| WO/2007/067066 | CLEANING TOOL FOR A PIPE |
| WO/1999/025495 | PIPELINE CLEANING |
| JP55031573 | DEBURRING-CLEANING-COATING DEVICE FOR INSIDE OF PRESSURE- WELDED LONG AND MEDIUM OR SMALL CALIBERED PIPE |
OSALAND, Espen (Håbamyrå 34, NO-Sandnes, 4325, NO)
| C l a i m s 1. A method for cleaning a tubular body (1) in the ground, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the method comprises: - connecting a cleaning tool (6) to a cable machine (4), the cleaning tool (6) of which is provided with at least one rotatably supported rolling cutter (16) having an active portion (24) thereof directed exclusively in the direction of the longitudinal direction of the tubular body (1) and inwards, ; - displacing the cleaning tool (6) and the cable machine (4) into the tubular body (1) ; and - rotating the cleaning tool (6) about the longitudinal axis (14) of the cleaning tool (6) . 2. The method according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the method further comprises supplying electrical power for running the cleaning tool (6) via a cable (8) from surface. 3. A device for a cable machine (4) located in a tubular body (1) in the ground, wherein the cable machine (4) is provided with a cleaning tool (6), the cable machine (4) being connected to a cable (8) with an electric conductor, and the cable (8) extending between the cable machine (4) and surface, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the cleaning tool (6) is comprised of a drill bit. 4. The device according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the cleaning tool (6) is connected to a tool shaft (10) of the cable machine (4), the tool shaft (10) being rotatable and run about the longitudinal axis (14) of the cleaning tool (6) . 5. The device according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the cleaning tool (6), on the external mantle surface (28) thereof, is provided with at least one longitudinal or helix-shaped groove (26) . Use of a drill bit for cleaning a tubular body (1) in the ground, wherein the drill bit is run by a cable machine (4). |
A method for cleaning of a tubular body in the ground is provided. More particularly, it concerns a method for cleaning a tubular body in the ground, wherein a cable machine located in the tubular body is provided with a cleaning tool, the cable machine being connected to a cable comprising an electric conductor, and the cable extending between the cable machine and surface. The invention also comprises a device for carrying out the method.
In this connection, a cable machine implies an electrically operated machine connected to surface by means of a cable (wireline) , and the cable is also provided with an electric conductor .
Hereinafter, the description is based on cleaning a tubular having deposits, insofar as such a work operation adequately emphasizes the advantageous features of the tool. However, the range of application of the cleaning tool is in no way limited to such work, given that it will be applicable in a series of work types where tubulars or boreholes are to be cleaned or enlarged, and where a so-called "pilot hole" is present . During operation of tubular installations of various types, it is well-known for deposits to build up over time and on the internal mantle surface of the tubular.
This is particularly unfortunate when involving lengthy tubulars with a difficult access, and where chemical cleaning methods prove less efficient.
Norwegian patent NO 320906 describes a tool which, upon rotating obliquely oriented brushes inside a tubular, causes the brushes to receive an axial, oscillating displacement relative to the tubular wall. US patent 20255009 concerns cleaning elements structured so as to be hurled, by means of a centrifugal force, outwards against the tubular wall.
It is known to use cleaning tools which, at the free end portion thereof, are provided with a cleaning element for cleaning tubulars. The cleaning tool is displaced along the tubular while being rotated about the longitudinal axis of the tubular. Cleaning tools provided with rotatable cleaning elements have proven efficient, insofar as the cleaning elements break up deposits when rolling against the internal mantle surface of the tubular. Norwegian patent 324515 and US patent 2150806 describe cleaning tools of this type.
Even if the cleaning tool according to NO 324515 is relatively efficient with respect to other cleaning tools, there is a desire amongst users for the cleaning effect to be improved further.
The object of the invention is to remedy or reduce at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.
The object is achieved in accordance with the invention and by virtue of the features disclosed in the following description and in the subsequent claims. A method is provided and is characterized in that it comprises :
- connecting a cleaning tool to a cable machine, the cleaning tool of which is provided with at least one rotatably supported rolling cutter having an active portion thereof directed in the longitudinal direction of the tubular body;
- displacing the cleaning tool and the cable machine into the tubular body; and
- rotating the cleaning tool about the longitudinal axis of the cleaning tool.
Surprisingly, rolling cutters having their active portions directed in the longitudinal direction of the tubular body- have been found to exhibit a considerably improved removal effect as compared to a cleaning body having rollers directed towards the internal mantle surface of the tubular body, or towards deposits located between the rollers and surface.
The available power from a cable machine is relatively limited, which by way of logic has caused the development of cleaning tools for such machines to be directed toward rolling tools requiring relatively little power.
It is well-known for a tool resembling a drilling bit to require considerably more power than that of a rolling tool in order to be operable, thus not being obvious to a skilled person to provide a cable machine with a tool of this type.
Frequently the best-known form of cable machine is termed a wireline tractor. Oftentimes cable machines are provided with propulsion machinery in the form of wheels, belts or displaceable grippers structured in a manner allowing them to bear against a tubular wall.
The method may comprise supplying electrical power for running the cleaning tool via a cable from surface. The method may be carried out by means of a cable machine located in a tubular body in the ground, wherein the cable machine is provided with a cleaning tool, and the cable machine is connected to a cable having an electric conductor, the cable extending between the cable machine and surface. The cleaning tool is provided with at least one rotatably supported rolling cutter having an active portion thereof directed in the longitudinal direction of the tubular body.
The active portion of the rolling cutter implies the part of the mantle surface of the rolling cutter being in engagement with, for example, deposits in the tubular body.
Typically, the cleaning tool is connected to the tool shaft of the cable machine, the tool shaft being rotatable and run about the longitudinal axis of the cleaning tool. Thus, a cleaning tool according to the invention has a mode of operation corresponding to that of a drill bit, as is known from drilling of holes in the ground.
A cleaning tool in the form of a drill bit run by a cable machine may thus be used for cleaning a tubular body in the ground.
The cleaning tool may be provided with at least one longitudinal or helix-shaped groove on the external mantle surface thereof. The groove contributes to facilitate conveyance of liberated material past the cleaning tool during displacement of the cleaning tool in the tubular body.
The method and the device according to the invention makes a considerably increased removal possible during cleaning of tubular bodies, which causes the shutdown time of relatively costly plants to be reduced during cleaning operations. In the following, an example of a preferred embodiment is described and is depicted in the accompanying drawing, where:
Fig. 1 shows, in perspective, a cable machine located in a tubular body and provided with a tool in accordance with the invention.
In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a tubular body onto which an internal deposit 2 has formed. A cable machine 4 in the form of a wireline tractor is being displaced in the tubular body 2, and the cable machine 4 is provided with a cleaning tool 6.
The cable machine 4 is connected to a cable 8 comprising an electric conductor (not shown) extending to surface.
The cleaning tool 6 is connected to the cable machine 4 by means of a tool shaft 10 run by a motor 12 in the cable machine 4. The motor 12 is supplied electric power via the cable 8 and is structured so as to be able to rotate the tool shaft 10 about the longitudinal axis 14 of the cleaning tool 6.
The cleaning tool 6 is provided with three rolling cutters 16. The rolling cutters 16 are formed with a rough external mantle surface 18, and relatively hard abrasion elements 20 are attached to the mantle surface 18.
The rolling cutters 16 are supported in the body 22 of the cleaning tool 6 so as to allow the active portion 24 of the rolling cutters 16, the portion 24 of which is in engagement with the deposit 2, to work in the longitudinal direction of the tubular body 1 and extending approximately in a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis 14. Given that the mantle surface 18 is conical for space consideration, among other things, the rolling cutters 16 are supported obliquely oriented relative to the longitudinal axis 14.
The cleaning tool 6 is provided with grooves 26 in the external mantle surface 28 thereof. The grooves 26 are somewhat obliquely oriented relative to the longitudinal axis 14 and are positioned so as to facilitate passage of loose deposits past the cleaning tool 6.
When the motor 12 rotates the cleaning tool 6, the abrasion elements 20 of the rolling cutters 12, the elements 20 of which are located on the active portions 24 of the rolling cutters, tear off deposits 2, insofar as the deposits 2 may flow past the tool 6 via the grooves 26, among other places, after being liberated.
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