Coil Tube Injector System

Abstract

A coil tube injector head comprising at least two gearbox units, wherein each gearbox unit drives a gripper assembly comprising a plurality of gripper assembly links. The gripper assembly links comprise a gripper surface that engages a length of coil tubing and one or more roller bearings that engage a bearing plate. The coil tube injector head further comprises a skid plate that is coupled to the bearing plate and receives pressure from one or more traction cylinders. The assembly of the claimed embodiments further allows for ease of maintenance and service of the coil tube injector by operators in the field of oil and gas production.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An injector head assembly comprising:
 a first gripper assembly and a second gripper assembly, wherein each of the first and second gripper assemblies comprises one or more grippers and one or more roller bearings;   a first gearbox unit and a second gearbox unit, wherein the first gearbox unit drives the first gripper assembly and wherein the second gearbox unit drives the second gearbox assembly;   a traction cylinder;   a skid plate coupled to the traction cylinder, wherein the traction cylinder applies pressure to the skid plate;   a bearing plate coupled to the skid plate, wherein the bearing plate is in contact with the one or more roller bearings.   
     
     
         2 . The injector head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure applied by the traction cylinder moves the skid plate and the bearing plate between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
         3 . The injector head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the skid plate is made from high grade aluminum. 
     
     
         4 . The injector head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bearing plate is made from steel. 
     
     
         5 . The injector head assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a tensioning cylinder, wherein the tensioning cylinder is operable to apply a force in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to direction of a force applied by the traction cylinder. 
     
     
         6 . The injector head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the skid plate is guided via a plurality of slides, wherein the slides are disposed on the skid plate. 
     
     
         7 . The injector head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the skid plate is coupled to a plurality of traction cylinders. 
     
     
         8 . The injector head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first gearbox unit drives the first gripper assembly in a first direction and wherein the second gearbox unit drives the second gearbox assembly in a second direction. 
     
     
         9 . The injector head assembly of  claim 8 , wherein a side of the first gripper assembly faces a side of the second gripper assembly and wherein the facing sides of the first gripper assembly and the second gripper assembly move in same vertical direction. 
     
     
         10 . A injector head assembly comprising:
 a coil tube injector head, wherein the coil tube injector head comprises:
 a first gripper assembly and a second gripper assembly, wherein each of the first and second gripper assemblies comprise one or more grippers and one or more roller bearings; 
 a first gearbox unit and a second gearbox unit, wherein the first gearbox unit drives the first gripper assembly and wherein the second gearbox unit drives the second gearbox assembly; 
 a traction cylinder; 
 a skid plate, wherein the traction cylinder provides pressure to the skid plate; 
 a bearing plate, wherein the skid plate is coupled to the bearing plate and wherein the bearing plate is coupled to the one or more roller bearings; and 
   wherein the coil tube injector head controls the feedrate of a length of coil tubing into or out of a well hole.   
     
     
         11 . The injector head assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the pressure applied by the traction cylinder moves the skid plate and the bearing plate between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
         12 . The injector head assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the skid plate is made from high grade aluminum. 
     
     
         13 . The injector head assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the bearing plate is made from steel. 
     
     
         14 . The injector head assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a tensioning cylinder, wherein the tensioning cylinder is operable to apply a force in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to direction of a force applied by the traction cylinder. 
     
     
         15 . The injector head assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the skid plate is guided via a plurality of slides, wherein the slides are disposed on the skid plate. 
     
     
         16 . The injector head assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the skid plate is coupled to a plurality of traction cylinders. 
     
     
         17 . The injector head assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first gearbox unit drives the first gripper assembly in a first direction and wherein the second gearbox unit drives the second gearbox assembly in a second direction. 
     
     
         18 . The injector head assembly of  claim 17 , wherein a side of the first gripper assembly faces a side of the second gripper assembly and wherein the facing sides of the first gripper assembly and the second gripper assembly move in same vertical direction.