# US 10,871,050 B2 · Nano-thermite well plug > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,050 B2 - Document ID: US10871050B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/705,513 - Filed: 2017-09-15 - Published: 2018-04-05 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-30 - Assignees: ConocoPhillips Company - Applicants: ConocoPhillips Company - Inventors: David D. Hearn; Casey Hirschmann; Randall S. Shafer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871050B2 ## CPC - E21B 33/13: Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like - A01H 5/10: Seeds - A01H 6/4684: {Zea mays [maize]} - C09K 8/42: Compositions for cementing, e.g. for cementing casings into boreholes; Compositions for plugging, e.g. for killing wells (compositions for plastering C09K8/50) - C09K 8/426: {for plugging} - E21B 36/00: Heating, cooling or insulating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for use in permafrost zones - E21B 47/06: Measuring temperature or pressure - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - A01H: NEW PLANTS OR {NON-TRANSGENIC} PROCESSES FOR OBTAINING THEM; PLANT REPRODUCTION BY TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUES - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## Abstract A composition and methods for setting a plug for well bores undergoing plugging and abandonment operations. Methods include placing a blocking device below the plug location and creating a void space above the blocking device; placing a heat resistant base plate above the blocking device and introducing nano-thermite clusters and expandable bismuth alloy pellets into the void space; igniting the thermite and cooling the melted alloy to form a permanent plug in the void space. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for plugging a well comprising: a) placing a heat resistant blocking device below and adjacent to a predetermined location for a permanent plug in a wellbore; b) creating a void space above said blocking device; c) introducing nano-thermite clusters of <500 nm average diameter into said void space in said wellbore; d) igniting a thermite reaction in said nano-thermite using an ignition bailer in contact with at least one nano-thermite clusters, wherein said reaction is self-propagating from cluster to cluster; e) removing said ignition bailer; f) allowing well metal and metal from said nano-thermite to liquefy; and g) forming a permanent plug in said void space, wherein said permanent plug comprises admixed and cooled well metal and metal from said nano-thermite. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said void space is made with a rupture and expansion tool that ruptures and expands casing and production tubing in said wellbore. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said void space is made by milling <5 m of casing and production tubing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising step g) pressure testing said permanent plug to ensure the seal is tight and h) repeating steps a-h) for one or more additional permanent plugs. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein additional nano-thermite is added to said wellbore after removing said ignition bailer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said nano-thermite comprises aluminum and a metal oxide. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said nano-thermite comprises aluminum and Bi2O3. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein expandable bismuth alloy clusters are added to said void space before said igniting step. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein said expandable bismuth alloy clusters are <1 micrometer in average diameter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein said expandable bismuth alloy dusters are <0.5 micrometer in average diameter. ### Claim 11 A method for plugging a well comprising: a) placing a blocking device immediately below a predetermined location for a permanent plug in a wellbore; b) creating a void space above said blocking device using a rupture and expansion tool to rupture and expand casing and production tubing; c) placing a heat resistant base plate directly above and in contact with said blocking device and reaching reservoir walls; d) introducing nano-thermite clusters of <500 nm average diameter into said void space in said wellbore and optionally metal pellets; e) igniting a thermite reaction in said nano-thermite using an ignition bailer in contact with at least one nano-thermite cluster, wherein said reaction is self-propagating from cluster to cluster; f) removing said ignition bailer; g) melting said ruptured and expanded casing and production tubing and melting said optional metal pellets in said nano-thermite; and, h) forming a permanent plug in said void space, wherein said permanent plug comprises admixed and cooled molten casing and production tubing and molten metal from said nano-thermite and said optional metal pellets. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising step i) repeating steps a-h for one or more additional permanent plugs. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising step i) pressure testing said permanent plug to ensure the seal is tight and j) repeating steps a-i for one or more additional permanent plugs. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein additional nano-thermite is added to said wellbore after removing said ignition bailer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said nano-thermite comprises aluminum and a metal oxide. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said nano-thermite comprises aluminum and Bi2O3. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein expandable bismuth alloy pellets are added to said void space before said igniting step. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said ignition bailer having a meltable bottom and one or more ignition devices and wherein said ignition bailer also contains nano-thermite clusters. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein said ignition device comprises thermite or nano-thermite. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said optional metal pellets are expandable bismuth alloy pellets. ### Claim 21 A method for plugging a well comprising: a) placing a blocking device immediately below a predetermined location for a permanent plug in a wellbore; b) creating a void space above said blocking device using a rupture and expansion tool to rupture and expand casing and production tubing; c) placing a heat resistant base plate directly above and in contact with said blocking device and reaching reservoir walls; d) introducing nano-thermite clusters of <500 nm average diameter into said void space; e) introducing expandable bismuth alloy pellets into said void space; f) igniting a thermite reaction in said nano-thermite, wherein said reaction is self-propagating from cluster to cluster; g) melting said expandable bismuth alloy pellets; and, h) cooling said melted expandable bismuth alloy pellets to form a permanent plug in said void space.