Surface Heating System for Tubing or Piping

Abstract

A system and method allowing for the transfer of heat from a heating element in a tube heating system to production tubing in downhole pipes. The heating tube is comprised of double walled and double threaded pipe. The transferred heat warms the material being extracted from a subterranean formation and collected at the surface. Warming the material prevents the build-up of paraffins, asphaltenes, or other materials that may potentially clog production pipe in downhole applications.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heating tube, comprising: an exterior tubing section;
 an interior tubing section; and a baffle.   
     
     
         2 . The heating tube of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior tubing section is threaded at both ends. 
     
     
         3 . The heating tube of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior tubing section has an inlet and an outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The heating tube of  claim 1 , wherein the interior tubing section is threaded at both ends. 
     
     
         5 . The heating tube of  claim 1 , wherein the interior tubing section allows material from a subterranean formation to flow through the interior tubing section to a surface. 
     
     
         6 . The heating tube of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle supports and separates the exterior tubing section from the interior tubing section. 
     
     
         7 . The heating tube of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle separates movement of a heating element from traveling downhole and traveling to the surface. 
     
     
         8 . The tube heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle comprises transfer holes. 
     
     
         9 . A heating tube, comprising: a segmented jacket;
 an exterior tubing section;   an interior tubing section; and a baffle.   
     
     
         10 . The heating tube of  claim 9 , wherein the segmented jacket comprises two segments. 
     
     
         11 . The heating tube of  claim 10 , wherein the segments comprise an inlet and an outlet. 
     
     
         12 . The heating tube of  claim 10 , wherein the segments attach to each other. 
     
     
         13 . The heating tube of  claim 10 , wherein the segments are connected by a hose. 
     
     
         14 . The heating tube of  claim 9 , wherein the interior tubing section comprises surface texture. 
     
     
         15 . A method of transferring heat to a production tube, comprising: pumping a heating element downhole through a double walled tube; warming the production tube with the heating element;
 pumping the heating element back to the surface;   removing the heating element out of the double walled tubing;   providing the heating element to a heater; heating the heating element;   moving the heating element to a pump; and   pumping the heating element back into the double walled tubing downhole pipe for recirculation.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the double walled tubing is placed in-line with production tubing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the double walled tubing is placed around production tubing in the form of a segmented jacket. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the double walled tube comprises a baffle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the baffle comprises transfer holes. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the heating element provides heat to the production tube, warming material flowing through the production tube.