Wellhead flow block and flow control mechanisms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12473793-B2
Application number	US-202418918532-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2024
Priority date	Oct 30, 2023
Publication date	Nov 18, 2025
Grant date	Nov 18, 2025

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A choke mechanism for a wellhead flow block, comprising:
a flow control arm configured to be mounted, at least in part, within a lower distribution block or a flow passageway of a wellhead flow block, the flow control arm including:
a hollow cylindrical sleeve that is configured to be positioned in the lower distribution block or the flow passageway of the wellhead flow block such that fluid traveling through the flow passageway can pass through an interior of the hollow cylindrical sleeve; and
a hollow reduced diameter portion having a hollow interior bore and having a first end that is coupled to the hollow cylindrical sleeve such that an interior of the hollow reduced diameter portion is in communication with the interior of the hollow cylindrical sleeve, wherein a central longitudinal axis of the hollow cylindrical sleeve is oriented substantially at right angles to a central longitudinal axis of the hollow interior bore of the reduced diameter portion; a flange assembly coupled to a second end of the hollow reduced diameter portion and configured to secure the flow control arm to a wellhead flow block such that the hollow cylindrical sleeve is positioned within the lower distribution block or the flow passageway of the wellhead flow block; and a flow restrictor that is movably mounted on the flange assembly, the flow restrictor being moveable between a retracted position at which a tip of the flow restrictor is substantially retracted from the interior of the hollow reduced diameter portion and an extended position at which the tip of the flow restrictor extends into and at least partially occludes the interior of the hollow reduced diameter portion.

2 . The choke mechanism of claim 1 , wherein at least one aperture is provided through a wall of the hollow reduced diameter portion such that fluid located in the interior of the hollow cylindrical sleeve can travel into the interior of the hollow reduced diameter portion and then pass through the at least one aperture to a location outside the hollow reduced diameter portion.

3 . The choke mechanism of claim 2 , wherein when the flow restrictor is located in the extended position, the tip of the flow restrictor at least partially prevents fluid in the interior of the hollow reduced diameter portion from escaping out the at least one aperture to a location outside the hollow reduced diameter portion.

4 . The choke mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the flow restrictor is movably mounted within a restrictor passageway of the flange assembly.

5 . The choke mechanism of claim 4 , wherein internal threads are provided on an inner surface of the restrictor passageway, wherein external threads are formed on an exterior of the flow restrictor, the external threads on the flow restrictor mating with the internal threads on the restrictor passageway such that rotating the flow restrictor in the restrictor passageway causes the flow restrictor to move between the retracted and extended positions.

6 . The choke mechanism of claim 5 , wherein the flange assembly further comprises a hollow mounting stem that protrudes from an exterior of the flange assembly, and wherein the internal threads are formed on an inner surface of the hollow mounting stem.

7 . The choke mechanism of claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the flow restrictor that is opposite the tip protrudes from an exterior of the flange assembly, and wherein the proximal end of the flow restrictor can be manipulated to cause the flow restrictor to move between the retracted and extended positions.

8 . The choke mechanism of claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the hollow cylindrical sleeve is greater than an outer diameter of the hollow reduced diameter portion.

9 . The choke mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the hollow cylindrical sleeve, the hollow reduced diameter portion and at least a portion of the flange assembly comprise a single unitary piece.

10 . A wellhead flow block lubricator assembly, comprising:
a body configured to be attached to an outflow pipe or a master valve of a wellhead; a lower distribution block located within a lower portion of the body, the lower distribution block communicating with first and second lower openings provided, respectively, on a front and a first side of a lower portion of the body; a flow passageway extending through the body from a bottom of the body through the lower distribution block and on to an upper portion of the body; and a choke mechanism mounted over the first lower opening on the front of the body, the choke mechanism comprising:
a flow control arm including:
a hollow cylindrical sleeve that is positioned within the lower distribution block or the flow passageway such that fluid traveling through the flow passageway can pass through an interior of the hollow cylindrical sleeve; and
a hollow reduced diameter portion having a hollow interior bore and having a first end that is coupled to the hollow cylindrical sleeve such that an interior of the hollow reduced diameter portion is in communication with the interior of the hollow cylindrical sleeve, wherein a central longitudinal axis of the hollow cylindrical sleeve is oriented substantially at right angles to a central longitudinal axis of the hollow interior bore of the reduced diameter portion;

a flange assembly coupled to a second end of the hollow reduced diameter portion and configured to secure the choke mechanism to the front of the body; and
a flow restrictor that is movably mounted on the flange assembly, the flow restrictor being moveable between a retracted position at which a tip of the flow restrictor is substantially retracted from the interior of the hollow reduced diameter portion and an extended position at which the tip of the flow restrictor extends into and at least partially occludes the interior of the hollow reduced diameter portion.

11 . The wellhead flow block lubricator assembly of claim 10 , wherein a central longitudinal axis of the hollow cylindrical sleeve is aligned with a central longitudinal axis of the flow passageway.

12 . The wellhead flow block lubricator assembly of claim 10 , wherein at least one aperture is provided through a wall of the hollow reduced diameter portion such that fluid located in the interior of the hollow cylindrical sleeve can travel into the interior of the hollow reduced diameter portion and then pass through the at least one aperture to a location outside the hollow reduced diameter portion.

13 . The wellhead flow block lubricator assembly of claim 12 , wherein when the flow restrictor is located in the extended position, the tip of the flow restrictor at least partially prevents fluid in the interior of the hollow reduced diameter portion from escaping out the at least one aperture to a location outside the hollow reduced diameter portion.

14 . The wellhead flow block lubricator assembly of claim 10 , wherein the flow restrictor is movably mounted within a restrictor passageway of the flange assembly.

15 . The wellhead flow block lubricator assembly of claim 14 , wherein internal threads are provided on an inner surface of the restrictor passageway, wherein external threads are formed on an exterior of the flow restrictor, the external threads on the flow restrictor mating with the internal threads on the restrictor passageway such that rotating the flow restrictor in the restrictor passageway causes the flow restrictor to move between the retracted and extended positions.

16 . The wellhead flow block lubricator assembly of claim 15 , wherein the flange assembly further comprises a

Assignees

• Flowco Production Solutions Llc
• Flowco Masterco Llc

Inventors

• Boyd Mitchell A
• Mitchum Darrell
• Boyd Garrett S

Classifications

• E21B33/068 Primary

  having provision for introducing objects or fluids into, or removing objects from, wells (cementing-heads E21B33/05) · CPC title