Long stroking tool

Abstract

After an existing lower rod lock is tightened to keep a pump rod, which extends from a stuck pump rotor, from sliding down into a well, an existing upper rod lock/drive is loosened to allow the rod to slide through the upper rod drive. The present invention is then mounted to the rod or an extension thereof, and locked in place by means of a temporary lifting rod lock. To keep the present invention from rotating, anti-rotation chains which extend from the present invention are attached to existing eyehooks on the prior art drive head. When hydraulic fluid is passed through the system of the present invention, a hydraulic cylinder(s) causes the rod to be pulled upwards, thereby pulling a pump rotor upwards out of sand buildup which entraps said pump rotor. If the pump rotor is not initially freed up, the hydraulic cylinder(s) are retracted and the pulling process is repeated until the entrapped pump rotor is freed.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method to pull a pump rod from within a well, the method comprising the steps of: 
 disengaging a pump rod from a rotational drive assembly;    assembling a long stroking tool which comprises attaching at least one hydraulic cylinder on top of a lower plate, thereby providing an anchor for the hydraulic cylinder to push against;    fastening a hydraulic arm of the hydraulic cylinder to the pump rod; and    activating the hydraulic cylinder to urge the hydraulic arm upward, thereby lifting the pump rod from the well.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of assembling the long stroking tool further comprises attaching the hydraulic cylinder to an upper plate, said upper and lower plates each having a hole to receive the pump rod.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising the step of mounting the long stroking tool atop a drive head with the pump rod passing through the holes of the lower and upper plates.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of assembling the long stroking tool further comprises using two hydraulic cylinders placed opposed to one another at a periphery of each of the lower and upper plates.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of assembling the long stroking tool further comprises using a single hydraulic cylinder having a central hole that fits over the pump rod.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of assembling the long stroking tool further comprises removably securing the hydraulic cylinders with fastener means.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of tightening a lower rod lock to the pump rod above a packing gland, thereby preventing the lowering of the pump rod through the packing gland into the well at an uncontrolled rate.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising the step of attaching a lifting rod lock to the pump rod above the upper plate, thereby forming a lock to enable the upper plate to lift the pump rod.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising the step of placing a bushing in the hole of the upper plate to serve as a guide for the pump rod.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of attaching a line from the long stroking tool to an anchor, thereby preventing a rotation of the pump rod from rotating the long stroking tool.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the anchor is the drive head and the line is a chain.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the step of repositioning the lower rod lock to seat above said packing gland, thereby enabling a user to repeat the process of pulling the pump rod from the well when the hydraulic cylinder is reactivated.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the step of tightening the upper rod drive lock, thereby re-engaging the pump rod with the rotational drive assembly.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of activating the hydraulic cylinder to urge the upper plate upward further comprises adjusting the degree of pressure or force exerted, thereby reducing damage to or failure of the pump rod.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the long stroking tool is portable and compact.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising the step of mounting an extension to the pump rod to extend the length of the pump rod, thereby facilitating the mounting of the long stroking tool on the drive head.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for pulling a pump rod from within a well, the apparatus comprising: 
 means for assembling a long stroking tool functioning to pull a pump rod up from within the well;    said long stroking tool means comprising at least one hydraulic cylinder on top of a lower plate functioning to provide an anchor for the hydraulic cylinder to push against;    means for fastening a hydraulic arm of the hydraulic cylinder to the pump rod functioning to allow the hydraulic arm to lift the pump rod; and    means for activating the hydraulic cylinder to urge the hydraulic arm upward, functioning to lift the pump rod from the well.    
     
     
         18 . A pulling apparatus for pulling a pump rod from within a well, the apparatus comprising: 
 a lower plate means having at least one hydraulic cylinder means attached to a top portion functioning to form a long stroking tool;    said lower plate means functioning to provide an anchor for the hydraulic cylinder means to push against;    attachment means functioning to fasten the hydraulic cylinder means to the pump rod; and    said hydraulic cylinder means functioning to lift the pump rod from the well.    
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the long stroking tool further comprises attaching the hydraulic cylinder means to an upper plate means, said upper plate means functioning to support the hydraulic cylinder means and lift the pump rod from the well, each of said upper and lower plate means having a hole means, each of said hole means functioning to receive the pump rod.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the long stroking tool further comprises two hydraulic cylinder means placed opposed to one another at a periphery of each of the lower and upper plate means, each of said two hydraulic cylinder means functioning to lift the pump rod from the well.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the long stroking tool further comprises a single hydraulic cylinder means having a central hole means, said central hole means functioning to fit over the pump rod, said single hydraulic cylinder means functioning to lift the pump rod from the well.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20  further comprising fastener means functioning to removably secure each of said two hydraulic cylinder means to one another.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising a lifting lock means above the upper plate means, said lifting lock means functioning to enable the upper plate means to lift the pump rod.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising a bushing means in the hole of the upper plate means, said bushing means functioning to guide the pump rod as the pump rod is lifted from the well.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising a line means extending from the long stroking tool to an anchor means, said line means functioning to prevent a pump rod rotation from rotating the long stroking tool.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising means for activating the hydraulic cylinder, said activation means functioning to urge the upper plate means upward.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the activation means further comprises an adjustable degree of pressure or force to be exerted.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the long stroking tool is portable and compact.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising an extension means functioning to extend the length of the pump rod to facilitate the mounting of the long stroking tool on a drive head.  
     
     
         30 . A puller assembly for mounting on top of a wellhead to extract a rod, said puller assembly comprising: 
 a lower plate;    an upper plate;    hydraulic lifting means comprising a ram, said hydraulic lifting means having securing components at an end of said ram for securing said upper plate to said ram, said hydraulic lifting means having securing components at an opposite end of said ram for securing said lower plate to said hydraulic lifting means, wherein said lower and upper plates and said hydraulic lifting means form a long stroking lift assembly, said hydraulic lifting means functioning to lift said upper plate which is attached to the rod;    connector means connected to said long stroking lift assembly and anchor means, said connector means functioning to prevent rotation of said long stroking lift assembly;    guide means positionable in said long stroking lift assembly functioning to allow said rod to freely rotate without moving said long stroking lift assembly; and    lock means positionable on top of said guide means along a longitudinal axis of said rod, said lock means functioning to allow said hydraulic lifting means to push the upper plate against the lock means to lift the rod.    
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the lock means further comprises a lifting rod lock attached to the rod above the upper plate.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the guide means further comprises a bushing in a hole of the upper plate.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the connector means further comprises a chain removably connectable to said anchor means.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the long stroking lift assembly further comprises at least two hydraulic cylinders placed opposed to one another at a periphery of each of the lower and upper plates.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the long stroking lifting assembly further comprises a single hydraulic cylinder means having a central hole means, said central hole means functioning to fit over the rod, said single hydraulic cylinder means functioning to lift the rod.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 34  further comprising fastener means functioning to removably secure each of said two hydraulic cylinder means to one another.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the anchor is the drive head and the line is a chain.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the hydraulic lifting means further comprises an adjustable degree of pressure or force to be exerted, thereby reducing damage to or failure of the rod.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the long stroking lift assembly is portable and compact.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the long stroking lift assembly further comprises a rod extender to facilitate the mounting of the long stroking lift assembly on the wellhead.  
     
     
         41 . A puller assembly for mounting on top of a wellhead to extract a rod, said puller assembly comprising: 
 a lower plate having a first portion and a second portion, each of said portions having an inner edge of arcuate configuration to abut an outer circumference of the rod;    a pair of hydraulic lifting means, each comprising a ram, each of said hydraulic lifting means having securing components at an end of each ram, wherein said first portion of the lower plate is secured to one of said securing components, wherein said second portion of the lower plate is secured to another of said securing components;    removable securing means functioning to secure said first portion of the lower plate to said second portion of the lower plate, thereby providing an anchor for said pair of hydraulic lifting means to push against, thereby forming a lower plate hole when the arcuately configured inner edges of the first and second portions of the lower plate are joined; and    wherein said first and second portions of the lower plate, said pair of hydraulic lifting means, and said removable lower plate securing means form a long stroking lift assembly, said pair of hydraulic lifting means functioning to lift said rod.    
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the long stroking lifting assembly further comprises an upper plate having a first portion and a second portion, each of said portions having an inner edge of arcuate configuration to abut another outer circumference of the rod.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein the long stroking lifting assembly further comprises removable securing means functioning to secure said first portion of the upper plate to said second portion of the upper plate, thereby providing a support for said pair of hydraulic lifting means to lift the rod from a well, thereby forming an upper plate hole when the arcuately configured inner edges of the first and second portions of the upper plate are joined.  
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 41  further comprising connector means connected to said long stroking lift assembly and anchor means functioning to prevent rotation of said long stroking lift assembly.  
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 44  further comprising guide means positionable in said long stroking lift assembly functioning to allow said rod to freely rotate without moving said long stroking lift assembly.  
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 43  further comprising lock means positionable on top of said guide means along a longitudinal axis of said rod functioning to allow said hydraulic lifting means to push the joined upper plate against the lock means to lift the rod.  
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the lock means further comprises a lifting rod lock attached to the rod above the joined upper plate.  
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the guide means further comprises a bushing in a hole of the joined upper plate.  
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein the connector means further comprises a chain removably connectable to said anchor means.  
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein said long stroking lift assembly further comprises an adjustable degree of pressure or force.  
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein the long stroking lift assembly is portable and compact.  
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 51  further comprising an extension means mounted to the rod, said extension means functioning to extend the length of the rod, thereby facilitating the mounting of the long stroking lift assembly on the wellhead.  
     
     
         53 . A rod puller comprising: 
 a hydraulic cylinder mounted to an anchor which is adjacent to a rod to be pulled from a well;    said hydraulic cylinder having an arm connected to the rod; and    wherein powering the hydraulic cylinder pulls the rod upwards.    
     
     
         54 . A method to pull a pump rod from within a well, the method comprising the steps of: 
 assembling a long stroking tool which comprises attaching at least one hydraulic cylinder on top of a lower plate, thereby providing an anchor for the hydraulic cylinder to push against;    fastening a hydraulic arm of the hydraulic cylinder to the pump rod; and    activating the hydraulic cylinder to urge the hydraulic arm upward, thereby lifting the pump rod from the well.    
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54  further comprising the step of disengaging a pump rod from a rotational drive assembly.