| abstract |
Apparatus for severing tubing along a generally transverse plane through the tubing wall, and including two confined explosive charges aligned axially with the tubing wall and terminating at opposed, proximal ends facing each other across a space disposed in such transverse plane. A portion of the opposed ends of the charges can contact each other, provided the main bodies of the two charges are spaced at the location of the plane of desired severance. Detonation devices are disposed at the distal or remote ends of the charges for originating detonation of the charges at such distal ends. n The apparatus is employed by emplacing the confined charges in the tubing to be severed with the charges positioned on opposite sides of, and terminating with their proximal ends substantially at, the plane in which the desired severance is to be effected. The charges are then simultaneously exploded by concurrently initiating the explosion of each at points substantially equidistantly spaced from the desired plane of severance. |