Fluid catching and signaling stuffing box enclosure

Abstract

A oil well stuffing box containment system is disclosed, which may be used for containing leaks from an oil well stuffing box which is used to seal around the polish rod which is connected to the rod string. The disclosed apparatus comprises a secondary container which encloses the stuffing box, a drain from the secondary container, and a storage container which is used for collecting any liquids which are drained from the secondary container. The secondary container has an upper seal for sealing around the polish rod, and a lower seal which seals around a member of the production tree. A disclosed alternative embodiment provides means for injecting the escaped liquids back into the production system.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for containing an oil well stuffing box, the stuffing box being the type which attaches to a production tree and seals around a polish rod, the polish rod connected on one end to an oil well pumping unit, and connected on the other end to a rod string which, in turn, is connected to a downhole positive displacement pump, the containment system comprising: 
 (a) a secondary container for enclosing the stuffing box, the secondary container having two halves, each of the halves having facing edges, the secondary container also having a top and a bottom, and fastening means for fastening the two halves around the stuffing box so the facing edges are abutted together, the container having upper sealing means for sealing around the polish rod, and lower sealing means for sealing around a production tree member, and facing edge sealing means;    (b) a drain connected to the bottom of the secondary container to allow fluids, which have escaped from a leaking stuffing box, to drain from the secondary container; and    (c) a storage container hydraulicly connected to the drain, for receiving fluids which have escaped from a leaking stuffing box.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a pressure relief valve is attached to the storage container.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper sealing means and lower sealing means comprise rubber seals.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper sealing means, the lower sealing means, and the facing edge sealing means comprise a pair of unitary seal elements.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the production tree member is the stuffing box.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the production tree member is a tubing nipple.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the production tree member is a production flow tee.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein plexiglass windows are placed in the secondary container, wherein the plexiglass windows are of the type which allow visual inspection of the secondary container to determine whether any liquids have been released into the secondary container.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a float switch is disposed within the secondary container, the float switch being of the type which is activated if the liquid level in the secondary container reaches a predetermined level.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the float switch is connected to an alarm device.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the float switch is connected to a motor control panel for the pumping unit to shut the pumping unit off if the liquid level in the secondary container reaches a predetermined level.  
     
     
         12 . A system for containing an oil well stuffing box, the stuffing box being the type which attaches to a production tree and seals around a polish rod, the polish rod connected on one end to an oil well pumping unit having a walking beam, and connected on the other end to a rod string which, in turn, is connected to a downhole positive displacement pump, the containment system comprising: 
 (a) a secondary container for enclosing the stuffing box, the secondary container having two halves, each of the halves having facing edges, the secondary container also having a top and a bottom, and fastening means for fastening the two halves around the stuffing box so the facing edges are abutted together, the container having upper sealing means for sealing around the polish rod, and lower sealing means for sealing around the bottom of the stuffing box, and facing edge sealing means, the two halves hingedly attached one to the other, so the secondary container may be swung open or closed as required;    (b) a drain connected to the secondary container;    (c) a piston and cylinder combination operationally attached to actuating means for reciprocating the piston within the cylinder, the piston and cylinder combination being of the type which creates suction when the piston is reciprocated in a first direction and creates pressure when the piston is reciprocated in a direction opposite to the first direction;    (d) a first hydraulic conduit connecting the drain to a manifold, the manifold being hydraulically connected to the piston and cylinder combination; and    (e) a first check valve inserted in the first hydraulic conduit between the drain and the manifold, the first check valve so positioned so that when the piston and cylinder combination applies suction to the manifold, the first check valve allows flow from the drain to the manifold, and when the piston and cylinder combination applies pressure to the manifold, the first check valve closes.    
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the actuating means comprises connecting the piston to the the walking beam of the pumping unit, so that the piston is stroked by the reciprocation of the walking beam.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the secondary container has a pressure relief valve.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a second hydraulic conduit connecting the manifold to the production tree and a second check valve, the second check valve so positioned so that when the piston and cylinder combination applies a pressure to the manifold, the second check valve allows flow from the manifold to the production tree, and when the piston and cylinder combination applies suction to the manifold, the second check valve closes.