Well plug and abandonment choke insert

Abstract

A process for plugging a wellbore comprises installing a choke device ( 1 ) into the wellbore to increase the back pressure allowing better control when introducing cement to plug the wellbore. The device ( 1 ) has a cylindrical shape with a central through bore ( 6 ). On the external profile is a shoulder ( 4 ) which, when the device is installed in a wellbore, comes to rest against a nipple in the wellbore. The device ( 1 ) may free fall for all or part of the way down but would normally be pumped down at least for the last part of its delivery. In the bore ( 6 ) is a pump out ball ( 10 ) which blocks the through bore until the device reaches the nipple and stops, at which point pressure increases and the ball is ejected. Cement and other liquid may then be pumped through the choke device to the distal region of the well.

1 . A process for plugging a wellbore, wherein the process comprises the steps of:
 a) installing a choke device into the wellbore, the device having a through bore with a predetermined diameter;   b) injecting a settable medium into the wellbore.   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the bottom hole pressure of the wellbore is insufficient to support a standing column of liquid of specific gravity  1  reaching to the surface. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the step of installing the choke device comprises allowing the choke device to free fall down the wellbore. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the step of installing the choke device comprises pumping the choke device down the wellbore. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the wellbore includes a nipple and wherein the step of installing the choke device comprises having the choke device bottom out at the nipple. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 5  wherein the choke device includes a pump out valve and the step of installing the choke device comprises pumping the device down the wellbore until it bottoms out at the nipple and then continuing to pump thereby increasing pressure on the device until the pump out valve is actuated. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein located at the top of the wellbore is a christmas tree with a swab valve and a master valve and wherein the step of installing the choke device comprises inserting the choke device between the swab valve and the master valve and then opening the master valve to allow the device to enter the wellbore. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein a proximal part of the wellbore is defined between the choke device and the surface and a distal part of the wellbore is defined between the choke device and the distal end of the wellbore and wherein the step of injecting a settable medium comprises injecting some or all of the settable medium through the choke device into the distal part of the wellbore. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of injecting a surfactant liquid into the wellbore prior to injecting the settable medium. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 9  further comprising the step of injecting a third liquid after injecting the settable medium. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10  comprising monitoring pressure at the surface of surfactant liquid, settable medium and third liquid. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11  further comprising determining from said monitored surface pressure when the settable medium reaches the choke device. 
     
     
         13 . A choke device for use in a process for plugging a wellbore, wherein the device comprises a body capable of being passed down a wellbore, wherein the body has:
 a) an external profile which includes a shoulder;   b) a through bore;   c) a pump out valve which blocks the through bore until a predetermined level of pressure is applied to the valve.   
     
     
         14 . The choke device according to  claim 13  wherein the through bore includes a stop surface and wherein the pump out valve comprises a ball retained in the through bore by the stop surface. 
     
     
         15 . The choke device according to  claim 13  wherein one or more seals are provided on the external profile of the body. 
     
     
         16 . A method of preparing a wellbore to be plugged comprising inserting into the well a choke device, wherein the device comprises a body capable of being passed down a wellbore, wherein the body has:
 a) an external profile which includes a shoulder;   b) a through bore;   c) a pump out valve which blocks the through bore until a predetermined level of pressure is applied to the valve.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  further comprising the steps of:
 (i) applying pressure at a first level to the choke device, said pressure being below said predetermined pressure level, thereby pumping the device through the wellbore; and 
 (ii) subsequently applying pressure to the choke device at a second level at or above said predetermined level, whereby said pump out valve is activated and the through bore unblocked. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein, in step a), the choke device is pumped through the wellbore until it reaches a nipple. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein the nipple is adjacent a production packer of the wellbore. 
     
     
         20 . A plugged wellbore having located therein a choke device, wherein the device comprises a body capable of being passed down a wellbore, wherein the body has:
 a) an external profile which includes a shoulder;   b) a through bore;   c) a pump out valve which blocks the through bore until a predetermined level of pressure is applied to the valve.