Casing annulus clean out and repair
A well tool assembly for casing annulus clean out and repair includes an elongate, hollow tool body defining an internal volume. The tool body includes a heater section at a first end of the tool body. The heater section can receive a first heater in the internal volume. A pressure section is axially attached to the heater section. The pressure section defines multiple pressure ports on a circumferential surface of the tool body. The multiple pressure ports can flow fluid from the internal volume radially out of the tool body. An alloy section is axially attached to the pressure section. The alloy section carries a first quantity of alloy. The first heater can be positioned in the heater section and to heat and melt a second quantity of alloy. A second heater can be positioned in the alloy section and to heat and melt the first quantity of alloy.
1 . A well tool assembly, comprising:
an elongate, hollow tool body defining an internal volume, the tool body comprising:
a heater section at a first end of the tool body, the heater section configured to receive a first heater in the internal volume;
a pressure section axially attached to the heater section, the pressure section defining a plurality of pressure ports on a circumferential surface of the tool body, the plurality of pressure ports configured to flow the fluid from the internal volume radially out of the tool body; and
an alloy section axially attached to the pressure section, the alloy section carrying a first quantity of alloy;
the first heater configured to be positioned in the heater section, the first heater configured to heat and melt a second quantity of alloy;
a second heater configured to be positioned in the alloy section, the second heater configured to heat and melt the first quantity of alloy; and
a casing joint configured to be installed within a wellbore, the casing joint comprising a plurality of alloy ports carrying the second quantity of alloy.
2 . The well tool assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first heater is configured to heat and melt the second quantity of alloy.
3 . The well tool assembly of claim 2 , wherein the tool body comprises a landing collar that is axially offset from the heater section, the landing collar configured to cause the heater section to reside radially adjacent the plurality of alloy ports in response to the tool body being installed within the casing joint.
4 . The well tool assembly of claim 3 , wherein the tool body comprises a first stop collar that is axially offset from the pressure section, the first stop collar configured to cause the heater section to travel axially until the pressure section resides radially adjacent the plurality of alloy ports after the first heater has heated and melted the second quantity of alloy.
5 . The well tool assembly of claim 4 , wherein the tool body comprises a second stop collar that is axially offset from the alloy section, the second stop collar configured to cause the pressure section to travel axially until the alloy section resides radially adjacent the plurality of alloy ports after the fluid has flowed through the plurality of pressure ports radially out of the tool body.
6 . The well tool assembly of claim 5 , wherein the casing joint defines a seat configured to receive the landing collar when the tool body is installed within the casing joint.
7 . The well tool assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an activation dart configured to be dropped into the tool body, the activation dart configured to land in a seat adjacent the heater section and to turn on the first heater.
8 . The well tool assembly of claim 7 , wherein the tool body defines circulation ports on the circumferential surface of the tool body between the heater section and the pressure section, wherein the activation dart closes the circulation ports and causes the fluid to flow through the plurality of pressure ports.
9 . The well tool assembly of claim 7 , wherein an inner profile of the pressure section substantially matches an outer profile of the activation dart, wherein the activation dart is configured to axially seal the pressure section.
10 . A method comprising:
running a tool body defining an internal volume within a casing joint installed within a wellbore, the casing joint comprising a plurality of alloy ports carrying a quantity of alloy;
positioning a heater section at a first end of the tool body radially adjacent the plurality of alloy ports, the heater section carrying a first heater;
operating the first heater to heat and melt the quantity of alloy in the plurality of alloy ports exposing an annular region between an outer surface of the casing joint and an inner wall of the wellbore;
after operating the first heater to heat and melt the quantity of alloy, positioning a pressure section axially attached to the heater section radially adjacent the plurality of alloy ports, the pressure section defining a plurality of pressure ports on a circumferential surface of the tool body;
flowing, through the plurality pressure ports, fluid from the internal volume of the tool body and through the plurality of alloy ports into the annular region;
after flowing the fluid into the annular region, positioning an alloy section axially attached to the pressure section radially adjacent the plurality of alloy ports, the alloy section carrying a quantity of alloy; and
heating the quantity of alloy carried by the alloy section causing the quantity of alloy to melt and flow into the annular region.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising, when manufacturing the casing joint:
forming the plurality of alloy ports in the casing joint; and
depositing the quantity of alloy in the plurality of alloy ports.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising, when manufacturing the casing joint, forming a seat in the casing joint at a location that is axially offset from the plurality of alloy ports.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the tool body comprises a landing collar that is axially offset from the heater section, wherein positioning the heater section at the first end of the tool body radially adjacent the plurality of alloy ports comprises running the tool body within the casing joint until the landing collar is received in the seat.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the tool body comprises a first stop collar that is axially offset from the pressure section, wherein positioning the pressure section radially adjacent the plurality of alloy ports comprises running the tool body within the casing joint until the first stop collar abuts the landing collar.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the tool body comprises a second stop collar that is axially offset from the alloy section, wherein positioning the alloy section radially adjacent the plurality of alloy ports comprises running the tool body within the casing joint until the second stop collar abuts the first stop collar.
16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein operating the first heater to heat and melt the quantity of alloy in the plurality of alloy ports comprises dropping an activation dart into the tool body, wherein the activation dart lands in a seat adjacent the heater section to turn on the first heater.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein, in response to being dropped into the tool body, the activation dart closes circulation ports defined on the circumferential surface of the tool body between the heater section and the pressure section, and wherein, in response to the activation dart closing the circulation ports, the fluid flows through the plurality of pressure ports.
18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the quantity of alloy, after melting and flowing into the annular region, solidifies, wherein the method comprises, after the quantity of alloy solidifies:
withdrawing the tool body from within the wellbore; and
drilling out a portion of the solidified quantity of alloy to access downhole regions within the wellbore.
19 . A method of treating cement in a casing-to-casing annulus, the method comprising:
installing a casing joint within a wellbore, the casing joint comprising a plurality of alloy ports carrying a quantity of alloy;
cementing an annular region between an outer surface of the casing joint and an inner wall of the wellbore, wherein cement used in the cementing occupies a portion of the annular region adjacent the plurality of alloy ports;
detecting a crack in the cement in the portion of the annular region adjacent the plurality of ports;
in response to detecting the crack in the cement, treating the cement by:
running a tool body defining an internal volume within the casing joint;
positioning a heater section at a first end of the tool body radially adjacent the plurality of alloy ports, the heater section carrying a first heater;
operating the first heater to heat and melt the quantity of alloy in the plurality of alloy ports exposing an annular region between an outer surface of the casing joint and an inner wall of the wellbore;
after operating the first heater to heat and melt the quantity of alloy, positioning a pressure section axially attached to the heater section radially adjacent the plurality of alloy ports, the pressure section defining a plurality of pressure ports on a circumferential surface of the tool body;
flowing, through the plurality pressure ports, fluid from the internal volume of the tool body and through the plurality of alloy ports into the annular region;
after flowing the fluid into the annular region, positioning an alloy section axially attached to the pressure section radially adjacent the plurality of alloy ports, the alloy section carrying a quantity of alloy; and
heating the quantity of alloy carried by the alloy section causing the quantity of alloy to melt and flow into the annular region.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the quantity of alloy, after melting and flowing into the annular region, solidifies, wherein the method comprises, after the quantity of alloy solidifies:
withdrawing the tool body from within the wellbore; and
drilling out a portion of the solidified quantity of alloy to access downhole regions within the wellbore.