Design Optimization and Analysis of Tubing Head Spool for Surface Wellheads are used in the Oil and Gas Industry

Abstract

The Tubing Head serves as the uppermost spool in a surface wellhead and is typically positioned above the production casing, which is the final string of pipe suspended within the well. It plays a vital role in various functions from well drilling to initial oil production. Tubing head spools have been employed in conventional surface wellheads for many years. However, the current design of the spool is characterized by its significant weight and bulkiness. While this design has proven its effectiveness in the field, there is a need for improvements in terms of size and shape. The primary objective of this study is to reduce the weight and modify the size and shape of the tubing head spool, specifically the 13-5/8”-10K Bottom X 7-1/16”-10K Top variant, utilizing Solidworks modelling and simulation techniques. By leveraging these tools, we aim to optimize the design, achieve weight reduction, and enhance the overall performance of the tubing head spool. The optimization process begins with a comprehensive analysis of the existing tubing head spool design to identify potential areas for improvement. This analysis includes evaluating the stress distribution, pressure containment capabilities, and material utilization of the spool. Various optimization techniques, such as finite element analysis (FEA) are employed to simulate and analyse different design scenarios. We successfully, achieved weight reduction of 5.16% in raw forging and 14.45% in finish part.