US 2011/0214872 A1 · Method and apparatus for removal of pigs, deposits and other debris from pipelines and wellbores

Abstract

A carrier assembly having at least one sealing cup, a fluid bypass and adjustable wash nozzles, as well as a spear assembly having a central through bore, are attached to the distal end of a length of continuous tubing and inserted in to the flow bore of a pipeline. Fluid is pumped through the annular space between the carrier assembly and the pipeline, providing motive force for advancing the carrier assembly within the pipeline. Fluid can bypass the carrier assembly, enter the central bore of the spear assembly, and return to the surface through the central bore of the continuous tubing. A stuck pig or other obstruction is speared, and thereafter retrieved from the pipeline on the continuous tubing.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An apparatus for removing obstructions from a pipeline comprising:

a. a body member having a flow bore extending therethrough, and at least one flow channel having an inlet and an outlet disposed through said body member;
b. at least one sealing cup disposed on said body member between the inlet and outlet of said at least one flow channel, sealingly engaging the inner surface of said pipeline;
c. a nozzle on the outlet of said at least one flow channel;
and
d. a spear assembly having a first end, a second end and a flow bore extending therethrough, wherein said first end is connected to said body member, said second end forms a point, and said flow bore is in fluid communication with the flow bore of said body member.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

12/806,693Filed 19 Aug 2010

Priority

3 Mar 2010

Published

8 Sep 2011

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B08B 9/0557
The cleaning devices conforming to, or being conformable to, substantially the same cross-section of the pipes, e.g. pigs or moles: pigs with…
E21B 37/00
Methods or apparatus for cleaning boreholes or wells
F16L 55/46
Pigs or moles, i.e. devices movable in a pipe or conduit with or without self-contained propulsion means: launching or retrieval of pigs or moles
B08B
Cleaning in general

Method and apparatus for removal of pigs, deposits and other debris from pipelines and wellbores

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for removal of pigs, deposits and other debris from pipelines and wellbores

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18