Abstract: A method for cleaning a casing of an oil well is disclosed. Operational parameters for a cleaning tool may be defined based, at least in part, on results of a survey of the well. The cleaning tool may include a discharge head to generate electrical discharges between a pair of electrodes, the electrical discharges causing shock waves to remove deposits from the casing. The cleaning tool may be lowered into the casing. The cleaning tool may generate shock waves in accordance with the defined operational parameters to clean a predetermined target portion of the casing. The cleaning tool may be withdrawn from the casing.

Abstract: A tool for cleaning a casing of an oil well may include an elongate housing configured to be lowered into a well casing. A discharge head may be disposed at one end of the housing, the discharge head including a first electrode having a first end surface, a first insulator surrounding the first electrode, a surface of the first insulator substantially flush with the first end surface, and a second electrode having a second end surface separated from the first end surface by a discharge gap. An energy reservoir and a switch may be disposed within the housing, the switch configured to selectively couple the energy reservoir to the first electrode and the second electrode to cause energy stored in the energy reservoir to discharge across the discharge gap.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a casing of an oil well is disclosed. Operational parameters for a cleaning tool may be defined based, at least in part, on results of a survey of the well. The cleaning tool may include a discharge head to generate electrical discharges between a pair of electrodes, the electrical discharges causing shock waves to remove deposits from the casing. The cleaning tool may be lowered into the casing. The cleaning tool may generate shock waves in accordance with the defined operational parameters to clean a predetermined target portion of the casing. The cleaning tool may be withdrawn from the casing.