Apparatus and method for cleaning and stimulating reservoirs

1 . A system for cleaning, treating, and/or stimulating a reservoir in a high pressure, low volume application, comprising: (a) a thermal fluid heater capable of generating sufficient energy in the form of superheated air that is circulated through the heater to heat, up to approximately 400 degrees F., a working fluid that is forced through tubes within the heater, the heater having attached thereto a fuel pump that forces fuel through a nozzle of the heater; (b) an air compressor for compressing air and forcing the compressed air through the nozzle to atomize the fuel and create a fuel/air mixture; (c) a blower for blowing ambient air into the atomized fuel/air mixture in the heater to raise the temperature of the working fluid; (d) a charge pump on the intake side of the heater for forcing the working fluid through the heater at a pressure and volume sufficient to supply the working fluid to an outlet of the heater at a sufficient pressure and volume to clean, treat, and/or stimulate the reservoir; and (e) prime mover means for powering the pump, the air compressor and the blower; and wherein the heater, fuel pump, air compressor, blower, charge pump, and prime mover means are disposed on a portable frame or skid.

2 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising: (f) a discharge pump on the outlet side of the heater to increase the pressure of the working fluid as it exits the system, and wherein the prime mover means also powers the discharge pump.

3 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the charge pump and the discharge pump are positive displacement pumps.

4 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the charge pump and the discharge pump are centrifugal pumps.

5 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the working fluid is selectively discharged from the system at between approximately 25 psi and approximately 200 psi at a flow rate between approximately 70 gallons per minute and approximately 200 gallons per minute, at a temperature ranging from ambient to approximately 400 degrees F.

6 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the working fluid is selectively discharged from the system at between approximately 25 psi and approximately 10,000 psi at a flow rate between approximately 3 gallons per minute and approximately 84 gallons per minute, at a temperature ranging from ambient to approximately 400 degrees F.

7 . The system according to claim 1 wherein the portable frame or skid has a footprint no larger than 6 feet by 9 feet.

8 . The system according to claim 7 , wherein the portable frame or skid is no taller than 7½ feet.

9 . The system according to claim 7 , wherein the weight of the system, including any frame or skid, is less than 12,000 pounds.

10 . A system for cleaning, treating, and/or stimulating a reservoir in a low pressure, high volume application, comprising: (a) a thermal fluid heater capable of generating sufficient energy in the form of superheated air that is circulated through the heater to heat, up to approximately 400 degrees F., a working fluid that is forced through tubes within the heater, the heater having attached thereto a fuel pump that forces fuel through a nozzle of the heater; (b) an air compressor for compressing air and forcing the compressed air through the nozzle to atomize the fuel and create a fuel/air mixture; (c) a blower for blowing ambient air into the atomized fuel/air mixture in the heater to raise the temperature of the working fluid; (d) a charge pump on the intake side of the heater for forcing the working fluid through the heater at a pressure and volume sufficient to supply the working fluid to an outlet of the heater at a sufficient pressure and volume to clean, treat, and/or stimulate the reservoir; and (e) prime mover means for powering the pump, the air compressor and the blower; and wherein the working fluid is selectively discharged from the system at between approximately 25 psi and approximately 200 psi at a flow rate between approximately 70 gallons per minute and approximately 200 gallons per minute.

11 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein the discharge pump on the outlet side of the heater to increase the pressure of the working fluid as it exits the system, and wherein the prime mover means also powers the discharge pump.

12 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the charge pump and the discharge pump are positive displacement pumps.

13 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the charge pump and the discharge pump are centrifugal pumps.

14 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein the heater, fuel pump, air compressor, blower, charge pump, and prime mover means are disposed on a portable frame or skid.

15 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein the portable frame or skid has a footprint no larger than 8 feet by 16 feet.

16 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein the portable frame or skid is no taller than 7½ feet.

17 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein the weight of the system, including any frame or skid, is less than 12,000 pounds.