Geothermal Well Clearing Tool for Live-Well Mineral Deposit Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Geothermal wells and pipelines become clogged with mineral deposits, requiring frequent and costly cleaning operations, especially since conventional drilling equipment is not designed to operate in live wells and is affected by steam pressure.
Innovation Solution
A well or bore clearing tool with a forward end for clearing unwanted material, an aft end for engaging with a hammer device, working surfaces for cutting, bypass passages for fluid flow, and exhaust passages for managing exhaust gases, allowing efficient operation in live wells without cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional drilling equipment is used to clear mineral deposits, then the well can be cleaned effectively, but the equipment cannot operate in live wells due to steam pressure affecting efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The clearing tool is divided into multiple working surfaces arranged in rows around the periphery, allowing the tool to engage and break up mineral deposits at multiple points simultaneously while maintaining the ability to navigate through live well conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a specialized clearing tool that acts as an intermediary between the hammer device and the mineral deposits. This tool is specifically designed to withstand steam pressure while effectively breaking up calcides, thereby enabling operation in live wells without compromising cleaning effectiveness
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the well is cooled or quenched prior to cleanout operations, then the drilling equipment can operate safely, but this process is costly and time-consuming and causes production losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful steam pressure in live wells into a beneficial force by designing the clearing tool to be propelled by the steam pressure itself. The steam that would normally interfere with equipment operation is instead utilized to drive the hammer device and advance the clearing tool through the well, eliminating the need for cooling while maintaining operational effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The clearing tool is designed to be self-propelled by the steam pressure within the live well. The hammer device utilizes the existing steam pressure to drive the clearing action, eliminating the need for external cooling systems or quenching processes, thereby reducing both time and cost while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
3Productivity
If rock drilling equipment is used to clear wells, then mineral deposits can be broken up, but the equipment is not designed for live well operation and efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The clearing tool is designed with multi-functionality to handle both the mechanical task of breaking up mineral deposits and the operational requirement of withstanding live well conditions. The working surfaces are configured to engage calcides effectively while the overall structure accommodates steam pressure, combining cleaning efficiency with adaptability to live well environments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the design parameters of the clearing tool to suit live well conditions. The working surfaces are positioned and configured to optimize breaking efficiency of mineral deposits while the structural parameters are adjusted to withstand steam pressure and temperature, thereby maintaining both productivity and adaptability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables effective clearing of mineral deposits in live geothermal wells with reduced operational costs and minimized production losses by allowing steam to flow continuously, while maintaining equipment efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
at least one bypass passage through which fluid from the live well is able to pass through the clearing tool when in use
Implementation Method 2
at least one exhaust passage which communicates with the hammer device and which receives exhaust gases from the hammer device and which communicates with one or more exhaust exit ports, through which exhaust gases from the hammer device are able to exit through the clearing tool when in use
Implementation Method 3
a number of working surfaces configured to bear against and to cut through or to break up the unwanted material when in use
Implementation Method 4
an aft end configured to engage with a hammer device when in use
Data Source
AI summary
For clearing of the bore liners of geothermal wells, disclosed is a clearing tool that can be used without a drive motor, but with a drive hammer, to clear mineral deposits from the inside of the bore liners of geothermal wells. A forward end clears unwanted material from a live well. An aft end engages with a hammer device. The tool also has working surfaces to bear against and to cut through or to break up the unwanted material, at least one bypass passage conveying fluid from the live well through the clearing tool, and at least one exhaust passage communicating with the hammer device and conveying exhaust gases from the hammer to exhaust exit ports. The location of at least one exhaust exit port is a location that is situated aft of a forward face of the forward end of the clearing tool.