Flame and Heat Resistant Oilfield Tools

Abstract

Oil and gas well tools, tool components, and explosive components having a heat resistant and/or flame retardant coating are provided. Furthermore containers and packing material having a heat resistant and/or flame retardant coating for use in transporting heat and/or flame-sensitive tools, tool components, explosives, and explosive components are provided.

1 . Apparatus for use in well operations, comprising: 
 a downhole tool having a thermal coating.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole tool is a perforating gun.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the perforating gun comprises: 
 a hollow carrier,    wherein the thermal coating surrounds the hollow carrier.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the perforating gun comprises: 
 a loading tube,    wherein the thermal coating surrounds the loading tube.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the loading tube is fabricated from metal.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the loading tube is fabricated from pulp paper.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the loading tube is fabricated from plastic.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the loading tube is fabricated from polystyrene.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the perforating gun comprises: 
 a shaped charge,    wherein the thermal coating surrounds the shaped charge.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the shaped charge is a capsule charge.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the shaped charge is a non-capsule charge.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the perforating gun comprises: 
 a propellant,    wherein the thermal coating surrounds the propellant.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole tool is a tubing cutter.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the tubing cutter comprises: 
 a housing,    wherein the thermal retardant coating surrounds the housing.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the tubing cutter comprises: 
 a shaped charge,    wherein the thermal coating surrounds the shaped charge.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole tool is a detonator.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the detonator comprises: 
 an exploding foil initiator,    wherein the thermal coating surrounds exploding foil initiator.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the detonator comprises: 
 an exploding foil initiator;    a capacitor discharge unit in connection with the initiator;    an initiator board in connection with the capacitor discharge unit;    a processor in connection with the initiator board; and    a battery in connection with the initiator board,    wherein the thermal coating surrounds the exploding foil initiator, the capacitor discharge unit, the initiator board, the processor, and the battery.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole tool is a detonating cord.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole tool is an explosive actuator.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal coating is a thermal intumescent coating.  
   
   
       22 . A perforating gun for use in a wellbore, comprising: 
 a shaped charge containing an explosive;    a loading tube for holding the shaped charge; and    a hollow carrier for carrying the loading tube into the wellbore,    wherein the shaped charge is surrounded by a thermal coating.    
   
   
       23 . The perforating gun of  claim 22 , wherein the loading tube is surrounded by a thermal coating.  
   
   
       24 . The perforating gun of  claim 23 , wherein the hollow carrier is surrounded by a thermal coating.  
   
   
       25 . A method of protecting a downhole tool for use in a well, comprising: 
 applying a thermal coating to the downhole tool.    
   
   
       26 . Apparatus for use in holding a downhole tool, comprising: 
 a container having an outer surface and defining an inner volume to receive the downhole tool; and    a thermal coating applied to the outer surface of the container.    
   
   
       27 . Apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 packing material adapted to secure the downhole tool within the inner volume of the container, the packing material having a thermal coating.    
   
   
       28 . Apparatus for use in securing a downhole tool, comprising: 
 packing material adapted to surround the downhole tool in a container, the packing material having a thermal coating.    
   
   
       29 . A method of protecting a downhole tool, comprising: 
 providing a container to hold the downhole tool;    applying a thermal coating to the container; and    placing the downhole tool within the container.    
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 providing a packing material to secure the downhole tool in the container;    applying a thermal coating to the packing material; and    positioning the packing material around the downhole tool within the container.    
   
   
       31 . A method of protecting a downhole tool, comprising: 
 providing a packing material to secure the downhole tool in a container;    applying a thermal coating to the packing material; and    positioning the packing material around the downhole tool within the container.