A device for use for mounting and alignment of a Christmas tree on a wellhead The invention concerns a device for use for mounting and alignment of a Christmas tree which can be lowered from a platform to a wellhead which is located on a seabed, which Christmas tree has a funnel which is widened downwardly, orientation bodies for angular positioning of the Christmas tree relative to the wellhead, and connection bodies for connecting the Christmas tree to the wellhead, wherein the device comprises a side element of a drilling template which has a guiding device which is arranged to receive a guide pipe, where the guiding device comprises a conical funnel, and the guide pipe is arranged to receive the wellhead and comprises a cylindrical adaptor.

From the prior art it is known that when mounting a Christmas tree on a wellhead guidelines are employed which extend from the platform to the drilling template, the guidelines being connected at the bottom to guide posts on to which sleeves of the Christmas tree are passed, and which provide a precise alignment of the Christmas tree in a horizontal plane relative to the drilling template.

In the case of drilling templates which are employed at very great depths where no guidelines extend therefrom to the platform, there are difficulties involved in such an alignment.

The object of the invention is to provide a mounting device of the type mentioned in the introduction which enables the above-mentioned alignment to be implemented.

The characteristics of the mounting device according to the invention are presented in the characteristic features indicated in the claims.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawing which schematically illustrates an embodiment of the mounting device according to the invention.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a component of a Christmas tree which is mounted on a wing element of a drilling template using the mounting device according to the invention, these components being separated from one another.

Fig. 2 is a side view of a mounting device according to the invention, which is fitted in a receiving section of a wing element of a drilling template, this section being cut through.

With reference to the drawing the direction indication"up"should hereinafter be understood as the direction towards the edge of the drawing facing away from the reader.

As illustrated in fig. 1 an adaptor 2 comprises an upper cylindrical pipe section 4 and a lower cylindrical pipe section 6 which are interconnected via a conical pipe section 8 as is better illustrated in fig. 2. The lower pipe section 6 is securely connected to the upper section of a guide pipe 10 with an outer diameter of, e. g., 30" (762 mm) which extends down into the well (not shown) and through a receiving section 22 of a side or wing element 12 which is hinged to a central section of a drilling template (not shown). A side element of this kind for use in drilling templates where no guidelines extend between the drilling template and the platform is described in applications which have been submitted by the applicant simultaneously with this application, reference being made to the applicant's application no. 944545.

An orientation or alignment of the adaptor 2 in relation to the side element 12 can be achieved by means of notches 14 which are provided in the lower pipe section 6 of the adaptor 2, and which are arranged to receive corresponding lugs 18 of a cylindrical section of the receiving section 16 of the side element 12. This engagement is achieved by means of a suitable rotation of the adaptor relative to the side element when they are brought into engagement during a lowering of the adaptor 2 from the platform and insertion of the adaptor 2 in the receiving section 22. A conical funnel section 24 of the receiving section 22 facilitates this insertion which is controlled by a remotely operated subsea vessel.

Through the guide pipe 10 there extends a casing 26 with an outer diameter of, e. g., 20" (508 mm), the top of which is securely connected to a wellhead 28. This guide pipe is cemented to the casing 26.

In the upper pipe section 4 of the adaptor 2 there is provided at least one lug or rib 32 which projects radially outwards.

A Christmas tree 40 has at the bottom a downwardly open entry funnel 42 which is widened downwards, and which at the top changes into a cylindrical tubular section (not shown) with an inner diameter which is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the upper pipe section 4 of the adaptor 2. This tubular section of the Christmas tree 40 is provided with a downwardly open guide groove 30 which is adapted to the lug 32 of the adaptor.

When the Christmas tree 40 is lowered towards the wellhead 28 so that the wellhead 28 is first passed into the entry funnel 42 and then into the tubular section of the Christmas tree 40, during which the lugs and the guide grooves of the Christmas tree and the adaptor respectively come into engagement with each other, the object can be achieved that the Christmas tree and the adaptor are first aligned in such a manner that the tubular section of the Christmas tree 40 and the upper pipe section of the adaptor extend mutually coaxially, whereupon these sections are aligned or oriented in relation to each other in a horizontal plane and secured in the aligned position. By this means contact surfaces of the Christmas tree and the wellhead can finally come into engagement, thus giving support to the Christmas tree.