Wellhead

Drilling Equipment & Components

The wellhead is the surface termination of a wellbore that provides the structural and pressure-containing interface for the drilling and production equipment. It incorporates the casing heads and casing hangers that support the weight of the casing strings, as well as the sealing mechanisms (pack-offs) that isolate the annuli between casing strings.

During drilling, the BOP stack is bolted to the top of the wellhead. Once the well is completed, the Christmas Tree (production valve assembly) is installed on top of the wellhead to control production. Wellheads are rated by pressure (e.g., 5k, 10k, 15k psi) and must withstand extreme mechanical loads and corrosive conditions throughout the life of the well.