Subsea Intervention Plug Pulling Device

Abstract

A plug pulling device includes an elongated housing comprising a production tree connection interface, a shifting tool disposed within and along a substantial length the housing and comprising a distal end configured to couple to a tubing plug, and a seal disposed within the housing and formed around a portion of the shifting tool. The seal isolates a first portion of the housing from a second portion of the housing. The second portion of the housing is adjacent to the production tree connection interface. The shifting tool is configured to move partially in and out of the first portion of the housing when there is a pressure differential between the first portion of the housing and an environment external to the first portion of the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plug pulling device, comprising:
 a housing comprising a closed top end and an open bottom end;   a shifting tool comprising a stem and a pulling tool disposed at a distal end of the stem, wherein the shifting tool is movable in and out of the housing via the bottom end;   a circular seal disposed within the housing and around the shifting tool, and forming a fluid tight seal between the shifting tool and the housing, the shifting tool being slidable with respect to the seal and along a length of the housing,   wherein the seal divides the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber defined between the top end of the housing and the seal, and the second chamber defined between the seal and the bottom end, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are isolated from each other by the seal;   a first hot stab coupled to the first chamber configured to deliver hydraulic fluid in and out of the first chamber; and   a second hot stab coupled to the second chamber configured to deliver hydraulic fluid in and out of the second chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The plug pulling device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one stabilizer guide disposed within the housing and surrounding the stem of the shifting tool. 
     
     
         3 . The plug pulling device of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom end of the housing comprises a standard production tree mating feature. 
     
     
         4 . The plug pulling device of  claim 1 , wherein the production tree is coupled to a well comprising a tubing plug, the production tree comprising at least one valve configured to open or isolate the well. 
     
     
         5 . The plug pulling device of  claim 4 , wherein the shifting tool is configured to travel away from the top end of the housing towards the tubing plug until the pulling tool latches onto the tubing plug and travel back towards the top end of the housing after the pulling tool latches onto the tubing plug, wherein the tubing plug travels towards the top end of the housing with the shifting tool. 
     
     
         6 . The plug pulling device of  claim 5 , wherein the shifting tool travels towards the tubing plug when pressure in the first chamber overcomes pressure in the second chamber, wherein the second chamber is communicative with the production tree. 
     
     
         7 . The plug pulling device of  claim 5 , wherein the shifting tool moves back towards the top end of the housing when pressure in the second chamber overcomes pressure in the first chamber, wherein the second chamber is communicative with the production tree. 
     
     
         8 . The plug pulling device of  claim 6 , wherein pressure in the first chamber overcomes pressure in the second chamber through pumping hydraulic fluid into the first chamber via the first hot stab. 
     
     
         9 . The plug pulling device of  claim 7 , wherein pressure in the second chamber overcomes pressure in the first chamber through pumping hydraulic fluid into the second chamber via the second hot stab. 
     
     
         10 . The plug pulling device of  claim 7 , wherein pressure in the second chamber overcomes pressure in the first chamber through pumping hydraulic fluid out the first chamber via the first hot stab. 
     
     
         11 . A subsea intervention device, comprising:
 an elongated housing comprising a production tree connection interface;   a shifting tool disposed within and along a substantial length of the housing and comprising a distal end configured to couple to a tubing plug; and   a seal disposed within the housing and formed around a portion of the shifting tool, the seal isolating a first portion of the housing from a second portion of the housing, wherein the second portion of the housing is adjacent to the production tree connection interface, wherein the shifting tool is configured to move partially in and out of the first portion of the housing when there is a pressure differential between the first portion of the housing and an environment external to the first portion of the housing.   
     
     
         12 . The subsea intervention device of  claim 11 , wherein the first portion of the housing is closed and filled with a hydraulic fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The subsea intervention device of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first hydraulic coupling point coupled to the first portion of the housing, wherein hydraulic fluid is pumped in and/or out of the first portion of the housing via the hydraulic coupling point; and   a second hydraulic coupling point coupled to the second portion of the housing, wherein hydraulic fluid is pumped in and/or out of the second hydraulic coupling point.   
     
     
         14 . The subsea intervention device of  claim 11 , wherein the shifting tool moves partially out of the first portion of the housing when a pressure in the first portion is greater than a pressure in the environment external to the first portion of the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The subsea intervention device of  claim 11 , wherein the shifting tool moves back into the first portion of the housing when a pressure in the first portion is less than a pressure in the environment external to the first portion of the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The subsea intervention device of  claim 11 , wherein the housing is coupled to a production tree via the production tree coupling interface, and the production tree is coupled to a well, and wherein the shifting tool is configured to move partially out of the housing and partially into the well until the shifting tool latches onto a tubing plug disposed within the well, and move back into the housing with the tubing plug, removing the tubing plug from the well. 
     
     
         17 . A method of pulling a tubing plug from a production tubing, comprising:
 coupling a plug pulling device to a production tree of a well, the plug pulling device comprising a housing and a shifting tool disposed within the housing, the housing divided into a first chamber and a second chamber by a seal, wherein the first chamber is isolated from the second chamber and the second chamber couples to the production tree;   opening one or more valves of the production tree;   pushing the shifting tool substantially out of the first chamber and into the production tree and the well coupled to the production tree until the shifting tool latches onto the tubing plug disposed within the well; and   pulling the shifting tool back into the first chamber along with the tubing plug.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising:
 increasing pressure within the first chamber relative to pressure within the second chamber and the production tree until the shifting tool latches onto the tubing plug.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising:
 decreasing pressure within the first chamber relative to pressure within the second chamber and the production tree to pull to shifting tool back into the first chamber.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein
 pushing the shifting tool substantially out of the first chamber comprises injecting hydraulic fluid into the first chamber, and wherein pulling the shifting tool back into the first chamber comprises removing hydraulic fluid from the first chamber.