METHOD FOR LAUNCHING A CLEANING ELEMENT
A deformable cleaning element is encased within soluble packaging to maintain deformation. The deformed cleaning element is launched into the bore of a drill pipe/conduit or tubular. Contact with fluids within the bore dissolves the soluble packaging allowing the cleaning element to expand to its original shape.
1 . Apparatus for deforming a cleaning element for launching it into a pipe, the apparatus comprising:
a device for mechanically deforming the cleaning element; and
soluble packaging that encases the deformed cleaning element to maintain deformation.
2 . Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the soluble packaging is in the form of a film.
3 . Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the soluble packaging is in the form of a rigid container.
4 . Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the solubility of the soluble packaging is optimised for the temperature of the well fluid.
5 . Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the deformed cleaning element is sealed within a watertight container.
6 . Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the watertight container sealing the deformed cleaning element comprises at least one seal and/or at least one endcap.
7 . Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the watertight container contains a moisture absorbing device.
8 . Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the moisture absorbing device is integrated within the watertight container.
9 . A cleaning element for cleaning a pipe, the cleaning element comprising a resilient material adapted to be deformed from an expanded resting configuration having a first dimension to a second deformed configuration having a second dimension smaller than the first dimension, the cleaning element being encased with a packaging to maintain deformation of the cleaning element in the deformed configuration, wherein the packaging is soluble.
10 . A cleaning element as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the packaging is soluble in water.
11 . A cleaning element as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the packaging is soluble in drilling fluid.