Patent US5447200A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5447200A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for downhole sand clean-out operations in the petroleum industry
Assignee: Weatherford Lamb Inc
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Filing: 1994-05-18
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Granted: 1995-09-05
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Expires: 2014-05-18
Abstract
Abstract A device to be connected to the lower end of a tubing string for removing sand or other debris from oil producing formations below a surface, the device comprising a combination of a thrust and rotational bearing assembly, a rotationally driven downhole pump comprising a rotor and a stator to provide hydraulic energy to lift fluid to the surface, a transfer chamber secured to the pump providing fluid communication between the pump and the tubing string to direct fluid from the pump to enter the string, a nose section secured to the pump rotor and constructed so that sand is mixed with wellbore fluid, a guide to take the mixture to the pump and an anti-rotation device secured to the pump constructed so as to prevent rotation of the pump stator while allowing axial movement of the pump.
Inventors
- 👤 Garth Dedora
- 👤 James F. Wilkin
- 👤 Michael Wawrzynowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:10
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B37/00; E21B17/00; E21B17/10; E21B17/1057; E21B43/00; E21B43/12; E21B43/121
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A device to be connected to the lower end of a tubing string for removing sand or other debris from oil producing formations below a surface, the device comprising a combination of a thrust and rotational bearing assembly, a rotationally driven downhole pump comprising a rotor and a stator to provide hydraulic energy to lift fluid to the surface, a transfer chamber secured to the pump providing fluid communication between the pump and the tubing string to direct fluid from the pump to enter the string, a nose section secured to the pump rotor provided with means for mixing sand with wellbore fluid and means to guide the mixture to the pump and an anti-rotation device secured to the pump constructed so as to prevent rotation of the pump stator while allowing axial movement of the pump.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
A device to be connected to the lower end of a tubing string for removing sand or other debris from oil producing formations below a surface, the device comprising a combination of a thrust and rotational bearing assembly, a rotationally driven downhole pump comprising a rotor and a stator to provide hydraulic energy to lift fluid to the surface, a transfer chamber secured to the pump providing fluid communication between the pump and the tubing string to direct fluid from the pump to enter the string, a nose section secured to the pump rotor provided with means for mixing sand with wellbore fluid and means to guide the mixture to the pump and an anti-rotation device secured to the pump constructed so as to prevent rotation of the pump stator while allowing axial movement of the pump.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the combination comprises, in sequence from an end to be connected to the string, the thrust and rotational bearing assembly, the transfer chamber, the pump, the anti-rotation device and the nose section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the pump is of the progressive cavity type.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein the transfer chamber comprises a flexible drive shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the transfer chamber comprises a flexible drive shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the nose section for mixing sand with wellbore fluid comprises flexible wire brushes to contact walls of the casing or hole to disturb the sand and debris.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device according to claim 6 wherein the wire brushes are arranged in an helical pattern on an exterior surface of the nose section so as to guide sand laden fluid to a fluid passage of the anti rotation device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein the nose section is of auger form and has a hard exterior surface to resist abrasion and disturb and fluidize sand and debris.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein the nose section for mixing sand with wellbore fluid comprises flexible wire brushes to contact walls of the casing or hole to disturb the sand and debris.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device according to claim 9 wherein the wire brushes are arranged in an helical pattern on an exterior surface of the nose section so as to guide sand laden fluid to a fluid passage of the anti rotation device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 10 wherein the nose section is of auger form and has a hard exterior surface to resist abrasion and disturb and fluidize sand and debris.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
67 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the anti-rotation device comprises a plurality of sets of wheels mounted so as to be radially flexible and linearly aligned to rotate in the longitudinal direction, the sets of wheels spaced about its periphery and provided with biasing means to urge the wheels against the walls of the casing or hole so as to resist rotational movement of the device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein the anti-rotation device comprises a plurality of sets of wheels mounted so as to be radially flexible and linearly aligned to rotate in the longitudinal direction, the sets of wheels spaced about its periphery and provided with biasing means to urge the wheels against the walls of the casing or hole so as to resist rotational movement of the device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
A device according to claim 8 wherein the anti-rotation device comprises a plurality of sets of wheels mounted so as to be radially flexible and linearly aligned to rotate in the longitudinal direction, the sets of wheels spaced about its periphery and provided with biasing means to urge the wheels against the walls of the casing or hole so as to resist rotational movement of the device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
67 words
A device according to claim 9 wherein the anti-rotation device comprises a plurality of sets of wheels mounted so as to be radially flexible and linearly aligned to rotate in the longitudinal direction, the sets of wheels spaced about its periphery and provided with biasing means to urge the wheels against the walls of the casing or hole so as to resist rotational movement of the device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device according to claim 12 wherein the wheels are provided with chamfered bottoms to resist rotative motion of the anti-rotation device.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of downhole clean-out for sand and other debris comprising moving a tubing driven, rotationally driven downhole pump, having a stator and a rotor, axially in a wellbore while pumping and holding the stator against rotation while turning the rotor by providing the stator with means in contact with the wellbore to prevent rotational movement of the stator relative to the wellbore while allowing axial movement of the stator within the wellbore.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of downhole clean-out for sand and other debris comprising moving a tubing driven, rotationally driven downhole pump, having a stator and a rotor, axially in a wellbore while pumping and holding the stator against rotation while turning the rotor by providing the stator with means in contact with the wellbore to prevent rotational movement of the stator relative to the wellbore while allowing axial movement of the stator within the wellbore.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 17 further comprising the simultaneous step of dislodging and fluidizing sand and other debris on walls of the wellbore while pumping.
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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) | 1998-09-04 | 1999-03-06 | 1999-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-04 | 2003-03-06 | 2003-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-04 | 2007-03-06 | 2007-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |