Christmas Tree and Wellhead: Function, Components,

Difference, Design Codes

whatispiping.com/christmas-tree-and-wellhead

Jimmy Mathew

What is a Christmas Tree?

In petroleum and natural gas extraction, a Christmas tree, or “tree”, is an
assembly of a multi-valved structure consisting of valves, spools, and fittings
used to control the ow of oil from the well. The shape of the wellhead structure
with valves looks like a pine tree so the wellhead is called as “Christmas tree”. Christmas
Tree is connected to the top of the tubing and cemented to the top of the casing. These
valves regulate pressure, control ow, and allow access to the wellbore when further
completion work is required. From the outlet valve of the Christmas Tree, the ow can be
connected to a distribution network of pipelines and tanks to distribute the product to
reneries, natural gas compressor stations, or oil export terminals.

The Christmas tree is the heart of the offshore hydrocarbon production system. It is the
primary means of the well control and plays a key role in the emergency shut down
system. The Christmas tree sits on the top of the wellhead casing system and represents
the interface between the well and the production and process facility.

The Christmas tree consists of an assembly of a gate valve that controls the
flow of hydrocarbons. It may consist of individual valves bolted together or it may
feature a cast or forged steel solid block into the valves chests are machined. Occasionally
it is a combination of two. In all cases, the valve seats and gates are removable for
replacements or repair.

What is a Wellhead?
A wellhead skid controls the operation of the Christmas tree and mudline
safety valves. The skid permits valves to be operated locally, remotely, or via ESD
system and timing mechanisms provide a means of controlling the speed and sequence of
valve operation. This sequence would normally be close to the wing valve, master valve,
and mudline safety valve.

During an ESD operation, complete closure of the Christmas tree valves should be
effected within approximately 45 seconds according to API recommendations, the only
organization to provide guidance on this particular aspect.

Wellheads can be Dry or Subsea completion. Dry Completion means that the
well is onshore on the topside structure on an offshore installation. Sub-sea
wellheads are located underwater on a special sea bed template. The
wellhead consists of the pieces of equipment mounted at the opening of the
well to regulate and monitor the extraction of hydrocarbons from the

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underground formation. It also prevents leaking of oil or natural gas out of the well
and prevents blowouts due to high-pressure formations. Formations that are under high
pressure typically require wellheads that can withstand a great deal of upward pressure
from the escaping gases and liquids.

These wellheads must be able to withstand very high pressures of the order
of 140 MPa (1400 Bar). The wellhead consists of three components: the
casing head, the tubing head, and the ‘Christmas tree’.

Fig. 1: Typical Wellhead and Christmas Tree Assembly

Function of a Christmas Tree

On producing wells, injection of chemicals or alcohols or oil distillates to prevent
and or solve production problems (such as blockages) may be used.
A tree may also be used to control the injection of gas or water injection applications
on a producing or non-producing well in order to sustain economic “production”
volumes of gas from other wells (s) in the area (field).
The control system attached to the tree controls the downhole safety valve while the
tree acts as an attachment and conduit means of the control system to the downhole
safety valve.

Components of a Christmas Tree

A typical Christmas tree composed of a master gate valve, a pressure gauge, a
wing valve, a swab valve, and a choke as shown in Fig. 1. The Christmas tree may
also have a number of check valves.

At the bottom, we find the Casing Head and casing Hangers. The casing will be screwed,
bolted, or welded to the hanger. Several valves and plugs will normally be fitted to give
access to the casing. This will permit the casing to be opened, closed, bled down, and, in

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some cases, allow the flowing well to be produced through the casing as well as the tubing.
The valve can be used to determine leaks in the casing, tubing, or the packer, and will also
be used for lift gas injection into the casing.

The tubing hanger (also called donut) is used to position the tubing correctly in the well.
Sealing also allows Christmas tree removal with pressure in the casing.

There are wells drilled into the reservoir, and the central conductor along with the
surrounding jackets/annulus rises up to the Production Deck / Cellar deck of the
platform. On top of the wellhead, an assembly of valves is placed, which has the form of a
cross. This assembly of valves together with the flanges is called a Well Head Christmas
tree.

The Christmas tree has many Manual valves, and a number of Actuated valves. The
actuated valves usually found on the Christmas tree are as follows:

1. Sub-Surface Safety valve:-

Sub-Surface Safety valve is a hydraulic operated valve, the location of which is below sea-
level, above sea-bed. The actuator of this valve needs to be very small, as it gets enclosed
within the Annulus of the conductor. The actuator is usually hydraulically operated. The
control line for the hydraulic supply for the SSSV runs within the conductor and
terminates at a connection on the Christmas tree.

2. Surface Safety Valve or Master Valve:-

This isolates the tree from the production tubing. Christmas tree has two master
valves referred to as the upper and lower master valves. The lower master valves are
opened first and closed last. This ensures a minimal flow of hydrocarbon over the
valve seat, thus protecting if it from abrasive particles and ensuring a good seal is
maintained.
In most cases, the lower master valve is manually operated and the upper master
valve is operated via a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator and is connected into the
emergency shutdown system. The actuators are fail-safe in operation. The valve is
held open by oil or pressure against a compressed coil spring.
The master gate valve is a high-quality valve. It will provide a full opening, which
means that it opens to the same inside diameter as the tubing so that specialized
tools may be run through it. It must be capable of holding the full pressure of the
well safely for all anticipated purposes. This valve is usually left fully open and is not
used to control flow.
A master valve is the first actuated valve on the Christmas tree, located above the
Mezzanine deck of the platform. The Actuator is bigger and can be pneumatic or
Hydraulic, based on the Christmas tree requirement
The pressure gauge:- The minimum instrumentation is a pressure gauge placed
above the master gate valve before the wing valve. In addition, other instruments
such as temperature will normally be fitted.

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3. Wing Valve:-
Wing valve comes on the arm of the Christmas tree, on the line where the flow line
starts. The actuator is again hydraulic or pneumatic based on the requirement. The
wing valve can be a gate valve or ball valve. When shutting in the well, the wing gate
or valve is normally used so that the tubing pressure can be easily read.
Christmas tree may be manufactured with one or two wing valves. One valve is
permanently connected to the hydrocarbon process system and is fitted with a
hydraulic or pneumatic actuator. The other valve is manual in operation and
permits the injection of chemicals or gases into the well without disturbing
production pipework.
Both valves are offset from the vertical lines so that a clear entry into the well s
maintained through the swab valve for wireline work. The flow of gas from the well
regulated by wing valve operation or by choke fitted above the wing valve.
Hydraulic tree wing valves are usually built to be fail-safe closed, meaning they
require active hydraulic pressure to stay open.
The right-hand valve is often called the flow wing valve or the production wing valve
because it is in the flow path the hydrocarbons take to production facilities.
The left-hand valve is often called the kill wing valve. It is primarily used for the
injection of fluids such as corrosion inhibitors or methanol to prevent hydrate
formation.

4. Well Service Valve:-

The Well Service Valve may be present on some Christmas tree, where Diesel
pumping is required for initial start-up. It is on the other arm of the Christmas tree,
and usually, the size is lesser than that of the wing valve.
The valve at the top is called the swab valve and lies in the path used for good
interventions like wireline and coiled tubing. A ‘Choke’ is a device, either stationary
or adjustable, used to control the gas flow, also known as volume, or create
downstream pressure, also known as backpressure.

The Wellhead valves are all controlled by a Well Head Control panel, which gives the
hydraulic & pneumatic supply for opening/closing these valves. There is logically built in
the WHCP for allowing the safe closure of all these wellhead valves, in case of an
emergency, either due to process upset or due to emergency/fire. In addition to these
valves, the other instrumentation which is associated with the Christmas tree is the
Pressure gauges and Transmitters for monitoring the Annulus pressures, the Flowing
Tube Head Pressure, etc.

Christmas Tree vs Wellhead?

In the complicated but vital industry of drawing oil and gas out of the earth and getting it
to the surface, people often get confused about the difference between a Christmas
tree assembly and a wellhead. Although the terms are used interchangeably, a
wellhead and Christmas tree are entirely separate pieces of equipment. Each has valves
and related equipment that help it control and guide the flow of this precious resource. A

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wellhead must be present in order to utilize a Christmas tree and is used without a
Christmas tree during drilling operations. Producing surface wells that require pumps
(pump jacks, nodding donkeys, etc.) frequently do not utilize any tree due to no pressure
containment requirement.

Basically, The Christmas tree and the wellhead work together to bring oil and gas to the
surface.

A tree often provides numerous additional functions including chemical injection points,
well intervention means, pressure relief means (such as annulus vent), well monitoring
points (such as pressure, temperature, corrosion, erosion, sand detection, flow rate, flow
composition, valve and choke position feedback, connection points for devices such as
downhole pressure and temperature transducer.

Vertical Christmas Tree vs Horizontal Christmas Tree

Vertical Christmas Tree:

The master valves are located above the tubing hanger and swab valves together with
master valves are stacked vertically. The production and annulus bore lays vertically on
the body of the tree. The well completion is finished before installing the vertical
Christmas tree. Since the tubing hanger rests on the wellhead, the Christmas tree can be
recovered without having to recover the downhole completion. This type is generally
applied in subsea fields due to their flexibility of installation and operation.

Horizontal Christmas Tree:

In contrast to the vertical Christmas tree, the valves of horizontal Christmas tree are
located on the lateral sides of the horizontal Christmas tree, allowing for easy well
intervention and tubing recovery, thus this type of tree is very feasible for the wells that
need many interventions. The tubing hanger is installed in the tree body instead of the
wellhead. Consequently, the tree is installed onto the wellhead before completion of the
well.

Design code for Christmas tree and wellhead

Christmas Tree and Well Head Equipment is designed following API Specification
6A/ISO 10423. The design shall take into account the effects of pressure containment and
other pressure and temperature-induced loads. The following Figure (Fig. 2) shows the
typical nomenclature of parts used in describing Christmas Tree and wellhead.

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Fig. 2: Typical Christmas Tree and Wellhead Assembly Parts

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