Well operation tool and methods for forming a permanent well barrier

Abstract

A well operation tool may be used in a pressurized environment, where the pressurized environment has a pressure above 1 atmospheric pressure, and a method of preventing inflow into the well operation tool. Additionally, the well operation tool may include a pressure-sealed housing, a combustion chamber provided within the pressure-sealed housing, an ignition material provided within the combustion chamber, an ignition device for igniting the ignition material, and a gas producing material provided within the combustion chamber. Furthermore, the gas producing material is configured to release gas when subjected to a temperature above a threshold value due to an ignition of the ignition material.

1 . A well operation tool for forming a permanent well barrier which extends across a full cross section area of a well, including all annuli, and seal both vertically and horizontally in the well in a pressurized environment, the pressurized environment having a pressure above 1 atmospheric pressure, wherein the well operation tool comprises:
 a pressure-sealed housing;   a combustion chamber provided within the pressure-sealed housing;   an ignition material provided within the combustion chamber;   an ignition tool for igniting the ignition material;   a gas producing material provided within the combustion chamber;   wherein the gas producing material is configured to release a gas when subjected to a temperature above a threshold value due to an ignition of the ignition material.   
     
     
         2 . The well operation tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas producing material comprises a polymer material, a carbonate, a wooden material, a chemical composition or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The well operation tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas producing material comprises pellets, which wherein the pellets are mixed with the ignition material. 
     
     
         4 . The well operation tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the ignition material comprises an oxide and a metal arranged to create an exothermic reaction upon the ignition of the ignition material. 
     
     
         5 . The well operation tool according to  claim 4 , wherein the ignition material comprises a binding agent, and wherein the gas producing material forms a part of the binding agent. 
     
     
         6 . The well operation tool according to  claim 4 , wherein the exothermic reaction is an aluminothermic reaction. 
     
     
         7 . The well operation tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the released gas from the temperature increase of the gas producing material provides for a pressure increase inside the combustion chamber, wherein the pressure increase is sufficient to prevent an inflow from the pressurized environment. 
     
     
         8 . The well operation tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the released gas from the temperature increase of the gas producing material provides fora pressure increase inside the combustion chamber, wherein the pressure increase is at least equal to, or higher than, the pressure of the pressurized environment. 
     
     
         9 . The well operation tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the ignition material is configured to be continuously fed after ignition of the ignition material. 
     
     
         10 . The well operation tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized environment is a surrounding water, such as seawater or fresh water. 
     
     
         11 . The well operation tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized environment is a downhole well, such as a hydrocarbon well, a water well, or an earth heat well. 
     
     
         12 . The well operation tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressure-sealed housing is pressurized before being placed in the pressurized environment. 
     
     
         13 . A method of forming a permanent well barrier which extends across a full cross section area of a well, including all annuli, and seal both vertically and horizontally in the well by preventing an inflow of a fluid into a well operation tool, the well operation tool comprising a pressure-sealed housing and a combustion chamber provided within the pressure-sealed housing, wherein the method comprises:
 arranging an ignition material, an ignition tool, and a gas producing material within the combustion chamber;   positioning the well operation tool in a pressurized environment having a pressure above 1 atmospheric pressure;   igniting the ignition material by use of the ignition tool, thereby generating heat which provides for release of a gas from the gas producing material when subjected to a temperature above a threshold value.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to claim  131 , further comprising: selecting an amount of the gas producing material based on an expected pressure of the pressurized environment, wherein the selected amount is sufficient to increase a pressure inside the combustion chamber to prevent inflow from the pressurized environment. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising: selecting an amount of the gas producing material based on an expected pressure of the pressurized environment, wherein the selected amount is sufficient to provide for a pressure inside the combustion chamber to be at least equal to, or higher than, the expected pressure of the pressurized environment. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the method further comprising the step of:
 continuously feeding the ignition material after igniting the ignition material.   
     
     
         17 . A well operation tool for forming a permanent well barrier which extends across a full cross section area of a well, including all annuli, and seal both vertically and horizontally in the well in a pressurized environment, the pressurized environment having a pressure above 1 atmospheric pressure, wherein the well operation tool comprises:
 a pressure sealed housing comprising an inner volume;   a combustion chamber provided within the pressure-sealed housing;   an ignition material provided within the combustion chamber;   an ignition tool for igniting the ignition material;   wherein the inner volume of the pressure-sealed housing is configured to be pressurized before the well operation tool is placed in the pressurized environment.   
     
     
         18 . A method of forming a permanent well barrier which extends across a full cross section area of a well, including all annuli, and seal both vertically and horizontally in the well, by preventing an inflow of a fluid into a well operation tool, the well operation tool comprising a pressure-sealed housing ( 3 )having an inner volume, a combustion chamber provided in the inner volume of the pressure-sealed housing, wherein the method comprises:
 arranging an ignition material, and an ignition tool within the combustion chamber;   pressurizing the inner volume of the pressure-sealed housing;   positioning the well operation tool in a pressurized environment having a pressure above 1 atmospheric pressure; and   igniting the ignition material by use of the ignition tool, thereby forming the permanent well barrier.