Magnetic leak management apparatus and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9476277-B2
Application number	US-201113878552-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2011
Priority date	Oct 9, 2010
Publication date	Oct 25, 2016
Grant date	Oct 25, 2016

Abstract

Magnetic means for managing and stopping leaks in metal pipes such as well bores and pipe risers is provided. A magnetic leak arrestor comprises a spool with magnetic collar disposed thereabout. The spool has a tapered end for inserting into a pipe riser. The magnetic collar creates a seal with the pipe riser, which may be welded in place, if desired. Additionally, a magnet may be positioned proximate a leak in a side wall of a pipe riser to seal the leak. The magnet may be shaped to conform to the shape of the pipe riser, and a seal gasket provided around an edge portion of the magnet. A slurry of magnetically active material may be provide inside the pipe to seal the leak in the side wall or to provide a blockage in the pipe riser so that killing fluids may be pumped into the well bore, if desired.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
contacting a riser with an arrestor comprising a spool, a magnetic collar, a ring and a valve, while maintaining the valve in an open position, wherein the magnetic collar contains an electromagnet and the ring is coupled to the magnetic collar such that a recess is formed between the ring and the spool;
aligning the arrestor with the riser until the riser is within the recess and the magnetic collar contacts the riser;
activating the electromagnet such that magnetic force between the magnetic collar and the riser maintains the arrestor's position with respect to the riser;
permanently securing the arrestor to the riser; and
closing the valve once the arrestor is secured such that flow from the riser is obstructed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the magnetic collar comprises an electromagnet.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising activating said electromagnet once the magnetic collar contacts the riser.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the spool has a diameter equal to or less than the diameter of the riser.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the spool comprises a tapered fitting configured to fit within the riser.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the spool has a diameter equal to or greater than the diameter of the riser.

Assignees

• Stamatakis Emanuel
• M-I L L C

Inventors

• Stamatakis Emanuel

Classifications

• E21B33/00

  Sealing or packing boreholes or wells · CPC title

• F16L55/168

  from outside the pipe (specially adapted for bends, branch units, branching pipes, or the like F16L55/179) · CPC title

• E21B29/10 Primary

  Reconditioning of well casings, e.g. straightening · CPC title

• E21B33/13

  Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like · CPC title

• E21B41/00

  Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00 · CPC title