Cleaning apparatus and methods

Abstract

A method for cleaning debris from a wellbore having a top and a bottom comprising inserting cleaning tool comprising a coaxial pipe in the wellbore, pumping fluid through the cleaning tool to create a fluid flow in a direction towards the bottom of the wellbore, converting the fluid flow into rotary mechanical power, agitating the debris by cavitation with at least one vortex spinner having a plurality of spinner blades, and allowing the debris to flow towards the top of the wellbore thereby cleaning the wellbore.

1 . A method for cleaning debris from a wellbore having a top and a bottom comprising:
 inserting cleaning tool comprising a coaxial pipe in the wellbore;   pumping fluid through the cleaning tool to create a fluid flow in a direction towards the bottom of the wellbore;   converting the fluid flow into rotary mechanical power;   agitating the debris by cavitation with at least one vortex spinner having a plurality of spinner blades; and   allowing the debris to flow towards the top of the wellbore thereby cleaning the wellbore.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein agitating is performed by allowing the fluid to hit the plurality of spinner blades thereby rotating the coaxial pipe. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein converting is performed by pumping the fluid across a fluid divider towards the bottom of the wellbore and allowing the fluid to hit the plurality of spinner blades thereby turning the at least one vortex spinner. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the coaxial pipe has a plurality of nozzles which create fluid communication between the interior of the coaxial pipe and an annulus defined by the area between the coaxial pipe and the wellbore. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising allowing some of the fluid to pass through the plurality of nozzles to enhance cleaning. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising controllable passageways capable of stopping fluid communication in the plurality of nozzles when desired. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein a plurality of nozzle heads are attached to the plurality of nozzles and adjusted to optimize cleaning. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the debris is cuttings, pieces of rock chips, gravel, fines, and other particles located on the wellbore, inside perforations shot into the wellbore, or on tools installed in the wellbore. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the inserting is performed by integrating the cleaning tool with the production tubing. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the inserting is performed by lowering the cleaning tool into the well with a wireline, stinger, or other tubing. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for cleaning a wellbore comprising:
 a coaxial pipe with a first end and a second end;   at least one vortex spinner operatively connectable to the coaxial pipe between the first end and the second end; and   a fluid divider arranged inside the coaxial pipe.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one vortex spinner comprises a spinner housing, a set of interior spinner blades, and a set of exterior spinner blades. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the at least one vortex spinner is connectable to the coaxial pipe with rollers or bearings whereby the spinner housing is rotatable around an axis substantially parallel to the wellbore. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the first end of the coaxial pipe is connected to a first tubular; wherein the first tubular is selected from the group consisting of production tubing, wireline, workstrings, stingers, and other tubing. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the second end of the coaxial pipe is connected to a second tubular wherein the first tubular is selected from the group consisting of production tubing, wireline, workstrings, stingers, and other tubing. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising a plurality of nozzles located on the coaxial pipe; wherein the plurality of nozzles create fluid communication between the interior of the coaxial pipe and an annulus defined by the area between the coaxial pipe and the wellbore. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising a plurality of nozzle heads attached to the plurality of nozzles. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further comprising controllable passageways capable of stopping fluid communication in the plurality of nozzles when desired.