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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Apparatus and method for coupling sonic energy to the bore hole wall of an oil well to facilitate oil production

Patent ·
OSTI ID:7048551
A sonic pump is described for pumping oil out of an oil well is installed in a tubing string placed in an oil well casing. Sonic energy is coupled to the tubing string from an orbiting mass oscillator installed thereabove so as to cause vibration thereof at a sonic frequency which is preferably such as to cause resonant standing wave vibration of the string. Check valves are installed in the tubing string and are driven by the sonic energy to effect pumping action. The sonic energy generated in the tubing string is effectively coupled to the wall of the bore hole by means of a plurality of annular pistons installed at spaced positions between the string and the casing. An annulus of liquid is maintained in annular spaces formed between successive pistons, between the inner wall of the casing and the outer wall of the string, the sonic energy in the tubing string driving the pistons so as to develop hydraulic pressure pulses in the liquid. Perforations are formed in the casing wall such that the hydraulic pressure pulses are applied through these perforations to the bore hole wall to aid in the extraction of oil therefrom.
Assignee:
EDB-83-013387
Patent Number(s):
US 4342364
OSTI ID:
7048551
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English