Patent ID: 6637512
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
A method for launching soap sticks into a gas or oil well, the method comprising:a) loading soap sticks into a stick launcher comprising a containment vessel, a rotating assembly connected to an actuator for rotating the rotating assembly and a ball valve in fluid communication with a well bore, the ball valve joined to the rotating assembly, the containment vessel having a removable top, a contiguous wall and a separator with blades, the blades in a clearance position relative to the contiguous wall, the blades and the contiguous wall defining a plurality of compartments; b) positioning the soap sticks within the compartments, the bottom of the containment vessel defining an opening above the ball valve; c) rotating the separator using the actuator and rotating assembly to rotate the separator in a first direction to advance a soap stick above the opening so that one stick falls through the opening and comes to rest on top of the ball valve; d) closing the ball valve simultaneously to the rotation in step (c) by rotating the ball valve with the rotating assembly of step (c) to avoid well fluids from entering the containment vessel; e) rotating the ball valve in a direction opposite to the first direction of step (c) to open the ball valve so that the soap stick drops into the well bore, while simultaneously disengaging the rotating mechanism from the separator to prevent separator from rotating while soap stick is dropping; f) maintaining the containment vessel in an overpressure condition so that pressure from the containment vessel is exhausted while the ball valve is opened to avoid the inhalation of well fluids into the containment vessel.