Chemical Injector for Wells

A fluid injection apparatus for a well, comprising:

• a string of tubing adapted to be suspended in a well;
• a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion;
• a tubing mounting mechanism associated with the upper portion of the housing for securing the housing to the string of tubing;
• a tubing intake in the upper portion of the housing in fluid communication with an interior of the tubing;
• a mixing member having a cylindrical exterior and located within a cylindrical interior of the lower portion of the housing;
• a mixing chamber located in the mixing member;
• an injection fluid inlet passage extending from the tubing intake through the mixing member alongside the mixing chamber to a lower end of the mixing chamber for discharging an injection fluid pumped down the tubing into the mixing chamber;
• at least one well fluid intake passage leading through the lower portion of the housing and through the mixing member to the mixing chamber, the well fluid intake passage having an entrance below the mixing chamber and selected to be below a liquid level in the well, so that well fluid is induced to flow into the mixing chamber where it mixes with the injection fluid being pumped down the tubing, creating a mixed fluid;
• and
• at least one mixed fluid passage extending upward and outward from the mixing chamber through the mixing member and through the lower portion of the housing for discharging the mixed fluid exterior of the housing and above the entrance of the well fluid passage.

A method of removing liquid from a gas producing well, comprising:

• providing an injection sub having a mixing chamber, an injection passage leading to a lower end of the mixing chamber, a well fluid intake passage leading from an exterior of the sub to the mixing chamber and a mixed fluid discharge passage leading from the mixing chamber to an exterior of the sub;
• connecting the injection sub to a string of tubing and lowering the sub into the well to a point wherein an entrance of the well fluid intake passage is below a liquid level in the well;
• pumping a foaming agent down the tubing and through the injection fluid intake passage into and through the mixing chamber and out the mixed fluid discharge passage into the well;
• in response to the flow of foaming agent into the mixing chamber, inducing well fluid to flow into the well fluid intake passage and mix with the foaming agent in the mixing chamber as the foaming agent flows out the mixed fluid discharge passage;
• and
• wherein the mixing of the foaming agent with the well fluid creates a foam that migrates up the well in an annulus surrounding the tubing.