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GB2342372A - Apparatus for cleaning well casings or pipes - Google Patents

Apparatus for cleaning well casings or pipes Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2342372A
GB2342372A GB9923374A GB9923374A GB2342372A GB 2342372 A GB2342372 A GB 2342372A GB 9923374 A GB9923374 A GB 9923374A GB 9923374 A GB9923374 A GB 9923374A GB 2342372 A GB2342372 A GB 2342372A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
cleaning apparatus
cleaning
tubing
spring member
well casings
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9923374A
Other versions
GB9923374D0 (en
Inventor
Philip Head
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of GB9923374D0 publication Critical patent/GB9923374D0/en
Publication of GB2342372A publication Critical patent/GB2342372A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B37/00Methods or apparatus for cleaning boreholes or wells
    • E21B37/02Scrapers specially adapted therefor
    • E21B37/04Scrapers specially adapted therefor operated by fluid pressure, e.g. free-piston scrapers
    • E21B37/045Free-piston scrapers
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08CLEANING
    • B08BCLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto
    • B08B9/02Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes
    • B08B9/027Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages
    • B08B9/04Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes
    • B08B9/043Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes moved by externally powered mechanical linkage, e.g. pushed or drawn through the pipes
    • B08B9/0436Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes moved by externally powered mechanical linkage, e.g. pushed or drawn through the pipes provided with mechanical cleaning tools, e.g. scrapers, with or without additional fluid jets
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08CLEANING
    • B08BCLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto
    • B08B9/02Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes
    • B08B9/027Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages
    • B08B9/04Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes
    • B08B9/043Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes moved by externally powered mechanical linkage, e.g. pushed or drawn through the pipes
    • B08B9/047Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes moved by externally powered mechanical linkage, e.g. pushed or drawn through the pipes the cleaning devices having internal motors, e.g. turbines for powering cleaning tools
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08CLEANING
    • B08BCLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto
    • B08B9/02Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes
    • B08B9/027Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages
    • B08B9/04Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes
    • B08B9/053Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes moved along the pipes by a fluid, e.g. by fluid pressure or by suction
    • B08B9/055Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes moved along the pipes by a fluid, e.g. by fluid pressure or by suction the cleaning devices conforming to, or being conformable to, substantially the same cross-section of the pipes, e.g. pigs or moles
    • B08B9/0553Cylindrically shaped pigs
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B37/00Methods or apparatus for cleaning boreholes or wells
    • E21B37/02Scrapers specially adapted therefor

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)

Abstract

Apparatus for cleaning a well casing or a pipe comprises a helical spring member 10 having sharp corners arranged outwardly to scrape accumulated deposits off the internal wall of a well casing or pipe. The spring member may be mounted on a length of tubing or be provided with a piston to enable it to be hydraulically or pneumatically driven along the inside of a tube. When mounted on a length of tubing, movement of the spring member 10 up and down the tubing is constrained by collars 12,13 catching upon a saddle 22. An hydraulic or pneumatic motor may be provided to induce rotational movement in the spring member.

Description

Cleaning Apparatus The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus, in particular, a apparatus for scraping the inner bore of pipework, for example a well casing.
Oil is usually extract from a well by some type of conduit, such as a well casing. When oil has been produced for some time from the well, it is often found that matter from the oil has become encrusted upon the inner surface of the conduit. These deposits may be of very viscous oil, or of other mineral matter carried up with the oil, such as limescale, sand or corrosion of the base metal.
The result of these deposits is a reduction in the effect inner diameter of the well casing, and so a reduction in the flow of the oil from the reservoir.
A known device for attempting to alleviate these deposits comprises scraping blades which are moved through the well casing. Such blades are prone to break off or become caught in the deposit. Another known method uses a plurality of pads, which when moved through a well casing scour the inner surface. The bristles of such pads are usually inefficient at loosening tough deposits. Both these systems are relatively complex to make, involving many components and tend to clog up and become ineffective.
The object of the present invention is to provide an easily fabricated apparatus for removing or reducing deposits from inner surfaces of pipeworks.
According to the present invention there is provided cleaning apparatus for cleaning well casings and the like, comprising a resilient member comprising an external surface and being arranged in helical form such that the external surface of the resilient member acts against the internal wall, of a well casing, with a predetermined force.
The resilient member may arranged upon the end of a length of tubing.
Preferably the helical form is substantially cylindrical with a curved axial profile.
Preferably the resilient member forming the helix has an angular section providing a vertex which points radially and outwardly of the cleaning apparatus to engage the internal wall of a tube.
Hydraulic or pneumatic piston means may be associated with the cleaning apparatus which enable the apparatus to be propelled along a tube.
Preferably hydraulic or pneumatic motor means are provided to induce a rotational movement in the spring member. Also a flow path may be provided through the apparatus to clear accumulated debris ahead of the device as it progresses.
Cleaning apparatus embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings in which : Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross section through one embodiment the cleaning apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross section of a further embodiment of the cleaning device of the invention; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the device of fig. 2 installed within a tube, and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross section of a further embodiment of the cleaning device of the invention.
Referring to the drawings, a spring member 10 is mounted upon a length of tubing 20 by two collars 12, 13. The tubing includes a saddle 22 located between the two collars.
The spring member 10 comprises a length of rod which has been wound into a helical shape. The diameter of the helix is not uniform, but is slightly larger than that of the tubing at its top and bottom, and widens to a maximum diameter midway along its length. The maximum diameter of the spring member is comparable to the inner diameter of the well casing.
The rod has a uniform square section, and is aligned so that a diagonal line across this square joining two of the squares vertices is either perpendicular to or parallel with the axis of the helix. Thus the square vertices point outwardly to engage the inside walls of a tube which the device is to scrape clean.
The rod is composed of a resilient material such as steel. The helix may then be compressed or stretched both axially, and perpendicular to the axis so that its maximum diameter is altered.
A portion of the rod at each end of the spring member 10 is firmly secured in a collar 12,13, these collars encompassing the tubing 20 so as to be slidable upon it.
The spring member 10 is placed upon the tubing 20 so that the saddle 22 of the tubing is located between the two collars 12,13. The outer diameter of the saddle is greater than that of the inner diameter of the collars, so that the movement of the spring member up and down the tubing is constrained by the collars catching upon the saddle.
The spring member 10 is located close to one end of a length of tubing 20, but far enough away from the end to ensure that the collar closest to the end of the tubing cannot disengage from the tubing.
To operate the cleaning apparatus, the end of the tubing having the spring member upon it is inserted into the top of the well casing. The tubing is then forced downwards (say with a CT injector) through the well casing. When encrustations upon the inner surface of the well casing are encountered, the spring member will slide upon the tubing until the saddle constrains it. At this point it will continue with the tubing down the well casing, the diameter of the spring member catching upon and removing the deposits by a scraping action as it goes.
Some deposits may be of a very tough nature and have adhered themselves firmly to the well casing wall. If the scraper was of a very stiff material, there is a danger that the spring member could become caught upon the deposits and so stuck fast, or, in trying to free such a stuck spring member, a component of the scraper could be damaged. The material of the spring member though, being of a somewhat elastic nature, when encountering such a difficult deposit, the spring member deforms so as to expand axially and compress radially, reducing its diameter so that it can pass by these deposits.
When the tubing is hauled upwards, the spring member slides down the tubing until the upper collar engages with the saddle. Tough deposits not removed on the first run downwards may thus be acted upon on the return journey. Even when the spring member compresses somewhat to pass such deposits, some scraping action takes place. Particularly difficult deposits then may have several passes dedicated to gradually removing them.
The inner diameter of the well casing could either be monitored by separate equipment, or the resistance to movement of the tubing could be examined, giving an indication of the deposit levels at the point the location of the spring member.
The profile of the helix, and the section of the rod, may be varied to obtain different scraping characteristics. Although the spring member ideally engages with the tubing at both ends in order to remain aligned with the well casing, the saddle could be located at the end of the tubing, the end of the spring member engaging with the end of the tubing as the tubing is lowered, and trailing behind the tubing as it is raised.
The system is here described for the scraping of the inner bore of a well casing, but it could equally be applied to any pipework which needs to have material excised from its inner bore.
Figs. 2 and 3 show an embodiment of the scrapping device 35 which in common with the previous embodiment is comprised of a spring 35 with outwardly facing points which scrape against the inside surface of the tube 34. The scrapping apparatus is provided with an hydraulic piston 30 seal at one end and a cone shaped nose 31 with a central hole 32 is provided at the opposite end. Thus hydraulic pressure provided behind the scrapping device in the direction of arrow A will cause the scrapping device to move in the direction of arrow A and as it does so clean the inside walls of the tubing 34.
This embodiment is preferably used for tubing which is open at both ends.
Typically, although not necessarily, this would be tubing which is not in use at the time the cleaning is carried out but, instead, the tubing may be arranged on a reel and the scrapping apparatus can be inserted at one end and the hydraulic (or pneumatic) pressure applied behind it with an appropriate seal on the end of the tube. The scrapping device would pass through the entire length of the tube whilst the tube remained in its reeled state on a reel.
Referring now to fig. 4 a further embodiment is shown in which two spring members 40a, 40b are arranged in series along a central shaft in two parts 41a and 41b. The shafts 41a, 41b have a continuous hollow bore 42 extending from hydraulic plug means 43 arranged at one end on the device to a guide nose 44 arranged at the other end. An hydraulic motor 45 is arranged axially with respect to the shafts 41a, 41b and between the two spring members 40a, 40b. During us hydraulic fluid passes through the hollow bore 42 and drives the motor 45. The motor induces rotation movement in the spring members 40a, 40b. Preferably one spring 40a may be induced to rotate in the opposition direction to the other spring member 40b. As with previous embodiment the hydraulic fluid acting on thc piston 43 also induces the cleaning device to move along the tube being cleaned so that the internal walls of the tube a progressively scrapped cleaned as the device passes along the tube. This rotation movement of the spring members in this embodiment assists with this cleaning action and also helps to remove the debris which has be scrapped off the internal wall of the tube and helps to prevent any clogging of the device by the debris.
The spring members are described here as either being lowered upon a length of tubing or driven hydraulically. Naturally, other means of lowering and driving the cleaning device could be used such as cable means of sufficient stiffness to propel the spring member through the well casing, and the driving force supplied to the spring member could be supplemented, for example, by traction means.

Claims (9)

  1. CLAIMS 1. Cleaning apparatus for cleaning well casings and the like, comprising a resilient member comprising an external surface and being arranged in helical form such that the external surface of the resilient member acts against the internal wall, of a well casing, with a predetermined force.
  2. 2. Cleaning apparatus for cleaning well casings and the like according to claim 1, wherein the resilient member is arranged upon the end of a length of tubing.
  3. 3. Cleaning apparatus for cleaning well casings and the like according to claim 1, wherein the helical form is substantially cylindrical with a curved axial profile.
  4. 4. Cleaning apparatus for cleaning well casings and the like according to claims 2 or 3, wherein the resilient member forming the helix has an angular section providing a vertex which points radially and outwardly of the cleaning apparatus to engage the internal wall of a tube.
  5. 5. Cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim characterised in that hydraulic or pneumatic piston means are associated with the cleaning apparatus which enable the apparatus to be propelled along a tube
  6. 6. Cleaning apparatus according to claim 5, wherein hydraulic or pneumatic motor means are provided to induce a rotational movement in the spring member.
  7. 7. Cleaning apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a flow path is provided through the apparatus to clear accumulated debris ahead of the device as it progresses.
  8. 8. Cleaning apparatus substantially as herein described.
  9. 9. Any novel and inventive feature or combination of features specifically disclosed herein within the meaning of Article 4H of the International Convention (Paris Convention).
GB9923374A 1998-10-09 1999-10-05 Apparatus for cleaning well casings or pipes Withdrawn GB2342372A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9822066.8A GB9822066D0 (en) 1998-10-09 1998-10-09 Cleaning apparatus

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9923374D0 GB9923374D0 (en) 1999-12-08
GB2342372A true GB2342372A (en) 2000-04-12

Family

ID=10840297

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB9822066.8A Ceased GB9822066D0 (en) 1998-10-09 1998-10-09 Cleaning apparatus
GB9923374A Withdrawn GB2342372A (en) 1998-10-09 1999-10-05 Apparatus for cleaning well casings or pipes

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB9822066.8A Ceased GB9822066D0 (en) 1998-10-09 1998-10-09 Cleaning apparatus

Country Status (1)

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GB (2) GB9822066D0 (en)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004028714A1 (en) * 2002-09-24 2004-04-08 Ibex Geo-Tech Limited Apparatus for cleaning the surfaces of bores
WO2005049240A1 (en) * 2003-11-17 2005-06-02 The Boc Group Plc Exhaust gas treatment
GB2431703A (en) * 2005-10-26 2007-05-02 Cree Inc Gas tube cleaning plunger arrangement
WO2011070321A3 (en) * 2009-12-08 2011-09-15 Industrial Brushware Limited Pipe cleaning apparatus
CN103233701A (en) * 2013-04-17 2013-08-07 罗绍东 Reduction spiral spring for tubing paraffin removal of pumping well
EP2934774A4 (en) * 2012-12-21 2016-08-24 Ulf Englund Device for cleaning of pipes
WO2019185334A1 (en) * 2018-03-27 2019-10-03 Expro North Sea Limited A wax cutting tool for removing wax from an oil well tubing
EP3753642A1 (en) * 2019-06-17 2020-12-23 Sea to Sky Energy Solutions Corp. Conduit cleaner
CN114535230A (en) * 2022-03-02 2022-05-27 红云红河烟草(集团)有限责任公司 Cleaning device and method for dragging type filter stick launching tube

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111828989B (en) * 2020-06-29 2025-01-21 光大环境科技(中国)有限公司 In-pipe mud cleaning device for sludge cloth on incinerator and garbage incinerator
CN112934872A (en) * 2021-03-31 2021-06-11 通威太阳能(眉山)有限公司 Cleaning robot in pipe
CN113898061B (en) * 2021-11-08 2023-03-28 山东慧创信息科技有限公司 Wisdom building water supply and drainage pipeline pull throughs

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1030377A (en) * 1964-04-25 1966-05-25 Ward S Flexible Rod Company Lt Means for removing silt, scale and scum from drain pipes and the like
US4159742A (en) * 1977-12-27 1979-07-03 Chromalloy American Corporation Well bore cleaning tool
GB2142111A (en) * 1983-06-18 1985-01-09 Baron Walter J Heat exchanger with tube cleaning elements
US4612986A (en) * 1984-06-04 1986-09-23 Fosdick Jr Frank D Well cleaning apparatus and treating method
US5030291A (en) * 1989-08-04 1991-07-09 Eau-Viron Incorporated Method for cleaning concentric columns
US5335723A (en) * 1993-06-29 1994-08-09 Atlantic Richfield Company Combination scratcher-centralizer for wellbore casings

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1030377A (en) * 1964-04-25 1966-05-25 Ward S Flexible Rod Company Lt Means for removing silt, scale and scum from drain pipes and the like
US4159742A (en) * 1977-12-27 1979-07-03 Chromalloy American Corporation Well bore cleaning tool
GB2142111A (en) * 1983-06-18 1985-01-09 Baron Walter J Heat exchanger with tube cleaning elements
US4612986A (en) * 1984-06-04 1986-09-23 Fosdick Jr Frank D Well cleaning apparatus and treating method
US5030291A (en) * 1989-08-04 1991-07-09 Eau-Viron Incorporated Method for cleaning concentric columns
US5335723A (en) * 1993-06-29 1994-08-09 Atlantic Richfield Company Combination scratcher-centralizer for wellbore casings

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004028714A1 (en) * 2002-09-24 2004-04-08 Ibex Geo-Tech Limited Apparatus for cleaning the surfaces of bores
WO2005049240A1 (en) * 2003-11-17 2005-06-02 The Boc Group Plc Exhaust gas treatment
KR101326456B1 (en) * 2003-11-17 2013-11-07 에드워즈 리미티드 Exhaust gas treatment
US7685674B2 (en) 2003-11-17 2010-03-30 Edwards Limited Exhaust gas treatment
CN1882398B (en) * 2003-11-17 2010-09-01 爱德华兹有限公司 Exhaust gas treatment
US8387194B2 (en) 2005-10-26 2013-03-05 Cree, Inc. Apparatus for reducing buildup of deposits in semiconductor processing equipment
GB2431703B (en) * 2005-10-26 2011-02-16 Cree Inc Methods and apparatus for reducing buildup of deposits in semiconductor processing equipment
US7865995B2 (en) 2005-10-26 2011-01-11 Cree, Inc. Methods and apparatus for reducing buildup of deposits in semiconductor processing equipment
GB2431703A (en) * 2005-10-26 2007-05-02 Cree Inc Gas tube cleaning plunger arrangement
WO2011070321A3 (en) * 2009-12-08 2011-09-15 Industrial Brushware Limited Pipe cleaning apparatus
GB2476039B (en) * 2009-12-08 2014-04-23 Ind Brushware Ltd Pipe cleaning apparatus
EP2934774A4 (en) * 2012-12-21 2016-08-24 Ulf Englund Device for cleaning of pipes
CN103233701A (en) * 2013-04-17 2013-08-07 罗绍东 Reduction spiral spring for tubing paraffin removal of pumping well
WO2019185334A1 (en) * 2018-03-27 2019-10-03 Expro North Sea Limited A wax cutting tool for removing wax from an oil well tubing
EP3753642A1 (en) * 2019-06-17 2020-12-23 Sea to Sky Energy Solutions Corp. Conduit cleaner
CN114535230A (en) * 2022-03-02 2022-05-27 红云红河烟草(集团)有限责任公司 Cleaning device and method for dragging type filter stick launching tube

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9822066D0 (en) 1998-12-02
GB9923374D0 (en) 1999-12-08

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