Top entry sub arrangement

Abstract

A top entry sub (ES) includes a tubular member (TM) with a main body section ( 8 ) and an enlarged external diameter upper end portion ( 11 ). A single passage ( 15 ) extends through the main body section ( 8 ) and terminates in a pair of spaced passages ( 14 ) and ( 14 a) that extend through the enlarged external diameter end portion ( 11 ), which passages terminate in a common upper surface on the top entry sub (ES) for receiving a well string and providing an entry into the top entry sub for members such as coiled tubing, snubbing members and cable.

1. A top entry sub including:
 a single tubular member;  
 said tubular member having a main body section with a lower end and an enlarged external diameter upper end portion;  
 an upper surface on said enlarged external diameter upper end portion;  
 a lower surface on said lower end;  
 a single longitudinal passage in said main body section extending through said tubular member lower end; and  
 said single longitudinal passage terminating at its upper end in two spaced passages extending through said enlarged external diameter upper end portion and upper surface thereon;  
   said spaced passages spaced apart by a longitudinal member and in simultaneous unobstructed communication with said single longitudinal passage; and    
   wherein the extent of said longitudinal member through said upper end portion is less than the extent of said single longitudinal passage through said main body section .  
 
     
     
       2. The top entry sub of  claim 1  wherein said upper surface on said enlarged external diameter upper end portion is perpendicular to the center line of said tubular member. 
     
     
       3. The top entry sub of  claim 2  wherein the center line of said two spaced passages are parallel. 
     
     
       4. The top entry sub of  claim 1   A top entry sub including:
   a single tubular member;    
   said tubular member having a main body section with a lower end and an enlarged external diameter upper end portion;    
   an upper surface on said enlarged external diameter upper end portion;    
   a lower surface on said lower end;    
   a single longitudinal passage in said main body section extending through said tubular member lower end;    
   said single longitudinal passage terminating at its upper end in two spaced passages extending through said enlarged external diameter upper end portion and upper surface thereon;    
   said spaced passages spaced apart by a longitudinal member;    
   wherein the extent of said longitudinal member through said upper end portion is less than the extent of said single longitudinal passage through said main body section; and    
 wherein said upper surface on said enlarged external diameter upper end portion is formed by two surfaces which are inclined outwardly and downwardly from the center line of said tubular member.  
 
     
     
       5. The top entry sub of claim  1    4  wherein said two surfaces forming said upper surface are each inclined outwardly and downwardly in the range of approximately five to seven degrees from a plane perpendicular to the center line of said tubular member. 
     
     
       6. The top entry sub of claim  1    4  wherein said lower surface is inclined so that it is substantially parallel to one of said two upper surfaces. 
     
     
       7. The top entry sub of  claim 1  including  A top entry sub including:
   a single tubular member;    
   said tubular member having a main body section with a lower end and an enlarged external diameter upper end portion;    
   an upper surface on said enlarged external diameter upper end portion;    
   a lower surface on said lower end;    
   a single longitudinal passage in said main body section extending through said tubular member lower end;    
   said single longitudinal passage terminating at its upper end in two spaced passages extending through said enlarged external diameter upper end portion and upper surface thereon;    
   said spaced passages spaced apart by a longitudinal member;    
   wherein the extent of said longitudinal member through said upper end portion is less than the extent of said single longitudinal passage through said main body section;    
 a sub having an upper end and a lower end;  
 threads adjacent said upper end for connection with said lower end of said tubular member; and  
 threads adjacent said lower end.  
 
     
     
       8. The  A top entry sub of  claim 7   including:
   a tubular member;    
   said tubular member having a main body section with a lower end and an enlarged external diameter upper end portion;    
   an upper surface on said enlarged external diameter upper end portion;    
   a lower surface on said lower end;    
   a single longitudinal passage in said main body section extending through said tubular member lower end;    
   said single longitudinal passage terminating at its upper end in two spaced passages extending through said enlarged external diameter upper end portion and upper surface thereon;    
   a sub having an upper end and a lower end;    
   threads adjacent said upper end for connection with said lower end of said tubular member; and threads adjacent said lower end; and    
 a cross over sub having a threaded upper end and a threaded lower end.  
 
     
     
       9. The top entry sub to  claim 8  for use with a blow out preventer with rams to maintain a well string in position in a well bore including a securing sub having a threaded surface for connecting with said threaded lower end of said cross over sub, a threaded connection depending from said securing sub for connection with the well string and an annular groove in said securing sub for receiving the blowout preventer rams therein to maintain said well string in position in the well bore. 
     
     
       10. The  A top entry sub of  claim 1   including:
   a tubular member;    
   said tubular member having a main body section with a lower end and an enlarged external diameter upper end portion;    
   an upper surface on said enlarged external diameter upper end portion;    
   a lower surface on said lower end;    
   a single longitudinal passage in said main body section extending through said tubular member lower end;    
   said single longitudinal passage terminating at its upper end in two spaced passages extending through said enlarged external diameter upper end portion and upper surface thereon;    
   a sub having an upper end and a lower end;    
   threads adjacent said upper end for connection with said lower end of said tubular member; and threads adjacent said lower end; and    
 wherein said enlarged external diameter upper end portion is provided with a surface configuration for being received and supported in a rotary table.  
 
     
     
       11. The top entry sub of  claim 1  including a flange having an opening therein coinciding with one of said two spaced passages in said upper surface and means to removably secure said flange to said upper surface. 
     
     
       12. The top entry sub of  claim 11  wherein:
 said flange includes a base;  
 a tubular portion extending upwardly around said opening in said base; and  
 said tubular portion terminating in an upper end.  
 
     
     
       13. The top entry sub of  claim 12  including  A top entry sub including:
   a single tubular member;    
   said tubular member having a main body section with a lower end and an enlarged external diameter upper end portion;    
   an upper surface on said enlarged external diameter upper end portion;    
   a lower surface on said lower end;    
   a single longitudinal passage in said main body section extending through said tubular member lower end;    
   said single longitudinal passage terminating at its upper end in two spaced passages extending through said enlarged external diameter upper end portion and upper surface thereon;    
   said spaced passages spaced apart by a longitudinal member; and    
   wherein the extent of said longitudinal member through said upper end portion is less than the extent of said single longitudinal passage through said main body section;    
   a flange having an opening therein coinciding with one of said two spaced passages in said upper surface and means to removably secure said flange to said upper surface;    
   said flange includes a base;    
   a tubular portion extending upwardly around said opening in said base;    
   said tubular portion terminating in an upper end; and    
 an adapter, and means for removably engaging said adapter with said tubular portion.  
 
     
     
       14. The top entry sub of claim  12    13  wherein said means for removably engaging said adapter with said tubular portion includes:
 an external threaded surface adjacent said upper end of said tubular portion;  
 an external projection on said adapter for abutting with said tubular portion upper end; and  
 a coupling with internal threads for threadably engaging with said external threads on said tubular portion to secure said adapter in position with said tubular portion and: a seal between said adapter and said tubular portion.  
 
     
     
       15. The top entry sub of  claim 10  wherein said surface configuration is an annular tapered external surface adjacent the lower end of said enlarged external diameter upper end portion. 
     
     
       16. A top entry sub including:
 a single tubular member;  
 said tubular member having an upper end;  
 said tubular member having a lower end;  
 a longitudinal passage extending in said tubular member and through said tubular member lower end; and  
 said longitudinal passage terminating at two spaced inclined passages which extend through the upper end of said tubular member;  
   said two spaced inclined passages spaced apart by a longitudinal member and in simultaneous unobstructed communication with said longitudinally passage; and    
   wherein the extent of said longitudinal member through said upper end is less than the extent of said single longitudinal passage through said tubular member .  
 
     
     
       17. A method of inserting coiled tubing in a tubular well string through a  the top entry sub that has a longitudinal passage that extends through the the lower end of the top entry sub, which passage communicates at its upper end with at least two inclined passages that extend through the upper end of the top entry sub  of  claim 16  including the steps of:
 securing the top entry sub to connect its longitudinal passage with the tubular well string; and  
 inserting the coiled tubing in one of the inclined passages in the upper end of the top entry sub and through the longitudinal passage into the well string.  
 
     
     
       18. A universal top entry sub for inserting necessary tools of various size, type and flexibility for freeing stuck pipe in a well bore, comprising:
   a single tubular member;        said tubular member having a main body section with a lower end and an enlarged external diameter upper end portion;        an upper surface on said enlarged external diameter upper end portion;        a lower surface on said lower end;        a single longitudinal passage in said main body section extending through said tubular member lower end;        said single longitudinal passage terminating at its upper end in two passages spaced apart by a longitudinal member;        said spaced passages and said longitudinal member extending through the enlarged external diameter upper end portion and to the upper surface thereon;        wherein the extent of said longitudinal member through said upper end portion is less than the extent of said single longitudinal passage through said main body section; and        said single longitudinal passage in simultaneous unobstructed communication with said two spaced passages.      
     
     
       19. The universal top entry sub of  claim 18  wherein the single longitudinal passage includes a longitudinal bore having an upper end adjacent to lower ends of the two spaced passages.  
     
     
       20. The universal top entry sub of  claim 19  wherein the longitudinal member has a transverse surface at the upper end of the bore.  
     
     
       21. The universal top entry sub of  claim 18  wherein the single longitudinal passage terminates near the enlarged external diameter upper end portion.  
     
     
       22. The universal top entry sub of  claim 18  wherein the single longitudinal passage has a larger internal diameter than each of the two spaced passages.  
     
     
       23. The universal top entry sub of  claim 22  wherein the internal diameter of the single passage is as large or larger than the combined inner diameters of the two spaced passages.  
     
     
       24. The universal top entry sub of  claim 22  wherein the single passage has an internal diameter from  4 . 25  to  5 . 75  inches, a first one of the spaced passages has an internal diameter of from  1  to  4 . 75  inches, and a second one of the spaced passages has an internal diameter from  2  to  3 . 5  inches.  
     
     
       25. The universal top entry sub of  claim 22  wherein at least one of the spaced passages has a smooth internal diameter.  
     
     
       26. The universal top entry sub of  claim 25  wherein the smooth internal bore is throughout the extent of the respective spaced passage.  
     
     
       27. The universal top entry sub of  claim 18  wherein the extent of the longitudinal member is less than about half that of the single passage.  
     
     
       28. The universal top entry sub of  claim 18  wherein the single longitudinal passage is internally threaded adjacent the lower end.  
     
     
       29. The universal top entry sub of  claim 18  wherein the two spaced passages are inclined outwardly and upwardly with respect to a centerline axis of the main body section.  
     
     
       30. A universal top entry sub for inserting necessary tools of various size and type for freeing stuck pipe in well bore, comprising:
   a tubular member;        said tubular member having a main body section with a lower end and an enlarged external diameter end portion;        at least one upper surface on said enlarged external diameter upper end portion;        a lower surface on said lower end;        a single longitudinal passage in said main body section extending through said tubular member lower end, said passage having an internal diameter from  4 . 25  to  5 . 75  inches and internal threads at a lower end thereof;        said single longitudinal passage having a bore terminating at its upper end in two spaced passages extending through said enlarged upper end portion and upper surface thereon, one of said two spaced passages comprising a well string connection and having an internal diameter from  1  to  4 . 75  inches, the other of said two spaced passages comprising an entry port and having an internal diameter from  2  to  3 . 5  inches, the bore of the single passage having an internal diameter larger than internal diameters of each of the two spaced passages;        a longitudinal member between the two spaced passages having a lower transverse surface at a top of the bore, said longitudinal member having a longitudinal extent between the single longitudinal passage and the upper surface relatively less than the longitudinal extent of the single longitudinal passage between the lower surface and the longitudinal member; and        said two spaced passages in simultaneous unobstructed communication with said single longitudinal passage.      
     
     
       31. A universal top entry sub for inserting necessary tools of various size and type for freeing stuck pipe in well bore, comprising:
   a tubular member;        said tubular member having an upper end;        a longitudinal passage extending in said tubular member and through said tubular member lower end;        said longitudinal passage including a bore terminating at two spaced inclined passages which extend through the upper end of said tubular member;        a longitudinal member between the inclined passages having a lower transverse surface at a top of the bore, an extent of the longitudinal member between the two spaced passages relatively less than a longitudinal extent of the longitudinal passage; and        said spaced inclined passages in simultaneous unobstructed communication with said longitudinal passage.      
     
     
       32. The universal top entry sub of  claim 31  wherein the longitudinal passage has a larger internal diameter than each of the two spaced inclined passages.  
     
     
       33. The universal top entry sub of  claim 32  wherein the internal diameter of the longitudinal passage is as large or larger than the combined inner diameters of the two spaced inclined passages.  
     
     
       34. The top entry sub of  claim 31  wherein at least one of the spaced inclined passages has a smooth internal bore.  
     
     
       35. The top entry sub of  claim 34  wherein the smooth internal bore is throughout the extent of the at least one of the spaced inclined passages.  
     
     
       36. A universal top entry sub for inserting necessary tools of various size and type for freeing stuck pipe in well bore, comprising:
   a tubular member;        said tubular member having an upper end;        a longitudinal passage extending in said tubular member and through said tubular member lower end;        said longitudinal passage including a bore terminating at two spaced inclined passages which extend through the upper end of said tubular member;        a longitudinal member between the inclined passages having a lower transverse surface at a top of the bore, an extent of the longitudinal member between the two spaced passages relatively less than a longitudinal extent of the longitudinal passage; and        wherein the single passage has an internal diameter from  4 . 25  to  5 . 75  inches, a first one of the spaced inclined passages has an internal diameter from  1  to  4 . 75  inches, and a second one of the spaced inclined passages has an internal diameter from  2  to  3 . 5  inches.