Sucker Rod Cleaner

Abstract

A sucker rod cleaner incorporated onto the well bore casing head of an oil and gas retrieval assembly including and engaging one or more interconnected sucker rods extending within the casing of a well bore and in contact with a down hole located pump. A generally cylindrical three dimensional body is mounted at an above ground location proximate to the casing head of the well bore and through which extends the sucker rod assembly. A plurality of circumferentially offset nozzles communicate external pressurized fluid sources to an interior of said body for cleaning the exterior of the sucker rod assembly. A fluid outlet line communicates with said interior at a further downwardly displaced location associated with said body and, during withdrawal of the sucker rod assembly, creates an internal suction within said body for retaining and disposing fluid entrained debris dislodged from the assembly by said nozzles.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/492,496, filed Jun. 2, 2011.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a sucker rod cleaning assembly mounted atop a producing oil or gas well head. More specifically, the invention discloses a modified sucker rod cleaner incorporating a plurality of circumferentially arrayed and vacuum inducing high pressure jets, operation of which creates an internal suction for scouring and exhausting waste material from the exterior of each sucker rod as it is successively being withdrawn from the well bore by a workover rig.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art is well documented with examples of sucker rod pumps, such as which are incorporated into an oil and gas workover rig. Such pump designs include an above ground located mechanically reciprocating device.

Any plurality of sucker rods are arranged in end to end connected fashion so as to extend through a stuffing box situated on the casing head near casing pipe cemented into the ground location underneath the walking beam and downward through production pipe installed in a well bore previously drilled into the ground location so as to terminate at a down hole located pump. The down hole pump incorporates a suitable valve configuration such that, upon upward reciprocating motion, oil and/or gas is vacuum drawn, facilitated by the sucker rods, and communicated upwardly where they are rerouted through branching fluid conduit piping extending from the well head.

During maintenance on the well assembly, it is occasionally desirable and necessary to withdraw and/or clean the sucker rods. A number of various types of prior art devices are further known for cleaning such as the surface of the sucker rods, however problems associated with existing sucker rod cleaning assemblies include allowing much of the debris removed from the rods to fall back down the well's production tubing (or casing). Other known practices include manual cleaning of the individual component sucker rods after their disassembly and removal from the well assembly, a tedious and additional step, which also fails to provide for any disposition of the debris, and associated cleaning fluid, other than on the ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a sucker rod cleaner incorporated onto such as a well bore head for a producing oil and gas well head assembly, the assembly including a plurality of end to end connected sucker rods extending within a well's production casing and connected to a pump to lift fluids entering the casing. A body includes a main cylindrical portion located between a top flange and a bottom flange which is mounted at a ground location upon the well bore so that the sucker rods extend therethrough. A bridle extends vertically from the reciprocating mechanism and engages the top end of the uppermost rod of the interconnected sucker rods.

A plurality of inwardly directed nozzles are incorporated into the main cylindrical portion and are arranged in circumferentially spaced fashion, each of the nozzles communicating an external pressurized fluid to an interior location of the body through which the sucker rods extend. The nozzles may be provided in one circumferential spacing pattern on the main cylindrical portion, or on a plurality of circumferential spacing patterns on said cylinder portion, or, alternatively, in other patterns disposed, in some circumferential fashion, on the main cylindrical portion. A fluid outlet extends at a downwardly displaced location relative to the circumferentially arrayed nozzles and communicates with the interior at a further location associated with the body and, during withdrawal of the sucker rods, creating an internal suction within the body for retaining and disposing fluid entrained debris dislodged from the rods by the nozzles.

Other features include an upper seal and a lower seal respectively sandwiched between opposite end located flanges associated with the main cylindrical portion and the top and bottom flanges. Upper and lower pluralities of threaded bolts are provided for securing the pairs of flanges and sandwiched seals. A suction inducing connection is further secured to the fluid outlet to assist in creating and maintaining the desired exhaust suction, for disposal through the fluid outlet.

A secondary cylindrical portion is incorporated into the bottom flange, with a threaded collar extending from an underside of the secondary cylindrical portion and engaging an internally threaded connection associated with an upper end of the well bore. Each of the circumferentially arrayed nozzles are further configured such that they communicate dedicated pressurized fluid flows in a combined downwardly and offset angular direction relative to the axial centerline extending through the sucker rod.

During operation, the instant invention is utilized by ceasing normal operations of the above-ground reciprocating mechanism, which normally incorporates a walking beam and a horse head assembly interconnected to the top of an uppermost sucker rod attached via a bridle, or polish rod, extending vertically downward from the horse head. During well maintenance procedures, the horse head is disconnected and turned away, the present invention mounted atop the well bore assembly, with the uppermost sucker rod extending upwardly through the sucker rod cleaner. The sucker rod assembly is then pulled upwardly, via a centered temporary workover rig, with one or more sucker rods and, in normal practice, up to three at a time, being extracted sequentially Each sucker rod is disassembled and then stored. The present invention accomplishes cleaning of the sucker rods, with the various advantages stated above, without requiring an additional step, and, upon completion of well maintenance, the sucker rods are ready for reassembly and reinsertion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an environmental plan view of a well bore assembly in which the sucker rod cleaner is mounted at a ground projecting location in relation to an upper workover rig which is used to extract interconnected and depth descending sucker rods, and a downhole located plunger subassembly which, during operation, extracts oil and gas for collection;

FIG. 1A is an illustration of a mobile workover rig employed for sucker rod removal following detachment and removal of a conventional horse head;

FIG. 1B is an illustration of a typical horse head;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional perspective of the sucker rod cleaner which better depicts the circular array of internal communicating suction jets;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the suction rod cleaner depicted in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an environmental cutaway view of the sucker rod cleaner which illustrates the combined external cleaning/scouring and vacuum inducing effect created by the internally directed high pressure jets which facilitate removal of a significant majority of dirty fluid entrained material, as opposed to prevent same from descending back down the production tubing/casing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As previously described, the present invention discloses a modified sucker rod cleaner forming a component of the well head assembly for an oil and gas well. Referring first to FIG. 1, an environmental plan view is shown of a well bore assembly in which a sucker rod cleaner, generally at 10, is mounted at an above-ground projecting location in relation to depth descending sucker rods, see specified rod 14 depicted in reduced length and which extends within a vertically extending well casing 15.

Without limitation, each sucker rod 14 exhibits opposite end threaded male and female connections and can be provided in lengths such as 25 feet for metal sucker rods 14, or thirty seven and one-half feet for fiberglass sucker rods 14, so as to facilitate ease of downward installation and upward removal to and from the well casing 15. The present invention, however, is not limited by any particular length of sucker rod 14, and would work with any length, or suitable material composition. A lowermost sucker rod, again generally depicted at 14, connects at a bottom location with a downhole located and likewise reciprocal plunger subassembly 16 which, during operation of the well, extracts oil and gas for retrieval through lines 18 and 20, respectively, communicating with the sucker rod 14 at a location such as directly below the cleaner 10.

FIG. 1A is an illustration of a conventionally known mobile workover rig, generally shown at 21, and which includes an overhead elevate-able and frame supporting cage assisting in sequential withdrawal of the below ground extending sucker rods, following detachment and removal of a conventional horse head which is further depicted in FIG. 1B. It is further noted that the present invention is not utilized during reciprocating action of the horse head pump however, and for purposes of providing a balanced disclosure, a brief description of the components associated with the horse head pump include such features as a walking beam 12, underneath supported Samson post 22, prime mover 24 operating a crank 26 and counter weight 28, such as via a V belt and gear reducer arrangement 35, which in turn actuates a Pitman arm 30 for actuating the walking beam 12. A horse head 32 is located at a forward end of the walking beam 12 in overhead disposed fashion over the cleaner 10 and interconnects to a top of the uppermost located sucker rod 14 via a bridle 34 (or polished rod) extending vertically from the horse head 32.

Without further elaboration, the down hole located pump is also of a known construction and includes, in one known construction, such features as a reciprocating upper plunger (see again at 16 in FIG. 1) incorporating a riding or traveling valve connected to the bottom most extending sucker rod and a lower fixed component 17 incorporating a standing valve and upon which the traveling valve reciprocally seats. Although not shown, flow passageways are formed in each of the plunger and lower component in communication with the valves, as well as (in one known application) additional perforations defined in the sides of the well bore in communication with the pump to assist in pumping additional fluid into the well to assist in fluid flow of oil and gas from the pump.

The valves incorporated into the down hole pump are opened for fluid flow during upstroke of the plunger only with the riding valve closed on the upstroke and the standing valve opened. During plunger downstroke, the valve arrangement is reversed (riding valve open and standing valve closed) such that fluid flows into the plunger but is not allowed to ascend the well.

Having provided an adequate description of the known supporting components associated with the oil and gas well, reference will now be made to each of FIGS. 2-4 which provide a succession of enlarged section perspective, exploded and environmental cutaway views of the sucker rod cleaner 10. The sucker rod cleaner 10 includes a body having a main cylindrical portion 36 located between a top flange 38 and a bottom flange 40 which is mounted at a ground location upon the well bore so that the sucker rods extend therethrough. An upper seal 42 and a lower seal 44 (such as each constructed of a rubber material and as best shown in exploded fashion in FIG. 3) respectively sandwich between additional opposite end located flanges 46 and 48 associated with the main cylindrical portion 36 and the top 38 and bottom 40 flanges. Upper 50 and lower 52 pluralities of threaded bolts (see also lower nuts 54 engageable with projecting threaded stem portions of lower bolts 52) are provided extending through aligning upper and lower arrays of aligning apertures defined in the flanges and interposed seals and for securing each of the upper and lower respective pairs 38 & 46 and 40 & 48 of flanges and sandwiched seals 42 & 44 as better shown in each of FIGS. 2 and 4.

A plurality of inwardly directed nozzles (four of which are shown at 56, 58, 60 and 62) are incorporated into the main cylindrical portion 36 of the sucker rod cleaner and are arranged in circumferentially spaced fashion. As best depicted in FIG. 4, each of the nozzles 56, 58, 60 and 62 communicate an external pressurized fluid, such as via a connecting fluid pressurized conduit as depicted in phantom at 64 and 66 for selected nozzles 56 and 60.

Inward directional arrows 68 and 70 (FIG. 4) are depicted and reference the direction of fluid flow from the conduits 64 and 66, through connecting (and replaceable) nipple portions 72 and 74 which are mounted to such as integral portions of the nozzles 56 and 60, and to an interior location (see at 76 in FIG. 4) of the body through which the sucker rods 14 extend. To facilitate and enhance dislodgement of salt and paraffin (or other detritus or debris) from the sucker rods 14 during such as successive upward withdrawal through the cleaner 10 and out of the well bore, each of the circumferentially arrayed nozzles are further configured such that they communicate dedicated pressurized fluid flows, see as further depicted in FIG. 4 by high pressure spray profiles 78 and 80 directed inwardly from the selected nozzles 56 and 60, in a combined downwardly and offset angular direction relative to an axial centerline 82 extending through the sucker rod 14. One non-limiting variant contemplates modulating the internally directed pressurized flow profile passing through the nozzles in a 5° inside downward angle, combined with a 4° to 8° off center (clockwise or counter clockwise) angle relative to the vertical axial centerline of the sucker rod and, in concert, so as to maximize both impingement and detachment of debris from the sucker rod exterior.

A fluid outlet 84 extends from a downwardly displaced location of the main cylindrical body 36 relative to the upper located and circumferentially arrayed nozzles 56, 58, 60 and 62. A suction inducing connection, see as referenced by engaging fitting 86, is further secured to the fluid outlet 64 to assist in creating and maintaining a desired internal suction.

In this fashion, and during progressive and succeeding withdrawal of any number of end to end connected sucker rods, an internal suction generated within the body assists in retaining and disposing fluid entrained debris, see further at 88 in FIG. 4, dislodged from the rods 14 by the nozzles 56, 58, 60 and 62 and out through the suction generating fitting 86 (see further direction arrows 89). One non-limiting variant of cleaner has been found to be capable of operating at 3,000 psi working pressure through the nozzles and, in combination with a 2″ inner diameter outlet conduit 84, to successfully extract up to 95% of debris entrained waste fluid, thereby preventing the same from descending back into the well bore 15.

Additional features include a secondary cylindrical portion 90 incorporated into the bottom flange 40. A threaded collar 92 extends from an underside of the secondary cylindrical portion and engages an internally threaded connection (see at 94 in FIG. 4) associated with an upper communicating end of the well bore 15.

Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sucker rod cleaner mounted onto a well bore casing head of an oil and gas retrieval assembly, the assembly mechanism engaging at least one sucker rod extending within a well bore in contact with a down hole located pump, said cleaner being comprised of:

a body mounted at an above-ground location above the well head through which extends the sucker rod assembly; and

at least one nozzle communicating an external pressurized fluid to the interior of said body through which the sucker rod assembly extends; and

a fluid outlet communicating with said interior at a further location associated with said body and, during withdrawal of the sucker rod, creating an internal suction within said body for retaining and disposing fluid entrained debris dislodged from the rod by said nozzle(s).

2. The invention as described in claim 1, said body having a specified shape and size and further comprised of a main cylindrical portion located between a top flange and a bottom flange.

3. The invention as described in claim 2, further comprising an upper seal and a lower seal respectively sandwiched between opposite end located flanges associated with said main cylindrical portion and said top and bottom flanges.

4. The invention as described in claim 2, further comprising a plurality of nozzles arranged in circumferentially spaced fashion about said main cylindrical portion.

5. The invention as described in claim 1, further comprising a suction inducing connection secured to said fluid outlet.

6. The invention as described in claim 2, further comprising a secondary cylindrical portion incorporated into said bottom flange, a threaded collar extending from an underside of said secondary cylindrical portion and engaging an internally threaded connection associated with the well's bore casing head.

7. The invention as described in claim 1, further allowing a plurality of threaded end to end connected sucker rods adapted to extend through said interior of said body.

8. The invention as described in claim 4, further comprising each of said nozzles communicating a pressurized fluid flow in a combined downwardly and offset angular direction relative to an axial centerline extending through the sucker rod.

9. The invention as described in claim 1, further comprising said fluid outlet extending at a downwardly displaced location relative to said nozzle(s).

10. The invention as described in claim 3, further comprising upper and lower pluralities of threaded bolts for securing said pairs of flanges and sandwiched seals.

11. A sucker rod cleaner mounted onto a well bore casing head of an oil and gas retrieval assembly, such assembly engaging a plurality of end to end connected sucker rods connected to a down hole located pump within the casing of a well bore, said cleaner comprising:

a body including a main cylindrical portion located between a top flange and a bottom flange which is mounted at an above-ground location upon the casing head of a well bore so that the sucker rods extend therethrough; and

a plurality of nozzles arranged in circumferentially spaced fashion about said main cylindrical portion, each of said nozzles communicating an external pressurized fluid to an interior location of said body through which the sucker rod assembly extends; and

a fluid outlet communicating with said interior at a further location associated with said body and, during withdrawal of the sucker rod assembly creating an internal suction within said body for retaining and disposing fluid entrained debris dislodged from the rods by said nozzles.

12. The invention as described in claim 11, further comprising an upper seal and a lower seal respectively sandwiched between opposite end located flanges associated with said main cylindrical portion and said top and bottom flanges.

13. The invention as described in claim 11, further comprising a suction inducing connection secured to said fluid outlet.

14. The invention as described in claim 11, further comprising a secondary cylindrical portion incorporated into said bottom flange, a threaded collar extending from an underside of said secondary cylindrical portion and engaging an internally threaded connection associated with an upper end of the casing head of the well bore.

15. The invention as described in claim 11, further comprising each of said nozzles communicating a pressurized fluid flow in a combined downwardly and offset angular direction relative to an axial centerline extending through the sucker rod assembly.

16. The invention as described in claim 11, further comprising said fluid outlet extending at a downwardly displaced location relative to said at least one nozzle.

17. The invention as described in claim 11, further comprising upper and lower pluralities of threaded bolts for securing said pairs of flanges and sandwiched seals.

18. A sucker rod cleaner incorporated into an oil and gas retrieval assembly, comprising:

a generally cylindrical shaped body mounted at an above-ground location atop the casing head of a well bore and through which extends a sucker rod assembly; and

a plurality of nozzles arranged in circumferentially spaced fashion about said cylindrical shaped body, each of said nozzles communicating an external pressurized fluid to an interior location of said body through which the sucker rod assembly extends; and

a fluid outlet communicating with said interior at a further location associated with said body and, during withdrawal of the sucker rod assembly, creating an internal suction within said body during evacuation of fluid entrained debris dislodged from the rod through a suction inducing connection secured to the fluid outlet.