US3766979A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Well casing cutter and sealer
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-04-20
•
Granted: 1973-10-23
•
Expires: 1992-04-20
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for rapidly terminating flow through a well upon sensing of an unsafe well condition. A housing surrounds the well casing and defines a chamber within which a blade is located with its cutting edge adjacent the well casing. An explosive charge positioned against the blade is electrically connected to sensors in the area of the well outlet. When a sensor detects an unsafe condition, the explosive charge is initiated, driving the blade through the well casing without crushing of the casing. When the unsafe condition is corrected, a plug is withdrawn, permitting retraction of the blade and replacement of the explosive charge, thus making the apparatus ready for reuse.
Inventors
- 👤 J Petrick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:22
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B29/00; E21B29/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
Apparatus for rapidly terminating flow from a well upon sensing of an unsafe well condition comprising: a housing adapted to encircle a well pipe over a portion of the length thereof to define a chamber; a blade within the chamber adapted for positioning with the blade cutting edge adjacent the wall pipe, the blade having a threaded recess in an end opposite the blade cutting edge; means defining a recess within said housing, adjacent said blade threaded recess, and adapted to hold an explosive charge; a plug threadedly mating with said housing recess, whereby, upon removal of said plug from said housing recess, a threaded tool can be threadedly inserted into the blade threaded recess to permit retraction of said blade; and circuit means connected to the housing recess and adapted for connection to sensing means for initiating an explosive charge within the housing recess in response to sensing of an unsafe well condition to drive said blade through the well pipe, terminating flow therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
Apparatus for rapidly terminating flow from a well upon sensing of an unsafe well condition comprising: a housing adapted to encircle a well pipe over a portion of the length thereof to define a chamber; a blade within the chamber adapted for positioning with the blade cutting edge adjacent the wall pipe, the blade having a threaded recess in an end opposite the blade cutting edge; means defining a recess within said housing, adjacent said blade threaded recess, and adapted to hold an explosive charge; a plug threadedly mating with said housing recess, whereby, upon removal of said plug from said housing recess, a threaded tool can be threadedly inserted into the blade threaded recess to permit retraction of said blade; and circuit means connected to the housing recess and adapted for connection to sensing means for initiating an explosive charge within the housing recess in response to sensing of an unsafe well condition to drive said blade through the well pipe, terminating flow therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said housing comprises a first housing portion, a second housing portion, and means for joining said first and second housing portions about a well pipe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising sensing means connected to said circuit means for sensing unsafe well conditions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising an explosive charge within said housing recess.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
152 words
Apparatus for rapidly terminating flow from a well upon sensing of an unsafe well condition comprising: a housing adapted to encircle a well pipe over a portion of the length thereof to define a chamber; a blade within the chamber adapted for positioning with the blade cutting edge adjacent the well pipe; means defining a recess adjacent said blade and adapted to hold an explosive charge; and circuit means connected to the recess and adapted for connection to sensing means for initiating an explosive charge within the recess in response to sensing of an unsafe well condition to drive said blade through the well pipe, terminating flow therethrough; said housing having an opening through a wall thereof and said blade having an opening therethrough, said blade opening aligned with said housing opening when said blade is across a well pipe in a flow-terminating position, for passage of a sealant through the openings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
152 words
Apparatus for rapidly terminating flow from a well upon sensing of an unsafe well condition comprising: a housing adapted to encircle a well pipe over a portion of the length thereof to define a chamber; a blade within the chamber adapted for positioning with the blade cutting edge adjacent the well pipe; means defining a recess adjacent said blade and adapted to hold an explosive charge; and circuit means connected to the recess and adapted for connection to sensing means for initiating an explosive charge within the recess in response to sensing of an unsafe well condition to drive said blade through the well pipe, terminating flow therethrough; said housing having an opening through a wall thereof and said blade having an opening therethrough, said blade opening aligned with said housing opening when said blade is across a well pipe in a flow-terminating position, for passage of a sealant through the openings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which said housing comprises a first housing portion, a second housing portion, and means for joining said first and second housing portions about a well pipe.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for rapidly terminating flow from a well upon sensing of an unsafe well condition comprising: a housing adapted to encircle a well pipe over a portion of the length thereof to define a chamber; a blade within the chamber adapted for positioning with the blade cutting edge adjacent the well pipe; means defining a recess adjacent said blade and adapted to hold an explosive charge; said housing having an opening thereinto at a point intermediate the blade cutting edge and said defining means; sealing means intermediate the opening and the blade cutting edge for preventing leakage from a well pipe out the opening; and circuit means connected to the recess and adapted for connection to sensing means for initiating an explosiVe charge within the recess in response to sensing of an unsafe well condition to drive said blade through the well pipe, terminating flow therethrough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for rapidly terminating flow from a well upon sensing of an unsafe well condition comprising: a housing adapted to encircle a well pipe over a portion of the length thereof to define a chamber; a blade within the chamber adapted for positioning with the blade cutting edge adjacent the well pipe; means defining a recess adjacent said blade and adapted to hold an explosive charge; said housing having an opening thereinto at a point intermediate the blade cutting edge and said defining means; sealing means intermediate the opening and the blade cutting edge for preventing leakage from a well pipe out the opening; and circuit means connected to the recess and adapted for connection to sensing means for initiating an explosiVe charge within the recess in response to sensing of an unsafe well condition to drive said blade through the well pipe, terminating flow therethrough.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further comprising additional sealing means adapted to encircle a well pipe on opposite sides of the chamber for preventing leakage from a well pipe out of said apparatus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which said housing comprises a first housing portion, a second housing portion, and means for joining said first and second housing portions about a well pipe.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1851894A
Cited
US1875673A
Cited
US1949672A
Cited
US3419076A
Cited
US3620299A
Cited
US3631928A
Cited
US3603387A
Cited
US3684008A
Cited
US3662824A
Cited
US3693715A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-22 | 1977-04-23 | 1977-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-22 | 1981-04-23 | 1981-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-22 | 1985-04-23 | 1985-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |