Annular flow lubricator method and apparatus
AssigneeEpic Lift Systems
InventorShannon Freeman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described herein are embodiments of apparatuses and methods that include an annular flow lubricator. In an exemplary embodiment, the annular flow lubricator includes a body housing an internal flow tube such that well flow enters a lower portion of the internal flow tube, travels up the internal flow tube, and exits an upper portion of the internal flow tube. Upon exiting the upper portion of the internal flow tube, well flow then travels in an annulus between the body of the lubricator and a wall of the internal flow tube before exiting an outlet port of the lubricator.
Claims44
A lubricator, comprising:
- a body having a central bore extending at least between a first part and a second part of the body, where the body's central bore includes a support seat that supports a lower end of an internal flow tube;
- the internal flow tube having a central bore extending at least between a first part and a second part of the internal flow tube, the internal flow tube sized such that at least part of the internal flow tube slides in at least part of the body's central bore;
- the support seat supporting the internal flow tube in the body's central bore by preventing the internal flow tube from sliding in the body's central bore below the body's support seat;
- a first flow path located in the central bore of the internal flow tube;
- and
- a second flow path located between the internal flow tube and a sidewall of the body's central bore.
A lubricator and flow block combination, comprising:
- a lubricator having a central bore extending at least between a first portion and a second portion of the lubricator;
- a flow block having a central bore extending at least between a first portion and a second portion of the flow block, where the central bore of the flow block is in fluid communication with the central bore of the lubricator, wherein the central bore of the flow block includes a support seat that supports a lower end of an internal flow tube;
- the internal flow tube having a central bore extending at least between a first portion and a second portion of the internal flow tube, the internal flow tube sized such that at least part of the internal flow tube slides in the lubricator's central bore and the flow block's central bore;
- the support seat supporting the internal flow tube in the lubricator's central bore and in the flow block's central bore by preventing the internal flow tube from sliding in the flow block's central bore below the flow block's support seat;
- a first flow path located in the central bore of the internal flow tube;
- and
- a second flow path located between the internal flow tube and a sidewall of the lubricator's central bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.