# US 11,299,948 B2 · Downhole method for removal of tubular metal structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,948 B2 - Document ID: US11299948B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/735,940 - Filed: 2020-01-07 - Published: 2020-07-09 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-08 - Assignees: Welltec A/S - Applicants: Welltec A/S - Inventors: Christian Krüger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299948B2 ## CPC - E21B 29/005: {with a radially-expansible cutter rotating inside the pipe, e.g. for cutting an annular window} - E21B 33/127: with inflatable sleeve (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence) - E21B 23/01: for anchoring the tools or the like (E21B23/02 - E21B23/06 take precedence; anchoring of drives in the borehole E21B4/18) - E21B 29/08: Cutting or deforming pipes to control fluid flow - E21B 33/12: Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16) - E21B 33/1293: {with means for anchoring against downward and upward movement (E21B33/1291, E21B33/1295 take precedence)} - E21B 33/138: Plastering the borehole wall; Injecting into the formation - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A method for removal of at least part of a first well tubular metal structure in a borehole of an existing well having a top, the first well tubular metal structure having a longitudinal extension and a first end closest to the top. The method includes inserting a downhole wireline tool having an anchor section and a machining device in the first well tubular metal structure, positioning the downhole wireline tool opposite the first section of the first well tubular metal structure so that the machining device is positioned 8-12 metres from the first end of the first well tubular metal structure and the anchor section is arranged above the machining device, and anchoring the downhole wireline tool opposite the first section by activating the anchor section to abut an inner surface of the first well tubular metal structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A downhole method for removal of at least part of a first well tubular metal structure in a borehole of an existing well having a top, the first well tubular metal structure having a longitudinal extension and a first end closest to the top, comprising: inserting a downhole wireline tool having an anchor section and a machining device in the first well tubular metal structure, positioning the downhole wireline tool opposite a first section of the first well tubular metal structure so that the machining device is positioned 8-12 metres from the first end of the first well tubular metal structure and the anchor section is arranged above the machining device, anchoring the downhole wireline tool opposite the first section by activating the anchor section to abut an inner surface of the first well tubular metal structure and provide a radial force sufficient to fix the first section of 8-12 metres in relation to downhole wireline tool, separating the first section having a length of 8-12 metres from a second section of the first well tubular metal structure by machining into and along a circumference of the first well tubular metal structure, retrieving the first section from the well by pulling in the wireline together with the downhole wireline tool having the first section of 8-12 metres, creating a new first end of the first well tubular metal structure in the well, inserting the downhole wireline tool into the first well tubular metal structure again, positioning the downhole wireline tool opposite a new first section of the first well tubular metal structure so that the machining device is positioned 8-12 metres from the new first end of the first well tubular metal structure and the anchor section is arranged above the machining device, anchoring the downhole wireline tool opposite the new first section by activating the anchor section to abut the inner surface of the first well tubular metal structure and provide a radial force sufficient to fix the new first section of 8-12 metres in relation to downhole wireline tool, separating the new first section having a length of 8-12 metres from the rest of the first well tubular metal structure by machining into and along the circumference of the first well tubular metal structure, and retrieving the new first section from the well by pulling in the wireline together with the downhole wireline tool having the new first section of 8-12 metres. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A downhole method according to claim 1, wherein the first well tubular metal structure is separated into several first sections with a length of 8-12 metres. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A downhole method according to claim 1, further comprising machining into a liner hanger in order to release the part of the first well tubular metal structure hung off in the liner hanger. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A downhole method according to claim 1, wherein the first well tubular metal structure is separated into several first sections with a length of 8-12 metres until a predetermined position along the first well tubular metal structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A downhole method according to claim 4, further comprising setting a plug above or below the predetermined position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A downhole method according to claim 4, further comprising inserting a cement tool into the well and ejecting cement into the borehole above the predetermined position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) A downhole method according to claim 4, further comprising inserting a second well tubular metal structure in the borehole above the predetermined position, wherein the second well tubular metal structure comprises at least one annular barrier. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A downhole method according to claim 7, wherein the annular barrier is arranged above the predetermined position and the second well tubular metal structure is arranged above the annular barrier. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A downhole method according to claim 8, wherein inserting the annular barrier is positioned by a downhole wireline tool string. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A downhole method according to claim 8, wherein the annular barrier comprises a tubular metal part, an expandable metal sleeve connected with and surrounding the tubular metal part providing an annular space between the tubular metal structure and the expandable metal sleeve, the tubular metal part having an expansion opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) A downhole method according to claim 7, wherein the annular barrier comprises an expandable metal sleeve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A downhole method according to claim 11, wherein expanding the annular barrier is performed by means of a mandrel and/or an expandable bladder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) A downhole method according to claim 7, wherein expanding the annular barrier is performed by pressurising at least a part of the second well tubular metal structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) A downhole method according to claim 7, wherein the annular barrier has a first barrier end and a second barrier end, the first barrier end is configured to overlap the first well tubular metal structure and the second barrier end is configured to overlap the second well tubular metal structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A downhole system for performing the downhole method according to claim 1.