Pall Corporation

Christophe A Malbrel

Reza Hashemi

Stephen A Geibel

Michael B Whitlock

Paul C Koehler

A damage-resistant filter for use in subterranean wells has at least one layer of a filter medium, such as a sintered supported porous membrane, coaxially disposed about a perforated support member. The filter may also include a drainage layer disposed between the inner support member and the filter medium, and a protective covering, such as a perforated cage, surrounding the filter medium. The filter is particularly suitable for removal of sand and other particulates from fluids produced in a well.

Method of repairing a damaged well

A filter for subterranean environments includes an inner support member capable of transporting a fluid in an axial direction thereof, a filter body disposed around the inner support member and including a filter medium, and one or more end connectors surrounding the inner support member and each connected to an end of the filter body. Each end connector has a structure such that it can be installed on an inner support member having lengthwise ends with an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the end connector. According to one form of the invention, an end connector comprises a plurality of arcuate sections which are combined to surround the inner support member and are immobilized with respect to each other. According to another form of the invention, an end connector comprises a split annulus having two circumferential ends. The annulus can be deformed between an expanded state in which the annulus can be fit over the inner support member and a closed state in which the annulus fits sufficiently closely around the inner support member to be sealed to it. According to another form of the invention, an end connector comprises concentric inner and outer sleeves.

Filter for subterranean use

Filter for subterranean wells

An oil or gas well cleaning method includes inserting tubing, such as a coiled tubing, into a well bore, for example, into a production pipe in a well bore. A cleaning fluid containing a flocculant is passed into the well and the flocculant in the cleaning fluid is mixed with solid particles in the well bore to flocculate the particles. The cleaning fluid and the flocculated particles are then removed from the well. In one embodiment, the cleaning fluid containing the flocculant is discharged from the lower end of the tubing into the well, and the cleaning fluid with the flocculated particles is removed from the well via the production pipe. Alternatively, the cleaning fluid containing the flocculant may be introduced into the well through the production pipe, and the cleaning fluid with the flocculated particles may be removed via the tubing. The flocculant may also serve as a friction reducer to reduce friction between the cleaning fluid, the solids, the production pipe, and the tubing.

Method and apparatus for oil or gas well cleaning

A method of cleaning an oil or gas well includes mixing a caustic with a saline solution to precipitate hydroxide species from the saline solution and form a milky suspension. The suspension is contacted with contaminants in a well bore to entrap the contaminants. A polymeric flocculant is then mixed with the suspension in the well bore to aggregate the hydroxide species and the entrapped contaminants into flocs. The flocs are extremely strong and can withstand the highly turbulent flow existing in the well bore and can be readily flushed out of the well bore.

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New York, NY, United States of America

Christophe A Malbrel