Telescoping Snubbing Unit Frame

Abstract

This application describes a snubbing frame unit having a pair of telescoping hydraulic cylinders for moving a jack head towards and away from the snubbing base slips to snub a pipe through the snubbing unit. The hydraulic cylinders are parallel dual-acting three stage hydraulic cylinder rods and are spaced from an opening designed to be above a wellbore. In an embodiment, each cylinder has two bidirectional ports for quickly moving hydraulic fluid into and out of the cylinders. The telescoping three stage cylinders allows the snubbing frame to handle heavier pipe and higher pressures while facilitating quicker insertion with lighter pipes and lower pressure. The compact design allows the equipment to be easily transportable while providing sufficient space for equipment connected to the wellbore including blow out preventers. An attachable gin lift device allows pipe handling and insertion of pipe without the need for a mast assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A snubbing frame, wherein the snubbing frame comprises:
 a bottom plate supporting a load weight of the snubbing frame, wherein the bottom plate comprises a bottom plate opening;   a top plate, wherein the top plate comprises a top plate opening;   at least two columns connecting the bottom plate with the top plate; and   at least two hydraulically actuated multi-stage telescoping cylinders, each comprising a first end and a second end, wherein each of the first ends are connected to the top plate, and wherein each of the second ends are connected to a jack head.   
     
     
         2 . The snubbing frame of  claim 1 , further comprising a stationary slip mounted between the bottom plate and the top plate, and a travelling slip mounted above the jack head. 
     
     
         3 . The snubbing frame of  claim 1 , wherein the first ends of the at least two hydraulically actuated multi-stage telescoping cylinders are connected to the top plate using a clevis pin assembly, and to the jack head using a nut. 
     
     
         4 . The snubbing frame of  claim 1 , further comprising an interior frame mounted to the top plate, wherein the interior frame comprises an interior cavity surrounding the top plate opening and the bottom plate opening and a plurality of removable cylinder saddles, wherein the plurality of saddles are positioned over the multi-stage telescoping cylinders and bolted onto the interior frame. 
     
     
         5 . The snubbing frame of  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two hydraulically actuated multi-stage telescoping cylinders further comprises a bottom port and lower port for moving hydraulically fluid into and out of each of the at least two hydraulically actuated multi-stage telescoping cylinders. 
     
     
         6 . The snubbing frame of  claim 1 , wherein the total weight of the snubbing frame is less than 7-tons. 
     
     
         7 . The snubbing frame of  claim 1 , further comprising a gin pole attached to the snubbing frame for inserting tubulars into the snubbing frame. 
     
     
         8 . The snubbing frame of  claim 1 , wherein the gin pole is pivotally attached to the snubbing frame with a box comprising a plurality of connectors. 
     
     
         9 . A method of using a snubbing unit comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a snubbing unit comprising a bottom plate supporting the load weight of the snubbing unit, wherein the bottom plate comprises a bottom plate opening; a top plate, wherein the top plate comprises a top plate opening; at least two columns connecting the bottom plate with the top plate; and at least two hydraulically actuated multi-stage telescoping cylinders connected to the top plate on a first end and a jack head on a second end, and wherein a travelling slip is mounted on the jack head and a stationary slip is mounted on the top plate;   inserting a tubular member of a tubular string through the travelling slip and the stationary slip of the snubbing unit;   closing the stationary slip around the tubular member;   moving the travelling slip assembly to a first position;   closing the travelling slip assembly around the tubular member;   opening the stationary slip; and   moving the travelling slip closed about the tubular to move the tubular string through the bottom plate opening into a well.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of lifting a tubular into the snubbing unit with a gin pole pivotally attached to the snubbing unit frame. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least two hydraulically actuated multi-stage telescoping cylinders comprise three stages and further comprising the step of activating a first stage of the at least two hydraulically actuated multi-stage telescoping cylinder to create a snubbing force of up to 68,000 pounds. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least two hydraulically actuated multi-stage telescoping cylinders comprise three stages and further comprising the step of activating a first stage and a second stage of the at least two hydraulically actuated multi-stage telescoping cylinder to create a snubbing force of up to 92,000 pounds. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of activating a first stage, a second stage and a third stage of the at least two hydraulically actuated multi-stage telescoping cylinder to create a snubbing force of up to 102,000 pounds. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least two hydraulically actuated multi-stage telescoping cylinders comprise three stages and further comprising the step of flowing fluid through at least two ports on each of the at least two hydraulically actuated multi-stage telescoping cylinders to raise or lower the jack head. 
     
     
         15 . A snubbing unit system for moving pipe into or out of a wellbore, wherein the snubbing unit system comprises:
 a bottom plate supporting the load weight of a snubbing frame, wherein the bottom plate has a bottom plate opening over the wellbore;   a top plate, wherein the top plate has a top plate opening and a stationary slip attached to the top plate;   at least two columns connecting the bottom plate with the top plate;   at least two hydraulically actuated multi-stage telescoping cylinders comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the top plate and the second end is connected to a jack head, wherein a travelling slip is attached to the jack head; and   a control unit for controlling the at least two hydraulically actuated multi-stage telescoping cylinders.   
     
     
         16 . The snubbing unit system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least two hydraulically actuated multi-stage telescoping cylinders connecting the bottom plate with the top plate are connected to the top plate using a clevis pin assembly and are connected to the jack head using a nut. 
     
     
         17 . The snubbing unit system of  claim 15 , further comprising an interior frame mounted to the top plate, wherein the interior frame comprises an interior cavity surrounding the top plate opening and the bottom plate opening, and a plurality of removable cylinder saddles, wherein the plurality of removable cylinder saddles are positioned over the at least two hydraulically actuated multi-stage telescoping cylinders and bolted onto the interior frame. 
     
     
         18 . The snubbing unit system of  claim 15 , wherein each of the at least two hydraulically actuated multi-stage telescoping cylinders further comprises a bottom port and lower port for moving hydraulic fluid into and out of each of the hydraulically actuated multi-stage telescoping cylinders. 
     
     
         19 . The snubbing unit system of  claim 15 , wherein the total weight of the snubbing frame is less than 8 tons. 
     
     
         20 . The snubbing unit system of  claim 15 , further comprising a gin pole attached to the snubbing frame for inserting tubulars into the snubbing frame.