Methods, apparatus and pyrotechnic compositions for severing conduits
AssigneeJet Research Center, Inc.
InventorGlenn B. Christopher
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods of severing conduits along planes extending transversely to the axis thereof comprising confining a fuel composition within a fuel chamber in an elongated housing sized for insertion in a conduit, the housing including a plurality of spaced radially extending discharge nozzles communicated with the fuel chamber and positioned to direct fuel reaction products in directions transverse to the axis of the housing, positioning the housing inside a conduit to be severed and igniting the fuel composition confined in the fuel chamber so that reaction products formed therefrom exit the housing by way of the discharge nozzles and impact the conduit thereby severing the conduit. Apparatus and pyrotechnic fuel compositions are also provided.
Claims54
A method of severing a conduit along a plane extending transversely to the axis thereof comprising the steps of:
- confining a solid gas-forming pyrotechnic fuel composition within a fuel chamber in an elongated housing sized for insertion in the conduit, said fuel composition comprised of a mixture of a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, niobium, titanium and mixtures thereof, a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of ferric oxide, ferrous oxide, ferrosoferric oxide, cupric oxide, chromium trioxide and mixtures thereof and a gas-forming component which vaporizes to form a gas when heated to the temperature at which said metal and said metal oxide react when ignited, said housing including a plurality of spaced radially extending discharge nozzles communicated with said fuel chamber and positioned to direct fuel reaction products in directions transverse to the axis of said housing;
- positioning said housing inside said conduit with said discharge nozzles thereof adjwacent the desired location of severance of said conduit;
- and
- igniting the fuel composition confined in said fuel chamber so that reaction products formed therefrom exit said housing by way of said discharge nozzles and impact said conduit thereby severing said conduit.
A method of severing a conduit along a plane extending transversely through the conduit comprising the steps of:
- confining a gas-forming pyrotechnic fuel composition in a fuel chamber and confining a non-gas-forming pyrotechnic fuel composition in an ignition passage communicated with the fuel chamber formed in an elongated housing sized for insertion in said conduit, said housing including a plurality of spaced radially extending discharge nozzles communicated with said fuel chamber;
- positioning said housing inside said conduit with said fuel reaction products discharge nozzles thereof adjacent the desired location of severance of said conduit;
- and
- igniting said non-gas-forming composition in said ignition passage so that said non-gas-forming fuel composition is reacted and ignites said gas-forming composition in said fuel chamber whereby said reaction products from said gas-forming fuel composition exit said housing by way of said discharge nozzles and sever said conduit.
A method of severing a downhole well conduit in a high pressure environment comprising the steps of:
- confining a gas-forming pyrotechnic fuel composition in a fuel chamber and confining a non-gas-forming pyrotechnic fuel composition in an ignition passage communicated with said fuel chamber formed in an elongated housing sized for insertion in said conduit, said housing including a plurality of spaced radially extending discharge nozzles communicated with said fuel chamber;
- lowering said housing through said conduit to a position therein where it is desired to sever said conduit;
- igniting the non-gas-forming composition in said ignition passage so that said non-gas-forming fuel composition is reacted and ignites said gas-forming fuel composition in said fuel chamber whereby said reaction products from said gas-forming fuel composition exit said housing by way of said discharge nozzles thereby severing said conduit;
- and
- withdrawing said housing from said conduit.
Apparatus for severing a conduit in a plane extending transversely through the conduit comprising:
- an elongated cylindrical housing adapted to be removably positioned within said conduit, said housing forming a fuel chamber therewithin and having a plurality of discharge nozzles communicated with said fuel chamber disposed transversely through the sides of said housing;
- said discharge nozzles being positioned in spaced relationship around the periphery of said housing wherein a first portion of said discharge nozzles lie in a single plane extending transversely to the axis of said housing and a second portion of said discharge nozzles are positioned obliquely through said housing with the outer ends thereof lying in a single plane extending transversely through the axis of said housing;
- and
- means attached to said housing for igniting fuel contained in said fuel chamber whereby reaction products formed therefrom exit said housing by way of said discharge nozzles.
Apparatus for severing a conduit along a plane extending transversely through the conduit comprising:
- an elongated housing adapted to be removably positioned within said conduit, said housing forming a fuel chamber and a fuel ignition passage communicated with the fuel chamber therewithin and having a plurality of discharged nozzles disposed transversely through the sides of said housing communicated with said fuel ignition passage;
- a non-gas-forming pyrotechnic fuel within said fuel ignition passage and a gas-forming and a non-gas-forming pyrotechnic fuel within said fuel chamber;
- and
- means attached to said housing and positioned within said fuel ignition passage for igniting fuel contained in said passage which in turn ignites fuel contained in said fuel chamber whereby reaction products formed from said fuel travel through said passage and exit said housing by way of said discharge nozzles.
Apparatus for severing a substantially vertically positioned conduit comprising:
- an elongated cylindrical housing having closed upper and lower ends;
- means connected to the upper end of said housing for lowering said housing to a location in said conduit;
- a fuel chamber in said housing positioned adjacent the lower end thereof;
- said fuel chamber being lined with heat resistant material;
- means in said housing forming a longitudinally positioned fuel ignition passage communicated with said fuel chamber and extending from a point adjacent the closed upper end of said housing;
- said fuel ignition passage having at least a portion thereof lined with a heat resistant material;
- a plurality of spaced radially extending discharge nozzles disposed through said means forming said ignition passage and through said housing;
- a solid pyrotechnic fuel composition disposed in said fuel chamber;
- a solid pyrotechnic fuel composition disposed in said ignition passage and positioned in ignition relationship with said fuel in said fuel chamber;
- and
- remotely operable fuel ignition means positioned in said passage for igniting said pyrotechnic fuel therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.