Flow Head

Introduction
The "Surface Test Equipment" figure shows where the flowhead is
located in relationship to the other surface testing equipment. The
flowhead is located directly on top of the well and is the first piece of
equipment that fluid from the well flows through. Its principal function
is to control the fluid flow in and out of the well.

The flowhead can be used to provide temporary shut off at the surface for:

pre-completion testing
drill stem testing (DST)
post-completion testing (carried out without the use of a christmas tree)

After the well is tested and completed, a permanent assembly of surface equipment
(referred to as the christmas tree) replaces the flowhead and will provide shut off
services.

The flowhead has five principal functions:

It supports the weight of the test string.

It allows up-and-down (reciprocal) movement of the test string; if a swivel is
attached it also allows rotation of the test string. Whether or not a swivel is
needed depends on the type of downhole test equipment used. Some tools can
be completely operated using up and down movements, some will need to be
rotated, and others will require both types of movement.
It controls flow out of the well through a flow valve.
It allows a kill line to be connected so the well can be killed off after a testing
operation is done or during an emergency. The kill line is essential to control
the pressure in the well. Pressure control is necessary to pull the downhole test
string out of the well after testing is complete and is essential for safety. For
example, if the downhole pressure is too great, the tool string could be shot up
through the rig floor.
It allows tools to be introduced into the well through the swab valve.

Features and Benefits

The flowhead has the following features and benefits:

a master valve that allows isolation of the surface equipment from the
downhole test string.
a swab valve that permits introduction and retrieval of wireline tools.
a flow line valve to allow fluid to flow from the well. This valve is usually
operated with a hydraulic actuator, allowing remote and automatic closure.
a kill line valve used to pump fluid into the well.
an optional swivel allowing the test string suspended from the flowhead to be
rotated independently of the main flowhead block.
an elevator sub used to handle the flowhead with the rig elevators.
a threaded connection on top of the elevator sub used to attach pressure
equipment.

The only alternative to the flowhead is the christmas tree, which is a permanent head
installed after the well is completed. The christmas tree accommodates a completion
string. Because the flowhead facilitates testing that occurs before a well is completed,
in contrast to the christmas tree, it is designed to accommodate a temporary test string.
The threaded connection on the bottom sub allows easy connection and disconnection
of the temporary test string.

Applications

The flowhead is used to provide temporary shut off at the surface for the following:

pre-completion testing
drill stem testing
post-completion testing

Objectives
Upon completion of this package, you should be able to:

Explain the purpose of a flowhead.

Explain the operating principles for flowheads and swivels.
Explain the function of the different parts of the flowhead.
Describe the various types of flowheads and their applications and limitations.

Upon completion of the practical exercises for the Flowhead, you should be able to:

List the specifications for the flowhead that you are working on.
Document the procedures for pressure testing a flowhead and swivel, both at
the shop and at the well site.
Using the flowhead provided, study the complete fast inspection tool (FIT)
and tool review and inspection monthly (TRIM) as described in the
maintenance manual for the flowhead, and study the Field Operating
Handbook (FOH) for Surface Well Testing.
Principles of Operation

The flowhead consists of four gate valves: a master valve,

two wing valves, and a swab valve. The outlet wing valve is
opened and closed using an hydraulic actuator. Above the
swab valve is a lifting subassembly (sub) with a threaded
connection. The threaded connection is often called a quick
union. The quick union is used to connect auxiliary pressure
equipment which is needed if tools are to be run downhole.
Some flowheads have a protection frame bolted to the main
block to prevent damage to the valves during handling.
Beneath the optional swivel are the master valve assembly
and the bottom sub. In order to raise and lower a drill stem
test (DST) string, elevators (clamps) are attached to the
flowhead. Each of the elements that comprise the flowhead
or that can be attached to the flowhead are described later in
this topic.
Basic to the operation of the flowhead is the opening and
closing of valves in a particular sequence or order
depending on what operation needs to be done. The
following list describes several common operations and
provides figures that show the typical status of the valves
for these operations. The valve settings may change
depending on whether other operations must be performed
simultaneously.
Build up and set packer

Build up describes the time period when the well is

shut down and pressure is building up in the well.
One way to set the valves when you are shutting
down the well is shown in the "Build Up/Set
Packer" figure.

As a part of the drill stem test (DST), a packer is

set downhole to isolate the zone to be tested,
typical valve settings for this operation are also
shown in the "Build Up/Set Packer" figure.
Drawdown

Drawdown describes the time period when the well

is open. For this operation, the valves are set so
fluids can flow to the surface as shown in the
"Drawdown" figure.

Killing and acidizing

To stop the well from producing, the well is killed

by injecting a fluid inside the well that has a greater
density than the well effluent. The typical valve
settings for this operation are shown in the
"Killing/Acidizing" figure.

Acid is injected into the well to improve well

production by enlarging the passages through
which the reservoir flows. The "Killing/Acidizing"
figure shows the typical valve settings for this
operation.

Running tools downhole

To run tools downhole, one way to set the valves

for this operation is shown in the "Running Tools
Downhole" figure. The swab and master valve will
always remain open when the tools are downhole.

The following list describes the elements of a flowhead from the bottom up:
Bottom sub

The bottom sub connects the test string to the

flowhead. It also protects the threads at the bottom
of the flowhead. (Replacing a sub is inexpensive
compared to remachining the flowhead threads.)

Master valve

The master valve, connected to the top of the test

string, isolates the surface equipment from the
downhole string. It is the first valve at the surface
to control the fluid coming from downhole. The
master valve is manually operated.
Swivel

The flowhead swivel is inserted between the master

valve and the main valve block. It allows the
subsurface equipment to be rotated with respect to
the main flowhead block. Using a swivel, it is
possible to rotate the subsurface equipment without
disconnecting the flow line or the kill line. An
example of this is using the swivel to set the drill
stem test (DST) packer downhole. Another
example is to re-latch the subsurface connection
used with floating rigs.

The swivel is designed to allow rotation of the subsurface string while supporting the
weight of the whole subsurface string. Roller bearings are used to support the
significant weight of the test string and the downhole tools. Ball bearings are used to
support the lighter weight of the flowhead and the equipment above the flowhead.

The swivel should not be rotated under pressure which means that it is not designed to
hold the pressure when submitted to a continuous rotating movement like in drilling
operations. The most common applications (as mentioned earlier) are done with the
pressure close or equal to zero at a very low rotating speed . During a well test, the
pressure can be close to the swivel working pressure but the swivel either does not
move (onshore) or oscillates a little due to the heave (offshore).
Wing valves

The outlet wing valve allows fluids to flow from

the well to the process equipment. It is normally
closed. To open it, an hydraulic actuator is used.
This actuator is usually connected to an emergency
shutdown (ESD) system. If the surface pressure
exceeds a preset value or suddenly drops,
indicating a surface equipment failure, the ESD is
automatically activated by pressure pilots or
manually activated from a push button station to
close the wing valve.

The inlet wing valve, manually operated, allows

fluid to be pumped into the well. Typical examples
are: pumping mud into the formation to contain
reservoir pressure, injecting acid into the formation
to increase production, or high pressure injecting of
a fluid to enlarge the passages through which the
reservoir flows.

Hydraulic actuator

The hydraulic actuator is a safety device that operates the flowhead outlet wing valve.
The valve is normally closed. Pressure needs to be applied to the actuator to compress
the spring and open the valve.

The pressure needed to keep the valve open can be provided with a simple hand pump
which, in an emergency, is bled off on the rig floor. However, a more sophisticated
system called an emergency shut down (ESD) is recommended because it allows the
actuator to be activated remotely.
Wing union connection
Both wing valves are equipped with wing unions connections. They allow
quick connection or disconnection of pipe work using a sledge hammer.
Swab valve

The manually operated swab valve allows

introduction and retrieval of wireline tools.

Lifting sub

The lifting sub, located above the swab valve,

allows the flowhead to be handled using the rig
elevators.The top part of the sub is fitted with
threads which allow pressure equipment to be
connected onto the flowhead.

Elevator

Elevators are used for many drilling-related operations; for the flowhead, the elevator
latches onto the flowhead to raise and lower the entire test string in and out of the
hole.

Pressure equipment

A set of equipment that is temporarily placed above the swab valve on top of the
flowhead. It is used to run tools into a well under pressure without having to close the
well.
Equipment
Flowheads are available in working pressure ratings of 3,000; 5,000; 10,000; and
15,000 psi. The biggest difference between flowheads are the gate valves.
Schlumberger uses gate valves from several manufacturers: Malbranque, McEvoy,
and Worldwide Oilfield Machine (WOM) Inc. The wide range of flowheads available
makes it possible to select a flowhead to accommodate all types of well tests, without
having to use equipment that is larger, more complicated, or expensive than the
overall project requires.

These drawings show examples of several types of flowheads and a swivel. For each
drawing, specifications are provided. If you would like to have a printed version of
these tool specifications, please use the PDF's provided in the original graphics.

Flowhead, 2 1/8 in. Flowhead, 3 1/8 in. Flowhead, 3 1/16 in.

5000 psi
(FHL-F) 5,000 psi 10,000 psi
(FHT-F) (FHT-G)
 Flowhead 3 1/16 in. Flowhead, 6 1/8 in. Flowhead, 2 9/16 in.

15,000 psi 6000 psi 10,000 psi

(FHT-HA) (FHT-L) (FHT-M)

Flowheads from these manufacturers currently satisfy the Schlumberger pressure

operation guidelines for surface pressure control:

A minimum of two primary pressure barriers must be used in the flow path:
the master valve and the flow line valve.
The valves must be rated at least 1.2 times the maximum expected shut-in
wellhead pressure.
The maximum pressure that can be used to test the flowhead at the well site is
the working pressure.
When the surface equipment includes a swivel, it must always be located
downstream of the master valve.

Flowhead Selection Guidelines

The principal criteria for selecting a flowhead are:

Project requirements (some jobs will require christmas tree equipment).

Pressure rating greater than 1.2 times the expected shut-in well-head pressure.
Required service type (operating environment): H2S resistant or not H2S
resistant.
Fluid temperature: high or low.

Additional selection considerations are:

Swivel requirement (mandatory with some downhole tools requiring rotation).

Connection (cross-over) requirements for test string, flow line, and the kill
line.
Pressure equipment may require quick-union compatibility.
Emergency shut-down (ESD) system needed for hydraulic actuator.
Internal diameter of the flowhead.

Flowhead Identification

The flowhead can be identified by its working pressure (WP) rating and service type.
The information can be on: a metal plate, a permanently attached metal ring, or a dot
that is stamped on a noncritical area of the flowhead. It is also typical to use colored
bands (painted or taped) on the flowhead for quick visual identification of flowhead
pressure and service type.

Safety
The following is a list of key safety considerations for flowheads:

A flowhead is a safety device. As such, they must be maintained in perfect

condition and operated by competent people.
Only Schlumberger employees are allowed to operate flowhead controls.
Do not lift the flowhead by the eye bolts that are fitted to some flowheads. The
eye bolts are not designed to support the weight of the flowhead.
During testing, numerous hydraulic hoses overcrowd the rig floor. Make sure
the flowhead control hoses are neatly laid down, located, and well marked.
Do not use steel hammers to tighten wing union connections. Brass or copper
hammers must be used to prevent sparks. The brass or copper hammer must be
in good condition to avoid injuries from metal chips that can break off of these
hammers.
Always open a well slowly using the master valve to avoid the shock from a
large pressure kick which can occur due to the difference in pressure between
the atmosphere and the well.
For all types of gate valves, count the number of turns to open and close each
valve, then back up the valves one-quarter turn to make it easier to open and
close valves and to prevent sticking.
For wireline jobs, make sure that the wireline string is totally inside the
lubricator before closing the swab or the master valve. If these valves are
closed on the wireline string, they could be damaged or cause damage to other
equipment.
Make sure there are always enough piping lengths on the wing valves to
manipulate the tool string and to compensate for up and down movement
(heave) of the offshore rig so the flowhead is never submitted to lateral forces.
On offshore rigs, the string is fixed but the rig will heave. Sufficient piping
must be used between the flowhead and the choke manifold (flowline) and
between the flowhead and the pump (kill line) to compensate for this
movement.
After every job, the flowhead must be cleaned thoroughly to prevent corrosion
from well fluids.
To determine if a connection is backing off, all connections on the flowhead
are marked with chalk or paint to easily recognize if a connection has
loosened.
Always remove all valve handles from the flowhead after opening or closing
them to prevent handles from falling onto the rig floor as the flowhead is
manipulated.

Flowhead Rig Up Multimedia

Objective: To learn how to safely prepare, position and rig up the flowhead during
well testing operations.

Comment: This animation shows how to prepare the flowhead for installation, how
to move it to the rig floor, and how to connect it to the test string. If followed, this
procedure minimizes safety risks and protects equipment from accidental damage, as
well as ensuring that the flowhead is properly installed.

Maintenance
For information about flowhead preparation and functional checks, see the
recommended steps in the Field Operating Handbook (FOH) for Surface Well Testing.
For infomation about equipment maintenance, see the maintenance manuals for the
flowhead and the Field Operating Handbook (FOH) for Surface Well Testing.

For this type of equipment, it is quite common to implement some modifications

which originate from the engineering center. The changes to be made are listed on
modification recaps (MR) and can be mandatory.

Summary
In this training page, we have discussed:

The five principle functions of the flowhead.

Each of the components that make up a typical flowhead.
The swivel's main application is its ability to rotate the subsurface equipment
without disconnecting the flowline and the kill line.
How the hydraulic actuator, connected to the outlet wing valve, operates to
safely and quickly shut down the flowline.
Valve settings (open-closed) for four common flowhead operations.
The criteria for selecting a flowhead.

Principle Flowhead Functions

The flowhead has five principal functions:

It supports the weight of the test string.

It allows up-and-down (reciprocal) movement of the test string; if a swivel is
attached it also allows rotation of the test string. Whether or not a swivel is
needed depends on the type of downhole test equipment used. Some tools can
be completely operated using up and down movements, some will need to be
rotated, and others will require both types of movement.
It controls flow out of the well through a flow valve.
It allows a kill line to be connected so the well can be killed off after a testing
operation is done or during an emergency. The kill line is essential to control
 the pressure in the well. Pressure control is necessary to pull the downhole test
string out of the well after testing is complete and is essential for safety. For
example, if the downhole pressure is too great, the tool string could be shot up
through the rig floor.
It allows tools to be introduced into the well through the swab valve.

Flowhead Selection Criteria

The principal criteria for selecting a flowhead are:

Project requirements (some jobs will require christmas tree equipment).

Pressure rating greater than 1.2 times the expected shut-in well-head pressure.
Required service type (operating environment): H2S resistant or not H2S
resistant.
Fluid temperature: high or low.

Additional selection considerations are:

Swivel requirement (mandatory with some downhole tools requiring rotation).

Connection (cross-over) requirements for test string, flow line, and the kill
line.
Pressure equipment may require quick-union compatibility.
Emergency shut-down (ESD) system needed for hydraulic actuator.
Internal diameter of the flowhead.

Typical Flowhead
Hydraulic Actuator

Swivel
Valve Settings for Common Operations
Basic to the operation of the flowhead is the opening and closing of valves in a
particular sequence or order depending on what operation needs to be done. The
following list describes several common operations and provides figures that show the
typical status of the valves for these operations. The valve settings may change
depending on whether other operations must be performed simultaneously.

Build up and set packer

Build up describes the time period when the well

is shut down and pressure is building up in the
well. One way to set the valves when you are
shutting down the well is shown in the "Build
Up/Set Packer" figure.

As a part of the drill stem test (DST), a packer is

set downhole to isolate the zone to be tested,
typical valve settings for this operation are also
shown in the "Build Up/Set Packer" figure.
Drawdown

Drawdown describes the time period when the

well is open. For this operation, the valves are set
so fluids can flow to the surface as shown in the
"Drawdown" figure.

Killing and acidizing

To stop the well from producing, the well is killed

by injecting a fluid inside the well that has a
greater density than the well effluent. The typical
valve settings for this operation are shown in the
"Killing/Acidizing" figure.

Acid is injected into the well to improve well

production by enlarging the passages through
which the reservoir flows. The
"Killing/Acidizing" figure shows the typical
valve settings for this operation.
Running tools downhole

To run tools downhole, one way to set the valves

for this operation is shown in the "Running Tools
Downhole" figure. The swab and master valve
will always remain open when the tools are
downhole.
Self Test
1. List the five principal functions of the flowhead.
2. What is the purpose of the swab valve?
3. When is a swivel needed?
4. If you are monitoring the well head pressure at the choke manifold during a
build up, which flowhead valves should be open?
5. Why is the outlet wing valve equipped with an hydraulic actuator?
6. When rigging up the flowhead, how can you verify that the connections do not
back off?
Light weight flow head 2 1/8":

Description

The flowhead supports the drill string and allows the flowhead:

to flow the well

to kill the well
to rotate the string without disconnecting.
The well test flowhead 2-1/8 in. ID is composed of:

one test plug + one handling sub

one swab valve Kellycock
one integrated swivel flowhead
one kill line valve 2 in.
one flowline valve 2 in.
one master valve Kellycock
one saver sub

Specifications

Service H2S, fluid class DD

Working pressure 5000 psi
Working temperature -4oF to 300oF
Tensile load 400,000 lbs at 0 psi
250,000 lbs at 5000 psi

Connections
Top 4 1/2 in.- 4 stub ACME box
Bottom 3 1/2 in. IF pin
Kill line 2 in. Fig. 1502 female
Flow line 2 in. Fig. 1502 male

Certifications (third party)

Design BV design approval
Manufacturing Certificate of conformity
Documentation Quality file

Reference
FHL-F P-779617
Weight and dimensions
Height 3m
Width 0.8 m
Diameter max 0.14 m
Weight 600 kg

Accessories (optional)
Flow line valve actuator P-780092
Flow head:

Description

The flowhead supports the drill string and allows the flowhead:

to flow the well

to kill the well
to rotate the string without disconnecting.

The 3 1/16-in. flowhead is composed of:

one flowhead gate valve assembly including one swabbing manual

gate valve, two wing valves (one with an hydraulic actuator (flow
line)), one independent master valve, one lifting sub, one test plug and one
actuator hand pump unit.
One flowhead swivel.
 One transportation basket.

Flow head General: