CA2156779A1 - Dormant borehole sealing device - Google Patents
Dormant borehole sealing deviceInfo
- Publication number
- CA2156779A1 CA2156779A1 CA 2156779 CA2156779A CA2156779A1 CA 2156779 A1 CA2156779 A1 CA 2156779A1 CA 2156779 CA2156779 CA 2156779 CA 2156779 A CA2156779 A CA 2156779A CA 2156779 A1 CA2156779 A1 CA 2156779A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- body member
- shank
- handle
- shank means
- sections
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 8
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 230000001788 irregular Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 229920001903 high density polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 5
- 239000004700 high-density polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000005422 blasting Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000011435 rock Substances 0.000 description 3
- 210000004027 cell Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003491 array Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000000497 foam cell Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- -1 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
- E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
- E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
Abstract
A device for temporarily sealing dormant boreholes, includes a generally cylindrical body member for insertion into a borehole having an irregular interior surface. The body member is made of a stiff deformable material and normally lies between upper and lower end plates at respective opposite ends of the body member. A shank extends longitudinally through the body member between the end plates and protrudes above the upper end plate, terminating in a handle. The body member can be manually forcibly fitted into the borehole and removed therefrom with the aid of the handle.
Description
~ ~ 5677~
This invention relates to a device for temporarily sealing dormant boreholes, and in particular boreholes that are used in blasting operations.
In order to carry out blasting operations in rock, arrays of vertical boreholes, typically 50ft deep, must be drilled into the rock. For a typical blast, at least ten holes will be required, making a total drilled footage of at least 5000ft. As the maximum that can be generally be drilled in one day is about 400ft, it can take at least twelve days to prepare for a blast. During this time the drilled holes tend to fill up with silt and water.
In the prior art, it is common practice to plug the boreholes temporarily until all are ready for a blast. This is usually done with inverted cones, which are pushed into the upper ends of the boreholes. The cones are then removed prior to use.
The problem with this procedure is that the interior walls of the boreholes are rough and the cones do not make a good seal. As a result, water still leaks into the holes.
Also, especially in snow the cones can be hard to find.
Various techniques are known in the art for capping wells and the like, but the devices employed cannot generally be easily removed or are too expensive for blasting holes since there may be substantial number of holes in a small area.
An object of the invention is to provide a convenient, low-cost device suitable for temporarily sealing boreholes.
According to the present invention there is provided a device for temporarily sealing dormant boreholes, comprising a generally cylindrical body member for insertion into a borehole having an irregular interior surface, said body member being of a stiff resiliently deformable material; and shank protruding means extending longitudinally through said body member, said shank means above said terminating in a D:\WINWORD\DOMESTIC\91706.DOC
215677~
handle; whereby said body member can be manually forcibly fitted into said borehole and removed therefrom with the aid of said handle.
The cylindrical body member preferably lies between upper and lower end plates at respective opposite ends of said body member. These are desirable to assist in pushing in the device into the borehole and removal therefrom. Upon insertion the upper plate pushes the cylindrical body downward, and upon removal the lower plate pushes it upward.
The cylindrical body can be in the form of stacked sections.
Also, it is understood that the body member can have any generally cylindrical shape, including for example polygonal shape.
The above device can be manufactured in quantity at relatively low cost. It can be easily inserted into the boreholes after drilling and removed prior to blasting simply by pulling on the handle. The device is then ready for re-use.
The deformable material is preferably a closed cell foam.
In a preferred embodiment a flag projects upwardly from the body to aid in visibility.
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a cross section through a borehole sealingdevice in the relaxed condition;
Figure 2 is a section through the device inserted into a borehole;
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the handle;
Figure 3a shows a detail of the end of the shank of the handle perpendicular to the view in Figure 3;
This invention relates to a device for temporarily sealing dormant boreholes, and in particular boreholes that are used in blasting operations.
In order to carry out blasting operations in rock, arrays of vertical boreholes, typically 50ft deep, must be drilled into the rock. For a typical blast, at least ten holes will be required, making a total drilled footage of at least 5000ft. As the maximum that can be generally be drilled in one day is about 400ft, it can take at least twelve days to prepare for a blast. During this time the drilled holes tend to fill up with silt and water.
In the prior art, it is common practice to plug the boreholes temporarily until all are ready for a blast. This is usually done with inverted cones, which are pushed into the upper ends of the boreholes. The cones are then removed prior to use.
The problem with this procedure is that the interior walls of the boreholes are rough and the cones do not make a good seal. As a result, water still leaks into the holes.
Also, especially in snow the cones can be hard to find.
Various techniques are known in the art for capping wells and the like, but the devices employed cannot generally be easily removed or are too expensive for blasting holes since there may be substantial number of holes in a small area.
An object of the invention is to provide a convenient, low-cost device suitable for temporarily sealing boreholes.
According to the present invention there is provided a device for temporarily sealing dormant boreholes, comprising a generally cylindrical body member for insertion into a borehole having an irregular interior surface, said body member being of a stiff resiliently deformable material; and shank protruding means extending longitudinally through said body member, said shank means above said terminating in a D:\WINWORD\DOMESTIC\91706.DOC
215677~
handle; whereby said body member can be manually forcibly fitted into said borehole and removed therefrom with the aid of said handle.
The cylindrical body member preferably lies between upper and lower end plates at respective opposite ends of said body member. These are desirable to assist in pushing in the device into the borehole and removal therefrom. Upon insertion the upper plate pushes the cylindrical body downward, and upon removal the lower plate pushes it upward.
The cylindrical body can be in the form of stacked sections.
Also, it is understood that the body member can have any generally cylindrical shape, including for example polygonal shape.
The above device can be manufactured in quantity at relatively low cost. It can be easily inserted into the boreholes after drilling and removed prior to blasting simply by pulling on the handle. The device is then ready for re-use.
The deformable material is preferably a closed cell foam.
In a preferred embodiment a flag projects upwardly from the body to aid in visibility.
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a cross section through a borehole sealingdevice in the relaxed condition;
Figure 2 is a section through the device inserted into a borehole;
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the handle;
Figure 3a shows a detail of the end of the shank of the handle perpendicular to the view in Figure 3;
D:~WINWORD\DOMESTIC\91706.DOC
21~6779 _ Figure 4 shows a single cylindrical section mounted on the handle of Figure 3;
Figure 5 shows a stack of cylindrical sections;
Figure 6 shows an extension section of the shank;
Figures 6a and 6b show details of the end of the shank shown in Figure 6;
Figure 7 shows the lower end of the shank with a cylindrical section mounted thereon; and Figure 8 shows a lower end plate for the shank.
The borehole sealing device shown in Figure 1 comprises a shank 1 connected through a force-fit coupling 2 to a T-shaped handle 3.
The shank 1, made of I-section HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) plastic, extends longitudinally through a central aperture a cylindrical body member 4 consisting of four stacked cylindrical sections 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d. Circular end plates 5, 6 are attached to the shank 1 at opposite ends of the body 4. Although referred to as cylindrical, it is understood that said sections can have any generally cylindrical shape, and, for example, could be polygonal in cross section.
The cylindrical sections 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d consist of a stiff resiliently deformable closed cell material, for example, the polyethylene foam cell sold by Dow Chemical Corporation with a density of 1.4 to 1.9 lbs.
A flag 7 is insertable into a small receiving recess in the upper plate 5. This can be screwed in or force-fitted, for example.
In use, after drilling a borehole the user takes one of the sealing devices and adds the appropriate number of sections for the type of borehole. He merely then grabs the handle 3 and rams body member 4 into the top of the hole.
D:\WINWORD\DOMESTIC\91706.DOC
21~6~79 The material forming the sections 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d deforms upwardly due to frictional contact against the walls leaving a small space _ above the lower end plate 6. The compression of the cylindrical body 4 causes it to become forcibly fitted against the interior wall 10 of the borehole 9.
The handle 3 can then be removed or left in place as desired.
The shank 3 can be easily extended by adding new sections as desired.
Figures 3 to 7 shows a preferred embodiment of the handle and shank, which comes in engageable sections.
In Figure 3, the upper circular end plate 5 of HDPE iS
integral with the first section of the shank 1, also of HDPE, whose lower end has notches 11 formed in the flanges 15 of the I-section flank. As shown in Figure 4, the upper cylindrical section 4a is mounted on this first section of the shank in abutting relationship with the upper plate 5.
Lower plate 6 of HDPE has a keyhole recess 6a as shown in Figure 8. After the cylindrical section 4a has been mounted on the shank 1, the lower end plate 6 is force-fitted onto the shank with the edges 6b of the slightly inner enlarged inner portion of recess 6a engaging the notches 11 of the shank 1. As a result the shank 1 is held in place. The plug as shown in Figure 4 can be used for certain applications.
Additional sections can be added, as shown in Figure 5, by adding additional extension shank sections 20, such as shown in Figure 6. An integral circular plate 6 is mounted on each shank section 20, which has a lower end similar to the lower end of the shank 1 shown in Figure 3 with similar notches 11. The upper end of the shank section 20 has an arrowhead shape 13 formed by a beveled tip on flanges 15 of -the I-section shank 1. A longitudinal recess is formed in web portion 16 of the upper end of I-section shank.
In order to engage the handle section 1 and an extension section as shown in Figure 6, the shanks are rotated so that longitudinally they lie 90 apart relative to each other. They are then pushed together so that the web 16 of the upper section is accommodated in the recess 17 and that the wing portions 18 of the arrowhead 13 deform and become engaged in the recesses 11 of the upper section. As many extension sections 20 as desired can be added in this way, each being rotated 90 about its longitudinal axis relative to the previous section.
Figure 5 shows a stacked device inserted into a borehole in rock stratum 27. In Figure 5, there is no plate 6 between the first and second sections 4a, 4b because the upper end of the extension piece 20 is engaged directly into the lower end of the shank 1 so that the first two cylindrical sections abut. Because of the rotation of the shank from one piece to the next, only the flange portion 15 of the extension piece is visible in Figure 5 in the section 4b. Of course a plate 6 is present under this section because it is integral with the shank of the extension piece as described. A final section is then added with the aid of a third extension piece 20.
The described device is very convenient in the field.
It can conveniently be made shorter or longer depending on the application. It is lightweight and does not take up a lot of space, especially as the components can be stored separately and assembled in the field as needed without any special tools.
D:\WINWORD\DOM13STIC\91706.DOC
21~6779 _ Figure 4 shows a single cylindrical section mounted on the handle of Figure 3;
Figure 5 shows a stack of cylindrical sections;
Figure 6 shows an extension section of the shank;
Figures 6a and 6b show details of the end of the shank shown in Figure 6;
Figure 7 shows the lower end of the shank with a cylindrical section mounted thereon; and Figure 8 shows a lower end plate for the shank.
The borehole sealing device shown in Figure 1 comprises a shank 1 connected through a force-fit coupling 2 to a T-shaped handle 3.
The shank 1, made of I-section HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) plastic, extends longitudinally through a central aperture a cylindrical body member 4 consisting of four stacked cylindrical sections 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d. Circular end plates 5, 6 are attached to the shank 1 at opposite ends of the body 4. Although referred to as cylindrical, it is understood that said sections can have any generally cylindrical shape, and, for example, could be polygonal in cross section.
The cylindrical sections 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d consist of a stiff resiliently deformable closed cell material, for example, the polyethylene foam cell sold by Dow Chemical Corporation with a density of 1.4 to 1.9 lbs.
A flag 7 is insertable into a small receiving recess in the upper plate 5. This can be screwed in or force-fitted, for example.
In use, after drilling a borehole the user takes one of the sealing devices and adds the appropriate number of sections for the type of borehole. He merely then grabs the handle 3 and rams body member 4 into the top of the hole.
D:\WINWORD\DOMESTIC\91706.DOC
21~6~79 The material forming the sections 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d deforms upwardly due to frictional contact against the walls leaving a small space _ above the lower end plate 6. The compression of the cylindrical body 4 causes it to become forcibly fitted against the interior wall 10 of the borehole 9.
The handle 3 can then be removed or left in place as desired.
The shank 3 can be easily extended by adding new sections as desired.
Figures 3 to 7 shows a preferred embodiment of the handle and shank, which comes in engageable sections.
In Figure 3, the upper circular end plate 5 of HDPE iS
integral with the first section of the shank 1, also of HDPE, whose lower end has notches 11 formed in the flanges 15 of the I-section flank. As shown in Figure 4, the upper cylindrical section 4a is mounted on this first section of the shank in abutting relationship with the upper plate 5.
Lower plate 6 of HDPE has a keyhole recess 6a as shown in Figure 8. After the cylindrical section 4a has been mounted on the shank 1, the lower end plate 6 is force-fitted onto the shank with the edges 6b of the slightly inner enlarged inner portion of recess 6a engaging the notches 11 of the shank 1. As a result the shank 1 is held in place. The plug as shown in Figure 4 can be used for certain applications.
Additional sections can be added, as shown in Figure 5, by adding additional extension shank sections 20, such as shown in Figure 6. An integral circular plate 6 is mounted on each shank section 20, which has a lower end similar to the lower end of the shank 1 shown in Figure 3 with similar notches 11. The upper end of the shank section 20 has an arrowhead shape 13 formed by a beveled tip on flanges 15 of -the I-section shank 1. A longitudinal recess is formed in web portion 16 of the upper end of I-section shank.
In order to engage the handle section 1 and an extension section as shown in Figure 6, the shanks are rotated so that longitudinally they lie 90 apart relative to each other. They are then pushed together so that the web 16 of the upper section is accommodated in the recess 17 and that the wing portions 18 of the arrowhead 13 deform and become engaged in the recesses 11 of the upper section. As many extension sections 20 as desired can be added in this way, each being rotated 90 about its longitudinal axis relative to the previous section.
Figure 5 shows a stacked device inserted into a borehole in rock stratum 27. In Figure 5, there is no plate 6 between the first and second sections 4a, 4b because the upper end of the extension piece 20 is engaged directly into the lower end of the shank 1 so that the first two cylindrical sections abut. Because of the rotation of the shank from one piece to the next, only the flange portion 15 of the extension piece is visible in Figure 5 in the section 4b. Of course a plate 6 is present under this section because it is integral with the shank of the extension piece as described. A final section is then added with the aid of a third extension piece 20.
The described device is very convenient in the field.
It can conveniently be made shorter or longer depending on the application. It is lightweight and does not take up a lot of space, especially as the components can be stored separately and assembled in the field as needed without any special tools.
D:\WINWORD\DOM13STIC\91706.DOC
Claims (10)
1. A device for temporarily sealing dormant boreholes, comprising at least one generally cylindrical body member for insertion into a borehole having an irregular interior surface, said body member being of a stiff resiliently deformable material; and protruding shank means extending longitudinally through said body member, said shank means terminating in a handle; whereby said body member can be manually forcibly fitted into said borehole and removed therefrom with the aid of said handle.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising upper and lower end plates at respective opposite ends of said body member.
3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said shank means is extendible and said body member comprises a plurality of stackable cylindrical sections mounted on said shank means.
4. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said shank means includes coupling means to permit said handle to be removed when not in use.
5. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cylindrical body member comprises a closed cell foam.
6. A device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a removable protruding flag member to aid visibility.
7. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said lower end plate comprises a separate member having a recess engageable with the lower end of said shank means.
8. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said shank means comprises a plurality of extension sections, each having an end plate integral therewith.
9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said shank sections have complementary ends comprising notches and projections engageable in the notches of an adjacent section.
10. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said shank means is of I-shaped cross section with opposing flanges, and said notches and projections are formed said opposing flanges of adjacent engaging sections.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2156779 CA2156779A1 (en) | 1995-08-23 | 1995-08-23 | Dormant borehole sealing device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2156779 CA2156779A1 (en) | 1995-08-23 | 1995-08-23 | Dormant borehole sealing device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2156779A1 true CA2156779A1 (en) | 1997-02-24 |
Family
ID=4156480
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2156779 Abandoned CA2156779A1 (en) | 1995-08-23 | 1995-08-23 | Dormant borehole sealing device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2156779A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2018151845A1 (en) * | 2017-02-17 | 2018-08-23 | David Hart | Wellbore casing repair safety tool for low-pressure hydrocarbon wells |
-
1995
- 1995-08-23 CA CA 2156779 patent/CA2156779A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2018151845A1 (en) * | 2017-02-17 | 2018-08-23 | David Hart | Wellbore casing repair safety tool for low-pressure hydrocarbon wells |
| US11486221B2 (en) | 2017-02-17 | 2022-11-01 | David Hart | Wellbore casing repair safety tool for low-pressure hydrocarbon wells |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |
Effective date: 19980824 |