Weatherford/lamb, Inc.

Guus Veersteeg

Peter Budde

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for launching plugs used in the construction of an oil or of gas well. There is provided an apparatus for launching a plug, said apparatus comprising a canister ( ) connectable to a running string, a plug ( ) retained in said canister, and a tube ( ) having a bursting disk ( ), the arrangement being such that, in use, an increase in fluid pressure in said tube ruptures said bursting disk allowing an increase in fluid pressure above said plug to launch said plug. The apparatus is particularly suited to launching two, three or more plugs independently. There is also provided a method of launching a plug from a canister, which method comprises the steps of blocking a tube; increasing pressure in said tube above said blockage to a predetermined pressure at which a bursting disk in said tube ruptures allowing fluid pressure to increase above said plug and launches said plug.

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Poortugal, Netherlands

Guus Veersteeg