Horizontal production tree and method of use thereof

Abstract

A horizontal production tree for use on a land-based surface well head. The horizontal production tree may be maintained in place on the well head throughout the life of well, even during fracing.

1 . A horizontal production tree, comprising:
 a body with a body bore extending substantially vertically therethrough, wherein the body bore has an upper portion with a diameter, a middle portion with a larger diameter than the diameter of the upper portion, and a lower portion;   a sloped shoulder between the upper portion and the middle portion of the body bore;   a flapper valve gate, wherein the flapper valve gate may fit snugly against the sloped shoulder to prevent fluid in the middle portion of the body bore from traveling to the upper portion of the body bore;   an arm with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the arm is connected to the flapper valve gate;   a stem to which the second end of the arm is perpendicularly connected, such that rotating the stem causes the arm and the flapper valve gate to pivot between a closed position, wherein the flapper valve gate is flush against the sloped shoulder, and an open position, wherein the flapper valve gate is not in contact with the sloped shoulder, wherein the stem has a first end and a second end;   a recess in the body extending from the middle portion of the body bore, wherein the first end of the stem is rotatably mounted with the recess; and   a channel in the body extending from the middle portion of the body bore, wherein the stem extends through the channel and exits the body, such that the second end of the stem is located outside the body;   wherein the horizontal production tree is configured such that the horizontal production tree may be connected to a land-based surface well head by mounting the horizontal production tree atop the land-based surface well head such that the horizontal production tree is vertically aligned with and in fluid communication with the land-based surface well head.   
     
     
         2 . The horizontal production tree of  claim 1  further comprising one or more production valves in fluid communication with the body bore and extending horizontally from the body. 
     
     
         3 . The horizontal production tree of  claim 1  further comprising a pressure gage in fluid communication with the body bore mounted atop the body via a nut and plug assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The horizontal production tree of  claim 1  further comprising a work flange in fluid communication with the body bore mounted atop the body via a nut and sealing mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The horizontal production tree of  claim 4  further comprising a frac valve in fluid communication with the work flange and mounted atop the work flange. 
     
     
         6 . The horizontal production tree of  claim 5  further comprising a frac isolation sleeve located at least partially within the body bore. 
     
     
         7 . The horizontal production tree of  claim 1  wherein the lower portion of the body bore has a smaller diameter than the middle portion of the body bore, the horizontal production tree further comprising a sloped shoulder between the middle portion and the lower portion. 
     
     
         8 . The horizontal production tree of  claim 1  wherein the arm is connected to the stem via a connector portion of the arm, wherein the connector portion of the arm runs along a common axis with the stem and has an internal bore into which the stem fits. 
     
     
         9 . The horizontal production tree of  claim 1  wherein the body has a recess extending from the middle portion of the body bore, into which recess the arm may fit when the flapper valve gate is in the open position, such that the flapper valve gate may lie substantially vertically. 
     
     
         10 . The horizontal production tree of  claim 1  wherein the stem further comprises:
 a lower stem with an internal end and an external end, where the internal end is internally threaded and the external end is the first end of the stem, which is rotatably mounted within the recess in the body extending from the middle portion of the body bore; and 
 an upper stem with an internal end and an external end, wherein the internal end is externally threaded and may be screwed into the internal end of the lower stem and the external end is the second end of the stem. 
 
     
     
         11 . The horizontal production tree of  claim 10  further comprising a bearing race assembly integral to the lower stem near its external end, such that the bearing race assembly is located within the recess in the body. 
     
     
         12 . The horizontal production tree of  claim 11  further comprising one or more additional bearing race assemblies, one or more thrust bearings, or both one or more additional bearing race assemblies and one or more thrust bearings placed on the lower stem adjacent the bearing race assembly such that the additional bearing race assemblies and/or thrust bearings are located within the recess in the body. 
     
     
         13 . The horizontal production tree of  claim 1  wherein the second end of the stem terminates in a flapper valve bonnet assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The horizontal production tree of  claim 13  wherein-the flapper valve bonnet assembly further comprises:
 a flapper valve bonnet attached to the body, wherein the flapper valve bonnet has an internal bore and the stem extends through the internal bore of the flapper valve bonnet; 
 a valve packing set and a packing retainer are attached to the flapper valve bonnet, wherein the packing retainer has an internal bore and the stem extends through the internal bore of the packing retainer; 
 a stem adapter attached to the second end of the stem; 
 a hand wheel attached to the stem adapter, wherein the hand wheel can be turned to turn the stem adapter and the stem and, resultantly, pivot the flapper valve gate between the open and closed positions; and 
 a bearing cap attached to the flapper valve bonnet and surrounding a portion of the flapper valve bonnet, a portion of the valve packing, and a portion of the stem adapter such that the bearing cap bridges the gaps between those elements. 
 
     
     
         15 . The horizontal production tree of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a first locking flange attached to the bearing cap; 
 one or more holes in the first locking flange; 
 a second locking flange attached to the hand wheel such that the second locking flange abuts the first locking flange; 
 one or more holes in the second locking flange such that the holes in the second locking flange may align with the holes in the first locking flange when the hand wheel is in a particular position; and 
 a locking pin, wherein the locking pin may be inserted through a hole in the first locking flange and a corresponding hole in the second locking flange to prevent the hand wheel from turning relative to the bearing cap. 
 
     
     
         16 . A method of using a production tree on a land-based surface well head, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) mounting a horizontal production tree atop a land-based surface well head such that the horizontal production tree is vertically aligned with and in fluid communication with the land-based surface well head, wherein the horizontal production tree comprises:
 a body with a body bore extending substantially vertically therethrough, wherein the body bore has an upper portion with a diameter, a middle portion with a larger diameter than the diameter of the upper portion, and a lower portion; 
 a sloped shoulder between the upper portion and the middle portion of the body bore; 
 a flapper valve gate, where the flapper valve gate may fit snugly against the sloped shoulder to prevent fluid in the middle portion of the body bore from traveling to the upper portion of the body bore; 
 an arm with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the arm is connected to the flapper valve gate; 
 a stem to which the second end of the arm is perpendicularly connected, such that rotating the stem causes the arm and the flapper valve gate to pivot between a closed position, wherein the flapper valve gate is flush against the sloped shoulder, and an open position, wherein the flapper valve gate is not in contact with the sloped shoulder, wherein the stem has a first end and a second end; 
 a recess in the body extending from the middle portion of the body bore, wherein the first end of the stem is rotatably mounted with the recess; and 
 a channel in the body extending from the middle portion of the body bore, wherein the stem extends through the channel and exits the body, such that the second end of the stem is located outside the body; 
   b) operating the horizontal production tree atop the land-based surface well head.   
     
     
         17 . The method of using a production tree on a land-based surface well head of  claim 16  further comprising the step of monitoring the pressure in the horizontal production tree by:
 turning the hand wheel until the flapper valve gate is in the closed position; 
 mounting a pressure gage atop the body of the horizontal production tree via a nut and plug assembly, wherein the pressure gate is in fluid communication with the upper portion of the body bore of the horizontal production tree; 
 turning the hand wheel until the flapper valve gate is in the open position; and 
 reading the pressure in the horizontal production tree as displayed on the pressure gage. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of using a production tree on a land-based surface well head of  claim 16  further comprising the step of fracing the well while maintaining the horizontal production tree in place atop the well head, wherein fracing-the well further comprises the steps of:
 turning the hand wheel until the flapper valve gate is in the closed position; and 
 mounting a work flange atop the body of the horizontal production tree via a nut and sealing plug mechanism, wherein the work flange is in fluid communication with the upper portion of the body bore of the horizontal production tree; 
 mounting a frac valve atop the work flange; 
 turning the hand wheel until the flapper valve gate is in the open position; 
 inserting a frac isolation sleeve within the body bore spanning the horizontal production tree and the well head; and 
 fracing the well. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of using a production tree on a land-based surface well head of  claim 16  further comprising the step of removing an instrument mounted atop the horizontal production tree from the horizontal production tree by:
 turning the hand wheel until the flapper valve gate is in the closed position; and 
 removing the instrument from atop the horizontal production tree.