Stuffing box for an artificial lift system

Abstract

A stuffing box for an artificial lift system includes a primary housing having threads. The stuffing box also includes at least one primary seal disposed within the primary housing, in which the at least one primary seal is configured to engage a polish rod. The stuffing box includes a secondary housing having threads. The stuffing box also includes at least one secondary seal disposed within the secondary housing, in which the at least one secondary seal is configured to engage the polish rod. The threads of the secondary housing are configured to engage the threads of the primary housing to couple the secondary housing to the primary housing, and the secondary housing is configured to compress the at least one primary seal via rotation of the secondary housing relative to the primary housing while the threads of the secondary housing are engaged with the threads of the primary housing.

1 . A stuffing box for an artificial lift system, comprising:
 a primary housing having threads;   at least one primary seal disposed within the primary housing, wherein the at least one primary seal is configured to engage a polish rod;   a secondary housing having threads; and   at least one secondary seal disposed within the secondary housing, wherein the at least one secondary seal is configured to engage the polish rod;   wherein the threads of the secondary housing are configured to engage the threads of the primary housing to couple the secondary housing to the primary housing, and the secondary housing is configured to compress the at least one primary seal via rotation of the secondary housing relative to the primary housing while the threads of the secondary housing are engaged with the threads of the primary housing.   
     
     
         2 . The stuffing box of  claim 1 , comprising a cap coupled to the secondary housing and configured to compress the at least one secondary seal. 
     
     
         3 . The stuffing box of  claim 2 , comprising a plurality of fasteners configured to couple the cap to the secondary housing and to drive the cap toward the at least one secondary seal. 
     
     
         4 . The stuffing box of  claim 1 , wherein the primary housing has at least one aperture extending from an interior cavity of the primary housing to an exterior surface of the primary housing, and the interior cavity is positioned between the at least one primary seal and the at least one secondary seal. 
     
     
         5 . The stuffing box of  claim 4 , comprising an adapter ring disposed about the primary housing and aligned with the at least one aperture along a longitudinal axis of the stuffing box, wherein the adapter ring is configured to rotate relative to the primary housing, and the adapter ring has a port extending radially through the adapter ring. 
     
     
         6 . The stuffing box of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary housing has at least one flat surface configured to interface with a tool to enable the tool to drive the secondary housing to rotate relative to the primary housing. 
     
     
         7 . A stuffing box for an artificial lift system, comprising:
 a primary housing having internal threads;   at least one primary seal disposed within the primary housing, wherein the at least one primary seal is configured to engage a polish rod;   a secondary housing having external threads, wherein the external threads of the secondary housing are configured to engage the internal threads of the primary housing to couple the secondary housing to the primary housing, and the secondary housing is configured to compress the at least one primary seal via rotation of the secondary housing relative to the primary housing while the external threads of the secondary housing are engaged with the internal threads of the primary housing;   at least one secondary seal disposed within the secondary housing, wherein the at least one secondary seal is configured to engage the polish rod; and   a cap coupled to the secondary housing and configured to compress the at least one secondary seal.   
     
     
         8 . The stuffing box of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of fasteners configured to couple the cap to the secondary housing and to drive the cap toward the at least one secondary seal. 
     
     
         9 . The stuffing box of  claim 1 , wherein the primary housing has at least one aperture extending from an interior cavity of the primary housing to an exterior surface of the primary housing, and the interior cavity is positioned between the at least one primary seal and the at least one secondary seal. 
     
     
         10 . The stuffing box of  claim 9 , comprising an adapter ring disposed about the primary housing and aligned with the at least one aperture along a longitudinal axis of the stuffing box, wherein the adapter ring is configured to rotate relative to the primary housing, and the adapter ring has a port extending radially through the adapter ring. 
     
     
         11 . The stuffing box of  claim 10 , wherein the primary housing has a shoulder configured to engage the adapter ring to align the adapter ring with the at least one aperture along the longitudinal axis of the stuffing box. 
     
     
         12 . The stuffing box of  claim 11 , comprising a retaining ring configured to engage a recess in the primary housing and to block movement of the adapter ring away from the shoulder along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         13 . The stuffing box of  claim 7 , wherein the primary housing has external threads configured to engage corresponding internal threads of a pumping tee to couple the stuffing box to the pumping tee. 
     
     
         14 . The stuffing box of  claim 7 , wherein the secondary housing has at least one flat surface configured to interface with a tool to enable the tool to drive the secondary housing to rotate relative to the primary housing. 
     
     
         15 . The stuffing box of  claim 7 , comprising a flapper assembly disposed within the primary housing, wherein the flapper assembly comprises a flapper carrier and a flapper pivotally coupled to the flapper carrier, the flapper is biased toward a closed position, and the flapper is configured to engage the flapper carrier while in the closed position to substantially block oil flow through the stuffing box. 
     
     
         16 . The stuffing box of  claim 15 , wherein the primary housing has an internal shoulder configured to engage the flapper carrier to block movement of the flapper carrier along a longitudinal axis of the stuffing box. 
     
     
         17 . A stuffing box for an artificial lift system, comprising:
 a primary housing; and   at least one primary seal disposed within the primary housing, wherein the at least one primary seal is configured to engage a polish rod;   a secondary housing coupled to the primary housing;   at least one secondary seal disposed within the secondary housing, wherein the at least one secondary seal is configured to engage the polish rod; and   an adapter ring disposed about the primary housing, wherein the primary housing has at least one aperture extending from an interior cavity of the primary housing to an exterior surface of the primary housing, the interior cavity is positioned between the at least one primary seal and the at least one secondary seal, the adapter ring is aligned with the at least one aperture along a longitudinal axis of the stuffing box, the adapter ring is configured to rotate relative to the primary housing, and the adapter ring has a port extending radially through the adapter ring.   
     
     
         18 . The stuffing box of  claim 17 , wherein the primary housing has a shoulder configured to engage the adapter ring to align the adapter ring with the at least one aperture along the longitudinal axis of the stuffing box. 
     
     
         19 . The stuffing box of  claim 18 , comprising a retaining ring configured to engage a recess in the primary housing and to block movement of the adapter ring away from the shoulder along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         20 . The stuffing box of  claim 17 , wherein the secondary housing is coupled to the primary housing via a threaded connection.