Consumable downhole tool

• US 8,235,102 B1
• Filed: 08/13/2008
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MCR Oil Tools, LLC (MCR Oil Tools Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Robertson Intellectual Properties, Llc
• Inventors: Robertson, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bomar, Shane
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALLACE, KIPP CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US12/190,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20120199340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 166/58, 166/59, 166/63
• US Class Current: 166/63
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/06 Releasing-joints, e.g. safety joints
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/06 for setting packers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 29/02 by explosives or by thermal or chemical means freeing stuck objects by explosives E21B31/002
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 31/002 Destroying the objects to be fished, e.g. by explosive means
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1204 permanent; drillable

Abstract

A torch apparatus for consuming a material having a fuel load that produces heat and a source of oxygen when burned, and a plurality of slots having interstitial spaces therebetween for allowing longitudinal flow of fluid along the torch apparatus without interfering with the flow of fluid through the slots. The slots are oriented such that the heat and source of oxygen are provided to a material that is at least partially consumed when exposed to heat and oxygen, to thereby cause destruction of an object containing the material or disengagement of the object such that it falls into the wellbore.

Claims

1. A system for consuming a downhole material comprising:

A torch apparatus disposed within a cased region of a borehole, wherein the torch apparatus comprises;

a torch body comprising a fuel load that produces heat and a source of oxygen when burned; and

a nozzle section engaged with the torch body configured with a plurality of slots to allow longitudinal flow of fluid along the torch body without interfering with the flow of fluid through the slots, and wherein the orientation of the nozzle section directs the heat and the source of oxygen toward a material disposed proximate to the torch apparatus that is at least partially consumed when exposed to heat and the source of oxygen.

2. The torch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the torch apparatus is configured to direct cutting fluids into a joint of a downhole tubestring.

3. The torch apparatus of claim 2, wherein the downhole tubestring further comprises a drill collar string.

4. The torch apparatus of claim 2, wherein the joint comprises a pin component engaged with a box component.

5. The torch apparatus of claim 1, the nozzle section further comprising a movable piston, wherein cutting fluids are produced from the torch apparatus upon movement of the piston.

6. The torch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzle section is disposed within a cavity defined within the material.

7. The torch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of slots extend in a longitudinal direction and are arranged around a circumference of the nozzle section.

8. The torch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of slots further comprise a first set of slots having at least two rows of slots spaced longitudinally from one another and a second set of slots having at least two rows of slots spaced longitudinally from one another, wherein the first set of slots and the second set of slots are longitudinally spaced from each other.

9. The torch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzle section is oriented such that heat and the source of oxygen are directed toward a body, structural component, or holding component formed at least partially from the material to perforate at least a portion of the body, structural component, or holding component.

10. The torch apparatus of claim 9, wherein the body, structural component, or holding component is formed at least partially from a material other than the material that is at least partially consumed when exposed to heat and the source of oxygen.

11. The torch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the material comprises a metal that is consumed when exposed to heat and the source of oxygen.

12. The torch apparatus of claim 11, wherein the metal is magnesium, and wherein the magnesium is oxidized when exposed to heat and the source of oxygen.

13. The torch apparatus of claim 11, wherein the metal is lead, and wherein the lead is melted, dissolved, or combinations thereof, when exposed to heat and the source of oxygen.

14. The torch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fuel load comprises a flammable, non-explosive solid that produces heat and the source of oxygen when burned.

15. The torch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fuel load comprises thermite.

16. The torch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fuel load produces molten plasma when burned, and wherein the molten plasma is provided through the slots to the material.

17. The torch apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a firing mechanism with a heat source in communication with the fuel load for igniting the fuel load.

18. The torch apparatus of claim 17, wherein the firing mechanism is an electronic igniter.

19. The torch apparatus of claim 17, wherein the firing mechanism further comprises a timing device for causing ignition of the fuel load after a preselected elapsed time.

20. The torch apparatus of claim 19, wherein the timing device is programmable to activate the heat source when pre-defined conditions are met.

21. The torch apparatus of claim 20, wherein the firing mechanism comprises an electronic timer, a mechanical timer, a spring-wound timer, a volume timer, or a measured flow timer.

22. The torch apparatus of claim 21, wherein the pre-defined conditions comprise elapsed time, temperature, pressure, volume, or any combination thereof.

23. The torch apparatus of claim 17, wherein the firing mechanism further comprises a pressure actuated firing head.

24. The torch apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure for storing an accelerant.

25. The torch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzle section is disposed within a cavity defined within the material.

26. The torch apparatus of claim 25, wherein an annular flow space is defined between the nozzle section and the material.

27. The torch apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one slot of the plurality of slots comprises an elongate orifice that extends in a longitudinal direction and wherein the plurality of slots are arranged around a circumference of the nozzle section.

28. The torch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the torch apparatus comprises an upper end and a lower end, and wherein the fuel load is located at the lower end.

29. The torch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzle section is disposed upstream of the fuel load.