Applying corrosion inhibitor within tubulars

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12370574-B2
Application number	US-202418416430-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 18, 2024
Priority date	Feb 25, 2022
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

A central tubular defines a central flow passage and spray nozzles along an outer circumference of the central tubular. A first brush pig supports a first end of the central tubular. A second brush pig supports a second end of the tubular. An inflatable balloon is at the second end of the tubular. The inflatable balloon is encircled by the second brush pig. The inflatable balloon is configured to cause a first pressure drop across the balloon when in an inflated state and cause a second pressure drop, less than the first pressure drop, across the balloon when in a deflated state. A flow control system is at the first end of the tubular and is configured to regulate fluid exchange with the tubular and fluid exchange with the inflatable balloon.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving a tool by a tubular, the tool comprising:
a central tubular defining a central flow passage and spray nozzles fluidically connecting the flow passage to an outside environment;
a first brush pig supporting a first end of the central tubular;
a second brush pig supporting a second end of the central tubular;
an inflatable balloon at the second end of the central tubular, the inflatable balloon encircled by the second brush pig; and
a flow control system at the first end of the central tubular, the flow control system configured to regulate fluid exchange with the central tubular and fluid exchange with the inflatable balloon, the flow control system configured to receive a chemical injection line; and

applying, by the tool, corrosion inhibitor to an inner surface of the tubular received by the tool.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
inflating the balloon by the corrosion inhibitor;
creating a pressure differential across the tool responsive to inflating the balloon; and
moving the tool in a downhole direction responsive to the pressure differential.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying corrosion inhibitor to an inner surface of the tubular comprises:
spraying corrosion inhibitor, by the central tubular, onto an inner surface of the tubular; and
spreading the corrosion inhibitor by a brush along an outer surface of the first brush pig or the second brush pig.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
deflating the balloon by a relief valve fluidically coupled to the balloon; and
moving the tool in an uphole direction by tension in a chemical supply line configured to supply corrosion inhibitor to the tool from a corrosion inhibitor pump.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tubular comprises a wellbore.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein spraying corrosion inhibitor, by the central tubular, onto an inner surface of the tubular comprises flowing the corrosion inhibitor through the spray nozzles.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the corrosion inhibitor is flowed through the spray nozzles with a force to reduce or eliminate a likelihood that the spray nozzles become blocked by solid particulates.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising arranging the spray nozzles on the central tubular to flow the corrosion inhibitor in a spray pattern that covers an entirety of an interior surface of the tubular in which the tool is received.

9. The method of claim 4 , further comprising receiving, by the central tubular, the corrosion inhibitor from the corrosion inhibitor pump.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising supporting, by the first brush pig, the central tubular.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first brush pig comprises an outer ring and an inner ring that is radially centered within the outer ring, wherein the inner ring supports the central tubular.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second brush pig comprises an inner ring and an outer ring, wherein a first support bar extends between an outer surface of the inner ring and an inner surface of the outer ring, wherein a second support bar extends between the outer surface of the inner ring and an inner surface of the outer ring, wherein the method further comprises, axially retaining the inflatable balloon by the first support bar and the second support bar.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Al Hennawi Qais Mohammad

Classifications

• B05D2202/00

  Metallic substrate · CPC title

• E21B41/02 Primary

  in situ inhibition of corrosion in boreholes or wells · CPC title

• B05D7/222

  of pipes · CPC title

• B05C7/02

  the liquid or other fluent material being projected · CPC title

• B05C7/08

  for applying liquids or other fluent materials to the inside of tubes · CPC title