METHOD FOR ABANDONMENT OF AN UNDERWATER WELL

专利摘要:
annular space cementing tool for subsea well abandonment operation. The present invention relates to a method for abandoning a subsea well that includes: attaching a pressure control assembly (pca) to a subsea wellhead; and employing a pca tool column. the tool string includes a plug and drill located above the plug the method further includes: closing a pcs hole above the tool string with a solid barrier and placing the plug against an inner casing suspended from the subsea wellhead. the method further includes, while the pCA hole is closed, drilling a wall of the against an inner casing by operating the upper drill. the method further includes injecting cement slurry into an inner annular space formed between the inner casing and an outer casing suspended from the subsea wellhead.
公开号:BR102013009192B1
申请号:R102013009192-8
申请日:2013-04-15
公开日:2021-07-27
发明作者:Corey Eugene Hoffman；Stace Brac Mcdaniel；Christopher John Murphy
申请人:Wild Well Control, Inc.；
IPC主号:

专利说明:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention, in general, relates to an annular space cementing tool for a subsea well abandonment operation. Description of Related Art
[0002] Figures 1A-1C illustrate a completed prior art subsea well. A conductor column 3 may be driven on a seabed 1f 1. Conductor column 3 may include a housing 3h and 3p conductor pipe joints connected together, such as by threaded connections. Once the conductor column 3 has been placed, a subsea wellbore 2 can be in the seabed 1f and extend into one or more upper formations 9u. A surface casing column 4 may be employed in wellbore 3. The surface casing column 4 may include a wellhead housing 4h and casing gaskets 4c connected together, such as by means of threaded connections. The wellhead housing 4h can rest in the conductor housing 3h during use of the surface casing column 4. The surface casing column 4 can be cemented 8s into the wellbore 2. Since the surface casing column 2 has been placed, wellbore 2 can be extended and an intermediate casing string 5 can be employed in the wellbore. Intermediate casing column 5 may include a hanger 5h and casing joints 5c connected together, such as by means of threaded connections. Intermediate casing string 5 can be cemented 8i in wellbore 2.
[0003] Once an intermediate casing column 5 has been placed, the wellbore 2 can be extended into a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir (ie crude oil and/or natural gas) 9r. The production casing string 6 can be used in the wellbore. The production casing column 6 may include the hanger 6h and casing joints 6c connected together, such as by means of threaded connections. Production casing string 6 can be cemented 8p in wellbore 2. Each casing hanger 5h, 6h can be sealed in wellhead housing 4h by an elastomeric sealing element. The 3:00, 4:00 and the 5:00, 6:00 hangers may collectively be referred to as wellhead 10.
[0004] A production tree 15 can be connected to the wellhead 10, such as by a tree connector 13. The tree connector 13 can include a fastener, such as dogs, to fasten the tree to an external profile of the wellhead. well 10. The arbor connector 13 may further include a hydraulic actuator and an interface, such as a hot alignment element, so that a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) 80 (Figure 2A) can operate the actuator to engage dogs with the external profile. Tree 15 can be vertical or horizontal. If the tree is vertical (not shown), it can be installed after a column of production pipe 7 is suspended from the wellhead 10. If the tree 15 is horizontal (as shown), the tree can be installed and then production piping 7 can be suspended from a tree 15. Tree 15 can include fittings and valves to control the production of the wellbore in a pipeline (not shown) that can lead to a production facility (not shown), such as like a ship or production platform.
[0005] Production piping column 7 may include a 7h hanger and 7t production piping joints connected together, such as through threaded connections. The production piping column 7 may further include a surface safety valve (SSV) 7v interconnected with the piping joints 7t and a hydraulic conduit 7c extending from a valve 7v to the hanger 7h. The production pipe column 7 may further include a production plug 7p and the plug may be placed between a lower end of the production pipe and the production liner 6 to insulate an annular space 7a (also known as the annular space A) formed between them from the production fluid (not shown). The shaft 15 may also be in fluid communication with the hydraulic conduit 7c. The lower end of the production liner 6 can be perforated 11 to provide fluid communication between the reservoir 9r and a hole in the production pipeline 7. The production pipeline 7 can transport production fluid from the reservoir 9r to the production tree 15.
[0006] The shaft 15 may include a head 12, the pipe hanger 7h, the shaft connector 13, an inner cap 14, an outer cap 16, an upper crown plug 17u, a lower crown plug 17b, a valve of production 18p, one or more annular space valves 18u,b and a face seal 19. The tree head 12, the pipe hanger 7h and the inner cap 14 may each have a longitudinal hole extending through. their. Pipe hanger 7h and head 12 may each have a production side passage formed through their walls for the flow of production fluid. The 7h pipe hanger can be arranged in the head hole. The 7h pipe hanger can be secured to the head by a latch.
[0007] Once reservoir 9r has produced to depletion, the well must be abandoned. Conventionally, an evacuation operation includes cutting the liners and filling the annular spaces with cement to seal the upper regions of the annular spaces. To achieve this, it is usual to use a semi-submersible drillship (SSDV) that is located above the well and anchored in position. After removal of cover 16 from the well, the unit including overflow safety system and a riser pipe is lowered and locked into the wellhead. The tool string is extended into the tube to cut or perforate the casing or casings. Weighted fluid is pumped into the well to provide a hydrostatic head to balance any possible pressure relief when the casing is cut. The casing is then cut and the annular space cemented. The cemented annular space is then pressure tested to ensure that a proper seal has been achieved. The casing is cut below the mud line and the casing hanger recovered, and finally, after removal from the pit, the pit is filled with cement. Although through this procedure satisfactory well abandonment can be achieved, it is expensive in terms of the equipment involved and the time taken, which is often 7 to 10 days per well. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention, in general, refers to an annular space cementing tool for a subsea well abandonment operation. In one embodiment, a method of abandoning a subsea well includes: attaching a pressure control assembly (PCA) to a subsea wellhead; and employment of a tool column at the PCA. The tool string includes a plug and an upper drill located above the plug. The method further includes: closing a PCA hole above the tool string with a solid barrier; and placing the plug against an internal lining suspended from the subsea wellhead. The method further includes, while the PCA hole is closed, drilling a wall of the inner casing by operating the upper drill. The method further includes injecting cement slurry into an internal annular space formed between the inner casing and an outer casing suspended from the subsea wellhead.
[0009] In another embodiment, a subsea well abandonment tool string includes: a hanger having an external seal and an external latch, a drill connected to the hanger and operable in response to pressure from an exterior of the tool string exceeding the pressure of a hole in the tool string by a predetermined pressure differential, a plug connected to the drill gun, and a closure element for closing the hole. The tool column is tubular.
[00010] In another embodiment, a method for abandoning a subsea well includes: attaching a pressure control assembly (PCA) to a subsea production tree; and employing a tool column in the PCA. The tool string includes a plug and an upper drill located above the plug. The method further includes: closing a PCA hole above the tool string with a solid barrier; and placing the plug against production piping suspended from or from a subsea wellhead. The method further includes, while the PCA hole is closed, drilling a wall of the production pipe through the top drill. The method further includes injecting cement slurry into an internal annular space formed between the production pipeline and an internal lining suspended from the subsea wellhead.
[00011] In another embodiment, a method for abandoning a subsea well includes: placing a plug against an internal casing bore suspended from a subsea wellhead; attaching a pressure control assembly (PCA) to the subsea wellhead; and employing a tool column on the PCA and aligning the tool column on the shutter. The tool string includes a stinger and an upper drill located above the stinger. The method further includes closing a PCA hole above the tool string with a solid barrier. The method further includes, while the PCA hole is closed, drilling a wall of the inner casing by operating the upper drill. The method further includes injecting cement slurry into an internal annular space formed between the inner casing and an outer casing suspended from the subsea wellhead.
[00012] In another embodiment, a drilling gun for use in a subsea well includes: a tubular housing; a hole formed therethrough and isolated from an exterior of the tool; one or more molded charges disposed in a housing chamber isolated from the bore; a detonating capsule; detonation cord connecting the blasting cap to the molded charges; a piston in fluid communication with an exterior of the gun and the bore; a fastener restraining the piston and operable to release the piston in response to a predetermined pressure differential between the exterior and bore; and a firing mechanism operably coupled to the piston so that the mechanism strikes the blasting cap in response to the release of the piston. The chamber remains isolated from the hole after firing the molded charges. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[00013] So that, the way in which the above-cited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, summarized briefly above, can be obtained by referring to the modalities, some of which are illustrated in the attached drawings. It should be noted, however, that the attached drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present invention and, therefore, should not be considered a limitation of its scope, as the invention may admit other equally effective embodiments.
[00014] Figures 1A-1C illustrate a completed prior art subsea well.
[00015] Figures 2A-2E illustrate the preparation of the well for an abandonment operation. Figure 2A illustrates the employment of a pressure control assembly (PCA) in the subsea production tree. Figure 2B illustrates the use of an umbilical cable in the PCA. Figure 2C illustrates the employment and connection of a fluid conduit to the PCA. Figure 2D illustrates the employment of a tool to extend plug (PRT) and electrical cable logging module in the subsea production tree. Figure 2E illustrates the connection of the profiling electrical cable module to the PCA.
[00016] Figures 3A-3J illustrate the abandonment of a lower portion of the wellbore, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figures 3A-3C illustrate the cement plugging of a lower portion of the annular tubing space and reservoir. Figure 3D illustrates the placement of a lower bridge plug in a production pipeline. Figures 3E and 3F illustrate plugging with cement in an intermediate portion of the annular tubing space. Figure 3G illustrates the placement of an intermediate bridge plug in a production pipeline. Figure 3H illustrates the cut of the production piping. Figures 3I and 3J illustrate production tree recovery.
[00017] Figure 4A illustrates a second PCA for connection to the subsea wellhead, according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4B illustrates the use of the second PCA with the subsea wellhead. Figure 4C illustrates the connection of fluid conduits from the umbilical cable to the second PCA.
[00018] Figures 5A-5C illustrate an annular space cementing tool column, according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figures 5D and 5E illustrate the drill gun of a tool string. Figure 5F illustrates an inflatable tool post shutter.
[00019] Figures 6A-6F illustrate the employment of the annular space cementing tool column in the subsea wellhead and installation in the second PCA. Figure 6A illustrates the employment of a tool string in the subsea wellhead and second PCA. Figures 6B and 6C illustrate the tool string seated on the second PCA. Figure 6D illustrates the inflation of a tool post shutter. Figure 6E illustrates the employment of a second PRT in the subsea wellhead. Figure 6F illustrates the removal of a plug from a tool column.
[00020] Figures 7A-7F illustrate the abandonment of an upper portion of the wellbore, according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figures 7A-7C illustrate the sealing with cement of an annular space formed between the production liner and the intermediate liner. Figures 7D-7F illustrate the sealing with cement of an annular space formed between the intermediate cladding and the surface cladding. Figure 7G illustrates the deflation of a tool post plug.
[00021] Figures 8A and 8B illustrate the abandonment of the subsea wellhead. Figure 8A illustrates the placement of an upper bridge plug in the production liner. Figure 8B illustrates the cement plugging of the production liner hanger.
[00022] Figures 9A and 9B illustrate a second alternative annular space cementing tool column for use with a production tree and a corresponding alternative third PCA, according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[00023] Figure 10 illustrates the alternative employment of a tool string in the subsea wellhead and the second PCA using a subsea upconductor, according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[00024] Figure 11 illustrates an annular space cementing tool column, according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[00025] Figure 12 illustrates an alternative fourth column annular space cementing tool according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00026] Figures 2A-2E illustrate well preparation for an abandonment operation. Figure 2A illustrates the employment of a pressure control assembly (PCA) 20 in the subsea production tree. The PCA 20 may include a tree adapter, a fluid sub, an isolation valve, a stack of overflow safety systems (BOP), a tool housing (also known as a lubricator outlet tube), a frame, one or more pipelines, such as an inlet 24i and an outlet 24o, a termination receptacle, one or more accumulators, and a subsea control system. A arbor adapter, fluid sub, isolation valve, BOP stack and tool housing may each include a housing or body having a longitudinal hole therethrough and be connected, such as by flanges, so that a continuous hole be maintained through it. The hole may have a large drift diameter, such as greater than or equal to a quarter, five, six or seven inches to accommodate a plug extend tool (PRT) 21 (Figure 2D) or a bottom hole assembly (BHA) 23 ( Figure 3A) of a working line and the crown plugs 17u,b of a tree 15. The working line can be electrical shaping cable 91 (Figure 2D). Alternatively, the working line can be slickline (a thin non-electric cable used for selective placement and recovery of well hardware) or sandline. Alternatively, a working column, such as coiled tubing, can be used in place of the working line.
[00027] A tree adapter may include a connector, such as dogs, for securing the PCA 20 to an outer profile of a tree 15 and a sealing sleeve for engaging an inner profile of a tree. Alternatively, a tree adapter may include a sealing face in place of the sealing sleeve. A tree adapter can further include a hydraulic or electrical actuator and an interface, such as a hot alignment element, so that the ROV 80 can operate the actuator to match the dogs with the outer profile. The frame can be connected to the tree connector, such as by means of fasteners (not shown). The pipes can each be attached to the frame. The fluid sub may include a housing having a bore therethrough and a bore in communication with the bore. The fluid sub orifice may be in fluid communication with the first pipe via a fluid conduit.
[00028] The isolation valve may include a housing, a valve element disposed in the housing bore and operable between an open position and a closed position, and an actuator operable to move the valve element between positions. The actuator can be electrical or hydraulic and can be in communication with an alignment plate (not shown) of the termination receptacle. The isolation valve can further operate as a check valve in the closed position: allowing fluid flow down from the tool housing into the wellbore and preventing reverse fluid flow through it. Alternatively, the isolation valve may be bidirectional when closed the PCA 20 may further include a bypass conduit (not shown) connected to the orifice of a drain sub (not shown) disposed between the isolation valve and the BOP stack, and the drain hole may include a check valve allowing downward flow and preventing reverse flow.
[00029] The BOP stack may include one or more hydraulically operated ram blow prevention equipment, such as blind shear prevention equipment and a swath rope prevention equipment, connected together via bolt-on flanges. Each ram-beat prevention device may include two opposing rams arranged within a body. The body may have a hole that is in line with the well hole. Opposite cavities can intersect the hole and support the rams as they move radially into and out of the hole. A flapper can be attached to the body at the outer end of each cavity and can support an actuator that provides the force required to move the rams in and out of the hole. Each actuator can include a hydraulic piston to radially move each ram and a mechanical lock to maintain ram's position in the event of a loss of hydraulic pressure. The lock may include a threaded rod, a motor (not shown) to rotationally drive the rod, and a threaded sleeve. Once each ram is hydraulically extended into the bore, the motor can be operated to push the sleeve into engagement with the piston. Each actuator can include one or two pistons. The blind shear prevention equipment can cut the profiling electrical cable when actuated and seal the hole. The profiling cable prevention equipment can seal against an external surface of the profiling electrical cable when actuated.
[00030] The tool housing can be of sufficient length to contain the PRT 21 or a BHA 23 so that the PCA 20 can be closed while employing an electrical cable profiling module 22 (Figure 2D). The tool housing may have a connector profile for receiving an adapter from the profiling electrical cable module 22.
[00031] The termination receptacle may be operable to receive a termination head 60 (Figure 2B) from a subsea control line. The termination receptacle can include a base, a latch and an actuator. The receptacle base may be connected to the frame, such as by fasteners, and may include a baseplate to support the termination head 60, a baseplate (not shown), such as a pin, and the alignment plate. The receptacle alignment plate and termination head, when connected (termination assembly), can provide communication, such as electrical (power and/or data)), hydraulic, or optical, between the subsea control line and the underwater control. The subsea control system can be mounted on the PCA 20 or a subsea cage or it can be integrated with the termination head 60. The receptacle latch can be hinged to the base, such as by a catch, and be movable by the actuator between a position docked (Figure 2C) and a docked array (shown). The receptacle actuator may be a piston and cylinder assembly connected to the frame and the receptacle may further include an interface (not shown), such as a hot alignment element, so that the ROV 80 can operate the receptacle actuator. The receptacle actuator can also be in communication with the alignment board for operation via the subsea control line. The receptacle latch may include outer members and a crossbar (not shown) connected to each of the outer members by a shearable fastener. The receptacle actuator can have a dual function so that the latch can be locked in both positions by the ROV 80 or the control line.
[00032] The subsea control system may be in electrical, hydraulic and/or optical communication with a surface control system of a control cart 51 on board a support vessel 75 via the subsea control line, such as a umbilical cord 65 (Figure 2C). Alternatively, the subsea control line can be a hydraulic conductor or an electrical cable. The subsea control system may include a control capsule having one or more control valves (not shown) in communication with a BOP stack (via the alignment plate) for operating the BOP stack. Each capsule control valve may include a hydraulic or electrical actuator in communication with umbilical cable 65. Umbilical cable 65 may include one or more hydraulic or electrical control conduits/ cables for each actuator. The accumulators can store pressurized hydraulic fluid to operate the BOP stack. Additionally, the accumulators can be used to operate one or more of the other PCA 20 components. The accumulators can be charged via an umbilical cable conduit 65 or by the ROV 80.
[00033] Umbilical cable 65 may also include hydraulic, electrical and / or optical control cables / conduits for pipeline operating valves, actuators, 18U valve shaft, b, p and the various functions of the electrical cable profiling module 22 The alignment board may further include an output for the profiling electrical cable module 22 and an output for a tree 15. Each output may include an operable ROV connector for receiving a respective jumper 66a,b (also known as a floating conductor ) (Figures 2C and 2E). The ROV 80 can connect the tree jumper to a control panel (not shown) of a tree 15 and the profiling cable module jumper 66b to a respective control relay of the profiling cable module 22. The cable umbilical 65 may further include one or more layers of a shield (not shown) made of a high strength metal or alloy, such as steel, to support the weight of the umbilical cable itself and the weight of the termination head 60.
[00034] The subsea control system may further include a microprocessor-based controller, a modem, a transceiver and a power supply. The power supply may receive an electrical power signal from a power cord of the umbilical cable 65 and convert the power signal into usable voltage for powering the subsea control system components as well as any of the PCA components. The PCA 20 may further include one or more pressure sensors (not shown) in communication with the PCA bore at various locations. The profiling electrical cable module 22 may also include one or more pressure sensors in communication with a respective bore at various locations. The modem and transceiver can be used to communicate with the control cart 51 via the umbilical cable 65. The power cable can be used for data communication or the umbilical cable 65 can further include a separate data cable (electrical or optical ), The control cart 51 can include a control panel (not shown) so that the various functions of the PCA 20, the tree 15 and the profiling electrical cable module 22 can be operated by an operator on the ship by an operator. on ship 75.
[00035] The subsea control system may also include an anchor system (not shown) for closing the BOP stack in response to a loss of communication with control cart 51. Alternatively, or in addition to having individual conduits/cables to control each function of the PCA 20, arbor 15, and profiling electrical cable module 22, the subsea control system can receive multiplexed instruction signals from the trolley operator via a single electrical, hydraulic or optical control conduit/cable from the umbilical cable 65 and then operate the various functions using individual conduits/cables extending from the subsea control system.
[00036] Inlet piping 24i may include a pair of actuated shut-off valves (not shown) and a coupling, such as a dry break coupling, for receiving a mating coupling of a fluid supply conduit 70 (Figure 2C) of ship 75. Outlet piping 24o may include an actuated shut-off valve (not shown) and a coupling, such as a dry break coupling, for receiving a mating coupling of a return fluid conduit (not shown) of ship 75. An actuator of each pipeline valve and dry break connection couplings 47a,b may be in communication with the subsea control system via the alignment plate. Each fluid conduit 70 may extend from vessel 75 to the respective conduit 24i for fluid circulation. The inlet piping actuated shutoff valves 47i may each be in fluid communication with the dry break connection coupling 47a and one of the shutoff valves may be in fluid communication with the fluid sub and the other may be in fluid communication with a connector for receiving a 76b jumper (Figure 2E) providing fluid communication with a respective junction plate of the profiling electrical cable module 22. The output piping actuated shutoff valve 47o may be in fluid communication with the dry break connection coupling 47b and may be in fluid communication with a connector for receiving a jumper 76a (Figure 2C), providing fluid communication with an annular space hole of a tree 15.
[00037] The 47a,b dry break connections may each have actuators for release. Each of the dry break actuators may also have a shearable release. Suitable dry break connections are discussed and illustrated in Figures 3A-3C of United States Patent Application No. 13/095,596, filed April 27, 2011 (Atty. Dock. No. WWCI/0010US), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[00038] In operation, support vessel 75 may be employed at a location of subsea tree 15. Support vessel 75 may be a light or medium intervention vessel and include a dynamic positioning system to maintain vessel 75's position in the waterline 1w through a tree 15 and an overhead compensator (not shown) to account for the vessel overhead due to sea wave action 1. Alternatively, vessel 75 can be a mobile offshore drilling unit ( MODU). The ship 75 may further include a turret 78 located across a moonpool 77 and a winch 79. The winch 79 may include a drum having a wire rope 90 wound around it and a motor for winding and unwinding the wire rope, thereby raising and lowering a distal end of the wire rope relative to the tower 78. Alternatively, a crane (not shown) can be used in place of the winch and tower. Vessel 75 may further include an electrical cable profiling winch 76.
[00039] The ROV 80 can be employed at sea 1 from ship 75. The ROV 80 can be an unmanned, self-propelled submarine that includes a video camera, an articulation arm, a propeller and other instruments to realize a plurality task. The ROV 80 may further include a chassis made of an alloy or light metal, such as aluminum, and a float made of a floating material, such as syntactic foam, located on top of the chassis. The ROV 80 can be controlled and powered by ship 75. The ROV 80 can be connected to the support ship 75 by an umbilical cable 81. The umbilical cable 81 can provide electrical, hydraulic and/or data communication between the ROV 80 and the support vessel 75. An operator on the support vessel 75 can control the movement and operations of the ROV 80. The umbilical cable 81 can be wound or unwound from the drum 82.
[00040] The ROV 80 can be employed on a 15 tree. The ROV 80 can transmit video to the ROV Operator for inspection of a 15 tree. The ROV 80 can remove the outer cover 16 from a 15 tree and drive the cover up to ship 75. Alternatively, winch 79 can be used to transport outer cover 16 to waterline 1w. The ROV 80 can then inspect an inner profile of a tree 15. The wire rope 90 can then be used to lower the PCA 20 to a tree 15 through the moonpool 77 of the vessel 75. The ROV 80 can guide the seating of the PCA 20 in a tree 15. The ROV 80 can then operate the PCA Adapter Connector to secure the PCA 20 in a tree 15.
[00041] Figure 2B illustrates the use of the umbilical cable 65 in the PCA 20. The ship 75 may also include a launch and recovery system (LARS) 50 for employing the termination head 60 and the umbilical cable 65. The LARS 50 may include a frame, an umbilical cable winch 52, a boom 53, a boom lift 54, a cargo winch 55, and a hydraulic power unit (HPU, not shown). The LARS 50 can be A-frame type (shown) or crane type (not shown). For the LARS 50 of the A-frame type, the jib 53 may be an A-frame hinged to the frame and the jib elevator 54 can include a pair of piston and cylinder assemblies, each piston and cylinder assembly hinged to each beam of the frame. spear and a corresponding column of the frame. The HPU can include a hydraulic fluid reservoir, a hydraulic pump, and one or more control valves to selectively provide fluid communication between the reservoir, pump, and piston and cylinder assemblies. The hydraulic pump can be driven by an electric motor.
[00042] The umbilical cable 65 may include an upper portion 61 and a lower portion 62 secured together by a shear connection 63. Each winch 52, 55 may include a drum having the respective upper portion 61 of umbilical cable or load line 56 wound around around it and a motor to rotate the drum to wind and unwind the upper portion of the umbilical cable or load line. The load line 56 may be a metallic cable. Each winch motor can be either electric or hydraulic. An umbilical cord sheave and a load sheave may each hang from the A-Frame 53. The upper portion 61 of the umbilical cord may extend through the umbilical cord sheave and one end of the upper portion of the umbilical cord may be secured to the shear connection 63. The frame may have a platform for the termination head 60 to support. The lower portion 62 of the umbilical cord may be coiled and have a first end secured to the shear connection 63 and a second end secured to the termination head 60. The load line 61 may extend through the load sheave and have one end secured to the termination head lifting straps 60, such as via a sling. The articulation of the A-frame boom 53 with respect to the platform by the piston and cylinder assemblies can lift the termination head 60 from the platform, through a ship track 75, and to a position across the waterline 1w. The cargo winch 55 can then be operated by an operator on the ship to lower the umbilical cable 65 and termination head 60 into the sea 1.
[00043] A length of a lower portion 62 of umbilical cord may be sufficient to provide clearance to account for the height of the vessel. A length of a lower portion 62 of umbilical cable may also be sufficient so that the shear connection 63 is above or slightly above a depth of a top of the profiling electrical cable module 22. A length of the load line 56 may match to the length of the lower portion 62 of the umbilical cord. As the loading winch 55 lowers the termination head 60, the lower portion 62 of umbilical cable can unwind and be employed at sea 1 until shearable connection 63 is reached. Once the shear connection 63 is achieved, a clump weight 64 can be attached to a lower end of the upper portion 61 of umbilical cord. Termination head 60 can continue to be lowered using load hoist 55 until shear connection 63 and clump weight 64 are employed from LARS deck to waterline 1w. The umbilical cable winch 61 can then be operated by an operator on the ship to support the termination head 60 using the umbilical cable 65 and load line 56 slackened. The load line 56 and sling may be disconnected from the termination head 60 by the ROV 80. Alternatively, the load line 56 may be an electrical profiling cable and the sling may have an actuator in communication with the electrical profiling cable. so that the trolley operator can release the sling. Termination head 60 can then be lowered to a seating depth (clump weight 64 and shear connection 63 on top of or above profiling electrical cable module 22) using umbilical cable winch 52.
[00044] Figure 2C illustrates the employment and connection of the supply fluid conduit 70 in the PCA 20. The PCA 20 can be employed with the latch in the fitted arrangement. Alternatively, the ROV 80 can operate the actuator to disengage the latch after the PCA 20 has seated. While the umbilical cable 65 is being lowered to the seating depth, the ROV 80 can grip the termination head and assist in seating the termination head in the termination receptacle. Once seated, the ROV 80 can engage the receptacle latch with the termination head 60. The ROV 80 can then connect the jumper 66a to the termination receptacle and the tree control panel and fluid conduit 76a to the tubing exit 24th and the tree annular space passage. The operator on control cart 51 can then close the 18p,u,b and SSV 7v tree valves via umbilical cable 65.
[00045] An upper portion of each fluid conduit 70 may be spiral tubing 71. Ship 75 may further include spiral tubing unit (CTU, not shown) for each fluid conduit 70. Each CTU may include a drum having the coiled tubing 71 wrapped around it, a bent connector, and an injector head for driving the coiled tubing 71, controls, and an HPU. Alternatively, each CTU can be electrically powered. The lower portion of each fluid conduit 70 can include a hose 72. The hose 72 can be made of a flexible polymeric material, such as a thermoplastic or elastomer, or it can be an alloy or metal bellows. Hose 72 may or may not be reinforced, such as by metal or alloy cords. An upper end of hose 72 can be connected to coiled tubing 71 by a passive dry break connection 47p and a lower end of hose 72 can have a male coupling (of the respective actuated dry break connection 47a,b) connected thereto. Hose 72 may include two or more sections (only one section shown), the sections secured together, such as by a flanged or threaded connection. During use of the fluid conduit 70, a weight clump73 may be attached to the lower end of the coiled tubing 71.
[00046] The lower portion 72 of the fluid conduit 70 can be mounted on ship 75 and employed at sea 1 using the CTU. Coiled tubing 71 can be employed until the weight clump73 and passive dry break connection 47p are at or slightly above a depth of a top of the profiling electrical cable module 22. The ROV 80 can then grip the coupling male actuated connection 47a and guide the coupling to the PCA piping. A length of hose 72 may be sufficient to provide slack in fluid coupling 70 to account for the ship's heel. The trolley operator can operate the 47a dry break connection actuator to the unlocked position. The ROV 80 can then insert the male coupling into the female coupling and the trolley operator can lock connection 47a. The operation can then be repeated for the return fluid conduit.
[00047] An emergency disconnect system (EDS) may include the shear fasteners, the dry break connections 47a,b,p, the shear connection 63, the clump weights 64, 73 and the lower portions 62, 72. may allow ship 75 to drift or separate in the event of a major or minor emergency (see Figures 5B and 5C of the '596 order and its attached discussion).
[00048] Figure 2D illustrates the use of the PRT 21 and the profiling electrical cable module 22 in the subsea production tree 15. A more detailed view of the profiling electrical cable module 22 and PRT 21 can be found in Figures 3A- 3C and 7A-7D of the Patent Application Publication. No. 2012/0043089, filed August 15, 2011 (Atty. Dock. No. WWCI/0014US), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The profiling electrical cable module 22 may include an adapter, a fluid sub, an isolation valve, one or more filling boxes, a grease injector, a frame, a control relay, an interface, such as a board. of junction, a tool collector, a grease reservoir, and a grease pump. The adapter, fluid sub, isolation valve, filling boxes, grease injector and tool manifold may each include a housing or body having a longitudinal hole therethrough and be connected, such as by flanges, so that a continuous hole is held across it.
[00049] The adapter may include a connector for mating with the PCA profile connector, thereby securing the profile electrical cable module 22 to the PCA 20. The connector may be dogs or a bezel. The adapter may further include a seal face or sleeve and a seal (not shown). The adapter may further include an actuator (not shown), such as a piston and cam, to operate the connector. The adapter may further include an ROV Interface (not shown) so that the ROV 80 can connect to the connector, such as by a hot alignment element, and operate the connector actuator. Alternatively, the adapter may have the connector profile in place of the connector and the PCA tool housing may have the connector in communication with the subsea control system for operation by the trolley operator. The fluid sub may include a housing having a bore therethrough and a bore in communication with the bore. The orifice may be in fluid communication with the junction plate via a conduit (not shown). The frame can be attached to the adapter and the relay and interface can be attached to the frame. The grease pump and reservoir can also be attached to the frame.
[00050] The isolation valve may include a housing, a valve element disposed in the housing bore and operable between an open position and a closed position, and an actuator operable to move the valve element between positions. The actuator can be electrical or hydraulic and can be in communication with the control relay via a conduit (not shown). The actuator can fail in the closed position in the event of an emergency. The isolation valve may be further operable to cut the profiling electrical cable 91 when closed, or the profiling electrical cable module 22 may further include a profiling electrical cable cutter. The isolation valve can further operate as the check valve in the closed position: allowing fluid flow down from the filling box, towards the PCA 20 and preventing reverse fluid flow therethrough.
[00051] Each stuffing box may include a seal, a piston and a spring arranged in the housing. A hole can be formed through the housing in communication with the piston. The orifice can be connected to the control relay via a hydraulic conduit (not shown). When operated by hydraulic fluid, the piston can longitudinally compress the seal, thereby radially expanding the seal inward, to mate with the electrical shaping cable 91. The spring can drive the piston away from the seal and be adjusted to balance the pressure hydrostatic. Alternatively, an electric actuator can be used in place of the piston.
[00052] The grease injector may include an integral housing with each filling box, housing and one or more sealing tubes. Each seal tube may have an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the profiling electrical cable 91, thus serving as a controlled clearance seal. An inlet hole and an outlet hole can be formed through the grease injector/fill box housing. One grease conduit (not shown) can connect a grease pump outlet to the inlet port and another grease conduit (not shown) can connect the outlet port to the grease reservoir. Another grease conduit (not shown) can connect a pump inlet to the sump. Alternatively, the outlet port can discharge into sea 1. The grease pump can be electrically or hydraulically driven via cable/conduit (not shown) connected to the control relay and may be operable to pump grease (not shown) from the reservoir of grease in the inlet hole and along the slight gap formed between the seal tube and the shaping electrical cable 91 to lubricate the shaping electrical cable, reduce the pressure load on the stuffing box seals and increase the service life of the filling box seals. The grease reservoir can be recharged by the ROV 80.
[00053] The tool collector may include a piston, a latch, such as a bezel, a stop, a piston spring, and a latch spring arranged in a housing. The bezel may have an inner cam surface for mating with a fishing neck of the PRT 21 and/or BHA and the manifold housing may have an inner cam surface for operation of the bezel. The latch spring can drive the bezel toward a locked position. The bezel can be movable from the locked position to the unlocked position by engaging with a cam surface of the fishing neck and relative longitudinal movement of the fishing neck upwards towards the stop or by operating the piston. Once the cam surface of the fishing neck/BHA has passed the cam surface of the bezel, the latch spring can return the bezel to the locked position, where the bezel can be docked with a fishing neck shoulder, thus preventing longitudinal downward movement of the PRT/BHA in relation to the collector. The manifold housing may have a hydraulic orifice formed through a wall in fluid communication with the piston. A hydraulic conduit (not shown) can connect the hydraulic orifice to the control relay. The piston can be pushed out of engagement with the piston spring. When operated by an operator on the ship, the piston can engage the bezel and move the bezel upward along the housing cam surface and into engagement with the stop, thus moving the bezel to the unlocked position. Alternatively, an electric actuator actuator can be used in place of the piston.
[00054] The PRT 21 may be tubular and include a stroker, an electric pump, a cable head, an anchor and a latch. The stroker, electric pump, cable head and anchor may each include a housing or body connected, such as by threaded connections. The stroker can include the housing and an axis. The cable head may include an electronic assembly (not shown) for controlling the operation of the PRT 21. The electronic assembly may include a programmable logic controller (PLC) having the transceiver in communication with the profiling electrical cable 91 to transmit and receive signals data for ship 75. The electronic assembly can also include the power supply in communication with the PLC and the electrical profiling cable 91 to drive the electric pump, the PLC, and various control valves. The electric pump can include an electric motor, a hydraulic pump, and a pipeline. The piping may be in fluid communication with the various components of the PRT 21 and include one or more control valves to control fluid communication between the piping and the components. Each control valve actuator can be in communication with the PLC. The cable head can connect the PRT 21 to the profiling electrical cable module 22, such as by fitting a lug with a corresponding lug formed on the stop. The anchor may include two or more radial piston and cylinder assemblies and a matrix connected to each piston or two or more sliders operated by an operator on the vessel via a slide piston.
[00055] The latch may include a housing. The housing can be secured to the shaft, such as by a threaded connection. The latch may further include a gripper, such as a bezel, connected to one end of the housing. The latch may further include a locking piston disposed in a chamber formed in the housing and operable between a recessed position in engagement with the crimp and an unlocked position disengaged from the crimp. The locking piston can be driven towards the locked position by a driving element such as a spring. The locking piston may be in fluid communication with the stroker pump via a passage formed through the housing, a passage (not shown) formed through the shaft and via a hydraulic pivot (not shown) disposed between the stroker housing and the axle.
[00056] The latch may further include a release piston disposed in a chamber formed in the housing and operable between an extended position in engagement with a crown cap body 17u and a retracted position so as not to interfere with the operation of the bezel . The release piston can be driven towards the retracted position by a driving element such as a spring. The release piston may also be in fluid communication with the stroker pump via a passage formed through the housing, a second passage (not shown) formed through the shaft and via the hydraulic pivot (not shown) disposed between the stroker housing. and the axis. The release piston can also serve as a seating boss. The release piston may include a contact sensor or switch (not shown) in fluid or electrical communication with the PLC via the orifice or conductors (not shown) extending through the housing to the shaft and from the shaft to the housing. stroker via the pivot. Alternatively, flexible conduit and/or flexible cable can be used in place of the hydraulic pivot.
[00057] Figure 2E illustrates the connection of the profiling electrical cable module 22 to the PCA 20. To prepare for the abandon operation, the profiling electrical cable 91 can be fed through the tower 78 and inserted through the electrical cable module of profiling 22 and connected to the PRT 21. The PRT 21 can then be connected to the tool collector. The Profiling Power Cable Module 22 can then be deployed through the moonpool 77, using the Profiling Power Cable Winch 76 and seated in the PCA tool housing. The ROV 80 can operate the adapter connector, thereby securing the profiling electrical cable module 22 to the PCA 20. The ROV 80 can then connect jumper 66b to the termination receptacle and to the control relay and connect the conduit 76a fluid to the 24i inlet piping and the junction box. The trolley operator can then fit one or both of the filling boxes with the electrical profiling cable 91. The trolley operator can then release the PRT 21 from the tool collector via the umbilical cable 65 and the control relay .
[00058] The trolley operator can then supply electrical power to the PRT 21 via the electrical profiling cable 91 and operate the PRT to remove the 17u,b crown plugs. More details regarding the operation of the PRT 21 can be found in Figures 4C-4H of published application ’089. A tree protector (not shown) may or may not then be installed on a production tree 15 using a modified PRT (see Figures 5A-5D of published order '089).
[00059] Figures 3A-3J illustrate the abandonment of a lower portion of wellbore 2, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figures 3A-3C illustrate the plugging with cement of a lower portion of the annular tubing space 7a and reservoir 9r. Once crown plugs 17u,b have been removed from a tree 15, the BHA 23 can be connected to the profiling electrical cable 91 and the profiling electrical cable module 22 and employed in the PCA 20. The BHA 23 can include a cable head, a collar locator and a drill, such as a drill gun. The cable head, collar locator and drill gun can be connected together, such as by threaded connections or flanges and studs or screws and nuts. The drill gun may include a firing head and a charge conductor. The charge conductor may include a housing, a plurality of molded charges and a detonation cord connecting the charges to the firing head. The firing head can receive electricity from the electrical profiling cable 91 to operate an electrical counterpart. The electrical corresponding can ignite the to fire the molded charges. Alternatively, the drill can be a mechanically or hydraulically operated pipe drill.
[00060] Once the profiling electrical cable module 22 has seated in the PCA 20, the SSV 7v can be opened and the BHA 23 can be employed in the wellbore 2 using the electrical profiling cable 91. The BHA 23 can be employed at a depth adjacent to and above the 7p production shutter. Once the BHA 23 has been employed at the depth of settlement, electricity can then be supplied to the BHA via the electrical profiling cable 91 to fire the drill guns in the production pipeline 7t, thus forming lower perforations 25b through of a wall of it. The BHA 23 can be retrieved to the profiling electrical cable module 22 and the profiling electrical cable module shipped from the PCA 20 to ship 75. The trolley operator can then open the lower annular space valve 18b and close the isolation valve of the PCA.
[00061] The cement slurry 30 can then be pumped from the vessel 75, through the supply fluid conduit 70 and the PCA fluid sub orifice, down a production tree 15 (with tree guard) and a production pipe 7t, and in the annular pipe space 7a via bottom perforations 25b. Wellbore fluid displaced by the cement slurry 30 can circulate upwards into the piping annular space 7a, through the wellhead 10, the tree annular space orifice and into the vessel 75 via the return conduit. Once a desired amount of cement slurry 30 has been pumped into the piping annular space 7a, the trolley operator can close the lower annular space valve 18b while continuing to pump cement slurry, thus compressing the cement slurry in training. Once pumped, the cement slurry 30 can be allowed to cure for a predetermined period of time, such as one hour, six hours, twelve hours or a day, thereby forming an inferior cement plug 31b.
[00062] The cement paste 30 can be a Portland cement paste or a geopolymer cement paste. The cement slurry 30 may be pumped as part of a fluid sequence including a main conditioning fluid, the cement slurry and a post displacement fluid. The fluid string can be used to displace the wellbore fluid from the annular space and the fluid densities of the string can match so that the cement slurry 30 in the tubing annular space 7a is in a balanced condition.
[00063] Alternatively, the cement slurry can be pumped as a resin, a diluent and hardener and cured to form a viscoelastic polymer, as discussed and illustrated in Published U.S. Patent Application No. 2011/0203795, filed 24 February 2010 (Atty. Dock. No. WWCI/0012US), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Alternatively, the cement slurry can be pumped as a multilayer cement slurry, including one or more layers of Portland cement or geopolymer cement and a layer of resin, thinner and hardener, also discussed and illustrated in publication '795.
[00064] Figure 3D illustrates the placement of a 32b lower bridge plug in a 7t production pipeline. Once the lower cement plug 31b has cured, a second BHA 26 can be connected to the profiling electrical cable 91 and the profiling electrical cable module 22 and employed in the PCA 20. The second BHA 26 may include a cable head , a collar locator, a placement tool and the lower bridge plug 32b. The placement tool may include a mandrel and a piston movable longitudinally with respect to the mandrel. The clamping chuck can be connected to the collar locator and secured to a chuck of the lower bridge plug 32b, such as by shear pins, screws or a ring. The placement tool can include the firing head and an energy charge. The firing head can receive electricity from the electrical profiling cable 91 to operate an electrical correspondent and trigger the energy charge. Combustion of the energy charge can create high pressure gas that exerts a force on the placement piston. Bridge plug 32b can include a mandrel, an anchor and a housing. The anchor and housing may be disposed along an outer surface of the plug mandrel between a mandrel placement boss and a placement ring. The placement piston can engage the placement ring and drive the casing and anchor against the placement boss, thereby securing the lower bridge plug 32b.
[00065] The second BHA 26 can be employed at a depth adjacent to and above the lower cement plug 31b. Once the second BHA 26 has been employed at the placement depth, electricity can then be supplied to the second BHA via the profiling electrical cable 91 to fire the placement tool, thereby expanding the lower bridge plug 32b against an inner surface of the 7t production pipe. Once the lower bridge plug 32b has been placed, the plug can be released from the placement tool by exerting tension on the profiling electrical cable 91 to fracture the shear fastener. The second BHA 26 can then be retrieved to the profiling electrical cable module 22 and the profiling electrical cable module shipped from the PCA 20 to the vessel 75.
[00066] Figures 3E and 3F illustrate the occlusion with cement of an intermediate portion of the annular pipe space 7a. BHA 23 can then be redeployed to PCA 20 and wellbore 2 using electrical logging cable 91. BHA 23 can then be redeployed to a depth below the shoe of an intermediate casing string 5 and above the top of the 8p production coating cement. Once the BHA 23 has been employed at the depth of placement, electricity can then be supplied to the BHA via the electrical profiling cable 91 to fire the drill gun into a 7t production pipeline, thus forming 25u top perforations. through your wall. The BHA 23 can be retrieved to the profiling electrical cable module 22 and the profiling electrical cable module shipped from the PCA 20 to ship 75.
[00067] The cement slurry 30 can then be pumped from the vessel 75, through the supply fluid conduit 70 and the PCA fluid sub orifice down a production tree 15 (with the tree guard) and production pipe 7t, and in the annular pipe space 7a via the top boreholes 25u. The wellbore fluid displaced by the cement slurry 30 can circulate upwards into the piping annular space 7a through the wellhead 10, tree annular space orifice and into the ship 75 via the return conduit. Once a desired amount of cement paste 30 has been pumped, cement paste 30 can be allowed to cure, thus forming an intermediate cement plug 31i.
[00068] Figure 3G illustrates the placement of a 32i intermediate bridge plug in a 7t production pipeline. Once the intermediate cement plug 31i has cured, the second BHA 26 can be reconnected to the profiling electrical cable 91 and the profiling electrical cable module 22 and re-employed to the PCA 20. The second BHA 26 can be re-employed to a depth adjacent to and above the intermediate cement plug 31i. Once the second BHA26 has been employed at the placement depth, the intermediate bridge plug 32i can be placed against the inner surface of the 7t production pipeline. Once the intermediate bridge plug 32i has been fitted, the plug can be released from the placement tool and the second BHA 26 can then be retrieved to the profiling wireline module 22 and the dispatched wireliner cable module from PCA 20 to ship 75.
[00069] Figure 3H illustrates the cut of the 7t production pipe. A third BHA 27 can be connected to the profiling electrical cable 91 and the profiling electrical cable module 22 and employed in the PCA 20. The third BHA 27 may include a cable head, a collar locator, an anchor, an electrical pump , a hydraulic fluid reservoir, a bypass valve, an electric motor and a pipe cutter. The anchor may include two or more piston and cylinder assemblies and a matrix connected to each piston or two or more sliders operated by an operator on the vessel via a slide piston. The electric pump may be operable to supply hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the casing cutter and anchor in response to receiving electricity from the shaping electric cable 91. Fluid pressure can extend pipe cutter blades into engagement with the pipe 7t production pipe and extend the anchor in a gripping fit with a 7t production pipe. Once the blades and anchor have been extended, the electric motor can be operated to rotate the pipe cutter blades, thus cutting an upper portion of the 7t production pipeline from a lower portion of it. Once the production piping has been cut, the bypass valve can be opened by supplying electricity via the electrical profiling cable 91, thus releasing hydraulic fluid from the anchor and piping cutter to the reservoir. Alternatively, the pipe cutter can be a thermite torch.
[00070] The third BHA 27 can then be retrieved to the profiling electrical cable module 22 and the profiling electrical cable module dispatched from the PCA 20 to the vessel 75. Once the third BHA27 and the cable module profiling electrical 22 have been retrieved to ship 75, the PCA 20 can be disconnected from a tree 15 and retrieved to the ship.
[00071] Figures 3I and 3J illustrate the recovery of a production tree 15. A tree claw 40 can be connected to the wire rope 90 and lowered from ship 75 into sea 1 via the moonpool 77. The ROV 80 can guide the laying of a tree claw 40 on a tree 15. The ROV 80 can then operate a tree claw connector 40 to secure the claw to a tree 15. The ROV 80 can then detach the tree connector 13 from the head of well 10 and a production tree 15 and the cut top portion of the production pipe 7 can be raised to the vessel 75.
[00072] Figure 4A illustrates a second PCA 100 for connection to the subsea wellhead 10, according to another embodiment of the present invention. The second PCA 100 may include the tree connector 13 (and face seal 19), a wellhead adapter 105, a fluid sub 110, a solid barrier such as isolation valve 115, a BOP stack 120, a tool housing 125, a frame 130, a tubing 135, a termination receptacle 140, one or more accumulators 145 (three shown) and a subsea control system. Fluid sub 110, isolation valve 115, BOP stack 120, tool housing 125, frame 130, tubing 135, termination receptacle 140 (having base 141, latch 142, actuator 143 , and shearable fastener 144), accumulators 145 and subsea control system may be similar to those discussed above for PCA 20. Frame 130 can be connected to tree connector 13, such as by fasteners. Piping 135 may include an inlet dry break coupling 146i an outlet dry break coupling 146o and an actuated valve (not shown) for each coupling. Each dry break coupling 146i,o may be similar to the dry break coupling discussed above for dry break connection 47a.
[00073] The wellhead adapter 105 may include a housing or body 105b having a longitudinal hole therethrough and couplings at each end thereof. The top coupling can be a flange for connection to an isolation valve 110 and the bottom coupling can be threaded for connection to the tree connector 13. The hole can have a large drift diameter, such as greater than or equal to quarter, five, six, or seven inches to accommodate a 200 ring gap grouting tool column (Figures 5A-5G). The adapter body 105b may further have a sealing sleeve 105s. A seal 106 can be connected to the seal sleeve 105s for sealing against the grout tool column 200. The seal 106 may be directional, such as a cup seal ring or a seal ring or a chevron seal ring. directional 106 may be oriented to seal against the grout tool 200 string in response to pressure in a wellhead 10 being greater than pressure in the second PCU hole. Alternatively, the sealing sleeve 105s can be an element separate from the body and connected to the body 105b, such as by a threaded connection. Alternatively, seal sleeve 105s can be omitted and seal 106 located on the body.
[00074] The adapter body 105 may further include the sealing face 105f formed on an outer surface. Adapter body 105b may further have one or more flow passages 107 formed in one of its walls.
[00075] The flow passage 107 can provide fluid communication between the sealing face 105f and a chamber 150 formed between the sealing sleeve 105s and the wellhead housing 4h (Figure 6B). A fluid conduit 108o can connect to seal face 105f and tubing 135 and fluid communication between flow passage 107 and coupling 146o of outlet dry rupture fitting 147o (Figure 6B). Another fluid conduit 108i may connect to fluid sub 110 and tubing 135 and provide fluid communication between fluid sub orifice 110p and inlet dry break coupling 146i of inlet dry break connection 147i (Figure 6B) . The adapter body 105b may further include a seat profile 109g,s formed on an inner surface for receiving the hanger 205 (Figure 5A) of the annular space grout tool column 200. The seat profile 109g,s may include a seating shoulder 109s and a latch profile such as a slot 109g.
[00076] Figure 4B illustrates the employment of the second PCA 100 in a subsea wellhead 10. Figure 4C illustrates the connection of the supply fluid conduit 70, the return fluid conduit 170 and an umbilical cable 65 with the second PCA 100. The use of the second PCA in a wellhead 10 may be similar to the use of the PCA 20 in a tree 15, discussed above. Return fluid conduit 170 may be similar and similarly employed to fluid conduit 70 discussed above.
[00077] Figures 5A-5C illustrate the column of annular space cementing tool 200, according to another embodiment of the present invention. Tool string 200 may include a hanger 205, an extender 208, one or more of the drills such as drill guns 209, 211, a shutter such as inflatable shutter 215, and a shoe 220. Drilling guns 209, 211 may be disposed between the stent 208 and the inflatable plug 215. The shoe 220 may include a body 221 and a bore closure, such as a plug 210, secured to the body. Body 221 may have a tapered nose for retrieving BHA 23. Plug 210 may be a crown plug as discussed above for a tree 15. Plug 210 may be fitted with a profile 222 formed on an inner surface of body 221 thus sealing a bore of a tool string 200. Alternatively, a pressure relief device or open flapper valve can be used in place of the bore plug. Alternatively, the drill 211 may be a mechanically or hydraulically operated pipe drill.
[00078] Hanger 205 may include a housing 206, a latch 207 and one or more seals 201, 203u,b. Housing 206 may be tubular and have a flow hole formed therethrough. A coupling, such as a threaded coupling, may be formed at a lower end of the housing 206 for connection to the extender 208. The seal 201 may be directional, such as a cup seal ring or a chevron seal ring. The directional seal 201 may be oriented to seal against the PCU bore in response to pressure and in the PCA bore greater than the pressure at the wellhead 10. Alternatively, both seals 106, 201 may be omitted and/or be bi-directional . If the seal 106 is omitted, then the seal may be carried by the hanger 205 and the seal sleeve 105s omitted or the seal 201 may be carried by the stent 208 for sealing against the seal sleeve 105s.
[00079] Latch 207 can be connected to housing 206 at an upper end of the housing. Latch 207 may include an actuator, such as a cam 207c, and one or more fasteners, such as dogs 207d. Housing 206 may have a plurality of windows 207w formed through its wall for extending and retracting dogs 207d. Dogs 207d can be pushed outwardly by cam 207c to engage adapter slot body 109g, thereby longitudinally connecting hanger 205 to adapter body 105. Cam 207c can be movable longitudinally with respect to housing 206 between a nested position (shown) and a nested arrangement (not shown). In the docked position the cam 207c can lock the dogs 207d in the extended position and in the docked arrangement the cam can be free of the dogs thus freeing the dogs to retract. Cam 207c may have an actuation profile formed on an outer surface thereof to push the dogs into the extended position, a grip profile formed on an inner surface for engagement with the PRT 21, and a stinger for maintaining cam engagement with a seal 203b independent of cam position. Cam 207c can also maintain fit with seal 230u regardless of cam position. Latch 207 may further include an upper catch boss 207u formed on an inner surface of housing 206 and mated with cam 207c when cam is in the mated arrangement and a seating shoulder 207b formed on an outer surface of housing 206 for sealing against the adapter seating boss body 109s. The 207u capture boss can be used to support a 200 tool string when driven by the PRT 21.
[00080] Alternatively, a plug similar to the bridge plugs discussed above can be used in place of the hanger.
[00081] Figures 5D and 5E illustrate a drill gun 211 of a column of tool 200. The other drill gun 209 may be similar except for having a higher load resistance and differential pressure triggering. The piercing gun 211 may include an ignition device 211i and a charge lead 211c. Gun 211 may include a tubular housing 225 having a flow hole formed therethrough. To facilitate fabrication and assembly, housing 225 may include two or more sections 225a-f connected together, such as by threaded couplings. Housing 225 may have a coupling, such as a threaded coupling, formed at each of its longitudinal ends for connection with drill gun 209 at the upper end and for connection with plug 215 at the lower end. Housing 205 may also have one or more (two shown) annular space holes 223a formed through a wall of section 225b. Punching gun 211 may further include a plurality of seals disposed between several of its interfaces so that a bore thereof is isolated from an exterior.
[00082] The charge conductor 211c may include a stinger 224 of the housing section 225e, a housing section 225f, one or more molded charges 226 and one or more detonation cords 227. The piercing gun 211 may include one or more (two shown) molded load sets 226, each set having a plurality of molded loads circumferentially spaced around housing 225f. Ignition device 211i may include housing sections 225a-e, a detonator capsule 231, one or more (two shown) firing pins 232, one or more biasing elements such as springs 233u,m,b and atmospheric chamber 242. an actuation sleeve 234, a latch sleeve 235, a latch cam 236, a latch fastener such as a split ring 237, a firing piston 238, one or more (two shown) shearable fasteners such as screws 239 The latch sleeve 235 may have one or more (two shown) hole holes 223b formed through a wall.
[00083] In operation, the upper face of the firing piston 238 may be in fluid communication with the annular space hole 223a and a lower face of the firing piston may be in fluid communication with the bore holes 223b. To fire pistol 211, pressure in an annular space 300a (Figure 6B) formed between tool string 200 and production casing 6 and a chamber wellhead 150 can be increased via return line 170 relative to a pressure of hole of a tool string 200. Once the annular space pressure has been increased to a predetermined firing pressure differential, firing piston 238 can break shear bolts 239 and move downward in contact with the latch 236. Firing piston 238 may then push latch cam 236 down and out of engagement with ring 237. Slot ring 237 may then be free to expand out of engagement with sleeve of latch 235 which is also free of the connected actuation sleeve 234. Once the actuation sleeve 234 is free, the atmospheric chamber 242 pulls the actuation sleeve down. Actuation sleeve 234 can drive firing pins 232 down to baste in blasting cap 231. Blasting cap 231 can then ignite detonation cord 227 which can burn the molded charges 226.
[00084] The stinger 224 can fit a sealing hole of the housing section 225f and a lower end of the actuating sleeve 234 can drive a seal so that a hole of the punch gun 211 remains isolated from the annular space 300a even after loads molded 226 have fired.
[00085] Figure 5F illustrates the inflatable plug 215. The plug 215 may include a mandrel 250, a sleeve 255, a bladder 260, and one or more retainers, such as nuts 265u,b, an inflator 275i, and a deflator 275d. A mandrel 250 may be tubular and have a flow hole formed therethrough. To facilitate fabrication and assembly, the mandrel 250 may include two or more sections 250a,b connected together, such as by means of threaded couplings. Chuck 250 may have a coupling, such as a threaded coupling, formed at each of its longitudinal ends for connection to drill gun 211 at the upper end and for connection to shoe 220 at the lower end. Shutter 215 may further include a number of seals disposed between a number of its interfaces. The set of bladders 255, 260, 265u,b may be connected to the mandrel 250, such as by trapping between mandrel shoulders. Each nut 265u,b can be connected to sleeve 255, such as by means of threaded couplings. Each nut 265u,b may have a groove formed therein for receiving respective reinforcing elements, such as spring bars 262u,b. Bladder 260 can be made of an elastomeric material, such as polyisoprene, neoprene, polyurethane, or an elastic copolymer. Bladder 260 can be molded onto mount nuts 265u, sleeve 255, and spring bars 262u,b.
[00086] An inner surface of the bladder 260 may be in fluid communication with one or more orifices (two shown) 270 formed through a wall of the sleeve 255. The orifices 270 may provide fluid communication with an annular flow passage271 formed between sleeve 255 and mandrel 250. Inflator 275i and deflator 275d may each be in fluid communication with passage 271. Inflator 275i may include an inflation hole 272 formed through a wall of the mandrel, a passageway an inflation valve 273 formed in the upper nut 265u, and a check valve 274 disposed in the inflation passage. Check valve 274 may be oriented to allow flow from inflation port 272 to annular passage 271 via the inflation passage, but prevent reverse flow therethrough, thus maintaining inflation of bladder 260. Deflator 275d may include an inflation port. deflation 276 formed through an upper nut wall 265u and a pressure relief device 277 disposed in the deflation port.
[00087] The pressure relief device 277 may include a rupture disk and a pair of flanges. The discharge passage 276 may have a first shoulder formed therein to receive the flanges and be threaded. One of the flanges can be threaded to secure the pressure relief device 277 to the upper nut 265u. The rupture disk may be metallic and have one or more markings formed on an inner surface thereof for secure failure at a predetermined burst pressure differential (relative to the pressure of the annular space). The rupture disk can be disposed between the flanges and the flanges connected together, such as by one or more fasteners. Flanges can carry one or more seals to prevent leakage around the rupture disc.
[00088] Alternatively, the upper mandrel section 250a may be connected to the lower mandrel section 250b by one or more shearable fasteners and the upper mandrel section may have the void hole and a seal covering the void hole and isolating the hole deflation of passage 271. In this alternative, to deflate the plug, tension can be exerted on a tool string using the PRT 21 and electrical shaping cable 91 until the shear fasteners break, thus freeing the upper chuck section. The upper mandrel section can then move up relative to the bladder and the lower mandrel section until the deflation hole is aligned with the passage, thus allowing the inflation fluid to discharge from the passage into a hole. tool column. The upper mandrel section may further have a spigot which then engages a corresponding spigot of the lower mandrel section, thus reconnecting the mandrel sections. Alternatively, the tool column 200 may include a plug having a compression fit assembly using a piston in place of the inflatable plug 215.
[00089] Figures 6A-6F illustrate the employment of the annular space cementing tool string 200 in a subsea wellhead 10 and installation in the second PCA 100. Figure 6A illustrates the employment of a tool string 200 in a head of subsea well 10 and the second PCA 100. Figures 6B and 6C illustrate the tool string 200 seated in the second PCA 100. The tool string 200 may be filled with inflation fluid 301 (Figure 6D). The profiling electrical cable 91 can then be connected to the PRT 21. The PRT 21 can then be connected to the hanger 205. The PRT 21 and tool column 200 can then be employed through the moonpool 77 using the cable winch Profiling Power 76 and seated on the second PCA 100. The trolley operator can then supply electricity to the PRT 21 via the Profiling Power Cable 91 and operate the PRT 21 to adjust the Latch 207. The PRT 21 and Power Cable logs 91 can then be retrieved to vessel 75. Alternatively, the PRT can be released by tapping up or down to mechanically adjust latch 207. Isolation valve 115 can then be closed by the operator. trolley via umbilical cable 65 and subsea control system. Alternatively, one or more of the 120b,w BOPs can also be closed as a preventative measure. Alternatively, the solid barrier may be a blind ram strike prevention device, an overflow prevention device (closed itself), a check valve or a plug in place of the isolation valve 115.
[00090] Figure 6D illustrates inflation of shutter 215. Inflation fluid 301 can be pumped from vessel 75, down fluid supply conduit 70, through conduit 108i and fluid sub orifice 110p, and into the hole of the second PCA 100. The inflation fluid 301 may continue to descend through a tool column hole to the inflator 275i. Pumping the inflation fluid 301 against the bore plug 210 can increase the pressure in a tool string bore, thereby opening a check valve 274. The inflation fluid 301 can continue through the open check valve 274 to down the annular passage 271, and into the bladder chamber via the holes 270, thus expanding the bladder 260 against an inner surface of the production liner 6c.
[00091] Figure 6E illustrates the employment of a second PRT 21b in a subsea wellhead 10. Figure 6F illustrates the removal of bore plug 210. Once plug 215 has been inflated, isolation valve 115 can be open. The electrical profiling cable 91 can be connected to a second PRT 21b (smaller). The second PRT 21b can then be employed through the moonpool 77 using the profiling electrical cable winch76 and down through the second PCA 100 and into a tool column hole to hole plug 210. The trolley operator can, then supplying electricity to the second PRT 21b via the profiling electrical cable 91 and operating the second PRT to engage and remove hole plug 210 from profile 222. The second PRT 21b and hole plug 210 can then be retrieved to the ship 75. Isolation valve 115 can then be closed by the trolley operator via the umbilical cable 65 and the subsea control system.
[00092] Figures 7A-7F illustrate the abandonment of an upper portion of wellbore 2, according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figures 7A-7C illustrate cement plugging of an annular space 300b (also known as the annular space B) formed between the production liner 6c and the intermediate liner 5c. Once isolation valve 115 has been closed, piercing gun 211 can be fired. Fluid pressure in an annular space 300a and chamber 150 can be increased by pumping down the return line 170 until the firing differential has been reached, thus firing gun 211 in production casing 6c. The molded charges 226 of the punch gun 211 can have a charge intensity sufficient to form upper perforations 302u through a wall of the production casing 6c, without damaging a wall of the intermediate casing 5c, thereby providing access to the annular space B 300b .
[00093] The BHA 23 and the profiling power cable module 22 can then be re-employed in the PCA 20 and wellbore 2 using the profiling power cable 91. Isolation valve 115 can be opened. BHA 23 can be re-employed at a depth below the shoe 220 and above a top of the intermediate coating cement 8i. Once the BHA 23 has been deployed to the depth of placement, electricity can then be supplied to the BHA via the electrical profiling cable 91 to fire the drill gun into the production casing 6c, thus forming lower perforations 302b through a wall. The BHA 23 can be retrieved to the profiling electrical cable module 22, the isolation valve 115 closed and the profiling electrical cable module shipped from the PCA 20 to the vessel 75.
[00094] Cement slurry 30 may then be pumped from vessel 75, down fluid supply conduit 70, through conduit 108i and fluid sub orifice 110p, and into a bore of second PCA 100. Cement slurry 30 can continue in hanger 205 and down a tool string hole and can exit tool string 200 in shoe 220. Cement slurry 30 can continue in annular space B 300b via lower perforations 302b. Displaced wellbore fluid may circulate from the annular space B 300b to the casing/column annular space 300a via upper perforations 302u. Displaced wellbore fluid may continue to rise into casing/column annular space 300a, through wellhead 10 and into return fluid conduit 170 via fluid passage 107 and conduit 108o. Displaced wellbore fluid may continue upward from fluid conduit 170 to vessel 75. The cement slurry 30 in annular space B 300b can then be allowed to cure, thus forming the cement plug of annular space B 303b.
[00095] Figures 7D-7F illustrate plugging with cement an annular space 300c (also known as the annular space C) formed between the intermediate cladding 5c and the surface cladding 4c. Once the annular space cement plug B 303b has formed, the drill gun 209 can be fired. Fluid pressure in an annular space 300a and chamber 150 can be increased by pumping down return line 170 until the (increased) firing differential has been reached, thus firing gun 209 through the production liner 6c and in the intermediate coating 5c. The molded charges from the punch gun 209 can have a charge intensity sufficient to form upper perforations 304u through a wall of the casings 6c and intermediate casings 5c without damaging a wall of the surface casing 4c, thus providing access to the annular space C 300c.
[00096] The BHA 23 and the profiling power cable module 22 can then be re-employed in the PCA 20 and wellbore 2 using the profiling power cable 91. Isolation valve 115 can be opened. BHA 23 can be re-employed at a depth below the bottom perforations 302b and above a top of the intermediate casing cement 8i. Once BHA 23 has been employed at the depth of placement, electricity can then be supplied to the BHA via the electrical profiling cable 91 to fire the drill gun through production casing 6c and intermediate casing 5c, thus forming bottom perforations 304b through a wall. The BHA 23 can be retrieved to the profiling electrical cable module 22, the isolation valve 115 closed and the profiling electrical cable module shipped from the PCA 20 to the vessel 75.
[00097] Cement slurry 30 may then be pumped from vessel 75, down fluid supply conduit 70, through conduit 108i and fluid sub orifice 110p, and into a bore of second PCA 100. Cement slurry 30 can continue in hanger 205 and down a tool string hole and can exit tool string 200 in shoe 220. Cement slurry 30 can continue in annular space C 300c via lower perforations 304b . Displaced wellbore fluid may circulate from annular space C 300b to annular casing/column space 300a via upper perforations 304u. Displaced wellbore fluid may continue upward from annular casing space/annular space column 300a, through a wellhead 10 and into return fluid conduit 170 via fluid passage 107 and conduit 108o. Displaced wellbore fluid may continue upward from fluid conduit 170 to vessel 75. Cement slurry 30 in annular space C 300c can then be allowed to cure, thus forming annular space cement plug 303c .
[00098] Figure 7G illustrates the emptying of a tool column plug. Once the C annular gap cement plug 303c has been formed, the second PRT 21b, leading the hole plug 210, and the profiling electrical cable module 22 can then be re-employed in the PCA 20 and the hole of well 2 using the electrical profiling cable 91. Isolation valve 115 can be opened. The second PRT 21b can be lowered to the shoe profile 222 and operated by an operator on the ship to retrieve the bore plug210. The second PRT 21b can be retrieved to the profiling electrical cable module 22, the isolation valve 115 closed and the profiling electrical cable module shipped from the PCA 20 to the vessel 75. Pumping can continue, thus increasing the pressure in a tool column hole and into the bladder chamber until the burst pressure differential is reached, thereby bursting rupture disk 277 and allowing emptying of bladder 260.
[00099] The PRT 21 can then be employed from vessel 75 using the electrical profiling cable 91. Isolation valve 115 can be opened. The PRT 21 can then be seated on the hanger 205 and operated by an operator on the ship to disengage the latch 207. The tool string 200 can then be retrieved to the ship using the PRT 21 and electrical profiling cable 91 .
[000100] Figures 8A and 8B illustrate the abandonment of the subsea well tool column plug 10. Figure 8A illustrates the placement of an upper bridge plug 304 in the production casing 6c. Once the tool string 200 has been retrieved, the second BHA 26 can be reconnected to the profiling electrical cable 91 and the profiling electrical cable module 22 and employed in the second PCA 100. The second BHA26 can be re-employed at one depth adjacent and below the upper perforations 302u, 304u. Once the second BHA 26 has been employed at the depth of placement, the upper bridge plug 304 can be placed against the inner surface of the production liner 6c. Once the upper bridge plug 304 has been fitted, the plug can be released from the placement tool and the second BHA26 can then be retrieved to the profiling wireline module 22 and the dispatched profiling wireline module from PCA 20 to vessel 75. The second PCA 100 can then be disconnected from wellhead 10 and retrieved to vessel 75. Alternatively, the second PCA 100 can be disconnected from wellhead 10 and retrieved to vessel 75 before using the second BHA 26 and installing the top bridge plug 304.
[000101] Figure 8B illustrates the cement plugging of the 6h production casing hanger. Once the second PCA 100 has been removed, cement slurry can be pumped down from the production casing hole into the upper bridge plug 304 and allowed to cure, thereby forming an upper cement plug 305. The wellhead 10 can then be abandoned, using the elastomeric sealing elements of the coating as additional barriers.
[000102] Figures 9A and 9B illustrate a second alternative 400t annular space cementing tool column for use with the production tree 15 and a corresponding alternative third PCA 400p, according to another embodiment of the present invention. The third PCA 400p may be similar to the second PCA 100, except that it is sized to sit on a production tree 15 in place of the wellhead 10 and having a fluid conduit connecting with a production tree passage in place of the conduit of fluid 108o and corresponding passage 107. The second tool string 400t may be similar to a tool string 200 except that it is sized to seat in a production pipe 7 in place of the production liner 6 and having an additional capable drill gun. of drilling through a wall of the production pipe 7 (without damaging the production liner 6). Each of the other drill guns of the second 400t tool string may also be capable of drilling through a wall of production pipe 7 in addition to their respective linings.
[000103] The abandon operation using the alternative PCA 400p and the 400t tool column can be similar to the abandon operation discussed above with a few modifications. The third PCA 400p can perform the functions of both PCAs 20, 100. The second tool column 400t can be used to form annular gap cement plugs lower A and intermediate 31b,i as well as the annular gap cement plugs B and C 303b,c. The circulation path can use the production pipe 7 in place of the surface coating 6 and the tree production passage 15 in place of the passage 107. The placement of the pipe bridge plugs 32b,i, the cutting of the production pipe 7 and the removal of a tree 15 can be delayed until after the removal of the second column of tool 400t and before the placement of the surface cladding bridge plug 304.
[000104] Figure 10 illustrates the alternative employment of a tool string 200 in a subsea wellhead 10 and the second PCA 100 using subsea upconductor 525, according to another embodiment of the present invention. Instead of using the intervention support vessel 75, an offshore drilling unit (ODU) 575 can be used to conduct the abandonment operation. The ODU 575 can connect to the second PCA 100 via the subsea upconductor 525. The ODU 575 can support the subsea upconductor 525 via an upper subsea upconductor housing (not shown) and the subsea upconductor can connect to the second PCA 100 via a subsea upconductor undercarriage (not shown). The subsea riser 525 can be used to employ either PCAs 20, 100, 400p and/or both columns of tools 200, 400t. Alternatively, a heavy intervention vessel can be used in place of the ODU 575.
[000105] Figure 11 illustrates a third alternative column of annular space cementing tool 600, according to another embodiment of the present invention. The third column of tool 600 may be similar to a column of tool 200, except for the omission of one of the drill guns 209, 211. The abandonment operation using the third column of tool 600 may be similar to the abandonment operation using the tool string 200 except that the tool string may first be employed only with the drill gun 211 and used to drill and pump the cement slurry into the annular gap cement plug 303b. The third column of tool 600 can then be retrieved to vessel 75 before the cement slurry cures. Drill gun 211 can be replaced by drill gun 209 and the third tool string re-employed in a subsea wellhead 10 and reinstalled in the second PCA 100. Third tool string 600 can then be used to drill and pump the cement slurry to the C annular gap cement plug 303c and then again be recovered to vessel 75 before the cement slurry cures.
[000106] Alternatively, the third column of tool 600 can be modified for use with the third PCA 400p.
[000107] Figure 12 illustrates a fourth alternative annular space cementing tool column 700, according to another embodiment of the present invention. The fourth column of tool 600 may be similar to a column of tool 200, except for omitting the plug 215 and replacing the shoe 220 with a stinger 710. A plug 705 can be placed in the production casing hole prior to employing the second PCA 100 and after removing a production tree 15 from the wellhead 10. The plug 705 may include a mandrel, an anchor, a casing, and a burnished hole receptacle. The anchor and housing may be disposed along an outer surface of the plug mandrel between a mandrel placement boss and a placement ring. Shutter 705 can be employed and placed using the second BHA26. While the fourth column of tool 600 is being lowered into the second PCA 100, the stinger 710 can line up with the plug receptacle. The stinger 710 can drive a seal along an outer surface to engage the plug receptacle. Once the annular gap cement plug 303c has been formed, the fourth column of tool 600 can be retrieved and the plug left in the production liner.
[000108] Alternatively, the third column of tool 600 can be modified for use with plug 705.
[000109] Alternatively, the cement slurry may not be balanced and the plug 705 or any of the other strings of tools may include the check valve to prevent unbalanced cement slurry piping. The check valve can be locked open to facilitate the use of lower drilling guns or installed in a plug profile or shoe profile after each lower drilling gun is used.
[000110] Additionally, the well may include a second (or more) intermediate casing columns and the tool columns may include an additional pair (or more) of drill guns for forming an additional annular space cement plug.
[000111] Additionally, any of the tool columns can further include a disconnect sub (not shown). The disconnect sub may be operable to release the lower portion of a tool string from an upper portion of a tool string if the tool string becomes stuck in a wellhead and PCA. The disconnect sub may include an upper element connected to the upper portion of a tool string, a lower element connected to the lower portion of a tool string, and a latch securing the upper and lower elements together. The latch may include frangible fasteners set to fail at a tension force within the PRT's capability. Disconnect sub can be connected between hanger and drill gun, between drill gun and shutter. Additionally, the tool string may include a plurality of disconnect elements at different locations along a tool string, each disconnect sub set to release at a different pressure or tension force. Alternatively, if any one of the tool strings becomes stuck, the third BHA27 (with pipe cutter or thermite torch) can be employed and operated by an operator on the ship to cut a free column hole from a stuck column hole.
[000112] Alternatively, the slurry of the annular space B and/or C can be crushed or compressed, instead of forming the lower perforations. Alternatively, a second (or more) annular space plug B and/or C annular space can be formed along the respective annular spaces through additional passages with the drill gun.
[000113] Alternatively, the hydraulically operated tool column, disclosed in United States Provisional Patent Application No. 61/624,552 (Atty. Dock. No. WWCI/0020USL), filed April 16, 2012, may be used.
[000114] Although the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and additional embodiments may be considered without departing from its basic scope and its scope is determined by the appended claims.

权利要求:
Claims (36)
[0001]
1. A method for abandoning a subsea well, comprising: attaching a pressure control assembly (PCA) (100) to a subsea wellhead (10); employing a tool string (200) in the PCA (100), wherein the tool string (200) comprises a plug (215) and an upper drill (209, 211) located above the plug (215); close a hole of the PCA (100) above the tool string (200) with a solid barrier, wherein the solid barrier is at least one between a blowout prevention device (120) of the PCA (100) and an isolation valve (115) of the PCA (100); placing the plug (215) against an inner casing (6c) suspended from the subsea wellhead (10) in a region adjacent to an outer casing (5c) suspended from the subsea wellhead; while the PCA hole (100) is closed, piercing a wall of the inner casing (6c) above the plug (215) by operating the upper drill (209, 211); pierce the inner liner wall (6c) below the plug (215); and injecting the cement slurry (30) into an inner annular space (300b) formed between the inner lining (6c) and the outer lining (5c), characterized in that the cement slurry (30) is injected into the annular space internal (300b) by a circulation path including a bore of a tool string (200), external perforations (302u, 302b) above and below the plug (215) and a chamber (150) formed between the subsea wellhead (10) and a tool string (200), injecting the cement slurry (30) into the circulation path displaces wellbore fluid through the perforations (302u) above the plug (215) and into the inner casing (6c ), and the method being performed without upconductor.
[0002]
The method of claim 1, wherein: the bore of the tool string (200) is closed during use, and the plug (215) is adjusted by pressurizing the closed bore of the tool string (200).
[0003]
The method of claim 2, wherein the plug (215) is set prior to operation of the upper drill (209, 211) and while the PCA bore (100) is closed.
[0004]
The method of claim 3, wherein: the method further comprises opening the bore of the tool string (200) after placement of the plug (215), the upper drill (209, 211) is a drill gun. drilling (209, 211), and the upper drilling gun (209, 211) is fired by pressurizing the chamber (150) formed between the subsea wellhead (10) and the tool string (200).
[0005]
The method of claim 2, further comprising opening the bore of the tool string (200) after the plug (215) is fitted.
[0006]
The method of claim 5, wherein: the tool string bore (200) is closed by a plug (210), and the tool string bore (200) is opened by retrieving the plug (210 ) using a working line (91) and a working line operated by a plug extender tool (21b).
[0007]
The method of claim 1, wherein the perforations (302b) below the plug (215) are formed by employing a bottom drill (23) through a hole in the tool string (200).
[0008]
The method of claim 7, wherein the bottom rig is employed using the working line (91).
[0009]
The method of claim 1, wherein: the tool string (200) further comprises a hanger (205), and the method further comprises seating the hanger (205) on the PCA (100).
[0010]
The method according to claim 1, further comprising perforating a wall (5c) of the outer casing (5c) above the plug (215) while the PCA hole (100) is closed.
[0011]
The method of claim 10, further comprising: piercing the wall of the outer casing (5c) below the plug (215); and injecting cement paste (30) into an outer annular space (300c) through a circulation path including a tool string hole (200), the external perforations (304u, 304b) above and below the plug (215) and the chamber (150) formed between the subsea wellhead (10) and the tool string (200).
[0012]
The method of claim 1, further comprising: lowering the PCA (100) from a ship (75) to the subsea wellhead (10); and establishing communication between a PCA control system (100) and the ship (75), in which: the tool string (200) is employed from the ship (75), and the solid barrier is closed using the control.
[0013]
The method of claim 1, further comprising: removing the tool column (200) from the PCA (100) after injecting the cement paste (30); removing the PCA (100) from the subsea wellhead (10); placing a bridge plug (304) on the inner liner (6c); and forming a cement plug (305) in the placed bridge plug (304) and in the subsea wellhead (10).
[0014]
14. Method for abandoning a subsea well, comprising: placing a plug (705) against a bore of an internal casing (6c) suspended in a subsea wellhead (10) in a region adjacent to an external casing (5c) suspended at the subsea wellhead (10); attaching a pressure control assembly (PCA) (100) to the subsea wellhead (10); employ a tool string (600) on the PCA (100) and align the tool string (600) on the plug (705), wherein the tool string (200) comprises a stinger (710) and a top drill (209, 211) located above the stinger (710); close a hole of the PCA (100) above the tool string (600) with a solid barrier, wherein the solid barrier is at least one between a blowout prevention device (120) of the PCA (100) and an isolation valve (115) of the PCA (100); while the PCA hole (100) is closed, piercing a wall of the inner casing (6c) above the plug (705) by operating the upper drill (209, 211); pierce the inner liner wall (6c) below the plug (705); and injecting cement slurry (30) into an inner annular space (300b) formed between the inner lining (6c) and the outer lining (5c), characterized in that the cement slurry (30) is injected into the inner annular space (300b) by a circulation path including a bore of a tool string (600), the external perforations (302u, 302b) above and below the plug (705) and a chamber (150) formed between the subsea wellhead ( 10) and the tool string (600), injecting the cement paste (30) into the circulation path displaces wellbore fluid through the perforations (302u) above the plug (705) and into the inner casing (6c) , and the method being performed without upconductor.
[0015]
The method of claim 14, further comprising employing the plug (705) to the subsea wellhead (10) using a working line (91) and a working line operated by a setting tool (26 ).
[0016]
16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the shutter (705) is employed and configured before attaching the PCA (100) to the subsea wellhead (10).
[0017]
17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the upper drill (209, 211) is a drilling gun (209, 211), and the upper drill gun (209, 211) is fired by means of from pressurizing the chamber (150) formed between the subsea wellhead (10) and the tool string (600).
[0018]
18. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the perforations (302b) below the shutter (705) are formed by employing a lower drill (23) through a hole of a tool string (600) .
[0019]
19. Method according to claim 18, characterized in that the lower drill (23) is employed using a working line (91).
[0020]
20. The method of claim 19, characterized in that the cement paste (30) is cured to form a plug (303b), and the method further comprising re-employing the lower drill (23) using a working line (91), re-drill the inner casing wall (6c) below the plug (705), and reinject cement slurry (30) into the inner annular space (300b) to form a second plug (303c).
[0021]
21. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the tool column (600) further comprises a hanger (205), and the method further comprising laying the hanger (205) on the PCA (100).
[0022]
22. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that it further comprises the perforation of an outer casing wall (5c) above the shutter (705).
[0023]
23. The method of claim 22, further comprising: perforating the outer casing wall (5c) below the shutter (705), and injecting cement paste (30) into an outer annular space (300c) by a circulation path including the tool string bore (600), the external perforations (304u, 304b) above and below the plug (705) and the chamber (150) formed between the subsea wellhead (10) and the drill string. tool (600).
[0024]
The method of claim 14, further comprising: lowering the PCA (100) from a ship (75) to the subsea wellhead (10); and establishing communication between a PCA control system (100) and the ship (75), wherein: the tool string (600) is employed from the ship (75), and the solid barrier is closed using the control.
[0025]
The method of claim 14, further comprising: removing the tool column (600) from the PCA (100) after injection of the cement paste (30); removing the PCA (100) from the subsea wellhead (10); placing a bridge plug (304) on the inner liner (6c); and forming a cement plug (305) in the placed bridge plug (304) and in the subsea wellhead (10).
[0026]
26. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the PCA is a second PCA (100), and the method further comprising: attaching a first PCA (100) to a production tree (15) on top of the subsea wellhead (10); capping a lower portion of the production pipe (7t) suspended in the production tree (15); separating an upper portion of the production pipe (7t) from a lower portion thereof; and removing the production tree (15) from the subsea wellhead (10).
[0027]
The method of claim 14, further comprising: separating an upper portion of the production pipe (7t) from a lower portion thereof; and recovering the separate portion of the subsea well, where the plug (705) is configured, the PCA (100) is clamped, the tool string (600) is deployed, the hole is closed, the inner casing (6c) is drilled and the cement paste (30) is injected after recovering the separated portion of the subsea well.
[0028]
28. Method according to claim 27, characterized in that the separated portion is recovered by recovering the production tree (15) of the subsea wellhead (10).
[0029]
29. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the PCA (100) comprises an overflow prevention stack (120).
[0030]
30. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises: separating an upper portion of the production pipe (7t) from a lower portion thereof; and recovering the separate portion of the subsea well, where the plug (705) is configured, the PCA (100) is clamped, the tool string (600) is deployed, the hole is closed, the inner casing (6c) is drilled and the cement paste (30) is injected after recovering the separated portion of the subsea well.
[0031]
31. Method according to claim 30, characterized in that the separated portion is recovered by recovering the production tree (15) of the subsea wellhead (10).
[0032]
32. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the PCA (100) comprises an overflow prevention stack (120).
[0033]
33. Method for abandoning a subsea well, characterized in that it comprises: providing a subsea wellhead (10) with an internal (6c) and external (5c) concentric column of piping below the wellhead, the concentric columns (5c, 6c) forming an annular space (300b) between them; isolating an upper portion of the inner piping string from a lower portion thereof; pierce the internal piping at a location above (302u) and below (302b) the isolation point (215, 705), thus forming a fluid path in the annular space between the upper and lower perforations; and injecting cement (30) through the lower perforations (302b), thereby at least partially filling the fluidic path with cement (30), wherein the injection of cement (30) in the fluidic path displaces the fluid from the wellbore through from the upper perforations (302u) and into the inner piping.
[0034]
34. Method according to claim 33, characterized in that the upper perforations (302u) are made with an upper drilling gun (211) and the lower perforations (302b) are made with a lower drilling gun (23 ).
[0035]
35. Method according to claim 34, characterized in that the insulation is done with a shutter (215, 705).
[0036]
The method of claim 35, further comprising employing a tool string (200, 600) and drilling the tool string (200, 600) into the plug (705), wherein the tool string (200) , 600) comprises a stinger (710) and an upper rock drill (209, 211) located above the stinger (710).

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法律状态:
2015-10-13| B03A| Publication of a patent application or of a certificate of addition of invention [chapter 3.1 patent gazette]|

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2018-12-04| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according [chapter 6.6 patent gazette]|

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2019-12-24| B06U| Preliminary requirement: requests with searches performed by other patent offices: procedure suspended [chapter 6.21 patent gazette]|

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2021-01-19| B06A| Notification to applicant to reply to the report for non-patentability or inadequacy of the application [chapter 6.1 patent gazette]|

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2021-05-11| B09A| Decision: intention to grant [chapter 9.1 patent gazette]|

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2021-07-27| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 15/04/2013, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. |

优先权:

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申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题

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US201261624552P| true| 2012-04-16|2012-04-16|

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US61/624,552|2012-04-16|

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