Patent ID: 11905789
Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
Field: Civil engineering (Other fields)
Classification: CPC E  Y | IPC E

Claim 0:
1. A method of sealing an open annular space in a hydrocarbon well, said method comprising:
a) deploying a cutting tool downhole to cut a helical coil opening in one or more casings at a section of an open annular space in a well to be sealed, wherein said helical coil opening provides access to said open annular space external to an outermost casing;
b) optionally deploying a base plug below said section;
c) deploying solid bismuth alloy to said section;
d) deploying a heater to said section to melt said solid bismuth alloy to form molten alloy;
e) allowing said molten alloy to flow out said helical coil openings and allowing said molten alloy to solidify, thereby plugging said section with a plug; and
f) drilling through said plug leaving a sealed annulus.