Wellhead lubricator and methods of operating same

A wellhead lubricator comprising:

• a yoke housing, the yoke housing comprising a first end configured for connection to a barrel housing and a second end configured for connection to a wellhead, the yoke housing defining a yoke cavity through which a barrel rod extends along an axis of the yoke cavity,
• a first clamp situated in the yoke cavity and configured for selective engagement with the barrel rod;
• a second clamp situated in the yoke cavity and configured for selective engagement with the barrel rod;
• an extensible actuator connected to at least one of the first clamp and the second clamp;
• a controller configured to actuate the extensible actuator, the selective engagement of the first clamp, and the selective engagement of the second clamp in the coordinated manner to provide the translation of the barrel rod along the axis of the yoke cavity.

A wellhead lubricator comprising:

• a yoke housing, the yoke housing comprising a first end configured for connection to a barrel housing and a second end configured for connection to a wellhead, the yoke housing defining a yoke cavity through which a barrel rod extends along an axis of the yoke cavity;
• a first clamp situated in the yoke cavity and configured for selective engagement with the barrel rod;
• a second clamp situated in the yoke cavity and configured for selective engagement with the barrel rod;
• an extensible actuator connected to at least one of the first clamp and the second clamp;
• wherein the extensible actuator, the first clamp, and the second clamp are configured to be operated in coordinated manner to provide translation of the barrel rod along the axis of the yoke cavity;
• wherein the extensible actuator situated in the yoke cavity and co-axially mounted about the barrel rod;
• wherein the extensible actuator is connected to the first clamp and is situated in the yoke cavity between the yoke housing first end and the first clamp;
• and
• wherein the second clamp is situated in the yoke cavity between the first clamp and the yoke housing second end.

A wellhead lubricator of comprising:

• a yoke housing, the yoke housing comprising a first end configured for connection to a barrel housing and a second end configured for connection to a wellhead, the yoke housing defining a yoke cavity through which a barrel rod extends along an axis of the yoke cavity;
• a first clamp situated in the yoke cavity and configured for selective engagement with the barrel rod;
• a second clamp situated in the yoke cavity and configured for selective engagement with the barrel rod;
• an extensible actuator connected to at least one of the first clamp and the second clamp;
• wherein the extensible actuator, the first clamp, and the second clamp are configured to be operated in coordinated manner to provide translation of the barrel rod along the axis of the yoke cavity;
• wherein the extensible actuator is connected to both the first clamp and the second clamp.

A wellhead lubricator comprising:

• a yoke housing, the yoke housing comprising a first end configured for connection to a barrel housing and a second end configured for connection to a wellhead, the yoke housing defining a yoke cavity through which a barrel rod extends along an axis of the yoke cavity;
• a first clamp situated in the yoke cavity and configured for selective engagement with the barrel rod;
• a second clamp situated in the yoke cavity and configured for selective engagement with the barrel rod;
• an extensible actuator connected to at least one of the first clamp and the second clamp;
• wherein the extensible actuator, the first clamp, and the second clamp are configured to be operated in coordinated manner to provide translation of the barrel rod along the axis of the yoke cavity;
• wherein the extensible actuator comprises a hydraulic cylinder;
• and
• further comprising a controller configured to actuate the extensible actuator, the selective engagement of the first clamp, and the selective engagement of the second clamp in the coordinated manner to provide the translation of the barrel rod along the axis of the yoke cavity, and wherein the controller is configured to selectively supply hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic cylinder, the first clamp, and the second clamp to provide the translation of the barrel rod along the axis of the yoke cavity.

A wellhead lubricator comprising:

• a yoke housing, the yoke housing comprising a first end configured for connection to a barrel housing and a second end configured for connection to a wellhead, the yoke housing defining a yoke cavity through which a barrel rod extends along an axis of the yoke cavity;
• a first clamp situated in the yoke cavity and configured for selective engagement with the barrel rod;
• a second clamp situated in the yoke cavity and configured for selective engagement with the barrel rod;
• an extensible actuator connected to at least one of the first clamp and the second clamp;
• wherein the extensible actuator, the first clamp, and the second clamp are configured to be operated in coordinated manner to provide translation of the barrel rod along the axis of the yoke cavity;
• wherein the extensible actuator comprises a hydraulic cylinder;
• and
• wherein the controller comprises a hydraulic power unit.

A wellhead lubricator comprising:

• a yoke housing, the yoke housing comprising a first end configured for connection to a barrel housing and a second end configured for connection to a wellhead, the yoke housing defining a yoke cavity through which a barrel rod extends along an axis of the yoke cavity;
• a first clamp situated in the yoke cavity and configured for selective engagement with the barrel rod;
• a second clamp situated in the yoke cavity and configured for selective engagement with the barrel rod;
• an extensible actuator connected to at least one of the first clamp and the second clamp;
• wherein the extensible actuator, the first clamp, and the second clamp are configured to be operated in coordinated manner to provide translation of the barrel rod along the axis of the yoke cavity;
• wherein the extensible actuator comprises an electrically or magnetically actuated cylinder.

A wellhead lubricator comprising:

• a yoke housing, the yoke housing comprising a first end configured for connection to a barrel housing and a second end configured for connection to a wellhead, the yoke housing defining a yoke cavity through which a barrel rod extends along an axis of the yoke cavity;
• a first clamp situated in the yoke cavity and configured for selective engagement with the barrel rod;
• a second clamp situated in the yoke cavity and configured for selective engagement with the barrel rod;
• an extensible actuator connected to at least one of the first clamp and the second clamp;
• wherein the extensible actuator, the first clamp, and the second clamp are configured to be operated in coordinated manner to provide translation of the barrel rod along the axis of the yoke cavity;
• further comprising a torque applicator which is connected to at least one of the first clamp and the second clamp and configured to rotate the barrel rod about the axis of the yoke cavity.

A method of operating a wellhead lubricator comprising:

• isolating a yoke cavity from pressure from a wellhead, a barrel rod extending along an axis of the yoke cavity, the yoke cavity being provided in a yoke housing which comprises a first end configured for connection to a barrel housing and a second end configured for connection to the wellhead;
• balancing wellhead pressure above and below the yoke cavity;
• operating, in coordinated manner to provide translation of a barrel rod along an axis of the yoke cavity:
• a first clamp situated in the yoke cavity and configured for selective engagement with the barrel rod;
• a second clamp situated in the yoke cavity and configured for selective engagement with the barrel rod;
• an extensible actuator connected to at least one of the first clamp and the second clamp.

A wellhead lubricator apparatus comprising:

• a yoke assembly configured to engage a wellhead and comprising a yoke cavity which is isolated from pressure from the wellhead;
• a barrel assembly configured to be detachably engageable with the yoke assembly, the barrel assembly comprising:
• a barrel housing into which pressure from the wellhead travels;
• a rod movable coaxially within the barrel housing and having a tool attached to a lower portion of the rod, the rod extending through the yoke assembly, the rod being subject to the pressure from the wellhead in the barrel housing but not subject to the pressure from the wellhead in the yoke cavity;
• a pressure controller configured to balance pressure from the wellhead above and below the yoke cavity;
• and
• an actuator situated in the yoke assembly for controllably moving rod reciprocally.