Rigless method to partially lift or retrieve wellbore tubing strings from platform and subsea wells

Abstract

A method for lifting a tubular string from a wellbore includes cutting the tubular string at a selected depth in the wellbore. A check valve is disposed in the tubular string above the selected depth. An interior of the tubular string is pressurized with gas to displace liquid in the tubing through the check valve. The tubular string is lifted, and a portion of the tubular string extending out of the wellbore is cut.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for lifting a tubular string from a wellbore, comprising:
 cutting the tubular string at a selected depth in the wellbore;   disposing a check valve in the tubular string above the selected depth;   pressurizing an interior of the tubular string with gas to displace liquid in the tubing through the check valve;   lifting a part of the tubular string above the selected depth;   cutting a portion of the lifted part of the tubular string extending out of the wellbore;   removing the check valve; and   lowering a well logging tool through the lifted part of the tubular string into a space below the bottom end of the lifted tubular string.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising placing a barrier material in the tubular string below the selected depth prior to cutting the tubular string at the selected depth. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the well logging tool comprises a cement evaluation tool, the method further comprising operating the cement evaluation tool to determine integrity of a cement barrier between a wall of the wellbore and a casing disposed in the wellbore. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising removing the check valve and moving a barrier material into the wellbore through the lifted portion of the tubular string. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising sealing an annular space between the tubular string and the wellbore proximate a surface end of the wellbore, and pressurizing the annular space. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lifting and cutting are performed proximate a surface end of the wellbore. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the cutting is performed proximate a bottom of a body of water. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising affixing at least one buoyancy device to the tubular string, and using a vessel on a surface of the body of water to move the tubular string away from the wellbore. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising lowering the tubular string into the wellbore after the cutting the portion extending from the wellbore. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising repeating the lifting the tubular string and cutting the portion extending from the wellbore until a selected amount of the tubular string has been cut. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising cutting the lifted portion of the tubular string at a selected axial location and and dropping or lowering the cut, lifted tubular string in a controlled manner into the wellbore. 
     
     
         12 . A method for lifting a tubular string from a wellbore, comprising cutting the tubular string at a selected depth in the wellbore;
 disposing a check valve/anchor combination in the tubular string above the selected depth;   pressurizing an interior of the tubular string with gas to displace liquid in the tubing through the check valve; and   setting an anchor portion of the combination by further pressurizing the interior of the tubular string, the anchor setting against an interior of a well casing to anchor the tubular string in the well casing.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising inserting a well logging tool into a space below the anchor portion to evaluate the wellbore below a bottom of the tubular string.