Methods and apparatuses for controlling and preventing blow-outs in wells

Claim 3

A remote control offshore well flow controller and blow-out preventer for a well tubing extending from the bottom up to the surface of a body of water comprising, a. subsurface housing means having a flow chamber means for interconnecting two ends of the well tubing, b. remote control pin extendible and retractable means for extending pins into said flow chamber means and for retracting the pins from said flow chamber means, c. remote control supply means for inserting sealer material into said well tubing below said pins when said pins are extended into said flow chamber, d. said subsurface housing means being responsive to said remote control pin extendible and retractable means and remote control supply means for catching said sealer material on extended pins for forming an impermeable plug for sealing the well tubing fluid tight, and e. said subsurface housing means being responsive to said remote control pin extendible and retractable means and remote control supply means for opening said flow chamber means for free full fluid flow.

Claim 4

A remote control offshore well flow controller and blow-out preventer for a well tubing extending from the bottom up to the surface of a body of water comprising, a. subsurface housing means having a flow chamber means for interconnecting two ends of the well tubing, b. remote control pin extendible and retractable means for extending pins into said flow chamber means and for retracting the pins from said flow chamber means, c. remote control supply means for inserting sealer material into said well tubing below said pins when said pins are extended into said flow chamber, d. said subsurface housing means being responsive to said remote control pin extendible and retractable means and remote control supply means for catching said sealer material on extended pins for forming an impermeable plug for sealing the well tubing fluid tight, and e. said subsurface housing means being responsive to said remote control pin extendible and retractable means and remote control supply means for opening said flow chamber means for free full fluid flow.

Claim 5

A remote control offshore well flow controller and blow-out preventer for a well tubing extending from the bottom up to the surface of a body of water comprising, a. subsurface housing having a chamber means interconnecting two ends of the well tubing and pins extendible into said chamber and retractable from said chamber, b. remote control valve means above the surface operatively connected to said housing for extending and retracting said pins, c. remote control valve means for supplying sealer material to the well tubing below said pins when said pins are extended into said chamber means, d. said chamber means being responsive to said pin extendible and retractable remote control valve means and said sealer material supply remote control valve means for catching said sealer material on extended pins for forming an impermeable plug for sealing the well tubing fluid tight, and e. said chamber means being responsive to said pin extendible and retractable remote control valve means and said sealer material supply remote control valve means for opening said chamber means for free full fluid flow.

Claim 6

A remote control offshore well flow controller and blow-out preventer for a well tubing extending from the bottom up to the surface of a body of water comprising, a. subsurface housing having a chamber means interconnecting two ends of the well tubing and pins extendible into said chamber and retractable from said chamber, b. remote control valve means above the surface operatively connected to said housing for extending and retracting said pins, c. remote control valve means for supplying sealer material to the well tubing below said pins when said pins are extended into said chamber means, d. said chamber means being responsive to said pin extendible and retractable remote control valve means and said sealer material supply remote control valve means for catching said sealer material on extended pins for forming an impermeable plug for sealing the well tubing fluid tight, and e. said chamber means being responsive to said pin extendible and retractable remote control valve means and said sealer material supply remote control valve means for opening said chamber means for free full fluid flow.

Claim 9

A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the sEcond method step comprises, a. forming remote control extendible and retractable pin means for being extendible into the chamber and retractable from the chamber by actuation of controllable reversible fluid flow lines.

Claim 10

A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the third method step comprises, a. forming balls for insertion into the well tubing upstream of the extended snare means for catching and lodging on the extended snare means, and b. forming mastic means for insertion into the well tubing following the balls for forming an impermeable plug for sealing the well tubing fluid tight.

Claim 11

A remote control well flow controller and blow-out preventer for a well tubing extending down into a well having upward fluid flow comprising, a. chamber means for mounting in the well tubing, b. remote control retractable snare means for said chamber means for being both extendible into said chamber means and retractable from said chamber means, c. remote control supply means for inserting a sealer material upstream of the extended snare means, and d. said remote control supply means being responsive to said remote control retractable snare means for inserting a sealer material in the well tubing upstream of said chamber means for catching and lodging on the extended snare means for forming an impermeable plug for sealing the well tubing fluid tight.

Claim 12

A remote control well flow controller and blow-out preventer for a well tubing extending down into a well having upward fluid flow comprising, a. chamber means for mounting in the well tubing, b. remote control retractable snare means for said chamber means for being both extendible into said chamber means and retractable from said chamber means, c. remote control supply means for inserting a sealer material upstream of the extended snare means, and d. said remote control supply means being responsive to said remote control retractable snare means for inserting a sealer material in the well tubing upstream of said chamber means for catching and lodging on the extended snare means for forming an impermeable plug for sealing the well tubing fluid tight.

Claim 13

A remote control well flow controller as recited in claim 7 wherein, a. said chamber means is responsive to said remote control retractable snare means for being freed of said sealer material for opening the well tubing to free full fluid flow.

Claim 14

A remote control well flow controller as recited in claim 7 wherein, a. said remote control retractable snare means comprises a plurality of controllable extendible and retractable pins, b. said pins being extendible for catching said sealer material when injected upstream in the well tubing for forming an impermeable plug for stopping the well tubing fluid flow, and c. said pins being retractable for releasing said sealer material for unplugging the well for providing free full fluid flow.

Claim 15

A remote control well flow controller as recited in claim 7 wherein said sealer material comprises, a. balls of at least two different sizes for lodging and piling up on said extended snare means, and b. mastic means for following said balls for forming an efficient impermeable fluid tight seal in the well tubing.