Downhole casing auger for removal of paraffin from oil and gas wells
AssigneeMissaukee Oil and Gas Company LLC
InventorJordan Benson Gray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for removing paraffin from a casing in a borehole of an oil/gas well without using pressure from the well. The apparatus may include a shaft with a plurality of flights wound around the shaft in a spiral pattern. The apparatus may include a coupling on one end for attachment to a drilling string. The method may include lowering the apparatus into the casing down to a paraffin cake lodged in the borehole. The apparatus may be used dislodge paraffin using the flights to cut the paraffin, an end of the apparatus, impact the paraffin, or both. Then the dislodged paraffin may be collected on the flights and lifted out of the casing for disposal.
Claims13
An apparatus for removing paraffin, the apparatus comprising:
- a longitudinal member having a first end and second end and configured for insertion in a casing of a borehole;
- a plurality of flights welded around the outer surface of the longitudinal member in a spiral pattern, wherein each of the plurality of flights have a width that extends substantially to an inner surface of the casing;
- and
- a coupler in mechanical communication with the second end configured to attach the apparatus to a drilling string.
A method for removing paraffin from a casing of a borehole for an oil/gas well comprising the steps of:
- inserting an apparatus in the casing of the borehole down to contact with a paraffin cake, where the apparatus comprises:
- a longitudinal member having a first end and second end and configured for insertion in the casing of the borehole;
- a plurality of flights welded around the outer surface of the longitudinal member in a spiral pattern that extends from the longitudinal member substantially to an inner surface of the casing;
- and
- a coupler in mechanical communication with the second end configured to attach the apparatus to a drilling string;
- rotating the apparatus to cut and dislodge paraffin from the paraffin cake with the plurality of flights;
- and
- lifting the apparatus with the dislodged paraffin to the surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.