WELL HEADS

A wellhead is the component at the surface of an oil or gas well that provides the structural and
pressure-containing interface for the drilling and production equipment.
The primary purpose of a wellhead is to provide the suspension point and pressure seals for
the casing strings that run from the bottom of the hole sections to the surface pressure control
equipment.[1]
While drilling the oil well, surface pressure control is provided by a blowout preventer (BOP). If
the pressure is not contained during drilling operations by the column of drilling fluid, casings,
wellhead, and BOP, a well blowout could occur.
When the well has been drilled, it is completed to provide an interface with the reservoir rock and
a tubular conduit for the well fluids. The surface pressure control is provided by a Christmas tree,
which is installed on top of the wellhead, with isolation valves and choke equipment to control the
flow of well fluids during production.
Wellheads are typically welded onto the first string of casing, which has been cemented in place
during drilling operations, to form an integral structure of the well. In exploration wells that are
later abandoned, the wellhead may be recovered for refurbishment and re-use.
Offshore, where a wellhead is located on the production platform it is called a surface wellhead,
and if located beneath the water then it is referred to as a subsea wellhead or mudline wellhead
  Components of well heads

1. Casing head: It is the lowest part of the wellhead assembly. The

bottom of the casing head is configured to attach to the casing below
(typically, the surface casing). The upper inside of the casing head
provides a bowl in which the next casing string can be set and sealed (if
required). The top of the casing head then connects to the next wellhead
component. A casing head may also be supplied with a landing base
plate that takes the weight load off the surface casing and spreads it
over the conductor pipe. Access to the annulus between the surface
casing and the next casing string is available through side outlets.
2. Casing Spool: If a well includes one or more intermediate casing strings
between the surface and production casing, the next component
required after the casing head is the casing spool. The bottom of the
casing spool mounts on top of a casing head or previous spool, and the
top connects to the next spool or tubing head assembly. The spool is
designed so the bottom bowl or counter-bore will allow a secondary seal
to be set on the previous casing string, while the top bowl will hold a
casing hanger to suspend and allow a primary seal around the next
string of casing.
3. Casing hanger: Both casing heads and casing spool assemblies may
require the use of casing hangers. Casing hangers attach to the end of a
given casing string and suspend and seal the casing string in the top bowl
of a casing head or spool. Casing hangers come in two main varieties: –
Slip type hangers that are installed around the casing after it is run,
either before or after the casing is cemented into place. Slip type casing
hangers are used as a contingency when pipe is stuck, allowing the
casing to be cut off and set where it sits.
4. PACK-OFF FLANGE: A pack-off flange is rarely used. It is set above a
casing head or spool assembly and also sealed against the intermediate
or production casing to enable a safe increase in pressure rating
between the casing head or spool and any wellhead equipment above
the flange, for example, a tubing head. It is also known as a “restricted
pack-off flange” or “crossover flange”.
5. TUBING HEAD: The tubing head assembly provides a means to
suspend and seal the production tubing in the wellhead. The tubing
head is the top spool in the wellhead assembly and is installed after the
last casing string is set. The bottom of the tubing spool includes a
counterbore that can be used to set a seal against the production casing.
The top of the tubing head provides a landing shoulder and a seal bore
for landing and enabling a seal to the tubing hanger. Above the tubing
head is the tubing head adaptor which provides a transition to the
Christmas tree.
6. TUBING HANGER: A tubing hanger is also commonly known as a dog
nut. A tubing hanger typically is threaded onto the top of a tubing string
and is designed to sit and seal in the tubing head. Usually the tubing
hanger is run through the BOP and landed in the top bowl of the tubing
head. The top of the tubing hanger provides a profile necessary for the
lock screws that will secure the hanger in the tubing head.
7. TUBING HEAD ADAPTOR: The tubing head adaptor provides a
transition from the tubing head to the Christmas tree. With a basic
tubing head configuration where the tubing hanger is seated in the top
of the tubing head. The bottom of the tubing head adaptor will seal
against the tubing head and contain reservoir or injection fluids moving
through the top of the tubing. With an extended neck tubing hanger, the
adaptor will provide a secondary seal against the hanger, isolating the
seal between tubing head and adaptor and any lock screws holding the
tubing hanger in place. This configuration provides a means to test the
primary and secondary seals on the tubing hanger.
FUNCTIONS:
1. Provide a means of casing suspension. (Casing is the
permanently installed pipe used to line the well hole for
pressure containment and collapse prevention during the
drilling phase).
2. Provides a means of tubing suspension. (Tubing is
removable pipe installed in the well through which well
fluids pass).
3. Provides a means of pressure sealing and isolation
between casing at surface when many casing strings are
used.
4. Provides pressure monitoring and pumping access
to annuli between the different casing/tubing strings.
5. Provides a means of attaching a blowout preventer during
drilling.
6. Provides a means of attaching a Christmas tree for
production operations.
7. Provides a reliable means of well access.
8. Provides a means of attaching a well pump,
Well Head Classification :

According to the well According to the well

location head design
 Wellhead for land drilling Spool well head deign
 Surface location offshore Unitized well head system
 Subsea well head