Apparatus for thermal activation of blow-out preventers of oil and gas wells

1 . A system for containing well pressure,

the system comprising:

a well,

a well casing disposed in the well and extending a height above the well, and

a blowout preventer (BOP), comprising:

a body with a bore extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body,

a ram comprising a ram piston and a ram head,

a ram casing disposed on an outer surface of the body,

a fuel container fluidly connected to the BOP, comprising a fuel composition,

wherein the fuel composition auto ignites at a temperature between 150° F. and 1100° F.,

wherein the fuel container is configured to transfer heat from outside the fuel container to inside,

wherein the ram is arranged with the ram piston in the ram casing and the ram head in the bore of the body,

wherein the fuel container is fluidly connected to the ram casing by a line.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the BOP comprises:

a body with a bore extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body,

a ram casing arranged on the body,

a ram comprising an annular ram and a ram piston,

wherein the ram is arranged with the ram piston in the ram casing and the annular ram in the bore of the body,

wherein the fuel container is fluidly connected to the ram casing by a line.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition further comprises an oxidizer.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition comprises methane, ethane, propane, and combinations thereof.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the fuel composition further comprises oxygen, air, an oxidizer, or combinations thereof.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fuel container further comprises a chemical.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the chemical is Sodium Azide.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a maximum well pressure containable by the BOP is 15000 psig.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a closing ratio of the BOP is between 3 and 50.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a pressurized gas generated by the ignited fuel composition drives a hydraulic piston to generate a pressurized hydraulic fluid to power the BOP.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fuel container comprises at least one wall made of thermally conductive material.

12 . A method for containing well pressure, the method comprising:

heating a fuel container fluidly connected to a BOP and containing a fuel composition,

autoigniting the fuel composition,

wherein the BOP is arranged at a top end of a well,

producing a pressurized gas from a reaction activated by the autoignited fuel composition;

directing the pressurized gas from the fuel container to a first volume of a ram casing of the BOP;

expanding the pressurized gas in the first volume to apply pressure to a ram piston disposed in the ram casing;

driving the ram piston into a second volume of the ram casing; and

driving a ram head or annular ram thereby sealing the well.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprises transmitting heat from an outside region of the fuel container to an inside region of the fuel container via heat from an uncontrolled fire adjacent to the BOP.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein sealing the well further comprises occluding a bore of the well with the ram head or an annular ram.

15 . The method of claim 12 ,

wherein sealing the well comprises crushing a drill string arranged inside the well with the ram head.

16 . The method of claim 12 ,

wherein sealing the well comprises cutting a drill string arranged inside the well with the ram head.