US 12,392,211 B2
Explosive downhole tools having improved wellbore conveyance and debris properties, methods of using the explosive downhole tools in a wellbore, and explosive units for explosive column tools
James G. Rairigh, Houston, TX (US); and Walter Stam, Amsterdam (NL)
Assigned to W.T. Bell International, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by W.T. Bell International, Inc., Houston, TX (US); and James G. Rairigh, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Mar. 13, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/603,983.
Application 18/371,908 is a division of application No. 17/512,899, filed on Oct. 28, 2021, granted, now 11,781,393.
Application 18/603,983 is a continuation in part of application No. 18/371,908, filed on Sep. 22, 2023.
Application 17/512,899 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/313,828, filed on May 6, 2021, granted, now 11,536,104, issued on Dec. 27, 2022.
Application 17/313,828 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/126,982, filed on Dec. 18, 2020, granted, now 11,480,021, issued on Oct. 25, 2022.
Application 17/126,982 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/970,602, granted, now 11,002,097, issued on May 11, 2021, previously published as PCT/US2019/046920, filed on Aug. 16, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/764,858, filed on Aug. 16, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0209706 A1, Jun. 27, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E21B 29/02 (2006.01); E21B 23/04 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 29/02 (2013.01) [E21B 23/0414 (2020.05)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An explosive downhole tool for at least one of cutting and selectively expanding a wall of a tubular, comprising:
a first housing comprising a first explosive charge comprising a predetermined amount of explosive material for generating at least a first radial explosive wave front that: (i) cuts the wall of the tubular; or (ii) expands, without puncturing, the wall of the tubular into a first protrusion extending outward into an annulus adjacent the wall of the tubular;
a second housing spaced axially from the first housing along a length of the explosive downhole tool, the second housing comprising a second explosive charge comprising a predetermined amount of explosive material for generating at least a second radial explosive wave front that: (i) cuts the wall of the tubular; or (ii) expands, without puncturing, the wall of the tubular into a second protrusion extending outward into the annulus adjacent the wall of the tubular; and
an intermediate connector axially connecting the first housing to the second housing, wherein the explosive material of the first explosive charge further generates a first axial explosive wave front that travels axially from the first housing, wherein
the explosive material of the second explosive charge further generates a second axial explosive wave front that travels axially from the second housing toward the first axial explosive wave front to collide with the first axial explosive wave front, and wherein
a collision of the first axial explosive wave front with the second axial explosive wave front generates a third radial explosive wave front that: (i) cuts the wall of the tubular; or (ii) expands, without puncturing, the wall of the tubular into a third protrusion between the first protrusion and the second protrusion, wherein the third protrusion extends outward into the annulus adjacent the wall of the tubular, and wherein
each of the first housing and the second housing comprises: a window section, an upper housing part on one side of the window section, and a lower housing part on an opposite side of the window section, wherein each of the upper housing part and the lower housing part comprises an outer surface that faces away from the housing, and wherein a majority of the outer surface of at least one of the upper housing part and the lower housing part in cross-section is rounded so as to be devoid of corners.