U.S. patent application number 15/790838 was filed with the patent office on 2019-04-25 for scale impeding arrangement and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Zhi Yong He, Yuh Loh, Zhiyue Xu, Lei Zhao. Invention is credited to Zhi Yong He, Yuh Loh, Zhiyue Xu, Lei Zhao.
Application Number | 20190120018 15/790838 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 66169742 |
Filed Date | 2019-04-25 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190120018 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zhao; Lei ; et al. |
April 25, 2019 |
SCALE IMPEDING ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD
Abstract
A scale impeding arrangement including a movable member, having
a sole purpose of impeding accumulation of scale, in fluid contact
with a flow passage, and a movement activator operably connected to
the movable member to change elastic energy of the moveable
member.
Inventors: |
Zhao; Lei; (Houston, TX)
; Xu; Zhiyue; (Cypress, TX) ; He; Zhi Yong;
(Cypress, TX) ; Loh; Yuh; (Cypress, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Zhao; Lei
Xu; Zhiyue
He; Zhi Yong
Loh; Yuh |
Houston
Cypress
Cypress
Cypress |
TX
TX
TX
TX |
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Baker Hughes, a GE company,
LLC
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
66169742 |
Appl. No.: |
15/790838 |
Filed: |
October 23, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 37/00 20130101;
E21B 17/023 20130101; E21B 41/02 20130101; E21B 37/045 20130101;
E21B 47/017 20200501 |
International
Class: |
E21B 37/04 20060101
E21B037/04 |
Claims
1. A scale impeding arrangement comprising: a movable member,
having a sole purpose of impeding accumulation of scale, in fluid
contact with a flow passage; and a movement activator operably
connected to the movable member to change elastic energy of the
moveable member.
2. The scale impeding arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
movable member is a tubular.
3. The scale impeding arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
moveable member is a mesh.
4. The scale impeding arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
moveable member is a spring.
5. The scale impeding arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
moveable member is mounted to a biasing member.
6. The scale impeding arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
movement activator is a vibrator.
7. The scale impeding arrangement as claimed in claim 6 wherein the
vibrator is a piezoelectric device.
8. The scale impeding arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
movement activator is a piston.
9. The scale impeding arrangement as claimed in claim 8 wherein the
piston is hydraulically actuated.
10. The scale impeding arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein
the movement activator is an electroactive polymer.
11. The scale impeding arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein
the movement activator is turbulent fluid flowing in contact with
the moveable member.
12. A borehole system comprising: a string disposed in a borehole
of the borehole system; and a scale impeding arrangement as claimed
in claim 1 disposed at a selected position within the string.
13. A method for controlling scale formation in a tubular system
comprising: determining a location of likely scale buildup;
disposing a scale impeding arrangement as claimed in claim 1 in the
location; and moving the movable feature thereby resisting scale
deposition.
14. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the moving comprises
vibrating.
15. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the moving comprises
continuously storing and releasing elastic energy in the moveable
member.
16. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the moving comprises
discontinuously storing and releasing elastic energy in the
moveable member.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] In resource recovery industries, there often are tubular
conveyance configurations that extend over long distances. It is
well known that fluids conveyed through tubular configurations can
under some conditions, like changes in temperature, pressure, etc.
can induce the formation of scale. Scale is a major impediment in
some cases to the flow of fluid through sections of the tubular
structure that are susceptible to scale formation. In fact,
sometimes, scale deposition can completely occlude a tubular
preventing any flow at all. Any significant reduction in flow is a
problem for a resource recovery operation as flow rate translates
to dollars recovered from the operation. Unfortunately, repairing
the problem is also quite costly. Accordingly, the art is always
receptive to scale avoidance systems and methods.
SUMMARY
[0002] A scale impeding arrangement including a movable member,
having a sole purpose of impeding accumulation of scale, in fluid
contact with a flow passage, and a movement activator operably
connected to the movable member to change elastic energy of the
moveable member.
[0003] A borehole system including a string disposed in a borehole
of the borehole system, and a scale impeding arrangement as in any
previous embodiment disposed at a selected position within the
string.
[0004] A method for controlling scale formation in a tubular system
including determining a location of likely scale buildup, disposing
a scale impeding arrangement as in any previous embodiment in the
location, and moving the movable feature thereby resisting scale
deposition.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The following descriptions should not be considered limiting
in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like
elements are numbered alike:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view of a scale
impeding arrangement;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG.
1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view of an alternate
scale impeding arrangement;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG.
3;
[0010] FIG. 5 is an illustration of one possible mesh employable in
the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4;
[0011] FIG. 6 is an illustration of another possible mesh
employable in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4;
[0012] FIG. 7 is an illustration of another possible mesh
employable in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4;
[0013] FIG. 8 is a schematic cross sectional view of another
alternate scale impeding arrangement;
[0014] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of the electroactive
polymer of the embodiment of FIG. 5 in a voltage off condition;
[0015] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of the electroactive
polymer of the embodiment of FIG. 5 in a voltage on condition;
and
[0016] FIG. 11 is a schematic elevation view of a borehole system
in a subsurface formation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the
disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of
exemplification and not limitation with reference to the
Figures.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a scale impeding
arrangement 10 is illustrated. The arrangement comprises a movable
member 12 in the form of a tubular that is exposed to fluid flow.
The movable member 12 is supported on either end by a sleeve, 14
and 16. The sleeves include seals 18 to provide leak tight support
for the tubular 12. The movable member may be mounted with or
without slidability. One slidable mounting iteration includes
biasing members 20 that tend to urge the tubular axially to a
central rest position but may be elastically deformed to allow the
tubular to be moved axially away from the central at rest position
if a force is applied thereto. The axial movement may be to one
side or in both directions as illustrated. The movable member 12 is
moveable regardless of whether or not the slidability is provided
in a particular embodiment and movability is important to the
function of the arrangement disclosed herein and imparted through a
movement activator 22. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the
movement activator 22 is in the form of vibratory devices.
Specifically, the FIG. 1 embodiment employs one or more vibrators
22 disposed on the surface of the movable member 12. The vibrators
may be piezoelectric devices, or the like. In the case of
piezoelectric devices, an electric supply 24 will be connected to
the devices 22 which when energized will cause the piezoelectric
devices to vibrate. Vibration of the devices 22 will cause the
movable member 12 to vibrate as well thereby storing and releasing
elastic energy in the movable member 12. That vibration enables the
movable member 12 to shed any accumulated scale or to avoid the
deposition of any scale. In various utilities, the vibrators may be
made to vibrate at all times or may be used intermittently. In
addition, in embodiments where the movable member 12 is mounted
with the biasing members 20, the movable member will tend to
oscillate due to the vibratory input thereby causing even more
movement, which enhances scale deposition impedance and scale
removal.
[0019] Protecting the vibrators 22 is an optional additional cover
26 located radially outwardly of the vibrators 22. For
interconnection of the arrangement 10 with other portions of a
tubular system, it may be desirable to also include couplings 28
and 30, which provide for such interconnection.
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 3-7, another embodiment of a scale
impeding arrangement 40 is illustrated. In this embodiment, a
movable member 42 comprises a mesh (FIGS. 5 (diamond pattern), 6
(interwoven pattern) and 7 (hexagonal)) or a spring such as a coil
spring. The arrangement 40 also includes a movement activator 44 in
the form of a piston whose position is responsive to changing
pressure in a chamber 46. The pressure in chamber 46 is adjustable
cyclically with various continuous or discontinuous frequencies
through a hydraulic control line 48 connected to a hydraulic source
(not shown) which may be remotely controlled. Upon increase in the
pressure of chamber 46, the piston 44 will move toward the movable
member 42 thereby imposing a compressive load thereon that tends to
elastically deform the mesh or elastically deform the spring (note
the illustrated tubular has been lined in a way intended to
illustrate both a spring or a mesh material). Upon reduction of the
pressure in chamber 46, the compressive energy imparted to the mesh
or spring and stored as elastic energy will automatically convert
to kinetic energy and cause the tubular 42 to stretch out again to
it's at rest position. The motion of the movable member 42 impedes
the deposition of scale and also will cause a shedding of any scale
that had previously deposited. Alternatively or additionally, the
moveable member 12 can be responsive to the fluid flow itself as a
movement activator. More specifically, since the fluid flowing
through the movable member will be turbulent, the randomized back
and forth movement of the fluid will cause the movable member to
move back and forth also. Each time the moveable member is moved in
a direction it will store some elastic energy, which will then be
released as the moveable member returns to its rest position. It is
also to be understood, however, that it is possible for the movable
member 42 to not be elastic in nature but rather to be plastically
deformed in one direction and then pulled back in the opposite
direction. If the chamber 46 is caused to experience a lower
pressure than ambient, the piston actuator 44 will be pulled in the
opposite direction thereby pulling the movable member 42 back to
its initial position. Hence for a mesh iteration, such as that
shown in FIG. 7 (for example only) the mesh may be pushed in a
first direction and then drawn in a second direction. Since the
operability for impeding scale is movement, whether that movement
be continuous or discontinuous and at high or low frequencies, the
arrangement will function as stated.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 8-10, another embodiment of a scale
impeding arrangement 50 is illustrated. This embodiment is
configured similarly to the vibration embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2
particularly in that it uses a vibratory functional aspect but
employs an electroactive polymer coating 52 in contact with a
moveable member 54 instead of the vibrators 22 of FIG. 1. The
coating 52 may be disposed radially inwardly of a movable member 54
shown in dashed lines to distinguish embodiments or radially
outwardly of the tubular 54 shown in solid lines. The coating 52
will be either on the inner surface of movable member 54 at 52a or
on the outer surface of movable member 54 at 52b. In the event the
coating 52 is disposed on the outer surface of movable member 54,
the function of the device relies upon a conduction of the stress
initiated by the coating 52 to cause the movable member 54 to store
and release elastic energy. In the event the coating is on the
inside surface of the movable member 54, the coating directly acts
on the flowing fluid and impedes deposition of scale onto the
coating itself. The coating on either surface of the movable member
54 may be continuous or discontinuous depending upon how
aggressively an operator needs to impede scale.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 11, the foregoing arrangements may be used
individually or in any combination with one or more of the same
embodiment and one or more of other embodiments in a borehole
system 60 comprising a string 62 in a borehole 64 through a
subsurface formation 66. Arrangements as taught herein may
advantageously be positioned in locations within the borehole where
scale formation is more likely as determined by drilling logs or
other data acquired prior to installation of the arrangements.
[0023] Each of the embodiments may be active continuously or
discontinuously depending upon requirements and operator
decisions.
[0024] Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing
disclosure:
[0025] Embodiment 1: A scale impeding arrangement including a
movable member, having a sole purpose of impeding accumulation of
scale, in fluid contact with a flow passage, and a movement
activator operably connected to the movable member to change
elastic energy of the moveable member.
[0026] Embodiment 2: The scale impeding arrangement as in any
previous embodiment, wherein the movable member is a tubular.
[0027] Embodiment 3: The scale impeding arrangement as in any
previous embodiment, wherein the moveable member is a mesh.
[0028] Embodiment 4: The scale impeding arrangement as in any
previous embodiment, wherein the moveable member is a spring.
[0029] Embodiment 5: The scale impeding arrangement as in any
previous embodiment, wherein the moveable member is mounted to a
biasing member.
[0030] Embodiment 6: The scale impeding arrangement as in any
previous embodiment, wherein the movement activator is a
vibrator.
[0031] Embodiment 7: The scale impeding arrangement as in any
previous embodiment, wherein the vibrator is a piezoelectric
device.
[0032] Embodiment 8: The scale impeding arrangement as in any
previous embodiment, wherein the movement activator is a
piston.
[0033] Embodiment 9: The scale impeding arrangement as in any
previous embodiment, wherein the piston is hydraulically
actuated.
[0034] Embodiment 10: The scale impeding arrangement as in any
previous embodiment, wherein the movement activator is an
electroactive polymer.
[0035] Embodiment 11: The scale impeding arrangement as in any
previous embodiment, wherein the movement activator is turbulent
fluid flowing in contact with the moveable member.
[0036] Embodiment 12: A borehole system including a string disposed
in a borehole of the borehole system, and a scale impeding
arrangement as in any previous embodiment disposed at a selected
position within the string.
[0037] Embodiment 13: A method for controlling scale formation in a
tubular system including determining a location of likely scale
buildup, disposing a scale impeding arrangement as in any previous
embodiment in the location, and moving the movable feature thereby
resisting scale deposition.
[0038] Embodiment 14: The method as in any previous embodiment,
wherein the moving comprises vibrating.
[0039] Embodiment 15: The method as in any previous embodiment,
wherein the moving comprises continuously storing and releasing
elastic energy in the moveable member.
[0040] Embodiment 16: The method as in any previous embodiment,
wherein the moving comprises discontinuously storing and releasing
elastic energy in the moveable member.
[0041] The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar
referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in
the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover
both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein
or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should further be
noted that the terms "first," "second," and the like herein do not
denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to
distinguish one element from another. The modifier "about" used in
connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has
the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree
of error associated with measurement of the particular
quantity).
[0042] The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a
variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one
or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident
in a formation, a wellbore, and / or equipment in the wellbore,
such as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form
of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof.
Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to,
fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion
agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers,
demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well
operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing,
stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam
injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.
[0043] While the invention has been described with reference to an
exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents
may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the
scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made
to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the
invention without departing from the essential scope thereof.
Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the
particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for
carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include
all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in
the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed
exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms
may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a
generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of
limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so
limited.
* * * * *