APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SUPPRESSING AN UNCONTROLLED BLOW-OUT OR FIRE IN AN OIL WELL

摘要

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for suppressing an uncontrolled blow-out or fire in an oil well on land, in which an oil pipe (15) extends from the oil source below the ground to the surface. In order to stop the blow-out or the fire in a rapid and effective manner without the use of water and without oil leakage, there is according to the invention suggested to dig a tunnel (4) towards the oil pipe (15) at a substantial distance below the ground (3), through the tunnel (4) to pass a shut-off valve (10) to be mounted around the oil pipe, there being used a valve (10) including a piston (12) comprising sawing means (13), operating the piston (12) such that the pipe is through sawn, the piston thereby closing the flowing area of the pipe at the location of the valve, and by further influencing the piston for opening and closing the oil flow. Preferably the parts (10a, 10b) of the valve (10) which are mounted around the pipe (15) are used as pressure chamber for pressure testing the equipment prior to the sawing off of the oil pipe (15), and more preferably the pressure medium is used as lubrication medium during the sawing operation.