Apparatus and method for maintaining a gas or oil well

Abstract

An apparatus for maintaining a gas or oil well, including: a first opening proximate a first end; a second opening proximate a second end; a wall connecting the first and second ends; a protrusion extending from the wall in a radial direction; a space enclosed by the wall and continuous with the first and second openings; and a seal element. The apparatus is arranged to be placed into production tubing for a gas or oil well. The seal element arranged to seal the wall with respect to the production tubing. The protrusion is arranged to contact a nipple in the production tubing to block movement of the apparatus past the nipple. The first opening is arranged to receive compressed air. The space is arranged to channel the compressed air through the second opening to an area of the oil or gas well deeper than a position of the apparatus in the production tubing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for maintaining a gas or oil well, comprising:
 a longitudinal axis;   a first longitudinal end;   a second longitudinal end;   at least one wall connecting the first and second longitudinal ends;   a first opening at the first longitudinal end;   a first space:
 enclosed by the at least one wall; and, 
 continuous with the first opening; 
   at least one of:
 a second opening at the second longitudinal end, the second opening:
 continuous with the first space; and, 
 facing in a first longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal axis; or, 
 
 at least one second opening passing through the at least one wall and continuous with the first space; and, 
   a seal element radially disposed about the at least one wall, wherein:
 the apparatus is arranged to be placed into a production tubing for a gas or oil well; 
 the seal element is arranged to seal the wall with respect to the production tubing; 
 the one of the second opening at the second longitudinal end or the at least one second opening passing through the at least one wall is arranged to receive compressed air; and, 
 the first space is arranged to channel the compressed air through the first opening to an area of the oil or gas well deeper than a position of the apparatus in the production tubing. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis passes through the first longitudinal opening. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening passes through the at least one wall and is continuous with the first space. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a protrusion:
 extending outward from the at least one wall in a radial direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis; 
 disposed between the sealing element and the first longitudinal end in a second longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal axis; and,
 arranged to contact a nipple in the production tubing to block movement of the apparatus past the nipple toward a bottom of the gas or oil well. 
 
   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the apparatus includes the at least one second opening passing through the at least one wall and continuous with the first space; and,   the at least one second opening includes a plurality of openings.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pipe including:
 a third longitudinal end directly connected to the first longitudinal end; and, 
 a fourth longitudinal end with a third opening continuous with the first space, wherein:
 the longitudinal axis passes through the third opening; or, 
 the third opening faces in a radial direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. 
 
   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a stop element connected to the second longitudinal end and arranged to contact an interior surface of the production tubing to prevent displacement of the apparatus within the production tubing.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the apparatus includes the second opening at the second longitudinal end; and,   the stop element includes a through-bore continuous with the second opening.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the apparatus includes the second opening at the second longitudinal end; and,   the stop element includes:
 a second space continuous with the second opening; and, 
 at least one second opening through a wall of the stop element and continuous with the second space. 
   
     
     
         10 . A method for removing material from a bottom of a gas or oil well, comprising:
 lowering, in a first direction, an apparatus into a production tubing of the well until a first longitudinal end of the apparatus has penetrated past a top surface of the material to be removed;   introducing compressed air into a portion of the production tubing above the apparatus;   flowing the compressed air:
 through a first space enclosed by the apparatus; 
 through a first opening proximate a first longitudinal end of the apparatus; and, 
 into the material; and, 
   displacing the material:
 out of the bottom of the well; and, 
 in a second direction, opposite the first direction, through a second space between the production tubing and a casement for the gas or oil well. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 flowing the compressed air:
 through a second opening, facing the second direction, in a second longitudinal end of the apparatus; and, 
 into the first space. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 flowing the compressed air:
 in a radial direction, orthogonal to the first direction, through an opening in a wall of the apparatus; and, 
 into the first space. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein flowing the compressed air through the first opening proximate the first longitudinal end of the apparatus includes flowing the compressed air through the first opening facing in the first direction. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein flowing the compressed air through the first opening proximate the first longitudinal end of the apparatus includes flowing the compressed air through the first opening facing in a radial direction orthogonal to the first direction. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 contacting, with a protrusion extending from a wall of the apparatus, a nipple in the production tubing; and,   blocking, with the nipple, further displacement of the apparatus in the first direction.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 blocking flow of the compressed air between the apparatus and an interior surface of the production tubing.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 once the apparatus is lowered into the well in the first direction, blocking, with a stop element, displacement of the apparatus in the second longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 flowing the compressed air through a third space, continuous with the first space, in the stop element.   
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for maintaining a gas or oil well, comprising:
 a longitudinal axis;   first and second longitudinal ends through which the longitudinal axis passes;   a first opening proximate the first longitudinal end;   a second opening proximate the second longitudinal end;   a wall connecting the first and second longitudinal ends;   a protrusion extending from the wall in a radial direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis;   a space enclosed by the wall and continuous with the first and second openings; and,   a seal element radially disposed about the wall, wherein:
 the apparatus is arranged to be placed into production tubing for a gas or oil well; 
 the seal element arranged to seal the wall with respect to the production tubing; 
 the protrusion is arranged to contact a nipple in the production tubing to block movement of the apparatus past the nipple; 
 the first opening is arranged to receive compressed air; and, 
 the space is arranged to channel the compressed air through the second opening to an area of the oil or gas well deeper than a position of the apparatus in the production tubing. 
   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 ,
 wherein the first opening includes:
 a first opening through which the longitudinal axis passes; or, 
 a first opening in the wall and facing in the radial direction; and, 
   wherein the second opening includes:
 a second opening through which the longitudinal axis passes; or, 
 a second opening in the wall and facing in the radial direction.