Inductive shearing of drilling pipe

摘要

Induction shearing may be used to cut a drillpipe at an undersea well. Electromagnetic rings may be built into a blow-out preventer (BOP) at the seafloor. The electromagnetic rings create a magnetic field through the drillpipe and may transfer sufficient energy to change the state of the metal drillpipe to shear the drillpipe. After shearing the drillpipe, the drillpipe may be sealed to prevent further leakage of well contents.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of conductive segments configured to be disposed around a drillpipe, each moveable relative to the drillpipe between a stored position and a closed position in which the conductive segment is radially closer to the drillpipe, the plurality of conductive segments, when each is in the closed position but not when each is in the store position, cooperating to define an induction heating coil around the drillpipe; and an induction power supply configured to supply power to the induction heating coil to shear the drillpipe.