초록 ▼

Systems and methods for cutting a well casing and then capping the cut well casing are provided. A well casing cutting assembly having a tensioned wire cutting element may first be moved into position relative to the well casing and operated so that the cutting element reciprocates transversely (i.e

Systems and methods for cutting a well casing and then capping the cut well casing are provided. A well casing cutting assembly having a tensioned wire cutting element may first be moved into position relative to the well casing and operated so that the cutting element reciprocates transversely (i.e., in saw-like fashion) while simultaneously being advanced forwardly into cutting relationship with the well casing. The cutting assembly is removed from the cut well casing and replaced with a well capping assembly having a shield enclosure and a thread cutting subassembly. The thread cutting subassembly includes an interiorly threaded pipe coupling which rigidly carries a normally open, remotely controlled valving assembly and is mounted to the shield enclosure so as to be capable of both rotational and vertical movements relative to the cut well casing. By simultaneously rotating and downwardly displacing the thread cutting element, threads will be formed on the exterior surface of the well casing and will threadably couple the pipe coupling automatically thereto. The valving mechanism may then be operated so as to cap the well casing. Structure is provided which enable quick disassembly of the thread cutting subassembly from the pipe coupling so that the well capping assembly can be removed and reused.

대표청구항 ▼

A system for cutting a well casing and then capping the cut well casing comprising a well casing cutting assembly and a well casing capping assembly, wherein (i) said well casing cutting assembly includes: shield walls providing a frame for said well casing cutting assembly and having an open-ended

A system for cutting a well casing and then capping the cut well casing comprising a well casing cutting assembly and a well casing capping assembly, wherein (i) said well casing cutting assembly includes: shield walls providing a frame for said well casing cutting assembly and having an open-ended front to allow a forward portion of said shield walls to surround substantially the well casing to be cut when the well casing cutting assembly is positioned therebeside; a flexible tensioned cutting element having a cutting region disposed transversely at said open-ended front of said shield walls so as to be in a cutting position relative to the well casing to be cut; said cutting element mounted for reciprocal displacements relative to the well casing to be cut in forwardly and rearwardly directions as well as transversely in back and forth directions so as to effect cutting of the well casing; and (ii) said well capping assembly includes: a shield enclosure; and a thread cutting subassembly having an interiorly threaded pipe coupling which rigidly carries a normally open remotely controlled valving assembly; said thread cutting subassembly being mounted to said shield enclosure for rotational and vertical movements relative to the cut well casing so as to form threads on an exterior surface of the cut well casing while simultaneously causing said pipe coupling and said formed threads on the exterior of the well casing to be threadably engaged with one another, whereby subsequent closure of said valving mechanism caps the well casing.