Magnetic bailer

• US 7,174,957 B1
• Filed: 06/08/2004
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ge Oil & Gas Esp, Inc. (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Wood Group ESP, Inc. (John Wood Group PLC)
• Inventors: Jokhio, Sarfraz A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOMAR, THOMAS S
• Application Number:
  US10/863,950
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 166/66.5, 166/99, 166/105.1, 166/105.3, 166/107, 166/162, 175/308, 294/65.5
• US Class Current: 166/99
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/0332 using permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/286 disposed at the inner circumference of a recipient, e.g. magnetic drain bolt
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 2201/20 Magnetic separation whereby the particles to be separated are in solid form
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 27/005 Collecting means with a strainer
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 31/06 using magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/121 Lifting well fluids monitoring of down-hole pump systems E21B47/008

Abstract

A bailer is configured to remove particulate solids from fluid passing through the bailer. The bailer preferably includes a housing that includes an intake and an outlet to permit the flow if well fluids through the housing. The bailer also includes a magnetic plate that includes at least one aperture that provides a path for the fluid flow. The bailer optionally includes one or more elongate magnetic bars that extend along the longitudinal axis of the bailer housing. The bailer can be used in conjunction with other components in a downhole pumping system, a surface pumping system or a transport system.

Claims

1. A bailer configured to remove particulate solids from fluid passing through the bailer, the bailer comprising:

a housing having an intake and an outlet to permit fluid flow through the housing; and

a plurality of magnetic plates connected at their periphery to the housing and positioned in spaced-apart relationship between the housing intake and housing outlet, wherein each of the plurality of magnetic plates includes at least one aperture that provides a path for the fluid flow.

2. The bailer of claim 1, wherein each of the magnetic plates includes a plurality of apertures, wherein the plurality of apertures are sized and configured to control the velocity of the fluid flowing through and between the plurality of magnetic plates.

3. The bailer of claim 2, wherein the bailer includes an elongate magnetic bar connected to each of the plurality of magnetic plates.

4. The bailer of claim 3, wherein the bailer includes a plurality of elongate magnetic bars connected to the plurality of magnetic plates, wherein the plurality of elongate magnetic bars are configured in spaced-apart radial relationship with respect to the plurality of magnetic plates.

5. A bailer configured to remove particulate solids from fluid passing through the bailer, the bailer comprising:

a housing having an intake and an outlet to permit fluid flow through the housing;

a magnetic plate connected at its periphery to the housing, wherein the magnetic plate includes at least one aperture that provides a path for the fluid flow; and

a check-valve proximate the housing intake.

6. A bailer configured to remove particulate solids from fluid passing through the bailer, the bailer comprising:

a housing having an intake and an outlet to permit fluid flow through the housing; and

a magnetic plate connected at its periphery to the housing, wherein the magnetic plate includes at least one aperture that provides a path for the fluid flow and wherein the magnetic plate is removably connected to the housing with magnetic force.

7. A bailer configured to remove magnetically conductive particles from a well fluid stream, the bailer comprising:

a housing having an intake and an outlet to permit the passage of the well fluid stream through the bailer;

a perforated plate configured to adjust the flow profile of the well fluid stream, wherein the perforated plate is removably connected to the housing with magnetic force; and

an elongate magnetic bar configured to attract the magnetically conductive particles in the well fluid stream.