Ultrasonic cleanout tool and method of use thereof

• US 6,474,349 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1999
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Switzerland Trading and Development GmbH (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Hamdeen (UK) Limited
• Inventors: Laker, Keith Trevor
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/441,463
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 134/184, 134/166.R, 134/167.R, 134/168.C, 134/167.C, 134/169.C, 134/166.C, 134/22.11, 134/22.12, 134/22.18, 151/043.1, 151/040.5, 151/041.6, 166/222, 166/223, 166/171, 166/172, 166/56
• US Class Current: 134/22.12
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2209/005 Use of ultrasonics or cavitation, e.g. as primary or secondary action
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/028 Using ultrasounds
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/027 Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/043 moved by externally powered mechanical linkage, e.g. pushed or drawn through the pipes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 37/00 Methods or apparatus for cleaning boreholes or wells E21B21/00 takes precedence

Abstract

Apparatus for cleaning well bore tubulars comprises an ultrasound source suspended on a work string adapted to be run in the well, wherein the ultrasound source provides sufficient ultrasonic energy to remove scale or other undesirable debris or particles from, the well bore tubular.

Claims

1. Apparatus for cleaning tubulars, the apparatus comprising mechanical vibration means for creating acoustic waves, a high frequency current electrical source and a polarisation current source, wherein electrical current generated by the said sources is used to excite or activate the mechanical vibration means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mechanical vibration means is a submersible magnetostriction vibrator.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the magnetostriction vibrator comprises of two blended packages connected by a wave guide means, wherein the blended packages include cores to which excitation and polarisation windings are applied.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 suitable for cleaning well bore tubulars, and further comprising an electric conductive wireline cable on which the acoustic vibrator is adapted to be run into the well, wherein the high frequency and polarisation electrical sources are adapted to be positioned at surface, and physically connected to the wireline cable for the conducting of electrical current to the vibrator.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the work string is suspended on coil tubing.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a means of cleaning pores in an oil bearing layer of the well bore.

5. Apparatus for cleaning well bore tubulars, the apparatus comprising an ultrasound source suspended on a work string, the work string being suspended on drill pipe and the work string adapted to be run in the well, wherein the ultrasound source comprises a body member having an internal profile adapted to manipulate fluid pressure therein, the profile of the tool body to include convergent and divergent flow paths for the purpose of manipulating and increasing fluid pressure so that the ultrasound source provides sufficient ultrasonic energy to remove scale or other undesirable debris or particles from the well bore tubular.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising an insulator for preventing the diffusion of sonic energy in a direction up the work string to which the acoustic vibrator may be attached, in use.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the ultrasound source comprises a magnetostriction vibrator with two blended packages connected by a waveguide means.

10. Apparatus for cleaning well bore tubulars, the apparatus comprising an ultrasound source suspended on a work string adapted to be run in the well, wherein the ultrasound source provides sufficient ultrasonic energy to remove scale or other undesirable debris or particles from the well bore tubular, the apparatus further comprising means for directing the ultrasonic energy the means for directing the ultrasonic energy being one or more nozzles incorporated onto the tool for the purpose of directing the emitted energy, wherein the ultrasound source is located within the one or more nozzles.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the ultrasound source comprises profiled nodes adjacent to the one or more nozzles, wherein the nodes induce parabolic shock waves.

12. A method for cleaning a well bore, the method comprising the steps of activating a submersible magnetostriction vibrator provided on a conductive wireline cable suspended in the well bore by means of surface modules adapted to generate a high frequency current and a polarization current to the magnetostriction vibrator via the wireline cable, wherein the said currents are converted by the magnetostriction vibrator into mechanical vibrations adapted to generate ultrasonic energy, and wherein said ultrasonic energy is adapted to clean the well bore tubular.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the magnetostriction vibrator provides a combined acoustic-thermal effect on the well and any oil therein.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a means of cleaning the pores or passageways in the oil hearing layer of the well bore formation.

15. The method claimed in claim 12 comprising the process of providing thermal energy to the oil thereby thinning the oil in the vicinity of the ultrasound source.