U.S. patent application number 09/784388 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-18 for method of retarding sand build up in heavy oil wells.
Invention is credited to Haseloh, Peter Gerald.
Application Number | 20010030046 09/784388 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 4165943 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010030046 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Haseloh, Peter Gerald |
October 18, 2001 |
Method of retarding sand build up in heavy oil wells
Abstract
A method of retarding sand build up in heavy oil wells involving
a first step of providing a pumping apparatus with subterranean
impellers coupled to a rotary top drive unit by a plurality of
connective rods. The plurality of connective rods have fixed
outwardly extending vanes that rotate with the plurality of
connective rods and are configured to provide a supplementary
lifting force. A second step involves positioning the plurality of
connective rods in a heavy oil well having a circumferential
sidewall. A third step involves activating the rotary drive unit to
rotate the plurality of connective rods. The vanes attached to the
connective rods assist in lifting sand to surface with the heavy
oil.
Inventors: |
Haseloh, Peter Gerald;
(Kindersley, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAVIS & BUJOLD, P.L.L.C.
500 NORTH COMMERCIAL STREET
FOURTH FLOOR
MANCHESTER
NH
03101
US
|
Family ID: |
4165943 |
Appl. No.: |
09/784388 |
Filed: |
February 15, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/369 ;
166/105.1; 166/304 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 43/126 20130101;
E21B 17/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/369 ;
166/304; 166/105.1 |
International
Class: |
E21B 043/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 18, 2000 |
CA |
2,306,012 |
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A method of retarding sand build up in heavy oil wells,
comprising the steps of: providing a pumping apparatus with
subterranean impellers coupled to a rotary top drive unit by a
plurality of connective rods, the plurality of connective rods
having fixed outwardly extending vanes that rotate with the
plurality of connective rods and are configured to provide a
supplementary lifting force; positioning the plurality of
connective rods in a heavy oil well having a circumferential
sidewall; and activating the rotary drive unit to rotate the
plurality of connective rods, with the vanes attached to the
connective rods assisting in lifting sand to surface with the heavy
oil.
2. The method as defined in claim 1, the vanes on each of the
plurality of connective rods being helical.
3. The method as defined in claim 1, an annular clearance space
being provided between an outer edge of the vanes and the
circumferential sidewall of the well tubing.
4. A method of retarding sand build up in heavy oil wells,
comprising the steps of: providing a pumping apparatus with
subterranean impellers coupled to a rotary top drive unit by a
plurality of connective rods, the plurality of connective rods
having fixed outwardly extending helical vanes that rotate with the
plurality of connective rods and are configured to provide a
supplementary lifting force; positioning the plurality of
connective rods in a heavy oil well having a circumferential
sidewall, with an annular clearance space being provided between an
outer edge of the vanes and the circumferential sidewall of the
well tubing; and activating the rotary drive unit to rotate the
plurality of connective rods, with the vanes attached to the
connective rods assisting in lifting sand to surface with the heavy
oil.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a method of retarding sand
build up in heavy oil wells
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In some geographical areas, heavy oil can be extracted from
underground formations using rotary pumping apparatus. One such
geographical area is the region around Lloydminister, Alberta,
Canada. It has been found, however, that the sand content in the
wells around Lloydminster is causing frequent and costly servicing
problems. The rotary pumping apparatus used is incapable of
carrying the sand to surface. This is due, in part, to a
restriction in flow which results from rod couplings positioned at
intervals of approximately 7.5 meters extending up the well. As a
result, sand settles toward the bottom of the wells. Approximately,
once a month the wells become clogged with sand to the point that
they will no longer produce oil. When this occurs a service rig
must be sent out to clean out accumulated sand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] What is required is a method of retarding sand build up in
heavy oil wells, as a substantial saving can be realized in reduced
servicing costs and increased production if the time interval
between servicing can be lengthened
[0004] According to the present invention there is provided a
method of retarding sand build up in heavy oil wells. A first step
involves providing a pumping apparatus with subterranean impellers
coupled to a rotary top drive unit by a plurality of connective
rods. The plurality of connective rods have fixed outwardly
extending vanes that rotate with the plurality of connective rods
and are configured to provide a supplementary lifting force. A
second step involves positioning the plurality of connective rods
in a heavy oil well having a circumferential sidewall. A third step
involves activating the rotary drive unit to rotate the plurality
of connective rods. The vanes attached to the connective rods
assist in lifting sand to surface with the heavy oil.
[0005] The method, as described above, greatly reduces the rate at
which sand settles in the heavy oil well. The vanes can be
configured in a number of different ways to provide a supplementary
lifting force. Beneficial results have been obtained through the
use of helical vanes. It is preferable that the vanes do not engage
the circumferential sidewall of the well tubing as this would
create unnecessary drag upon the rotation of the connective rods.
It is, therefore, recommended that an annular clearance space be
provided between an outer edge of the vanes and the circumferential
sidewall of the well tubing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is made
to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of
illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the
scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or embodiments
shown, wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 is side elevation view of a heavy oil well with
pumping apparatus configured in accordance with the teachings of
the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a detailed side elevation view of a connective rod
used in the heavy oil well illustrated in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0009] The preferred embodiment, a method of retarding sand build
up in heavy oil wells generally identified by reference numeral 10,
will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2
Structure and Relationship of Parts
[0010] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided a method of
retarding sand build up in heavy oil wells, comprised of the
following steps:
[0011] Referring to FIG. 1, a first step involves providing a
pumping apparatus 12 with subterranean impellers 14 coupled to a
rotary top drive unit 16 by a plurality of connective rods 18.
Referring to FIG. 2, plurality of connective rods 18 have fixed
outwardly extending helical vanes 20 that rotate with plurality of
connective rods 18 and are configured to provide a supplementary
lifting force. Vanes 20 are affixed to connective rods 18 by shrink
couplings 22.
[0012] Referring to FIG. 1, a second step involves positioning
plurality of connective rods 18 in a heavy oil well 24 which has a
circumferential sidewall 26. Referring to FIG. 2, connective rods
18 have male threaded ends 28. Referring to FIG. 1, a female
threaded coupling sleeve 30 fits over male threaded ends 28 in
order to connect one of male threaded ends 28 of connective rod 18
to one of a male threaded end 28 of another connective rod 18. An
annular clearance space 32 is provided between an outer edge of
vanes 20 and circumferential sidewall 26 of well tubing 24.
[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, a third step involves activating rotary
top drive unit 16 to rotate plurality of connective rods 18. Vanes
20 attached to connective rods 18 assist in lifting sand to surface
34 with the heavy oil.
Operation
[0014] By following the teachings of this method, sand which would
otherwise settle in the bottom of heavy oil well 24 and clog it,
can be lifted along with the heavy oil to surface 34 A rotary drive
unit 16 is connected to connective rods 18. Connective rods 18 are
joined to each other and extend from rotary drive unit 16 to the
bottom of well tubing 24. When rotary drive 16 is activated,
connective rods 18 rotate. As connective rods 18 rotate, vanes 20
assist in moving the sand along with the heavy oil upwards through
well tubing 24 to surface 34. Annular space 32 between vanes 20 and
sidewall 26 of well tubing 24 prevents any unnecessary drag upon
the rotation of connective rods 18. The removal of the sand along
with the heavy oil reduces the necessity of frequent and costly
servicing of heavy oil wells 24 due to clogging.
[0015] In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in
its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are
included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A
reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not
exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is
present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and
only one of the elements.
[0016] It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter
defined in the Claims.
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