Downhole ultrasonic well cleaning device

Abstract

Disclosed is a cleaning apparatus for any structure where caking of particles may affect productivity, particularly a subterranean formation or wellbore, characterized in that it requires no external electrical source and includes the following elements: At least one ultrasonic energy sonde for converting an alternating electric power signal at a selected voltage into ultrasound energy; At least one ultrasonic generator that conditions electrical power to the signal required to energize the ultrasonic energy sonde; At least one apparatus which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy, preferably a piezoelectric generator, in a configuration and with appropriate circuitry to provide electrical power to said ultrasonic generator(s); and A means for applying mechanical force to said apparatus to generate electricity to power said generator.

1 . A cleaning apparatus for dislodging caked particles from a structure comprising: 
 At least one converter apparatus, which upon application of a mechanical force, converts mechanical energy into electrical energy;    At least one ultrasonic generator for conditioning the electrical energy to excite an ultrasonic energy sonde; and    At least one ultrasonic energy sonde, which while excited, converts the electrical energy into ultrasound energy for dislodging caked particles.    
   
   
       2 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one converter apparatus is a piezoelectric generator.  
   
   
       3 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the at least one ultrasonic generator and the at least one converter apparatus are placed in a well within a pipeline, well tubing, packer, or sand control screen.  
   
   
       4 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the at least one ultrasonic generator and the at least one converter apparatus are secured on an instrument inserted into a well, wherein the well contains well tubing.  
   
   
       5 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the piezoelectric generator is a single layer generator.  
   
   
       6 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the piezoelectric generator is a two-layer generator.  
   
   
       7 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the piezoelectric generator is or a stacked generator.  
   
   
       8 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the piezoelectric generator is made of a material selected from ceramic, quartz (SiO 2 ), barium titanate (BaTiO 3 ), lithium niobate, polyvinyledene difluoride (PVDF), and lead zirconate titanate (PZT).  
   
   
       9 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the piezoelectric generator is selected from the group consisting of a simple beam mount and a cantilever mount.  
   
   
       10 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the mechanical force is applied to the at least one converter apparatus by placing the well tubing in tension  
   
   
       11 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the mechanical force is applied to the at least one converter apparatus by placing the well tubing in compression.  
   
   
       12 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the mechanical force is applied to the at least one converter apparatus by a second tubing which is inserted into or around the well tubing.  
   
   
       13 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the mechanical force is applied to the at least one converter apparatus by a mechanical device which is inserted into the well on a non-conducting wire.  
   
   
       14 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the non-conducting wire is a wireline jar.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the at least one converter apparatus is isolated from fluids and fluid pressure to ensure it only activates when desired.  
   
   
       16 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the at least one ultrasonic generator and the at least one converter apparatus are secured on an instrument inserted into a well, wherein the well contains well tubing.  
   
   
       17 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the piezoelectric generator is a single layer generator.  
   
   
       18 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the piezoelectric generator is a two-layer generator.  
   
   
       19 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the piezoelectric generator is or a stacked generator.  
   
   
       20 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the piezoelectric generator is made of a material selected from ceramic, quartz (SiO 2 ), barium titanate (BaTiO 3 ), lithium niobate, polyvinyledene difluoride (PVDF), and lead zirconate titanate (PZT).  
   
   
       21 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the piezoelectric generator is selected from the group consisting of a simple beam mount and a cantilever mount.  
   
   
       22 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the mechanical force is applied to the at least one converter apparatus by placing the well tubing in tension  
   
   
       23 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the mechanical force is applied to the at least one converter apparatus by placing the well tubing in compression.  
   
   
       24 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the mechanical force is applied to the at least one converter apparatus by a second tubing which is inserted into or around the well tubing.  
   
   
       25 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the mechanical force is applied to the at least one converter apparatus by a mechanical device which is inserted into the well on a non-conducting wire.  
   
   
       26 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the non-conducting wire is a wireline jar.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the at least one converter apparatus is isolated from fluids and fluid pressure to ensure it only activates when desired.  
   
   
       28 . A method of dislodging caked particles from a structure comprising: 
 Applying a mechanical force, which generates mechanical energy;    Converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy;    Converting the electrical energy to a specified signal;    Converting the specified signal to ultrasonic energy whereby the ultrasonic energy dislodges caked particles from the structure.