An improved method for launching a cleaning element

摘要

A deformable cleaning element 10 is encased within soluble packaging 12 to maintain its deformation. The deformed cleaning element 10 is launched into the bore of a drillpipe, conduit or tubular. Contact with fluids within the bore dissolves the soluble packaging 12 allowing the cleaning element 10 to expand to its original shape. The soluble packaging 12 is preferably applied to the deformed cleaning elements 10 during the passage of the cleaning elements 10 through sequential pairs of mechanical rollers 17 with the space between the rollers 17 of each pair decreasing in size through the sequence. The soluble packaging 12 may be in the form of a film which is soluble in water or in the drilling fluid of the well bore.