# US 2013/0153230 A1 · Mitigation of hydrates, paraffins and waxes in well tools > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153230 A1 - Document ID: US20130153230A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/678,158 - Filed: 2012-11-15 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-14 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Inventors: Bruce E. SCOTT; Thomas W. SWAN; John J. GOIFFON - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153230A1 ## CPC - E21B 36/00: Heating, cooling or insulating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for use in permafrost zones - E21B 37/00: Methods or apparatus for cleaning boreholes or wells (E21B21/00 takes precedence) - E21B 34/10: operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole - E21B 36/005: {Heater surrounding production tube} - E21B 36/04: using electrical heaters - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A method of mitigating formation of an undesired accumulation of a substance in a well tool through which a well fluid flows can include heating a surrounding wall of an interior flow passage through which the well fluid flows. A system for of mitigating formation of an undesired accumulation of a substance in a well tool can include an interior flow passage having a surrounding wall, and a heater which heats the wall of the flow passage. Another method of mitigating formation of an undesired accumulation of a substance in a well tool can include monitoring the accumulation of the substance in the well tool, and heating a surrounding wall of an interior flow passage in response to detecting the accumulation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (canceled) ### Claim 2 A method of mitigating formation of an undesired accumulation of a substance in a well tool through which a well fluid flows, the method comprising: heating a surrounding wall of an interior flow passage through which the well fluid flows; and monitoring the accumulation of the substance in the flow passage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the heating is performed in response to the monitoring comprising detecting the accumulation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the heating is performed in response to the monitoring comprising detecting the accumulation being greater than a predetermined level. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the monitoring is performed by at least one sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the sensor comprises a resistivity sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the sensor comprises a capacitance or inductance sensor. ### Claim 8 A method of mitigating formation of an undesired accumulation of a substance in a well tool through which a well fluid flows, the method comprising: heating a surrounding wall of an interior flow passage through which the well fluid flows, wherein the heating comprises incorporating a heater about the flow passage. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the incorporating comprises adhering the heater to an interior of the flow passage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the incorporating comprises separately installing the heater into an interior of the flow passage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the heater displaces during operation of the well tool. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the incorporating comprises attaching the heater to a member of the well tool which displaces during operation of the well tool. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the incorporating is performed after installing the well tool in a well. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the incorporating further comprises electrically engaging the heater with an electrical line connected to the well tool and extending to a remote location. ### Claim at position 15 15-17. (canceled) ### Claim 18 A method of mitigating formation of an undesired accumulation of a substance in a well tool through which a well fluid flows, the method comprising: heating a surrounding wall of an interior flow passage through which the well fluid flows; and vibrating the wall of the flow passage. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the vibrating comprises energizing a stack of piezoelectric elements. ### Claim at position 18 20-23. (canceled) ### Claim 24 A system for mitigating formation of an undesired accumulation of a substance in a well tool, the system comprising: an interior flow passage having a surrounding wall; and a heater which heats the wall of the flow passage. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, further comprising at least one sensor which monitors the accumulation of the substance. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the heater heats the wall in response to detection of the accumulation by the sensor. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the heater heats the wall in response to detection by the sensor of the accumulation being greater than a predetermined level. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a resistivity sensor, a capacitance sensor, and an inductance sensor. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the heater is adhered about the flow passage. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the heater displaces during operation of the well tool. ### Claim 31 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the heater is attached to a member of the well tool which displaces during operation of the well tool. ### Claim 32 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the heater is installed in the well tool after the well tool is positioned in a well. ### Claim 33 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the heater is electrically engaged with an electrical line connected to the well tool and extending to a remote location. ### Claim 34 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the heater comprises an inductive heater. ### Claim 35 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, further comprising a vibrator which vibrates the wall of the flow passage. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The system of claim 35, wherein the vibrator comprises a stack of piezoelectric elements. ### Claim 37 A method of mitigating formation of an undesired accumulation of a substance in a well tool, the method comprising: monitoring the accumulation of the substance in the well tool; and heating a surrounding wall of an interior flow passage in response to the monitoring comprising detecting the accumulation. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, wherein the interior flow passage is formed longitudinally through the well tool. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, wherein the heating is performed in response to the detecting comprising detecting when the accumulation becomes greater than a predetermined level. ### Claim 40 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, wherein the monitoring is performed by at least one sensor. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a resistivity sensor, a capacitance sensor, and an inductance sensor. ### Claim 42 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, wherein the heating comprises incorporating a heater into the well tool. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, wherein the incorporating comprises adhering the heater to an interior of the well tool. ### Claim 44 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, wherein the incorporating comprises separately installing the heater into an interior of the well tool. ### Claim 45 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, wherein the heater displaces during operation of the well tool. ### Claim 46 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, wherein the incorporating comprises attaching the heater to a member of the well tool which displaces during operation of the well tool. ### Claim 47 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, wherein the incorporating is performed after installing the well tool in a well. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47, wherein the incorporating further comprises electrically engaging the heater with an electrical line connected to the well tool and extending to a remote location. ### Claim 49 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, wherein the heating is performed by supplying electrical power to one or more electrical conductors adhered to an interior of the well tool. ### Claim 50 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, wherein the heating is performed by supplying electrical power to one or more electrical conductors in an insert secured in the well tool after the well tool has been installed in a well. ### Claim 51 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, wherein the heating comprises inductively heating the wall of the flow passage. ### Claim 52 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, further comprising vibrating the wall of the flow passage. ### Claim 53 (depends on 52) The method of claim 52, wherein the vibrating comprises energizing a stack of piezoelectric elements.