Method for Removing a Sealing Plug from a Well

Abstract

A method for removing a sealing plug from a casing or a wellbore according to which a sealing plug is adapted to expand into engagement with the casing or the wellbore. A wireless signal is sent to the plug to cause the plug to lose its structural integrity and fall to the bottom of the wellbore.

1 . A method for sealing a casing or a wellbore, comprising:
 providing an explosive on a sealing plug;   lowering the plug into the casing or the wellbore;   expanding the plug into engagement with the casing or wellbore to provide a seal; and   transmitting a signal to the plug to explode the explosive and release the engagement.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing an initiator on the plug to receive the signal and to initiate the exploding of the explosive in response to receiving the signal. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising lowering an actuator into the wellbore and then transmitting the signal from the actuator to the initiator. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 lowering the plug into the wellbore by a string;   releasing the plug from the string; and   removing the string from the wellbore;   wherein lowering the actuator comprises connecting the actuator to the string and lowering the string and the actuator into the wellbore.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the explosive is contained in a cord and the method further comprises wrapping the cord around a liner in the plug. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the explosion disintegrates, or breaks up, at least a portion of the plug to release the engagement, and the resulting fragments of the plug fall to the bottom of the wellbore by gravity. 
   
   
       7 . A method for sealing a casing or a wellbore, comprising:
 providing a sealing plug having at least one consumable component;   lowering the plug into the casing or the wellbore;   expanding the plug into engagement with the casing or wellbore to provide a seal;   transmitting a signal to the plug; and   producing heat and oxygen in response to transmitting the signal, wherein the heat and oxygen consumes the at least one component of the plug to cause the plug to release the engagement.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein producing heat and oxygen comprises igniting a material in response to the transmission of the signal to cause the material to produce heat and oxygen. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein igniting the material comprises placing the material in proximity to a wire, and applying a voltage to the wire to produce heat sufficient to ignite the material. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising providing an initiator on the plug to receive the signal and to initiate the production of heat and oxygen. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein at least one component of the plug is fabricated from a magnesium metal that consumes in the presence of the heat and oxygen. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising lowering an actuator into the wellbore and then transmitting the signal from the actuator to initiate the ignition. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 lowering the plug into the wellbore by a string;   releasing the plug from the string; and   removing the string from the wellbore;   wherein lowering the actuator comprises connecting the actuator to the string and lowering the string and the actuator into the wellbore.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the consumption of the at least one component of the plug causes the plug to lose its structural integrity and release the engagement, and the consumed component, along with the remaining components of the plug, fall to the bottom of the wellbore by gravity. 
   
   
       15 . A method for sealing a casing or a wellbore, comprising:
 lowering a sealing plug into the casing or the wellbore;   expanding the plug into engagement with the casing or wellbore to provide a seal;   transmitting a signal to the plug; and   causing at least one component of the plug to loose its structural integrity in response to transmitting the signal to cause the plug to release the engagement.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein an explosive is ignited in response to transmitting the signal to cause the plug to lose it structural integrity. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising providing an initiator on the plug to receive the signal and to ignite the explosive. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein a material is ignited in response to the transmission of the signal and produces heat and oxygen, and at least one component of the plug is consumed by the heat and oxygen to cause the plug to lose its structural integrity. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising providing an initiator on the plug to receive the signal and to initiate the production of the heat and oxygen. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein at least one component of the plug is fabricated from a magnesium metal that consumes in the presence of the heat and oxygen. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising lowering an actuator into the wellbore and then transmitting the signal from the actuator. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 lowering the plug into the wellbore by a string;   releasing the plug from the string; and   removing the string from the wellbore;   wherein lowering the actuator comprises connecting the actuator to the string and lowering the string and the actuator into the wellbore.