Abstract: Well intervention apparatus is provided, the well intervention apparatus including a flexible hose to be lowered into a well, a stuffing seal which engages around the hose during lowering, at least one tool provided at a downhole end portion of the hose, and a plurality of individual tubes extending along an inside region of the hose and connecting to the at least one tool, each individual tube providing a fluid path for fluid communication between outside of the well and the at least one tool inside the well, and each individual tube being laterally supported in said inside region such that its lateral movement is restricted.

Abstract: A tool for gaining lateral access to a well includes a head portion configured to advance axially forwardly relative to a lateral access passage. The tool includes a first shaft and a shaft assembly including a second shaft. The second shaft is at least partly received in the first shaft so as to be axially forwardly moveable therewith. In use, axial forward movement of the first and second shafts causes forward advancement of the head portion. The second shaft is axially forwardly moveable relative to the first shaft. The first shaft includes an internal thread and the shaft assembly includes an external thread engaging the internal thread of the first shaft so that relative rotation of the internal and external threads causes the axial forward movement of the second shaft relative to the first shaft without rotation of the second shaft relative to the first shaft.

Abstract: A tool for gaining lateral access to a well via a lateral access passage includes a head portion. The tool axially forwardly advances the head portion towards the lateral access passage and transmits rotational drive to the head portion. The tool delivers fluid to or forwardly of the head portion. The head portion may have an adapter at its front end for interchangeable attachments, such as a sealing device, a socket member, or a cleaning brush. The tool may include a flexible conduit extending forwardly of the head portion. A curved guide passage may be provided to guide a fluid transmission conduit of the tool as it advances forwardly. The tool may have a shaft for forwardly advancing the head portion, the shaft being coupled to a rotatable drive member configured to be rotatably driven such that rotation of the rotatable drive member causes axial forward movement of the shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus for gaining access to a well via a lateral access passage includes a flexible conduit which is to be inserted into the well via the lateral access passage so as to deviate from a direction of lateral insertion to a generally downward direction down the well. The flexible conduit includes a probe at a front end thereof. The probe includes a spring at least 0.5 m in length. A probe container is provided for accommodating the probe before it is inserted into the well. A guide may be provided for insertion along the lateral access passage and for assisting deviation of the flexible conduit from the direction of lateral insertion.

Abstract: Well intervention apparatus is provided, the well intervention apparatus including a flexible hose to be lowered into a well, a stuffing seal which engages around the hose during lowering, at least one tool provided at a downhole end portion of the hose, and a plurality of individual tubes extending along an inside region of the hose and connecting to the at least one tool, each individual tube providing a fluid path for fluid communication between outside of the well and the at least one tool inside the well, and each individual tube being laterally supported in said inside region such that its lateral movement is restricted.

Abstract: A tool for gaining lateral access to a well via a lateral access passage, the tool comprising a head portion and being configured to axially forwardly advance the head portion towards or in the lateral access passage and being configured to transmit rotational drive to the head portion, and the tool comprising a fluid transmission conduit for delivering fluid to or forwardly of the head portion. The head portion may have an adapter at its front end to mount interchangeable attachments, such as a sealing device for forming a seal with the lateral access passage, a socket member for holding a plug, or a cleaning brush. The tool may comprise a flexible conduit portion extending forwardly of the head portion. A curved guide passage may be provided to guide the fluid transmission conduit as it advances forwardly.

Abstract: A plug for plugging a line includes a seal, a first end assembly and a second end assembly. The first end assembly includes a gripping member. An actuator is configured to draw the first and second end assemblies together when there is a relative motion between the actuator and the first end assembly. The actuator is configured to actuate the gripping member. An initial part of a motion of the actuator actuates the gripping member to grip an inner surface of the line, thus inhibiting a motion of the first end assembly, and a subsequent part of the motion of the actuator, relative to the thus motion-inhibited first end assembly, draws the second end assembly toward the first end assembly so as to compress the seal such that the seal may seal against the inner surface of the line thus plugging the line.

Abstract: Apparatus for gaining access to a well via a lateral access passage comprises a flexible conduit which is to be inserted into the well via the lateral access passage so as to deviate from a direction of lateral insertion to a generally downward direction down the well, the flexible conduit comprising a probe at a front end thereof, the probe comprising a spring at least 0.5 m in length. The apparatus comprises a probe container for accommodating the probe before it is inserted into the well and whilst the probe is exposed to well pressure in the probe container, the probe container accommodating the probe with at least part of the probe extending along a curved path.

Abstract: A tool for gaining lateral access to a well includes a head portion configured to advance axially forwardly relative to a lateral access passage. The tool includes a first shaft and a shaft assembly including a second shaft. The second shaft is at least partly received in the first shaft so as to be axially forwardly moveable therewith. In use, axial forward movement of the first and second shafts causes forward advancement of the head portion. The second shaft is axially forwardly moveable relative to the first shaft. The first shaft includes an internal thread and the shaft assembly includes an external thread engaging the internal thread of the first shaft so that relative rotation of the internal and external threads causes the axial forward movement of the second shaft relative to the first shaft without rotation of the second shaft relative to the first shaft.

Abstract: A plug (1, 301) for plugging a line (101), the plug comprising: a seal (2); a first end assembly (10, 310) located at a first end (4) of the seal (2) and a second end assembly (40) located at an opposite second end (5) of the seal (2), the first end assembly (10, 310) comprising at least one gripping member (16, 17, 316, 317) that is configured to grip an inner surface of the line (101); and an actuator (50) configured to draw the first (10, 310) and second end (40) assemblies together when there is a relative motion between the actuator (50) and the first end assembly (10, 310), characterised in that: the actuator (50) is configured to actuate the gripping member (16, 17, 316, 317), and the plug (1, 301) is arranged such that: an initial part of a motion of the actuator 50 actuates the gripping member (16, 17, 316, 317) to grip the inner surface of the line (101), thus inhibiting motion of the first end assembly (10, 310), and a subsequent part of the motion of the actuator (50), relative to the thus motion-

Abstract: Apparatus for bending a coiled tubing, the apparatus having a head portion for lateral insertion in a side opening in a wall of a well, the head portion defining a bending path for bending the coiled tubing during feeding thereof through the head portion, and the head portion having a coiled tubing straightener for straightening the coiled tubing during feeding. The coiled tubing straightener is retractable so that it can adopt a retracted position, for lateral insertion of the head portion into the side opening of the well wall. The head portion has, when the straightener is in the retracted position, a profile as viewed in the direction of lateral insertion, and the straightener being extendable for operation to straighten the coiled tubing to an extended position at least partly outside of the profile of the head portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for bending a coiled tubing, the apparatus having a head portion for lateral insertion in a side opening in a wall of a well, the head portion defining a bending path for bending the coiled tubing during feeding thereof through the head portion, and the head portion having a coiled tubing straightener for straightening the coiled tubing during feeding. The coiled tubing straightener is retractable so that it can adopt a retracted position, for lateral insertion of the head portion into the side opening of the well wall. The head portion has, when the straightener is in the retracted position, a profile as viewed in the direction of lateral insertion, and the straightener being extendable for operation to straighten the coiled tubing to an extended position at least partly outside of the profile of the head portion.

Abstract: A method of well intervention in a subsea well having a wellhead on the sea floor includes extending an intervention hose downwardly through the sea from a hose drum installed on a vessel on the sea surface into the well through a subsea intervention stack installed on the wellhead. The intervention hose is exposed directly to the ambient sea between the vessel and the top of the subsea intervention stack. In a method of well intervention, an intervention hose extends from a hose drum and into a well. The hose is driven out of the well without the use of an injector by pulling the hose out of the well with the hose drum. In a method of well intervention, an intervention hose extends from a hose drum towards a wellhead, with the hose being guided downward from the drum towards the wellhead by a guiding sheave.

Abstract: A method of well intervention in a subsea well having a wellhead on the sea floor includes extending an intervention hose downwardly through the sea from a hose drum installed on a vessel on the sea surface into the well through a subsea intervention stack installed on the wellhead. The intervention hose is exposed directly to the ambient sea between the vessel and the top of the subsea intervention stack. In a method of well intervention, an intervention hose extends from a hose drum and into a well. The hose is driven out of the well without the use of an injector by pulling the hose out of the well with the hose drum. In a method of well intervention, an intervention hose extends from a hose drum towards a wellhead, with the hose being guided downward from the drum towards the wellhead by a guiding sheave.