Wellbore casing repair safety tool for low-pressure hydrocarbon wells

Abstract

A wellbore tool includes a rod with a plurality of rod sections. The rod is configured to be placed within a wellbore casing of a low-pressure hydrocarbon well. A plurality of sealing elements are positioned at a downhole end of the rod. Each sealing element is configured to provide a gas-tight seal between the sealing element and an inner wall of the wellbore casing. A handle positioned at an uphole end of the rod provides a hand grip for a user of the wellbore tool.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wellbore tool, comprising:
 a rod comprising a plurality of rod sections, the rod configured to be placed within a wellbore casing of a low-pressure hydrocarbon well;   a plurality of sealing elements positioned at a downhole end of the rod, each sealing element of the plurality of sealing elements configured to provide a gas-tight seal between the sealing element and an inner wall of the wellbore casing; and   a handle positioned at an uphole end of the rod to provide a hand grip for a user of the wellbore tool.   
     
     
         2 . The wellbore tool of  claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of sealing elements further comprises:
 a circular sealing cup with a flat upper portion oriented towards the handle, the circular sealing cup configured to deform and provide the gas-tight seal against the inner wall of the wellbore casing;   a support member configured to provide stiffness to the circular sealing cup;   an uphole attachment point configured to connect to a rod section or another sealing element; and   a downhole attachment point configured to connect to another sealing element or to a plug.   
     
     
         3 . The wellbore tool of  claim 2 , wherein the circular sealing cup comprises rubber or silicon. 
     
     
         4 . The wellbore tool of  claim 2 , wherein the support member is molded to the circular sealing cup. 
     
     
         5 . The wellbore tool of  claim 2 , wherein the uphole attachment point and the downhole attachment point each comprise a threaded connection. 
     
     
         6 . The wellbore tool of  claim 1 , wherein the wellbore tool is configured to be installed into the wellbore casing by human intervention. 
     
     
         7 . The wellbore tool of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of rod sections are configured to be separable into individual rod sections. 
     
     
         8 . The wellbore tool of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of rod sections are interconnected by a threaded connection. 
     
     
         9 . The wellbore tool of  claim 1 , wherein the rod is a telescoping rod and the plurality of rod sections are configured to collapse into one another. 
     
     
         10 . The wellbore tool of  claim 1 , wherein the handle further comprises a safety line attachment point uphole of the handle, the safety line attachment point configured to be connected to a safety line. 
     
     
         11 . The wellbore tool of  claim 1 , wherein the wellbore tool is configured to be used in wellbore casings six inches in diameter or smaller. 
     
     
         12 . A method, comprising:
 inserting a wellbore tool including a plurality of sealing elements attached to a downhole end of the wellbore tool into a wellbore casing of a low-pressure hydrocarbon well;   sealing the wellbore casing of the low-pressure hydrocarbon well from a topside atmosphere using one or more of the plurality of sealing elements to form a gas-tight seal against the inner surface of the wellbore casing; and   supporting, using one or more of the plurality of sealing elements, a static column of a non-flammable/non-combustible fluid.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising securing the wellbore tool within the wellbore casing of the low-pressure hydrocarbon well by a safety line. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the non-flammable/non-combustible fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the wellbore casing has a pressure substantially less than 25.0 pounds per square inch gauge. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each one of the plurality of sealing elements further comprises:
 a circular sealing cup with a flat upper portion oriented in an uphole direction, the sealing cup configured to deform and provide a gas-tight seal against a wall of the wellbore;   a support member configured to provide stiffness to the circular sealing cup;   an uphole attachment point configured to connect to a rod of the wellbore tool or to another sealing element; and   a downhole attachment point configured to connect to another sealing element or to a plug.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising deforming the circular sealing cup in response to the wellbore tool entering the wellbore casing. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising;
 repairing the wellbore casing; and   removing the wellbore tool from the wellbore casing.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein removing the wellbore tool from the wellbore casing comprises removing the plurality of sealing elements and the static column of non-flammable/non-combustible fluid from the wellbore casing. 
     
     
         20 . A wellbore tool, comprising:
 a rod comprising a plurality of rod sections, the rod configured to be placed within a low-pressure wellbore;   a handle positioned at an uphole end of the rod, the handle configured to provide a hand grip for a user of the wellbore tool; and   a plurality of sealing elements positioned at a downhole end of the rod, the plurality of sealing elements configured to provide a gas-tight seal between the plurality of sealing elements and a wall of the low-pressure wellbore, each of the plurality of sealing elements comprising:   a circular sealing cup with a flat upper surface oriented toward the handle, the circular sealing cup configured to deform and provide the gas-tight seal against the inner wall of the low-pressure wellbore;   a support member configured with one or more stiffness elements adjacent to the flat upper surface of the circular sealing cup to provide stiffness to the circular sealing cup;   an uphole attachment point configured to connect to the rod or to another sealing element; and   a downhole attachment point configured to connect to another sealing element or to a plug.