Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Landmark Graphics Corporation

Joseph Eli Hess

Andrew John Cuthbert

Thomas Earl Burky

Carl J Cramm

Benji Smith

Bruce Wallace Techentien

Andy John Cuthbert

Keith David Romaine

Neil Hepburn

John J Guerrero

Ian W Thackwray

Benji L Smith

A new tool and methodology to work, in a single-trip system, and create conduits through the casing or tubing to access the annuli, circulate out the annuli contents, accurately deliver the cement required to create the subsequent barrier. The tool and system provide a cost effective way of plugging an oil and gas well in a single trip without the need to remove in-place production casing.

Method for slim hole single trip remedial or plug and abandonment cement barrier

In one or more embodiments, a system comprises a first (target) wellbore disposed in a formation, the first wellbore having a pressure imbalance therein causing an influx of formation fluids, a second (relief) wellbore disposed in the formation, a drill string disposed in the second wellbore, the drill string comprising a drill bit and a logging tool, and a wellbore ranging module comprising a processor and memory, the wellbore ranging module coupled to the drill string. The logging tool is configured to detect acoustic energy originating from the influx in the first wellbore and generate one or more signals associated with the detected acoustic energy. The wellbore ranging module is configured to receive, from the logging tool, the one or more signals associated with the detected acoustic energy and determine, using the received signals, a direction from the drill bit to the influx of the first wellbore.

Passive ranging using acoustic energy originating from a target wellbore

A method can include measuring temperature along a relief wellbore, thereby detecting a temperature anomaly in an earth formation penetrated by the relief wellbore, and determining a location of an influx into a target wellbore, based on the temperature anomaly detecting. A thermal anomaly ranging system for use with a subterranean well can include a temperature sensor in a relief wellbore that penetrates an earth formation, the temperature sensor detecting a temperature anomaly in the formation, and the temperature anomaly being caused by an influx into a target wellbore. Another method can include measuring optical scattering in an optical waveguide positioned in a relief wellbore, thereby detecting a temperature anomaly in an earth formation penetrated by the relief wellbore, and determining a location of an influx into a target wellbore, based on the temperature anomaly detecting.

Downhole thermal anomaly detection for passive ranging to a target wellbore

A method of establishing fluid communication between wellbores can include forming a flow path from one wellbore to another wellbore, a flow area of the flow path increasing in a direction from the first wellbore toward the second wellbore. An explosive assembly for use in a well can include an explosive device having multiple explosive charges, the explosive charges producing longitudinal shock waves that collide with each other and result in a laterally directed shock wave, and a shield that focuses the laterally directed shock wave into a predetermined angular range of less than 360 degrees. A method of establishing fluid communication between wellbores can include forming a flow path from one wellbore to another wellbore, the flow path intersecting an uncased portion of the second wellbore.

Establishing communication downhole between wellbores

Provided in one aspect is a new tool and methodology to work, in a single-trip system, and create conduits through the casing or tubing to access the annuli, circulate out the annuli contents, accurately deliver the cement required to create the subsequent barrier. The tool and system provided by this aspect provide a cost effective way of plugging an oil and gas well in a single trip without the need to remove in-place production casing.

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for establishing hydraulic communication between a relief wellbore and a target wellbore during relief well applications are provided. Present embodiments include a perforating gun that uses an explosively formed penetrator (EFP) to establish hydraulic communication between a relief well and the target well for well kill operations. The EFP may be detonated downhole according to the Misznay-Schardin effect, thereby releasing a projectile toward the target well to form a relatively large hole through the casing/cement between the wellbores. The EFP may be positioned in a desired orientation with respect to the target well, in order that the projectile may be directed from the relief well directly into the target well. In some embodiments, the disclosed perforating gun may include several EFP charges positioned along one side of the gun at approximately 0 to 10 degree phasing from each other.

Establishing hydraulic communication between relief well and target well

A method can include measuring microseismic activity in a relief wellbore, thereby detecting a microseismic event in an earth formation penetrated by the relief wellbore, and determining a location of an influx into a target wellbore, based on the microseismic event detecting. A microseismic ranging system for use with a subterranean well can include at least one microseismic sensor in a relief wellbore that penetrates an earth formation, with the microseismic sensor detecting a microseismic event in the formation, the microseismic event being caused by an influx into a target wellbore. Another method can include measuring optical scattering in an optical waveguide positioned in a relief wellbore, thereby detecting a microseismic event in an earth formation penetrated by the relief wellbore, and determining a location of an influx into a target wellbore, based on the microseismic event detecting.

Downhole microseismic detection for passive ranging to a target wellbore

A method of severing a tubular structure can include producing a stream of plasma between a plasma arc cutter and the tubular structure, and displacing the plasma arc cutter relative to the tubular structure, thereby cutting through the tubular structure. A plasma arc cutting apparatus can include a transport vehicle, a boom extending from the transport vehicle, at least one plasma arc cutter, and at least one actuator that displaces the plasma arc cutter relative to the boom. Another method of severing a tubular structure can include conveying a plasma arc cutter to the tubular structure with a transport vehicle, and displacing the plasma arc cutter relative to the transport vehicle.

Plasma arc cutting of tubular structures

A method of connecting to an existing wellbore downhole can include installing a swellable material into the existing wellbore from a connecting wellbore drilled into the existing wellbore. A well system can include a relief wellbore drilled proximate an existing wellbore, a connecting wellbore drilled from the relief wellbore to the existing wellbore, a tubular string extending from the relief wellbore through the connecting wellbore and into the existing wellbore, and a swellable material which swells in an annulus formed between the tubular string and at least one of the relief wellbore, the connecting wellbore and the existing wellbore. Another method of connecting to an existing wellbore downhole can include drilling a relief wellbore proximate the existing wellbore, then drilling a connecting wellbore from the relief wellbore to the existing wellbore, and then installing a swellable material into the existing wellbore from the connecting wellbore.

Downhole communication between wellbores utilizing swellable materials

Subsea controlled milling apparatus and methods. In a described embodiment, a method of controlling displacement of a cutting device conveyed on a tubular string in a subterranean well includes the steps of: interconnecting an apparatus in the tubular string, the apparatus including an axial advancement device and an anchoring device; actuating the anchoring device to anchor the apparatus in the well; applying a pressure differential to the advancement device, thereby displacing the cutting device relative to the apparatus; and operating the cutting device to cut a structure in the well.

Subsea controlled milling

A wellbore junction isolation method and associated apparatus provide convenient isolation of a wellbore junction while permitting certain operations to be performed in a main or branch wellbore below the junction. In described embodiments, formations intersected by a main or branch wellbore below a wellbore junction may be stimulated by fracturing after installing an assembly at the wellbore junction, in a straddling and sealing relationship therewith, to isolate it from pressures applied during the fracturing operation. The illustrated isolation assembly may be installed in a single trip into the main wellbore.

Apparatus and methods for isolating a wellbore junction

A wellbore junction isolation method and associated apparatus provide convenient isolation of a wellbore junction while permitting certain operations to be performed in a wellbore below the junction. In a described embodiment, a formation intersected by a main wellbore below a wellbore junction is stimulated by fracturing after installing an assembly at the wellbore junction to isolate it from pressures applied during the fracturing operation. In this embodiment, the assembly is installed in a single trip into the main wellbore.

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Richmond, TX, United States of America

Joseph Eli Hess