Preventing or removing contaminants in wellbore fluid using an acoustic actuator
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsMichael Linley Fripp, Albert Winkler, Michael John Christie, Celso Max Trujillo
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Abstract
An acoustic actuator for scale removal and prevention in a wellbore is described herein. For example, a system can include a tubing string deployed downhole in a wellbore. A downhole tool can be coupled to the tubing string. An acoustic actuator can be coupled to the tubing string and positioned proximate to the downhole tool. The acoustic actuator can generate an acoustic signal that can vibrate the tubing string to generate a fluidic disturbance in downhole fluid within the tubing string for removing contaminants from, or preventing formation of contaminants, on the downhole tool.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a tubing string deployable downhole in a wellbore;
- a downhole tool coupled to the tubing string;
- and
- an acoustic actuator coupled to the tubing string and positionable proximate to the downhole tool to generate an acoustic signal to vibrate the tubing string to cause acoustic microstreaming of downhole fluid within the tubing string for preventing formation of contaminants on the downhole tool by transporting contaminants away from the downhole tool with micro-oscillations generated by the acoustic microstreaming.
A method comprising:
- deploying a downhole tool coupled to a tubing string downhole in a wellbore;
- coupling an acoustic actuator to the tubing string proximate the downhole tool;
- and
- generating, by the acoustic actuator, an acoustic signal to:
- vibrate the tubing string proximate the downhole tool via the acoustic signal;
- generate a fluidic disturbance in downhole fluid within the tubing string for preventing formation of contaminants on the downhole tool in response to vibrating the tubing string, wherein the fluidic disturbance comprises an acoustic microstreaming of the downhole fluid;
- and
- transport, by micro-oscillations in the downhole fluid generated by the acoustic microstreaming, the contaminants away from the downhole tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.