Method for sweeping solids or displacing a fluid in a wellbore
US9410402B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 25, 2014 |
| Grant date | Aug 9, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 31, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01F7/0215
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method and system for removing solids or displacing a fluid from a wellbore wherein a plurality of resilient rubber-like flexible reticulated open cell foam elements are dispersed in a fluid and pumped through drill pipe and into the annulus between the wellbore and the drill pipe. In the annulus, the foam elements impact and dislodge solids such as proppants, gravels, drilled cuttings and other solids or a fluid to be displaced and the proppants, etc. or the fluid are carried by the fluid containing the foam elements back to the surface or a different location in the wellbore. At the surface, the fluid containing the foam elements and the proppants, etc., is carried to a shale shaker where the solids and the foam elements are separated from the fluid. The separated solids and foam are collected for disposal and, after adding new foam elements, the fluid can be recirculated down hole.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.