APPARATUS FOR USE IN WELL ABANDONMENT

摘要

A plug (1) for plugging wells, and in particular oil and gas wells, is provided. The plug (1) has a plug body formed from an outer metal tube (2) of a reduced thickness. The plug also has reinforcement means (4), attached to an inner surface of the outer tube (2), that give the plug a cross-sectional structural strength that is at least equivalent to that of a thicker metal tube. The plug has a central heater receiving void located along the axis of the plug to enable a plug deployment heater to be received therein. Also provided is a plug assembly (10) with a variable cross-sectional area in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which the assembly is deployed during the plugging of underground conduits.

主权项

1. A plug assembly with a variable cross-sectional area in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which the assembly is deployed during the plugging of underground conduits, said assembly comprising:
a plug having a plug body with a first cross-sectional area corresponding to the minimum cross-sectional area of the assembly; at least one compressible plug portion that is resiliently biased to form a second cross-sectional area corresponding to the maximum cross-sectional area of the assembly; and a plug deployment heater releasably engageable within the plug, and comprising eutectic alloy retaining means that retain an eutectic alloy in-line with the plug during deployment of the assembly within an underground conduit so as to enable the minimum cross-sectional area of the assembly to be achieved.