Patent ID: 6220356
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
A device for increasing hydrocarbon recovery from a well by enhancing the flow of hydrocarbon from a formation into said well, said device comprisinga carrier comprising a body formed, at least in part, from a water soluble material, said body having an outside diameter and configuration adapting it to be received within a production tubing string in said well, passed through a column of water standing in said tubing string and seated on a seat in said tubing string, said body of said carrier defining a closed central cavity from which said water standing in said tubing string is excluded as said carrier moves through said column of water, said water soluble material used in said carrier body being so selected and dimensioned so that said carrier body will be seated on said seat prior to the dissolution of said water soluble material:a well treating chemical contained in said central cavity and adapted, upon exposure to water, to assist in the aeration of fluid contained in said tubing string; anda compressed swab in said central cavity adapted, upon dissolution of said water soluble portion of said body, to expand to substantially uniformly fill the inside diameter of said tubing string and to engage the inside walls of said tubing string;whereby, said device may be introduced into said tubing string of said well and seated on said seat and, upon dissolution of said water soluble portion of said body, will release said well treating chemical and said swab into the fluid contained in said tubing string.