When abandoning an oil or gas well, performing salvage operations, or facing situations with low fluid levels, heavy drilling mud, or cost constraints, operators often turn to a specialized tool called the explosive jet cutter or jet cutter in short. This shaped charge device runs on an electric wireline and is designed to sever pipes in a controlled and efficient manner.
The jet cutter’s plastic explosive features a modified parabolic face with a circular shape that conforms to the pipe it needs to cut. This unique design allows for a precise and focused detonation.
Upon detonation, the shaped charge explosive flares the cut end of the pipe. To facilitate the subsequent fishing or retrieval of the severed pipe section, it is necessary to remove this flared portion. Typically, this can be accomplished during the same operation by employing a mill guide or a hollow mill container with an insert. These tools are run on the bottom of an overshot fishing tool and, through rotation, can dress off the flared or burred end, allowing the overshot to slip over the fish (severed pipe section) easily.
This image below shows how the tubing was cut with the explosive jet cutter.
Tubing cut with the jet cutter
It is important to note that there is a slight risk of damaging adjacent strings or casings if they are in contact with the pipe at the cut point during the detonation. Continue reading
