Confidentia An Introduction to :

Conventional Surface Wellhead

Systems
Confidentia
Introduction

There are two basic conventional wellhead

systems throughout the industry. These are
offered by FMC, Cameron, Wood Group,
Stream Flow, Weatherford, and VETCO
Gray

C Wellhead: Straight bowl one 45%

landing shoulder.
S Wellhead: Straight bowl two 45%
landing shoulders.

Both systems offer proven features as well

as the flexibility, compatibility and
interchangeability required for a wide range
of applications.
Confidentia Wellhead Assembly

 The wellhead assembly, a group of

pressure containing components, supports
and seals the strings of casing or tubing
suspended within them.

 This illustration shows a typical wellhead

for a 10,000 psi well.
 The casing program is 20” Drive Pipe X
13-3/8” Surface Casing X 9-5/8”
Intermediate Casing X 7” Production
Casing X 2-3/8” Tubing.
 This wellhead assembly is composed of a
casing housing, a casing spool, and a
tubing spool plus the associated hangers
and pack-offs.
 The complexity of the assembly is
determined by the depth to which the well
is drilled, the pressures anticipated at that
depth and the nature of fluids and/or
gases which will be produced.
Confidentia
Equipment Orientation

 The well shown as

completed, consist of
two major equipment
groups:

 The production or
injection tree

 The wellhead assembly

Confidentia
Wellhead Terminology

 A-section
 Lowermost Casing Head
 Casing Housing
 Bradenhead
 B-section
 Intermediate Head
 Casing Spool
 C-section
 Tubing Spool
 Tubing Head
 Seal Flange
 Tubing Head Adapter
 Bonnet
 Adapter Flange
Confidentia
C Conventional Wellhead System

 The C wellhead is a cost-effective, reliable

system suitable for a variety of applications.
Features include:

 Meets or exceeds API 6A specifications.

 C bowl has a straight bore with a single

45 ° shoulder.

 Compatible with C-21, C-21-P and C-22 casing

hangers.

 Compatible with most tubing spool and hanger

configurations

C Wellhead System
Confidentia S Conventional
Wellhead System
 The S wellhead is the industry’s highest
capacity conventional spool-type wellhead.
Features include:

 Designed for use with all well depths and types

of completions.

 Meets or exceeds API 6A specifications.

 Dual 45 ° shoulders isolate pack-off

pressure from casing load.

 Compatible with SB-3, SB-5 and SB-6 casing

hangers

 Compatible with most tubing spool

and hanger configurations
S Wellhead System
Confidentia
Selecting a Wellhead System

The first step in determining which wellhead system is best for your
application is to determine the casing hanger style to be used:

Major Considerations for Casing Hanger Selection:

 Temperature Range
 Hang-Off Capacity
 Working Pressure
 Method to Set Annulus Seal
 Seal Replacement with Load on Hanger
 Spool/Housing Compatibility
Confidentia
Selecting a Wellhead System

Select a casing hanger based on the anticipated temperature range.

Remember that although final production may be one temperature,
operating temperature at the casing hanger may be lower.

Temperature Ranges Hanger Selection

- 20°F to 150 °F (- 29 °F C to 65 °F ) C-21, C-21-P, C-22

- 20°F to 180 °F (- 29 °F C to 82 °F ) SB-6

- 20°F to 250 °F (- 29 °F C to 121 °F ) SB-3, SB-5

Confidentia
Selecting a Wellhead System

Select the preferred method to set the annulus seal:

Sealing Method Hanger Selection

Manual Automatic

Manual Automatic
Confidentia
SELECTING A WELLHEAD
SYSTEM

Two 45 degree load Single 45 degree load shoulder

shoulders
8 degree taper no load shoulder
Confidentia Cameron “WF” Casing
Housing

Eight Degree Taper

WF Bowl will accept Cameron AW, CA, CAM, & JM type slips
Confidentia Casing Housing or
Head

• After the surface casing is run

and cemented, the Casing
Housing is installed onto the
surface casing to provide a
foundation for additional casing Top Bowl Area
hanging equipment and to
connect the casing to the blow
out preventers (BOP’s).
• The Casing Housing shown is a
typical starting head used in land Minimum Bore
and offshore applications with a
landing base. The landing base
is used to distribute the weight of
the BOP”S and any additional
casing or tubing strings to the Bottom prep
drive pipe. Area
Landing Base
• Casing valve outlets are
available in threaded, studded,
and extended flanged side
outlets. Three most important areas of a Casing Head are, Top bowl
area, Minimum Through bore, and Bottom prep area
Confidentia
C-22 Casing Head
Confidentia STARTING HEAD WITH
LANDING BASE

LANDING BASE
Confidentia Casing Head Housing
Bottom Connections

Slip on weld with O-ring Threaded Slip on weld without O-ring

NOTE: For sizes larger than 10-3/4”, the O-ring

seal is not available.
Confidentia
Casing Head Slip On Weld
(SOW) Bottom Preparation

THIS AREA IS
WHERE THE
CASING GOES
AND IS WELDED
TO ATTACH THE
WELLHEAD TO
THE PIPE

Test Port
Confidentia CASING IN WELLHEAD
AND WELDED

C asing H ead

Fillet Weld being careful

not to protrude into
casing ID

1/2" N PT T est Port

295-1005
Confidentia
Combination Test Plug and
R.T. Tool for Testing BOP`s
Drill Pipe
Test
Plug

Load
Shoulder

THIS VALVE MUST BE OPEN

WHEN TESTING BOP
Confidentia RUNNING BOWL
PROTECTOR

• AFTER COMPLETION OF THE BOP TEST THE

TEST PLUG IS PULLED AND CASING VALVE
IS CLOSED.

BEFORE DRILLING STARTS A BOWL

PROTECTOR MUST BE SET TO PROTECT
THE SEALING AREA IN THE BOWL PREP
WHERE THE SLIPS WILL SET WHEN THE
NEXT STRING OF CASING IS RUN.
Confidentia
Wear Bushing
(Bowl Protector)
Drill
Pipe Combination
Lock Test Plug &
Screws Wear Bushing
Running Tool
Bushing
Confidentia CASING SELECTION

 THE CASING SIZE WEIGHT AND GRADE SELECTION

 MANY FACTORS GO IN TO THIS DECISION.
 HOLE SIZE AND BIT SIZE.
 TOTAL DEBTH OF THE WELL AND AMOUNT OF TENSION
ON PIPE.
 FORMATION PRESSURES
 FORMATION ZONES
 ABNORMAL PRESSURE
 GEOLIGICAL INFORMATION
 PAST CASE HISTORY OF FORMATIONS
 AVALIBALITY OF BITS AND CASING
 WHAT EVER FACTORS AFFECT YOUR DECISION PROCESS
THE CASING SELECTED MUST BE ABLE TO DO THE JOB
Confidentia C-22 Casing Hanger
Confidentia C-21 Casing Hanger
Confidentia
C-21-P Casing Hanger
Confidentia
S Casing hangers

Types: SB-3, SB-5, SB-6

Common Features:
SB-3 Casing Hanger
 Can be lowered through BOP as
soon as cement plug hits bottom.

 Slip design achieves controlled

friction when sharp inner teeth
bite casing and duller outer teeth
contact slip bowl.
SB-5 Casing Hanger
 Mechanical load is completely
separated from hydraulic load.

 15,000 lb load sets seal.

 Seal can be re-energized by

tightening the cap screws. SB-6 Casing Hanger
Confidentia
S Casing hangers

SB-3 Casing Hanger SB-5 Casing Hanger SB-6 Casing Hanger

Confidentia C Casing Hangers

C-21 Casing Hanger C-21-P Casing Hanger C-22 Casing Hanger

Confidentia
STARTING HEAD AND
CASING SPOOL MADE UP
WG22 Casing Hanger
in an 11” 5,000 psi Flange
CASING
SECONDARY SEAL
Medium Duty
Hanger for most
applications.

SLIPS

WG26 Casing Hanger

in an 11” 10,000 psi Flange
RING GASKET
Heavy Duty Hanger
to suspend up to
100% of pipe body
yield strength.

B SECTION A SECTION
Confidentia Elastomeric
Seals

O-Ring

P Seal

T Seal

S Seal

Metal End Cap

30
Confidentia SECONDARY AREA

Test void

Test port
Confidentia SECONDARY SEALS

CASING
B SECTION

SECONDARY SEAL

TEST PORT

RING GASKET
VOID
A SECTION
Confidentia DOING THE JOB RIGHT
THE FIRST TIME
 THE PURPOSE OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
SEALS ARE TO PREVENT LEAKS. THE RING
GROVES AND RING GASKETS ARE ALSO JUST AS
IMPORTANT.
 CLOSE ATTENTION SHOULD BE PAID TO THE
CONDITIONS OF THIS SEALING EQUIPMENT WHEN
MADE UP AND TESTED.
 DOING THINGS CORRECT COULD PREVENT DEATH
AND DISASTER.
Confidentia RING GASKETS

 THE RING GASKET IS A

METAL RING THAT GOES IN
A GROVE IN THE TOP AND
BOTTOM OF WELLHEAD
EQUIPMENT. IT COMES IN
MANY SIZES AND TYPES
OF MATERIAL DEPENDING
ON THE TYPE OF SERVICE
THE WELL WILL REQUIRE.
IT CAN BE PLAIN CARBON
STEEL OR 410 STAINLESS
STEEL FOR A CORROSIVE
SERVICE APPLICATION.
Confidentia RING GASKETS

R B R
X X
Confidentia Ring Gasket Design
R Ring Gaskets RX Ring Gaskets BX Ring Gaskets
• API approved for • API approved for 6B • API approved for 6BX
6B flanges. flanges. flanges.
• R seals on both ID • RX seals on only OD of • Primary sealing on OD
and OD of gasket. gasket. of gasket.
• Not pressure • Large load-bearing • Face to face contact.
energized. surface on ID to (Note this may not be
• Does not allow face transmit loads. possible in worst case
to face contact. • Does not allow face to tolerances).
• Flange bolting may face contact. • Pressure energized
need periodic • Flange bolting may seal.
tightening. need periodic
tightening.

R Gasket RX Gasket BX Gasket

Confidentia Casing Spools

One 45 degree load shoulder

Two 45 degree load shoulders

 Straight bore bowl design.

 Line pipe threaded and studded outlets.

 All test ports are metal sealing and allow venting.

 Injection ports include buried check valves.

Confidentia B SECTION CASING
SPOOL WITH
SECONDARY SEAL

LOCK SCREWS

O RINGS BACK UP RING

Confidentia Secondary Seals

Single T Seal Single P Seal NX Bushing

Double T Seal Double P Seal

Confidentia SECONDARY SEALS

E B S SEAL
R2 SEAL
Confidentia Tubing Head Spools

• Single String
• Dual String
• High Pressure
• Severe Service
standard tubing spools are available in two
designs, the C and CD-2, both utilize the C
bowl design with straight bore with single 45 C Tubing Head Spool
shoulder. For severe HPHT applications a
metal sealing Spool is used.

All tubing spools and hangers meet or exceed

API 6A specifications.

CD-2 Tubing Head Spool

Confidentia C Tubing Head — Top
View Of Bowl

ENTRANCE FOR SEAL LANDING SHOULDER

Confidentia C Tubing Head
Spool

• Standard spool for single completions in

7-1/16” and 9” nominal top flange sizes. For
11” & 13 5/8” nom the C-22-L spool is used.

• N lock screws feature packing in front

of threads to minimize contamination.
• Line pipe threaded and studded outlets.
N Lock Screw
• Available with single and double P seal,
single and double T seal, and
NX bushing secondary seals.

• All test ports are metal sealing and

allow venting.

• Injection ports include buried check valves.

Injection Port
Test Port
10,000 psi WP and Below
Confidentia Type N Lock
Screws

Most newer spools and housings use type N

lock screws. Features include:
 Packing isolates threads from bore fluid
to prevent contamination and eliminate
build-up of solids.
 External oil seal protects threads
from atmospheric corrosion.
 All N lock screws are field replaceable
with gland mounted thread.
Confidentia LOCK SCREW
FUNCTION
Confidentia HANGER FUNCTIONS

• SUSPEND TUBING
• SEAL ANNULUS
• HOLD HANGER IN PLACE WITH LOCK SCREWS RUN IN.
• PROVIDE A PREP FOR THE BPV
• PROVIDE LIFT THREADS
• PROVIDE A PORT FOR SSSV LINES
• SEAL IN THE TUBING HEAD ADAPTER
Confidentia
FEATURES

Neck Seal Handling Thread

Lock
Screws

Annular Seal
Tubing
Hanger BPV Profile

Tubing
Spool Tubing
String
Confidentia Tubing Head Adapter

Production
Tree
Adapter
Flange Neck Seal

Flange
Test Port

Tubing Hanger

Tubing Spool
Confidentia Christmas Trees

 Valves
 Tees and Crosses
 Actuators
 Tree Cap
 Gauges
 Choke
 Flow lines
Confidentia Christmas Trees
Loose Valves

 Cost effective
 Alternative stack-up
arrangements possible
 Repair by replacement as
needed
 Flexible manufacturing
 Large bore, high pressure
available.
Confidentia Christmas Trees
Solid Block

 Single forging, minimum leak paths

 Compact design
 High structural strength
 Ideal for offshore platform applications
Confidentia DUAL TREE

2-1/16" 5,000 2-1/16" 5,000

2-1/16" 5,000 2-1/16" 5,000

2-9/16" 5,000

2-9/16" 5,000

FIVE BOLT CRESSENT

FLANGE
2-9/16" 5,000

SHORT STRING MASTER

2-9/16" 5,000 LONG STRING MASTER
VALVE
VALVE
11" 5,000

2-1/16" 5,000

9-5/8" Casing
2-7/8" Tubing 295-127
Confidentia Valve Technology

• Slab-type gate valves

• Expanding gate valves
• Wedge gate valves
• Valve Selection
Confidentia
VALVE REMOVAL PLUG

VR THREADS IN
SPOOL

VR PLUG
Confidentia 5k COMPACT VR
LUBRICATOR

15.1"
21.2"
Confidentia 10k VR Lubricator
Confidentia 1-3/8” Hex
Stub Acme Thread

Metal-to-Metal
Seal Nose

295-758
Confidentia
The “H” BPV is a one way check valve.
It is used as a safety device while the BOP’s are being remove
to install the tree, or while the tree is being remove to install
the BOP’s during work-over operations. It should be kept in
place during all BOP ram test except for testing the blind rams.
Should any pressure develops under the valve, by pumping
through the valve the well can be re-killed. (approx. 1 barrel
per minute)
It screws in to a left hand acme thread located in the tubing
hanger. The running tool threads are right handed. The nose
of the running to will off seat the extended stem on the the
valve prior to running or removing the valve to ensure no
pressure is under the valve.
It can be set and pulled by extended rods from the rig floor or
on top of the tree when no pressure is present. It also can be
set and pulled with a lubricator when pressure is present.
Confidentia

The “H” Two Way Check Valve is used during the testing
operations of the BOP stack, or after the tree is installed to
volume test the tree.
IT SHOULD NOT BE USED IN PLACE OF THE
TYPE “H” BACK PRESSURE VALVE WHILE THE
BOP’S ARE BEING NIPPLED DOWN OR UP.
It should be left in the tubing hanger for as short of amount
of time as possible and only used while testing the blind
rams.
If any well bore pressure develops while the two way check
is in the hole, because it is a two way check valve pumping
through the valve to re-kill the well is not an option.
Removing the stack, reinstalling the tree, and pulling the
valve with a lubricator is the safest option.
Confidentia
Summary
• Wellhead - an arrangement of pressure containing housings and
spools, connected together in a pressure-tight assembly supporting
multiple, concentric strings of down-hole casing.
• Casing Hangers - the head of the casing string landed in a housing
bowl to support the weight of string and seal off the annulus. Seal
energized by string weight, lock-down screws or manually torque up
energizing screws.
• Tubing Hangers - the head of the tubing to support the tubing weight,
seal off from the annulus and allow down hole conduits to penetrate the
hanger.
• Christmas Tree - an assembly of valves, flanges, crosses, tees and
chokes to control flow from (or into) a well.
• Chokes - a restriction in the flow line to control flow rate and pressure of
the well.
• Actuators - pneumatic or hydraulic actuated devices to remotely close
in a valve.