Extinguishing fires at oil and gas wells - by placing heavy plate over borehole leaving gap under plate and smothering with extinguishing agents from safe distance

摘要

Extinguishing fires fed at a single point from a fuel source near ground level. Partic. burning petroleum wells or natural gas wells. The top of the well (10) is covered by a heavy plate (14) so that a gap is left between the plate and the borehole. In this way, the column of flame above the well is cut off from the direct supply of fuel, and the fire is extinguished by closing the well and/or smothering the fire. A number of variants are claimed for the method and for the equipment used, including removal by suction of oil leaving the borehole. USE/ADVANTAGE - An improved method, quicker and less costly than others, for extinguishing such fires is offered, together with appropriate equipment.