Method and apparatus for distributing fluids within a subterranean wellbore

Claim 1

Apparatus for distributing fluids around equipment including a production pump to be protected within a subterranean borehole comprising: a submersible pump being positioned at a first location within the borehole and having an intake port and an output port; means, connected to said submersible pump, for activating said submersible pump; an intake duct having a first end connected to said intake port and having a free second end at a second location within the borehole for withdrawing fluid from the second location said second location being on a first side of the equipment to be protected; and an output duct having a first end connected to said output port and having a free second end at a third location within the wellbore for introducing fluids into the third location, said third location being on a second side of the equipment to be protected, said equipment to be protected including a production pump having an intake and wherein said second location is above said intake and wherein said third location is below said intake.

Claim 6

A method for distributing fluids within a subterranean borehole around equipment to be protected comprising the steps of: introducing into the borehole at a first location apparatus comprising a submersible pump having an intake port connected to a first end of an intake duct and having an output port connected to a first end of an output duct; positioning a free second end of said intake duct within the borehole at a second location from which fluid is to be withdrawn, the second location being on a first side of the equipment to be protected; locating a free second end of said ouput duct within the borehole at a third location into which fluid is to be introduced, the third location being on a second side of the equipment to be protected; activating said submersible pump; and providing a treatment fluid to said second location, said treatment fluid selected from the group consisting of a corrosion inhibitor, scale inhibitor, a defoamer, an emulsion breaker, a focculant, a paraffin inhibitor, a bactericide and mixtures thereof.

Claim 7

A method for distributing fluids within a subterranean borehole around equipment to be protected comprising the steps of: introducing into the borehole at a first location apparatus comprising a submersible pump having an intake port connected to a first end of an intake duct and having an output port connected to a first end of an output duct; positioning a free second end of said intake duct within the borehole at a second location from which fluid is to be withdrawn, the second location being on a first side of the equipment to be protected; locating a free second end of said ouput duct within the borehole at a third location into which fluid is to be introduced, the third location being on a second side of the equipment to be protected; activating said submersible pump; and providing a treatment fluid to said second location, said treatment fluid selected from the group consisting of a corrosion inhibitor, scale inhibitor, a defoamer, an emulsion breaker, a focculant, a paraffin inhibitor, a bactericide and mixtures thereof.