# US 10,480,294 B2 · Methods for preserving zonal isolation within a subterranean formation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,294 B2 - Document ID: US10480294B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/117,160 - Filed: 2015-02-03 - Published: 2016-12-08 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-07 - Assignees: Suncor Energy Inc. - Applicants: Suncor Energy Inc. - Inventors: Grant Duncan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480294B2 ## CPC - E21B 43/103: {of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like} - E21B 29/10: Reconditioning of well casings, e.g. straightening - E21B 33/12: Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16) - E21B 33/14: for cementing casings into boreholes - E21B 43/105: {Expanding tools specially adapted therefor} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract There is provided a method for effecting at least partial interference of a fluid passage extending between a casing, disposed within a wellbore that is penetrating a subterranean formation, and the subterranean formation. The method includes detecting the fluid passage, and effecting an operative displacement of a casing section of the casing such that at least partial interference of the fluid passage is effected. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for effecting at least partial interference of a fluid passage extending between a subterranean formation and a casing disposed within an open-hole or cased-hole completed wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation, comprising: after zonal isolation material disposed between the casing and the subterranean formation has set, and in response to detecting of the fluid passage, effecting an operative displacement of a section of the casing to a displaced position, wherein, upon the casing section becoming displaced, the zonal isolation material becomes disposed opposite to the subterranean formation and effects at least partial interference of the fluid passage; and effecting opposition to an elastic contraction of the displaced casing section for mitigating reversion of the displaced casing section towards its original position prior to the operative displacement, wherein the opposition to the elastic contraction of the displaced casing section is effected and maintained by a tool that is deployed and remains within the section of the casing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the effecting of the operative displacement includes effecting expansion of the casing section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tool includes a mandrel and a sleeve, and the effecting of the operative displacement of the section of the casing includes effecting relative movement between the mandrel and the sleeve along their respective tapered surfaces such that deflection of the sleeve is effected in response to the relative movement and the deflected sleeve is pressed against the casing section to expand the casing section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the effecting of the opposition to the elastic contraction of the displaced casing section comprises maintaining the deflected sleeve within the expanded casing section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein both of the effecting of the operative displacement and the effecting of the opposition to the elastic contraction are effected by the same tool. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, prior to the effecting of the operative displacement of the casing section, the casing is spaced apart from the zonal isolation material to define a spacing, wherein the fluid passage is defined by the spacing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, prior to the effecting of the operative displacement of the casing section, the zonal isolation material is spaced apart from the subterranean formation to define a spacing, wherein the fluid passage is defined by the spacing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, prior to the effecting of the operative displacement, selecting the casing section, to which a force is to be applied to effect the operative displacement, based on at least a determination that, upon the casing section becoming disposed in the displaced position, the fluid passage will become obstructed by the casing or by displaced zonal isolation material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least partial interference is effected over a continuous portion of the fluid passage having an axial length “L” of at least about five (5) centimeters. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: prior to the effecting of the operative displacement of the section of the casing, detecting the fluid passage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the detecting is effected by a zonal isolation material bond log or a zonal isolation material evaluation tool. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operative displacement is effected by deploying the tool within the wellbore. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the effecting of the operative displacement includes exerting a force, with the tool, against the casing section. ### Claim 14 A method for effecting at least partial interference of a fluid passage extending between a subterranean formation and a casing disposed within an open-hole or cased-hole completed wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation, comprising: deploying a tool within the wellbore after zonal isolation material disposed between the casing and the subterranean formation has set; in response to detecting of the fluid passage, radially expanding the tool to effect an operative displacement of a section of the casing to a displaced position, wherein, upon the section of the casing becoming displaced, the zonal isolation material becomes disposed opposite to the subterranean formation and effects at least partial interference of the fluid passage extending between the casing and the subterranean formation; and effecting opposition to an elastic contraction of the displaced casing section for mitigating reversion of the displaced casing section towards its original position prior to the operative displacement, wherein the tool remains within the section of the casing to maintain the opposition to the elastic contraction of the displaced casing section. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the effecting of the operative displacement comprises effecting deformation or expansion of the casing section. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the tool includes a mandrel and a sleeve, and the effecting of the deformation or expansion includes effecting relative movement between the mandrel and the sleeve along their respective tapered surfaces such that deflection of the sleeve is effected in response to the relative movement and the deflected sleeve is pressed against the casing section for effecting the deformation or expansion of the casing section. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the opposition to the elastic contraction of the displaced casing section is effected by maintaining the deflected sleeve within the casing. ### Claim 18 A method for effecting at least partial interference of a fluid passage extending between a casing and a subterranean formation, wherein the casing is disposed within a wellbore that is penetrating a subterranean formation, and wherein cement is disposed between the casing and the subterranean formation, comprising: deploying a tool including a split ring within the wellbore; expanding the split ring against a casing section to effect an operative displacement of the casing section to a displaced position, wherein, upon the casing section becoming displaced to the displaced position, the cement becomes disposed opposite to a subterranean formation portion that is relatively impermeable and effects the at least partial interference of the fluid passage; and effecting retention of the casing section in the displaced position, or in substantially the displaced position, with the expanded split ring. ### Claim 19 A method for effecting at least partial interference of a fluid passage extending between a subterranean formation and a casing disposed within an open-hole or cased-hole completed wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation, comprising: after cement disposed between the casing and the subterranean formation has set, deploying within the wellbore a tool including a sleeve and a mandrel, wherein the sleeve is configured to be radially expanded in response to relative movement between the mandrel and the sleeve along their respective tapered surfaces; and in response to detecting of the fluid passage, actuating relative movement between the mandrel and the sleeve along their respective tapered surfaces such that the sleeve is radially expanded and the radially expanded sleeve is pressed against the casing section such that an operative displacement of the casing section is effected, wherein, upon the casing section becoming displaced to the displaced position, the cement becomes disposed between the casing and the subterranean formation and effects at least partial interference of the fluid passage, wherein the tool remains within the section of the casing to maintain the operative displacement of the casing section to the displaced position. ### Claim 20 A method for occluding a gap between a casing of an open-hole or cased-hole completed wellbore and a formation, the method comprising: after zonal isolation material disposed between the casing and the formation has set, identifying the presence of the gap between the casing's external surface and the formation; deploying an expansion tool within the casing; and radially expanding the expansion tool to apply an outward force against the casing with the expansion tool, thereby expanding and operatively displacing the casing radially outwards to a displaced position, wherein, upon the casing becoming displaced, the zonal isolation material between the casing and the formation becomes disposed opposite to the formation and effects occlusion of the gap, wherein the expansion tool remains within the section of the casing to maintain the operative and radially outward displacement of the casing section to the displaced position. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the gap is formed subsequent to operation of the wellbore to recover hydrocarbons from the formation. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the gap allows gas, fluid, or vapor migration from the formation to the surface along the outside of the casing. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the gap is situated within cement between the casing and the formation. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the cement has lost structural integrity subsequent to thermal operation of the wellbore. ### Claim 25 A method for restoring zonal isolation in a cased and cemented portion of a thermally operated and open-hole or cased-hole completed well in a formation, wherein zonal isolation material is disposed between the casing and the formation, the method comprising: detecting the presence of a gap extending between the casing and the formation after the zonal isolation material has set; deploying an expansion tool within a section of the casing; and radially expanding the expansion tool to effect an operative and radially outward displacement of the casing section to a displaced position, wherein, upon the casing section being displaced, the zonal isolation material becomes disposed opposite to the formation and effects occlusion of the gap, wherein the expansion tool remains within the section of the casing to maintain the operative and radially outward displacement of the casing section to the displaced position. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the gap is formed subsequent to operation of the wellbore to recover hydrocarbons from the formation. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the gap allows gas, fluid, or vapor migration from the formation to the surface along the outside of the casing. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the expansion tool comprises a sleeve having tapered surfaces. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the gap is situated within cement between the casing and the formation. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the cement has lost structural integrity subsequent to thermal operation of the wellbore. ### Claim 31 (depends on 25) The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the expansion tool has an opening such that fluid communication is permitted within the section of the casing.