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US3712380A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for reworking and cleaning wells

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-11-30
•
Granted: 1973-01-23
•
Expires: 1990-11-30
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Abstract

Abstract A method for reworking and cleaning a well which comprises the steps of setting a packer in the well bore above the formation surrounding the well bore to be treated, inserting tubing through the packer, pumping a mixture of calcium carbide in a liquid hydrocarbon carrier into the area of the well bore to be treated, pumping a hydrocarbon through the tubing to force all of the calcium carbide and liquid hydrocarbon carrier into the area to be treated, pumping an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid through the tubing, packer and into the well bore and surrounding formation, pumping a liquid hydrocarbon into the tubing to force the calcium carbide, the hydrocarbons and the hydrochloric acid into the formation to be treated, and securing the well bore to prevent escape of the reactants, is disclosed.

Inventors

  • 👤 P Caffey

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 08:07
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B37/00; E21B37/06; E21B43/00; E21B43/16

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim 6 words
inserting tubing through the upper packer;
Claim 2
Independent Claim 16 words
A method for reworking and cleaning a previously fractured and acidized well comprising the steps of
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 5 words
inserting tubing through said packer;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 59 words
pumping a mixture of calcium carbide and a liquid hydrocarbon carrier which is inert to the calcium carbide and free of water through said tubing and said packer into said well bore and said formation, wherein the weight ratio of the calcium carbide to the liquid hydrocarbon carrier ranges from one-half pound per gallon to 1 pound per gallon;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 60 words
pumping a mixture of calcium carbide and a liquid hydrocarbon carrier which is inert to the calcium carbide and free of water through said tubing and said upper packer into said well bore and said formation, wherein the weight ratio of the calcium carbide to the liquid hydrocarbon carrier ranges from one-half pound per gallon to 1 pound per gallon;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method of claim 1 where the hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of gelled kerosene, light naphthas, gasoline, and crude and refined oil having an A.P.I. gravity of from 12 to 25.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method of claim 2 where the hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of gelled kerosene, light naphthas, gasoline, and crude and refined oil having an A.P.I. gravity of from 12 to 25.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 27 words
pumping a hydrocarbon through said tubing to force all of said mixture of calcium carbide and the liquid hydrocarbon carrier into said well bore and surround formation;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 27 words
pumping a hydrocarbon through said tubing to force all of said mixture of calcium carbide and a liquid hydrocarbon carrier into said well bore and surrounding formations;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 22 words
pumping An aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid through said tubing and said upper packer and into said well bore and surrounding formation;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 21 words
pumping an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid through said tubing and said packer and into said well bore and surrounding formation;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 7 words
The process of claim 1 further comprising
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 7 words
The process of claim 2 further comprising
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 86 words
pumping a liquid hydrocarbon into said tubing to force said calcium carbide, said hydrocarbons and said aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid into said formations surrounding said well bore, said calcium carbide and said aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid then being in reactive contact, wherein the concentration of the aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid ranges from 1 to 28 percent by weight, and wherein the volume ratio of the aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid to the calcium carbide ranges from 1 to 2 gallons per pound; and
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 86 words
pumping a liquid hydrocarbon into said tubing to force said calcium carbide, said hydrocarbons and said aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid into said formation surrounding said well bore, said calcium carbide and said aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid then being in reactive contact, wherein the concentration of the aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid ranges from 1 to 28 percent by weight, and wherein the volume ratio of the aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid to the calcium carbide ranges from 1 to 2 gallons per pound; and
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 75 words
securing said tubing to prevent escape of said reactants, the calcium carbide and water reacting exothermally to yield gaseous acetylene and lime, the exothermic heat of reacting melting any paraffins and oil residues present and the pressure of the gaseous acetylene breaking any hydrocarbon and water emulsions present and cleaning the formation, the hydrochloric acid accelerating the calcium carbide-water reactions and in situ reacting with the lime to thereby avoid lime deposits in the formation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 75 words
securing said tubing to prevent escape of said reactants, the calcium carbide and water reacting exothermally to yield gaseous acetylene and lime, the exothermic heat of reacting melting any paraffins and oil residues present and the pressure of the gaseous acetylene breaking any hydrocarbon and water emulsions present and cleaning the formation, the hydrochloric acid accelerating the calcium carbide-water reactions and in situ reacting with the lime to thereby avoid lime deposits in the formation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 21 words
permitting the reaction to proceed for from about 4 to about 12 hours prior to returning the well to production status.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 21 words
permitting the reaction to proceed for from about 4 to about 12 hours prior to returning the well to production status.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1806499A Cited
US2943681A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-01-23 1976-07-24 1977-01-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-01-23 1980-07-24 1981-01-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-01-23 1984-07-24 1985-01-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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