Patent Publication Number: US-8528651-B2

Title: Apparatus and method for directionally disposing a flexible member in a pressurized conduit

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/572,543, filed Oct. 2, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,230,934, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to an apparatus and method for directionally disposing an elongated flexible member within a pressurized conduit. 
     THE INVENTION 
     In the petroleum industry, it is well known that high molecular weight paraffin can precipitate from bulk crude oil in a hydrocarbon well leading to a restriction in the production piping and potential plugging of the flow path, including reservoir flow paths. Conventional treatments for such paraffin deposits typically require the use of various mechanical techniques, such as heat application or physical removal, or chemical techniques, such as chemical application or solvent removal. Mineral scales such as calcium carbonate or barium sulfate can precipitate from produced water and create blockages in flow paths, both in the formation and in production tubes, such as well tubing and flow lines. Conventional treatment against the deposition of mineral scale may include mechanical techniques, such as drilling and scraping, or chemical techniques, such as chemical scale inhibitors or dissolvers. 
     In addition to the aforementioned conventional treatments for the precipitation of mineral scales and paraffin, it has been found that radio and microwave frequencies wave forms may also be used to treat produced oilfield brines and hydrocarbons to reduce or eliminate paraffin and mineral scale blockage. In order to treat the intended production with the radio waves and/or microwaves, an antenna, e.g., flexible, coated wire, may be deployed into a pre-determined location in the pressurized well. Various types of antennas may be used depending on the practitioner and his/her needs, including, but not limited to, monopole, dipole or array antennas. 
     In pressurized hydrocarbon wells, it is known in the petroleum industry to use flexible wire/tubing to operate down hole tools and equipment with success. For example, slickline, a small diameter flexible wire, is used to safely deploy tools and equipment down pressurized wells to remove high molecular weight paraffin and mineral scales as well as to deploy tools for well control and maintenance. Another flexible wire, commonly know in the art as electric line, is used to deploy electrical cable into a well safely and under pressure for the purpose of operating electronic tools for well maintenance, measurement, and monitoring. 
     Although slickline and electric line are general examples of flexible wire deployed into wells under pressure, these flexible wires are typically used in relatively large diameter pipe (2⅜″ to 2⅞κ well tubing) and may enter the treatment area at 180 degrees, i.e., through an opening substantially coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the wellhead. Because the flexible wire enters from such a location, additional production components, such as rod strings for operating down-hole pumps, installed in the well may impede the entrance of such flexible wire into the well bore and typically need to be removed prior to introducing slickline or electric line or performing other invasive well maintenance operations, such as the introduction of one or more antennas into a well to treat the production fluid. It would be advantageous to be able to insert a flexible elongated member, such as an antenna, into a well including production components, e.g., tubing hanger, rod strings, etc., without the need for removal of such production components, thereby reducing costs, manpower, and time spent on the treatment of the well. 
     Additionally, in treating a well using one or more antennas transmitting radio and/or microwaves, it would be advantageous to dispose the antenna in a pre-determined location, such as the annular space between the casing and production tubing, commonly known in the art as the annulus. However, a flexible wire, including certain types of antennas, may present challenges during insertion into the well due to the inherent nonrigid structure of such wires when contacting various production components. In such situations, the flexible wire tends to accumulate proximate to the production component(s) obstructing the insertion path of the flexible wire. 
     Further, an antenna disposed within the pressurized well may be a flexible, conductive wire including a metal sheath. In order to eliminate the possibility of the wire and/or metal sheath from contacting the casing or production tubing and shorting, a coating is applied to the flexible wire. One such known nonlimiting example is a coaxial cable. Fluid and pressure may accumulate between the coating and the wire in the pressurized well. Thus, potential for leaking of the pressure and fluid exists in the portion of the antenna located outside of the wellhead. It would be advantageous to insert an antenna including a coating into a pressurized well without fluid or pressure leakage between the coating and the flexible wire. Accordingly, for at least the foregoing reasons, a need exists in the petroleum industry for an efficient and inexpensive apparatus and method for directionally disposing a flexible member, e.g., antenna, into a pre-determined location within a well bore without the costly and time-consuming requirement of removing production components, which impede the disposal of the flexible member in the well bore from an opening coaxial with a longitudinal axis of a wellhead, and also without the potential for leakage of fluid or pressure out of the pressurized well. 
     The present invention provides a unique solution to at least the foregoing need by providing an apparatus and method for directionally disposing a flexible member in a pressurized conduit without substantial leakage of pressure or fluid from the well resulting from the insertion of the flexible member into the well. In at least one aspect, the present invention relates to an apparatus sized and configured to allow for at least one flexible antenna to be inserted into an opening in a pressurized hydrocarbon well in a substantially perpendicular direction from the longitudinal axis of the wellhead. Typically, such an opening is in fluid communication with a casing valve coupled to the wellhead. Such an opening is unhindered by production components, save for production tubing, and provides access to the annular space between the casing and the production tubing. In at least one aspect of the invention, the annular space is the preferred location of the flexible antenna. 
     Thus, the present invention in one aspect is an apparatus for directionally disposing an elongated flexible member into a pressurized conduit defining at least one opening in fluid communication with a well valve. The apparatus includes an elongated hollow body comprising a bent end portion and an elongated portion. The bent end portion is sized and configured to be inserted into a pre-determined location within the pressurized conduit through the opening and the well valve and to receive a lead portion of the elongated flexible member therethrough. The apparatus also includes a primary valve comprising a first end portion and a second end portion and defining a fluid passageway connecting the first end portion and second end portion. The first end portion of the primary valve is sized and configured to be in a sealed fluid relationship with a first portion of the elongated portion of the elongated hollow body and the second end portion of the primary valve is sized and configured to receive the lead portion of the elongated flexible member therethrough. The fluid passageway of the primary valve is in a substantially sealed fluid relationship with the pressurized conduit and further is operable to control the passage of fluid through the fluid passageway. The apparatus further includes an end cap coupled to and in a substantially sealed relationship with a distal end portion of the elongated flexible member and at least a first lock sized and configured to releasably retain the bent end portion of the elongated hollow body in the pre-determined location in the pressurized conduit and a second lock sized and configured to releasably retain the elongated flexible member after insertion of the lead portion of the elongated flexible member through the bent end portion. 
     Another aspect of this invention is a method comprising inserting a bent end portion of an elongated hollow body through an opening in fluid communication with a well valve and defined by a pressurized conduit. The bent end portion is disposed in a pre-determined direction and location within the pressurized conduit. The method also includes inserting a lead portion of an elongated flexible member into a fluid passageway defined by a primary valve, the fluid passageway of the primary valve being in sealed fluid relationship with the elongated hollow body which is, in turn, is in sealed fluid relationship with the pressurized conduit, so that the lead portion of the elongated flexible member is inserted through the bend end portion and into the pressurized conduit by a pre-determined distance and, thereafter, retaining in place the inserted elongated flexible member, whereby the elongated flexible member is directionally disposed in the pressurized conduit. 
     These and other features, advantages, and aspects of this invention will be still further apparent from the ensuing detailed description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an apparatus in accordance with one aspect of the present invention coupled to a casing valve. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  coupled to the casing valve. 
         FIG. 3  is an end cap consistent with another aspect of the present invention, wherein the end cap comprises electrical fittings sized and configured to be coupled to the antennas. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an apparatus in accordance with one aspect of the present invention coupled to a casing valve. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 4  coupled to the casing valve. 
     
    
    
     In each of the above figures, like numerals are used to refer to like or functionally like parts among the several figures. 
     FURTHER DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Illustrative implementations of the invention are described below as they might be employed in the construction and use of an apparatus and method for directionally disposing an elongated flexible member in a pressurized conduit according to at least one implementation of the present invention. In the interest of clarity and conciseness, not all trivial features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will be of course appreciated that in the development of such an actual implementation of the same, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, budgets, and so forth, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     In one of its aspects, the present invention provides an apparatus and method for the directionally disposing one or more antennas into a pressurized well. In such an application, the antenna(s) may be used to propagate radio and/or microwave wave forms into the well bore and surrounding formation. In certain hydrocarbon wells, the deployment of an antenna(s) may be carried out in confined areas, under pressure, without the venting of pressure and potentially hazardous gases and liquids from the well. It may be desired to deploy the antenna(s) into the well annular space between the casing and production tubing, commonly known as the annulus. The geometry of the annulus and the associated configuration of the wellhead in certain hydrocarbon wells may require the antenna(s) to make a ninety degree bend over a narrow radius in order to fully deploy in the annulus. This narrow bend radius may range from two inches to less than one inch in diameter. The present invention provides a unique solution to the problems encountered with inserting one or more flexible antennas into a pressurized hydrocarbon well through such a narrow bend radius under conditions such as those described above. 
     Turning now to the Figures, a completed hydrocarbon well  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4  having at least surface casing  12  and production tubing  14 . For illustrative purposes, a representative wellhead  16  is shown, including a casing valve  18  extending from the wellhead in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis L 1  of the wellhead and a production flow line  20  extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the wellhead on the opposing side of the wellhead. It should be appreciated that the well configuration is illustrated generally and the present invention may be used with other wellhead configurations. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , wellhead  16  defines an opening  22  proximate to casing valve  18 , wherein the opening is in fluid communication with the casing valve and the pressurized fluid in the annulus  24 . 
     Shown attached to the casing valve in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is an apparatus  23  for directionally disposing a elongated flexible member  26 , including a first antenna  28  and a second antenna  30  disposed therein, in the hydrocarbon well  10  according to one aspect of the present invention. Apparatus  23 , as attached to casing valve  18 , is in fluid communication with hydrocarbon well  10 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a first end portion  32  of a first enlarged housing  34  is threadingly attached in a substantially sealed relationship to casing valve  18 . First enlarged housing  34  is a stainless steel, cylindrical primary housing. Although illustrated as cylindrical, the primary housing  34  may form multiple sidewalls and may be, e.g., hexagonal in shape. The outer diameter of the cylindrical primary housing is preferably two inches. The cylindrical primary housing is preferably constructed from stainless steel, but other nonlimiting materials may include mild steel, aluminum, or any other electrical conductive material suitable for the pressure and well fluids. Cylindrical primary housing  34  further defines an inner cavity  36  in fluid communication with first end portion  32  and a second end portion  38  and is sized and configured to receive a hollow tubing  40  therethrough, discussed below. 
     In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , cylindrical primary housing  34  further defines an opening  42  in a sidewall  44  wherein a bleed valve  46  is sealingly attached to the cylindrical primary housing at the opening and provides a mechanism for bleeding pressure accumulating in the cylindrical primary housing from pressurized hydrocarbon well  10 . Bleed valve  46  may be any conventional bleed valve commercially available. One such example is a ¼ inch stainless steel needle valve, manufactured by Swagelok Company of Solon, Ohio. 
     Threadingly attached to second end portion  38  of cylindrical primary housing  34  is a first end portion  48  of a primary seal housing  50 , illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  as a primary packing housing. Primary packing housing  50  includes a primary seal  52 , shown as primary packing, constructed of TEFLON® material and disposed within the primary packing housing. The primary packing may be formed from other materials, including but not limited to any elastomer such as rubber or a rubber derivative, VITON®, polyethylene, or any other elastomer commonly used in the petroleum industry. Primary packing  52  is sized and configured to slidably receive in a substantially sealed relationship a portion of an elongated portion  54  of hollow tubing  40  therethrough, which will be further discussed below. To achieve this substantially sealed relationship, the primary packing is formed from a solid piece of TEFLON® material sized and configured to fill the primary packing housing and to seal around the hollow tubing. It should be appreciated that other packing configurations could be used, e.g., packing glands and O-rings capable of making a tight, leak-free seal. 
     Optionally, first end portion  48  of primary packing housing  50  may be directly coupled to casing valve  18  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . In such an instance, the first end portion of the primary packing housing may be sized and configured to threadingly attach to the casing valve in a substantially sealed relationship. Such a configuration may include additional bushings, nipples, and/or collars known to those in the art to mate the primary packing housing to the casing valve in order to form a substantially sealed relationship. In such instances, the cylindrical primary housing is not practiced in this particular aspect of the invention. 
     Shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is elongated hollow body  40  including a bent end portion  56  and elongated portion  54 . Elongated hollow body  40 , as illustrated, is hollow tubing. The hollow tubing is preferably constructed from stainless steel; however, nonlimiting examples of other suitable materials may include aluminum, polyethylene, reinforced polyethylene, mild steel, or any other material suitable for withstanding the well pressures and fluids contained therein. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , bent end portion  56  of hollow tubing  40  is integral with elongated portion  54 , i.e., the hollow tubing including the bent end portion is one continuous, unitary construction. Optionally, the bent end portion may be a separate component attached to the elongated portion of the hollow tubing. Bent end portion may be attached by any means known in the art capable of withstanding pressure and temperature conditions in the well. For example, the bent end portion may be a machined fitting threaded, coupled, or welded to the end of the hollow tubing, or be an insert designed to fit inside the hollow tubing that could direct the elongated flexible member, discussed below, in a preferred direction. The hollow tubing may range from about ¼ inch to one inch in outer diameter. Preferably, the outer diameter of the hollow tubing may be either ½ inch, ⅜ inch, or ¼ inch. The internal diameter of the hollow tubing may vary in size; however, the inner bore of the hollow tubing will be sized and configured such that elongated flexible member  26 , illustrated as antenna tubing and discussed in detail below, may be disposed within hollow tubing  40  such that the antenna tubing may be slidably urged along the length of the hollow tubing. Bent end portion  56  of the hollow tubing will be oriented preferably about 10 degrees to about 60 degrees from a longitudinal axis of the elongated portion of the elongated hollow body. Although such angle is preferred, it should be understood that the bent end portion may be oriented at angles in a broader range of angles which are less than or greater than those in the preferred range. Such broader range may include, e.g., any angle between zero and one hundred and eighty degrees. 
     A second end portion  58  of the primary packing housing  50  is threadingly attached to a first lock  60 , illustrated as a primary locking nut in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The primary locking nut is sized and configured to slidably receive the elongated portion of the hollow tubing therethrough. The primary locking nut may be any conventional locking nut capable of functioning to releasably retain the bent end portion of the hollow tubing in the pre-determined location in the hydrocarbon well, which will be discussed below. To assemble a portion of the apparatus, in at least one aspect, cylindrical primary housing  34 , primary packing housing  50  and primary locking nut  60  are slidably urged from an end portion  62  of elongated portion  54  of hollow tubing  40  along the length of the hollow tubing in the direction of bent end portion  56 . The cylindrical primary housing, primary packing housing and primary locking nut may be coupled together prior to or after the aforementioned components are urged along the length of the hollow tubing; however, in at least one aspect, cylindrical primary housing, primary packing housing and primary locking nut should be assembled and coupled to casing valve prior to bent end portion being inserted through the opening into the wellhead. 
     A first end portion  64  of a secondary seal housing  66 , illustrated as a primary compression fitting in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is attached to end portion  62  of elongated portion  54  of hollow tubing  40 . Primary compression fitting  66  includes a secondary seal  68 , shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  as a primary compression ring, disposed within the primary compression fitting. The primary compression ring is sized and configured to receive in a substantially sealed relationship the end portion of the elongated portion of the elongated hollow body therethrough. A second end portion  70  of primary compression fitting  66  defines a tapered or, generally, a cone-shaped inner cavity  69 . Such a cone-shaped inner cavity aids in the insertion of the antenna tubing into the end portion of the elongated portion of the hollow tubing by guiding the antenna tubing into the end portion of the elongated portion of the hollow tubing. 
     Second end portion  70  of primary compression fitting  66  is threadingly attached to a first end portion  72  of a primary valve  74 , illustrated as a ball valve, in a substantially sealed relationship. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , ball valve  74  includes first end portion  72  and a second end portion  76  and defines a fluid passageway  78  connecting the first end portion and second end portion. First end portion  72  of ball valve  74  is sized and configured to be in a sealed fluid relationship with end portion  62  of elongated portion  54  of hollow tubing  40  and the second end portion of the ball valve is sized and configured to receive a lead portion  80  of antenna tubing  26  therethrough, discussed further below. The fluid passageway of the ball valve is in a substantially sealed fluid relationship with the hydrocarbon well and the ball valve is operable to control the passage of fluid and pressure through the fluid passageway. Ball valve prevents fluids, gases, and pressure from blowing through the hollow tubing into the external environment during the deployment of the bent end portion in the well when ball valve is in the “closed” position. Ball valve may be any conventional ball valve available. One such nonlimiting example includes an Apollo valve ½ female/female 2000 psi, manufactured by Conbraco of Mathews, N.C.. 
     In one aspect of the operation of the present invention, casing valve  18  is determined to be in a “closed” position, i.e., the pressure and/or fluid from hydrocarbon well  10  may not exit through the casing valve to the external environment. Cylindrical primary housing  34 , primary packing housing  50 , and locking nut  60  are slidably received by end portion  62  of elongated portion  54  of hollow tubing  40  and further slidably urged at least partially along the length of the hollow tubing toward bent end portion  56  of the hollow body. Second end portion  38  of the cylindrical primary housing is threadingly attached to first end portion  48  of the primary packing housing and second end portion  58  of the packing housing is threadingly attached to primary locking nut  60 . As illustrated, first end portion  32  of the cylindrical primary housing is threadingly attached to the casing valve in a sealing relationship. Second end portion  70  of primary compression fitting  66  is coupled to first end portion  72  of ball valve  74  and first end portion  64  of the primary compression fitting  66  sealingly receives the end portion  62  of elongated portion  54  of hollow body  40 . The ball valve is manipulated so that a valve stem  75  or other valve sealing means of the ball valve obstructs fluid passageway  78  defined by the ball valve thereby effectively sealingly closing the ball valve. 
     Casing valve  18  is then manipulated into the “open” position, such that annulus  24  is in fluid communication with inner cavity  36  of cylindrical primary housing  34 . Bent end portion  56  being sized and configured to be inserted into annulus  24  within pressurized hydrocarbon well  10  is slidably inserted into opening  22  in fluid communication with casing valve  18  by urging end portion  62  of hollow body  40  or any other portion of hollow body accessible to a person manipulating the hollow body such that elongated portion  54  of the hollow body is slidably urged through the locking nut, packing housing, and cylindrical primary housing toward opening  22  such that the bent end portion is inserted into annulus  24  of hydrocarbon well  10 . The person, e.g., operator, urging the elongated portion of the hollow body typically will urge the hollow body into the well until he/she feels the bent end portion contact the production tubing. At this moment, the operator will remove approximately a few inches of the hollow body to ensure that the bent end portion remains in the annulus, but out of contact with the production tubing. Primary locking nut  60  is then manipulated to push on a metal sleeve  57  disposed within primary packing housing  50 , which correspondingly squeezes primary packing  52 , which tightens and seals around hollow body  40  effectively locking the bent end portion in a determined location within the annulus. In order for the operator to know the orientation of the bent end portion in the annulus, i.e., whether the bent end portion is facing down hole, a mark or other indicator is made on a portion of the hollow body visible to the operator and indicative of the orientation of the bent end portion. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , threadingly attached in a substantially sealed relationship to second end portion  76  of ball valve  74  is a first end portion  82  of a second enlarged housing  84 . In the embodiment illustrated, second enlarged housing  84  is a stainless steel, cylindrical secondary housing. Although illustrated as cylindrical, the secondary housing may form multiple sidewalls and may be, e.g., hexagonal in shape. The outer diameter of the cylindrical secondary housing is preferably two inches. The cylindrical secondary housing is preferably constructed from stainless steel, but other nonlimiting materials may include mild steel, aluminum, or any other electrical conductive material suitable for the pressure and well fluids. The cylindrical secondary housing  84  further defines an inner cavity  86  in fluid communication with first end portion  82  and a second end portion  88  and is sized and configured to receive antenna tubing  26  therethrough, discussed below. 
     In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , cylindrical secondary housing  84  further defines an opening  90  in a sidewall  92  wherein a bleed valve  94  is sealingly attached to the cylindrical secondary housing at the opening and provides a mechanism for bleeding pressure accumulating in the cylindrical secondary housing from pressurized hydrocarbon well  10 . Bleed valve may be any conventional bleed valve commercially available. One such example is a ¼ inch stainless steel male/female needle valve, manufactured by Swagelok of Solon, Ohio. 
     Shown threadingly attached to second end portion  88  of cylindrical secondary housing  84  is a first end portion  96  of a tertiary seal housing  98 , illustrated as a secondary packing housing. Secondary packing housing  98  includes a seal  100 , illustrated as a secondary packing, disposed within the secondary packing housing and sized and configured to slidably receive in a substantially sealed relationship lead portion  80  of antenna tubing  26  therethrough, discussed below. To achieve this substantially sealed relationship, the secondary packing is formed from a solid piece of TEFLON® material sized and configured to fill the secondary packing housing and to seal around the hollow tubing. It should be appreciated that other packing configurations could be used, e.g., packing glands and O-rings capable of making a tight, leak-free seal. 
     As illustrated, first end portion  96  of secondary packing housing  98  is coupled to cylindrical secondary housing  84  in a substantially sealed relationship. Optionally, first end portion  96  of secondary packing housing  98  may be coupled to ball valve  74  in a substantially sealed relationship as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . First end portion  96  may be sized and configured to threadingly attach to the ball valve in a substantially sealed relationship. Such a configuration may include additional bushings, nipples, and/or collars known to those in the art to mate the first end portion of the secondary packing housing to the ball valve in order to form a substantially sealed relationship. In such instances, the cylindrical secondary housing is not practiced in the present invention. 
     A first end portion  124  (see  FIG. 2 ) of a second lock  102 , illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  as a secondary locking nut, is threadingly attached to a second end portion  104  of secondary packing housing  98 . Secondary locking nut  102  is sized and configured to slidably receive lead portion  80  of antenna tubing  26  therethrough. The secondary locking nut may be any conventional locking nut capable of functioning to releasably retain the antenna tubing after insertion of the lead portion of the antenna tubing through the bent end portion of the hollow tubing, which manner will be discussed below. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , elongated flexible member  26 , illustrated as an antenna tubing, defines an elongated bore  106  therethrough, and first antenna  28  and second antenna  30  are disposed within the elongated bore. The antennas may include solid core or a braided conductive wire sized and configured to be disposed within the antenna tubing. The antenna tubing is preferably ¼ inch to ⅜ inch in outer diameter. Antenna tubing may be constructed from polyethylene, preferably reinforced polyethylene tubing comprising SAE J844 air brake hose. The antennas may be coaxial cable having coated metal sheaths. The coating may be plastic, polyethylene, or TEFLON® coating. The coating aids in keeping the antennas from directly contacting or shorting on the production tubing or casing. The length of each antenna may range from a few inches to over a hundred feet. In most instances, the antenna length matches the frequency wavelength of the wave from to be transmitted from the antenna, e.g., a radio frequency wavelength or a VHF or super high frequency microwave wavelength. An antenna transmitting radio wave forms may transmit at one or more frequencies in the range of about 1 to about 100 megahertz. An antenna transmitting microwave forms may transmit at one or more frequencies in the range of about 1 to about 100 gigahertz. In one aspect, the antennas may be inserted into the annulus of the well to a depth of two to thirty feet. 
     A distal end portion  108  of antenna tubing  26  is fed through a secondary compression fitting  110  including a secondary compression ring  112 , and into a leak proof and pressure proof end cap  114  to prevent leaking of fluids, gases, and pressure between the solid or braided antenna wire and the coating, as further illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The secondary compression ring is disposed within the secondary compression fitting and is sized and configured to receive in a substantially sealed relationship the distal portion of the antenna tubing therethrough. The secondary compression fitting is preferably ¼ inch or ⅜ inch in outer diameter. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , end portion  118  of end cap  114  includes electrical connections or fittings  116  suitable for the voltage, temperature and pressure of the pressurized well. The electrical connections are pressure rated for the preferred embodiment and prevent leakage of pressure, gasses, or fluids from the end cap. Each antenna is coupled to a respective electrical fitting. 
     Electrical fittings  116  may be further coupled to an external source  120  capable of generating wave forms of the frequencies disclosed above, i.e. about one to about 100 megahertz and about 1 to about 100 gigahertz. The external source may be any conventional wave form generator, or a generator customized for a given application. It should be appreciated that various wave form generators may be practiced with the present invention so long as the wave forms may be generated at the frequencies disclosed above. 
     Optionally, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , secondary locking nut  102  may have attachment means, such as a collar  122 , welded or attached at one end portion to a first set of fittings  128  welded or attached to a second end portion  126  of the secondary locking nut. The opposing end portion of the collar may accept a second set of fittings  130 . The second set of fittings may be welded or attached to a first end portion  134  of end cap  114 . The first set of fittings and second set of fittings are sized and configured to mate with collar  122  such that the attached fittings and collar form a union assembly  136 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Antenna tubing  26  and compression fitting  110  are disposed within union assembly  136 . 
     In one aspect of operation of the invention, bent end portion  56  is inserted into annulus  24  of hydrocarbon well  10 . Primary locking nut  60  is then manipulated and tightened around hollow body  40  effectively locking the bent end portion in a determined location within the annulus. First antenna  28  and second antenna  30  are disposed within antenna tubing  26 . A distal end portion  108  of antenna tubing  26  is fed through a secondary compression fitting  110  including a secondary compression ring  112 , and into a leak proof and pressure proof end cap  114 . First antenna  28  and second antenna  30  are connected to respective electrical fittings  116 . Secondary compression fitting  110  is attached to end cap  114 . 
     First end portion  82  of cylindrical secondary housing  84  is threadingly attached in a substantially sealed relationship to second end portion  76  of ball valve  74 . Threadingly attached to second end portion  88  of cylindrical secondary housing  84  is first end portion  96  secondary packing housing  98 . First end portion  124  of secondary locking nut  102  is threadingly attached to second end portion  104  of secondary packing housing  98 . Lead portion  80  of antenna tubing  26  is inserted into and through secondary locking nut  102  and secondary packing housing  98 . Ball valve  74  is manipulated into an “open” position and lead portion  80  of antenna tubing  26  is slidably urged through the fluid passageway  78  into primary compression fitting  66  wherein the cone-shaped inner cavity  69  of second end portion  70  guides the lead portion  80  into elongated portion  54  of hollow tubing  40 . Lead portion  80  is slidably urged through primary locking nut  60 , primary packing housing  50 , and cylindrical primary housing  34  toward bent end portion  56 . 
     Lead portion  80  is slidably urged into and through bent end portion  56 , which is fixably positioned in annulus  24 . Lead portion  80  is slidably urged into annulus  24  beyond bent end portion  56  until the lead portion is at the desirable depth pre-determined by the operator. Secondary locking nut  102  is manipulated to push on a secondary metal sleeve  101  disposed within secondary packing housing  98 , which correspondingly squeezes secondary packing  100 , which tightens and seals around antenna tubing  26  effectively locking lead portion  80  of antenna tubing at the desired depth in annulus  24 . In another aspect illustrated in  FIG. 5 , collar  122  is mated to first set of fittings  128  and second set of fittings  130 , forming union assembly  136 . 
     Electrical fittings  116  are coupled to external source  120 . The external source is activated to produce wave forms at the desired frequency for first antenna  28  and second antenna  30 , thereby providing a first antenna to transmit radio wave forms at one or more frequencies in the range of about 1 to about 100 megahertz and a second antenna to transmit wave forms at one or more frequencies in the range of about 1 to about 100 gigahertz. 
     Optionally, a chemical treatment tubing may be disposed within the elongated flexible member. The chemical treatment tubing may be used for the delivery of chemicals to treat the formation and/or production fluids. In such an aspect, the external source may be a pump or the like capable of providing the chemicals down hole and end cap may be sized and configured to be coupled to the pump. 
     Except as may be expressly otherwise indicated, the article “a” or “an” if and as used herein is not intended to limit, and should not be construed as limiting, the description or a claim to a single element to which the article refers. Rather, the article “a” or “an” if and as used herein is intended to cover one or more such elements, unless the text expressly indicates otherwise. 
     This invention is susceptible to considerable variation within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.