Granted Patent B2

US 12,560,048 · App. 18/896,211 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

Inventors: Torgeir Rusten (Vikhammer, NO); Stian Tøndel (Trondheim, NO)

Assignee: Interwell P&A AS

E21B33/13E21B36/008

Abstract

Claims (39)

1 . A method of constructing a well, the method comprising:

lowering a first casing radially inside a formation wall of the well or radially inside of a second casing within the well, thereby forming an annulus radially outside of the first casing; and thereafter

positioning a first constituent of a pyrotechnic mixture in the annulus, wherein the first constituent is a metal oxide; and thereafter

solidifying the first constituent in the annulus, thereby providing zonal isolation between the first casing and the formation wall or between the first casing and the second casing,

wherein the solidifying of the first constituent comprises sintering the first constituent, wherein sintering is defined as a process of compacting and forming a solid mass of material by heat or pressure without melting the solid mass of material to the point of liquefaction.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sintering of the first constituent comprises:

lowering a heating tool into the first casing; and

exposing the first constituent in the annulus to heat from the heating tool.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the solidifying of the first constituent comprises waiting a predetermined period of time for the first constituent to settle as sediment within the annulus.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the formation wall is made of cap-rock, and wherein in the positioning of the first constituent of the pyrotechnic mixture in the annulus, the first constituent is positioned directly adjacent to and in contact with the cap-rock.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning of the first constituent comprises circulating the first constituent to the annulus.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning of the first constituent comprises positioning the first constituent between layers of cement in the annulus.

7 . A method of constructing a well, the method comprising:

lowering a first casing radially inside a formation wall of the well or radially inside of a second casing within the well, thereby forming an annulus radially outside of the first casing; and thereafter

positioning a first constituent of a pyrotechnic mixture in the annulus, wherein the first constituent is a metal oxide; and thereafter

solidifying the first constituent in the annulus, thereby providing zonal isolation between the first casing and the formation wall or between the first casing and the second casing,

wherein the first constituent is a particulate metal oxide, and

wherein the solidifying of the first constituent comprises one of:

sintering the first constituent, wherein sintering is defined as a process of compacting and forming a solid mass of material by heat or pressure without melting the solid mass of material to the point of liquefaction; and

waiting a predetermined period of time for the first constituent to settle as sediment within the annulus.

8 . A method of permanently abandoning a well constructed according to the method of claim 7 , comprising:

lowering a second constituent of the pyrotechnic mixture to an area of the solidified first constituent, wherein the second constituent is a metal; and

igniting the pyrotechnic mixture to start a heat generating exothermic reduction-oxidation process.

9 . A method comprising:

constructing a well by

lowering a first casing radially inside a formation wall of the well or radially inside of a second casing within the well, thereby forming an annulus radially outside of the first casing, and thereafter

positioning a first constituent of a pyrotechnic mixture in the annulus, wherein the first constituent is a metal oxide, and thereafter

solidifying the first constituent in the annulus, thereby providing zonal isolation between the first casing and the formation wall or between the first casing and the second casing; and

permanently abandoning the well by

lowering a second constituent of the pyrotechnic mixture to an area of the solidified first constituent, wherein the second constituent is a metal, and

igniting the pyrotechnic mixture to start a heat generating exothermic reduction-oxidation process.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the solidifying of the first constituent comprises sintering the first constituent, wherein sintering is defined as a process of compacting and forming a solid mass of material by heat or pressure without melting the solid mass of material to the point of liquefaction.

11 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the sintering of the first constituent comprises:

lowering a heating tool into the first casing; and

exposing the first constituent in the annulus to heat from the heating tool.

12 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the solidifying of the first constituent comprises waiting a predetermined period of time for the first constituent to settle as sediment within the annulus.

13 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the formation wall is made of cap-rock, and wherein in the positioning of the first constituent of the pyrotechnic mixture in the annulus, the first constituent is positioned directly adjacent to and in contact with the cap-rock.

14 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the positioning of the first constituent comprises circulating the first constituent to the annulus.

15 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the positioning of the first constituent comprises positioning the first constituent between layers of cement in the annulus.

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (20)