The present invention provides an explosive method that improves on methods currently employed. The present invention provides for a safer, less expensive, and more portable explosive device. The elements of the present invention replace dynamite or similar explosives currently used in avalanche control and bore hole blasting of rock or other solids. The present invention comprises an apparatus and a method providing a much safer alternative employing a highly confined combustion reaction of a flammable vapor, whereas dynamite is a category 1.1 high explosive imbued with all the attendant safety and security concerns. The method of the present invention provides for an improved and safer method of blasting employing a highly confined combustion reaction of a flammable vapor instead of conventional explosives currently used.

The present invention provides an explosive method that improves on methods currently employed. The present invention provides for a safer, less expensive, and more portable explosive device. The elements of the present invention replace dynamite or similar explosives currently used in avalanche control and bore hole blasting of rock or other solids. The present invention comprises an apparatus and a method providing a much safer alternative employing a highly confined combustion reaction of a flammable vapor, whereas dynamite is a category 1.1 high explosive imbued with all the attendant safety and security concerns. The method of the present invention provides for an improved and safer method of blasting employing a highly confined combustion reaction of a flammable vapor instead of conventional explosives currently used.

The devices and methods described below provide for a plasticized, adhesive binary explosive formed with nitromethane (NM) plasticized with nitrocellulose (NC) as an energetic compound and using a suitable amine as the sensitizer. The addition of the sensitizer to the plasticized mixture of NM/NC causes the gel to become explosive while maintaining stability and not deflagrating.

A chemical reaction heat source for use in heaters used in down-hole applications is provided. The heat source has a fuel composition that comprises thermite and a damping agent. The use of the thermite mix enables the heaters of the present invention to generate hotter temperatures down wells. This in turn allows the use of Bismuth/Germanium alloys, which have higher melting points, to enable the production of plugs for the abandonment of deeper wells where subterranean temperatures are higher.

A chemical reaction heat source for use in heaters used in down-hole applications is provided. The heat source has a fuel composition that comprises thermite and a damping agent. The use of the thermite mix enables the heaters of the present invention to generate hotter temperatures down wells. This in turn allows the use of Bismuth/Germanium alloys, which have higher melting points, to enable the production of plugs for the abandonment of deeper wells where subterranean temperatures are higher.

The present invention relates to a hypergolic two-component system for rocket engines, including a fuel and an oxidising agent provided in a manner separated from one another and can be reacted in a rocket engine by bringing them into contact with one another. The fuel is an ionic liquid comprising a thiocyanate anion and one or more cations. The cation or cations are selected from one or more imidazolium ions of the general formula I, triazolium ions of the general formula II or III, and/or tetrazolium ions of the general formula IV, where R.sub.1is a C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkyl radical or a C.sub.2- to C.sub.6-alkenyl radical, where R.sub.2 is hydrogen or a C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkyl radical or a C.sub.2- to C.sub.6-alkenyl radical, and where X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are each independently hydrogen, a C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkyl radical or a C.sub.2- to C.sub.6-alkenyl radical, and the oxidising agent comprises hydrogen peroxide.

The present invention relates to a hypergolic two-component system for rocket engines, including a fuel and an oxidising agent provided in a manner separated from one another and can be reacted in a rocket engine by bringing them into contact with one another. The fuel is an ionic liquid comprising a thiocyanate anion and one or more cations. The cation or cations are selected from one or more imidazolium ions of the general formula I, triazolium ions of the general formula II or III, and/or tetrazolium ions of the general formula IV, where R.sub.1is a C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkyl radical or a C.sub.2- to C.sub.6-alkenyl radical, where R.sub.2 is hydrogen or a C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkyl radical or a C.sub.2- to C.sub.6-alkenyl radical, and where X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are each independently hydrogen, a C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkyl radical or a C.sub.2- to C.sub.6-alkenyl radical, and the oxidising agent comprises hydrogen peroxide.

A plug for plugging wells, and in particular oil and gas wells, is provided. The plug has a plug body formed from an outer metal tube of a reduced thickness. The plug also has reinforcement means, attached to an inner surface of the outer tube, that give the plug a cross-sectional structural strength that is at least equivalent to that of a thicker metal tube. The plug has a central heater receiving void located along the axis of the plug to enable a plug deployment heater to be received therein. Also provided is a plug assembly with a variable cross-sectional area in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which the assembly is deployed during the plugging of underground conduits.

A plug for plugging wells, and in particular oil and gas wells, is provided. The plug has a plug body formed from an outer metal tube of a reduced thickness. The plug also has reinforcement means, attached to an inner surface of the outer tube, that give the plug a cross-sectional structural strength that is at least equivalent to that of a thicker metal tube. The plug has a central heater receiving void located along the axis of the plug to enable a plug deployment heater to be received therein. Also provided is a plug assembly with a variable cross-sectional area in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which the assembly is deployed during the plugging of underground conduits.

An explosive, in particular a water-in-oil emulsion explosive, comprising a water-based explosive composition and a gas, wherein the gas is infused with two different ranges of sizes of nanobubbles, to provide controlled hotspots for detonation to improve emulsion stability and detonation sensitivity. Into the Nano Bubble tank (31) are fed the pressurised gas in water through valve (26) and also a sample is fed into the Nano Bubble tank (31). This then provides the NanoBubble Input NBIbp1 to be fed by NB Feed Pump (33) into static mixer (51). Also fed to the Static Mixer (51) by matrix pump (41) is the explosives containing PIBSA (Poly-Iso-Butylene Succinic Anhydride) in emulsion form as Emulsion Input EInp1 from Emulsion Matrix truck. The static mixer allows for the gas to be infused into the water-based explosive composition in at least a substantial part in the form of nanobubbles (NB) which then forms a controlled explosive output for use in the blast hole (61) by the bubbles acting as a sensitiser as so called “hot spots” which transfer the energy throughout the explosive charge once initiated. This allows the thermal “hot spot” detonation wave to travel through and carries the explosive to a full and controlled detonation.