TOOL FOR METAL PLUGGING OR SEALING OF CASING

• Main Authors: SHAFER, Randall S, MUELLER, Dan, HIRSCHMANN, Casey, HEARN, David D, ROBERTSON, Stewart M
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 26.09.2024
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; EARTH DRILLING; EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; MINING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

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.