Non-cryogenic production of nitrogen for on-site injection in well clean out

• US 6,929,068 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Chitty, Gregory H.
• Primary Examiner(s): BATES, ZAKIYA W
• Application Number:
  US10/315,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20030075320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 166/305.1, 166/311, 166/401, 166/75.12, 166/90.1, 166/105.5, 166/105.6, 175/71, 95/47, 951/38, 96/4, 96/6, 96/10
• US Class Current: 166/305.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/106 Silica or silicates
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/108 Zeolites
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2256/10 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/104 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/40052 Recycled product or process gas
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/402 using two beds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/047 Pressure swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/053 with storage or buffer vessel
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/22 by diffusion manufacturing semi-permeable membranes B01D67/00; form, structure or properties of semi-permeable membranes B01D69/00; material for semi-permeable membranes B01D71/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 37/06 using chemical means for preventing or limiting , e.g. eliminating, the deposition of paraffins or like substances

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a well servicing system for cleaning out of a well in which a compressed inert gas, produced by the non-cryogenic separation of air is delivered to the region of the well where particulate matter has collected that inhibits the ability of the well to produce.

Claims

1. A method for servicing a wellbore, comprising:

separating at least a substantial portion of oxygen contained within a fluid feed stream to produce a substantially inert gas and a fluid byproduct, wherein oxygen is removed by passing the fluid feed stream through a membrane which preferentially separates the inert gas from the other components in the fluid feed stream;

increasing the pressure of the substantially inert gas; and

passing the substantially inert gas through a perforated screen disposed in an isolated annular area of the wellbore to supply the substantially inert gas to the wellbore.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the substantially inert rich gas is nitrogen rich gas.

3. The method of claim 1, further including pumping the substantially inert gas through a coil tubing assembly.

4. The method claim 1, wherein an additive is combined with the inert rich gas.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure of the substantially inert gas is boosted to at least 1000 psig.