US2078107A - Paraffin remover for oil wells - Google Patents

Description

April 1937. K. CITEN BRINK RARAFFIN REMOVER FOR OIL WELLS Filed Oct. 20, 1936 Watenieol Apr. 2%, i937 UMETED STAT 11:11-

PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to the class of wells and pertains particularly to oil wells.

In the operation of oil wells in certain sections, considerable diificulty is experienced from 5 the accumulation of paraifin in the well tubing which acts as an obstacle to the passage of oil through the tubing and requires the cessation of operations at frequent intervals for its removal. At the present time the practice is to withdraw the sucker rod so that chemicals or other substances which will melt the paraflin can be introduced into the tubing to efiect its release from the wall thereof. This results in the passage of the paraifin down to the bottom of the well,

where it mixes with the oil and spreads through the oil bearing strata and is then likely to interiere with the proper flow oi the oil. Considerable damage is often done to the pumping mechanism carried by the sucker rod in withdrawing it from the tubing.

The present invention has for its primary objest to provide an improved means of releasing the paramn in the tubing and effecting its discharge through the top of the tubing without allowing any of the paramn to get into the bottom of the well.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. novel means of releasing the paraiiin from the interior of the well tubing by the application of steam or gases to the paraflin in the tubing above the pumping mechanism and the removal of the melted paramn either by pressure introduced into the tubing or by the regular pumping mechanism which is employed for forcing the oil upwardly in the tubing.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in' connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with 40 the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing':---

Figure l is a view illustrating in section a portion of swell casing with the derrick floor and showing the mechanism embodying the present invention in elevation in association with the well tubing.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the paraiiin releasing structure embodying the present I operation oi the device, when it is necessary to re- 55 invention. 4

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line l-Q oi Fi 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral l designates a conventionally illustrated portion of the derrick floor of an oil 5 well structure, while the tubing which is usually introduced into the ground and through which the pumping mechanism is lowered, is shown in longitudinal section and indicated by the numeral 2. 10

In carrying out the present invention, the well tubing, which is here generally designated by the numeral 3, is divided into the upper and lower portions 4 and 5 between which is coupled a relatively long cylinder which is indicated gener- 5 ally by the numeral 6. This cylinder consists of the two cylindrical portions 1 and 8, each of which at one end terminates in a constricted part 9 and an interiorly threaded collar Ill into which an end of an adjacent portion of the well 20 tubing is threadedly secured, as illustrated. The abutting ends of the portions I and 8 are cou pied together by a collar H. The constricted end of the upper portion i 01' the cylinder is provided with the upwardly directed boss I! through which a threaded aperture II is formed. In the inner end of this threaded aperture there is secured one end of a pipe section I which extends downwardly into the cylinder to approximately the center thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 30 2, while the outer end of the passage opening it has a pipe line I5 coupled therewith which leads upwardly through the derrick floor I, as illustrated. This line may be provided with a valve it which is accessible to an operator upon the 35 derrick floor and it also has interposed therein a check valve I! which is shown in detail in Fig. 3 and which is intended to open downwardly so that back pressures created in the cylinder 6 will be shut of! from passage into the pipe line I5. 40

The upper end of the well tubing is turned to extend laterally as is the usual practice, so that fluids pumped upwardly through the tubing can be carried off without interfering with the operation of the sucker rod which is indicated gen- 45 erally by the numeral l8, and which passes downwardly through the cylinder 6 to the mechanism at the lower end of the well tubing which is not illustrated.

The formation of paraflln in an oil well occurs 50 at a depth of approximately twelve hundred feet and at points above this level, therefore the cylinder .6 will be located at approximately the twelve hundred ioot level in the oil well. In the with the oil.

' move paraflln from the well tubing, the pipe line I! will be connected with a suitable source of gas under pressure or with a steam generator so that the gas or steam may be introduced through the pipe into the cylinder 6. Here and above this depth the paraflin in the tubing will be melted,

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that with the present device it will not be necessary to withdraw the sucker rod from the well tubing when itiis necessary to remove paraflin therefrom, and therefore the usual damage to thepumping mechanism which accompanies this operation, will be avoided, and it will also be ap parent that the damage which would be done to the well by the escape of melted parafiin and steam into the lower portion thereof if the sucker rod were removed, will be avoided, as the pumping mechanism shuts off the tubing as previously :explained, and prevents the paraflin and condensed steam from escaping into the well.

What is claimed, is: 1. In an oil well including a tubing and a sucker rod extending therethrough, a cylinder coupled in the line of tubing, the sucker rod extending through the cylinder to the mechanism in the lower end of the tubing, and a valved pipe line leading into said cylinder whereby a fluid may be introduced thereinto to flow upwardly through the tubing, said valve opening only toward the cylinder.

2. In a mechanism of the character described, oil well tubing, a cylinder having opposite ends provided with threaded openings, said tubing being divided and having its adjacent ends connected and terminating in the threaded openings of the cylinder whereby the cylinder forms thruout its length an oil passageway between said ends, a threaded passage formed through the wall of the cylinder, a pipe line having an end extended through and secured in said threaded passage, and a check valve in said pipe line which opens 'toward the cylinder whereby fluid under pressure may be introduced into the cylinder from said line to return through the tubing.

3. In an' oil well construction, an elongated cylinder having each end constricted and terminating in an interiorly threaded collar, a well tubing divided into upper and lower portions and having the adjacent ends of the portions threaded and each engaged in and terminating at a threaded collar whereby the cylinder is coupled in and forms a part of the tubing, a sucker rod passing through the tubing and cylinder and carrying in the tubing below the cylinder the usual pumping mechanism whereby the tubing is closed against the down flow of fluids therethrough, a pipe line paralleling the upper portion of the tubing and entering said cylinder, and a check valve controlling said pipe line and opening downwardly toward the cylinder whereby fluid under pressure may be introduced into the cylinder to eifect the discharge of softened paraflin upwardly through the tubing.

KARL C. TEN BRINK.

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