Enclosed circulation tool for a well
View Patent ↗An enclosed circulation tool for a well including a tubular body having a top end, a bottom end and an interior cavity. A progressive cavity pump positioned at the bottom end of the body, the pump having a rotor mounted within a stator. The rotor has an upper end and a lower end, with the upper end extending into the interior cavity. A drive is coupled to and adapted to rotate the rotor in order to draw sand into the interior cavity. A first fluid passage is provided along which fluids from pumped from surface pass to fluidize solids within the interior cavity. A second fluid passage is provided along which fluidized solids from within the interior cavity pass to surface.
1. An enclosed circulation tool for a well, comprising:
a tubular body having a top end, a bottom end and an interior cavity;
a progressive cavity pump carried by the body and positioned at the bottom end of the body, the pump having a rotor mounted for rotation within a stator, the rotor having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end extending into the interior cavity;
a drive coupled to drive the rotor, the rotor drawing solids or fluids into the interior cavity;
a first fluid conduit in the tubular body along which circulation fluids pass from the earth's surface to the interior cavity; and
a second fluid conduit in the tubular body along which the circulation fluids and the solids or fluids pass from the interior cavity to the earth's surface.
2. The enclosed circulation tool of claim 1 , wherein the lower end of the rotor extends past the bottom end of the body and an agitator is secured to the lower end of the rotor.
3. The enclosed circulation tool of claim 1 , wherein the drive is a fluid activated drive activated by fluids pumped from the earth's surface.
4. The enclosed circulation tool of claim 2 , wherein the rotor is a first rotor and the fluid activated drive is a moineau motor having a second rotor and a second stator, the second rotor being coupled to the first rotor such that rotation of the second rotor results in rotation of the first rotor.
5. The enclosed circulation tool of claim 1 , wherein an anti-torque swivel head is sealably and rotatably connected to the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit at the earth's surface, and wherein the anti-torque swivel head is having a locked and an unlocked position, the anti-torque swivel head configured to prevent the enclosed circulation tool from rotating when in the locked position.
6. A method of removing solids or fluids in a well, comprising:
providing an enclosed circulation tool, the enclosed circulation tool comprising:
a tubular body having a top end, a bottom end and an interior cavity;
a progressive cavity pump carried by the body and positioned at the bottom end of the body, the pump having a rotor mounted for rotation within a stator, the rotor having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end extending into the interior cavity;
a drive to rotate the rotor;
a first fluid conduit connected to the tubular body and along which fluids pumped from the earth's surface pass into the interior cavity;
a second fluid conduit connected to the tubular body and along which fluids from within the interior cavity pass to the earth's surface;
positioning the enclosed circulation tool in a well;
rotating the rotor such that solids or fluids are drawn into the interior cavity;
pumping circulation fluids along the first fluid conduit to the interior cavity and along the second fluid conduit from the interior cavity, such that the solids or fluids drawn into the interior cavity are circulated through the second fluid conduit.