US3880235A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for igniting well heaters
Assignee: Sunoco Inc
•
Filing: 1972-05-15
•
Granted: 1975-04-29
•
Expires: 1992-05-15
Abstract
Abstract Ignitors are provided for initiating fuel fed well heaters located adjacent earth formations in a wellbore. The ignitors are battery powered and subsist independently downhole. Batteries are used to provide current to a heating element or, in conjunction with an oscillator and transformer can be used to generate an electric arc using a spark gap. Additionally, a catalytic ignitor can be used in conjunction with a hydrogen containing fuel gas, thereby providing a spontaneous hydrogen and air reaction. The hydrogen-air reaction raises the temperature to that of natural gas ignition.
Inventors
- 👤 Holland J Berry
- 👤 William C Hardy
- 👤 Dale W Zadow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 02:37
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/2401; E21B36/00; E21B36/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
Apparatus for igniting a fuel fed well heater located in a wellbore comprising: a catalytic material on a heat resistant support adapted to be located adjacent the well heater, first conduit means extending from the earth''s surface and providing a fluid flow path from the surface to the catalytic material, means for directing one portion of a fuel mixture through the first conduit means to one side of the catalytic material and means for diffusing such one portion of the fuel mixture over the catalytic material before contacting, another portion of the fuel mixture, and second conduit means extending from the surface for providing a fluid flow path for the other portion of the fuel mixture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
Apparatus for igniting a fuel fed well heater located in a wellbore comprising: a catalytic material on a heat resistant support adapted to be located adjacent the well heater, first conduit means extending from the earth''s surface and providing a fluid flow path from the surface to the catalytic material, means for directing one portion of a fuel mixture through the first conduit means to one side of the catalytic material and means for diffusing such one portion of the fuel mixture over the catalytic material before contacting, another portion of the fuel mixture, and second conduit means extending from the surface for providing a fluid flow path for the other portion of the fuel mixture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the catalytic material is a part of a tubular member having a permeable inner wall, a permeable retaining means constituting on outer wall and baffle means located between the inner and outer walls, and wherein the catalytic material is located adjacent the retaining means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus for igniting a well heater located in a wellbore comprising: a well heater positioned in the wellbore, igniter means suspended in the wellbore on a conduit and including catalytic material located adjacent the heater; means for introducing air to one side of the catalytic material between the material and the heater; and means for introducing a hydrogen containing fuel gas to the other side of the catalytic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus for igniting a well heater located in a wellbore comprising: a well heater positioned in the wellbore, igniter means suspended in the wellbore on a conduit and including catalytic material located adjacent the heater; means for introducing air to one side of the catalytic material between the material and the heater; and means for introducing a hydrogen containing fuel gas to the other side of the catalytic material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 3 including temperature determining means located on the surface of the catalytic material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the temperature indicating means is a thermocouple, located on the surface of the catalytic material, attached to a thermocouple cable which extends to the surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for igniting a well heater located in a wellbore comprising: a tubular member having a permeable wall; first conduit means extending from the earth''s surface into the wellbore for introducing air to the outer surface of the permeable wall of the tubular member; second conduit means extending from the earth''s surface into the wellbore for introducing a fuel gas to the inner surface of the permeable wall of the tubular member; and a catalytic material adjacent the outer surface of the permeable wall of the tubular member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for igniting a well heater located in a wellbore comprising: a tubular member having a permeable wall; first conduit means extending from the earth''s surface into the wellbore for introducing air to the outer surface of the permeable wall of the tubular member; second conduit means extending from the earth''s surface into the wellbore for introducing a fuel gas to the inner surface of the permeable wall of the tubular member; and a catalytic material adjacent the outer surface of the permeable wall of the tubular member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 6 including means adjacent the inner surface of the permeable wall for diffusing the fuel gas over the entire surface of the outer surface of the permeable wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 6 including means for determining temperature located on the tubular member, and means for transmitting temperature indications to the surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
117 words
Apparatus for igniting a well heater located in a wellbore adjacent a formation to be heated comprising: pipe means suspended in the wellbore and having an igniter attached thereto, a tubular member located in the interior of the igniter and having a catalytic material located adjacent the exterior wall of said tubular member; fluid passage means extending from the earth''s surface into the wellbore for introducing air to the catalytic material on the exterior wall of the tubular member without passing over the interior wall thereof; separate fluid passage means for flowing a fuel gas to the interior wall of the igniter; and means for flowing the fuel gas from the interior wall to the exterior wall.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
117 words
Apparatus for igniting a well heater located in a wellbore adjacent a formation to be heated comprising: pipe means suspended in the wellbore and having an igniter attached thereto, a tubular member located in the interior of the igniter and having a catalytic material located adjacent the exterior wall of said tubular member; fluid passage means extending from the earth''s surface into the wellbore for introducing air to the catalytic material on the exterior wall of the tubular member without passing over the interior wall thereof; separate fluid passage means for flowing a fuel gas to the interior wall of the igniter; and means for flowing the fuel gas from the interior wall to the exterior wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 9 including baffle means located between the interior and exterior walls, for diffusing the fuel gas so that said gas is distributed over the entire exterior wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the exterior wall is a screen and the interior wall is perforated pipe and wherein the screen retains the catalytic material and baffle means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the baffle means is a fibrous silica material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
67 words
Process for igniting a well heater located in a wellbore comprising: positioning a well heater in the wellbore, locating an igniter including a catalytic material adjacent the well heater; and initiating a catalytic reaction of hydrogen and air by flowing a hydrogen containing fuel gas into contact with one surface of the catalytic material and flowing air into contact with the other surface of the catalytic material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
67 words
Process for igniting a well heater located in a wellbore comprising: positioning a well heater in the wellbore, locating an igniter including a catalytic material adjacent the well heater; and initiating a catalytic reaction of hydrogen and air by flowing a hydrogen containing fuel gas into contact with one surface of the catalytic material and flowing air into contact with the other surface of the catalytic material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the fuel gas mixture comprises gaseous hydrocarbons and hydrogen.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 14 including monitoring the temperature of the catalytic reaction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 15 including terminating the flow of the hydrogen portion of the fuel gas when the catalytic reaction temperature of the hydrocarbon is reached.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
86 words
A process for igniting portions of a wellbore comprising: locating an igniter having a catalytic covered member on a conduit forming a first fluid flow path from the surface to the igniter in the wellbore, passing a fuel gas through the conduit to one surface of the tubular member, passing an oxidizing agent through a separate fluid flow path to the other surface of the tubular member to thereby maintain the fuel gas and oxidizing agent separated until they are combined on the catalytic covered member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
86 words
A process for igniting portions of a wellbore comprising: locating an igniter having a catalytic covered member on a conduit forming a first fluid flow path from the surface to the igniter in the wellbore, passing a fuel gas through the conduit to one surface of the tubular member, passing an oxidizing agent through a separate fluid flow path to the other surface of the tubular member to thereby maintain the fuel gas and oxidizing agent separated until they are combined on the catalytic covered member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3215495A
Cited
US3245459A
Cited
US3244231A
Cited
US3240256A
Cited
US3407025A
Cited
US3376932A
Cited
US3485230A
Cited
US3497000A
Cited
US3706303A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-10-28 | 1979-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-28 | 1982-10-28 | 1983-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-28 | 1986-10-28 | 1987-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |