US3716426A - Mixture of a radioactive tracer substance and a propellent for marking drilling tools for deep wells and similar boreholes - Google Patents

Mixture of a radioactive tracer substance and a propellent for marking drilling tools for deep wells and similar boreholes Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3716426A
US3716426A US00829808A US3716426DA US3716426A US 3716426 A US3716426 A US 3716426A US 00829808 A US00829808 A US 00829808A US 3716426D A US3716426D A US 3716426DA US 3716426 A US3716426 A US 3716426A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
mixture
propellent
drilling tools
deep wells
radioactive tracer
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00829808A
Inventor
H Becker
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hoechst AG
Original Assignee
Hoechst AG
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hoechst AG filed Critical Hoechst AG
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3716426A publication Critical patent/US3716426A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
    • C06B—EXPLOSIVES OR THERMIC COMPOSITIONS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS EXPLOSIVES
    • C06B33/00—Compositions containing particulate metal, alloy, boron, silicon, selenium or tellurium with at least one oxygen supplying material which is either a metal oxide or a salt, organic or inorganic, capable of yielding a metal oxide
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
    • C06B—EXPLOSIVES OR THERMIC COMPOSITIONS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS EXPLOSIVES
    • C06B23/00—Compositions characterised by non-explosive or non-thermic constituents
    • C06B23/008—Tagging additives
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
    • C06B—EXPLOSIVES OR THERMIC COMPOSITIONS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS EXPLOSIVES
    • C06B25/00—Compositions containing a nitrated organic compound
    • C06B25/04—Compositions containing a nitrated organic compound the nitrated compound being an aromatic
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
    • C06C—DETONATING OR PRIMING DEVICES; FUSES; CHEMICAL LIGHTERS; PYROPHORIC COMPOSITIONS
    • C06C7/00—Non-electric detonators; Blasting caps; Primers
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S507/00—Earth boring, well treating, and oil field chemistry
    • Y10S507/907—Indicating means, e.g. dye, fluorescing agent

Definitions

  • alkali metals their hydrides and, furthermore, alanates, i.e., substances in which the reaction takes place with water, whereby the evolution of gas takes place, in stoichiometric proportions.
  • alanates i.e., substances in which the reaction takes place with water
  • the prerequisite for a reliable response is that, when the tracer cavity is cut open, a sufficient cross-section is laid bare through which the water can penetrate. Otherwise the evolution of gas and, therewith, the expulsion of the indicator takes place intermittently. Under unfavorable circumstances, for example owing to the cross-section of the entry being clogged, the evolution of gas may even cease entirely whereby the entire control of the amount of wear becomes unreliable.
  • the present invention avails itself of the fact that mixtures of finely divided aluminum and alkali metal peroxides react even on the addition of small amounts of water with explosive force, in which case the water only has a catalytic function and does not participate in the reaction in stoichiometric proportion.
  • the mixtures to be embedded in the tracer cavities in drilling tools for deep wells and similar boreholes consist of a radioactive tracer substance and a propellent which evolves gas upon the addition of water.
  • a propellent a mixture of finely divided aluminum and an alkali metal peroxide as the primer and an explosive as the gas-evolving component.
  • an aluminum powder commercially used, for example, in the form of aluminum bronze for paints.
  • any explosive which can be exploded or detonated by the exploding mixture of finely divided aluminum and alkali metal peroxide.
  • explosives having a low melting point for example TNT, are suitable in a lesser degree because, owing to the high temperatures of the frillin tools, there is a danger that the explosive melts, enve ops the primer mixture and,
  • those substances may not be used which form salts with heavy metals, which salts are susceptible to shocks and impacts such, for example, as picric acid.
  • Ammonium picrate may be employed with special advantage in the mixtures to be used according to the invention. It is stable up to temperatures exceeding 200C and does not form heavy metal salts.
  • the finely divided aluminum and alkali metal peroxide may be, but must not be present in stoichiometric proportions in the mixture.
  • the amount of peroxide required is half that which would be necessary in the stoichiometric relationship in ac cordance with the equation 2 A1 3 Me O A1 0 3 Me O.
  • the effect rapidly declines below or above the indicated limits.
  • radioactive indicator there is advantageously used krypton 85, preferably in the form of its clathrate with hydroquinone, as described in British Patent Specification No. 1,126,916.
  • the quantitative ratio of the primer mixture to the explosive is not critical.
  • the mixtures indicated in the Table following hereunder yield good results, the amounts in each case also being given in parts by volume because the dosage according to parts by volume is especially convenient.
  • aluminum there was used the so-called aluminum bronze.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)

Abstract

For the expulsion of radioactive indicators from tracer cavities in drilling tools for deep wells and similar boreholes propellants are used which do not react with the water of the circulating drilling fluid in stoichiometric proportions. The propellents consist of a mixture of aluminum powder and an alkali metal peroxide as the primer and an explosive as the gas-yielding component. Ammonium picrate may be used with special advantage as the gas-yielding component.

Description

Ilnited States Patent Becker Feb. 13, 1973 MIXTURE OF A RADIOACTIVE TRACER SUBSTANCE ANI) A PROPELLENT FOR MARKING DRILLING TOOLS FOR DEEP WELLS AND SIMILAR BOREHOLES Inventor: Herbert Becker, Frankfurt/Main,
Germany Assignee: Farbwerke Hoechst Aktengesellschaft vormalls Meister Lucius Bruning, Frankfurt/Main, Germany Filed: June 2, 1969 Appl. No.: 829,808
[1.8. CI. ..149/38, 252/30l.l R, 252/85, 175/35, 175/42, 149/88 Int. Cl. ..C06b 15/00 Field of Search ..252/8.5, 301.1; 149/37, 38, 149/39, 88; 175/35, 42
[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,995,526 8/1961 De Ment ..l49/85 X Primary ExaminerCarl D. Quarforth Assistant ExaminerStephen J. Lechert, Jr. Attorney-Curtis, Morris & Safford [57] ABSTRACT 2 Claims, No Drawings MIXTURE OF A RADIOACTIVE TRACER SUBSTANCE AND A PROPELLENT FOR MARKING DRILLING TOOLS FOR DEEP WELLS AND SIMILAR BOREHOLES The present invention relates to a mixture of a radioactive tracer substance and a propellent which, when coming into contact with water, decomposes with explosive force with the evolution of gas. Mixtures of this type are embedded in the tracer cavities with which the drilling tools for deep wells and similar boreholes are provided in order to control the amount of wear which has occurred.
It has already been described in British Patent Specification No. 1,126,916 that the highest permissible amount of wear in drilling tools for deep wells and similar boreholes can be detected by means of radioactive indicators. At the sites which are especially exposed to abrasion the drilling tools are provided with tracer cavities in which a mixture of a radioactive indicator and a propellent is embedded and which are then closed. When the highest permissible amount of wear has occurred, the tracer cavities are cut open, the aqueous drilling fluid comes into contact with the propellent and owing to a chemical reaction gas is evolved which expells the indicator from the tracer cavity.
As propellants there have hitherto been proposed, for example, alkali metals, their hydrides and, furthermore, alanates, i.e., substances in which the reaction takes place with water, whereby the evolution of gas takes place, in stoichiometric proportions. The prerequisite for a reliable response is that, when the tracer cavity is cut open, a sufficient cross-section is laid bare through which the water can penetrate. Otherwise the evolution of gas and, therewith, the expulsion of the indicator takes place intermittently. Under unfavorable circumstances, for example owing to the cross-section of the entry being clogged, the evolution of gas may even cease entirely whereby the entire control of the amount of wear becomes unreliable.
The present invention avails itself of the fact that mixtures of finely divided aluminum and alkali metal peroxides react even on the addition of small amounts of water with explosive force, in which case the water only has a catalytic function and does not participate in the reaction in stoichiometric proportion.
The mixtures to be embedded in the tracer cavities in drilling tools for deep wells and similar boreholes consist of a radioactive tracer substance and a propellent which evolves gas upon the addition of water. In accordance with the invention, there is used as a propellent a mixture of finely divided aluminum and an alkali metal peroxide as the primer and an explosive as the gas-evolving component.
As finely divided aluminum there is advantageously used an aluminum powder commercially used, for example, in the form of aluminum bronze for paints.
As component yielding gas there may fundamentally be used any explosive which can be exploded or detonated by the exploding mixture of finely divided aluminum and alkali metal peroxide. However, explosives having a low melting point, for example TNT, are suitable in a lesser degree because, owing to the high temperatures of the frillin tools, there is a danger that the explosive melts, enve ops the primer mixture and,
thereby, prevents the propellent to come into contact with water. Furthermore, those substances may not be used which form salts with heavy metals, which salts are susceptible to shocks and impacts such, for example, as picric acid.
Ammonium picrate may be employed with special advantage in the mixtures to be used according to the invention. It is stable up to temperatures exceeding 200C and does not form heavy metal salts.
The finely divided aluminum and alkali metal peroxide may be, but must not be present in stoichiometric proportions in the mixture. For a good priming, the amount of peroxide required is half that which would be necessary in the stoichiometric relationship in ac cordance with the equation 2 A1 3 Me O A1 0 3 Me O. Also with double the stoichiometric amount of peroxide there is still attained a satisfactory priming, however, the effect rapidly declines below or above the indicated limits.
As radioactive indicator there is advantageously used krypton 85, preferably in the form of its clathrate with hydroquinone, as described in British Patent Specification No. 1,126,916.
The quantitative ratio of the primer mixture to the explosive is not critical. For example, the mixtures indicated in the Table following hereunder yield good results, the amounts in each case also being given in parts by volume because the dosage according to parts by volume is especially convenient. As aluminum there was used the so-called aluminum bronze.
T a b l e Al Na O NH picrate volume ratio 1 l 1 weight ratio l 2.6 [.4 volume ratio 1 2 1 weight ratio 1 5.2 1.4 volume ratio 1 2 2 weight ratio 1 5.2 2.8 volume ratio 1 3 1 weight ratio l 7.8 1.4 volume ratio 1 3 2 weight ratio l 7.8 2.8
I claim:

Claims (1)

1. In a composition of matter adaptable to use for indicating wear in drilling tools, said composition consisting essentially of a mixture of a radioactive tracer, ammonium picrate, and a water-activated primer for said ammonium picrate, the improvement wherein said primer is a mixture of finely-divided aluminum and an alkali metal peroxide.
US00829808A 1969-06-02 1969-06-02 Mixture of a radioactive tracer substance and a propellent for marking drilling tools for deep wells and similar boreholes Expired - Lifetime US3716426A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US82980869A 1969-06-02 1969-06-02

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3716426A true US3716426A (en) 1973-02-13

Family

ID=25255618

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00829808A Expired - Lifetime US3716426A (en) 1969-06-02 1969-06-02 Mixture of a radioactive tracer substance and a propellent for marking drilling tools for deep wells and similar boreholes

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US3716426A (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4346591A (en) * 1981-08-21 1982-08-31 Evans Robert F Sensing impending sealed bearing and gage failure
US20060052251A1 (en) * 2004-09-09 2006-03-09 Anderson David K Time release multisource marker and method of deployment
US7060992B1 (en) 2003-03-10 2006-06-13 Tiax Llc System and method for bioaerosol discrimination by time-resolved fluorescence
US20060237665A1 (en) * 2003-03-10 2006-10-26 Barney William S Bioaerosol discrimination

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2995526A (en) * 1951-07-27 1961-08-08 Ment Jack De Composition for smoke production

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2995526A (en) * 1951-07-27 1961-08-08 Ment Jack De Composition for smoke production

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4346591A (en) * 1981-08-21 1982-08-31 Evans Robert F Sensing impending sealed bearing and gage failure
US7060992B1 (en) 2003-03-10 2006-06-13 Tiax Llc System and method for bioaerosol discrimination by time-resolved fluorescence
US20060237665A1 (en) * 2003-03-10 2006-10-26 Barney William S Bioaerosol discrimination
US20060052251A1 (en) * 2004-09-09 2006-03-09 Anderson David K Time release multisource marker and method of deployment

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3419444A (en) Thickened aqueous inorganic nitrate salt-nitroparaffin explosive composition sensitized with an air entrapping material
US3716426A (en) Mixture of a radioactive tracer substance and a propellent for marking drilling tools for deep wells and similar boreholes
GB1147724A (en) Priming mixtures
GB1301185A (en) Blasting slurry compositions containing calcium nitrate
US3619305A (en) Explosive compositions containing expanded ammonium nitrate in crystalline form and method of preparing same
US3409484A (en) Thickened inorganic oxidizer salt slurried explosive containing an alkylamine nitrate and an air-entrapping material
US3523047A (en) Hydrazine and aluminum containing explosive compositions
US3695948A (en) Cast explosive composition containing thiourea
GB1276311A (en) Mixture of a radioactive tracer substance and a propellent for use in drilling tools
GB910374A (en) Slurry blasting explosives
US3768410A (en) Cap sensitive ammonium nitrate-hydrazing-water-explosive
US3912560A (en) Thin layer propagating slurry explosive
US4634480A (en) Method of combining liquid explosive compositions for field operations
US3053710A (en) Magnesium hydride explosive compositions
Ennis et al. On hazardous silver compounds
Rae et al. Rackarock: On the Path from Black Powder to ANFO
US3431154A (en) Aqueous slurry explosive composition containing a chlorinated organic compound as sensitizer
GB570075A (en) Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of compact combustible explosive charges
Jennings-White et al. Hazardous chemical combinations: a discussion
GB1362352A (en) Slurry blasting compositions
RU2026272C1 (en) Gun-powder composition
EP0102181A2 (en) A stable single phase liquid explosive
RU2698834C1 (en) Industrial explosive
US3475238A (en) Method for preparing gelled slurry explosive compositions containing distinct liquid and solid phases
US1095302A (en) Explosive.