US 5,474,097 A · Scale removal and disposal system and method

Abstract

A pipe and tube cleaning system, particularly useful for cleaning scale from pipes and tubes used in oil and gas production operations and containing naturally occurring radioactive materials in the scale, includes an elongated closable tub for supporting a section of pipe or tube for combined hydraulic jet blast and mechanical cutting and cleaning action by a lance insertable within the pipe to remove scale from the interior of the pipe. A slurry of particulate material removed from the pipe and the cleaning liquid (water) is collected in the tub and discharged to a particle size reduction and filtering system which reduces the particle size of the material to form a slurry of very fine particles which may be disposed of through an injection well. Some of the slurry may be returned to the system for use as cleaning liquid. Pipe is loaded into and removed from the tub by a pipe handling mechanism including retractable supports with ramp surfaces which position the pipe for movement into and out of the tub. The system provides for cleaning tube and pipe sections while minimizing exposure of the material removed from the tube and pipe sections to the environment except through suitable disposal means such as an injection well.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A system for cleaning material from interior surface of a generally cylindrical pipe section comprising:

an elongated tub including a bottom section and a cover forming an enclosed space for containing said pipe section and material removed from said pipe section;
a support for supporting said pipe section within said tub;
a first elongated lance including a jet nozzle head connected to a distal end thereof for insertion within and traversal through said pipe section to effect cleaning of said material, including scale, from said interior surface of said pipe section;
a drive head connected to an end of said first lance opposite said nozzle head for traversing said first lance through the interior of said pipe section;
means for supplying high-pressure cleaning fluid to said first lance for discharge onto said pipe section to remove said scale and other debris therefrom;
a pump connected to said tub for withdrawing a slurry of cleaning fluid and particulate material from said tub;
and
particle size reducing means interposed between said tub and said pump for reducing the particle size of said scale.

5 more elements

A system for cleaning material from a generally cylindrical pipe section comprising:

an elonated tub including a bottom section and a cover forming an enclosed space for containing said pipe section and material removed from said pipe section;
a support for supporting said pipe section within said tub;
a pump connected to said tub for withdrawing a slurry of cleaning liquid and particulate material including scale from said tub;
particle size reduction means operably connected to said tub for receiving a slurry of particulate material and cleaning liquid from said tub for primary reduction in the particle size of said material;
and
power actuator means for moving said cover between an open position for receiving and discharging a pipe section with respect to said tub and closed position for containing cleaning liquid and material cleaned from said pipe secton.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Scale removal and disposal system and method

Life of this patent

Scale removal and disposal system and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21