Jet Research Center, Inc.

Mike Navarette

Jerry L Walker

Glenn B Christopher

A tubing cutter apparatus includes a housing or casing member formed of a zirconia ceramic material. The zirconia ceramic material is located at least proximate an explosive charge section, such the detonation of the explosive charge will cause shattering the ceramic section. The tubing cutter may be assembled in a safe manner by establishing ground connections between separate portions of the apparatus. These ground connections established during assembly will prevent the buildup of static electrical charges, which could cause premature detonation of the cutter.

Explosive tubing cutter and method of assembly

An apparatus attenuates a shock, such as an impact load from an explosion, by undergoing plastic deformation and by serially dissipating energy from a plurality of surfaces. In a particular embodiment, the plastic deformation and serial energy dissipation occur in and from a hollow unitary body having a cylindrical wall in which are defined a plurality of longitudinally spaced circumferential grooves. A method of attenuating shock from an explosion in an oil gas well comprises: lowering into the well an explosive connected to a shock attenuating member; detonating the explosive whereby an impact load with a shock wave is generated; and collapsing without severing the member in response to the impact load and dissipating energy of the shock wave from a plurality of surfaces of the member so that the shock wave is attenuated along the member.

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Ft. Worth, TX, United States of America

Mike Navarette