Plunger Lift Lubricator with Mounted Pipe Connectors

Abstract

A plunger lift lubricator includes a tubular flow body having an internal lubricator bore, a top end, a bottom end, and a radial outlet in communication with lubricator bore; and a pipe connector circumferentially mounted on the tubular flow body about the radial outlet, the pipe connector having a vertical throughbore disposing the flow body, a pipe connector profile, and a horizontal passage extending between the vertical throughbore and the pipe connector profile. In accordance to some embodiments the flow body is formed of a single piece of material and the top end has a thread profile to connect a spring housing and the bottom end has a thread or a flange profile.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plunger lift lubricator, comprising:
 a tubular flow body having an internal lubricator bore, a top end, a bottom end, and a radial outlet in communication with lubricator bore; and   a pipe connector circumferentially mounted on the tubular flow body about the radial outlet, the pipe connector comprising a vertical throughbore disposing the flow body, a pipe connector profile, and a horizontal passage extending between the vertical throughbore and the pipe connector profile.   
     
     
         2 . The plunger lift lubricator of  claim 1 , wherein flow body is formed of a single piece of material and the top end comprises a thread profile to connect a spring housing and the bottom end comprises one of a thread or a flange profile. 
     
     
         3 . The plunger lift lubricator of  claim 1 , further comprising a first circumferential seal between the flow body and the pipe connector located above the radial outlet; and
 a second and circumferential seal between the flow body and the pipe connector located above the radial outlet.   
     
     
         4 . The plunger lift lubricator of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe connector is secured to the flow body without welding. 
     
     
         5 . The plunger lift lubricator of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe connector is secured to the flow body with welding. 
     
     
         6 . The plunger lift lubricator of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe connector is secured to the flow body with an internal locking element radially disposed in a connector pathway formed in the pipe connector and a body pathway formed in the flow body. 
     
     
         7 . The plunger lift lubricator of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe connector is secured to the flow body by an external element. 
     
     
         8 . The plunger lift lubricator of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe connector comprises a catcher having a pin member to selectively engage a plunger disposed in the lubricator bore. 
     
     
         9 . The plunger lift lubricator of  claim 1 , comprising an external element securing the pipe connector to the flow body; and
 the pipe connector comprising a catcher having a pin member to selectively engage a plunger disposed in the lubricator bore.   
     
     
         10 . The plunger lift lubricator of  claim 1 , further comprising an internal locking element disposed in a connector pathway formed in the pipe connector and a body pathway formed in the flow body; and
 the pipe connector comprising a catcher having a pin member to selectively engage a plunger disposed in the lubricator bore, wherein the internal locking element disposes the pin member.   
     
     
         11 . The plunger lift lubricator of  claim 1 , further comprising a perforated liner disposed within the lubricator bore adjacent to the radial outlet; and
 an annular gap defined between the perforated liner and the flow body.   
     
     
         12 . The plunger lift lubricator of  claim 11 , wherein the pipe connector comprises a catcher having a pin member to selectively engage a plunger disposed in the lubricator bore. 
     
     
         13 . The plunger lift lubricator of  claim 1 , wherein the flow body comprises only one radial outlet, and the plunger lift lubricator further comprises:
 a perforated liner disposed within the lubricator bore adjacent to the radial outlet; and   an annular gap defined between the perforated liner and the flow body.   
     
     
         14 . The plunger lift lubricator of  claim 13 , wherein the pipe connector comprises a catcher having a pin member to selectively engage a plunger disposed in the lubricator bore. 
     
     
         15 . The plunger lift lubricator of  claim 14 , wherein the catcher comprises an internal locking element securing the pipe connector to the flow body, the internal locking element comprising a bore disposing the pin member. 
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 securing a pipe connector to a tubular flow body for use as a plunger lift lubricator, wherein the flow body comprises an internal lubricator bore, a top end, a bottom end, and a radial outlet in communication with lubricator bore, and the pipe connector comprising a vertical throughbore, a pipe connector profile and a horizontal passage extending between the vertical throughbore and the pipe connector profile, wherein the securing comprises:   positioning the flow body in the vertical throughbore with the radial outlet and horizontal passage located on the same horizontal plane; and   attaching the pipe connector to the flow body.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein flow body is formed of a single piece of material and the top end comprises a thread profile to connect a spring housing and the bottom end comprises one of a thread or a flange profile. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing a first circumferential seal between the flow body and the pipe connector located above the radial outlet; and
 providing a second and circumferential seal between the flow body and the pipe connector located above the radial outlet.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the attaching comprises positioning an internal locking element in a connector pathway formed in the pipe connector and a body pathway formed in the flow body. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising connecting a catcher with the pipe connector having a pin member to selectively engage a plunger disposed in the lubricator bore, wherein the connecting comprises disposing the pin member in an internal bore of the internal locking member.