Method of sealing a well with multiple annuli
Described herein are systems and methods for sealing a well with multiple annuli. In an example, a downhole assembly can be lowered into a cavity of a production tube. Openings can be created in the production tube and an inner casing. The downhole assembly can create a seal between the production tube and the inner casing that allows barrier fluid to freely flow into an outer annular gap between the inner casing and an outer casing. A barrier fluid can be injected such that the barrier fluid flows through the radial openings into the outer annular gap.
1 . A method for sealing a well, comprising:
creating a first seal between an outer surface of a production tube and an inner surface of a first casing of the well, the production tube being nested inside the first casing and the first casing being nested inside a second casing, wherein creating the first seal comprises radially expanding the production tube;
creating a first radial opening in the production tube, the first radial opening having a greater downhole depth differential than the first seal;
creating a second radial opening in the first casing;
creating a second seal between a barrier fluid injector and an inner surface of the production tube; and
injecting a barrier fluid into an internal cavity of the production tube, wherein
injecting the barrier fluid causes the barrier fluid to flow through the first radial opening into a first annular gap between the production tube and the first casing,
the first seal prevents the barrier fluid from flowing in an upward direction within the first annular gap, and
injecting the barrier fluid causes the barrier fluid to flow through the second radial opening into a second annular gap between the first casing and the second casing.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein creating the first seal between the outer surface of the production tube and the inner surface of the first casing of the well comprises:
initiating a firing sequence of a perforating gun to create a third radial opening in the production tube; and
injecting a material through the third radial opening to solidify inside the first annular gap.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein radially expanding the production tube comprises radially expanding the production tube until the outer surface of the production tube contacts the inner surface of the first casing.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein radially expanding the production tube comprises radially expanding the production tube using a hydraulic ram.
5 . The method of claim 1 , comprising repeating the method at a plurality of depths in the well.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein radially expanding the production tube includes detonating an explosive in the internal cavity of the production tube.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the explosive is detonated by a colliding tool.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the detonation of the explosive creates enough force to expand the production tube until the outer surface of the production tube contacts the inner surface of the first casing without rupturing the production tube.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the barrier fluid is injected radially through the first radial opening.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second seal is created by a packer.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the barrier fluid is a cement composition.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first radial opening and the second radial opening are created simultaneously.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein injecting the barrier fluid comprises injecting the barrier fluid into the second annular gap to a height of the barrier fluid, followed by injecting the barrier fluid into the first annular gap.
14 . A method for sealing a well, comprising:
creating a first seal between an outer surface of a production tube and an inner surface of a first casing of the well, the production tube being nested inside the first casing and the first casing being nested inside a second casing;
creating a first radial opening in the production tube, the first radial opening having a greater downhole depth differential than the first seal;
creating a second radial opening in the first casing;
creating a second seal between a barrier fluid injector and an inner surface of the production tube; and
injecting a barrier fluid into an internal cavity of the production tube, wherein
injecting the barrier fluid causes the barrier fluid to flow through the first radial opening into a first annular gap between the production tube and the first casing,
the first seal prevents the barrier fluid from flowing in an upward direction within the first annular gap, and
injecting the barrier fluid causes the barrier fluid to flow through the second radial opening into a second annular gap between the first casing and the second casing;
wherein creating the first seal comprises:
initiating a firing sequence of a perforating gun to create a third radial opening in the production tube; and
injecting a material through the third radial opening to solidify inside the first annular gap.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the material comprises cement.
16 . The method of claim 14 , comprising repeating the method at a plurality of depths in the well.
17 . A method for sealing a well, comprising:
creating a first seal between an outer surface of a production tube and an inner surface of a first casing of the well, the production tube being nested inside the first casing and the first casing being nested inside a second casing;
creating a first radial opening in the production tube, the first radial opening having a greater downhole depth differential than the first seal;
creating a second radial opening in the first casing, wherein the first radial opening and the second radial opening are created simultaneously;
creating a second seal between a barrier fluid injector and an inner surface of the production tube; and
injecting a barrier fluid into an internal cavity of the production tube, wherein
injecting the barrier fluid causes the barrier fluid to flow through the first radial opening into a first annular gap between the production tube and the first casing,
the first seal prevents the barrier fluid from flowing in an upward direction within the first annular gap, and
injecting the barrier fluid causes the barrier fluid to flow through the second radial opening into a second annular gap between the first casing and the second casing.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein creating the first radial opening in the production tube and creating the second radial opening in the first casing are performed with a perforating gun.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein creating the first seal comprises at least one of:
radially forcing the production tube and the first casing toward one another;
radially forcing contact between the outer surface of the production tube and the inner surface of the first casing; or
solidifying a material in the first annular gap above the first radial opening and the second radial opening.
20 . The method of claim 17 , comprising repeating the method at a plurality of depths in the well.