Accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device

An accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device having a base, a pivoting hydraulic cylinder with a stationary wrench and a pivoting wrench. A hydraulic control assembly controls hydraulic cylinder operation and has a manifold with input port for receiving hydraulic fluid from a reservoir and an output port for transferring hydraulic fluid to the reservoir. The manifold can have a first bidirectional control port to flow hydraulic fluid to and from a first pivoting hydraulic cylinder port and a second bidirectional control port to flow hydraulic fluid to and from a second pivoting hydraulic cylinder port. The manifold has a lever, which movably changes hydraulic fluid flow rates to the pivoting hydraulic cylinder and interfaces with a primary pressure adjustment valve.

FIELD

The present embodiments generally relate to a device for breaking out rods and sinker bars emerging from a wellbore.

BACKGROUND

A need exists for a fast, easy to use device that can be used at ground level or elevated to break out rod or sinker bars, preventing injury or death to oilfield hands and workers.

The present embodiments meet these needs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present embodiments relate to a device for breaking out rods and sinker bars emerging from a wellbore.

The accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device can be used on rods and sinker bars extending from a wellbore.

The accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device can have a base with a base support.

The base can be a flat metal plate, a lidless metal box, a specially shaped plate.

A plurality of flexible hanging devices can be attached to the base. In embodiments, the flexible handing devices can be chain.

The flexible hanging devices can be removably connected to the base enabling hoisting of the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device.

A pivoting hydraulic cylinder can be connected to the base support on a first end.

The pivoting hydraulic cylinder can have a cylinder rod, a first pivoting hydraulic cylinder port, and a second pivoting hydraulic cylinder port. The ports can bidirectionally receive or expel hydraulic fluid.

In embodiments, a first pin can connect the pivoting hydraulic cylinder to the base support, maintaining the pivoting hydraulic cylinder above the base.

A pivoting wrench can connect to a cylinder rod of the pivoting hydraulic cylinder or a first end. The pivoting wrench can have wrench flats for grabbing at wrench flats on a rod or sinker bar.

A second pin can connect the pivoting wrench to the pivoting hydraulic cylinder.

The wrench flats of the pivoting wrench can be formed at a 45 degree angle to the second pin.

In embodiments, the device can have a stationary wrench connected to the base, which can have a hook shape.

The stationary wrench can have an arm connected to a cylinder rod clevis. The cylinder rod clevis can engage the rod or sinker bar wrench flats.

The arm of the stationary wrench can extend at an angle, such as 90 degrees, to a plane of the base. The head of the stationary wrench can be configured for engaging a wrench flat formed on the rod or sinker bar extending from a wellbore.

In embodiments, the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device can include a hydraulic control assembly mounted to the base.

In embodiments, the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device is portable, movable, and relocatable. In embodiments, the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device can weigh from 50 pounds to 150 pounds.

In embodiments, the hydraulic control assembly can have a manifold. The manifold can have a first pivoting hydraulic cylinder inlet port for receiving hydraulic fluid from a reservoir and a second pivoting hydraulic cylinder output port for transferring hydraulic fluid to the reservoir.

The manifold can have a first bidirectional control port to bidirectionally flow hydraulic fluid to and from a first pivoting hydraulic cylinder port and a second bidirectional control port to bidirectionally flow hydraulic fluid to and from the second pivoting hydraulic cylinder port.

The accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device can have a lever engaging a manifold rod, which can be mounted in the manifold, for changing hydraulic fluid flow rates to and from the pivoting hydraulic cylinder.

The device can have a primary pressure control valve to adjust hydraulic fluid pressure to the pivoting hydraulic cylinder.

The accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device can be elevated enabling rod break out at an elevation from a top of a wellhead to 35 feet above the wellhead.

The pivoting wrench and the pivoting hydraulic cylinder can simultaneously pivot to engage a wrench flat on rods and sinker bars to break out the rods and sinker bars.

The pivoting wrench can be configured to operate right side up and upside down for optimizing pivoting wrench flat fit.

In embodiments, the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device can have an active radio frequency identification chip, which can be secured to the base for tracking a GPS location of each accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device when deployed.

The radio frequency identification chip can communicate via a network to a client device, which can have a client device display and a client device processor.

The client device data storage can have computer instructions for instructing the client device processor to position the GPS location of the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device geographically on a map.

In embodiments, the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device can have a microprocessor, which can be connected to a plurality of pressure sensors for automatically monitoring and comparing detected pressures to preset limits stored in a microprocessor data storage.

The microprocessor data storage can contains computer instructions for instructing the microprocessor to provide an alarm to a client device processor via the network when the pressure falls below or exceeds the preset limits.

In embodiments, a support beam can be mounted parallel to the pivoting hydraulic cylinder to prevent collapse of the base.

In embodiments, the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the manifold can be from 1000 psi to 3000 psi.

In embodiments, the pivoting wrench and the stationary wrench can each have a thickness from ½ inch to 1 inch.

In embodiments, the pivoting wrench and the stationary wrench can each be made from a hardened high tensile strength solid steel that has been hardened to a Rockwell 55 hardness.

In embodiments, the pivoting wrench and the stationary wrench can each have a length from 4 inches to 12 inches.

In embodiments, the pivoting wrench can have a head with a length different than the head of the stationary wrench.

In embodiments, the pivoting wrench arm can have an arm length different than the stationary wrench arm length.

In embodiments, the stationary wrench can have a hook shape to hold the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device stable as the pivoting wrench head is attached to the wrench flats of rods and sinker bars being broke out.

The term “break out” as used herein refers to loosen a tight connection between the rods that are screwed together, so that the connection can be unscrewed by hand. Rods are not being “broken” during break out, a threaded connection is simply loosened.

The term “client device” as used herein can refer to any client device known in the industry, such as a cellular phone, a laptop, a desktop computer, a tablet computer, a cloud based computer processor, or any device with bidirectional communication capabilities.

The term “data storage” refers to a non-transitory computer readable medium, such as a hard disk drive, solid state drive, flash drive, tape drive, and the like. The term “non-transitory computer readable medium” excludes any transitory signals but includes any non-transitory data storage circuitry, e.g., buffers, cache, and queues, within transceivers of transitory signals.

The term “GPS” as used herein refers to a global positioning system.

The term “network” as used herein can refer any network known in the industry, such as the internet, a local area network, a wide area network, a satellite network, a cellular network or another type of wireless network or combinations of networks.

The term “processor” as used herein can refer to any computer or processing device known in the industry, such as a programmable logic circuit.

Turning now to the Figures,FIG. 1depicts an accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device according to one or more embodiments.

The accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device8can have a base10with a base support11.

In embodiments, the base support can extend from 2 inches to 10 inches from the base.

The base can have a plane88on one side. The base can be suspended from a plurality of pad eyes94a-94cusing a plurality of flexible hanging devices (not visible in this Fig.). The plurality of hanging devices can be connected to the base enabling hoisting of the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device.

The accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device can include a pivoting hydraulic cylinder14, which can be connected to the base support11on a first end16.

The pivoting hydraulic cylinder can have a dimension of 3 and ½×12 inch stroke and be usable herein. The total length of the pivoting hydraulic cylinder with retracted cylinder rod between a first pin and a second pin can be 22 and ¼ inch. The cylinder rod of the cylinder can extend 12 more inches, providing a total length extended of 34 and ¼ inches.

The pivoting hydraulic cylinder can have a cylinder rod (shown inFIG. 2), a first pivoting hydraulic cylinder port18, and a second pivoting hydraulic cylinder port19.

A first pin21can connect the first end16of the pivoting hydraulic cylinder14to the base support11.

A pivoting wrench30with an angled wrench head34and a pivoting wrench arm36can connect to the cylinder rod.

The angled wrench head can have wrench flats89a-89bfor engaging wrench flats on a rod or sinker bar.

A second pin23can connect the pivoting wrench30to the pivoting hydraulic cylinder14.

The first and second pins can be solid cylinders of metal with two perforations, wherein each perforation can be used for holding a cotter pin at each end.

A stationary wrench50can connect to the base10, such as with a plurality of bolts.

The stationary wrench50can be a one piece unit with an integral arm52connected to a head54.

The arm52can extend at an angle56, such as 90 degree angle, to the plane88of the base10.

The head54of the stationary wrench can also be configured for engaging wrench flats formed on rods or sinker bars extending from the wellbore.

The cylinder rod is shown extending at a first distance90from the pivoting hydraulic cylinder14. In embodiments, the first distance90can be zero when the cylinder rod is in a fully retracted position.

The accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device can include a hydraulic control assembly60, which can be mounted to the base10.

The hydraulic control assembly60can have a manifold62. The manifold62can have an input port64for receiving hydraulic fluid65from a reservoir and an output port66for transferring the hydraulic fluid65to the reservoir.

The manifold62can have a first bidirectional control port68to flow the hydraulic fluid65to and from the first pivoting hydraulic cylinder port18.

The manifold62can have a second bidirectional control port70to flow the hydraulic fluid65to and from the second pivoting hydraulic cylinder port19.

The hydraulic control assembly60can have a lever74, which can be used for engaging a manifold rod72in the manifold62for movably changing hydraulic fluid flow rates to and from the pivoting hydraulic cylinder14.

The hydraulic control assembly60can have a primary pressure control valve80to adjust hydraulic fluid pressure to and from the pivoting hydraulic cylinder14. Usable pressure adjustment valves are available from Parker Industries, of Texas.

In embodiments, a cylinder speed valve75can be used for controlling the flow of the hydraulic fluid through the pivoting hydraulic cylinder14in order to control the speed at which the cylinder rod moves back and forth in the pivoting hydraulic cylinder.

In embodiments, an active radio frequency identification chip104acan be secured to the base10for tracking a GPS location of each accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device when deployed.

FIG. 2depicts a side view of the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device according to one or more embodiments.

The plurality of flexible hanging devices12a-12ccan be connected to the base10enabling hoisting of the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device.

In this embodiment, the flexible hanging devices are shown as chain. The chain can be 4 foot long ¼ inch steel chain.

The pivoting wrench30can be connected to the cylinder rod17of the pivoting hydraulic cylinder14using the second pin23.

The stationary wrench50can be connected to the base10. The stationary wrench50is shown below the pivoting wrench30at a distance, such as 2 inches and 9 inches, depending on the height of the base support11.

The plurality of pad eyes94a-94bcan be used to support each of the plurality of flexible hanging devices12a-12c.

The pivoting hydraulic cylinder14can have the cylinder rod17extending from one end. The pivoting hydraulic cylinder can engage the base support11on a side opposite the cylinder rod17using the first pin21.

The pivoting wrench30can engage the cylinder rod17with the second pin23.

The pivoting hydraulic cylinder14is shown with the first pivoting hydraulic cylinder port18and the second pivoting hydraulic cylinder port19.

The lever74can engage the manifold rod of the manifold62.

A support beam206can be mounted parallel to the pivoting hydraulic cylinder14to prevent collapse of the base.

An additional radio frequency identification chip104bis shown and can be disposed on the support beam.

FIG. 3depicts a top view of the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device with a cylinder rod of a pivoting hydraulic cylinder extended according to one or more embodiments.

The accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device8is shown with the cylinder rod17extended from the pivoting hydraulic cylinder14.

The accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device8is shown with the base10supporting the pivoting hydraulic cylinder14extending the cylinder rod17at a second distance92.

The pivoting wrench30is shown connected to the cylinder rod17by the second pin23. The pivoting wrench30is shown with the angled wrench head34connected to the pivoting wrench arm36.

The stationary wrench50is depicted with the head54connected to arm52.

The pivoting hydraulic cylinder14can be connected to the base support with the first pin21.

The hydraulic control assembly60with the manifold62is shown.

FIG. 4shows the pivoting movement of the pivoting hydraulic cylinder according to one or more embodiments.

The pivoting hydraulic cylinder14can be mounted to the base10using the base support with the first pin21.

The pivoting hydraulic cylinder14can be pivoted through a first angle96or a second angle98to allow an operator to easily move the pivoting wrench30into position. The first angle96can be from 0 degrees to 10 degrees and the second angle98can be from 0 degrees to 25 degrees.

The hydraulic control assembly60can be mounted to the base10, which can have a shape that is not rectangular and is angular. Many base shapes can be used, such as triangles and octagons. The pivoting wrench30with the angled wrench head34and the pivoting wrench arm36can be connected to the cylinder rod via the second pin23. The stationary wrench50with the head54and the arm52are also shown.

FIG. 5shows a detail of a pivoting wrench according to one or more embodiments.

The pivoting wrench30with the pivoting wrench arm36and the angled wrench head34. The angled wrench head can be secured to a wrench flat76aof a rod78a.

The stationary wrench50with the arm52and the head54, wherein the head54can be secured to a different wrench flat76bfor a different rod78bfor break out of the rods.

FIG. 6is a diagram of the flow of hydraulic fluid through the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device according to one or more embodiments.

In this embodiment, a reservoir300can supply the hydraulic fluid65to the input port64of the manifold62past a pressure sensor108a.

The pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the manifold62can be adjusted with the primary pressure control valve80.

The manifold rod72in the manifold62of the hydraulic control assembly can be actuated by the lever74. The manifold rod72controls the hydraulic fluid65through the first bidirectional control port68to the first pivoting hydraulic cylinder port18to power the cylinder rod in the pivoting hydraulic cylinder14.

The hydraulic fluid65can flow into the second bidirectional control port70to and from the second pivoting hydraulic cylinder port19.

A cylinder speed valve75can control the speed of the cylinder rod.

A pressure sensor108bcan monitor pressure of the hydraulic fluid65as it is returned to the reservoir300from the output port66.

A microprocessor106can be in communication with the pressure sensors108a-108band the primary pressure control valve80to communicate information to a network99and at least one client device299connected to the network to control operations.

FIG. 7is a detail of a client device according to one or more embodiments.

At least one client device299, which can have a client device display301connected to a client device processor302and a client device data storage304can be in communication with the network.

The client device data storage304can contain computer instructions202for instructing the client device processor to position the GPS location of the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device geographically on a map.

In embodiments, the computer instructions can use a signal from the radio frequency identification chip. In embodiments the radio frequency identification chip can be in communication with the network, which can in turn communication to the at least one client device299.

FIG. 8is a detail of a microprocessor according to one or more embodiments.

The microprocessor106can be connected to at least one pressure sensor (as shown inFIG. 6), or a plurality of pressure sensors, for automatically detecting pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device.

The microprocessor can communicate with a microprocessor data storage110.

The microprocessor data storage110can have preset limits112, such as preset pressure limits for the hydraulic fluid in the pivoting hydraulic cylinder.

The microprocessor data storage110can contain computer instructions402for instructing the microprocessor to provide an alarm to a client device processor via the network when the hydraulic fluid pressure falls below or exceeds the preset limits.

FIGS. 9A-9Edepict another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9Adepicts an accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device8for rods and sinker bars extending from a wellbore.

The accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device8has a base10with a base support11rising from the base at a right angle and an extended side15extending away from the base in the same plane as the base.

In embodiments, an integral one piece frame13can be connected to the base10having an L shaped configuration. The integral one piece frame13can be made of steel plate capable of sustaining pressures of 200 psi without deforming.

A flexible hanger and leveling device112is removably connected to the integral one piece frame configured for supporting the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device while hoisting.

The flexible hanger and leveling device112can be mounted to the portion of the integral one piece frame13opposite the base10.

A pivoting hydraulic cylinder14can be mounted within the integral one piece frame13and connects through the base support11.

The pivoting hydraulic cylinder14can have a cylinder rod17. A cylinder rod clevis220can be mounted to the cylinder rod17.

In embodiments, a hydraulic control assembly60and the outlet port116are shown.

FIG. 9Bdepicts an input port100for receiving hydraulic fluid from a reservoir of a manifold of the hydraulic control assembly.

The integral one piece frame13and the hydraulic cylinder can be within the frame showing the second pivoting hydraulic cylinder port19.

In embodiments, the first bidirectional control port68can bidirectionally flow the hydraulic fluid to and from the first pivoting hydraulic cylinder port18. The second bidirectional control port70can bidirectionally flow the hydraulic fluid to and from the second pivoting hydraulic cylinder port.

The flexible hanger and leveling device112can have a pair of slotted plates102aand102bmounted in parallel on a top side of the one piece frame13. A leveling screw132can be mounted through the slots of the pair of slotted plates. A shackle114can be moveably positioned around the leveling screw.

The leveling screw of the flexible hanger and leveling device112can have a helical groove enabling the shackle to slide over the leveling screw. The helical groove can be as wide as the shackle is wide. All elements of the flexible hanger and leveling system can be made from steel.

In embodiments, a cylinder speed valve75can be used for controlling the flow of the hydraulic fluid through the pivoting hydraulic cylinder in order to control the speed at which the cylinder rod moves back and forth in the pivoting hydraulic cylinder.

FIG. 9Cdepicts another view of this embodiment showing the integral one piece frame13.

A primary pressure control valve80shown, which can adjust hydraulic fluid pressure to the pivoting hydraulic cylinder.

A first pivoting hydraulic cylinder port18and a second pivoting hydraulic cylinder port19of the pivoting hydraulic cylinder14are depicted.

Connected within the frame and through the frame is the pivoting hydraulic cylinder mounted over a bearing roller118that connects the pivoting hydraulic cylinder to the base.

Also within the integral one piece frame13can be a hydraulic control assembly60.

A lever74can engage the manifold62for changing hydraulic fluid flow rates to and from the pivoting hydraulic cylinder.

In embodiments, the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device for rods and sinker bars can have a wrench stop77to control pivoting to within a preset limit and a tool tray120providing protected containerization of pivoting wrenches on the base.

FIGS. 9D and 9Edepicts a pivoting wrench30that connects to the cylinder rod wherein the cylinder rod clevis engages a rod78. The pivoting wrench can have wrench flats for a more secure engagement with the rod78.

A second pin23connects the pivoting wrench to the pivoting hydraulic cylinder14, enabling the wrench flats of the pivoting wrench to be at an angle to the second pin, such as at a 30 degree angle.

The pivoting wrench30and the pivoting wrench arm36can be connected to the rod78via the second pin23.

Separated from the pivoting wrench and attached to the base is a stationary wrench50.

The stationary wrench50connects to the base such as by rivets, or bolts and nuts. Other fastening systems can be used which can sustain the torque needed to make up or break out the pipe.

In embodiments, a base lock55can be shown.

The stationary wrench can have an arm52connected to a head54.

The arm can extend from the base in the same plane as the base and can be oriented so that the head54has an opening that opens away from the base.

The head can be configured for engaging a rod78extending from a wellbore.

The opening of the head of the stationary wrench can be oriented opposite to the opening of the head54of the pivoting wrench30to provide full torque to the pipe without twisting the device.

The hydraulic control assembly can have a plurality of components, all mounted within the integral one piece frame.

In embodiments, the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device can use a pivoting wrench30that has an angled wrench head and a pivoting wrench arm. The angled head can be 10 to 40 degrees angled from the longitudinal axis of the wrench arm. The pivoting wrench arm can engage with the pivoting hydraulic cylinder with removable pin or with a latching head79or both.

The tool tray120can be shown, providing protected containerization of pivoting wrenches on the base.

In embodiments, the wrench stop77is depicted.

In this embodiment, the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device can be elevated enabling rod break out at an elevation from a top of a wellhead to 35 feet above the wellhead by handing from the flexible hanger and leveling device, and wherein the pivoting wrench and the pivoting hydraulic cylinder can simultaneously pivot to engage rods and sinker bars from a wellbore to break out the rods and sinker bars. The pivoting wrench is configured to operate right side up and upside down for optimizing pivoting wrench flat fit.

As shown in other figures this embodiment of the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device can have an active radio frequency identification chip secured to the base for tracking a GPS location of each accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device when deployed, and wherein the radio frequency identification chip communicates via a network to at least one client device having a client device display and a client device processor communicating with computer instructions in a client device data storage instructing the client device processor to position the GPS location of the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device geographically on a map and a microprocessor connected to at least one pressure sensor for automatically monitoring and comparing detected pressures to preset limits stored in a microprocessor data storage, and computer instructions for instructing the microprocessor to provide an alarm to the client device processor via the network when the pressure falls below or exceeds the preset limits.

In embodiment of this version of the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device, the pivoting wrench and the stationary wrench each can have a length from 4 inches to 12 inches.

In embodiments of this version of the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device the pivoting wrench has a head with a length different than the head of the stationary wrench. In other embodiments, the pivoting wrench arm has a length different than the stationary wrench arm.

This version of the invention contemplates that the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device uses a stationary wrench with a hook shape to hold the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device stable as the pivoting wrench head is attached to the wrench flats of rods and sinker bars being broke out.

In embodiments, the accelerated rod and sinker bar break out device for rods and sinker bars can have a latching head79connected to the cylinder rod and wherein the pivoting wrench enabling adjustment of the pivoting wrench to a location of the rod or sinker bar.