Tubing saver rotator and method for using same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tubing rotator assembly for attachment to an existing casing head for purposes of suspending and rotating a tubing string in an oil well. In the preferred embodiment, the tubing assembly includes a rotation surface, such as a bearing, in which a tubing mandrel rests and allows one to rotate the tubing manually above the wellhead. It provides a low profile reducing the distance between the casing head and the pumping tee, which may eliminate the need for one to raise the pumping unit to fit on the rotator. In addition, the conventional seals above the rotation surface have less chance of leaking fluids located between the casing and tubing due to the seals potentially installed in the present invention. In addition, if the conventional seals do start to leak, then one can change the packing rubber without having to remove the tubing rotator assembly or tubing string (thus, not requiring a rig to change the sealing elements). The tubing assembly includes a mandrel bowl that rests inside the casing head. The mandrel bowl has an interior ledge in which the bearing may be placed on top of the ledge. A tubing mandrel is partially contained within the interior of the mandrel bowl with one end exiting the bottom of the bowl and attached to the tubing string in the well, and the opposite end of the tubing mandrel exiting the top of the bowl. The tubing mandrel has a ledge which is rotatably mounted to the mandrel bowl. Said ledge of the tubing mandrel is supported on the bearing, which bearing rests on the interior ledge of the mandrel bowl. The ledge of the tubing mandrel therefore engages and rotatably rides against the bearing. This arrangement allows the tubing to rotate by rotating the tubing mandrel resting on the bearing located inside the mandrel bowl.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A rotator assembly in a casing head, wellhead or tubing head (hereinafter said casing head, wellhead or tubing head referred to as “casing head”) for rotatably suspending a tubing string in an oil well, said rotator assembly comprising: 
 a mandrel bowl in communication with the casing head, said mandrel bowl having a ledge support, said ledge support having a rotation surface,  
 a tubing mandrel rotatably mounted to the mandrel bowl, said tubing mandrel having an upper end, a lower end, and a mandrel ledge, wherein the rotation surface is disposed between said ledge support and the mandrel ledge of the tubing mandrel, wherein the mandrel ledge engages and rotatably rides the rotation surface,  
 a bowl plate positioned between the casing head and the tubing mandrel, and  
 a rotation means,  
 wherein the tubing mandrel is rotatably supported on the rotation surface,  
 wherein the lower end of the tubing mandrel is attached to the tubing string.  
 
     
     
         2 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further including at least one first seals disposed between the mandrel bowl and the tubing mandrel.  
     
     
         3 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further including at least one second seals disposed between the mandrel bowl and the bowl plate.  
     
     
         4 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further including at least one third seals disposed between the tubing mandrel and the bowl plate.  
     
     
         5 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further including at least one fourth seals disposed between the bowl plate and the casing head.  
     
     
         6 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further including at least one fifth seals disposed between the mandrel bowl and the casing head.  
     
     
         7 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the mandrel ledge of the tubing mandrel is substantially perpendicular to the length of the tubing mandrel.  
     
     
         8 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the rotation surface is a bearing.  
     
     
         9 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the bearing is a thrust bearing.  
     
     
         10 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the bearing is a roller bearing.  
     
     
         11 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the bearing is a ball bearing.  
     
     
         12 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the bearing is a thrust washer.  
     
     
         13 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bowl plate rests on the mandrel ledge.  
     
     
         14 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bowl plate rests on the mandrel bowl.  
     
     
         15 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the upper end of the tubing mandrel is attached to the rotation means.  
     
     
         16 . A rotator assembly in a casing head, wellhead or tubing head (hereinafter said casing head, wellhead or tubing head referred to as “casing head”) for rotatably suspending a tubing string in an oil well, said rotator assembly comprising: 
 a tubing mandrel having an upper end, a lower end, and a mandrel ledge,  
 a bottom plate having a rotation surface positioned between the bottom plate and the mandrel ledge, wherein the mandrel ledge engages and rotatably rides the rotation surface,  
 said bottom plate disposed between an interior edge of the casing head and an exterior edge of the tubing mandrel,  
 a mandrel plate positioned between the casing head and the tubing mandrel, said mandrel plate resting on the mandrel ledge, and  
 a rotation means,  
 wherein the tubing mandrel is rotatably supported on the rotation surface,  
 wherein the lower end of the tubing mandrel is attached to the tubing string.  
 
     
     
         17 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the mandrel ledge of the tubing mandrel is substantially perpendicular to the length of the tubing mandrel.  
     
     
         18 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 16 , further including at least one first seals disposed between the bottom plate and the tubing mandrel.  
     
     
         19 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 16 , further including at least one second seals disposed between the bottom plate and the casing head.  
     
     
         20 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 16 , further including at least one third seals disposed between the mandrel plate and the tubing mandrel.  
     
     
         21 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the rotation surface is a bearing.  
     
     
         22 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the bearing is a thrust bearing.  
     
     
         23 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the bearing is a roller bearing.  
     
     
         24 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the bearing is a ball bearing.  
     
     
         25 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 21  wherein the bearing is a thrust washer.  
     
     
         26 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the upper end of the tubing mandrel is attached to the rotation means.  
     
     
         27 . A rotator assembly inside a casing head, wellhead or tubing head (hereinafter said casing head, wellhead or tubing head referred to as “casing head”) for rotatably suspending a tubing string in an oil well, said rotator assembly comprising: 
 a mandrel bowl in communication with the casing head, said mandrel bowl having a ledge support, said ledge support having a rotation surface,  
 a tubing mandrel rotatably mounted to the mandrel bowl, said tubing mandrel having an upper end, a lower end, and a mandrel ledge, wherein the rotation surface is disposed between said ledge support and the mandrel ledge of the tubing mandrel, wherein the mandrel ledge engages and rotatably rides the rotation surface, and  
 a rotation means,  
 wherein the lower end of the tubing mandrel is attached to the tubing string.  
 
     
     
         28 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the mandrel ledge of the tubing mandrel is substantially perpendicular to the length of the tubing mandrel.  
     
     
         29 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 27 , further including at least one first seals disposed between the mandrel bowl and the tubing mandrel.  
     
     
         30 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 27 , further including at least one second seals disposed between the mandrel bowl and the casing head.  
     
     
         31 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the rotation surface is a bearing.  
     
     
         32 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the bearing is a thrust bearing.  
     
     
         33 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the bearing is a roller bearing.  
     
     
         34 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the bearing is a ball bearing.  
     
     
         35 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the bearing is a thrust washer.  
     
     
         36 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the upper end of the tubing mandrel is attached to the rotation means.  
     
     
         37 . A rotator assembly for rotatably suspending a tubing string in an oil well, said rotator assembly comprising: 
 a mandrel bowl in communication with a flange connection, said mandrel bowl having a ledge support, said ledge support having a rotation surface,    a tubing mandrel rotatably mounted to the mandrel bowl, said tubing mandrel having an upper end, a lower end, and a mandrel ledge, wherein the rotation surface is disposed between said ledge support and the mandrel ledge of the tubing mandrel, wherein the mandrel ledge engages and rotatably rides the rotation surface,    a bowl plate positioned between the flange connection and the tubing mandrel,    a rotation means,    wherein the tubing mandrel is rotatably supported on the rotation surface,    wherein the lower end of the tubing mandrel is attached to the tubing string.    
     
     
         38 . The rotation assembly as recited in  claim 37 , further comprising a packing element positioned on top of the bowl plate, a top plate positioned on top of the packing element, wherein the top plate is compressed in a downward direction by a casing head dognut thereby squeezing the rubber element between the top plate and the bowl plate, said dognut attached to the flange connection.  
     
     
         39 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 37 , wherein the mandrel ledge of the tubing mandrel is substantially perpendicular to the length of the tubing mandrel.  
     
     
         40 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 37 , further including at least one first seals disposed between the mandrel bowl and the tubing mandrel.  
     
     
         41 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 37 , further including at least one second seals disposed between the mandrel bowl and the bowl plate.  
     
     
         42 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 37 , further including at least one third seals disposed between the tubing mandrel and the bowl plate.  
     
     
         43 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 37 , further including at least one fourth seals disposed between the bowl plate and the flange connection.  
     
     
         44 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 37 , further including at least one fifth seals disposed between the mandrel bowl and the flange connection.  
     
     
         45 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 37 , wherein the rotation surface is a bearing.  
     
     
         46 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 45 , wherein the bearing is a thrust bearing.  
     
     
         47 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 45 , wherein the bearing is a roller bearing.  
     
     
         48 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 45 , wherein the bearing is a ball bearing.  
     
     
         49 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 45 , wherein the bearing is a thrust washer.  
     
     
         50 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 37 , wherein the bowl plate rests on the mandrel ledge.  
     
     
         51 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 37 , wherein the bowl plate rests on the mandrel bowl.  
     
     
         52 . The rotator assembly as recited in  claim 37 , wherein the upper end of the tubing mandrel is attached to the rotation means.  
     
     
         53 . The rotation assembly as recited in  claim 37 , wherein the flange connection is manufactured as an integral part of the mandrel bowl.