Patent · US Expired

Process and plug for well abandonment

US5667010A · kind A · utility

17Cited by
16References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 21, 1995
Grant dateSep 16, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 21, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B33/134
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A plug and process for use in well abandonment is taught. The plug includes a retaining structure, such as a cement plug, which is placed in the well borehole and an amount of a viscous substance, such as sand and fines in bitumen, above the retaining structure. The viscous substance prevents the passage of fluids vertically through the well borehole. The plug remains viscous over time and can flow to fill void which may open up in the well adjacent the plug. To enhance the sealing characteristics of the plug, the process for placement of the plug includes the removal of a section of the well casing and possibly also the sheath and a layer of the borehole wall behind the removed section of the casing at the position of the plug to prevent the flow of fluids around the plug.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.