Apparatus and method for repair of underground conduits
Apparatus and method for repairing underground conduits, such as well casings, particularly for repairing internal casings of deep wells. More particularly, the invention relates to a filter-sleeve and a method of conduit repair using such sleeve, without complete removal of the conduit or casing and without abandoning the well.
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This application is based upon U.S. Patent Application No. 60/541,938, filed on Feb. 6, 2004, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated-by-reference thereto in its entirety and the priority of which is claimed under 35 USC § 119(e).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to repairs of underground conduits and, more particularly, repairs and linings of internal well casings. More particularly, the invention relates to such repairs and linings, utilizing a filter-sleeve, without complete removal of the casing or abandonment of the well.
2. Description of Background and Relevant Information
For the purpose of repairing an underground pipe, such as a well casing, it is commonly necessary to remove the casing or to abandon the well in favor of a new well in view of the limitations of known technology.
A damaged well casing allows soil fines to enter the well. This can cause severe damage to pumps and other equipment.
The state of the art of repairing well casings and other underground pipes and conduits remains in need of a convenient and effective method and apparatus for repairing and sealing underground conduits, pipes, and casings, including those with screen sections, without removing such conduits, pipes, and casings, including such repair consisting of a complete relining.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn object of the invention is to provide for the structural repair and sealing of damaged underground conduits and pipes, particularly well casings, including casings having screen sections, by means of the installation of an expandable sleeve, thus creating support for the structurally weakened conduit, pipe, or casing.
An additional object of the invention to provide for the repair of damaged screens and openings, which might be incorporated within a damaged conduit, with a filter that can prevent the ingress of fines and sand into such conduit.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a means of continuing repair and maintenance of clogged and damaged filters with a screen that can be installed and removed for the purpose of replacement or cleaning, as the need arises.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a means by which the service life of a well, or other underground conduit, can be extended.
A sleeve according to the invention, hereafter referred to as a filter-sleeve, includes an expandable perforated non-corrodible core, such as a stainless steel core, equipped with a locking mechanism. The choice of core material is determined by the chemical regime in the well.
The core of the sleeve, according to a particular embodiment of the invention, is surrounded by filter material. According an embodiment of the invention, O-rings or other types of soft, possibly elastic, support devices are positioned on the sleeve, which can press the filter tightly against the host pipe upon expansion and installation of the filter-sleeve, which can create the pressure needed to secure the sleeve in place.
Installation, according to the invention, can be accomplished by use of an inflatable plug as an installation tool. Once the sleeve is expanded by means of the plug and locked by a locking device or other type of fastener, the plug is removed.
Infiltrating water, upon installation of the filter-sleeve, can pass through the filter material and the perforated sleeve.
The filter-sleeve of the invention provides an internal repair method and apparatus, designed for rehabilitation of conduits, pipes, well casings, and screens. The filter-sleeve can be used to repair holes, cracks, corrosion and other damage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGSOther objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be become apparent from the description of preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in light of the accompanying drawings, in which:
The filter-sleeve includes a core 2, that can be rolled from plain or corrugated sheet metal, such as stainless steel, plated or coated steel or plastic sheet, depending upon the chemical regime in the host casing/pipe 9.
The core 2 of the filter-sleeve 1, which can include a plurality of drain holes 6, is equipped with a locking arrangement, such as locks 8, or other types of fasteners, for locking the filter-sleeve according to any of a number of patents, in the name of the inventor of the instant invention, in the technology of no-dig repair, i.e., repair of underground pipes and conduits without excavation of the site of the repair. Among such patents, the disclosures of the following of which are hereby incorporated by reference thereto in their entireties, are U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,862, U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,720, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,718, which disclose methods and apparatus for making such repairs, using a repair sleeve that is transported to the location of damage of a host pipe, and fixed in place with an inflatable/expandable installation plug, the plug thereafter removed from the repair site.
The filter-sleeve 1 shown in
The filter component of the filter-sleeve 1 shown in
Further, the filter-sleeve 1 shown in
The filter-sleeve 1 shown in
Only as an exemplary embodiment of the invention, for a host pipe/well casing 9 having an internal diameter Dhp of 15.25 inches (38.74 mm), the body of the core 2 of the filter-sleeve shown in
The vertical alignment of the sleeve/plug assembly shown in
A band of tape 16, such as adhesive tape or other equivalent means, can be used to surround the entire assembly, at the bottom thereof as shown in
An air hose 17 is fitted to the sleeve/plug assembly, as shown in
In
The protective mesh 7, if used, protects the felt 5, or other filtration material, during the expansion of the plug 11. In
As the expansion of the plug causes the filter-sleeve 1 to reach the desired diameter, the locks 8 of the sleeve (or other locking device or fasteners) are caused to engage and thereby lock the filter-sleeve in a suitable expanded diameter, as is generally known in the art, such as disclosed in the aforementioned patents. The elasticity of the O-rings, upon deflation of the plug 11, effect the locking of the locks 8.
At the conclusion of the installation, following the aforementioned verification that the repair has been successfully completed, the installation plug and other accessories fitted with the plug are then raised and removed from the casing/pipe 9.
For the sake of convenience in understanding, the host pipe 9 has been omitted from
In
After the filter-sleeve has been locked in place by the expansion of the inflatable plug 11 and the locking of the filter-sleeve against the well casing/pipe, as explained above, the deflated installation plug 11 is then lowered through the interior of the filter-sleeve 1, as shown in
In
Finally, as the installation plug 11 and other accessories fitted with the plug are raised from the casing/pipe, as shown in
The filter-sleeve 1 of the invention forms a short single repair filter-sleeve in place. Alternatively, particularly in the case of a large damage area, or a damage area that extends along the casing/host pipe 9, a plurality of filter-sleeves can be successively installed to thereby form a multi-filter-sleeve repair inside the casing/host pipe.
After the filter-sleeve, or multi-filter-sleeve, is locked in place, the filter prevents fines and sand from entering the pipe and clean water passes through the felt, or other filtration material, and through the perforated sleeve into the pipe.
Over time, the fines and sand will clog the filter. The clogged filter can then be removed, cleaned for reuse, or replaced.
Claims
1. A filter-sleeve for lining at least a portion of an underground conduit comprising:
- a perforated core coiled around a longitudinal axis adapted to be expanded within the underground conduit at a site of repair; and
- a filtering material surrounding the perforated core.
2. A filter-sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the core comprises a rolled corrugated metal sheet.
3. A filter-sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the core comprises a rolled plain metal sheet.
4. A filter-sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the core comprises a rolled stainless steel sheet.
5. A filter-sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the core comprises a coated steel or plastic sheet.
6. A filter-sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the core is equipped with a locking device to facilitate locking of the core at the site of repair.
7. A filter-sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the filtering material comprises felt, wire sieve, or a perforated sheet.
8. A filter-sleeve according to claim 1, further comprising at least one O-ring surrounding the filtering material and for retaining the core in a coiled position for transporting the filter-sleeve to the site of repair.
9. A filter-sleeve according to claim 1, further comprising an external protective material positioned over the filtering material.
10. A filter-sleeve according to claim 1 in combination with an expandable installation plug, wherein the filter-sleeve is coiled around the installation plug and is securely affixed to the installation plug.
11. A combination filter-sleeve/plug combination of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of adhesive tapes, each of the tapes having a first portion attached to an end portion of the installation plug and to an inner surface of the filter-sleeve.
12. A method of lining a host casing using the filter-sleeve according to claim 1, the method comprising:
- coiling the core of the filter-sleeve on an inflatable installation plug to thereby produce a filter-sleeve/plug assembly;
- inserting the filter-sleeve/plug assembly into an underground host casing and positioning the assembly at a location to be lined with the filter-sleeve;
- expanding the inflatable installation plug to thereby expand the filter-sleeve and locking the filter-sleeve in place within the host casing.
13. A method of lining a host casing according to claim 12, wherein the filter-sleeve includes O-ring(s), or other type of support device(s), surrounding the core for tightly fitting the filter-sleeve into the host casing and for supporting the filtering material.
14. A method according to claim 12, further comprising deflating and removing the installation plug from the host casing.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the filter-sleeve/plug assembly further comprises a plurality of adhesive tapes, each of the tapes having a first portion attached to an end portion of the installation plug, or to a portion of the assembly other than the filter-sleeve, and to an inner surface of the filter-sleeve, the method further comprising, after deflating the installation plug, raising the installation plug through the filter-sleeve and, during such raising, stripping the tapes from the inner surface of the filter-sleeve.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 2, 2005
Publication Date: Aug 11, 2005
Applicant: LINK-PIPE, INC. (Ontario)
Inventor: Lembit Maimets (Richmond Hill)
Application Number: 11/047,695