Apparatus and Methods for Applying Torque to a Sucker Rod Connection

Abstract

An apparatus usable to apply torque to a sucker rod connection is described herein. The apparatus includes an insert for installation within a tong device configured to provide torque to a tubular, the insert adapting the tong to engage and apply torque to a sucker rod segment. The insert can include a flange secured to the tong device, a tubular body extending through the opening of the tong device and engaging gripping members of the tong, and an engagement member having a slot sized to engage a sucker rod segment. A back-up tong device can be used to retain a lower sucker rod segment while an upper sucker rod segment is torqued by the tong device. The back-up tong device and/or the tong and insert can be pivotably or rotatably movable for engaging a lower sucker rod segment that is not in rotational alignment with the upper sucker rod segment.

1 . An apparatus for applying torque to a sucker rod connection, the apparatus comprising:
 a tong device comprising an opening and at least one gripping member, wherein the tong device is adapted to provide torque to an object secured by the at least one gripping member;   an insert for transferring torque from the tong device to a first sucker rod segment, the insert comprising:
 an upper flange secured to the tong device proximate to the opening; 
 a tubular body connected to the upper flange and extending through the opening of the tong device, wherein the at least one gripping member engages the tubular body; and 
 a lower engagement member connected to the tubular body, wherein the lower engagement member comprises an slot adapted to engage the first sucker rod segment such that torque provided by the tong is transferred to the first sucker rod segment through the engagement between the at least one gripping member and the tubular body and through the engagement between the slot and the first sucker rod segment; and 
   a back-up tong device comprising a lower opening adapted to engage a second sucker rod segment connected to the first sucker rod segment and retain the second sucker rod segment in a stationary position while torque is applied to the first sucker rod segment, thereby enabling torque to be applied to the sucker rod connection.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tong device is adapted to provide a first torque to an oilfield tubular, wherein the engagement between the tong device and the insert enables the tong device to provide a second torque to the first sucker rod segment, and wherein the second torque is equal to the first torque. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upper flange, the tubular body, and the lower engagement member comprise a side opening for permitting lateral engagement of the insert with the first sucker rod segment. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upper flange comprises at least one lug configured for engagement with at least one corresponding slot in the tong device for securing the insert to the tong device. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular body of the insert comprises at least a portion of an oilfield tubular. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the back-up tong device comprises a movable engagement member having the lower opening disposed therein for enabling the back-up tong device to engage the second sucker rod segment from multiple directions during such times when the first sucker rod segment and the second sucker rod segment are not rotationally aligned. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the back-up tong device is secured to the tong device. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the back-up tong is movably secured to the tong device, removably secured to the tong device, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . An insert for adapting a tubing tong to be used to provide torque to a sucker rod segment, the insert comprising:
 a flange adapted for securing to the tubing tong;   a tubular body connected to the flange, wherein the tubular body is sized to pass through an opening of the tubing tong; and   an engagement member connected to the tubular body, wherein the engagement member comprises a slot configured to engage the sucker rod segment, and wherein torque applied by the tubing tong to the flange, the tubular body, or combinations thereof, is transferred to the sucker rod segment through the engagement between the sucker rod segment and the engagement member.   
     
     
         10 . The insert of  claim 9 , wherein the flange, the tubular body, and the engagement member comprise a side opening for permitting lateral engagement of the insert with the sucker rod segment. 
     
     
         11 . The insert of  claim 9 , wherein the flange comprises at least one lug configured for engagement with at least one corresponding slot in the tong device for securing the insert to the tong device. 
     
     
         12 . The insert of  claim 9 , wherein the tubular body comprises at least a portion of an oilfield tubular. 
     
     
         13 . A method for applying torque to a sucker rod connection comprising a first sucker rod segment and a second sucker rod segment, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a tong device comprising an opening and at least one gripping member, wherein the tong device is adapted to provide torque to an object secured by the at least one gripping member;   engaging an insert with the tong device, wherein the insert comprises:
 an upper flange adapted to be secured to the tong device proximate to the opening, a tubular body connected to the upper flange and positioned to extend through the opening of the tong device and engage the at least one gripping member, and a lower engagement member connected to the tubular body and comprising a slot; 
   engaging the first sucker rod segment with the insert such that torque applied by the tong device to the insert is transferred to the first sucker rod segment;   engaging the second sucker rod segment with a back-up tong device comprising a lower opening adapted to retain the second sucker rod segment in a stationary orientation while torque is applied to the first sucker rod segment; and   applying torque to the first sucker rod segment while maintaining the second sucker rod in a stationary orientation, thereby torquing the sucker rod connection.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of engaging the insert with the tong device comprises engaging at least one lug disposed on the upper flange of the insert with at least one corresponding slot disposed on the tong device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of engaging the first sucker rod segment with the insert comprises laterally moving the insert, the first sucker rod segment, or combinations thereof, such that the first sucker rod segment passes through a side opening disposed in the upper flange, the tubular body, and the lower engagement member, until the first sucker rod is engaged by the slot in the lower engagement member. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the back-up tong device comprises a movable engagement member having the lower opening disposed therein, and wherein the step of engaging the second sucker rod segment with the back-up tong device comprises positioning the movable engagement member in a selected position such that the lower opening is aligned with the second sucker rod segment when the second sucker rod segment is not in rotational alignment with the first sucker rod segment. 
     
     
         17 . A method for applying torque to a first sucker rod segment, the method comprising the steps of:
 engaging an insert adapted to engage the first sucker rod segment with a tong device adapted to engage a tubular having a diameter larger than the diameter of the first sucker rod segment;   engaging the first sucker rod segment with the insert;   applying torque to the insert using at least one gripping member of the tong device such that the torque from the tong device is transferred to the first sucker rod segment by the insert.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of engaging a second sucker rod segment connected to the first sucker rod segment with a securing member adapted to retain the second sucker rod segment in a stationary orientation while torque is applied to the first sucker rod segment, thereby enabling the connection between the sucker rod segments to be torqued. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the securing member comprises a movable portion having an opening adapted to engage the second sucker rod segment, and wherein the step of engaging the second sucker rod segment with the securing member comprises positioning the movable portion in a selected position such that the opening is aligned with the second sucker rod segment when the second sucker rod segment is not in rotational alignment with the first sucker rod segment. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the insert comprises a tubular body having a diameter configured to engage the at least one gripping member of the tong device, and wherein the step of engaging the insert with the tong device comprises engaging the tubular body with the at least one gripping member. 
     
     
         21 . An insert for adapting a tong device, used to provide torque to a first tubular having a first diameter, to provide torque to a second tubular having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, the insert comprising:
 a tubular body sized to pass through an opening of the tong device and engage at least one gripping member of the tong device; and   an engagement member connected to the tubular body, wherein the engagement member comprises a slot configured to engage the second tubular, and wherein torque applied by the tong device to the tubular body is transferred to the second tubular through the engagement between the second tubular and the engagement member.   
     
     
         22 . The insert of  claim 21 , wherein the second tubular comprises a sucker rod segment.