Patent ID: 8196663

Claim:
Apparatus useful for providing fluid into a subterranean well through a hydrocarbon recovery system deployable in the well, the hydrocarbon recovery system including at least one production tubing and at least one dead string portion associated therewith, the dead string portion being positioned below the production tubing, the production tubing and dead string portion each having at least one bore extending longitudinally therethrough, the production tubing including at least one perforated portion that allows the entry of fluids into the bore of the production tubing from the well when the production tubing is deployed in the well, the apparatus comprising: an injection system releasably engageable with the hydrocarbon recovery system and configured to be movable into and out of the well and the production tubing at least substantially independent of movement of the hydrocarbon recovery system, said injection system including at least one delivery tubing having an upper end, a lower end and an outer diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the production tubing and dead string portion, said delivery tubing being in fluid communication with a fluid supply source, and at least one stopper connected with said delivery tubing and configured to prevent fluid flow between the respective bores of the production tubing and dead string portion when said injection system is engaged with the hydrocarbon recovery system, said at least one stopper including at least one drain valve, wherein at least one said delivery tubing extends a desired distance below said stopper and is configured to allow fluid to be ejected therefrom at a location within the dead string portion or below the dead string portion when said injection system is engaged with the hydrocarbon recovery system in the well, wherein when the hydrocarbon recovery system is deployed in the well, said injection system may be engaged and disengaged with and removable from the hydrocarbon recovery system without removing the hydrocarbon recovery system from the well, and wherein disengagement of said injection system from the hydrocarbon recovery system allows fluid communication between the production tubing and the dead string portion.