Wireline Stinger Well Sealing Method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional well plug and abandonment operations require costly and time-consuming removal of production tubing and cabling, posing safety risks and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A method using a wireline-conveyed stinger to create openings in the tubing for sealant injection, eliminating the need to remove entire production tubing and control cables, with a telescopic stinger ensuring comprehensive sealing across the wellbore.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional plug and abandonment operations are used to seal a well, then a fluid-tight barrier is achieved, but the entire production tubing and control cables must be removed which increases operational time and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential function needed for sealing (the stinger and sealant injection capability) while leaving the production tubing and control cables in place. This selective extraction allows the well to be sealed without the time-consuming removal of entire tubing strings, directly resolving the contradiction between achieving reliable sealing and reducing operational time
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing process is segmented into discrete steps: creating openings in the tubing, deploying the stinger via wireline, and injecting sealant. This segmentation allows the sealing function to be performed independently without requiring removal of the entire tubing assembly, thereby reducing operational time while maintaining sealing reliability
2Reliability
If traditional plug and abandonment operations are used to seal a well, then a fluid-tight barrier is achieved, but removal of tubing increases operational cost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential sealing function from the traditional abandonment process, using a wireline-deployed stinger instead of requiring expensive drill rig operations for tubing removal. This dramatically reduces operational costs while achieving the same fluid-tight barrier
Solution Approach 2:
The wireline acts as an intermediary tool to deploy the stinger and inject sealant without requiring expensive drilling equipment. This intermediary approach provides a cost-effective alternative to traditional methods while maintaining sealing reliability
3Reliability
If traditional plug and abandonment operations are used to seal a well, then a seal is formed, but safety risks increase due to tubing removal operations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the hazardous step of tubing removal entirely, extracting only the necessary sealing function. This eliminates safety risks associated with heavy lifting and drilling operations while still achieving a reliable well seal
Solution Approach 2:
The existing production tubing and control cables serve themselves by remaining in place and being used as the conduit for deploying the stinger and injecting sealant. This self-service approach eliminates the need for risky removal operations while maintaining sealing effectiveness
4Manufacturing precision
If a stinger is used to inject sealant through openings in the tubing, then sealant placement across the entire open section is achieved, but the stinger must be precisely located in the wellbore
Solution Approach 1:
The wireline acts as an intermediary tool to precisely locate and deploy the stinger to the correct position in the wellbore. This intermediary system provides the precision needed for proper sealant placement while keeping the deployment process relatively simple and manageable
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
This method reduces operational time and cost by allowing in-situ sealing without removing tubing, ensuring a fluid-tight barrier while minimizing safety risks and maintaining efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
there will be heavy fluid in the A-annulus and in the tubing below the stinger and this will create a pressure differential causing the sealant which is pumped down an upper portion of tubing and through the stinger to flow upwards on exiting the stinger
Data Source
AI summary
A method of sealing a well comprises creating one or more openings in a tubing installed in a wellbore, in a location for a well seal; using a wireline to locate a stinger in that location; setting the stinger in that location; and forming a seal in the well in that location, by injecting sealant through said stinger.