Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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APPARATUS ANDMETHODFORCLEANINGWELLS ANDPIPELINES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The Invention relates to oil/gas wells, sewer lines,
infrastructures lines, water lines, pipe lines and oil transmission
lines, and to an apparatus and method of cleaning and removing oil,
tar, paraffin's, contaminants and biologicals from them.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Oil Wells, after a period of production, will have deposits on
the walls of solid oil/tar build-up on the wall of the well bore,
and in the fractures from which the oil is extracted from the
sub-surface. There can also be a build-up of biologicals formed in
the well. This build-up of oils decreases the flow of oil and thereby
reducing the production of oil form the well.
Similarly, in oil transmissions lines there will be a build-up
of oil/tar on the walls, reducing the flow of oil through the pipe
line.
Sewer lines, after a prior of time will have a layer of sludge
or decay of the infrastructures on the walls, which can slow the flow
of fluids through the sewer line, and can also produce odors in the
line.
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U.S. Patent 5,506,391 describes (For Figure 3) a system in which
a heating device is lowered into an oil well and produces heat by
generating steam to warm the surrounding oil, allowing it to flow
more easily. There is no mention that it will also remove the oil/tar
build-up within the well. The steam is controlled from the surface,
and the steam is retained in the well by a seal.
U. S. Patent 8,950,496 describes a system where shock waves are
generated to remove deposits from the casing. It appears from the
patent and illustration that the cleaning is above the oil level as
it states that the area being cleaned has primarily water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is to an apparatus for forcibly moving
contaminant build up on the wall of the well and to open up the
fractures to allow the flow of oil into the well. Steam is generated
in a structure that is lowered into the well and to apply pressurize
steam onto the well wall and against the fractured areas to release
oil and to allow oil to flow more freely, thereby producing more oil.
The pressure of the produced steam can be regulated within the
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structure lowered into the well. It can also be monitored from the
surface. The pressure is regulated to prevent undo high pressure
from causing damage within the well. The pressure can be changed
to allow a lower pressure to clean the well wall, and a higher pressure
can be used to clean and open the fractures in the well allowing a
greater flow of oil.
A similar apparatus can be used in oil/gas wells, sewer lines,
infrastructures lines, water lines, pipe lines and oil transmission
lines. These type lines may run vertically, but generally run
horizontally and not as deep as oil wells, so they can be cleaned
more easily, but with the same type systems.
The technical advance represented by the invention as well as
the objects thereof will become apparent from the following
description of a preferred embodiment of the invention when
considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the
novel features set forth in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 shows the basic system in an oil well;
FIGURE 2 shows in more detail the heat generating/cleaning apparatus;
FIGURE 3 is an end view of the apparatus of FIGURE 2;
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FIGURE 2a shows one of the spring loaded wheels or ball bearings (know
as rollers) that can used with the cleaning apparatus;
FIGURE 4 shows an apparatus that can be used in the vertical and
horizontal oil/gas wells, sewer lines, infrastructures lines, water
lines, pipe lines and oil transmission lines;
FIGURE 5 is an end view of the apparatus of FIGURE 4;
FIGURE 6 illustrates controls that can be used with the cleaning
apparatus;
FIGURE 7 shows a steam unit in the horizontal portion of the well;
FIGURE 8 illustrates a spring loaded pressure nozzle; and
FIGURE 9 shows recycling water for use.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIGURE 1 shows a simple layout of one feature of the present
invention. Well 10 has a vertical part 11 and a horizontal part 12.
A steam generating apparatus 13 is lowered into well 10. Steam
generated in steam generating apparatus 13 has a steam nozzle 14 which
sprays pressurized steam against the wall/bore of the well to remove
the oil/tar and other material that accumulates on the wall of the
bore of the well. Water is supplied to steam apparatus 13 through
pipe 16 and power, for example a high alternating current voltage
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is supplied to steam apparatus by power line 15. Steam is generated
in a steam apparatus 13 that is lowered into the well and to apply
pressurized steam onto the well wall and against the fractured areas,
particularly in the horizontal portion 12 of the well, to release
oil and to allow oil to flow more freely, thereby producing more oil.
The pressure of the produced steam can be regulated within the steam
apparatus lowered into the well.
FIGURE 2 illustrates additional features of the steam
generating apparatus 13. Apparatus 13 has roller/spacers to help
center steam apparatus in the well bore 11. These rollers position
the steam apparatus in the center of the well bore 11 and help to
move it up and down. The rollers are rollers 21-26 and 29 as shown
Figure 3.
Also shown is the rotating steam. nozzle 14 which projects steam
against the well bore wall to remove oil/tar build up from the wall
11. Rotating nozzle 14 has two steam outlets 20 and 21 (as shown
in FIGURE 3). Steam from outlets 20 and 21 rotates nozzle 14 while
projecting pressurized steam 27 and 28 against bore wall 11. Also
shown is water inlet 16 and power line 15.
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FIGURE 2a is the same Figure as FIGURE 2 with the exception that
it is illustrated that the rollers are used to help center steam
apparatus in well bore 11 and are spring loaded. As illustrated,
roller 24 on mount 31 is held in an outward position by spring 32.
The spring is mounted in housing 30. If the well bore 11 were to
narrow, well 24 would be pushed inward to housing 30 compressing
spring 32. If the well bore would widen then spring 32 would push
roller 24 outward against well bore 11. This same structure exists
with all of the rollers.
FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate an example of a steam generating and
cleaning system. 40 that can be used in horizontal and vertical oil/gas
wells, sewer lines, infrastructures lines, water lines, pipe lines
and oil transmission lines. The steam generating system 42 moves
along pipe line 41 of rollers 44, 45, 51, and one roller not
illustrated. Pressurized steam can be applied to the wall of pipe
line 41 by a rotating steam nozzle as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and
3, or a circular nozzle 43 with a plurality of openings 48 around
the peripheral of nozzle 43. Water input line 46 and power line 47
are shown.
FIGURE 6 shows an example of a steam apparatus for use in a well,
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particularly the horizontal portion of a well. The steam pressure
needs to be regulated depending on the portion of the well it is in.
The vertical portion of the well typically has concrete walls to seal
it from the surrounding area. Excessive pressure can cause damage
to the concrete wall. Therefore the steam pressure would need to
be lower in the vertical portion than, for example, in horizontal
portion of the well where the fracturing is done to release oil (or
gas) from the surrounding area. In view of the need for different
steam pressures, a steam pressure gauge 55 can be mounted just before
the steam nozzle 14. The steam pressure information is then sent
back to a valve 56 by line 57. If the steam pressure exceeds a
predetermined amount, the water valve 56 is partially closed to
reduce the amount of water inflow to the steam unit, therefore
reducing the amount of steam produced and the steam pressure. The
steam pressure can also be monitored at the surface of the well by
line 58 which provides steam pressure information at the surface of
the well. The amount of water flow can also be regulated at the
surface of the well to control steam pressure. Water valve 56 can
also be a one way valve to prevent steam pressure from causing a back
flow up water line 16.
In a cleaning process, the steam can be kept at a lower pressure
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as it is lowered down the well to clean the well, and then the pressure
can be increased as the steam unit enters the horizontal portion of
the well not only cleaning the horizontal portion, but also removing
oil/tar from the horizontal portion and cleaning out the fractures,
and providing additional fracturing as needed.
Figure 7 shows the steam unit in the horizontal portion of the
well, which is below the fluid level 70 of the well. As the steam
unit 13 is lowered into the well, it first is above the fluid level
and there is no interference with the steam as it cleans the well
wall.
As the steam unit 13 enters the area of the well where there
is fluid, the pressure may be needed to be increased to go through
the fluid to clean the wall.
FIGURE 8 illustrates a steam nozzle that may be extended to place
the nozzle closer to the wall so there is less fluid to be penetrated
before the steam hits the wall. The nozzle has a movable portion 60
which encloses a spring 61 and exit opening 63 for the steam. As
steam enters the nozzle 64, it enters line 67 which directs the steam
into the chamber 65 which encloses spring 61. Steam entering chamber
65 will press against wall 66 moving the nozzle outward toward the
well wall stretching spring 61. When the steam pressure is reduced,
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spring 61 will pull the nozzle back away from the well wall. Seal
62 prevents steam from escaping while steam line 67 moves back and
forth. Moveable portion 60 of the nozzle is stopped when seal 62 comes
into contact with the end 72 of nozzle 64.
FIGURE 9 illustrates the recycling of water condensed from the
steam that is injected into the well. A water supply tank 80 is
provided on the surface. Water is then directed through pipe 81 and
provided for the steam unit 13 shown in FIGURE 1. The steam in the
well condenses into water. It is then pumped up pipe 82 back into
the water tank 80. By recycling the water used to produce steam, the
amount of water on site of the well is minimized and the water is
not wasted.
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