Conventional Wellhead Setup
In this video we examine the wellhead setup of a conventional well on rod lift. Please note that wellheads in particular can be setup many different ways, but the fundamentals are always the same.
Watching the video is always going to be your best option, as it will be more descriptive, but below is a quick list of some of the major and typical components:
Major components
- Stuffing box: This is what seals the pressure around the polished rod (which travels in and out of the wellhead). This is only found on wellheads that use rod lift.
- Tubing side: This is where the production exits the tubing of the well at surface. Typically, this is where all the liquids will reach surface. This is the exit point for the liquids that are pumped to surface by the pump at the bottom of the rod string. Operators do not want to see much gas (if any) being produced through the tubing side, as there is a risk of gas locking the pump and making the system less efficient.
- Casing side: This is where the production exits the casing of the well at surface. Typically, this will often just be “casing gas” unless the well is strong enough to actually produce some liquids through the casing at surface as well (more typical of unconventional oil wells).
- Flow line: Production from both the tubing side and casing side get rejoined into the flow line going from the wellhead to the production equipment.
Other typical (minor) components
- Bal valves: Obviously there has to be a way to shut in the well – for safety, tests, etc. Typically on a wellhead like this, ball valves will be the primary method of securing the well.
- Back pressure regulator: This is sometimes used (operator preference) on the tubing side of the well in order to help keep gas from entering the tubing string and traveling through the pump. Getting gas in the downhole pump can “gas lock” the pump, which is not always an easy or inexpensive issue to fix. Many times, it will require a workover rig. Back pressure regulators also help gas not to come out of solution in the tubing as it nears the surface. These devices work by requiring a particular pressure to open the valve. Thus, it will keep the tubing string pressurized to a particular pressure that the operator deems best.
- Check valves: This valves ensure that the flow is only one direction – from the well out. These prevent production flowing from one side of the well to the other, i.e., from the tubing into the casing or vice versa.
- Regulators: This regulates the flow (typically of gas). It ensures that the well will not flow itself too hard. This again, comes down to operator preference. Many wells like this don’t have regulators on them.
Just a reminder, if you would like to know more about how wells are drilled, produced, etc., be sure to check out our basic courses!