Well servicing apparatus and method

Abstract

A well servicing apparatus and method which facilitates servicing of a well without removal of the wellhead equipment, production tubing, or pump drive rod. One embodiment of the invention allows flexible tubing to be inserted into the production tubing string of a well. Fluid can then be pumped through the flexible tubing for purposes such as removing sand from the production tubing string. Another embodiment of the invention allows flexible tubing to be inserted into either the production tubing string or well casing or both. Fluid can then be pumped through the flexible tubing for purposes such as removing sand from either the production tubing string or well casing.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A well servicing apparatus comprising a housing having a lower end, an upper end, and an exterior surface, said housing further having: 
 (a) a primary passage extending through the housing from the lower end to the upper end; and    (b) a production tubing access passage extending generally upward from the primary passage to the exterior surface at an angle towards the upper end, at least a portion of said production tubing access passage having a helical orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the primary passage;    wherein a drive rod may be disposed longitudinally through the primary passage.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a guide tube which may be detachably connected to the housing in association with the production tubing access passage.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a flange attached to the housing near its upper end, said flange having an opening for supporting the guide tube.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of the housing defines a shoulder, and wherein the production tubing access passage extends from the primary passage to the exterior surface on the shoulder.  
     
     
         5 . A well servicing apparatus comprising: 
 (a) an upper housing having a lower end, an upper end, and an exterior surface, said upper housing further having: 
 (i) an upper primary passage extending through the upper housing from the lower end to the upper end; and  
 (ii) a production tubing access passage extending generally upward from the upper primary passage to the exterior surface at an angle towards the upper end, at least a portion of said production tubing access passage having a helical orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the upper primary passage;  
   (b) a lower housing having a lower end, an upper end, and an exterior surface, said lower housing further having: 
 (i) a lower primary passage extending through the lower housing from the lower end to the upper end; and  
 (ii) a casing access passage extending generally upward from the lower primary passage to the exterior surface; and  
   (c) tubing string suspension means, for supporting a production tubing string; wherein:    (d) the upper housing is connected to the lower housing such that the upper and lower primary passages are substantially coaxial; and    (e) a drive rod may be disposed longitudinally through the upper and lower primary passages and into the bore of the production tubing string.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the casing access passage has a helical orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the lower primary passage.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein one or more ancillary wellhead components are interposed between the upper housing and lower housing.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a guide tube which may be detachably connected to the upper housing in association with the production tubing access passage.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a flange attached to the upper housing near its upper end, said flange having an opening for supporting the guide tube.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the exterior surface of the upper housing defines a shoulder, and wherein the production tubing access passage extends from the upper primary passage to the exterior surface on the shoulder.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a guide tube which may be detachably connected to the lower housing in association with the casing access passage.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the exterior surface of the lower housing defines a shoulder, and wherein the casing access passage extends from the lower primary passage to the exterior surface on the shoulder.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the tubing string suspension means is a bowl for a tubing hanger.  
     
     
         14 . A method of servicing a well, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a well servicing apparatus comprising a housing having a lower end, an upper end, and an exterior surface, said housing further having: 
 (i) a primary passage extending through the housing from the lower end to the upper end and, through which said primary passage a drive rod may be longitudinally disposed;  
 (ii) a production tubing access passage extending generally upward from the primary passage to the exterior surface at an angle towards the upper end, at least a portion of said production tubing access passage having a helical orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the primary passage;  
   (b) installing the well servicing apparatus on a wellhead in association with a production tubing string inside a well casing;    (c) passing flexible tubing through the production tubing access passage, such that the flexible tubing enters the production tubing string; and    (d) pumping a selected fluid through the flexible tubing.    
     
     
         15 . A method of servicing a well, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a well servicing apparatus comprising: 
 (i) an upper housing having an upper end, a lower end, and an exterior surface, said upper housing further having an upper primary passage extending through the upper housing from the lower end to the upper end, and a production tubing access passage extending generally upward from the upper primary passage to the exterior surface at an angle towards the upper end, at least a portion of said production tubing access passage having a helical orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the upper primary passage;  
 (ii) a lower housing having a lower end, an upper end, and an exterior surface, said lower housing further having a lower primary passage extending through the lower housing from the lower end to the upper end, and a casing access passage extending generally upward from the lower primary passage to the exterior surface;  
 (iii) tubing string suspension means, for supporting a production tubing string; wherein:  
 (iv) the upper housing is connected to the lower housing such that the upper and lower primary passages are substantially coaxial; and  
 (v) a drive rod may be disposed longitudinally through the upper and lower primary passages and into the bore of the production tubing string;  
   (b) installing the well servicing apparatus on a wellhead in association with a production tubing string inside a well casing;    (c) passing flexible tubing through the production tubing access passage, such that the flexible tubing enters the production tubing string; and    (d) pumping a selected fluid through the flexible tubing.    
     
     
         16 . A method of servicing a well, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a well servicing apparatus comprising: 
 (i) an upper housing having a lower end, an upper end, and an exterior surface, said upper housing further having an upper primary passage extending through the upper housing from the lower end to the upper end, and a production tubing access passage extending generally upward from the upper primary passage to the exterior surface at an angle towards the upper end, at least a portion of said production tubing access passage having a helical orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the upper primary passage;  
 (ii) a lower housing having a lower end, an upper end, and an exterior surface, said lower housing further having a lower primary passage extending through the lower housing from the lower end to the upper end, and a casing access passage extending generally upward from the lower primary passage to the exterior surface;  
 (iii) tubing string suspension means, for supporting a production tubing string; wherein:  
 (iv) the upper housing is connected to the lower housing such that the upper and lower primary passages are substantially coaxial; and  
 (v) a drive rod may be disposed longitudinally through the upper and lower primary passages and into the bore of the production tubing string;  
   (b) installing the well servicing apparatus on a wellhead in association with a production tubing string inside a well casing;    (c) passing flexible tubing through the casing access passage, such that the flexible tubing enters the annular space between the production tubing string and the well casing; and    (d) pumping a selected fluid through the flexible tubing.