the hydraulic lubricator. The wellbore completion includes a crossover subconfigured to couple to and reside uphole of a locking sub(described below). The crossover subis configured to couple and decouple the BPVto and from, respectively, the wellbore completion. The locking subincludes a sucker rod-type top in thread to couple the locking subto the BPV. The locking subincludes a receiving portion(e.g., an axial recessed opening in a housing) to receive the downhole end of the lubricator polished rod. The subalso includes a connecting portion(e.g., another axial recessed opening in the housing). The connecting portionis at the axially opposite end compared to the receiving portion. The connecting portiondefines sucker rod-type box threads.

The crossover subis made up to the polished rod bottom connection to adapt and connect with the locking sub. The locking subincludes a coupling portion, e.g., sucker rod pin type thread that complements the sucker rod-type box threads of the connecting portionof the crossover sub. The locking subalso includes a quick lock sub connectionto couple to a wireline running tool or a GS pulling tool. The result of the coupling is a BPV running and pulling tool for a standard wireline/slickline tool string configuration.

The wellbore completion includes an adapter(e.g., a coupling nut) that is configured to couple the wellbore completion to the uphole end of the Christmas tree(), e.g., by forming a threaded connection.

is a schematic diagram of an example of the wellbore completioncoupled to the Christmas tree. The BPV, the locking suband the crossover subare inserted into the Christmas treethrough an uphole end of the Christmas tree. The adaptercouples to the crossover subat the uphole end of the Christmas treeto form a fluidic and sealing connection between the wellbore completionand the Christmas tree. The multiple valves of the hydraulic lubricator are fluidically coupled to the pump selector, which is implemented as a selector valve. The multiple hydraulic hoses connect different positions on the pump selectorto different valves of the hydraulic lubricator. The pump selectorhas multiple operating positions, e.g., an install position, a neutral position and a retract position. Operating the pump selectorbetween the multiple operating positions causes hydraulic fluid to be flowed through the lubricated polished rod(). The hydraulic fluid causes the lubricated polished rodto be extended or retracted within the wellbore() based on the operating positions of the pump selector. Such stroking of the lubricated polished rodis continued until the BPV() is installed at a desired depth within the wellbore().

is a flowchart of an example of a processfor deploying the wellbore completion, e.g., the wellbore completion. At, a wellbore (e.g., the wellbore) is formed from an offshore platform (e.g., the offshore platform) through a subterranean zone (e.g., the subterranean zone) beneath a seabed (e.g., the seabed). At, a lubricator polished rod (e.g., the lubricator polished rod) is coupled to a BPV (e.g., the BPV). The lubricator polished rod and the BPV form a wellbore completion. At, a hydraulic lubricator (e.g., the hydraulic lubricator) is coupled to the lubricator polished rod. At, the wellbore completion is run into the wellbore.

Certain aspects of the subject matter described here can be implemented as a wellbore completion. The wellbore completion includes a wireline BPV, a lubricator polished rod and a hydraulic lubricator. The wireline BPV can regulate or isolate pressure of hydrocarbons flowed through a wellbore formed from an offshore platform through a subterranean zone beneath a seabed. The lubricator polished rod is coupled to the wireline BPV and can run the wireline BPV into the wellbore. The hydraulic lubricator is coupled to the lubricator polished rod and can apply hydraulic lubrication to the lubricator polished rod. The lubricator polished rod runs the wireline BPV into the wellbore in response to the hydraulic lubrication applied by the hydraulic lubricator.

An aspect combinable with any other aspect can include the following features. The wireline BPV is at a downhole end of the well completion. The well completion includes a locking sub that can couple to and reside uphole of the wireline BPV. The locking sub can couple and decouple the wireline BPV to and from, respectively, the wellbore completion.

An aspect combinable with any other aspect can include the following features. The locking sub includes a sucker rod-type top pin thread to couple the locking sub to the wireline BPV.

An aspect combinable with any other aspect can include the following features. The wellbore completion further includes a crossover sub that can couple to and decouple the wireline BPV to and from, respectively, the wellbore completion.

An aspect combinable with any other aspect can include the following features. The wellbore completion includes a Christmas tree installed on the offshore platform at the entrance of the wellbore. The well completion includes an adapter connected to the Christmas tree to connect the hydraulic lubricator to the Christmas tree.

An aspect combinable with any other aspect can include the following features. The hydraulic lubricator includes multiple valves coupled to the adapter. The multiple valves can control flow of hydraulic fluid to move the lubricator polished rod in an uphole or a downhole direction.

An aspect combinable with any other aspect can include the following features. The multiple valves are coupled to a pump selector that can transition between different positions to control the flow of the hydraulic fluid through the multiple valves.

An aspect combinable with any other aspect can include the following features. The multiple valves are coupled to the selector valve by multiple hoses that can flow the hydraulic fluid.

Certain aspects of the subject matter described here can be implemented as a method. A wellbore is formed from an offshore platform through a subterranean zone beneath a seabed. A lubricator polished rod is coupled to a wireline back pressure valve. A hydraulic lubricator is coupled to the lubricator polished rod and the wireline BPV. The lubricator polished rod and the hydraulic lubricator form a well completion. The well completion is run into the wellbore.

An aspect combinable with any other aspect can include the following features. To run the well completion into the wellbore, the lubricator polished rod is stroked using the hydraulic lubricator.

An aspect combinable with any other aspect can include the following features. The wireline BPV is at a downhole end of the well completion. The wireline BPV is coupled to and decoupled from, respectively, the wireline BPV using a locking sub coupled to and residing uphole of the wireline BPV.

An aspect combinable with any other aspect can include the following features. The locking sub includes a sucker rod-type top pin thread. The locking sub is coupled to the wireline BPV using the sucker rod-type top pin thread.

An aspect combinable with any other aspect can include the following features. A Christmas tree is installed on the offshore platform at the entrance of the wellbore. The hydraulic lubricator is connected to the Christmas tree using an adapter.

An aspect combinable with any other aspect can include the following features. Hydraulic fluid is flowed using multiple valves controlled by a pump selector. The hydraulic fluid is flowed to move the lubricator polished rod in an uphole or in a downhole direction.

Thus, particular implementations of the subject matter have been described. Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.