Universal pipe and tubing injection apparatus and method

An improved injection apparatus for running both jointed and coiled tubular members into and out of a well bore in the earth, said apparatus comprising:

• a support structure adjacent to a well bore;
• an injector mounted to said support structure in an operative position, said injector being capable of releasably gripping a selected jointed or coiled tubular member and selectively conveying said tubular member vertically relative to the well bore, while in said operative position;
• a working platform mounted to said support structure, said working platform being positioned relative to said injector so as to provide access to the tubular member for personnel on said working platform, with said injector in said operative position;
• a reel support for rotatably carrying a reel of coiled tubing adjacent to said injector;
• and
• a vertical mast;
• with said reel support comprising a trolley movably mounted on said mast.

A method of selective injecting of jointed and coiled tubing into and pulling of jointed and coiled tubing from a well bore, the method comprising:

• providing an injector and a working platform, said injector being positioned so as to provide personnel access to tubing by personnel working atop said working platform during injection and pulling operations;
• providing a tubing guide member for directing coiled tubing to said injector when coiled tubing is to be injected or pulled, said guide member being shaped generally as an arc of a circle;
• selectively directing coiled tubing generally along a first tangent to said arc of said circle, between a first end of said guide member and the axis of said injector and directing the tubing generally along a second tangent to said arc of said circle, at a second end of said guide member, to inject or pull coiled tubing with said injector;
• positioning said injector beneath said working platform for enabling access to the tubing above said working platform;
• positioning said guide member above said working platform to inject or pull coiled tubing;
• and
• moving said guide member away from said injector to facilitate access to the coiled tubing above said injector, during injection or pulling of coiled tubing.

A method of selective injecting of jointed and coiled tubing into and pulling of jointed and coiled tubing from a well bore, the method comprising:

• providing an injector and a working platform, said injector being positioned so as to provide personnel access to tubing atop said working platform during injection and pulling operations;
• providing a tubing guide member for directing coiled tubing to said injector when coiled tubing is to be injected or pulled, said guide member being shaped generally as an arc of a circle;
• selectively directing coiled tubing generally along a first tangent to said arc of said circle, between a first end of said guide member and the axis of said injector and directing the tubing generally along a second tangent to said arc of said circle at a second end of said guide member, to inject or pull coiled tubing with said injector;
• providing apparatus for handling jointed tubing when jointed tubing is to be injected or pulled;
• selectively handling jointed tubing sections in alignment with said axis of said injector, to inject or pull jointed tubing with said injector;
• providing a vertical mast adjacent to said working platform;
• movably mounting said injector to said vertical mast, above said working platform;
• selectively lowering said injector to a lowered position adjacent said working platform during injection or pulling of tubing, when coiled tubing is to be injected or pulled;
• and
• selectively raising said injector to an elevated position spaced above said working platform, when jointed tubing is to be injected or pulled.

An improved injection apparatus for running tubular members into and out of a well bore in the earth, said apparatus comprising:

• a support structure including a vertical mast adjacent to a well bore;
• a working platform secured to said support structure;
• an injector movably mounted on said mast, said injector being selectively positionable at a first vertical position spaced above said working platform, so as to provide access above said working platform for personnel working while supported on said working platform, and said injector being selectively positionable at a second vertical position spaced from said first position, said injector being capable of releasably gripping a selected tubular member and selectively conveying said tubular member vertically relative to the well bore;
• and
• an elongated mandrel movably mounted in said injector for vertical movement by said injector, said mandrel having a lower end protruding downwardly from said injector for selective attachment to a jointed tubular member for moving the jointed tubular member.

A method of selective utilization of tubing injection equipment for injecting and pulling either jointed or coiled tubing, said method comprising:

• providing a vertical mast;
• providing an injector, said injector being movably mounted on said vertical mast above a working platform;
• and
• when in the coiled tubing mode of operation:
• providing a tubing guide member for directing coiled tubing to said injector when coiled tubing is to be injected or pulled, said guide member being shaped generally as an arc of a circle;
• and
• selectively lowering said injector to a lowered position adjacent said working platform during injection or pulling of tubing;
• and
• when in the jointed tubing mode of operation:
• providing an elongated mandrel removably mountable in said injector and adapted to be connected to jointed tubing;
• and
• selectively raising said injector to an elevated position spaced above said working platform during injection or pulling of tubing.

A method for injecting and pulling jointed tubing into or out of a well bore, said method comprising:

• providing a vertical mast;
• providing an injector mounted on said vertical mast above a working platform;
• providing an elongated mandrel movably mountable in said injector and adapted to be connected to jointed tubing;
• sequentially attaching or detaching sections of jointed tubing to a lower end of said mandrel, below said injector, when jointed tubing is to be injected or pulled;
• and
• raising and lowering said mandrel with said injector to inject or pull said sections of jointed tubing.

An improved injection apparatus for running tubular members into and out of a well bore, said apparatus comprising:

• a support structure adjacent to a well bore;
• a working platform secured to said support structure;
• and
• an injector carried by said support structure, said injector being capable of gripping a tubular member and conveying said tubular member vertically relative to the well bore, said injector being positioned below said working platform so as to provide access to the tubular member above said working platform for personnel working while supported on said working platform.