Recoverable production module for use with a production tree

Abstract

A wellhead assembly having a production module that includes valves, modules, and passages and mounts onto a production tree. As the production module lands onto the production tree, flow passages in the production tree register with corresponding flow passages in the module. A production spool has an exit connected to a production flow jumper. The production spool can be supported by coupling to the production tree and has a stab that connects to a production flow passage when the production module is landed on the production tree. The production module can be removed from the production tree without disturbing the connection between the production spool and the production flow jumper.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wellhead assembly comprising:
 a tubular wellhead housing;   a tubing hanger landed in the wellhead housing having a lower end attachable to a tubing string;   a production module comprising a mounting bore extending through the production module and a flow passage projecting from the mounting bore;   a production tree that selectively inserts into the mounting bore and that is mounted on an upper end of the wellhead housing;   an axial bore in the production tree that registers with a tubing hanger bore that is axially formed through the tubing hanger; and   a port in the production tree that intersects the axial bore and an outer surface of the production tree, so that when the production tree is inserted into the mounting bore and the production module is landed on the production tree, the port registers with the flow passage.   
     
     
         2 . The wellhead assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a production spool coupled to the production tree and a production line in the production module that register when the production module is landed on the production tree. 
     
     
         3 . The wellhead assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the port is above the upper end of the tubing hanger. 
     
     
         4 . The wellhead assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the port comprises a production port for the flow of production fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The wellhead assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the port comprises an auxiliary line in communication with an axial passage in the tubing hanger that communicates with an annular space between the tubing hanger and the wellhead housing. 
     
     
         6 . The wellhead assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a selectively removable actuator disposed on the production module for actuating a valve disposed in the production module. 
     
     
         7 . A method of wellbore operations comprising:
 providing a production module comprising a mounting bore extending through the production module and a passage that intersects the mounting bore;   positioning the production module on a production tree that is mounted on a wellbore and that has a port intersecting an outer surface of the production tree; and   inserting the production tree into the mounting bore and registering the passage with the port thereby landing the production module on the production tree.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a production spool having a production stab is coupled with the production tree and the production stab registers with a production flow line formed in the production module when the production module is landed on the production tree. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising producing fluid from a wellbore in communication with the production tree and removing the production module from the production tree. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein closing a single valve in the production tree isolates the production module from communication with the wellbore. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a production spool coupled with a well flow jumper and having a production stab is supported by being coupled with the production tree, and the production stab registers with a production flow line formed in the production module when the production module is landed on the production tree, so that when the production module is removed from the production tree, the production spool remains coupled with the well flow jumper. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the production tree is mounted on a wellhead housing in which a tubing hanger is landed. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein an actuator is coupled with the production tree and mechanically couples with a valve provided with the production module, the method further comprising operating the valve with the actuator. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising producing fluids from the wellbore through the production module and removing actuators mounted on the production module. 
     
     
         15 . A wellhead assembly comprising:
 a tubular wellhead housing;   a tubing hanger landed in the wellhead housing having a lower end attachable to a tubing string;   a production module comprising a mounting bore extending through the production module and a flow passage projecting from the mounting bore;   a production tree that selectively inserts into the mounting bore and that is mounted on an upper end of the wellhead housing;   an axial bore in the production tree that registers with a tubing hanger bore that is axially formed through the tubing hanger;   a production passage in the production tree extending between the axial bore and an outer surface of the production tree;   a production line in the production module having an entrance that selectively couples with the production passage when the production module is landed onto the production tree; and   a production stab in selective communication with an exit of the production line fluid, so that when the production module is landed on the production tree, the production passage is in fluid communication with a production fluid jumper that is connectable to an exit of the production stab.   
     
     
         16 . The wellhead assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising an auxiliary passage in the production module. 
     
     
         17 . The wellhead assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the auxiliary passage engages an auxiliary stab when the production module is landed on the production tree for communicating the auxiliary passage with a tubing annulus.