Single trip well abandonment with dual permanent packers and perforating gun

Abstract

A method of abandoning a well includes the steps of: assembling a tool string including a perforating gun interconnected between first and second packer assemblies; conveying the tool string into a wellbore in a single trip into the wellbore; setting the first packer assembly; setting the second packer assembly; firing the perforating gun; and flowing cement into an annulus longitudinally between the first and second packer assemblies. A system for abandoning a well includes a tool string configured for conveyance into a wellbore in a single trip into the wellbore, the tool string including a perforating gun interconnected between first and second packer assemblies, each of the first and second packer assemblies including a permanent packer.

1 . A method of abandoning at least a portion of a well, the method comprising the steps of:
 assembling a tool string including a perforating gun interconnected between first and second packer assemblies;   conveying the tool string into a wellbore in a single trip into the wellbore;   setting the first packer assembly;   setting the second packer assembly;   firing the perforating gun; and   flowing cement into an annulus longitudinally between between the first and second packer assemblies.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the assembling step includes providing a permanent packer in each of the first and second packer assemblies. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first packer assembly setting step further comprises reciprocating the tool string in the wellbore to grippingly engage an anchoring device in the wellbore, and then compressing the tool string against the anchoring device to set the first packer assembly. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the tool string compressing step further comprises using a compressive force to apply fluid pressure to a piston to thereby apply a tensile force to a mandrel of the first packer assembly. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second packer assembly setting step further comprises rotating a work string releasably attached to the tool string. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second packer assembly setting step further comprises applying pressure to the second packer assembly. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of releasing the perforating gun from a packer of the first packer assembly after the first packer assembly setting step, and prior to the second packer assembly setting step. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cement flowing step further comprises flowing cement into perforations formed by the perforating gun. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cement flowing step further comprises flowing cement into an annulus outside of casing lining the wellbore. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the perforating gun firing step further comprises applying pressure to a firing head of the tool string. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the conveying step further comprises conveying the tool string on a work string, and further comprising the step of closing a valve of the second packer assembly by separating the tool string from the work string after the cement flowing step. 
   
   
       12 . A system for abandoning at least a portion of a well, the system comprising:
 a tool string configured for conveyance into a wellbore in a single trip into the wellbore, the tool string including a perforating gun interconnected between first and second packer assemblies, each of the first and second packer assemblies including a permanent packer.   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first packer assembly further includes a setting tool which applies pressure to set the permanent packer of the first packer assembly in response to compression of the tool string. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first packer assembly further includes an anchoring device for grippingly engaging the wellbore prior to setting the permanent packer of the first packer assembly. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a work string engaged with the tool string for conveying the tool string into the wellbore, and wherein the second packer assembly includes a valve which closes in response to separation of the work string from the tool string. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the valve selectively permits and prevents fluid flow through a sidewall of the second packer assembly. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the perforating gun is releasable from the permanent packer of the first packer assembly after the permanent packer of the first packer assembly is set. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising cement flowed into the wellbore between the first and second packer assemblies and hardened therein. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the cement extends into perforations formed by the perforating gun. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the cement extends into an annulus outside of casing lining the wellbore. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a firing head which initiates firing of the perforating gun in response to pressure applied to the firing head. 
   
   
       22 . A method of abandoning at least a portion of a well, the method comprising the steps of:
 assembling a tool string including first and second packer assemblies;   conveying the tool string into a wellbore in a single trip into the wellbore;   setting the first packer assembly;   setting the second packer assembly; and   flowing cement into an annulus longitudinally between the first and second packer assemblies.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the assembling step further comprises interconnecting a perforating gun between the first and second packer assemblies. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising the step of forming perforations in the wellbore by firing the perforating gun, and wherein the cement flowing step further comprises flowing cement into the perforations. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising the step of releasing the perforating gun from a packer of the first packer assembly after the first packer assembly setting step, and prior to the second packer assembly setting step. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the cement flowing step further comprises flowing cement into perforations between the first and second packer assemblies. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the cement flowing step further comprises flowing cement into an annulus outside of casing lining the wellbore. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the assembling step includes providing a permanent packer in each of the first and second packer assemblies. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first packer assembly setting step further comprises reciprocating the tool string in the wellbore to grippingly engage an anchoring device in the wellbore, and then compressing the tool string against the anchoring device to set the first packer assembly. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the tool string compressing step further comprises using a compressive force to apply fluid pressure to a piston to thereby apply a tensile force to a mandrel of the first packer assembly. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the conveying step further comprises conveying the tool string on a work string, and further comprising the step of closing a valve of the second packer assembly by separating the tool string from the work string after the cement flowing step.