Introduction to Propellants

Eric Hamlyn
Product Line Manager
Core Laboratories
What are Propellants?
Propellants come in many different shapes and forms, for example:

• An explosive for propelling projectiles

• Solid propellants (ammonium perchlorate, potassium nitrate, potassium perchlorate,
nitrocellulose)

• Fuel plus an oxidizer used by a rocket motor

• Liquid propellants (oxygen, hydrogen and a hydrocarbon)

• Aerosol sprays
• A gas kept under pressure in a bottle or can for expelling the contents when the pressure is
released

• Technically, the word propellant is a general name for chemicals used to

create thrust. In Ballistics and Pyrotechnics, it is a generic name for
chemicals that propel projectiles from guns.
 History of Oilfield Propellants
• Roberts – Patented Torpedo
• Jan 21,1865 – first black powder torpedo used to shoot a well
• Nitroglycerin was used 2 years later
• Torpedo lowered into well; weight dropped down wire onto percussion
cap
• Roberts torpedo was very expensive ($100 - $200 per shot)
• Rivals created infringing products and offered services at night, giving
rise to the term “moonlighters”

• Before development of the torpedo

• Wells had limited productivity
• Need to be re-drilled to regain production
• Nitromethane replaced Nitroglycerin.
How are they made?
StimGunTM, StimTubeTM and WellStimTM are all made from a combination of
Potassium Perchlorate mixed with an epoxy and a curing agent (WSW-1200-0008).
This results in a very viscous slurry that is then pumped into molds. These molds
are then put in an oven and baked for 12 hours at which point the slurry has
hardened.

• For the StimGunTM, it has an outer tube with an inner mandrel.

• For the StimTubeTM and WellStimTM, it also has an outer housing but a carrier rod
is inserted to allow the slurry to mold onto.

Kodiak pellets are pressed from a dry mix containing Potassium Perchlorate,
aluminum and several different binders.

• Kodiak pellets for perforating guns are pressed in a hydraulic V press.

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How do we use these tools?
StimGunTM is used in combination with perforating guns, this is usually for new
wells or older wells being re-perforated. The perforating charges are necessary
for firstly making the entry hole into the formation and secondly providing the
energy to initiate the propellant material.

StimTubeTM can only be used in wells that are already perforated, have slotted
liners or perforated liners. The propellant is initiated by primacord that runs
through the inside of the carrier.

WellStimTM is a molded rod the same as StimTubeTM, however it is run inside a

perforated carrier. It is also initiated by primacord.

Kodiak uses a special gun carrier that has a loading tube with slots that are
positioned between 2 perforating charges. The energy released from the charges
cause the pellets to initiate and burn.

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StimGunTM, StimTubeTM and WellStimTM

StimGunTM Assembly

StimTubeTM Assembly

WellStimTM Assembly
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Kodiak

Kodiak loading tube Assembly

Kodiak Pellet, front and back

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PPE requirement
Safety: The following Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be worn at all
times:
• Full Protective Suit/Coveralls
• Safety glasses w/ Side shields
• Rubber Gloves
• Steel Toe Safety Shoes
• Faceshield

Follow all safety procedures located in the Process Safety Management Plan (PSM)!

Warning: These procedures should only be performed by trained and certified

Operators or under the supervision of a certified Operator for the purpose of
training!

The Stim material is processed and manufactured in the Wellstim building at

Owen Oil Tools, PPE is required when preparing and mixing the raw chemicals as
well as cleanup after batch mixing (WSW-1200-0001).

Kodiak pellets are pressed in the same press as used for shaped charges. After
the pellet pressing procedure has completed, the press must be thoroughly
cleaned and wiped down with alcohol. This is to prevent any cross contamination
with any explosive material, as this press is used for multiple product
manufacturing.
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Environmental Considerations
The Raw material waste is collected and placed in a barrel containing Bio – Safe.
Bio – Safe is then pumped through all of the mixing equipment and filtered. The
filtered Bio – Safe can be reused, the filters are disposed of.

A second rinse is done with water and a final rinse with alcohol after the water
has been air dried. The water is stored in a drum for disposal (WSW-1200-0003).

Scrap material (cut off ends, rejected article due to QA/QC failure), is crushed by
a machine and the material is then placed in a drum filled with water for disposal
(WSW-1200-0010).

All environmental waste (liquid and solid), is removed from site by a licensed
waste disposal contractor.

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Reactivity of product
The Stim material is basically inert at standard room conditions.

However, some precautions must be observed.

• Do not impact the cured Stim material in any way.

• Never allow the Stim material to be subjected to any form of friction.

The Stim material requires three conditions to initiate and

sustain combustion.

• Confinement
• Pressure (at least 500 psi)
• Temperature (provided by initiating medium)

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Mechanical sensitivity of product

The cured Stim product (sleeve, tube and Wellstim tube), is

mechanically weak. It can be compared to a PVC pipe, and
if it is struck by something it will crack and break apart.

For Kodiak, the pellet is pressed to a very high density and

therefore is very fragile. If it is dropped, it will break just like
a glass. This is an explosive, therefore API RP67
guidelines must be followed for this item.

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Classification of product
The molded Stim product family consists off:
- StimGunTM, StimTubeTM and WellStimTM
Classification for USA and all destinations in Canada:

Potassium Perchlorate, UN 0349. Explosive 1.4S EX2018022170

ARTICLES, EXPLOSIVE, N.O.S. (POTASSIUM

PERCHLORATE/EPOXY)

The Kodiak pellet is made in three sizes, all have the same classification:

Charges, Shaped, UN 0440. 1.4D EX1994050290

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Handling and Packaging
Contents of StimGunTM shipping tube.
• Sleeve in sealed Antistatic bag and
labelled.
• Bubble wrap at top and bottom of
cardboard tube.
• Sealing cap secured by two screws

Contents of StimTubeTM shipping tube.

• Casting in sealed Antistatic bag and
labelled.
• Bubble wrap at top and bottom of
cardboard tube.
• Sealing cap secured by two screws

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Handling and Packaging, Cont.
Contents of KodiakTM shipping box.
• Six pellets (each one separated by a
cardboard spacer) are stacked in a
cardboard tube.
• A Desi Pak is inserted at top of
cardboard tube.
• Sealing cap secured by tape.

All Shipping and Receiving is controlled by document SRP-200-0002.

This procedure applies to all Owen Oil Tools personnel involved in the handling, storage,
packaging, preservation, and delivery of finished goods manufactured at Owen Oil Tools.

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QA/QC
After the Stim molds are broken apart (WSW-1200-0006), a visual inspection is performed prior
to the product being prepared for packing. The visual defects that will cause the product to be
rejected are:

a) Excessive air bubbles trapped in molded product

b) Excess slurry bypassing inner mandrels causing a solid plug of material in sleeve.
c) Excess material on StimTubeTM covering internal rod (pictures below)
d) Cracking or splitting of product
e) Product length is short.

If all product passes the visual test, it will then be cut (sleeve) and inspected as per QA/QC
WSW-1200-0014. An example test sheet is on next slide. If the product passes all criteria, it is
then ready for packing.

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QA/QC, cont.
Well Stim Production
Sleeve Inspection

Part Number: SGS-T525-45A Work Order # 07-986439 Date: 11/21/2019

Side: Overall Dia. Wall Thickness: Length Weight

Test # Top / Bottom Inches Top Bottom Left Right Inches LBS.
Batch #:
L-19-SGS-1119 1 Top 5.214 0.322 0.304 0.304 0.311 36 10.9

Total Parts Manufactured: 1 Bottom 5.291 0.334 0.35 0.308 0.308 36 10.9
12 Legend:
2 Top 5.216 0.363 0.297 0.314 0.306 36 10.96 Units Produced Sample Test
1-9 1
2 Bottom 5.228 0.327 0.298 0.302 0.323 36 10.96
10 - 14 2
3 Top
15 - 24 3
3 Bottom
25 - 39 4
4 Top
40 + 5
4 Bottom

5 Top

5 Bottom

Specifications Min. Max. Parts inspected for sharp edges: a

Wall Thickness: 0.32 0.3 0.39 Yes No
x
Overall Diameter 5.25 5.21 5.25

Length: 36 35.9 36.1

Weight of Finished Part: 11.2 11.1 11.3 Name of person filling out the inspection sheet:
AMY

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Storage (Warehouse and Wellsite)

Warehouse storage of Stim material is nothing special, the tubes are laid horizontally
on a pallet and secured. They are stored inside, out of the weather. This is the only
DG stored inside the warehouse.

Wellsite storage would only be a short term issue, as the tubes would not be
delivered unless a job was imminent.

Of course, any 1.4S Explosive should only be stored/shipped as per Dangerous

Goods Segregation Guidelines as detailed on next slide.

All Kodiak pellets are classed as an explosive 1.4D. These are stored in Secondary
magazines at all time, until it is time to load the guns.

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DG Separation for Shipping

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SDS for products

Please visit Owen Compliance Services for full documents. WWW.OCSRESPONDS.COM 19