Dewaxer flow enhancer system and method
AssigneeBrown Ricky Owunari
InventorBrown Ricky Owunari
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Abstract
A dewaxer flow enhancer. The dewaxer flow enhancer provides heat to the crude oil within tubing of a well bore in a drilling operation and collects the wax in a swab cup. The dewaxer flow enhancer includes a body having a head and a dewaxing barrel. The dewaxing barrel delivers heat via an induction heater and includes a tip that forms a path for the dewaxer flow enhancer as it oscillates and reciprocates within the tubing. Once sufficiently heated, wax in the crude oil has a lower viscosity and is collected via a swab cup of the head. An actuator is coupled to the dewaxer flow enhancer via a slickline or e-line and controls the position within the tubing. A controller regulates the heat and sensors detect properties of the crude oil.
Claims16
A dewaxer flow enhancer system for decreasing viscosity of wax in crude oil within a tubing of a well bore and removing the wax from the tubing, comprising:
- an elongated body having a head at a first end and a dewaxing barrel at a second end;
- wherein the dewaxing barrel comprises a tip at a distal end thereof, the dewaxing barrel adapted to deliver heat to the crude oil so as to form a low viscosity wax;
- wherein the head comprises a swab cup configured to collect the low viscosity wax from the tubing of the well bore and a fastener for selectively coupling a line;
- wherein the dewaxer flow enhancer system is connected to an actuator via the line;
- wherein the dewaxer flow enhancer system is adapted to reciprocate within the tubing of the well bore, and
- wherein the swab cup is in fluid communication with a swab tank.
A method of dewaxing a tubing of a well bore to enhance flow, the method comprising:
- providing a dewaxer flow enhancer system, the dewaxer flow enhancer system comprising:
- an elongated cylindrical body having a head at a first end and a dewaxing barrel at a second end;
- wherein the dewaxing barrel comprises a tip at a distal end thereof, the dewaxing barrel adapted to deliver heat to downhole crude oil so as to form a low viscosity wax;
- wherein the head comprises a swab cup configured to collect the low viscosity wax from the tubing of the well bore and a fastener for selectively coupling a line;
- positioning the dewaxer flow enhancer system within the tubing of the well bore with an actuator via the line;
- applying heat via the dewaxing barrel to the downhole crude oil to form a low viscosity wax;
- collecting the low viscosity wax from the tubing of the well bore via the swab cup;
- and
- discharging the low viscosity wax collected by the swab cup to a swab tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.