This invention relates to the removal of paraffin and wax from oil wells, pipe lines, and the like, and in particular it relates to and has for its objects the dissolving, cutting and removing of wax or paraffin from the casmg and tubing pipes of oil wells and other portions thereof, and from pipe lines and other places where it may occur.
Further objects of this invention are to provide a paraffin and wax solvent and a method of applying the same for removing paraffin and wax deposits from wells and the pipes therein which is readily soluble in and miscible with the oil and/or water occurring in the well.
In the production of crude oil by various methods such as from naturally flowing wells, wells artificially flowed, and wells equipped with various pumping devices there is formed in the reservoir area at the bottom of the well hole where the oil accumulates, in the tubing and in the annular space between the tubing and the casing pipe, material deposits of paraffin and/or amorphous wax. The accumulation of this paraffin or wax in the wells occurs to such an extent that it completely clogs the interstices of the producing strata, and otherwise attaches itself to the tubing and casing pipe so that in extreme cases it is impossible to produce oil from the well.
The drawing diagrammatically illustrates in cross-section an oil well showing at the bottom thereof the reservoir 10, and the casing pipe II, and a string of tubing 12. For the purpose of describing the present invention it will be noted that the casing pipe II is provided with a cap 13 at the top portion thereof into which there is inserted a pipe 14, while the string of tubing 12 is also provided with a cap 15 at the top thereof and connected thereto is a pipe I6.
