Plunger lift lubricator

Abstract

A housing defines a central receiving passage and internal flow passages that are fluidically connected to the central receiving passage. A receiving spring is at an uphole end of the lubricator. A plunger catcher is included as well.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plunger lift lubricator comprising:
 a housing defining a central receiving passage and internal flow passages fluidically connected to the central receiving passage;   a receiving spring at an uphole end of the lubricator; and   a plunger catcher.   
     
     
         2 . The plunger lubricator of  claim 1 , wherein the internal flow passages comprise:
 a first fluid passage defining an first inlet within the central passage, the first inlet configured to receive production fluid from the central passage; and   a second fluid passage defining a second inlet uphole of the first inlet, the second inlet configured to receive production fluid from the central passage, the second fluid passage converging with the first fluid passage.   
     
     
         3 . The plunger lubricator of  claim 2 , wherein the housing further defines an outlet configured to direct well fluid to a conditioning system from the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage. 
     
     
         4 . The plunger lubricator of  claim 2 , wherein the first fluid inlet and the second fluid inlet are spaced apart a distance greater than a length of a plunger to be used with the lubricator. 
     
     
         5 . The plunger lubricator of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to:
 receive a first signal indicative of a pressure within a wellbore;   determine that the pressure within the wellbore has fallen below a first specified threshold based on the first received signal;   send a second signal to an actuator, the second signal configured to actuate the actuator to release a plunger into the wellbore;   send a third signal to a control valve, the third signal configured to actuate the control valve to cease flow within the wellbore;   after ceasing flow within the wellbore, determine that the pressure within the wellbore has risen above a second specified threshold based on the first received signal; and   send a fourth signal to the control valve, the fourth signal configured to actuate the control valve to re-start flow within the wellbore.   
     
     
         6 . The plunger lubricator of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 receive a fifth signal indicative of a plunger presence within the lubricator; and   determine the presence of the plunger within the lubricator based on the received fifth signal.   
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 receiving a plunger from a wellbore by a plunger lubricator;   receiving fluid, by the plunger lubricator, from the wellbore; and   directing fluid by internal flow passages within the lubricator.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 detecting a pressure drop;   ceasing fluid flow within the wellbore in response to the detected pressure drop; and   releasing the plunger by the plunger lubricator.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein receiving the plunger comprises:
 receiving the plunger by an inlet of the plunger lubricator;   receiving fluid, traveling ahead of the plunger, by a first inlet and a second inlet; and   receiving fluid, traveling behind the plunger, by the first inlet and by the second inlet.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 retaining the plunger by the plunger lubricator.   
     
     
         11 . A plunger lift system comprising:
 a production wellbore;   a production tree at an uphole end of the production wellbore;   a plunger lubricator atop the production tree, the plunger lubricator comprising:
 a housing defining a central receiving passage and internal flow passages fluidically connected to the central receiving passage; 
 a receiving spring at an uphole end of the plunger lubricator; 
 a plunger catcher; and 
   a plunger configured to traverse the wellbore and be received and retained by the plunger lubricator.   
     
     
         12 . The plunger lift system of  claim 11 , wherein the internal flow passages comprise:
 a first fluid passage defining an first inlet within the central passage, the first inlet configured to receive production fluid from the central passage; and   a second fluid passage defining a second inlet uphole of the first inlet, the second inlet configured to receive production fluid from the central passage, the second fluid passage converging with the first fluid passage.   
     
     
         13 . The plunger lift system of  claim 12 , wherein the first fluid inlet and the second fluid inlet are spaced apart a distance greater than a length of a plunger to be used with the lubricator. 
     
     
         14 . The plunger lift system of  claim 12 , further comprising a controller configured to:
 receive a first signal indicative of a pressure within the wellbore;   determine that the pressure within the wellbore has fallen below a first specified threshold based on the first received signal;   send a second signal to an actuator, the second signal configured to actuate the actuator to release a plunger into the wellbore;   send a third signal to a control valve, the third signal configured to actuate the control valve to cease flow within the wellbore;   after ceasing flow within the wellbore, determine that the pressure within the wellbore has risen above a second specified threshold based on the first received signal; and   send a fourth signal to the control valve, the fourth signal configured to actuate the control valve to re-start flow within the wellbore.   
     
     
         15 . The plunger lift system of  claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 receive a fifth signal indicative of a plunger presence within the lubricator; and   determine the presence of the plunger within the lubricator based on the received fifth signal.   
     
     
         16 . The plunger lift system of  claim 14 , further comprising a solar panel coupled to the controller, the solar panel configured to provide power to the controller. 
     
     
         17 . The plunger lift system of  claim 11 , further comprising a conditioning system configured to condition production fluids directed by the lubricator. 
     
     
         18 . The plunger lift system of  claim 17 , wherein the housing further defines an outlet configured to direct well fluid to a conditioning system.