Method to repair leaks in a cemented annulus

Abstract

A method of providing pressure containment of a well having a well annulus. The well annulus contains a set cement, and the cement contains flow paths which communicate a well pressure to the surface. The method includes placing a containment cement slurry in a reception area at the top of the well and installing an injection delivery system within the reception area. The method may further include preparing a settable fluid for injection into the flow paths and injecting the settable fluid through the injection delivery system into the flow paths. In one disclosed embodiment, the injection delivery system may include a series of injection tubulars configured to deliver the settable fluid to the flow paths. The injection delivery system may include a template having a first, second, third and fourth injection tubular. According to this disclosure, the method may also include allowing the settable fluid to set, monitoring the pressure of the well annulus, and performing remedial well action based on the observed pressures.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of providing pressure containment of a well having a well annulus open to the atmosphere at the surface, the well annulus containing a set cement therein, and wherein the cement contains flow paths which communicate a well pressure, the method comprises:
 creating a reception area at the top of the well;   placing a containment cement slurry in said reception area;   installing an injection delivery system within said reception area;   preparing a settable fluid for injection into the flow paths;   injecting the settable fluid through said injection delivery system into the flow paths of the well annulus.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said settable fluid comprises: a Bisphenal F type resin with a diluent and an epoxide catalyst selected from the group consisting of: amidoamines and modified polyamidomines; and a weighting agent selected from the group consisting of barite, silica flour and silica sand. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said containment cement slurry comprises: a cement selected from the group consisting of: a Class A cement and |[WU1] a Type I cement; between 0% to about 30% BWOC Gypsum; and between 0% to about 6% BWOC CaC12 and water which is mixed to form a slurry with a density between 12-18 lbs per gallon. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said injection delivery system comprises a series of injection tubulars configured to deliver the resin to the flow paths. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said injection delivery system comprises a template having a first, a second, a third and a fourth injection tubular configured to deliver the resin to the flow paths. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said injection step includes applying a squeeze pressure of resin that is injected into the tubulars above an established breakdown pressure and below a burst/collapse pressure of the well casing. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the method further comprises:
 allowing the settable fluid to set; 
 monitoring the pressure of the well annulus; 
 observing a pressure increase in the well annulus; 
 repeating the step of injecting the settable fluid. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the method further comprises:
 monitoring the pressure of the well annulus; 
 observing a constant pressure in the well annulus; 
 removing the injection delivery system from the reception area. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said settable fluid is a micro-fine cement slurry comprising: a microfine cement, a dispersant, a fluid loss additive, a retarder, and water. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said injection delivery system comprises a series of injection tubulars configured to deliver the low viscosity cement slurry to the flow paths  11 . A method of providing pressure containment of a well, the well containing a surface casing having a surface annulus, an intermediate casing having an intermediate annulus, and a production casing having a production annulus, wherein the surface annulus, the intermediate annulus and the production annulus contains cement, and wherein the surface annulus contains flow paths capable of releasing pressure from a subterranean zone, the method comprising:
 placing a containment cement slurry in a reception area at the top of the well; 
 installing a first tubular member within said reception area; 
 placing a valve means on said first tubular member; 
 fluidly connecting said first tubular member to a pump member; 
 preparing a settable fluid; 
 pumping the settable fluid through said first tubular member into the flow paths of the surface annulus. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of claim  11  wherein the step of pumping the settable fluid includes creating a squeeze pressure and the method further includes maintaining the squeeze pressure until the settable fluid hardens within the flow paths of the surface annulus. 
     
     
         13 . The method of claim  11  wherein said settable fluid a Bisphenal F type resin with a diluent and an epoxide catalyst selected from the group consisting of: amidoamines and modified polyamidomines. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said containment cement slurry comprises: a cement selected from the group consisting of a Class A cement |[WU2] and a Type I cement; about 0-30% BWOC Gypsum; and about 0-6% BWOC CaCl2. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising a second, a third and a fourth tubular member, and wherein said first, said second, said third, and said fourth tubular members are configured to deliver the resin to the flow paths of the surface annulus cement. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said injection delivery system comprises a template including said first tubular member and a second, a third and a fourth tubular member. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said first tubular member contains a valve member, said valve member having an open position and a closed position, wherein said valve member controlling the pumping of the resin through said first tubular member and into the flow paths of the surface annulus cement. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said squeeze pressure of resin injection into the tubulars is above an established breakdown pressure and below a burst/collapse pressure of the well casing. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the method further comprises:
 monitoring the pressure of the surface annulus; 
 observing a pressure increase in the surface annulus; 
 repeating the step of injecting the settable fluid. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the method further comprises:
 monitoring the pressure of the surface annulus; 
 observing a constant pressure in the surface annulus; 
 removing the injection delivery system from the reception area. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said settable fluid is a low viscosity, micro-fine cement slurry comprising: a microfine cement, a dispersant, a fluid loss additive, a retarder, and water. 
     
     
         22 . A method of providing pressure containment of a well having a well annulus containing cement, wherein the cement contains flow paths therein, the method comprises:
 placing a containment cement slurry in a reception area at the top of the well;   installing a tubular member within said reception area;   preparing a resin, wherein the resin is selected from the group consisting of x, y, and z;   injecting the resin through said tubular member into the flow paths of the well annulus.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said containment cement slurry comprises: a cement selected from a group consisting of: a Class A cement |[WU3] and a Type I cement; about 0-30% BWOC Gypsum; and about 0-6% BWOC CaC12. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising a second, a third and a fourth tubular members and a template configured to hold said first, said second, said third and said fourth tubular members in the reception area during injection of the resin. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said injection includes applying a squeeze pressure of resin that is injected into the tubular member above and established breakdown pressure and below a burst/collapse pressure of the well casing. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the method further comprises:
 allowing the resin to harden; 
 monitoring the pressure of the well annulus; 
 observing a constant pressure in the well annulus.