# US 11,905,789 B2 · Helical coil annular access plug and abandonment

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- Number: US 11,905,789 B2
- Document ID: US11905789B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/829,847
- Filed: 2022-06-01
- Published: 2022-09-15
- Granted: 2024-02-20
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-11
- Assignees: ConocoPhillips Company
- Applicants: ConocoPhillips Company
- Inventors: Randall S. Shafer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11905789B2

## CPC

- E21B 33/134: Bridging plugs
- E21B 29/002: {Cutting, e.g. milling, a pipe with a cutter rotating along the circumference of the pipe}
- E21B 29/02: by explosives or by thermal or chemical means {(freeing stuck objects by explosives E21B31/002)}
- E21B 33/12: Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16)
- Y02P 40/10: Production of cement, e.g. improving or optimising the production methods; Cement grinding
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A method for creating access to annular spacing during P&A operations is described. Specifically, helical coils are cut into one or more casings before the plugging material is set. The plugging material is able to exit the helical coils, forming multiple, small rock-to-rock seals.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of sealing an open annular space in a hydrocarbon well, said method comprising:
a) deploying a cutting tool downhole to cut a helical coil opening in one or more casings at a section of an open annular space in a well to be sealed, wherein said helical coil opening provides access to said open annular space external to an outermost casing;
b) optionally deploying a base plug below said section;
c) deploying solid bismuth alloy to said section;
d) deploying a heater to said section to melt said solid bismuth alloy to form molten alloy;
e) allowing said molten alloy to flow out said helical coil openings and allowing said molten alloy to solidify, thereby plugging said section with a plug; and
f) drilling through said plug leaving a sealed annulus.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising squeezing said molten alloy to force it to flow out said helical coil openings while filling said annular space.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating steps a)-d) at one or more different depths.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said cutting tool is a laser or an abrasive cutter.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said base plug is deployed below said section, said base plug comprising cement, resin or bismuth alloy.