How does a subsea Christmas tree work?

The functional requirements of a subsea tree are broadly similar to those of a land or platform tree: It is a vital component in the well integrity barrier envelope. It attaches to the wellhead and directs flow through a series of valves to the flowline. It is used to isolate flow from the well.

What is a Christmas tree subsea?

A subsea Xmas tree is basically a stack of vertical and horizontal valves installed on a subsea wellhead. It is installed provide a controllable interface between the well and production facilities.

What happens to the Christmas tree when the well is plugged and abandoned?

The Wellhead Versus the Christmas Tree The Christmas tree sits atop the wellhead, but it is a separate piece of equipment. There is no Christmas tree on the wellhead during drilling operations. When the well is moved to production, the Christmas tree is affixed for flow control.

What is a Christmas tree and what does it have to do with oil and gas extraction?

In petroleum and natural gas extraction, a Christmas tree, or “tree”, is an assembly of valves, casing spools, and fittings used to regulate the flow of pipes in an oil well, gas well, water injection well, water disposal well, gas injection well, condensate well, and other types of well.

What is a subsea control module?

Subsea control module (SCM) is the interface between the control system and the tree. It is the main component of the tree-mounted control system. The SCM contains electronics, instrumentation, and hydraulics for safe and efficient operation of subsea tree valves, chokes, and downhole valves.

What is a wellhead in oil and gas?

A wellhead is an equipment installed at the surface of a completed oil or a gas well that provides a structural and pressure containing interface for the drilling and production equipment.

What is subsea processing?

Subsea processing (SSP) can be defined as any handling and treatment of the produced fluids for mitigating flow assurance issues prior to reaching the platform or onshore.

What is the function of well completion for oil and gas production?

Purpose of well completions The wellbore provides the only path from the surface to the reservoir. To a large extent, the successful production and depletion of a reservoir depends upon the successful completion and workover operations applied to a well.

How are abandoned oil wells cleaned up?

When there is no plan to use the well again, it is then partially removed, or “abandoned,” in a process that involves cleaning the well bore, plugging it with cement and removing the top. An abandoned well remains the responsibility of the company that owns it until its reclamation has been certified as complete.

What is a Xmas tree in oil and gas?

The ‘Christmas’ or ‘XMAS’ tree can be used both on the surface or subsea in oil and gas operations. Since the 1950s, subsea trees have been topping underwater wellheads to control oil and gas flow to the surface. Trees are vital pieces of equipment for oil and gas projects.