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US3216499A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Fusible bottom-hole igniter

Assignee: Pan American Petroleum Corp
•
Filing: 1963-07-01
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Granted: 1965-11-09
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Expires: 1983-07-01
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Abstract

No abstract record available.

Inventors

  • 👤 David R Parrish

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 10:11
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B36/00; E21B36/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 181 words
A METHOD OF SUPPLYING HEAT TO AN UNDERGROUND FORMATION PENETRATED BY A WELL COMPRISING LOERING A PYROPHORIC MATERIAL INTO SAID WELL VAI A CONDUIT IN THE PRESENCE OF A GS INERT WITH RESPECT TO SAID MATERIAL, THE FLOW OF SAID MATERIAL OUT OF THE LOWER END OF SAID CONDUIT BEING PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTED AT SAID LOWER END WITH A FUSIBLE SUBSTANCE, INJECTING AN OXYGEN-CONTAINING GAS DOWN SAID WELL VIA A SECOND CONDUIT TO PRODUCE AN ATMOSPHERE IN THE VICINITY OF SAID LOWER END COMPOSED PRIMARILY OF AN OXYGEN-CONTAINING GAS, ALLOWING SAID PYROPHORIC MATERIAL TO FLOW OUT SAID PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTED LOWER END TO CONTACT SAID ATMOSPHERE WHEREBY SAID PYROPHORIC MATERIAL IS IGNITED TO GENRATE SUFFICIENT HEAT TO CUASE SAID FUSIBLE PLUG TO AT LEAST PARTIALLY MELT OR FUSE AT A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THANT THE FUSION TEMPERATURE OF SAID CONDUIT AND DROP INTO THE SPACE IN SAID WELL BELOW SAID LOWER END, IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER FLOWING A COMBUSTIBLE GAS OUT SAID LOWER END TO MIX WITH SAID ATMOSPHERE TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE, AND IGNITING THE LATTER THROUGH TEH COMBUSTION OF SAID PYROPHORIC MATERIAL.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 181 words
A METHOD OF SUPPLYING HEAT TO AN UNDERGROUND FORMATION PENETRATED BY A WELL COMPRISING LOERING A PYROPHORIC MATERIAL INTO SAID WELL VAI A CONDUIT IN THE PRESENCE OF A GS INERT WITH RESPECT TO SAID MATERIAL, THE FLOW OF SAID MATERIAL OUT OF THE LOWER END OF SAID CONDUIT BEING PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTED AT SAID LOWER END WITH A FUSIBLE SUBSTANCE, INJECTING AN OXYGEN-CONTAINING GAS DOWN SAID WELL VIA A SECOND CONDUIT TO PRODUCE AN ATMOSPHERE IN THE VICINITY OF SAID LOWER END COMPOSED PRIMARILY OF AN OXYGEN-CONTAINING GAS, ALLOWING SAID PYROPHORIC MATERIAL TO FLOW OUT SAID PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTED LOWER END TO CONTACT SAID ATMOSPHERE WHEREBY SAID PYROPHORIC MATERIAL IS IGNITED TO GENRATE SUFFICIENT HEAT TO CUASE SAID FUSIBLE PLUG TO AT LEAST PARTIALLY MELT OR FUSE AT A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THANT THE FUSION TEMPERATURE OF SAID CONDUIT AND DROP INTO THE SPACE IN SAID WELL BELOW SAID LOWER END, IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER FLOWING A COMBUSTIBLE GAS OUT SAID LOWER END TO MIX WITH SAID ATMOSPHERE TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE, AND IGNITING THE LATTER THROUGH TEH COMBUSTION OF SAID PYROPHORIC MATERIAL.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 76 words
IN A BOTTOM HOLE OIL WELL HEATER, TE COMBINATION COMPRISING A TUBULAR MEMBER THE EXTERIOR OF WHICH IS REFRACTORY LINED, MEANS AT ONE END OF SAID MEMBER FOR ATTACHEMENT TO A METAL CONDUIT, A FUSIBLE PLUG AT THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID MEMBER, SAID PLUG BEING FUSIBLE AT A TEMPERATURE BELOW ABOUT 625*F., WHICH TEMPERATURE IS SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE MELTING POINT OF SAID MEMBER, AND AN UNRESTRITED PASSAGEWAY RUNNING THROUGH SAID PLUG COAXIALLY WITH SAID MEMBER.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 76 words
IN A BOTTOM HOLE OIL WELL HEATER, TE COMBINATION COMPRISING A TUBULAR MEMBER THE EXTERIOR OF WHICH IS REFRACTORY LINED, MEANS AT ONE END OF SAID MEMBER FOR ATTACHEMENT TO A METAL CONDUIT, A FUSIBLE PLUG AT THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID MEMBER, SAID PLUG BEING FUSIBLE AT A TEMPERATURE BELOW ABOUT 625*F., WHICH TEMPERATURE IS SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE MELTING POINT OF SAID MEMBER, AND AN UNRESTRITED PASSAGEWAY RUNNING THROUGH SAID PLUG COAXIALLY WITH SAID MEMBER.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1657751A Cited
US2320670A Cited
US2352744A Cited
US2527308A Cited
US2890755A Cited
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US2941596A Cited
US3044551A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1968-11-08 1969-05-10 1969-11-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1972-11-08 1973-05-10 1973-11-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1976-11-08 1977-05-10 1977-11-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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