Rotary pump for well
OwnerKenneth E. Longacreinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool for removing solid particles from a well after sand fracturing, drilling, etc. The tool includes a flapper valve assembly above a drill bit, a sand screen, and a screw pump. Fluid in the well, with the solid particles therein, is pumped into the tool by rotating the screw pump, wherein the fluid moves past the bit, across the flapper valve assembly, and through the sand screen. The solid particles stay in a cavity above the flapper valve, but the fluid moves further along the screw pump and is returned along the outside of the tool to the bit, to start the cycle over again. Over time, the cavity fills with solid particles, and the device is raised to the surface, where the accumulated solid particles are dumped. The device can be re-introduced into the well to remove more solid particles, if necessary.
Claims29
A device for removing solid material from a well bore comprising:
- an elongated tool having an axis, a first inlet end and a second end;
- a valve located adjacent to the first end;
- a screen located between the valve and the second end, the screen allowing the passage of fluid, but not solid material above a predetermined size;
- a cavity located between the valve and the screen;
- and
- a screw pump located between the screen and the second end;
- wherein, the screw pump is capable of pulling fluid entrained with the solid material from the well bore into the first end of the tool and through the valve, the fluid is separated from the solid material above a predetermined size by the screen, the fluid moves along the pump and is reintroduced into the well bore, and the solid material above the predetermined size accumulates in the cavity.
A device for removing solid material from a well, said device capable of being inserted at a surface of the well into a well bore casing and having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
- a first tubular housing having a first end and an opposite second end;
- at least one member attached to an exterior of the first housing and abutting the well bore casing for preventing rotation of the first housing relative to the well bore casing;
- a second tubular housing having a first, fluid inlet end and a second, opposite end, being arranged coaxially and at least part internally of the first housing, and being rotatable relative to the first housing;
- a valve adjacent the first end of the second housing and being movable between a first open position and a second closed position;
- a selective passage formed between the valve and the second end to the second housing;
- a screw pump formed between an exterior of the second housing and the first housing;
- and
- a cavity formed in the second housing between the valve and the selective passage,
- wherein, fluid and solid material can enter the first inlet end of the second housing, past the valve, and the fluid can pass through the selective passage, and along the screw pump, but the solid material cannot pass through the selective passage and accumulates in the cavity.
A method for removing solid particles from a well, comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing a tool with a screw pump into the well, such that the pump is below a level of fluid in the well;
- (b) rotating the tool so that the screw pump pulls fluid and solid particles from the well into an inlet of the tool;
- and
- (c) allowing the fluid to pass through a screen, but causing the solid particles to be collected in a cavity of the tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.