US3713482A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas flow regulator for wellbore catalytic heaters
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-05-04
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Granted: 1973-01-30
•
Expires: 1991-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A downhole bellows operated regulator valve is used to control the flow rate of a fuel gas to a catalytic wellbore heater. The bellows is located in tubing and is responsive to the pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the tubing. A valve connected with the bellows is fashioned to respond to the bellows so that fuel flow to the catalyst is controlled, and backflow of formation fluids through the catalyst is prevented.
Inventors
- 👤 H Lichte
- 👤 E Schultze
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:09
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B36/00; E21B36/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
In a downhole catalytic wellbore heater having a catalytic material located at the lower end of the well pipe and wherein the catalytic material has flow channels therethrough such that the interior of the well pipe communicates with the environment outside the well pipe, through such flow channels, the improvement comprising: flow control means responsive to the pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the well pipe, which flow control means is located in the well pipe above the catalytic material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
In a downhole catalytic wellbore heater having a catalytic material located at the lower end of the well pipe and wherein the catalytic material has flow channels therethrough such that the interior of the well pipe communicates with the environment outside the well pipe, through such flow channels, the improvement comprising: flow control means responsive to the pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the well pipe, which flow control means is located in the well pipe above the catalytic material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
In a downhole catalytic wellbore heater having a catalytic material located at the lower end of the well pipe and wherein the catalytic material has flow channels therethrough such that the interior of the well pipe communicates with the environment outside the well pipe, through such flow channels, the improvement comprising: flow control means responsive to the pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the well pipe, which flow control means is located in the well pipe above the catalytic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
In a downhole catalytic wellbore heater having a catalytic material located at the lower end of the well pipe and wherein the catalytic material has flow channels therethrough such that the interior of the well pipe communicates with the environment outside the well pipe, through such flow channels, the improvement comprising: flow control means responsive to the pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the well pipe, which flow control means is located in the well pipe above the catalytic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flow control means includes a bellows responsive to the pressure in the well pipe and the pressure outside the well pipe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the exterior of the bellows is open to the well pipe and wherein the interior of the bellows is open to the environment exterior to the well pipe.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus for providing heat in a wellbore having well pipe therein comprising: an oxidation catalyst having flow channels therethrouGh positioned at the lower end of the well pipe; means for flowing a fuel gas down the well pipe, through the catalyst flow channels and into the environment surrounding the lower end of the well pipe, and means for controlling the flow of fuel gas to the oxidation catalyst, which control means is interposed in the well pipe above the oxidation catalyst.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus for providing heat in a wellbore having well pipe therein comprising: an oxidation catalyst having flow channels therethrouGh positioned at the lower end of the well pipe; means for flowing a fuel gas down the well pipe, through the catalyst flow channels and into the environment surrounding the lower end of the well pipe, and means for controlling the flow of fuel gas to the oxidation catalyst, which control means is interposed in the well pipe above the oxidation catalyst.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the flow control means is a bellows connected with a double acting valve and which bellows is responsive to the pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the well pipe.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 5 including a housing with the bellows located therein and including means threadedly engaged with the housing for adjusting the space in the housing occupied by the bellows.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the double acting valve comprises a valve stem extending through a restricted flow channel, where the restricted flow channel has a valve seat formed at its upper end and a valve seat formed at its lower end, and wherein the valve stem has sealing surfaces positioned adjacent the valve seats.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the sealing surface adjacent the lower valve seat is adjustable along the length of the valve stem.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
105 words
The apparatus for providing heat in a wellbore having well pipe therein comprising: a tubular member at least partially located in the lower end of the well pipe; a catalytic material positioned on the exterior of the lower end of the tubular member; ports through the wall of the tubular member adjacent the location of the catalytic material; means for flowing a gas down the well pipe, through the tubular member, out the ports and into contact with the catalytic material; and means for regulating the flow of gas contacting the catalytic material which regulating means is interposed in the tubular member above the ports.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
105 words
The apparatus for providing heat in a wellbore having well pipe therein comprising: a tubular member at least partially located in the lower end of the well pipe; a catalytic material positioned on the exterior of the lower end of the tubular member; ports through the wall of the tubular member adjacent the location of the catalytic material; means for flowing a gas down the well pipe, through the tubular member, out the ports and into contact with the catalytic material; and means for regulating the flow of gas contacting the catalytic material which regulating means is interposed in the tubular member above the ports.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the gas regulating means comprises: a housing having a flow passage therethrough including a constricted portion; a pressure responsive member located in the housing; and means responsive to the pressure responsive member for restricting gas flow through the constricted portion of the flow passage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the pressure responsive member is a bellows and the gas flow restricting means includes a valve stem connected with the bellows and having at least one sealing surface thereon and wherein the constricted portion of the flow passage has a valve seat formed therein.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of Claim 10 including means for adjusting the space occupied by the bellows.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of Claim 10 wherein the pressure responsive member is a bellows, wherein the constricted portion of the flow passage has valve seats formed at its upper and lower ends, and wherein the gas flow restricting means includes a valve stem connected with the bellows having an upper and lower sealing surface positioned adjacent the upper and lower valve seats.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-30 | 1976-07-31 | 1977-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-30 | 1980-07-31 | 1981-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-30 | 1984-07-31 | 1985-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |