Projectile tool with rotatable blades

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for firing and propelling one or more projectiles into an earthen or subterranean formation for the purpose of stimulating and enhancing communication between a well bore and said formation.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A down hole well bore projectile tool apparatus to shoot one or more projectiles into an earthen or subterranean formation comprising:
 (a) a slotted body which is threadedly attached or otherwise connected to a drill string,   (b) wherein said body one or more rotatable blades are attached by a bearing near the top end of said blades,   (c) wherein said blades one or more projectile bores run the length or substantial length of said blades wherein elongated projectiles with accompanying ignitors and explosives are placed, and   (d) wherein near the top of said body a receiving chamber is able to receive an electric battery or pressure piston or ball or other activation means to set off and initiate an electric current or pressure impulse which is transferred by wire and/or bores to an ignitor and explosive in said blade projectile bores to fire or shoot projectiles into an earthen or subterranean formation.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said body a rotatable latch and attached spring are located in the body at its axial edge near the top of the slot whereby when said blades rotate on said bearing to a position perpendicular to or near perpendicular to said body the said latch will hook onto a matched recess in each blade whereby the blades and projectiles are held or locked in a shooting position ready to fire or shoot the projectiles, and 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein a rear entry bore is located near the top end of each blade to load projectiles and explosives and ignitors, and 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein each blade at the distal end of each projectile bore is an end plug of a soft steel or similar soft material which is attached by threads or other means and is penetrable by said projectile when fired whereby said plug keeps well bore fluid from entering each blade before discharge of the explosive, and 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein each blade is a piston and spring located below the said latch recess to allow the release of the blade from the perpendicular shooting position when the gas pressure from the explosive discharge enters a small bore perpendicular from the projectile bore whereby said gas pressure pushes the piston against the latch whereupon the latch disengages from the blade and the blade is then free to move to a position parallel to the original well bore for removal of the projectile tool and drill string from the well bore, and 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the projectile itself has a hollowed out chamber or bore running a portion of the length of the projectile wherein an explosive or propellant can be placed that when ignited by the explosive in the blade projectile bore will allow further penetration of the projectile into the formation or material to be penetrated. 
     
     
         7 . A down hole well bore projectile tool apparatus to shoot one or more projectiles into an earthen or subterranean formation comprising:
 (a) a slotted body which is threadedly attached or otherwise connected to a drill string,   (b) wherein said body one or more rotatable blades are attached by a bearing near the top end of said blades,   (c) wherein said blades one or more projectile bores run the length or substantial length of said blades wherein elongated projectiles with accompanying ignitors and explosives are placed, and   (d) wherein near the top of said body a receiving chamber is able to receive an electric battery or pressure piston or ball or other activation means to set off and initiate an electric current or pressure impulse which is transferred by wire and/or bores to an ignitor and explosive in said blade projectile bores to fire or shoot projectiles into an earthen or subterranean formation, and—wherein said body a rotatable latch and attached spring are located in the body at its axial edge near the top of the slot whereby when said blades rotate on said bearing to a position perpendicular to or near perpendicular to said body the said latch will hook onto a matched recess in each blade whereby the blades and projectiles are held or locked in a shooting position ready to fire or shoot the projectiles, wherein a rear entry bore is located near the top end of each blade to load projectiles and explosives and ignitors, wherein each blade at the distal end of each projectile bore is an end plug of a soft steel or similar soft material which is attached by threads or other means and is penetrable by said projectile when fired whereby said plug keeps well bore fluid from entering each blade before discharge of the explosive, and wherein each blade is a piston and spring located below the said latch recess to allow the release of the blade from the perpendicular shooting position when the gas pressure from the explosive discharge enters a small bore perpendicular from the projectile bore whereby said gas pressure pushes the piston against the latch whereupon the latch disengages from the blade and the blade is then free to move to a position parallel to the original well bore for removal of the projectile tool and drill string from the well bore, wherein the projectile itself has a hollowed out chamber or bore running a portion of the length of the projectile wherein an explosive or propellant can be placed that when ignited by the explosive in the blade projectile bore will allow further penetration of the projectile into the formation or material to be penetrated.   
     
     
         8 . A method to shoot or fire one or more projectiles into an earthen or subterranean formation comprising the steps of:
 (a) lowering a down hole well bore projectile tool apparatus into a well bore to a natural cavity or mechanically or chemically created cavity within an earthen or subterranean formation, whereupon   (b) the said tool blades are moved from a position parallel to the drill string to a position perpendicular to the drill string by either centrifugal force rotationally applied to the drill string or by pushing the blades on the well bore bottom whereby the blades splay or move to an open position,   (c) whereupon the blades become locked by a latch near the top of the slot of the tool body which becomes engaged to a matched recess in each blade,   (d) whereupon an electric battery or pressure piston or ball is lowered or dropped into the hollow drill string and is received into a chamber at the top of said projectile tool whereupon it activates by wires and/or pressure bores an ignitor in each blade which then sets off or fires the explosive to each projectile whereupon the projectiles are shot or fired into the earthen or subterranean formation which results in better communication between the earthen or subterranean formation and well bore.