Sonic apparatus for cleaning wells, pipe structures and the like

Patent · Tue Jul 28 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:5903531

Bodine, A G

An oscillator for generating sonic energy in a rotary progression vibration mode about a longitudinal axis, I.E., having quadrature related lateral vibration components, is lowered into a tube or pipe member, which may comprise an oil well casing. Attached to the housing of the oscillator so as to receive vibratory energy therefrom is a hollow stem member which is suspended from the oscillator housing within the pipe member at a position therealong proximate to apertures in the wall thereof to be cleaned. The stem member is vibrated at a sonic frequency by the sonic energy generated by the oscillator in a gyratory vibration mode having lateral quadrature related vibration components. The stem member and oscillator are spaced from the wall of the tube member, there being liquid in this space, with the stem member acting as a transmitter of sonic energy in the liquid. The vibratory energy causes successive pressure and vacuum regions to form in the liquid with a cyclical rotating force pattern which rotates around the inside of the tube or casing member in the nature of a rotating scraper. The rotary sonic vibration of the liquid dislodges and sweeps the dirt away from regions in and around the apertures of the casing member, which dirt may be taken into the interior of the stem member.

• Assignee: IFI; EDB-82-045636
• Patent Number(s): US 4280557
• OSTI ID: 5903531
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CLEANING
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
MOTION
OIL WELLS
OSCILLATORS
PIPES
ROTATION
TUBES
WELL SERVICING
WELLS