Well Control Line Severance with Cement-Constrained Orbital Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
During plug and abandonment operations, control lines in wellbores often fail to be severed completely, creating leak paths that compromise the seal formed by cement, leading to potential hydrocarbon leakage.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the injection of a sealing material, such as cement, into the annulus between the wellbore wall and the tubular to restrain movement of control lines, followed by an orbital cut using a cutting device to reliably sever the lines, with the sealing material preventing lateral movement and ensuring complete severance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If control lines are left unsevered during P&A operations, then the process is simpler and faster, but leak paths are created that compromise the cement seal integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting tool is lowered to the desired depth and positioned before the cement pumping operation begins. The control lines are severed in advance while the cutting tool is still accessible, eliminating the need to retrieve the tool after cement hardens. This preliminary action ensures complete severance of control lines before they can create leak paths through the cement seal.
2Manufacturing precision
If control lines are severed using a cutting tool, then complete severance is achieved, but the control lines may move laterally causing incomplete cuts
Solution Approach 1:
The annulus is filled with cement or other sealing material before the cutting operation. This material acts as a restraining medium that prevents lateral movement of the control lines during the cutting process. By applying this counter-action in advance, the control lines remain stable and positioned correctly, ensuring the cutting tool can completely sever them without deviation.
3Reliability
If the annulus is filled with sealing material before cutting, then control line movement is prevented, but the complexity of the operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cement pumping operation and control line severance operation are merged into a single integrated process. The annulus is filled with cement and the control lines are severed while the cement is still in place, combining two separate operations into one efficient sequence. This merging reduces overall operational complexity while ensuring reliable severance, as the cement provides immediate stabilization for the cutting operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method effectively seals the control lines, preventing hydrocarbon leakage by ensuring complete severance and maintaining the integrity of the cement seal, thereby enhancing the reliability of well abandonment operations.
Implementation Method 1
the sealing material is configured to restrain movement of the control line such that an orbital cut from a cutting device may reliably sever the control line
Data Source
AI summary
A method may include injecting a sealing material into an annulus formed between a tubular and a wellbore wall. The sealing material is configured to surround at least a portion of a control line disposed in the annulus. Further, the method includes making at least one orbital cut, via a cutting device, through the tubular, the sealing material in the annulus, and the control line surrounded by the sealing material. Additionally, the method includes filling the at least one orbital cut and at least a portion of a central bore of the tubular with additional sealing material to seal the wellbore.