Downhole tool with a propellant charge
AssigneeSpex Corporate Holdings Limited
InventorRae Younger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of removing material from a target is described. The method comprises the steps of providing a tool, the tool having at least one propellant source; pressurising the tool to a pressure higher than the environmental pressure; igniting at least one of the propellant source(s) to form a combustion zone; and directing combustion products generated at the combustion zone along at least one tool flow path. The tool flow path(s) is selectively openable or closable, such that upon exiting the tool flow path(s) the combustion products interact with a target, the interaction causing material to be removed from the target.
Claims57
A tool for initiating a change in a target, the tool comprising:
- at least one propellant source,
- at least one additive,
- at least one mechanism for igniting the propellant source(s), and
- at least one flow path,
- wherein, upon ignition, at least one of the/each propellant source(s) combusts to release combustion products which, in use, flow out of the tool along the flow path towards a target to be changed, the combustion products containing the additive(s), the additive(s) on contact with the target acting as a plugging material, a metal repair material, an activation material, a dissolving agent, a gelling agent, a chemical tracer, and/or a radioactive material.
A method of initiating a change in a target, the method comprising the steps of:
- I. providing a tool comprising:
- at least one propellant source,
- at least one additive,
- at least one mechanism for igniting the propellant source(s), and
- at least one flow path;
- II. igniting at least one of the/each propellant source(s) such that it/they combust to release combustion products in a flow out of the tool along the flow path towards a target to be changed;
- wherein the combustion products contain the additive(s), the additive(s) on contact with the target acting as a plugging material, a metal repair material, an activation material, a dissolving agent, a gelling agent, a chemical tracer, and/or a radioactive material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.