Tubing saver rotator and method for using same
First Claim
1. A rotator assembly in a casing head, wellhead or tubing head (hereinafter said casing head, wellhead or tubing head referred to as “
- casing head”
) for rotatably suspending a tubing string in an oil well, said rotator assembly comprising;
a mandrel bowl in communication with the casing head, said mandrel bowl having a ledge support, said ledge support having a rotation surface, a tubing mandrel rotatably mounted to the mandrel bowl, said tubing mandrel having an upper end, a lower end, and a mandrel ledge, wherein the rotation surface is disposed between said ledge support and the mandrel ledge of the tubing mandrel, wherein the mandrel ledge engages and rotatably rides the rotation surface, a bowl plate positioned between the casing head and the tubing mandrel, and a rotation means, wherein the tubing mandrel is rotatably supported on the rotation surface, wherein the lower end of the tubing mandrel is attached to the tubing string.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a tubing rotator assembly for attachment to an existing casing head for purposes of suspending and rotating a tubing string in an oil well. In the preferred embodiment, the tubing assembly includes a rotation surface, such as a bearing, in which a tubing mandrel rests and allows one to rotate the tubing manually above the wellhead. It provides a low profile reducing the distance between the casing head and the pumping tee, which may eliminate the need for one to raise the pumping unit to fit on the rotator. In addition, the conventional seals above the rotation surface have less chance of leaking fluids located between the casing and tubing due to the seals potentially installed in the present invention. In addition, if the conventional seals do start to leak, then one can change the packing rubber without having to remove the tubing rotator assembly or tubing string (thus, not requiring a rig to change the sealing elements). The tubing assembly includes a mandrel bowl that rests inside the casing head. The mandrel bowl has an interior ledge in which the bearing may be placed on top of the ledge. A tubing mandrel is partially contained within the interior of the mandrel bowl with one end exiting the bottom of the bowl and attached to the tubing string in the well, and the opposite end of the tubing mandrel exiting the top of the bowl. The tubing mandrel has a ledge which is rotatably mounted to the mandrel bowl. Said ledge of the tubing mandrel is supported on the bearing, which bearing rests on the interior ledge of the mandrel bowl. The ledge of the tubing mandrel therefore engages and rotatably rides against the bearing. This arrangement allows the tubing to rotate by rotating the tubing mandrel resting on the bearing located inside the mandrel bowl.
110 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A rotator assembly in a casing head, wellhead or tubing head (hereinafter said casing head, wellhead or tubing head referred to as “
- casing head”
) for rotatably suspending a tubing string in an oil well, said rotator assembly comprising;
a mandrel bowl in communication with the casing head, said mandrel bowl having a ledge support, said ledge support having a rotation surface, a tubing mandrel rotatably mounted to the mandrel bowl, said tubing mandrel having an upper end, a lower end, and a mandrel ledge, wherein the rotation surface is disposed between said ledge support and the mandrel ledge of the tubing mandrel, wherein the mandrel ledge engages and rotatably rides the rotation surface, a bowl plate positioned between the casing head and the tubing mandrel, and a rotation means, wherein the tubing mandrel is rotatably supported on the rotation surface, wherein the lower end of the tubing mandrel is attached to the tubing string. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- casing head”
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16. A rotator assembly in a casing head, wellhead or tubing head (hereinafter said casing head, wellhead or tubing head referred to as “
- casing head”
) for rotatably suspending a tubing string in an oil well, said rotator assembly comprising;
a tubing mandrel having an upper end, a lower end, and a mandrel ledge, a bottom plate having a rotation surface positioned between the bottom plate and the mandrel ledge, wherein the mandrel ledge engages and rotatably rides the rotation surface, said bottom plate disposed between an interior edge of the casing head and an exterior edge of the tubing mandrel, a mandrel plate positioned between the casing head and the tubing mandrel, said mandrel plate resting on the mandrel ledge, and a rotation means, wherein the tubing mandrel is rotatably supported on the rotation surface, wherein the lower end of the tubing mandrel is attached to the tubing string. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
- casing head”
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27. A rotator assembly inside a casing head, wellhead or tubing head (hereinafter said casing head, wellhead or tubing head referred to as “
- casing head”
) for rotatably suspending a tubing string in an oil well, said rotator assembly comprising;
a mandrel bowl in communication with the casing head, said mandrel bowl having a ledge support, said ledge support having a rotation surface, a tubing mandrel rotatably mounted to the mandrel bowl, said tubing mandrel having an upper end, a lower end, and a mandrel ledge, wherein the rotation surface is disposed between said ledge support and the mandrel ledge of the tubing mandrel, wherein the mandrel ledge engages and rotatably rides the rotation surface, and a rotation means, wherein the lower end of the tubing mandrel is attached to the tubing string. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
- casing head”
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37. A rotator assembly for rotatably suspending a tubing string in an oil well, said rotator assembly comprising:
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a mandrel bowl in communication with a flange connection, said mandrel bowl having a ledge support, said ledge support having a rotation surface, a tubing mandrel rotatably mounted to the mandrel bowl, said tubing mandrel having an upper end, a lower end, and a mandrel ledge, wherein the rotation surface is disposed between said ledge support and the mandrel ledge of the tubing mandrel, wherein the mandrel ledge engages and rotatably rides the rotation surface, a bowl plate positioned between the flange connection and the tubing mandrel, a rotation means, wherein the tubing mandrel is rotatably supported on the rotation surface, wherein the lower end of the tubing mandrel is attached to the tubing string. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification