Patent ID: 9394757
Filing Date: 2016-07-19
CPC Classification: C09K,E21B

Claim Text:
1. A method of sealing a well, comprising the steps of: a) lowering a cylinder of reactants forming a thermite reaction charge into a well proximate to a target plug zone location where the well is to be plugged, the cylinder having a base and the cylinder being supported from below by a platform positioned in the well, b) igniting the thermite reaction charge at the base of the cylinder, the ignited thermite reaction charge forming a reaction zone, the reaction zone being a region at the base of the cylinder of reactants where an exothermic reaction occurs which consumes the thermite reaction charge, the exothermic reaction producing reactant products which fills the well at a target plug zone, and c) continuously supplying additional reactants as the thermite reaction charge feeds into the reaction zone under its own weight after performing the ignition step to thereby produce additional reactant products of the exothermic reaction which forms a plug sealing the well at the target plug zone.