Bypass plungers including force dissipating elements and methods of using the same

A method of using a plunger in a well, the plunger comprising a shaft, a sleeve carried by the shaft, the sleeve defining a passageway located between a surface of the sleeve and a portion of the shaft, and the sleeve being longitudinally translatable relative to the shaft from a first configuration that inhibits fluid flow through the passageway to a second configuration that permits fluid flow through the passageway and vice versa, and the plunger further comprising a force dissipating element interposed between the shaft and the sleeve, the method comprising:

• moving the plunger within the well while the sleeve occupies one of the first configuration and the second configuration relative to the shaft;
• translating the sleeve to the other of the first configuration and the second configuration relative to the shaft;
• stopping the sleeve in the other of the first configuration and the second configuration relative to the shaft;
• and
• at least partially dissipating forces caused by stopping the sleeve relative to the shaft via the force dissipating element;
• wherein the force dissipating element acts as a seal between the shaft and the sleeve to inhibit fluid flow through the passageway in the first configuration.

A plunger for lifting accumulated liquids from a well, the plunger comprising:

• a shaft;
• a sleeve carried by the shaft, the sleeve defining a passageway located between a surface of the sleeve and a portion of the shaft, and the sleeve being longitudinally translatable relative to the shaft from a first configuration that inhibits fluid flow through the passageway to a second configuration that permits fluid flow through the passageway and vice versa;
• a force dissipating element interposed between the shaft and the sleeve, the force dissipating element at least partially dissipating forces caused by at least one of (1) the sleeve stopping relative to the shaft after translating from the first configuration to the second configuration;
• and (2) the sleeve stopping relative to the shaft after translating from the second configuration to the first configuration;
• an end nut carried by the shaft, wherein the force dissipating element is carried by the end nut, the end nut comprising:
• a base;
• and
• a cover detachably coupled to the base, the force dissipating element being carried between the base and the cover.

A plunger for lifting accumulated liquids from a well, the plunger comprising:

• a shaft comprising:
• a head portion comprising a shoulder surface;
• a neck portion coupled to the head portion at the shoulder surface;
• a sleeve carried by the shaft, the sleeve defining a passageway located between a surface of the sleeve and a portion of the shaft, and the sleeve being longitudinally translatable relative to the shaft from a first configuration that inhibits fluid flow through the passageway to a second configuration that permits fluid flow through the passageway and vice versa;
• a first force dissipating element interposed between the shaft and the sleeve, the first force dissipating element at least partially dissipating forces caused by the sleeve stopping relative to the shaft after translating from the second configuration to the first configuration;
• and
• a second force dissipating element interposed between the shaft and the sleeve, the second force dissipating element at least partially dissipating forces caused by the sleeve stopping relative to the shaft after translating from the first configuration to the second configuration, the second force dissipating element being carried by the neck portion, and the second force dissipating element engaging the shoulder surface.