US 11,905,789 B2
Helical coil annular access plug and abandonment
Randall S. Shafer, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by ConocoPhillips Company, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Jun. 1, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/829,847.
Application 16/784,082 is a division of application No. 15/918,393, filed on Mar. 12, 2018, granted, now 10,648,279, issued on May 12, 2020.
Application 17/829,847 is a continuation of application No. 17/164,871, filed on Feb. 2, 2021, granted, now 11,421,506.
Application 17/164,871 is a continuation of application No. 16/784,082, filed on Feb. 6, 2020, granted, now 11,274,518, issued on Mar. 15, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/470,234, filed on Mar. 11, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0290527 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. E21B 33/134 (2006.01); E21B 33/12 (2006.01); E21B 29/02 (2006.01); E21B 29/00 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 33/134 (2013.01) [E21B 29/002 (2013.01); E21B 29/02 (2013.01); E21B 33/12 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
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.