logo

For the Inventor, By the Inventor

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Patent No.:

US 12129735 B1

PDFFull Text
Date of Patent:
Oct. 29, 2024

Filed:

Jun. 07, 2022

Tool for metal plugging or sealing of casing

Applicant:

Conocophillips Company, Houston, TX (US);

Inventors:

David D. Hearn, Houston, TX (US);

Casey Hirschmann, Houston, TX (US);

Randall S. Shafer, Houston, TX (US);

Stewart M. Robertson, Houston, TX (US);

Dan Mueller, Houston, TX (US);

Assignee:

CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY, Houston, TX (US);

Attorney:

Boulware & Valoir PLLC

Primary Examiner:

Christopher J Sebesta

Int. Cl.
CPC ...
E21B 33/13 (2006.01); E21B 29/02 (2006.01); E21B 29/10 (2006.01); E21B 33/12 (2006.01); E21B 36/00 (2006.01); H01L 25/00 (2006.01); H01L 25/065 (2023.01); H10B 41/27 (2023.01); H10B 43/10 (2023.01); H10B 43/27 (2023.01); H10B 43/35 (2023.01); H10B 43/40 (2023.01); H01L 23/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
E21B 33/13 (2013.01); E21B 29/02 (2013.01); E21B 29/10 (2013.01); E21B 33/12 (2013.01); E21B 36/008 (2013.01); H01L 25/0657 (2013.01); H01L 25/50 (2013.01); H10B 41/27 (2023.02); H10B 43/10 (2023.02); H10B 43/27 (2023.02); H10B 43/35 (2023.02); H10B 43/40 (2023.02); H01L 24/05 (2013.01); H01L 2224/0401 (2013.01);
Abstract

This disclosure describes a device and method of sealing perforations on a well casing inside a subterranean well. The device comprises a generally cylindrical sleeve having an open top and a closed bottom; a heater located inside the sleeve, the heater comprising a thermite mixture; an ignition mechanism that ignites the thermite mixture upon actuation; and a string connected to the heater ignition and detachably engages the sleeve. The method comprises lowering a body of meltable plugging material into the well casing near the perforations; lowering the plugging device into the well casing immediately on top of the body of meltable plugging material; melting the meltable plugging material by igniting the thermite thereby transferring heat to the body of meltable plugging material; forcing the molten plugging material into the perforations by pushing the plugging tool further downhole; cooling the plugging tool and the plugging material until the plugging material solidifies; disengaging the tubing string from the sleeve and retrieving the tubing string with the heater; and removing the sleeve and bismuth remaining in the well casing, but not in the perforations.

Find Patent Forward Citations

Loading…