Patent ID: 7611120

Claim:
A method of substantially sealing a throughbore of a tubular, the tubular having a line running therethrough, such that the sealed throughbore can withstand a pressure differential, the method comprising the steps of: (a) substantially enclosing the line and sealing a portion of the throughbore around the line using an enclosing mechanism to define an enclosed portion of the throughbore; (b) providing a fluid suspension containing a suspension of solid particles, wherein the solid particles are adapted to settle out of suspension in response to a pressure drop in the fluid suspension, and injecting the fluid suspension into the enclosed portion of the throughbore at a higher pressure than the ambient pressure in the enclosed portion of the throughbore, whereby the pressure of the fluid suspension drops during said injecting step, causing the solid particles to settle out of suspension after injection; and (c) substantially sealing a remaining portion of the throughbore using the solid particles such that the sealed throughbore is capable of withstanding a pressure differential.