Tubing head spool actuation through landing string

Abstract

A landing string for landing a tubing hanger in a tubing spool has flow lines for actuating annulus access valves. A tubing string depends from the tubing hanger, and projects into a wellbore lined with casing when the tubing hanger is landed. Piping outside of the tubing spool connects to a bore formed through the tubing spool to provide access to an annulus between the tubing string and casing. The annulus access valve is in the flow line to control flow to the annulus. The valve is driven by an actuator that is operated by fluid in a flow line ported through the landing string, and in communication with the tubing spool when the tubing hanger is landed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A subsea assembly comprising:
 an annular outer wellhead member;   an annular inner wellhead member insertable within the outer wellhead member;   a tubular string depending from the inner wellhead member and that is circumscribed by an annulus;   a flow line having an end intersecting the annulus;   a valve in the flow line selectively moveable between an open position to a dosed position; and   an actuator coupled to the valve and in communication with a motive source through a passage formed through the outer tubular and the inner tubular.   
     
     
         2 . The subsea assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer wellhead member comprises a tubing head spool, the inner wellhead member comprises a tubing hanger landable in the tubing head spool, and the tubular string comprises production tubing. 
     
     
         3 . The subsea assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the motive source comprises one of a supply of hydraulic fluid and an electrical power source. 
     
     
         4 . The subsea assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer seal assembly in a portion of the passage in the outer wellhead member and an inner seal assembly in a portion of the passage in the inner wellhead member that communicate with one another when the inner wellhead member lands in the outer wellhead member. 
     
     
         5 . The subsea assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is actuatable by a remotely operated vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The subsea assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inner wellhead member is selectively connected to be part of a landing siring, and wherein the passage extends through the landing string. 
     
     
         7 . The subsea assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the inner wellhead member comprises a tubing hanger, and the landing string comprises the tubing hanger, a running tool, and a subsea test tree. 
     
     
         8 . A subsea assembly comprising:
 a tubing head spool mounted over a wellbore;   a landing string comprising, a subsea test tree, a running tool connected to the subsea test tree, and a tubing hanger connected to the running tool and selectively insertable in the tubing head spool;   an annulus access line having a portion projecting through the tubing spool;   a valve in-line with the annulus access line and that is moveable between an open position and a closed position; and   an actuator coupled to the valve and connected to a power source by a line extending through the landing string and tubing head spool.   
     
     
         9 . The subsea assembly of  claim 8 , wherein when the landing string lands in the tubing head spool, an annulus is formed around a lower portion of the tubing hanger, and that is accessible through the annulus access line. 
     
     
         10 . The subsea assembly of  claim 8 , wherein portions of the line in the tubing head spool and tubing hanger comprise passages formed in the tubing head spool and tubing hanger. 
     
     
         11 . The subsea assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a seal assembly in the passage in the tubing hanger that selectively changes from a closed to an open configuration when the tubing hanger is landed in the tubing head spool. 
     
     
         12 . The subsea assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of passages in the tubing hanger that register with and are in communication with passages formed in the running tool. 
     
     
         13 . The subsea assembly of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the passages contain an electrical line and wherein a fluid flows through at least another one of the passages. 
     
     
         14 . A method of handling a subsea assembly that comprises a landing string having a tubing hanger, the method comprising:
 a. lowering the landing string subsea and landing the tubing hanger within a tubing head spool;   b. selectively opening an annulus access valve to provide communication to an annulus circumscribing the tubing head spool by communicating a motive source along a path that extends through the landing string.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the motive source comprises hydraulic fluid and is communicated to an actuator that is connected to the annulus access valve. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the motive source comprises electricity and is communicated to an actuator that is connected to the annulus access valve. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising closing the annulus access valve.