Method and device for cleaning out a well or piping blocked with gas hydrates
US6343652B1 · kind B1 · utility
20Cited by
12References
10Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 6, 2000 |
| Grant date | Feb 5, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 6, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B37/00
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method and apparatus for unplugging a well or pipe obstructed by a gas hydrates. According to the invention, a moving heating element is applied against one end of the hydrate plug, and is displaced axially in the tube or the pipe towards the other end, so as to cause the plug to melt progressively from one end to the other. Application to the oil industry, in particular in off-shore wells.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.