US20040011530A1

US20040011530A1 - Long stroking tool

Info

Publication number: US20040011530A1
Application number: US10/400,175
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael Felthager
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-26
Filing date: 2003-03-26
Publication date: 2004-01-22
Also published as: WO2003083252A1; AU2003224772A1

Abstract

After an existing lower rod lock is tightened to keep a pump rod, which extends from a stuck pump rotor, from sliding down into a well, an existing upper rod lock/drive is loosened to allow the rod to slide through the upper rod drive.

The present invention is then mounted to the rod or an extension thereof, and locked in place by means of a temporary lifting rod lock. To keep the present invention from rotating, anti-rotation chains which extend from the present invention are attached to existing eyehooks on the prior art drive head.

When hydraulic fluid is passed through the system of the present invention, a hydraulic cylinder(s) causes the rod to be pulled upwards, thereby pulling a pump rotor upwards out of sand buildup which entraps said pump rotor. If the pump rotor is not initially freed up, the hydraulic cylinder(s) are retracted and the pulling process is repeated until the entrapped pump rotor is freed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application claiming the benefits of provisional application No. 60/368,057 filed Mar. 26, 2002.[0001]

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for lifting a dewatering pump located in an underground gas production well from a build up layer of sand or silt blocking the pump operation. The present invention eliminates the need for a conventional mechanical drilling or “workover” rig through the use of hydraulics.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dewatering pumps for production wells can be located several hundred feet below ground. Fine materials such as sand, silt or clays, which surround the well, may enter the well casing during normal operations. An accumulation of the fine materials can cause the dewatering pump located in the well casing to cease operation. When this happens, the well space fills with water, preventing the gas being produced from entering the well casing. To free the “stuck” dewatering pump rotor, a conventional mechanical drill rig or workover rig must be brought in to mechanically lift the pump rotor out of the sand layer which entraps the rotor. The conventional workover drill rig is an extremely heavy and cumbersome piece of equipment. A workover rig takes a considerable amount of time to maneuver, sometimes several hours to move from one location to another. At times, it is much too large a piece of equipment than that needed to perform the freeing task. When used to pump out sand buildup, mechanical rigs can often exert too much pressure, causing damage to or failure of the pump rod (or polished rod). A workover drill rig can also be associated with high handling costs.

The present invention offers the advantage of a hydraulic system over the conventional mechanical rig. Where the mechanical system generally exerts a non-adjustable amount of pressure or force depending on the size of the rig, a hydraulic system allows an operator to evaluate the degree of entrapment and adjust the amount of pressure or force required to free the entrapped pump rotor from sand buildup in a well casing. With the hydraulic system, the operator has the ability to pull the pump at a lower degree of pressure or force than when using a mechanical system. If the initially exerted pressure or force is not sufficient to free the pump, the system can be re-engaged to exert a higher degree of pressure or force. If the operator determines the hydraulic system is insufficient to free the pump, the operator may then opt to bring in a mechanical rig. Further, the present invention provides an operator with the ability to stabilize the rod and tool to reduce the chance of damage to or failure of the pump rod caused by rotation.

Efforts have been made to develop various types of lifting apparatus for use in well workovers and well servicing operations. In particular, a portable or compact apparatus has been invented for replacing a large conventional well rig for lifting a wellhead and production tubing string in certain well servicing or workover applications. U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,366 which issued to Maroney et al. on Jul. 12, 1988 and is entitled “Well Servicing Methods Using A Hydraulic Actuated Workover Mast”, discloses a portable workover rig for lowering and raising objects such as pipe into and out of a borehole. The workover rig is mounted to a heavy vehicle and includes a mast which can be raised from a horizontal to a vertical position, a hydraulic system and drum cable system. Nevertheless, the portable workover rig disclosed in this patent is expensive to construct and operate because a dedicate vehicle, a dedicated hydraulic system and a complicated mechanical structure are involved. Moreover, the portable workover rig is designed to lift a wellhead for well servicing or workover.

The present invention performs the task of freeing a stuck pump rotor without the removal of the prior art wellhead, which is usually performed by bringing in a mechanical workover rig. Dissembling the drive head normally takes 5-6 hours. The present invention can quickly free a stuck pump rotor after 10 minutes of set-up time.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,428 which issued to Miles on Dec. 21, 1976 and is entitled “Well Pipe Extractor And Installer”, discloses a well pipe puller that uses a pair of gripping jaws mounted to a pair of vertical supports for clamping a well pipe. The jaws of arcuate configuration have gripping teeth, and are urged into a closed gripping position by spring activation. The hydraulic cylinders that pull the well pipe reside within the vertical supports. Miles addresses the cumbersome and costly labor approaches of having one workman manually pull up the well pipe with a pipe wrench while another workman clamps the pipe at the ground level with another pipe wrench to prevent the lowering of the pipe into the well bore at an uncontrolled rate. Miles, however, still requires the removal of the full wellhead.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,253 which issued to Dallas on May 22, 2001 and is entitled “Method And Apparatus For Well Workover Or Servicing”, discloses a method and apparatus that uses hydraulic cylinders to lift a wellhead, a production tubing string, or a wellhead with an attached production tubing string for servicing or working over a hydrocarbon well. The apparatus is mounted on a skid assembly. A pair of hydraulic cylinders pivots from a horizontal to a vertical position. A workover beam and rotatable lifting sub pull the wellhead and/or production tubing in an upward direction. Dallas, however, still requires the removal of the full drive head down to the well casing.

A tool useful in pulling casing from a dead well is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,661,063, which issued to Owens on Dec. 1, 1953 and is entitled “Method And Means Of Pulling Pipe From A Well”. Owens discloses the use of a pair of hydraulic jacks to loosen a casing that gets stuck while being pulled from a dead well by a rig. The jacks exert an upward force through two arms affixed to a collar attached by shearable pins to the well casing being pulled by the rig. The pins shear unless the well casing pipe dislodges from the stuck position. The shearing of the pins causes a downward jar or jerk on the pipe that tends to loosen the pipe. After the well casing pipe is loosened, it is pulled from the well using the rig until it is removed, or it gets stuck again. Like the present invention, the hydraulic jacks are not designed to lift a wellhead for well servicing or workover. However, in Owens, the pipe being lifted by the jacks is the well casing pipe, not the polished rod which extends from the dewatering pump located in the well casing as in the present invention.

As stated above, the present invention performs the task of freeing a stuck dewatering pump rotor without the removal of the prior art wellhead.

Other advantages offered by the present invention are its compact nature and its portability. The present invention can be transported in a small truck to a well site in a fraction of the time it would take to maneuver a conventional work-over rig into place.

Another advantage of the present invention is the cost savings that can be realized associated with its portability, compactness and ease of installation.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is the ease of installation onto the well drive. In most instances, in which the long stroking tool is used to free a pump, the production well can be up and running again in less than one hour.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main aspect of the present invention is to implement a hydraulic system to free a dewatering pump rotor located in a production well that is entrapped in a layer of fine materials such as sand, silt or clays which normally surround the well but may enter the well casing to block the normal operation of the dewatering pump.

Another aspect of the present invention is that it gives an operator the ability to adjust the amount of pressure required to free a stuck pump rotor from sand buildup within the well casing. By adjusting the degree of pressure or force exerted when pulling the pump rod with the present invention, the operator reduces the chance to cause damage to or failure of the polished rod.

Another aspect of the present invention is its ability to utilize existing components of a prior art wellhead setup, such as a lower rod lock and upper rod lock/drive, to facilitate the pulling of the polished rod.

Another aspect of the present invention is its portable nature. The present invention can be transported in a small truck to a well site in a short amount of time.

Another aspect of the present invention is its compact nature, allowing an operator to mobilize the suitably sized long stroking tool with a small truck instead of having to mobilize an over-sized piece of equipment, which could cause damage to or failure of the polished rod.

Another aspect of the present invention is to allow the operator to stabilize the rod and tool to further reduce the chance of damage to or failure of the pump rod caused by rotation.

Other aspects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of one embodiment of the apparatus mounted on top of the prior art wellhead. [0021]
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the polish rod extension and the prior art wellhead setup. [0022]
FIG. 3 is another frontal view of the apparatus mounted on top of the prior art wellhead. [0023]
FIG. 4 is a frontal view of the apparatus. [0024]
FIG. 5 is a side view the embodiment of FIG. 4. [0025]
FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a front or back surface of the upper plate of the embodiment of FIG. 4. [0026]
FIG. 7 is a top view of the bottom surface of the upper plate of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4. [0027]
FIG. 8 is a side view of the bottom surface shown in FIG. 7. [0028]
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the bottom surface shown in FIG. 7. [0029]
FIG. 10 is a top view of the bottom surface of the lower plate of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4. [0030]
FIG. 11 is a side view of the bottom surface shown in FIG. 10. [0031]
FIG. 12 is a plan view of the bottom surface shown in FIG. 10. [0032]
FIG. 13 is a front view of the upper plate of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4. [0033]
FIG. 14 is a side view of the upper plate shown in FIG. 13. [0034]
FIG. 15 is a side view of a hydraulic cylinder pin. [0035]
FIG. 16 is a front view of the hydraulic cylinder pin shown in FIG. 15. [0036]
FIG. 17 is a front view of a hydraulic cylinder pin lug. [0037]
FIG. 18 is a side view of the hydraulic cylinder pin lug shown in FIG. 17. [0038]
FIG. 19 is a plan view of a hydraulic cylinder pin lug shown in FIG. 17. [0039]
FIG. 20 is a front cross sectional view of another embodiment of the apparatus mounted on top of the prior art wellhead. [0040]
FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 20. [0041]
FIG. 22 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of the apparatus.[0042]
Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangements shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. [0043]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of one embodiment of the long stroking [0044] tool 1000. Tool 1000 is shown mounted on top of a prior art wellhead.
A pump having a rotor (not shown) is located underneath the ground surface S. The pump rotor (not shown) is located at the lower end of existing pump rod (or polished rod) [0045] 3000. Fine materials surrounding the well may enter the well casing 400 beneath ground surface S and accumulate around the pump rotor (not shown), thereby causing the pump (not shown) located in the well casing 400 to cease operation.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, long stroking [0046] tool 1000 comprises lower plate 3400 and upper plate 3500, which are preferably made of steel. Plates 3400 and 3500 are attached to hydraulic cylinders 3600, 3700 by means of a hydraulic lug pin(s) 4600. Connectors 800 and 900 connect hydraulic hose 3300 and hydraulic cylinders 3600 and 3700. Connectors 801 and 901 connect hydraulic hose 3200 and hydraulic cylinders 3600 and 3700. One end of hydraulic hose 3200, 3300 is connected to a control valve assembly 4300. Hydraulic hoses 4450 and 4550 connect prior art portable hydraulic power unit 4400 (not shown) and prior art pump 4500 (not shown). The example in FIG. 4 shows the use of quick couplers. However, the present invention is not limited to quick couplers since various factors may affect the size and materials selected for particular well site requirements.
As shown in FIGS. 4,5, [0047] 13, and 14, upper plate 3500 comprises a front and back surface 3540 and a bottom surface 3520. Bottom surface 3520 is depicted in FIGS. 7-9 as having a hole 3530 mounted therethrough. Lower plate 3400 comprises a front and back surface 3440 and a bottom surface 3420. Bottom surface 3420 is depicted in FIGS. 10-12 as having a rectangular opening 3430 mounted therethrough. The front and back surfaces 3540 of upper plate 3500 and the front and back surfaces 3440 of lower plate 3400 are as shown in FIG. 6, a top perspective view of a front or back surface of the upper plate of the embodiment of FIG. 4.
Referring to FIG. 13, the ends of [0048] upper plate 3500 comprise hydraulic pin lug 4700. FIGS. 17-19 show hydraulic cylinder pin lug 4700 having a hole 4750 mounted therethrough. FIGS. 15-16 show a hydraulic cylinder pin 4600. As seen in FIG. 4, upper plate 3500 is attached to hydraulic cylinders 3600, 3700 by inserting hydraulic lug pin 4600 through pin lug hole 4750. The ends of lower plate 3400 similarly comprise a hydraulic pin lug 4700 having a hole 4750 mounted therethrough. Lower plate 3400 is attached to hydraulic cylinders 3600, 3700 by inserting hydraulic lug pin 4600 through pin lug hole 4750.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the [0049] polished rod extension 3800 and the prior art wellhead setup. Polished rod 3000 extends from the interior of well casing 400 through bracket 3100. (See FIG. 1.) Polished rod 3000 is held in place by the existing upper rod lock/drive 300. Upper rod lock/drive 300 is located above the existing drive head 500 and hydraulic motor drive 2000. Polished rod extension 3800 of the present invention may be installed to extend the length of polished rod 3000, thereby providing greater access to polished rod 3000 when mounting the long stroking tool 1000. Existing bracket 3100 houses lower rod lock 100 and existing packing gland 200.
As shown in FIG. 1, [0050] polished rod 3000 is held in place by the existing upper rod lock/drive 300. Upper rod lock/drive 300 is loosened to allow rod 3000 to slide up through the well casing 400. However, lower rod lock 100 is first tightened to hold rod 3000 in place, thereby preventing rod 3000 from sliding down into the well casing 400 when the upper rod lock/drive 300 is loosened. In this tightened configuration, lower rod lock 100 is positioned directly over packing gland 200. As rod 3000 is pulled in direction F to free the “stuck” pump rotor (not shown), lower rod lock 100 is also pulled in direction F and away from packing gland 200.
To implement the invention, [0051] tool 1000 is mounted over existing rod 3000 or extension 3800 thereof by positioning rod 3000 or extension 3800 through the rectangular opening 3430 of lower plate 3400 and hole 3530 of upper plate 3500. Tool 1000 is positioned on top of loosened upper lock/drive 300. Bushing 3900 is then installed on rod 3000 as rod 3000 protrudes through hole 3530 at the top of upper plate 3500. Bushing 3900 is seated on bottom surface 3520 of upper plate 3500 between the front and back surfaces 3540 to allow rod 3000 to freely rotate without moving tool 1000.
Lifting rod lock or [0052] temporary rod lock 4000 is then installed on rod 3000 as it protrudes through bushing 3900 on top of upper plate 3500. When tightened, lifting rod lock 4000 is positioned on top of bushing 3900 to keep the tool 1000 and bushing 3900 in place. To keep tool 1000 from rotating, anti-rotation chains 4100, 4200 having chain bearings extend from bottom surface 3420 of lower plate 3400 and attach to existing eyehooks 600, 700 on drive head 500.
These figures depict one example of the present invention. Various factors would obviously affect the selection of the type, size, and placement of materials, as well as dimensions and tolerances required for particular well sites and thus, the range of design is not limited to these examples. [0053]
For example, [0054] plates 3400 and 3500 of tool 1000 are attached to hydraulic cylinders 3600, 3700 by means of a hydraulic lug pin(s) 4600. However, as set forth in FIG. 22, another embodiment of the present invention, the upper plate 9000 comprises a first portion 9010 and a second portion 9020, wherein the two portions are removably secured together by bolts or clamps 9050, 9060. The lower plate 9100 comprises a first portion 9110 and a second portion 9120, wherein the two portions are removably secured together by bolts or clamps 9150, 9160.
[0055] Upper plate portion 9010 and lower plate portion 9110 are affixed to a hydraulic cylinder 9200, preferably by means of hydraulic lug pins (not shown) inserted through pin lug holes 9550 of hydraulic pin lug 9500. Accordingly, upper plate portion 9020 and lower plate portion 9120 are affixed to hydraulic cylinder 9300, preferably by means of hydraulic lug pins (not shown) inserted through pin lug holes 9450 of hydraulic pin lug 9400. Upper portions 9010, 9020 and lower portions 9110, 9120 are configured to abut opposing sides of the outer circumference of polished rod 3000 or, if necessary, extension 3800.
FIG. 3 is another frontal view of [0056] tool 1000 mounted on top of the prior art wellhead. Tool 1000 comprises lower plate 3400 and upper plate 3500 connected to hydraulic cylinders 3600, 3700. Operator U is shown tightening lifting rod lock 4000 which is positioned on top of bushing 3900. Hydraulic hoses 3600, 3700 are shown connected to hydraulic cylinders 3600, 3700.
FIG. 1 also depicts prior art [0057] control valve assembly 4300 connected to one end of hydraulic hoses 3200, 3300. Another end of hydraulic hoses 3200, 3300 is connected to intake valves (not shown) located on hydraulic cylinders 3600, 3700 of tool 1000. When the control valve is activated, thereby passing hydraulic fluid through hydraulic cylinders 3600 and 3700, hydraulic cylinders 3600 and 3700 extend, causing upper plate 3500 to pull pump rod 3000 in direction F. Control valve assembly 4300 is fitted with an adjustable relief valve (not shown) to control the amount of force exerted by tool 1000. The pressure to be exerted can range from 0-3000 psi. Thus, the range of force can be 0-30 or more tons. Although one example of the disclosed embodiment was operated in the range of 1500-3000 psi (or 10-30 tons), various factors would obviously affect the degree of pressure (or force) required for particular well sites. Thus, the range of operation is not limited to 1500-3000 psi (or 10-30 tons). Hydraulic hoses 4450 and 4550 connect prior art portable hydraulic power unit 4400 and prior art pump 4500.
As [0058] rod 3000 is pulled in direction F to free the “stuck” pump rotor (not shown), lower rod lock 100 is also pulled in direction F and away from packing gland 200. If the pump rotor is not freed up, lower rod lock 100 is loosened, positioned back down to seat directly over packing gland 200, and retightened. Lower rod lock 100 may be loosened without fear that rod 3000 will slide down into well casing 400 because tool 1000 and temporary rod lock 4000 now hold rod 3000 in place. After hydraulic cylinders 3600, 3700 are retracted, the pulling process is repeated until the entrapped pump rotor is freed.
FIGS. [0059] 20-21 depict another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. Tool 8000 is mounted on top of prior art wellhead 500. As shown, tool 8000 has no plates. Tool 8000 comprises cylinder barrel 6500 and hydraulic cylinder 6300.
To implement the invention, [0060] tool 8000 is mounted over existing rod 3000 or extension 3800 thereof by positioning rod 3000 or extension 3800 through hollow center casing 6600 of hydraulic cylinder rod 6300. The bottom portion of center casing 6600 is welded to the bottom portion 6320 of hydraulic cylinder rod 6300 to guide cylinder rod 6300 through cylinder barrel 6500. Tool 8000 is positioned on top of loosened upper lock/drive 300. The bottom 6700 of cylinder barrel 6500 is notched out to fit partially over upper rod lock/drive 300.
[0061] Bushing 7000 is then installed on rod 3000 as rod 3000 protrudes through center casing 6600 at the top of hydraulic cylinder rod 6300. Bushing 7000 is seated within the upper portion 6380of hydraulic cylinder 6300 to allow rod 3000 to freely rotate without moving tool 8000. Lifting rod lock or temporary rod lock 6000 is then installed on rod 3000 as rod 3000 protrudes through bushing 7000 on top of hydraulic cylinder 6300. When tightened, lifting rod lock 6000 is positioned on top of bushing 7000 to hold tool 8000 and bushing 7000 in place. To keep tool 8000 from rotating, anti-rotation chains 6100, 6200 having chain bearings extend from the bottom portion of cylinder barrel 6500 and attach to existing eyehooks 600, 700 on drive head 500.
Hydraulic hoses (not shown) are connected to intake valves (not shown) located on [0062] cylinder barrel 6500 by means of quick couplers 6800, 6850. The present invention is not limited to the use of quick couplers since various factors may affect the size and materials selected for particular well site requirements. As hydraulic fluid passes through the system of tool 8000, hydraulic cylinder rod 6300 extends through cylinder barrel 6500 until the lower portion 6320 of hydraulic cylinder rod 6300 encounters cylinder gland 6340. The extension of hydraulic cylinder rod 6300 causes lifting rod lock 6000 to pull pump rod 3000 in direction F.
FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view of the single hydraulic cylinder embodiment of FIG. 20. [0063] Rod 3000 protrudes within center casing 6600 of hydraulic cylinder rod 6300. As hydraulic fluid passes through the system of tool 8000, hydraulic cylinder rod 6300 extends upward through cylinder barrel 6500.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to disclosed embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred. [0064]

Claims

I claim:

1. A method to pull a pump rod from within a well, the method comprising the steps of:

disengaging a pump rod from a rotational drive assembly;

assembling a long stroking tool which comprises attaching at least one hydraulic cylinder on top of a lower plate, thereby providing an anchor for the hydraulic cylinder to push against;

fastening a hydraulic arm of the hydraulic cylinder to the pump rod; and

activating the hydraulic cylinder to urge the hydraulic arm upward, thereby lifting the pump rod from the well.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of assembling the long stroking tool further comprises attaching the hydraulic cylinder to an upper plate, said upper and lower plates each having a hole to receive the pump rod.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of mounting the long stroking tool atop a drive head with the pump rod passing through the holes of the lower and upper plates.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of assembling the long stroking tool further comprises using two hydraulic cylinders placed opposed to one another at a periphery of each of the lower and upper plates.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of assembling the long stroking tool further comprises using a single hydraulic cylinder having a central hole that fits over the pump rod.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of assembling the long stroking tool further comprises removably securing the hydraulic cylinders with fastener means.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of tightening a lower rod lock to the pump rod above a packing gland, thereby preventing the lowering of the pump rod through the packing gland into the well at an uncontrolled rate.

8. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of attaching a lifting rod lock to the pump rod above the upper plate, thereby forming a lock to enable the upper plate to lift the pump rod.

9. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of placing a bushing in the hole of the upper plate to serve as a guide for the pump rod.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of attaching a line from the long stroking tool to an anchor, thereby preventing a rotation of the pump rod from rotating the long stroking tool.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the anchor is the drive head and the line is a chain.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of repositioning the lower rod lock to seat above said packing gland, thereby enabling a user to repeat the process of pulling the pump rod from the well when the hydraulic cylinder is reactivated.

13. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of tightening the upper rod drive lock, thereby re-engaging the pump rod with the rotational drive assembly.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of activating the hydraulic cylinder to urge the upper plate upward further comprises adjusting the degree of pressure or force exerted, thereby reducing damage to or failure of the pump rod.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the long stroking tool is portable and compact.

16. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of mounting an extension to the pump rod to extend the length of the pump rod, thereby facilitating the mounting of the long stroking tool on the drive head.

17. An apparatus for pulling a pump rod from within a well, the apparatus comprising:

means for assembling a long stroking tool functioning to pull a pump rod up from within the well;

said long stroking tool means comprising at least one hydraulic cylinder on top of a lower plate functioning to provide an anchor for the hydraulic cylinder to push against;

means for fastening a hydraulic arm of the hydraulic cylinder to the pump rod functioning to allow the hydraulic arm to lift the pump rod; and

means for activating the hydraulic cylinder to urge the hydraulic arm upward, functioning to lift the pump rod from the well.

18. A pulling apparatus for pulling a pump rod from within a well, the apparatus comprising:

a lower plate means having at least one hydraulic cylinder means attached to a top portion functioning to form a long stroking tool;

said lower plate means functioning to provide an anchor for the hydraulic cylinder means to push against;

attachment means functioning to fasten the hydraulic cylinder means to the pump rod; and

said hydraulic cylinder means functioning to lift the pump rod from the well.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the long stroking tool further comprises attaching the hydraulic cylinder means to an upper plate means, said upper plate means functioning to support the hydraulic cylinder means and lift the pump rod from the well, each of said upper and lower plate means having a hole means, each of said hole means functioning to receive the pump rod.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the long stroking tool further comprises two hydraulic cylinder means placed opposed to one another at a periphery of each of the lower and upper plate means, each of said two hydraulic cylinder means functioning to lift the pump rod from the well.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the long stroking tool further comprises a single hydraulic cylinder means having a central hole means, said central hole means functioning to fit over the pump rod, said single hydraulic cylinder means functioning to lift the pump rod from the well.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising fastener means functioning to removably secure each of said two hydraulic cylinder means to one another.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a lifting lock means above the upper plate means, said lifting lock means functioning to enable the upper plate means to lift the pump rod.

24. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a bushing means in the hole of the upper plate means, said bushing means functioning to guide the pump rod as the pump rod is lifted from the well.

25. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a line means extending from the long stroking tool to an anchor means, said line means functioning to prevent a pump rod rotation from rotating the long stroking tool.

26. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising means for activating the hydraulic cylinder, said activation means functioning to urge the upper plate means upward.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the activation means further comprises an adjustable degree of pressure or force to be exerted.

28. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the long stroking tool is portable and compact.

29. The method of claim 18 further comprising an extension means functioning to extend the length of the pump rod to facilitate the mounting of the long stroking tool on a drive head.

30. A puller assembly for mounting on top of a wellhead to extract a rod, said puller assembly comprising:

a lower plate;

an upper plate;

hydraulic lifting means comprising a ram, said hydraulic lifting means having securing components at an end of said ram for securing said upper plate to said ram, said hydraulic lifting means having securing components at an opposite end of said ram for securing said lower plate to said hydraulic lifting means, wherein said lower and upper plates and said hydraulic lifting means form a long stroking lift assembly, said hydraulic lifting means functioning to lift said upper plate which is attached to the rod;

connector means connected to said long stroking lift assembly and anchor means, said connector means functioning to prevent rotation of said long stroking lift assembly;

guide means positionable in said long stroking lift assembly functioning to allow said rod to freely rotate without moving said long stroking lift assembly; and

lock means positionable on top of said guide means along a longitudinal axis of said rod, said lock means functioning to allow said hydraulic lifting means to push the upper plate against the lock means to lift the rod.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the lock means further comprises a lifting rod lock attached to the rod above the upper plate.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the guide means further comprises a bushing in a hole of the upper plate.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the connector means further comprises a chain removably connectable to said anchor means.

34. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the long stroking lift assembly further comprises at least two hydraulic cylinders placed opposed to one another at a periphery of each of the lower and upper plates.

35. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the long stroking lifting assembly further comprises a single hydraulic cylinder means having a central hole means, said central hole means functioning to fit over the rod, said single hydraulic cylinder means functioning to lift the rod.

36. The apparatus of claim 34 further comprising fastener means functioning to removably secure each of said two hydraulic cylinder means to one another.

37. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the anchor is the drive head and the line is a chain.

38. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the hydraulic lifting means further comprises an adjustable degree of pressure or force to be exerted, thereby reducing damage to or failure of the rod.

39. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the long stroking lift assembly is portable and compact.

40. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the long stroking lift assembly further comprises a rod extender to facilitate the mounting of the long stroking lift assembly on the wellhead.

41. A puller assembly for mounting on top of a wellhead to extract a rod, said puller assembly comprising:

a lower plate having a first portion and a second portion, each of said portions having an inner edge of arcuate configuration to abut an outer circumference of the rod;

a pair of hydraulic lifting means, each comprising a ram, each of said hydraulic lifting means having securing components at an end of each ram, wherein said first portion of the lower plate is secured to one of said securing components, wherein said second portion of the lower plate is secured to another of said securing components;

removable securing means functioning to secure said first portion of the lower plate to said second portion of the lower plate, thereby providing an anchor for said pair of hydraulic lifting means to push against, thereby forming a lower plate hole when the arcuately configured inner edges of the first and second portions of the lower plate are joined; and

wherein said first and second portions of the lower plate, said pair of hydraulic lifting means, and said removable lower plate securing means form a long stroking lift assembly, said pair of hydraulic lifting means functioning to lift said rod.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the long stroking lifting assembly further comprises an upper plate having a first portion and a second portion, each of said portions having an inner edge of arcuate configuration to abut another outer circumference of the rod.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the long stroking lifting assembly further comprises removable securing means functioning to secure said first portion of the upper plate to said second portion of the upper plate, thereby providing a support for said pair of hydraulic lifting means to lift the rod from a well, thereby forming an upper plate hole when the arcuately configured inner edges of the first and second portions of the upper plate are joined.

44. The apparatus of claim 41 further comprising connector means connected to said long stroking lift assembly and anchor means functioning to prevent rotation of said long stroking lift assembly.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 further comprising guide means positionable in said long stroking lift assembly functioning to allow said rod to freely rotate without moving said long stroking lift assembly.

46. The apparatus of claim 43 further comprising lock means positionable on top of said guide means along a longitudinal axis of said rod functioning to allow said hydraulic lifting means to push the joined upper plate against the lock means to lift the rod.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the lock means further comprises a lifting rod lock attached to the rod above the joined upper plate.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the guide means further comprises a bushing in a hole of the joined upper plate.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the connector means further comprises a chain removably connectable to said anchor means.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein said long stroking lift assembly further comprises an adjustable degree of pressure or force.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the long stroking lift assembly is portable and compact.

52. The apparatus of claim 51 further comprising an extension means mounted to the rod, said extension means functioning to extend the length of the rod, thereby facilitating the mounting of the long stroking lift assembly on the wellhead.

53. A rod puller comprising:

a hydraulic cylinder mounted to an anchor which is adjacent to a rod to be pulled from a well;

said hydraulic cylinder having an arm connected to the rod; and

wherein powering the hydraulic cylinder pulls the rod upwards.

54. A method to pull a pump rod from within a well, the method comprising the steps of:

fastening a hydraulic arm of the hydraulic cylinder to the pump rod; and

55. The method of claim 54 further comprising the step of disengaging a pump rod from a rotational drive assembly.