US3765489A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for continuously injecting a fluid into a producing well
Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
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Filing: 1972-02-14
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Granted: 1973-10-16
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Expires: 1992-02-14
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for continuously injecting a treating fluid into a recovery well while simultaneously producing from the well is disclosed. A small perforated injection tube is inserted into the production tubing of the well and a sufficient length of tube is introduced beyond that required for complete suspension within the well to cause the tube to spiral upwardly within the tubing in helical contact with the tubing wall. The perforations are located at well bore elevations adjacent the fluid-bearing zones traversed by the well to allow treating fluid within the tube to enter the well bore at these elevations. In operation, a treating fluid is forced into the injection tube and into the well bore at the selected elevations, and at the same time formation fluids are recovered from the well.
Inventors
- 👤 G Maly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:24
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B33/00; E21B33/02; E21B33/03; E21B33/068; E21B33/072; E21B19/00; E21B19/22; E21B43/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of injecting a treating fluid into a recovery well having an open-ended production tubing suspended therein and traversing at least one permeable subterranean producing zone, which comprises: inserting an injection tube into the production tubing of said well, said tube having an outside diameter of from 1 to 20 percent of the inside diameter of said production tubing; introducing a sufficient length of said injection tube into said production tubing to contact the bottom of said well and to spiral within said production tubing in helical contact with the tubing wall; and injecting a treating fluid into said injection tube.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of injecting a treating fluid into a recovery well having an open-ended production tubing suspended therein and traversing at least one permeable subterranean producing zone, which comprises: inserting an injection tube into the production tubing of said well, said tube having an outside diameter of from 1 to 20 percent of the inside diameter of said production tubing; introducing a sufficient length of said injection tube into said production tubing to contact the bottom of said well and to spiral within said production tubing in helical contact with the tubing wall; and injecting a treating fluid into said injection tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said injection tube is perforated at an elevation adjacent the subterranean producing zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said injection tube in said production tubing has a helical period of from 5 to 10 feet.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of treating a recovery well having an open-ended production tubing suspended therein and traversing at least one permeable subterranean zone containing petroleum oil, hydrocarbon gas, steam or combinations thereof, which comprises: inserting into said production tubing an injection tube having an outside diameter of from 1 to 20 percent of the inside diameter of said production tubing; introducing a sufficient length of said injection tube into said production tubing to contact the bottom of said well and to spiral within said production tubing in helical contact with the tubing wall; and injecting a scale inhibitor into said injection tube while simultaneously producing from said well.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of treating a recovery well having an open-ended production tubing suspended therein and traversing at least one permeable subterranean zone containing petroleum oil, hydrocarbon gas, steam or combinations thereof, which comprises: inserting into said production tubing an injection tube having an outside diameter of from 1 to 20 percent of the inside diameter of said production tubing; introducing a sufficient length of said injection tube into said production tubing to contact the bottom of said well and to spiral within said production tubing in helical contact with the tubing wall; and injecting a scale inhibitor into said injection tube while simultaneously producing from said well.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of treating a steam recovery well having an open-ended production tubing and penetrating a subterranean geothermal formation and traversing at least one steam bearing zone, which comprises: inserting into said production tubing an injection tube having an outside diameter of from 1 to 20 percent of the inside diameter of said production tubing; introducing a sufficient length of said injection tube into said production tubing to contact the bottom of said well and to spiral within in helical contact with the tubing wall; and injecting a treating fluid into said injection tube while simultaneously producing steam from said well.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of treating a steam recovery well having an open-ended production tubing and penetrating a subterranean geothermal formation and traversing at least one steam bearing zone, which comprises: inserting into said production tubing an injection tube having an outside diameter of from 1 to 20 percent of the inside diameter of said production tubing; introducing a sufficient length of said injection tube into said production tubing to contact the bottom of said well and to spiral within in helical contact with the tubing wall; and injecting a treating fluid into said injection tube while simultaneously producing steam from said well.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of mounting an injection tube within a recovery well having an open-ended production tubing suspended therein, which comprises: inserting into said production tubing an injection tube having an Outside diameter of from 1 to 20 percent of the inside diameter of said tubing; and introducing a sufficient length of said injection tube into said production tubing to contact the bottom of said well and to spiral within said production tubing in helical contact with the tubing wall with a helical period of from 10 to 50 times the diameter of said production tubing.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of mounting an injection tube within a recovery well having an open-ended production tubing suspended therein, which comprises: inserting into said production tubing an injection tube having an Outside diameter of from 1 to 20 percent of the inside diameter of said tubing; and introducing a sufficient length of said injection tube into said production tubing to contact the bottom of said well and to spiral within said production tubing in helical contact with the tubing wall with a helical period of from 10 to 50 times the diameter of said production tubing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method defined in claim 6 wherein the total weight of said injection tube is measured at the surface during said insertion and a sufficient length of injection tube is introduced into said production to reduce the measured total weight of said injection tube from 80 to 100 percent of the maximum value measured during said insertion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method defined in claim 6 wherein said helical period is from 7 to 15 feet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method defined in claim 6 wherein said production tubing terminates at an elevation above the bottom of said well and said injection tube also spirals within the well bore between the bottom of the well and the terminus of said production tubing in helical contact with the well bore wall and having a helical period of from 10 to 50 times the diameter of the well bore.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method defined in claim 6 wherein said recovery well is under a pressure of between about 1,000 and 15,000 psig and wherein an inert gas is continuously injected into said injection tube during said insertion at a pressure equivalent to the pressure within said well.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method defined in claim 10 wherein said injection tube is perforated at selected locations below said production tubing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method defined in claim 11 wherein said perforations are sealed at the formation surface with a temporary sealant capable of withstanding the pressure within said well and having a sharp melting point at a temperature below the temperature at the bottom of said well.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
90 words
In combination: a well bore penetrating a subterranean formation and having an open-ended production tubing suspended therein and terminating above the bottom of said well; and an injection tube within said production tubing and having an outside diameter of from 1 to 20 percent of the inside diameter of said production tubing, said injection tube contacting the bottom of said well and being in helical contact with the wall of said production tubing and having a helical period from 10 to 50 times the inside diameter of said production tubing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
90 words
In combination: a well bore penetrating a subterranean formation and having an open-ended production tubing suspended therein and terminating above the bottom of said well; and an injection tube within said production tubing and having an outside diameter of from 1 to 20 percent of the inside diameter of said production tubing, said injection tube contacting the bottom of said well and being in helical contact with the wall of said production tubing and having a helical period from 10 to 50 times the inside diameter of said production tubing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination defined in claim 13 wherein said injection tube is in helical contact with the wall of the well bore between the well bottom and production tube with a helical period of from 10 to 50 times the diameter of said well bore.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination defined in claim 13 wherein said injection tube is made of a material having a yield strength greater than 50,000 pounds per square inch.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination defined in claim 13 wherein said injection tube is perforated at selected well bore elevations below said production tubing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
122 words
In combination: a well bore penetrating a subterranean formation having at least one permeable zone containing steam, petroleum oil or hydrocarbon gas; a production tubing suspended in said well bore and terminating above said permeable zone; and a perforated injection tube within said production tubing having an outside diameter from 1 to 20 percent of the inside diameter of said production tubing in helical contact with the wall of said production tubing and said well bore below the terminus of said production tubing, said injection tube having a helical period in said production tubing of from 7 to 15 feet and in said well bore of from 5 to 10 feet, said perforations being located at an elevation adjacent said permeable zone.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
122 words
In combination: a well bore penetrating a subterranean formation having at least one permeable zone containing steam, petroleum oil or hydrocarbon gas; a production tubing suspended in said well bore and terminating above said permeable zone; and a perforated injection tube within said production tubing having an outside diameter from 1 to 20 percent of the inside diameter of said production tubing in helical contact with the wall of said production tubing and said well bore below the terminus of said production tubing, said injection tube having a helical period in said production tubing of from 7 to 15 feet and in said well bore of from 5 to 10 feet, said perforations being located at an elevation adjacent said permeable zone.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |