US4552220A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil well evacuation system
Assignee: DOUGERY JONES & WILDER
•
Filing: 1984-02-03
•
Granted: 1985-11-12
•
Expires: 2004-02-03
Abstract
Abstract A system for evacuating sand, paraffin, and other particulate matter from an oil well, while simultaneously lifting the oil to the surface and stimulating its rate of production, comprises a series of transport units attached to an endless belt. The belt is positively driven between a wellhead station at the surface and a downhole module which is self centering within the well casing, thereby avoiding damage and wear to the casing. Preferably, the belt comprises a roller chain which enables the depth and rate of production of the evacuation system to be easily adjusted. The transport units are replaceably mounted on the belt and are specially designed to agitate and accumulate the particulate member in the oil well.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian D. Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:42
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/34; E21B43/35; E21B37/00; E21B37/02; E21B43/12; E21B43/121
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A system for enhancing the producing of oil from an oil well by evacuating sand, paraffin and other solid matter therefrom, said well having a well bore surrounded by a well casing, the system comprising: a station located at the wellhead for receiving and collecting said solids as well as oil produced from said well; a downhole unit located inside said well casing near the bottom of said well to provide an anchor for said system; an endless belt substantially supporting the weight of said downhole unit at a predetermined depth in said well, said downhole unit located substantially inside said belt, said belt being driven between said station and said downhole unit; containers on said belt for simultaneously evacuating from said well said solids and said oil, thereby enhancing the production of said oil; and means comprising enlarged shoulders carried by said belt for preventing said belt from contacting said well.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
152 words
A system for enhancing the producing of oil from an oil well by evacuating sand, paraffin and other solid matter therefrom, said well having a well bore surrounded by a well casing, the system comprising: a station located at the wellhead for receiving and collecting said solids as well as oil produced from said well; a downhole unit located inside said well casing near the bottom of said well to provide an anchor for said system; an endless belt substantially supporting the weight of said downhole unit at a predetermined depth in said well, said downhole unit located substantially inside said belt, said belt being driven between said station and said downhole unit; containers on said belt for simultaneously evacuating from said well said solids and said oil, thereby enhancing the production of said oil; and means comprising enlarged shoulders carried by said belt for preventing said belt from contacting said well.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The evacuation system of claim 1, further comprising means on said evacuation means for agitating said solids in order to facilitate their accumulation and evacuation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The evacuation system of claim 1 wherein the depth of said downhole unit can be adjusted by adjusting the length of said endless belt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The evacuation system of claim 1 wherein the downhole unit is inserted into said well and removed therefrom by means of said endless belt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The evacuation system of claim 1, further comprising means for positively locating said evacuation system within said well casing in order to avoid damage and wear to said casing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The evacuation system of claim 5 wherein said positive location means comprises rollers on said downhole unit for substantially centering said downhole unit within said casing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The evacuation system of claim 1 further comprising means located at said station for adjusting the distance separating that portion of said endless belt going into said well from that portion of said endless belt coming out of said well.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The evacuation system of claim 1, further comprising means carried by said endless belt for removing paraffin deposits from said well casing.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for removing oil from a well, comprising: a loop of roller chain; a plurality of containers attached to said roller chain; a sprocket for attachment to a power source, said sprocket adapted to drive a first end of said loop; a weighted module for carrying a second end of said loop into an oil well; and polymeric shoulders functioning as wear pads on said roller chain for preventing said roller chain from contacting the sides of said oil well.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for removing oil from a well, comprising: a loop of roller chain; a plurality of containers attached to said roller chain; a sprocket for attachment to a power source, said sprocket adapted to drive a first end of said loop; a weighted module for carrying a second end of said loop into an oil well; and polymeric shoulders functioning as wear pads on said roller chain for preventing said roller chain from contacting the sides of said oil well.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising means for preventing said containers from contacting the sides of said oil well.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising means for preventing said containers from contacting said sprocket.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said means for preventing said containers from contacting the sides of said oil well are said wear pads.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising means for shaking said containers to remove oil therefrom.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said containers are formed of elastomeric material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said containers are attached in pairs on opposite sides of said roller chain.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
An article for use in a cylindrical oil well bore, comprising: a container having a normally open top opening for filling said container and a normally closed bottom opening that opens and releases the contents of said container when said container is compressed; and a portion of said container conforming to the curvature of the inside of said bore for scraping accumulated material from the inside of said bore.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
69 words
An article for use in a cylindrical oil well bore, comprising: a container having a normally open top opening for filling said container and a normally closed bottom opening that opens and releases the contents of said container when said container is compressed; and a portion of said container conforming to the curvature of the inside of said bore for scraping accumulated material from the inside of said bore.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article of claim 16, further comprising means for attaching said container to a roller chain.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The article of claim 16, further comprising means adjacent said top opening for agitating and excavating particulate matter inside said casing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article of claim 16, further comprising a roller chain attached to said container.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
86 words
A system for enhancing the production of oil from an oil well by evacuating both solids and fluids therefrom, comprising: means at the head of the well for securing said system; means attached to said well head means for penetrating said solids while simultaneously evacuating said solids and fluids from said well, thus stimulating the rate of production of said well; and an endless belt extending between said securing means and said penetrating means for transporting said solids and fluids to the well head for collection.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
86 words
A system for enhancing the production of oil from an oil well by evacuating both solids and fluids therefrom, comprising: means at the head of the well for securing said system; means attached to said well head means for penetrating said solids while simultaneously evacuating said solids and fluids from said well, thus stimulating the rate of production of said well; and an endless belt extending between said securing means and said penetrating means for transporting said solids and fluids to the well head for collection.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 20 wherein said endless belt drives said penetrating means through said solids in said well.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 20 wherein said penetrating means also comprises means for guiding said system down into said well in order to avoid damage to said well.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 25 wherein said penetrating means comprises a means for drawing itself through said solids.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 20 wherein said securing means at said well head is transportable.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
122 words
A method, comprising the steps of: introducing an endless belt into an oil well having a layer of particulate matter therein, said endless belt carrying means to excavate said particulate matter and containers to hold said particulate matter; excavating said particulate matter with said excavating means and lifting said particulate matter out of said well in said containers by driving said belt in an endless loop; removing said particulate matter from said containers; continuing to drive said belt, filling said containers with oil flowing into said well and with particulate matter carried by said oil; lifting said containers filled with said oil and with said particulate matter out of said well; and removing said oil and said particulate matter from said containers.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
122 words
A method, comprising the steps of: introducing an endless belt into an oil well having a layer of particulate matter therein, said endless belt carrying means to excavate said particulate matter and containers to hold said particulate matter; excavating said particulate matter with said excavating means and lifting said particulate matter out of said well in said containers by driving said belt in an endless loop; removing said particulate matter from said containers; continuing to drive said belt, filling said containers with oil flowing into said well and with particulate matter carried by said oil; lifting said containers filled with said oil and with said particulate matter out of said well; and removing said oil and said particulate matter from said containers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said endless belt is a roller chain.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 26, wherein said particulate matter is sand and said method further comprises the step of lowering said roller chain deeper into said well as said layer of sand is excavated.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of: introducing a weighted downhole unit into said oil well; locating said downhole unit substantially inside said endless belt; and reversing said endless belt around said downhole unit while driving said belt.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said removing steps comprise compressing said containers to remove said oil and said particulate matter through a transverse slit in said containers.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
143 words
A system for enhancing the production of oil from an oil well by evacuating sand, paraffin and other solid matter therefrom, said well having a well bore surrounded by a well casing, the system comprising: a station located at the well head for receiving and collecting said solids as well as oil produced from said well; a downhole unit located inside said well casing near the bottom of said well to provide an anchor for said system; an endless belt at least partially supporting said downhole unit at a predetermined depth in said well, said belt being driven between said station and said downhole unit; means on said belt for simultaneously evacuating from said well said solids and said oil, thereby enhancing the production of said oil; and means for excavating said solids to facilitate their accumulation and evacuation by said evacuation means.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
143 words
A system for enhancing the production of oil from an oil well by evacuating sand, paraffin and other solid matter therefrom, said well having a well bore surrounded by a well casing, the system comprising: a station located at the well head for receiving and collecting said solids as well as oil produced from said well; a downhole unit located inside said well casing near the bottom of said well to provide an anchor for said system; an endless belt at least partially supporting said downhole unit at a predetermined depth in said well, said belt being driven between said station and said downhole unit; means on said belt for simultaneously evacuating from said well said solids and said oil, thereby enhancing the production of said oil; and means for excavating said solids to facilitate their accumulation and evacuation by said evacuation means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The evacuation system of claim 30 wherein said excavation means is driven by said endless belt.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
50 words
The evacuation system of claim 30 wherein said excavation means is mounted on the leading edge of said downhole unit to provide means for drawing a portion of said evacuation system into said solids, thereby enhancing the evacuation of said solids from the well by means of said evacuation means.
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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) | 1988-11-11 | 1989-05-13 | 1989-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-11-11 | 1993-05-13 | 1993-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-11-11 | 1997-05-13 | 1997-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |