Patent US5550331A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5550331A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method of protecting instruments from down-hole fluids
Assignee: HSBC Corporate Trustee Co UK Ltd
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Filing: 1995-06-01
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Granted: 1996-08-27
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Expires: 2015-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A surfactant composition is used to repel down-hole fluids such as crude oil and water to prevent their adherence to a down-hole instrument for an extended period of time. A down-hole fluid repelling surfactant, preferably in the form of a liquid solution, is applied to an exterior surface of the instrument, dried, and polished to prevent down-hole fluids from adhering to the surface. A preferred liquid surfactant solution contains as an active ingredient an amount of tricresyl phosphate effective to repel down-hole fluids such as oil and water.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack T. Thompson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:13
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/01; E21B47/017; E21B47/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of preventing down-hole well fluids from adhering to a down-hole instrument exposed to such down-hole well fluid, comprising the step of: applying a down-hole well fluid repelling surfactant to an exterior surface of the instrument, said surfactant containing tricresyl phosphate as an active ingredient to prevent said down-hole well fluid from adhering to the surface of said instrument.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of preventing down-hole well fluids from adhering to a down-hole instrument exposed to such down-hole well fluid, comprising the step of: applying a down-hole well fluid repelling surfactant to an exterior surface of the instrument, said surfactant containing tricresyl phosphate as an active ingredient to prevent said down-hole well fluid from adhering to the surface of said instrument.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said down-hole well fluid repelling surfactant is applied in the form of a surfactant solution, and said surfactant solution consists essentially of about 9% to about 25% tricresyl phosphate, about 7% to about 12.5% ethanol, and about 84% to about 62.5% water, by weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said surfactant solution consists essentially of approximately 25% tricresyl phosphate, 12.5% ethanol, and 62.5% water, by weight.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said down-hole well fluid repelling surfactant is applied in the form of a surfactant solution, and the step of applying the down-hole well fluid repelling surfactant comprises: applying the surfactant solution to a surface of the instrument, and drying the surfactant solution on the surface of the instrument to provide a layer of dry surfactant on the surface of the instrument.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 further including the step of polishing the layer of dry surfactant on the surface of the instrument.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said down-hole instrument comprises a sensor and said step of applying said down-hole well fluid repelling surfactant to said surface of said instrument comprises applying said down-hole well fluid repelling surfactant to a surface of the sensor to prevent said down-hole well fluid from adhering to the surface of said sensor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said down-hole instrument further comprises an energy source for providing energy to interact with the down-hole fluid and be received by the sensor, and said step of applying said down-hole well fluid repelling surfactant to said surface of said instrument comprises applying said down-hole well fluid repelling surfactant to a surface of the energy source to prevent said down-hole well fluid from adhering to the surface of said energy source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said down-hole well fluid repelling surfactant is applied in the form of a surfactant solution, and the step of applying the down-hole well fluid repelling surfactant comprises: applying the surfactant solution to the surfaces of the sensor and the energy generator and drying the surfactant solution on the surface of the sensor and energy generator to provide a layer of dry surfactant on the said surfaces.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for providing signals representative of a down-hole condition in a well, the well containing a fluid that tends to adhere to a down-hole instrument placed in the well, the method comprising the steps of: mounting a sensor in the down-hole instrument, the sensor operating in conjunction with a first external surface exposed to the down-hole fluid, the sensor providing the signals representative of the well condition; applying a down-hole well fluid repelling surfactant to the first external surface working in conjunction with the sensor, said surfactant containing tricresyl phosphate as an active ingredient to prevent said down-hole well fluid from adhering to the first external surface.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for providing signals representative of a down-hole condition in a well, the well containing a fluid that tends to adhere to a down-hole instrument placed in the well, the method comprising the steps of: mounting a sensor in the down-hole instrument, the sensor operating in conjunction with a first external surface exposed to the down-hole fluid, the sensor providing the signals representative of the well condition; applying a down-hole well fluid repelling surfactant to the first external surface working in conjunction with the sensor, said surfactant containing tricresyl phosphate as an active ingredient to prevent said down-hole well fluid from adhering to the first external surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the down-hole well fluid repelling surfactant is applied as a surfactant solution to the first external surface, and further comprising the steps of drying the surfactant solution to leave a dry film of tricresyl phosphate on the first external surface, and polishing the dry film of tricresyl phosphate on the first external surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said surfactant solution consists essentially of about 9% to about 25% tricresyl phosphate, about 7% to about 12.5% ethanol, and about 84% to about 62.5% water, by weight.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the surfactant solution consists essentially of approximately 25% tricresyl phosphate, 12.5% ethanol, and 62.5% water, by weight.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said instrument further includes an energy source for providing energy to interact with down-hole fluids and be received by the sensor, the energy source also operating in conjunction with a second external surface exposed to the down-hole fluid, and further comprising the step of: applying said down-hole well fluid repelling surfactant to the second external surface of the energy source to prevent said down-hole well fluid from adhering to the second external surface.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
85 words
A system for providing signals representative of a condition in a well, the well containing a fluid that tends to adhere to a down-hole instrument placed in the well, the system comprising: a sensor mounted in the instrument, the sensor operating in conjunction with a first external surface that is exposed to the down-hole fluid; and a coating applied to the first external surface, the coating containing tricresyl phosphate as an active ingredient effective to repel well fluid from adhering to the first external surface.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
85 words
A system for providing signals representative of a condition in a well, the well containing a fluid that tends to adhere to a down-hole instrument placed in the well, the system comprising: a sensor mounted in the instrument, the sensor operating in conjunction with a first external surface that is exposed to the down-hole fluid; and a coating applied to the first external surface, the coating containing tricresyl phosphate as an active ingredient effective to repel well fluid from adhering to the first external surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 14 wherein the coating is applied to the first external surface as a surfactant solution consisting essentially of about 9% to about 25% tricresyl phosphate, about 7% to about 12.5% ethanol, and about 84% to about 62.5% water, by weight.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 14 wherein the coating is applied to the first external surface of said optical element as a surfactant solution consisting essentially of approximately 25% tricresyl phosphate, 12.5% ethanol, and 62.5% water, by weight.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
76 words
A down-hole instrument for use in a well in which a down-hole fluid may exist, the instrument comprising: a sensor for sensing a condition in a well hole; an external surface exposed to the down-hole fluid and operating with the sensor through which the sensor senses the condition; and a coating applied to the first external surface, the coating containing tricresyl phosphate as an active ingredient effective to repel well fluid from the first external surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
76 words
A down-hole instrument for use in a well in which a down-hole fluid may exist, the instrument comprising: a sensor for sensing a condition in a well hole; an external surface exposed to the down-hole fluid and operating with the sensor through which the sensor senses the condition; and a coating applied to the first external surface, the coating containing tricresyl phosphate as an active ingredient effective to repel well fluid from the first external surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
83 words
The down-hole instrument of claim 17 further comprising: an energy source for providing energy to pass through the down-hole fluid before reaching the sensor; a second external surface exposed to the down-hole fluid and operating with the energy source through which the energy provided by the energy source must pass before reaching the down-hole fluid; and a coating applied to the second external surface, the coating containing tricresyl phosphate as an active ingredient effective to repel well fluid from the second external surface.
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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) | 1999-08-27 | 2000-02-26 | 2000-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-27 | 2004-02-26 | 2004-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-27 | 2008-02-26 | 2008-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |