Frank S Winz

US Patent:

55268773, Jun 18, 1996

Filed:

Jan 5, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/369519

Inventors:

Frank S. Winz - Powell WY

International Classification:

E21B 3700

US Classification:

166 882

Abstract:

A system for cleaning a string of an oil well that includes a washing unit having a first section and a second section that are placed atop an oil well head. The washing unit includes a center opening larger than the outside diameter of the string and includes a plurality of hoses for directing a fluid that is supplied under pressure to a plurality of nozzles, the plurality of nozzles being disposed on the center opening. The system relies upon either a rod table or a tubing slip to support the weight of the string as it is being extracted and to transfer the weight of the string to the washing unit which in turn transfers the weight of the string to the well head. The washing unit is constructed of heavy gauge materials that are strong enough to bear the weight of the string. The fluid under pressure is directed through the nozzles onto the string to flush pollutants off of the string and back through the well head and into the well. A recovery tank is used as desired with a seal disposed near the bottom of the washing unit to prevent the fluid from being flushed back into the well.