US3578081A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sonic method and apparatus for augmenting the flow of oil from oil bearing strata
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-05-16
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Granted: 1971-05-11
•
Expires: 1989-05-16
Abstract
Abstract A source of sonic vibrational energy is tightly coupled to the walls of an oil well casing, this energy source being adapted to vibrationally distort the casing in an elliptical pattern. The casing is sonically energized in this manner, the sonic energy being transferred to the surrounding oil bearing strata to induce the migration of the oil particles therein into the well. The energy source may be two pairs of piezoelectric crystals oriented on axes normal to each other, or a pair of rollers driven around the longitudinal axis of the casing.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert G Bodine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:32
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/003; E21B28/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for coupling vibrational energy to oil bearing strata to enhance the removal of oil therefrom comprising the steps of: placing an oil well casing into said strata, tightly coupling a pair of roller members to the inner walls of said casing in the region of the oil bearing strata, said roller members being oppositely oriented with respect to the longitudinal axis of the casing and with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel thereto, and rotationally driving said roller members to provide an elliptical cyclical force pattern against the wall of the casing such as to cause elastic vibrational deformation of the casing radially outwardly in directions substantially normal to the longitudinal axis thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
Apparatus for sonically energizing oil bearing strata to induce the flow of oil therefrom comprising: a casing member sunk in said strata, a tubing string member, first and second pairs of piezoelectric crystal transducers attached to the outer wall of said tubing string member with the transducers of each pair oppositely oriented with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubing string member, said first and second pair of transducers being oriented in mutually orthogonal relationship, means for clamping said transducers to the inner wall of said casing, thereby tightly coupling said tubing string to said casing in the vicinity of the oil bearing strata, and means for Energizing said crystal transducers so as to cause cyclical radial deformation of the walls of the casing in an elliptical pattern in directions substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the casing, in the region of the oil bearing strata.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first pair of transducers is sonically energized in phase opposition to said second pair of transducers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said transducers are elongated, the longitudinal dimension thereof being oriented substantially parallel to the wall of said casing so as to provide a substantially uniform radial deformation force along the extent of said casing corresponding to the extent of said transducers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
136 words
Apparatus for sonically energizing oil bearing strata to induce the flow of oil therefrom comprising: a casing member sunk in said strata, a tubing string member, a pair of roller members oppositely oriented with respect to the longitudinal axis of the casing with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel thereto, said roller members being adapted to be rotationally driven around a raceway formed by the inner walls of said tubing string member, means for tightly coupling said tubing string member to said casing in the vicinity of said oil bearing strata, and means for driving said roller members around said raceway so as to cause cyclical radial deformation of the walls of said casing in an elliptical pattern in directions substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the casing in the region of the oil bearing strata.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-10 | 1974-11-09 | 1975-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-10 | 1978-11-09 | 1979-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-10 | 1982-11-09 | 1983-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |