Method and apparatus for perforating or cutting with a solid fueled gas mixture
AssigneeAir Products and Chemicals, Inc.
InventorsAndrew J. Woytek, John T. Lileck, Edward J. Steigerwalt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for cutting pipe casings and concrete liners or perforating the same and localized portions of surrounding strata in an earth bore is set forth wherein a gas phase cutting or perforating jet mixture of fluorine and nitrogen trifluoride is delivered to the cutting or perforation site from the decomposition of a solid, normally stable, perfluoroammonium salt. An appropriate apparatus for delivering the gas mixture of fluorine and nitrogen trifluoride from the salt is also disclosed.
Claims27
A method of cutting in which a highly reactive gas mixture of fluorine and nitrogen trifluoride is used to perform the cutting action wherein the gas mixture is supplied at high pressure by the rapid decomposition of a solid, normally stable, perfluoroammonium salt.
A method for perforating a pipe casing and a localized portion of the surrounding strata in an earth bore in which a highly reactive gas mixture of fluorine and nitrogen trifluoride is used to perform the perforating action.
An apparatus for cutting or perforating a pipe comprising a cylindrical container, a charge of a solid, normally stable, perfluoroammonium salt, a primer for remotely igniting and decomposing the salt to a fluorine containing gas mixture, a gas pressure chamber adjacent said charge in said container for containing the released gas mixture, a frangible pressure relief disk mounted on the outlet of said chamber which is ruptured by the pressure of the gas mixture and a plurality of gas nozzles which direct the gas mixture out of the container in a manner so as to cut or perforate said pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.