Patent ID: 8443893

Claim:
A cleaning system for employing with a wellhead of a well to spray elements positioned in a central passage of the wellhead, the cleaning system comprising: a cleaning apparatus for mounting on the wellhead assembly, the cleaning apparatus defining an aperture in communication with the central passage of the wellhead assembly such that elements withdrawn from the wellhead pass through the aperture, the cleaning apparatus comprising: an annular body including an inner surface defining at least a portion of the aperture of the cleaning apparatus, the annular body defining a fluid channel therein; a plurality of orifices positioned on the annular body and oriented to direct fluid into the aperture, the orifices being in fluid communication with the fluid channel such that fluid carried in the fluid channel is moved through the orifices into the aperture; wherein the fluid channel is incorporated into the annular body and extends substantially continuously about an entirety of the aperture of the cleaning apparatus; and a heated fluid generator removably connected to the cleaning apparatus in a manner to provide heated fluid to the fluid channel and orifices of the cleaning apparatus.