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Certified System Components

SpoolTree Subsea
Christmas Trees

SpoolTree subsea Christmas trees from Cameron: completions and workovers

with full BOP protection and full-bore vertical access without removing the tree.

SpoolTree operational and

cost advantages
Wells can be completed and worked
over with full BOP protection at all
times;
Downhole completions can be
retrieved without removing the tree,
leaving the tree connector gasket,
flowline connection and production
control umbilical undisturbed;
Completions and workovers can be
performed with a standard drilling
riser and BOP. The need for a specialized completion/workover riser system
is eliminated;
Wireline tools are not run through the
tree valves, greatly reducing the risk of
damage;
The amount of equipment required for
handling offshore is reduced;
Installation is performed with familiar
equipment and routine rig procedures;

When Cameron invented the horizontal

tree in 1992, it was a revolutionary concept. Now the patented SpoolTree
Christmas tree is one of the most widely
used (and often imitated) trees in the
worlds offshore fields. Subsea field development has changed fundamentally as a
result of this technology.
Cameron created a tree with significant
operational advantages by re-engineering
field-proven components. It features
Cameron FLS Gate Valves and Cameron
Willis subsea chokes, for example, the
industrys most trusted brands. SpoolTree
tubing hangers and running tools are
proven in numerous wells.
SpoolTree Christmas trees have working-pressure ratings of up to 15,000 psi.
They mate to any of Camerons STM and
STC wellhead connection profiles hub,
mandrel or deepwater high capacity
and can be adapted to other wellhead
profiles. SpoolTree Christmas trees are
SpoolTree Christmas trees deliver
unique performance benefits in every
type of offshore well
Subsea oil or gas production
Subsea gas or water injection
Subsea aquifer

Overall height of the completion is

substantially lower;

Platform tie-back*
Mudline completion*
*See page 7 for more information.

SpoolTree Christmas trees are fully

integrated with Camerons MOSAIC

subsea production systems, which provide options for current and future field
development unavailable anywhere else.
How SpoolTree Christmas trees are
different from ordinary trees
SpoolTree technology turns conventional
Christmas tree technology upside down.
Instead of the typical wellhead-hanger-

Unique wellhead-tree-hanger stackup is the key difference

between SpoolTree Christmas trees and conventional trees.

tree stackup, the SpoolTree design has a

wellhead-tree-hanger stackup. In this
configuration, the Christmas tree consists of a concentric bore spool with a
wellhead connector below and a wellhead connector profile on top. The tubing hanger is hung off inside the spool

integrated with Camerons modular,

high-performance MOSAIC production
First Gulf of Mexico SpoolTree
is installed in 650 ft of water.
Two 3 x 2 10,000 psi WP trees
were used on a two-well subsea
template with production
manifold.

systems.
SpoolTree systems reduce rig time,
not only during workovers, but also

Cameron introduces the

SpoolTree Christmas tree

Cameron SpoolTree receives approval

from Health Safety Executive (HSE) and
Minerals Management Service (MMS)

during initial completion operations.

1992

1993

Cameron installs the worlds first SpoolTree

Christmas tree in 350 ft of water in the
North Sea. Fourteen 5,000 psi WP trees were
installed in a system of subsea satellite wells
tied back to a floating production facility.
Well types included oil producers, water
injectors, gas supply and gas injectors

1994

First mudline SpoolTree is installed in

150 ft of water in the North Sea. Three
5 x 2 5,000 psi WP trees were used in
a diver-assisted satellite completion on
drill-through mudline wellheads.

And SpoolTree Christmas trees are

safer than ordinary trees. All completion
and workover activities can be performed under full BOP control using a
standard drilling riser and blowout
preventer, which connects to an 18-3/4
profile on top of the SpoolTree body.
Because tubing is installed after the tree
is in place and the BOP connected, there
is uninterrupted BOP protection from
the moment the well is perforated. With
conventional equipment, the tubing
must be installed before removing the
BOP and installing the tree.
The SpoolTree design has earned the
approval of major regulatory bodies
governing its use including the Minerals
Management Service for the Gulf of
Mexico and the Health and Safety
Executive for the North Sea.

on a dedicated load shoulder, and the

valves are situated on the side of the
spool. No valves are in the vertical bore
of the wellhead/tree system. The completion is run after the tree is installed,
and the completion can be pulled with
the tree in place and flowline connections undisturbed.
Reduced costs, increased safety
In re-thinking traditional Christmas
trees, Camerons goals were to shorten
rig time, reduce capital equipment costs
and increase safety. Eliminating the need
to remove the tree to pull production
tubing saves rig time (see chart below),
especially for completions that require
frequent retrieval of downhole equipment. Eliminating the need for an
expensive, dual-bore workover and
completion riser system cuts equipment
costs.

Modular Subsea And

Integrated Completion
systems: The MOSAIC concept
MOSAIC systems are the result of a design
philosophy that eliminates the usual tradeoffs
you expect with a pre-engineered, modular
system. With MOSAIC systems, you gain
simplified installation procedures, reduced
personnel training and faster delivery.
Unlike ordinary systems, you dont have
to give up flexibility, expandability and
desirable product features and benefits.
The ordinary approach to modularity
is fixed assemblies run progressively to large
structures, which are not appropriate for

many applications. MOSAIC systems are

Christmas Tree Rig Time Comparison
Water
Depth

modular at the component level, standardRig Time (Hours)

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

1000 ft
(305 m)

800

900

1000

1100

1200

1300

1400

1500

1600

SpoolTree Completion

SpoolTree Workover

Conventional Tree Completion

Conventional Tree Workover

ized to work together in many combinations.

The result is a cost-effective system that can
be adapted to virtually any subsea job. The

2000 ft
(610 m)

MOSAIC system is more easily expanded as

3000 ft
(914 m)

field development needs evolve, and its

4000 ft
(1219 m)

components contain the technology that

5000 ft
(1525 m)

provides the performance you need.

Camerons SpoolTree Christmas trees
are an integral part of the MOSAIC system.
Theyre the perfect fit for todays subsea

First platform SpoolTree is installed in the

North Sea. A total of twenty-nine 5 x 2 5,000
psi WP SpoolTrees were installed using 13-5/8
10,000 psi WP compact wellheads. SpoolTrees
were used on every well type.

1995

First deepwater SpoolTree

is installed in 2150 ft of water in
the Gulf of Mexico. Three 3 x 2
10,000 psi WP trees were tied
back to a 24-slot subsea template,
producing to a floating production
facility through a free-standing
production riser system.

economics.
First guidelineless SpoolTree
run in 3,638 ft of water,
Campos Basin, Brazil

SpoolTree is awarded
patent in U.S.

1996

1997

1998

First Australian SpoolTree

trees are built by Cameron
for the Timor Sea area.

Modular SpoolTree Christmas trees: The foundation of a production

system with endless possibilities.
SpoolTree Christmas trees can be configured with a wide array of component choices. The benefits of
Camerons MOSAIC concept modularity at the component level can be seen here in sharp focus.
The possible combinations of component choices, available pressure ratings and sizes are virtually
endless. Which means you get equipment precisely suited to your current requirements and flexible
expansion options as your development plans evolve.
Spool body
The Spool body provides outlets to attach production, annulus and isolation valves for downhole functions and
the electrical penetrator bonnet assembly. The tubing hanger landing shoulder is specially ported to accept control
stabs and provides hydraulic continuity between the production control system and downhole hydraulics.

Valve assemblies

Basic

Chemical Injection

Production Choke

Annulus Crossover

Valves are contained both as

an integral part of the spool
body, and in mini-blocks external
to the vertical bore of the tree.
A typical valve cluster includes
production and annulus master
valve, production and annulus
wing valve, crossover valve,
workover valve and isolation
valves for SCSSV, CIV and other
requirements. Assemblies are
available for 3 7 completions.

Gas Lift Choke

Tree connector
The tree connector is capable of providing approximately 3 million pounds of preload when
operated by the Tree Running Tool (TRT). Tree installation is diverless. The TRT contains all
hydraulic tree connector functions, leaving the tree connector with no hydraulics exposed to
the subsea environment.

Flowline and pipeline connections

Vertical, horizontal, diver assist and ROV-driven connections are

available. Common interfaces allow a variety of different types of
connection systems to be used.

Control module
Within the advanced CAMTROL control pod, the controls circuitry and hydraulics
are also modular. Up to 32 hydraulic control points, in multiples of four, can be
included in the pod. These control points can be used not only for traditional tree
valves but also for functions such as manifold valve control, choke adjustment,
position indication/feedback and accommodating smart well technology.

SpoolTree Brochure 6/7/8

4/26/99

11:41 AM

Page 1

Debris cap
The debris cap covers and protects the spool top, and need not contain pressure.
The cap is mechanically weight set and is run and retrieved with drillpipe. When
landed, the cap latches to the external profile on to the top of the SpoolTree
body. The design allows the top of the spool and the inside of the cap to be
filled with corrosion inhibitor.

Internal tree cap and wireline plugs

The SpoolTree design follows Camerons dual pressure barrier philosophy.
The primary pressure barrier is a plug in the tubing hanger. The Internal Tree
Cap (ITC) provides a secondary barrier above the tubing hanger. The ITC is
run and retrieved through the BOP stack using the tubing hanger tools. The
cap seals and locks into the tree using the same mechanism as the tubing
hanger. Two versions of the ITC are available: either solid or bored
for a wireline plug. The plug option allows access to the tubing ID using
wireline tools. The ITC plug is metal sealing with an elastomer backup.

Tubing hanger
The modular design allows up to six hydraulic and
two electrical penetrations. Available for 3 7
completions, the tubing
hanger has a concentric
bore and side production
outlet. During installation,
the hanger orients, lands
and locks to the bore of
the SpoolTree spool body.
At the bottom of the
hanger, an orientation sleeve with a helix engages a
key in the tree, which provides 180 of passive orientation to positively align the hanger outlet with
the spool body. This design makes precise orientation simple, sure and automatic. Tubing hanger seals
are either metal-to-metal or Camerons CAMLAST
Metal End-Cap (MEC) seal. The SpoolTree tubing
hanger allows multiple penetrations for SCSSV, CIV,
DHPTS, smart well, etc..

Retrievable subsea chokes

Retrievable subsea chokes from Cameron Willis provide
flexibility to replace worn trim or change it out based
on the well production profile. Plug-and-cage and
external-sleeve trim types are available. Chokes are
offered for diver-assist and diverless installation and
retrieval. Retrievable subsea chokes can be specified
with crown or clamp connectors.

Guidebases
SpoolTree Christmas trees can be easily configured for template or satellite installation.
They can be run with guidelines on drilling guidebases or guidelineless. Completion
guidebases for satellite installations can be customized with a variety of connection
types and other features to fit field development requirements.

SpoolTree Brochure 6/7/8

4/26/99

11:42 AM

Page 2

SpoolTree Christmas trees outperformed ordinary trees in these projects.

Imagine how theyll perform in yours.
Campos Basin, Brazil
Water Depth: 1,109 meters (3,638 ft)

Problem: Using electrical submersible

pumps (ESP) in deepwater subsea wells
and reducing intervention costs.
Solution: In the worlds deepest
commercial application of electrical
submersible pumps in subsea wells,
SpoolTree Christmas trees were chosen
because their modular design and
unique wellhead/tree/hanger stackup
provided the right combination of features to make interventions faster and
easier than with ordinary trees.
Subsea trees were installed in water
depths up to 1150 meters, but the operator wanted the flexibility to locate the
production platform in shallow water.
This called for the use of ESPs because
long horizontal flowlines made reservoir
pressure and gas lift insufficient. The
ESP can also withstand high flow rates.
Although the ESPs have proven
reliable, their presence almost always
means that more interventions will be
required. The operator chose the

Campos Basin, Offshore Brazil

SpoolTree design because it dramatically

simplifies interventions. And it provides
full-bore access to accommodate electrical connections. SpoolTrees monobore
design also allows more penetrations
than conventional types.
SpoolTree modularity allows an easy

conversion from gas lift to ESP. Another benefit: a custom flowline connector designed by
the operator was a simple retrofit. The
SpoolTrees used here were the first with eccentric tubing hangers. This was also the first
guidelineless SpoolTree installation.
Gryphon Field, North Sea
Water Depth: 112 meters (370 ft)

Gryphon Field, North Sea

Problem: Economically develop a marginal

field with four types of wells. The water
injection wells used in this project required a
high volume of water production. In addition,
the operator did not want to acquire an expensive, dual-bore riser system.
Solution: SpoolTree modularity gave the operator the flexibility to control eight production
wells, four water injection wells, one gas injection/production well and one water production well with only one basic tree type. The
operator was able to reduce costs substantially
by drilling only one water production well.
Using ordinary trees, more water production
wells would be required to match the flow
rates of the water injectors. Because the
SpoolTree Christmas trees design allowed
water production from a 9-5/8 concentric
bore, no additional water producers were
required. The oil and gas wells were tied to a
purpose-built, permanently moored FPSO in
the North Sea.

SpoolTree Brochure 6/7/8

4/26/99

11:42 AM

SpoolTree modularity and operational

advantages had a dramatic impact on
delivery and installation times. The first
tree was delivered only nine months from
receipt of the purchase order. And installation time was considerably reduced,
which allowed earlier production and also
represented a significant cost savings for
the operator.
Because SpoolTree Christmas trees allow
all completion and workover activities
under the control of a conventional BOP, an
expensive completion/workover riser system was not necessary. Such a system can
cost as much as three Christmas tree
assemblies.
Cauvery Basin, Offshore India
Water Depth: 90 meters (295 ft)

Problem: Re-enter and complete two wells

that had been drilled with Cameron WS-1
Lo-Torque subsea wellheads and abandoned 10 years earlier. Drill and complete
two additional wells in the field for a total

Page 3

growth. In addition, the permanent guidebases on the old wells were not recoverable
and not designed to provide production
flowline support.
Solution: The conventional approach in
such a situation is to utilize a tubing spool
assembly to provide new seal surfaces for
the BOP and for the tubing hanger system.
The dual bore tree can then be run on top
of the spool. This spool assembly can also
provide a structure for the flowline support
base. But this solution was impractical
because in addition to the cost of a separate
tubing spool, it would have required a
large capital expenditure for a dual bore
completion riser just to complete four wells.
The SpoolTree Christmas tree alleviated
all these problems. The spool part of the
SpoolTree allowed the establishment of
new seal surfaces for the BOP and tubing
hanger system, in essence combining the
spool and the tree into one assembly. The
SpoolTree did not require an expensive

Platform and mudline

SpoolTree configurations
All the advantages and versatility of
subsea SpoolTree Christmas trees are
also present in platform and mudline
versions. On platforms, SpoolTree valve
arrangements, low height and compact
overall size allow tighter spacing. Because
mudline SpoolTrees are compact and sit
close to the seabed, damage from fishing
trawl boards and nets can be minimized.
Both versions retain easy access to the
completion with full BOP protection.

Mudline SpoolTree

Cauvery Basin, Offshore India

of four wells producing to an FPSO off the

east coast of India. Favorable development
economics and a fast schedule where
crucial for the success of this project.
Since the condition of the sealing
surfaces of the two old wellheads was
unknown, it was important to minimize the
effects of seal surfaces that may have been
corroded, damaged or covered with marine

completion riser system. Cameron engineers designed a simple flowline support

structure that interfaced with the existing
guidebase, without requiring a spool
assembly for only that purpose. The result
was an economical solution to a problem
that would have been far more expensive
to solve with conventional equipment.

Platform SpoolTree

Western Hemisphere
Cameron
PO Box 1212
Houston Texas 77251-1212
Tel
713 939 2211
Fax
713 939 2620
e-mail subsea@camerondiv.com
www.camerondiv.com
Eastern Hemisphere
Cooper Cameron (U.K.) Ltd.
5 Mondial Way
Harlington
Hayes UB3 5AR
Tel
44 181 9901800
Fax
44 181 9901888
e-mail subsea@camerondiv.com
www.camerondiv.com
Asia Pacific/Middle East
Cooper Cameron (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
No. 2 Gul Circle, Jurong Industrial Est
Locked Bag Service No. 3
Jurong Town Post Office
Singapore 629560
Republic Of Singapore
Tel
65 8613355
Fax
65 8616197
e-mail subsea@camerondiv.com
www.camerondiv.com

MOSAIC, SpoolTree, Cameron, CAMLAST, STM, STC, CAMTROL and Cameron Willis are trademarks of the Cooper Cameron Corporation, Cameron Division.

Cooper Cameron Corporation, Cameron Division, Printed in USA, 3/99, HG/7.5M, WR6565/TC1265