US1855495A - Torpedo shell - Google Patents

Description

April 26, 1932. A. G. STOOPS 1,855,495

' TORPEDO SHELL Filed Jan. 20, 1930 W 2. ha .7.

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INVENTOK 7 A TTORNE y V I By /e/"f. 6:" 0700 05- Patented Apr. 26, 1932 ALBERT Gr. S'IOOPS, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA ronrnno SHELL Application filed January 20, 1930. Serial No. 421,912.

.My invention relates to containers and more particularly to torpedo shells or containers for holding explosives such as nitrolycerin used for shooting sands or other formations in oil and gas wells.

In the process of shooting oil sands, or other formations, for creatinga pocket or breaking and cracking up the wall structure of an M oil. or gas Well, it is very essential that every precaution be taken to prevent premature improved tops and bottoms to shells, of this explosion of the explosive during its descent in the well, and it is the principal object of my invention to minimize such disasters by providing non-metallic means for attaching type.

In some wells, drilling is continued below the depth of the oil sand and it is a further object of my invention to embody means for supporting a container at a predetermined height above the well hole bottom. in order to deliver the full charge of explosivesinto the oil sand.

Another object of this invention is to provide tops for containers of this character, especiallythose of relatively small diameters, adapted to be attached to bottoms of superimposed containers, thus providing a string of explosives for wells wherein the layer of oil sand is'of such thickness that the use of a single container would be impractical.

In accomplishing these and other objects oftheinvention, I have provided improved details ofstructure, the preferredforms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a central Vertical section of a well hole and casing illustrating a pair of containers being lowered into position for dis.- charging. V V

Fig. 2 is a central vertical'section of containers in assembled relation.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a container and connecting link in disassembled relation.

Fig. 1 is a cross section on the line 44, Fig. 2.

Referring more in detail'to the drawings:

1 designates a well hole drilled through cap rock 2 and oil sand 3, and terminating in more solid formation 4., below the oil sand,

the well being lined with casing 5 supported by a shoe 6 0n the cap rock 2.

In order to deliver a charge of explosives, such as nitroglyceriminto the well for shooting the oil sand to create a pocket for the collection of oil, I provide containers? of improved construction, each including a tubular shell or body member 8 of non-metallic maizefiial such as compressed paper pulp or the Mounted within the upper end of the shell is a closuremember 9, preferably of molded paper pulp, treated with an impregnating solution to give it strength and to make it resistant to oil, water and dilute acids. The closure member comprises a cylindrical portion 10 adapted to engage the inner wall of the tube, and has an outwardly directed flange '11 on its outer end to seat on the end of the shell. The closure member is further provided with a funnel-shaped opening 12 and with a counterbored recess13, the lower end 1 1 being formed with a conical flange 15 to facilitate insertion of the top into the shell. Diametrically opposed notches 16 in the flange and continuing as grooves 17 in the cylindrical member 10, terminate in lateral openings 18 adjacent the lower end of the closure member for receiving the hooks 19 of a bail 20.

In order to securely mount a closure member in a shell, a coat of cement is applied to the outer wall of the closure member before it is inserted in the shell. Holes 21 are then drilled transversely and preferably in staggered relationthrough the wall of the shell and the counterbored portion 18 of the top for receiving pins 22, preferably of wood.

Mounted in the lower end of the shell is a bottom member 28, also molded of treated paper pulp, and comprising a reduced cylindrical inner end 24: having a closed wall 25 and a conical outer end 26-provided with a concentric opening 27. The closure member is secured in the shell by cement and pins 22 in like manner as the top member pre- Viouslydescribed. The concentric opening 27, is adapted to receive the conical upper end 28 of a cylindrical'anchoring tip 29having a closed lower end wall 30, a non-metallic cross pin 31 being extended through the conical outer end and anchoring tip.

The conical outer end 26 and the end wall 30 are perforated as indicated at 32, for permitting equalizing of internal and external pressures to prevent float action of the hollow closure member and anchoringtip. The opening, 27 is further adapted to receive the upper end 33 of a conical end tip 36% so that either the end tip or the anchoring tip, each formed of paper pulp or like: material, may

be mounted in the closure member as occasion demands.

WVith the use of theanchoring tip, .a cylindrical end 35 of any desired length comprising-a pipe or the like, of light material, may be attached to the lower end of the shell for supporting the container at a predetermined elevation above the bottom ofthe well hole.

The depth-of the oil sand is frequently so great that it is necessary to employ a series of superimposed,containers in order to shoot the oil sand throughoutits depth.

When containers of largediameters are used they are individually lowered into the well hole andpermitted torest upon each other. However, with containers of smaller diameters, this is impractical for: obvious reasons, and for this purpose I have provided a hook 36 for attaching the lower end of a container to the bail of the nextlower container. The hook preferably comprises. a heavy wire extended through aligning openings 37 in the bottom member 23, the arms 38 V of the hook b'eingbent'downwardly adjacent the conical end wall-of the closure member and registering wall of the end tip 34, and terminating in overlapping hook portions 39 for engaging the bail of a-lower container.

A cross bar 40 extended through openings 4:1 in the end tip is welded at its ends to the arms 38 of the hook, as indicated at 42.

Various means may be employed for-slowering the containers-to the bottom of the well hole, but I have illustrated for this purpose a cable 43 attached to the bailof the upper container by an open hook 44.

Assuming a torpedo tobe assembled and constructed as described, theprocess for connecting and lowering-the containers-into the bore of awell would be as follows:

After determining the depth at-which the shot is to be'disch argedabove the bottom of the well, a pipe of corresponding length is attached by an anchoring tip to the lower closure member. If, however, it is .desired to explode the charge at the bottom of the hole, an end'tip is mounted in the closure member instead. A sufficient number of containers, if of small diameters, are then linked together to extend substantially throughout the depth of the oil sand and the string of containers is filled with a charge ofexplocable, the contents being discharged as in common practice.

Due to the method of attaching the upper and lower closure members to the shell, and to the inset position of the bail, the danger of heat incident to friction, or of sparks cre ated by this type of container in passing through metallic casing, is eliminated.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a container of the class described, a tubular shell having open upper and lower ends, a closure member extending into the upper end, a closure member extending into the lower end, all of said members being of non-metallic material, and non-metallic means extending transversely throughv the shell-and said closure members for securing the members to the shell.

2. In a container of the class described, atubular shell having open ends, an upper link, a top closure member having a filler opening and longitudinal grooves terminating in transverse apertures for receiving said link, a lower link, a bottom closure member having a transverse opening for receiving the lower link, and means comprising across bar extending through the'bottom closure member and having ends secured to the lower link for preventing pivotal movement of the lower link. 7

3. In a containerof the class described, a tubular shell having open ends, an upper link, a top closure member having a filler opening and longitudinal grooves for receiving said link, a lower link, a bottom closure member having a transverse opening for receiving the lower link, means for preventlng pivotal movement'of the lower link, and non-metallic means extending. through the shell and closure members for securing said members to the shell.

4. In a container of the class described, a cylindrical shell having upper and lower open ends, a bail, a closure member extending into the upper end having longitudinal grooves for receiving said bail and a stop shoulder for engaging the end of the shell, a hook, ,ahollow lower closure member extending into the lower end, having a stop shoulder for engaging the opposite end of the shell, means'for attaching, the hook to the closure member, and non-metallic means extending through the shell and closure members for securing said members to the shell.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALBERT G. STOOPS.

sives and lowered into the well by hook and I

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