US1511488A - Well torpedo - Google Patents

Description

@cit. 14. 1924.

F. I. ALEXANDER WELL TORPEDO Filed Sept. 11, 192?.

(kmxa/uzle 3 serenaded. M, 1924.

WELL TOBIPEDO.

Application flled September 11, 1922. Serial H0. 587,340.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, FORD I. ALEXANDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Well Torpedo, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a Well torpedo and particularly pertains to a container for high explosives which may be employed in well blasting or in any case where explosives are utilized below the surface of the ground or where explosives are employed which might be subjected to pressure and friction. It is common practice in the course of drilling or operating wells, whether they be gas, oil or water, to explode nets on other highly explosive compounds at some predetermined point in the well for the purpose of increasing the fiow of the well or for correcting or remedying some diificulty which may arise in the course of drilling the well.

A review'o-f the records pertaining to the use of these torpedoes willclearly illustrate that the handling of the torpedo has been accompanied with numerous accidents. These accidents occur during the lowering of the torpedo into the casing and frequently result in fatalities.

In lowering the torpedo down the casing, the container frequently contacts with the sides of the casing developing friction and heat, electrical and magnetic influences, the result being that the torpedo frequently prematurely explodes subjecting the operator to considerable danger and frequently severely damaging the well. Generally, the explosive material employed is some nitroglycerine product. These products have a tendency to sweat or accumulate a thin film of nitro-glycerine on their exterior. This film is extremely sensitive and very readily exploded; any of the above mentioned reasons bein a likely explanation for the frequent accidents.

Further, it has been found practically impossible in loading the container to entirely eliminate voids or air pockets. When the torpedo is lowered into a well containlng a li uid, these air voids are subjected to considerable pressure which tends to collapse the container at the voids resulting in a premature explosion. Further, the air being trapped 'in'the voids, not being capable nitroglycerine prodof circulation, gradually rises in temperature after continued contact with the explosivey, and under pressure acts to spontaneously explode the torpedo.

object of this invention is to provide a container which may be readily and safely lowered down a well casing and which will not prematurely explode due to any of the aforesaid causes.

Another object of this invention is to provide an explosive container with a plurality of pressure equalizing apertures whereby the pressure insideand outside the container is maintained e ual and the explosive ventilated and cooled by circulation of air, water or oil in its downward descent.

Another object of this invention is to provide an explosive container with means to prevent frictional contact between said container and the walls of the casing.

Another object of this invention is to provide the explosive container with means for electrically insulating the container from the well casing.

Another inde ndent object of this invention is to provi e a well torpedo havin two separate containers or compartments w ere: by the inner container may be filled with explosive and by being positioned in the outer container or compartment, adequately protected from contacting with the well cas- 111 l lther objects of my invention will appear from the following description of the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure lis a vertical elevation of one embodiment of the invention, illustrating the torpedo positioned in a well casing.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section of Fi 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of F' 2.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modified form of the spacing means.

Fig. 5 illpstrates another modification of the spacing means.

Fig.6 illustrates a two com artment container embodying the princip es of my invention, the. outer compartment being'sectioned to disclose the inner compartment.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a well casing in which the well erally indicated at 2 is positioned to descend. The torpedo is illustrated as comprising an torpedo gen fingers 10. In Fig.

elongated cylindrical container 3 pointed or cone shaped at its bottom 4 and provided with a plurality of vertically disposed apertures 5. The torpedo is supported from the to by a bail 7. In Fig. 1 the container is il ustrated as being wound at each end with insulated wire 8 which is adapted to insulate the container from the well casing and prevent either electrical or frictional contact between said container and 'well casing.

Various forms of spacing means may be provided for thecontainer. In Fig. 4: the spacing means are shown as comprising a number of circumferentially placed sprlng 5 the spacing means are shown as comprising a plurality of circumferentially placed metal loops 11.

The container is shown as explosive charge explosives might be used. An electrical wir ing passes through the explosive charge, bein connected to suitable detonating caps 9. Thedetonating caps may be any of a number of constructions well known to the art.

In Fig. 6 of the'drawings, for further protection, the explosive container is shown filled with an which is generally some 'nitro-glycerine product, although other high The torpedo may be constructed of any material strong enough to hold the explosive and which will be readily destroyed andbroken up upon the explosion. Tin, galvanized iron, wood fibre, brass or hard rubber are examples of such material.

My invention is not limited to the preferred construction shown but various modifications may be made, all of which fall within the scope set forth in the following claims.

. I claim:

1. A well torpedo comprising an inner container provided with a plurality of vertically disposed pressure equalizing aper tures, an outer compartment enclosing sai inner container, inner container from contacting outer compartment.

2. .A well torpedo comprising a container and a solid explosive substantially filling the major part of the container, said conwith said and means maintaining said tainer having a plurality of vertically disposed apertures establishing communication between the exterior of the container and the explosive therein, thereby equalizing the inner and outer fluid pressureon the: container and permitting a circulation of fluid through the apertures and voids of the explosive. I

Signed at Los Angeles,'California, this 5th day of September, 1922.

FORD I. ALEXANDER.

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