Driving device for displacing an element in a conduit filled with liquid
AssigneeInstitut Francais du Petrole
InventorsHenri Cholet, Robert Desbrandes, Guy Norel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The device, which is connected to an element to be displaced, comprises a tubular body surrounded by sleeves which are inflated to a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the conduit. A motor-pump assembly located in the tubular body provides for the circulation of the fluid through the body so as to cause propulsion of the device within the conduit. Sensors may control automatic operation of the device and inflation of the sleeves to the selected diameter.
Claims18
A device for displacing an element (3) connectable thereto, through a conduit (2) filled with fluid, the device comprising a tubular body (1) having openings at both ends, and having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the conduit (2), circulating means (5) for circulating the fluid through said tubular body, whereby the fluid is caused to flow into the device through a first open end (8) thereof, and is discharged through a second open end (7), said circulating means comprising a first motor-pump assembly (5) having inlet and outlet orifices respectively communicating with said first and second open ends (7,8) of the tubular body, at least one resilient sleeve (9,10) surrounding a portion of the body (1a-1c) and defining therewith a sealed annular space (15,16), and inflating means (19,30) for inflating said sleeve (9,10) at least one (11,13) of the ends (11,12,13,14) of said sleeve being connected to said tubular body (1a-1c) and said inflating means adapted for inflating said sleeve (9,10) until the outer diameter thereof equals a predetermined value slightly smaller than the diameter of the conduit whereby when said sleeve is inflated, said first motor-pump assembly is actuatable to pump fluid to create a pressure head on one side of said device when its sleeve is inflated to cause the device to slide in the direction the pressure head is exerted.
A method of displacing an element in a conduit filled with fluid by means of a device comprising a tubular body open at both ends and having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area in which the element is to be displaced, circulating means for circulating the fluid in the conduit through the tubular body by causing the fluid to flow into a first open end thereof and discharged out a second open end thereof, said circulating means comprising a motor pump assembly having inlet and outlet orifices respectively communicating with said first and second open ends of the tubular body, at least one resilient sleeve surrounding a portion of the body and defining therewith a sealed annular space, and inflating means for inflating said sleeve, with at least one of the ends of said sleeve being connected to said tubular body, and said inflating means adapted for inflating said sleeve until the outer diameter thereof equals a predetermined value slightly smaller than the diameter of the conduit in which the device is employed, the method comprising:
- attaching the device to the element to be displaced;
- inserting the device with the element attached thereto into a well bore;
- inflating said sleeves to a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the well bore;
- and
- pumping the fluid in said conduit into the open end of said tubular body located at the forward end of the tubular body in the direction the device is being displaced and out the other end at the rear of the tubular body relative to the direction of displacement whereby the fluid being discharged out the other end exerts a pressure on said sleeve in the direction the device is being displaced with the inflated sleeve behaving as a piston and causing movement of the device in response to said pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.