Wellhead flow block and flow control mechanisms

Abstract

A unitary wellhead flow block lubricator assembly includes a unitary body and flow passageways that extend through the unitary body. Various openings on the exterior of the unitary body allow flow control devices to be mounted in the flow passageways to control the flow of fluid though the flow passageways. One or more of the control devices could be mountable in two or more orientations that alter the way in which the flow control device controls flow through one or more passageways in the unitary body. One or more choke mechanisms may also be mounted on the unitary body. The choke mechanisms may allow an operator to selectively adjust a flow of fluid through one or more of the passageways in the unitary body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wellhead flow block lubricator, comprising:
 a body configured to be attached to an outflow pipe or a master valve of a wellhead;   a central passageway that extends though the body from a bottom of the body to an upper portion of the body, wherein the central passageway is configured to receive a plunger traveling through the outflow pipe or master valve of the wellhead;   a first outflow passageway that extends through the body from the central passageway to a first lower opening provided on a lower portion of a first side of the body;   an upper passageway that is connected to and that extends away from the central passageway through an upper portion of the body;   a return passageway that extends through the body from the upper passageway to the first outflow passageway; and   an upper opening provided on an upper portion of the first side of the body, wherein the upper opening extends into at least the return passageway.   
     
     
         2 . The wellhead flow block lubricator of  claim 1 , wherein the body is a single-piece unitary body. 
     
     
         3 . The wellhead flow block lubricator of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper flow control device that is mounted in the upper opening of the body, wherein the upper flow control device extends into the return passageway and acts to control a flow of fluid from the upper passageway into the return passageway. 
     
     
         4 . The wellhead flow block lubricator of  claim 3 , wherein the upper opening is aligned with the upper passageway and wherein an end of the upper flow control device extends at least partially into the upper passageway. 
     
     
         5 . The wellhead flow block lubricator of  claim 3 , wherein the upper flow control device includes a hollow cylindrical wall that extends into the return passageway, wherein the hollow
 a first aperture having a first opening size; and   a second aperture having a second opening size that is different from the first opening size; and   wherein the upper flow control device can be mounted on the upper portion of the first side of the body in a first orientation in which the first aperture opens toward a bottom of the return passageway to provide a first amount of flow control from the upper passageway into the return passageway and in a second orientation in which the second aperture opens toward the bottom of the return passageway to provide a second amount of flow control from the upper passageway into the return passageway, wherein the second amount of flow control is different from the first amount of flow control.   
     
     
         6 . The wellhead flow block lubricator of  claim 1 , further comprising a second outflow passageway that extends through the body from the central passageway to a second lower opening provided on a lower portion of a second side of the body. 
     
     
         7 . The wellhead flow block lubricator of  claim 6 , wherein the lower portion of the body is configured such that fluid flowing out of the return passageway can flow out of the body via either or both of the first and second outflow passageways. 
     
     
         8 . The wellhead flow block lubricator of  claim 1 , further comprising a flow control passageway that extends from the main passageway to a second lower opening on lower portion of a front side of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The wellhead flow block lubricator of  claim 8 , wherein a cover plate is mounted over the second lower opening. 
     
     
         10 . The wellhead flow block lubricator of  claim 8 , further comprising a lower flow control device that is mounted in the flow control passageway and that covers the second lower opening, wherein the lower flow control device is configured to control a flow of fluid from at least the central passageway into the first outflow passageway. 
     
     
         11 . The wellhead flow block lubricator of  claim 10 , wherein the lower flow control device includes a hollow cylindrical wall that extends into a portion of the central passageway that joins with the first outflow passageway, wherein first and second apertures are provided on opposite sides of the hollow cylindrical wall such that a plunger traveling through the central passageway can pass through the first and second apertures in the hollow cylindrical wall. 
     
     
         12 . The wellhead flow block lubricator of  claim 11 , wherein the hollow cylindrical wall of the lower flow control device further comprises a third aperture that is aligned with the first outflow passageway. 
     
     
         13 . The wellhead flow block lubricator of  claim 12 , further comprising a second outflow passageway that extends through the body from the central passageway to a third lower opening provided on a lower portion of a second side of the body, wherein the hollow cylindrical wall of the lower flow control device further comprises a fourth aperture that is aligned with the second outflow passageway, and wherein a size of the third aperture is different from a size of the fourth aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The wellhead flow block lubricator of  claim 8 , further comprising a choke mechanism that is mounted in the flow control passageway and that covers the second lower opening, wherein the choke mechanism is configured to selectively adjust a flow of fluid from the central passageway into the first outflow passageway. 
     
     
         15 . The wellhead flow block lubricator of  claim 14 , wherein the choke mechanism also is configured to control a flow of fluid from the return passageway into the first outflow passageway. 
     
     
         16 . A wellhead flow block lubricator, comprising:
 a unitary one-piece body configured to be attached to an outflow pipe or a master valve of a wellhead;   a central passageway that extends though the body from a bottom of the body to an upper portion of the body, wherein the central passageway is configured to receive a plunger traveling through the outflow pipe or master valve of the wellhead;   a first outflow passageway that extends through the body from the central passageway to a first lower opening provided on a lower portion of a first side of the body;   a return passageway that extends though the body, that is connected to the first outflow passageway and that receives a flow of fluid from an upper portion of the central passageway; and   an upper flow control device mounted to the body that is configured to control a flow of fluid through the return passageway.   
     
     
         17 . The wellhead flow block lubricator of  claim 16 , wherein the upper flow control device is mounted to an upper portion of the first side of the body, and wherein at least a portion of the upper flow control device extends into the return passageway. 
     
     
         18 . The wellhead flow block lubricator of  claim 17 , wherein the upper flow control device can be mounted to the upper portion of the first side of the body in at least first and second different orientations, wherein when the upper flow control device is mounted in the first orientation, the upper flow control device provides a first amount of flow control over fluid flowing through the return passageway, and wherein when the upper flow control device is mounted in the second orientation, the upper flow control device provides a second different amount of flow control over fluid flowing through the return passageway. 
     
     
         19 . The wellhead flow block lubricator of  claim 17 , further comprising an upper passageway that extends between the upper portion of the central passageway and the return passageway, and wherein a distal end of the upper flow control device extends at least partially into the upper passageway. 
     
     
         20 . The wellhead flow block lubricator of  claim 17 , wherein the upper flow control device includes a hollow cylindrical wall that extends into the return passageway, wherein the hollow
 a first aperture having a first opening size; and   a second aperture having a second opening size that is different from the first opening size; and   wherein the upper flow control device can be mounted on the upper portion of the first side of the body in a first orientation in which the first aperture opens toward a bottom of the return passageway to provide a first amount of control over fluid flowing through the return passageway and in a second orientation in which the second aperture opens toward the bottom of the return passageway to provide a second amount of control over fluid flowing though the return passageway, wherein the second amount of flow control is different from the first amount of flow control.