High power laser decomissioning of multistring and damaged wells

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9664012-B2
Application number	US-201314105949-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2013
Priority date	Aug 20, 2008
Publication date	May 30, 2017
Grant date	May 30, 2017

Abstract

High power laser systems, high power laser tools, and methods of using these tools and systems for opening up damaged wells and for cutting, sectioning and removing structures objects, and materials, and in particular, for doing so in difficult to access locations and environments, such as offshore, underwater, or in hazardous environments, such as nuclear and chemical facilities. And, high power laser systems, high power laser tools, and methods of using these systems and tools for providing rock-to-rock plugs for decommissioning of wells.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method of decommissioning a well, comprising: positioning a high power laser cutting tool in a borehole to be decommissioned; delivering a high power laser beam from the high power laser tool in a predetermined pattern to the borehole, whereby the laser beam volumetrically removes material in the borehole; and, forming a plugging material channel, the plugging material channel essentially corresponding to the predetermined laser beam delivery pattern; wherein the laser beam delivery pattern comprises a plurality of volumetric removal patterns spaced along an axial direction of the borehole, at least two of the volumetric removal patterns configured in a staggered overlying relationship, whereby at least one volumetric removal patterns intersects a control line in the well.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser delivery pattern comprises a slot essentially parallel to the axis of the borehole, the slot having a length or at least about 20 feet.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the laser delivery pattern comprises a plurality of slots essentially parallel to the axis of the borehole, the slots having a length or at least about 20 feet.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the slots are essentially evenly places around the walls of a tubular in the borehole.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the laser the laser delivery pattern comprises a plurality of circular slots extending transverse to the axis of the well and around the wall of the well.

6. A method of decommissioning a well, comprising:
positioning a high power laser cutting tool in a borehole to be decommissioned; delivering a high power laser beam from the high power laser tool in a predetermined pattern to the borehole, whereby the laser beam volumetrically removes material in the borehole; and, forming a plugging material channel, the plugging material channel essentially corresponding to the predetermined laser beam delivery pattern; wherein the borehole has an axis and the plugging material channel has a length along the borehole axis of at least about 200 feet; and, wherein the laser beam delivery pattern comprises a plurality of volumetric removal patterns spaced along an axial direction of the borehole, at least two of the volumetric removal patterns configured in a staggered overlying relationship, whereby at least one volumetric removal patterns intersects a control line in the well.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the removed material comprises a tubular.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the removed material comprises a plurality of tubulars.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the removed material comprises a plurality of essentially concentric tubulars.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the concentric tubulars are coaxial.

11. A method of decommissioning a well, comprising:
positioning a high power laser cutting tool in a borehole to be decommissioned; delivering a high power laser beam from the high power laser tool in a predetermined pattern to the borehole, whereby the laser beam volumetrically removes material in the borehole; and, forming a plugging material channel, the plugging material channel essentially corresponding to the predetermined laser beam delivery pattern; wherein the laser beam has a power of at least about 5 kW; wherein the borehole has an axis and the plugging material channel has a length along the borehole axis of at least about 100 feet; and, wherein the laser beam delivery pattern comprises a plurality of volumetric removal patterns spaced along an axial direction of the borehole, at least two of the volumetric removal patterns configured in a staggered overlying relationship, whereby at least one volumetric removal patterns intersects a control line in the well.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the removed material comprises a tubular.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the removed material comprises a plurality of tubulars.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the removed material comprises a plurality of tubulars and the formation.

15. A method of decommissioning a well, comprising:
positioning a high power laser cutting tool in a borehole to be decommissioned; delivering a high power laser beam from the high power laser tool in a predetermined pattern to the borehole, whereby the laser beam volumetrically removes material in the borehole; and, forming a plugging material channel, the plugging material channel essentially corresponding to the predetermined laser beam delivery pattern; wherein the laser beam has a power of at least about 10 kW; wherein the borehole has an axial length and the plugging material channel has a length along the borehole axis of at least about 50 feet; and, wherein the laser beam delivery pattern comprises a plurality of volumetric removal patterns spaced along an axial direction of the borehole, at least two of the volumetric removal patterns configured in a staggered overlying relationship, whereby at least one volumetric removal patterns intersects a control line in the well.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the removed material comprises a tubular.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the removed material comprises a plurality of tubulars.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the removed material comprises a plurality of tubulars, the formation, and cement.

19. A method of decommissioning a well, comprising:
positioning a high power laser cutting tool in a borehole to be decommissioned; delivering a high power laser beam from the high power laser tool in a predetermined pattern to the borehole, whereby the laser beam volumetrically removes material in the borehole; and, forming a plugging material channel, the plugging material channel essentially corresponding to the predetermined laser beam delivery pattern; wherein the laser beam has a power of at least about 10 kW; wherein the borehole has an axial length and the plugging material channel has a length along the borehole axis of at least about 50 feet; wherein the laser beam delivery pattern extends through a borehole wall and into a formation adjacent the borehole, whereby a portion of the plug material pathway extends to and into the formation defining a notch; and, wherein the laser beam delivery pattern comprises a plurality of volumetric removal patterns spaced along an axial direction of the borehole, at least two of the volumetric removal patterns configured in a staggered overlying relationship, whereby at least one volumetric removal patterns intersects a control line in the well.

20. A method of decommissioning a well, comprising:
positioning a high power laser cutting tool in a borehole to be decommissioned; delivering a high power laser beam from the high power laser tool in a predetermined pattern to the borehole, whereby the laser beam volumetrically removes material in the borehole; and, forming a plugging material channel, the plugging material channel essentially corresponding to the predetermined laser beam delivery pattern; wherein the laser beam delivery pattern comprises a slot pattern that extends through a tubular within the well and extends through a borehole wall and into a formation adjacent the borehole, wherein the plug material pathway provides the capability for a rock to rock seal when filled with a plugging material; and, wherein the laser beam delivery pattern comprises a plurality of volumetric removal patterns spaced along an axial direction of the borehole, at least two of the volumetric removal patterns configured in a staggered overlying relationship, whereby at least one

Assignees

• Deutch Paul D
• Marshall Scott A
• Grubb Daryl L
• De Witt Ronald A
• Zediker Mark S
• Faircloth Brian O
• Foro Energy Inc

Inventors

• Deutch Paul D
• Marshall Scott A
• Grubb Daryl L
• De Witt Ronald A
• Zediker Mark S
• Faircloth Brian O

Classifications

• E21B33/13

  Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like · CPC title

• E21B43/11 Primary

  Perforators; Permeators · CPC title

• E21B33/1204

  permanent; drillable · CPC title

• E21B29/00 Primary

  Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windows; Deforming of pipes in boreholes or wells; Reconditioning of well casings while in the ground · CPC title