Christmas tree and method

Abstract

The invention provides a Christmas tree for a wellbore, comprising a plurality of modules, each module including: at least one module opening, the modules being connected to each other to form a housing, the respective module openings being connected to form a continuous passage though the housing, said continuous passage being adapted to be connected to the wellbore; a retrievable valve insert arranged in the module opening; and control means coupled to the module to control the valve insert between a closed position and an open position.

1 . A Christmas tree for a wellbore, comprising a plurality of modules, each module including:
 at least one module opening;   a retrievable valve insert arranged in the module opening, the retrievable valve insert being provided with at least one fluid passage; and   control means coupled to the module to control the valve insert between a closed position and an open position of the at least one fluid passage;   the modules being connected to each other to form a housing, the respective module openings being connected to form a continuous conduit though the housing, the respective fluid passages of the valve inserts being connected to form at least one continuous fluid passage, said continuous fluid passage being adapted to be connected to the wellbore.   
     
     
         2 . The Christmas tree of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous conduit is a straight cylindrical channel. 
     
     
         3 . The Christmas tree of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous fluid passage is a straight cylindrical passage. 
     
     
         4 . The Christmas tree of  claim 1 , wherein the valve inserts of each module include at least two parallel fluid passages, the at least two fluid passages of the subsequent modules constituting at least two parallel continuous fluid passages though the continuous conduit of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The Christmas tree of  claim 4 , each module comprising at least two control means coupled to the module, each control means enabling the control of the valve insert between a closed position and an open position of one of the at least two fluid passages. 
     
     
         6 . The Christmas tree of  claim 1 , wherein the control means are releasably coupled to the valve insert of the respective module. 
     
     
         7 . The Christmas tree of any of  claim 1 , comprising a hanger module for hanging tubing into the wellbore. 
     
     
         8 . The Christmas tree of  claim 7 , wherein the hanger module is provided with at least one hydraulic connection, adapted to be connected to hydraulic activating means. 
     
     
         9 . The Christmas tree of  claim 8 , wherein one hydraulic connection is connected to hydraulic activating means to control a downhole valve. 
     
     
         10 . The Christmas tree of  claim 1 , wherein the valve insert of a respective module is retrievable by wireline. 
     
     
         11 . The Christmas tree of  claim 1 , comprising a junction module, the junction module comprising a kill wing port and/or a flow wing port being provided with corresponding kill wing valve and/or flow wing valve respectively, and a retrievable junction insert. 
     
     
         12 . The Christmas tree of  claim 11 , wherein the retrievable junction insert is connected to at least one valve insert of a valve module to form an integral retrievable insert. 
     
     
         13 . A method of building a Christmas tree for a wellbore, comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of modules, each module including at least one module opening;   connecting the modules to each other to form a housing, the respective module openings forming a continuous conduit though the housing;   arranging a retrievable valve insert in the module opening of the modules, each retrievable valve insert being provided with at least one fluid passage, the respective fluid passages of the valve inserts being connected to form at least one continuous fluid passage, said continuous fluid passage being adapted to be connected to the wellbore; and   coupling control means to each module to control the valve insert in the respective module between a closed position and an open position of the at least one fluid passage.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the continuous conduit is a straight cylindrical channel. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the control means are releasably coupled to the valve insert of the respective module. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising the steps of:
 connecting a hanger module to the housing for hanging tubing into the wellbore.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , including:
 hanging tubing off the hanger module into the wellbore; and   connecting hydraulic activating means to a hydraulic connection of the hanger module to control a downhole valve.