EP0603181A1

EP0603181A1 - A system for extinguishing an oil well subjected to very high pressure

Info

Publication number: EP0603181A1
Application number: EP92910983A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Joseph Ferraye
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-05-02
Filing date: 1992-05-04
Publication date: 1994-06-29
Also published as: NO933967L; CA2112705A1; WO1992019323A1; AU1777392A; NO933967D0

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système qui permet l'extinction des puits de pétrole soumis à de très fortes pressions, et le refroidissement du sol environnant; la base du système est par exemple, en forme cônique qui ressemble à un volcan, et agissant par l'asphyxie des flammes, par l'introduction d'un gaz ininflammable (ex. l'azote ou le gaz carbonique liquide) ou d'eau, dans le système, par les trous (4a, 4b) réalisés sur la partie cônique; la propagation de ce gaz en tourbillon, obtenu par l'application de raccords en forme d'angle dans le système, avançant dans le même sens que les flammes, et s'intensifiant en montant par la forme cônique du système, pour sortir par le cratère (1), faisant une sorte d'éruption, envahissant toutes les flammes, et la propulsion de l'azote vers le bas, pour le refroidissement du sol environnant.The invention relates to a system which allows the extinction of oil wells subjected to very high pressures, and the cooling of the surrounding ground; the base of the system is, for example, conical in shape resembling a volcano, and acting by the asphyxiation of the flames, by the introduction of a non-flammable gas (eg nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide) or water, in the system, through the holes (4a, 4b) made on the conical part; the propagation of this gas in a vortex, obtained by the application of angle-shaped fittings in the system, advancing in the same direction as the flames, and intensifying as it rises through the conical shape of the system, to exit through the crater (1), making a sort of eruption, invading all the flames, and propelling the nitrogen downwards, for the cooling of the surrounding ground.

Description

EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM FOR OIL WELLS SUBJECT TO VERY HIGH PRESSURES

This invention relates to a system that allows the extinguishing of oil wells on fire, in the same time it took for them to ignite, without the use of dynanite; for example, the base of the system is conical in shape resembling a volcano and acting by the asphyxiation of the flannes by the introduction of a non-flammable gas (eg carbon dioxide or liquid nitrogen) or water in the system, through the holes (4a, 4b) made on the conical part, the propagation of this gas in a vortex obtained by the application of angle-shaped fittings in the system, advancing in the same direction as the flames, and intensifying while going up by the conical form of the system, to exit by the crater (1), making a kind of eruption, invading all the flannes; the introduction of the gas connence to the monent of the displacement of the system towards the well, allowing the nonent nene of the penetration of the well, the imminent invasion of the flames by the gas; gas tanks are provided with the system.

The system comprises a cutout (2) permitting the passage of the well in flame, and a door (8a, 8b) which blocks this cutout after the penetration of the well; the opening and locking of said door are actuated by radio-controlled hydraulic cylinders (8c, 8d), placed on two opposite sides outside the system.

The conical base of the system is extended by a cylinder leading to the crater

(1).

The system is placed on the well by means of a crane.

The cutting in (v) of the two plates (8a, 8b) of said door, allows the system to be centered with respect to the well, by the locking movement of the two plates

(8a, 8b) controlled simultaneously by hydraulic cylinders (8c, 8d) on the two opposite sides towards the center (2).

A variant has pipes (3z) on its base to propel a non-flammable gas (eg nitrogen or carbon dioxide) downwards, to cool the well and the surrounding soil, simultaneously with the extinction process.

THE SYSTEMS DESCRIBED AND THE ATTACHED DRAWINGS ARE EXAMPLES AND DO NOT LIMIT

NOT THE PROCESSES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION.

Claims

R E V E N D I C A T I O N S

1) System for extinguishing oil wells under very high pressures without the use of dynanite, characterized, for example, in that it comprises a furnace system, having its base in conical shape which resembles a volcano, and acting by the asphyxiation of the flames, by the introduction of a non-flammable gas (eg carbon dioxide or liquid nitrogen), or of water in the system by holes (4a, 4b) made on the conical part, the propagation of this gas in a vortex, obtained by the application of angle-shaped fittings in the system, advancing in the direction of the flame, and intensifying by the conical shape of the system to exit by the crater (1), making a sort of eruption, invading all the flannes; the introduction of pressurized gas begins in the name of the displacement of the system towards the well, allowing at the moment the penetration of the pipe, the imminent invasion of flames by the gas; gas tanks are to be provided with the system.

2) System according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a cutout (2) allowing the introduction of the well on fire, and a door (8a, 8b) which blocks this cutout after the penetration of the well; the opening and locking of said door are actuated by radio-controlled hydraulic cylinders (8c, 8d), placed on two opposite sides outside the system.

3) System according to claims 1,2, characterized in that the conical base of the system is extended by a cylinder leading to the crater (1).

4) System according to any one of claims, characterized in that the system is placed on the well to the core of a crane.

5) System according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the cutting in (v) of the two plates (8a, 8b) of said door, allows to center the system relative to the well, by the new blocking of plates (8a, 8b), controlled simultaneously by hydraulic cylinders (8c, 8d) on the two opposite sides towards the center (2) of the system.

6) System according to any one of claims, characterized in that, a variant comprises on its base pipes (3z) making it possible to propel a non-flammable gas (eg carbon dioxide or liquid nitrogen) downwards, to cool the well and the surrounding sinultanenous soil with the process of extinguishing the well. AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on October 1, 1992 (01.10.92); claim 1 as amended; claims 3 and 4 canceled;

other claims unchanged but renumbered (1 page)]

1) System for extinguishing oil wells of the type comprising, for example, a conical base which resembles a volcano, extended by a cylinder leading to a crater (1); this new system is characterized in that it allows the extinction of wells subjected to very high pressures by the asphyxiation of the flames by the introduction of a non-flammable gas into the system, for example CARBON GAS OR LIQUID NITROGEN UNDER PRESSURE, by holes (4a, 4b) which are made on the conical part of the system, the propagation of this gas in a vortex, obtained by the application of angle-shaped fittings in the system, advancing in the same direction as the flames, and intensifying while going up by the conical form of the system, to exit by the crater (1) making a kind of eruption invading all the flames; the introduction of the pressurized liquid gas begins at the time of the displacement of the system towards the well, allowing at the moment of penetration of the pipe, the imminent invasion of the flames by the gas; gas tanks are to be provided with the system.

2) System according to claim 1, in that it also comprises a cutout (2) allowing the introduction of the well on fire, and a door (8a, 8b) which blocks the cutout after the introduction of the well; the opening and locking of said door are actuated with radio-controlled hydraulic cylinders (8c, 8d) placed on two opposite sides outside the system.

3) System according to claims 1,2, characterized in that the plates (8a, 8b) of said door have cutouts in (v) for centering the system relative to the well, by the locking movement of the two plates (8a, 8b), controlled simultaneously from the two opposite sides towards the center of the system (2).

4) System according to claims 1,2,3, characterized in that a variant of the system comprises on its base means (3z) for propelling a non-flammable gas for example, CARBON GAS AND LIQUID NITROGEN down to cool the well and surrounding soil simultaneously with the process of quenching the well. DECLARATION ACCORDING TO ARTICLE 19

Most often inventions and products have been applied usefully for decades without having given the best solution to the problem, so most often the best solution (the invention) is the result of a new system applied with known products, or a known system applied with products for the first time.

CLAIM 1

i.modified by, of the type (concerning the conical form of the system which is known according to documents 1520288, 1857788, 1219418).

ii. document 3885629 concerns a blocking system with the introduction of CO2 and NITROGEN to predict the explosions of the well heads which are located near a well which will be treated with explosives and not an extinguishing system wells on fire.

CLAIM 2

unchanged (document 1498453 relates to a wellhead control valve and not to an extinguishing system).

CLAIM 3

canceled (referred to in document 1219418).

CLAIM 4

cumulative (referred to in document 1520288) not designated in the report

CLAIM 5

unchanged (not targeted)

CLAIM 6

unchanged (not targeted)

The invention 3885629 cited in the report in category Y, is a solution for predicting the explosions of the wells which are near a well which must be blown with explosives, and relates to the blocking of the wells not the extinction as well as it belongs to the classification E 21 B 33/03 AND E 21 B 33/02.

Before August 1991 the extinction of wells with explosives at KUWAIT caused the consequences described in the text of MONSIEUR BRIAN ERB, and also cracking of the ground surrounding these wells, worsening the situation and making enormous unnecessary costs to repair, these serious consequences have been avoided since August 1991 by the use of this new system.

With the KOWAIT well disaster, it turned out that we had to find a new method of extinguishing wells subjected to very high pressures which does not cause consequences, especially since the wells at great risk are those which are in an area where the pressure is high.

On 02.05.91 the documents of 1924 were 68 years old and the most recent is from 1975 which was 17 years old. The experts used dynamite for the wells subjected to very strong pressures until 30.07.91 in spite of the immensity of the disaster of KOWAIT with more than 730 wells on fire and which gathered all the experts of the oil fields of the world, who discussed the problem together and were given carte blanche to resolve them. I think that people in the trade should be given a deadline without having to wait centuries each time before finding the solution to the problem to be solved, especially when it comes to pollution.

The properties of CO2 and nitrogen have been known for decades, but we had to think of using them for the extinction of wells. The basic process of extinguishing the whole story is the asphyxiation of the flames, the change is simply in the way of proceeding.

The system submitted to you has been proven on wells subjected to very high pressures, and has given the solution to the following problems:

I. The smooth extinction of the well despite the strongest pressures.

II. The conservation of the trapped well and its installations.

III. No consequences on other wells.

OTHER BENEFITS

IV. Limiting costs by rendering invention 3885629 useless.

V. Limiting the time of fire and pollution, without having to take unnecessary precautions on the other wells also limiting oil losses in record time.

VI. Avoid the dangers of using explosives to people.

The present invention has described for the first time the extinction of wells with CO2 and nitrogen, it also includes means for centering the system relative to the well, and for blocking the oil in the base of the system.