X-Tree &

Wellhead
Ask for SkillUP
Drilling Courses
Basic Well Construction

• X-Tree
• Wellhead
• Tubulars
 X-Tree
Three Important Functions:
1) Controls fluid flow from the wellbore
2) Provides a way to shut in the well

TREE
3) Provides a means of entering the well
for servicing and workover
 Wellhead
Three Important Functions:
TREE

1) Provide connection & support for the

blowout preventers & other well
control equipment during drilling &
intervention
2) Provide SEALED CONNECTION and
WELLHEAD
support for tubing & each casing string
3) Provides a connection and support for
the tree.
Tubular Strings

CONDUCTOR PIPE

SURFACE CASING

INTERMEDIATE CASING

PRODUCTION CASING

PRODUCTION TUBING

PRODUCING FORMATION
Cutaway Wellhead
Casing Hanger
Tubing Hanger
Three String Wellhead

TREE

TUBING BONNET

TUBING SPOOL

INTERMEDIATE
CASING HEAD

CASING HEAD
Casing Spool
CASING STUB

INTERMEDIATE
CASING HEAD

CASING HEAD

SURFACE CASING

INTERMEDIATE CASING

PRODUCTION
CASING
Casing Spool with Secondary Seal
RING GASKET

RING GASKET
GROOVE
CASING HANGER

TEST PORT

INJECTION PORT

RING GASKET
GROOVE
SECONDARY SEAL
Tubing Spool
POLISH NIPPLE

TUBING HEAD

TUBING
HANGER

PRODUCTION
CASING

TUBING
Tubing Bonnet and Seal
TUBING BONNET

TUBING HEAD
TUBING
HANGER
WITH POLISH NIPPLE
or BPV

PRODUCTION
CASING
TUBING
 Trees

• SWAB VALVE
• FLOW TEE
• WING VALVE
• MASTER VALVES
• TESTING THE TREE (BPV)
Offshore Tree
OTIS QUICK CONNECT
TREE CAP

CROWN OR SWAB VALVE

FLOW TEE WING VALVE

UPPER MASTER VALVE

HYDRAULIC

MASTER VALVE

BONNET CONNECTION

BONNET
 Block Tree

Crown Valve
Wing Valves

Kill Valve

Master Valve
 Manual Casing Slips: (GRAY)

CAP SCREW GUIDE STRAPS

COMPRESSION RING

SEAL

CAP SCREW

SLIP BODY

SLIPS
Mandrel Tubing Hangers
Requires Polished Nipple Extended Neck
Extended Neck Hanger
Submersible Pump Penetrators,
Bonnets and Hangers

BONNET

SPECIAL CONDUIT

TUBING HANGER
Wellhead Working Pressure Ratings

10,000 PSI RATING

5,000 PSI RATING

3,000 PSI RATING

 Equipment Specifications

• Industry Specifications
– API Spec 6-A
– NACE MR-0175
• Service Environments
– H2 S
– CO2
– Amine
 Basic Well Equipment
– List typical wellhead/tree valves, sizes and number of turns to open or close.
– List the “Normal” position of wellhead & tree valves. (open/closed)
– Identify major components of the wellhead below the master valve.
– Learn what the T/I/O (T/A/B) pressure limits are.
– Explain when SSSV’s are required, and where in the tubing string they
should be located.
– Know the issues related to TRSSSV’s, WRSSSV’s, and storm chokes.
– Discuss test frequency, allowable leak rates, etc. of SSSV’s & X-tree valves.
– Learn how SSV’s & SSSV’s are secured when wireline or CT is in the hole.
– Know what type of SSSV system is the standard for all new completions.
– Explain how choke positions and Gas Lift rates are adjusted.
 Basic Well Equipment
► List typical wellhead/tree valves, sizes and number of turns to open or close.

SWAB VALVE
WING VALVE
UPPER MASTER
LOWER MASTER

CAMERON 4-1/8 3000# and 5-1/8 5000#: 23-1/4 turns

Why this is important: For fishing jobs primarily – when tool string is pulled into
lubricator and you close the valve below it, you want to know that all of the tools are
above the valve, and that you can then bleed the pressure off the lubricator. If you
know the number of turns to close, you know the answer when you close the valve.
If you didn’t count earlier you will not know for sure, and you won’t know if tools
or debris are blocking the valve from closing.
 Basic Well Equipment
► List the “Normal” position of wellhead & tree valves (open / closed)

Producing Shut In
SWAB VALVE closed closed
WING VALVE open closed
UPPER MASTER open closed
LOWER MASTER open closed?
WELLHEAD “A” ANNULUS open (GL) closed
WELLHEAD “B” ANNULUS closed closed
 Basic Well Equipment
► Identify major components of the wellhead below the
master valve.

● Tubing Bonnet/Spool /Tubing hanger

● Gas Lift Injection Valve or TxA valve
● Casing spool
● B annulus valve
● Casing spool
● C annulus valve, if present
 Basic Well Equipment
► Learn what the T/I/O (T/A/B) pressure limits are.

T = Tubing: Limited by its own burst rating,

but internal P most likely limited by X-Tree rating.

I = Inner or ‘A’ Annulus: Limited by Wellhead equipment

rating or collapse rating of tubing or burst rating of
production casing.

O = Outer or ‘B’ Annulus: Limited by Wellhead equipment

rating or collapse rating of inner casing or burst rating of
outer casing.
 Basic Well Equipment
► Explain when SSSV’s are required, and where in the
tubing string they should be located.

When Required:
All offshore wells (API RP14C, API Spec 14A, Rev5)
Wells in environmentally sensitive areas
Wells near people’s homes or occupied areas

Where in the tubing string:

Offshore wells – ___ ft below the mud line
Onshore wells – Deep enough so that surface damage
to wellhead or tree does not affect its ability to close
 Basic Well Equipment
► Know the issues related to TRSSSV’s, WRSSSV’s, and
storm chokes

TRSSSV: (+) Full bore inside diameter

(+) Reliability
(+) Can install a wireline retrievable valve
(hydraulics OK), or storm choke
(hydraulic leak) - if it fails
(-) The valve itself replaceable only by WO
WRSSSV: (+) Retrievable for maintenance/replacement
(-) Restricted ID
(-) Occasional fishing jobs
 Basic Well Equipment
► Know the issues related to TRSSSV’s, WRSSSV’s, and
storm chokes – continued:

Storm Choke:
What it is: A wireline set, bellows operated safety valve
that senses tubing pressure and closes at a preset
value of pressure & temperature – like a GLV.
Issues:
(+) Retrievable for maintenance/replacement
(-) No passage for wireline tools without pulling
(-) Prone to nuisance shut-ins
 Basic Well Equipment
► Discuss test frequency, allowable leak rates, etc. of SSSV’s
& X-tree valves.

Required test frequency: Both every 6 months (Gupco)

Allowable leak rates: (BP)
The new criteria was selected following reviews of current BP policies in
other BU’s and study of acceptable industry practices (detailed in API
RP 14B and API RP 14H). In summary, the recommended leakage
PBU rates for the GOS are as follows:

• SSSV 100 psi / 30 minutes

• LMV, UMV , Wing 100 psi / 5 minutes
• Swab valve 100 psi / 1 minutes
 Basic Well Equipment
► Learn how SSV’s & SSSV’s are secured (prevented from
closing) when wireline or CT is in the hole.

SSV: Fusible Cap or Metal Cap (GOS)

SSSV: Blocking in of surface hydraulic control lines, i.e. trap

hydraulic pressure & prevent bleedoff . In extreme cases, a
sleeve may be run across the SSSV to hold it open, for
example in case of hydraulic leak.
GOS: No isolation of SSSV for routine jobs; for longer jobs,
CAC panel is isolated and a manual, hand pump is used
with a gauge to monitor hydraulic system pressure.
 Basic Well Equipment
► Know what type of SSSV system is the standard for all
new completions.

TUBING RETRIEVABLE
 Basic Well Equipment
► Explain how Gas Lift rates are adjusted.

October Field: Remotely from complex, R/S, or Cairo (password

required)

Ramadan Field: Remotely from complex only

July Field: Manual only, at platform (except J-29 pfm & some
J-10 wells)

Morgan Field: Manual only, at platform

Badri Field: Manual only, at platform

Shoab Ali: Manual only, at platform