Well production enhancing device

Abstract

A device insertable into a cased well consisting of an elastic tube, a pipe having an inner bore, the pipe extending through the elastic tube, the elastic tube annularly surrounding an expansion space; tube clamps capable of fixedly attaching the upper and lower ends of the elastic tube to the outer surface of the pipe; and fluid transfer apertures capable of carrying fluids from the inner bore of the pipe to the expansion space, the fluid transfer apertures interconnecting the expansion space and the inner bore of the pipe so that, upon extension of the device into the cased well, and upon introduction of a pressurized water into the inner bore of the pipe, the water may flow from the inner bore of the pipe into the expansion space, causing the outer surface of the elastic tube to expand radially outward into is contact with the well's casing.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A device, the device being insertable into a well, the well having a casing, the device comprising: 
 A) an elastic tube, the elastic tube having an upper end, a lower end, an outer surface, and an inner surface;    B) a pipe, the pipe having an upper end, a lower end, an outer surface, and an inner surface annularly surrounding a bore, the pipe extending through the elastic tube, the inner surface of the elastic tube annularly surrounding an expansion space, the expansion space extending inwardly from the inner surface of the elastic tube to the outer surface of the pipe;    C) tube attaching means capable of fixedly attaching the upper and lower ends of the elastic tube to the outer surface of the pipe, the tube attaching means fixedly attaching the upper and lower ends of the elastic tube to the outer surface of the pipe; and    D) fluid transfer means capable of carrying fluids from the bore of the pipe to the expansion space, the fluid transfer means interconnecting the expansion space and the bore of the pipe so that, upon the insertion of the device into the well, and upon introduction of a pressurized fluid into the bore, the pressurized fluid may flow from the bore into the expansion space, expanding the expansion space, and causing the outer surface of the elastic tube to extend radially outward and into contact with the casing.    
     
     
         2 . The device of    claim 2    wherein the fluid transfer means comprises a first aperture extending from the inner surface of the pipe to its outer surface, the first aperture being positioned so that fluids flowing outwardly therethrough may enter the expansion space.  
     
     
         3 . The device of    claim 3    wherein the fluid transfer means further comprises a second aperture extending from the inner surface of the pipe to its outer surface, the second aperture being positioned so that fluids flowing outwardly therefrom may enter the expansion space, the second aperture being further positioned below the first aperture.  
     
     
         4 . The device of    claim 1    wherein the tube attaching means comprises an upper flange, a lower flange, an upper clamp ring, a lower clamp ring, the upper and lower flanges extending radially outward from and being fixedly attached to or homogeneously fused with the outer surface of the pipe, the upper and lower flanges each having an outer facing tube clamping surface, the upper and lower clamp rings each having an inner tube clamping surface, the upper and lower ends of the elastic tube being respectively positioned between the tube clamping surfaces of the upper flange and clamp ring and the lower flange and clamp ring, the upper and lower clamp rings being respectively fixedly attached to the upper and lower flanges so that the upper and lower ends of the elastic tube are respectively pressed between their tube clamping surfaces.  
     
     
         5 . The device of    claim 3    wherein the tube attaching means comprises an upper flange, a lower flange, an upper clamp ring, a lower clamp ring, the upper and lower flanges extending radially outward from and being fixedly attached to or homogeneously fused with the outer surface of the pipe, the upper and lower flanges each having an outer facing tube clamping surface, the upper and lower clamp rings each having an inner tube clamping surface, the upper and lower ends of the elastic tube being respectively positioned between the tube clamping surfaces of the upper flange and clamp ring and the lower flange and clamp ring, the upper and lower clamp rings being respectively fixedly attached to the upper and lower flanges so that the upper and lower ends of the elastic tube are respectively pressed between their tube clamping surfaces.  
     
     
         6 . The device of    claim 4    wherein the upper clamp ring has a plurality of upper bolt extension apertures therethrough, wherein the upper flange has a plurality of upper spirally threaded apertures positioned for registered alignment with the upper bolt extension apertures, and further comprising a first plurality of spirally threaded bolts, such bolts extending through the upper bolt extension apertures and such bolts being threadedly mounted within the upper spirally threaded apertures.  
     
     
         7 . The device of    claim 5    wherein the upper clamp ring has a plurality of upper bolt extension apertures therethrough, wherein the upper flange has a plurality of upper spirally threaded apertures positioned for registered alignment with the upper bolt extension apertures, and further comprising a first plurality of spirally threaded bolts, such bolts extending through the upper bolt extension apertures and such bolts being threadedly mounted within the upper spirally threaded apertures.  
     
     
         8 . The device of    claim 6    wherein the upper clamp ring has a plurality of upper bolt extension apertures therethrough, wherein the lower flange has a plurality of lower spirally threaded apertures positioned for registered alignment with the lower bolt extension apertures, and further comprising a second plurality of spirally threaded bolts, such bolts extending through the lower bolt extension apertures and such bolts being threadedly mounted within the lower spirally threaded apertures.  
     
     
         9 . The device of    claim 7    wherein the upper clamp ring has a plurality of lower bolt extension apertures therethrough, wherein the lower flange has a plurality of lower spirally threaded apertures positioned for registered alignment with the lower bolt extension apertures, and further comprising a second plurality of spirally threaded bolts, such bolts extending through the lower bolt extension apertures and such bolts being threadedly mounted within the lower spirally threaded apertures.  
     
     
         10 . The device of    claim 8    wherein the expansion space has an upper end and a lower end, wherein the first aperture is positioned at the upper end of the expansion space, and wherein the second aperture is positioned at the lower end of the expansion space.  
     
     
         11 . The device of    claim 9    wherein the expansion space has an upper end and a lower end, wherein the first aperture is positioned at the upper end of the expansion space, and wherein the second aperture is positioned at the lower end of the expansion space.  
     
     
         12 . The device of    claim 10    wherein the pipe comprises an irrigation well column pipe section.  
     
     
         13 . The device of    claim 11    wherein the pipe comprises an irrigation well column pipe section.  
     
     
         14 . The device of    claim 12    wherein the elastic tube comprises a material selected from the group of vulcanized rubber or synthetic rubber.  
     
     
         15 . The device of    claim 13    wherein the elastic tube comprises a material selected from the group of vulcanized rubber or synthetic rubber.