RiLOCK Resin: Mitigating Gas Migration in Low-Temperature Canadian Well Conditions
Overview
A legacy well located in Eastern Canada exhibited gas migration along the exterior of a 20-inch casing string. The casing had been driven to approximately 40 meters without cement in the annular space. Due to the well's location in a residential area, the remediation solution needed to minimize surface equipment requirements while delivering a high-integrity, long-term seal.
The system was engineered using Riteks' proprietary exotherm control technology (W-325) to lengthen and reduce the overall exothermic reaction while mixing and placing RiLOCK Resin.
Problem / Challenge
Gas migration was identified along the outside of the driven 20-inch casing, creating a loss of annular isolation. The absence of cement in the annulus allowed a flow path to develop, compromising well integrity.
Key operational constraints included:
- Low surface and bottom-hole temperatures of 50°F (10°C)
- Limited access due to residential location — no pump truck used to mix or pump
- Requirement for minimal surface footprint
- Need for reliable long-term sealing performance in one application
The remediation required a solution capable of penetrating micro-annuli and irregular void spaces formed during casing installation.
Solution
The selected remediation approach utilized RiLOCK epoxy resin to re-establish annular sealing around the 20-inch casing. RiLOCK's low viscosity and strong bonding properties enabled deep penetration into micro-annuli and void spaces.
The resin system was deployed via gravity fall, followed by a squeeze operation to ensure full coverage within the open annular region. This approach created a continuous, pressure-tight barrier designed to eliminate the identified gas migration pathway while restoring zonal isolation.
The system was engineered using Riteks' proprietary W-325 exotherm control technology, which lengthens and reduces the overall exothermic reaction during mixing and placement — critical for achieving predictable, controlled curing under low-temperature field conditions.
Deployment Method
- Step 1 — Gravity Fall Deployment: RiLOCK resin placed via gravity fall with no pump truck required, enabling use in constrained residential environments.
- Step 2 — Squeeze Operation: A follow-on squeeze ensured complete annular coverage and penetration of micro-annuli and irregular void spaces.
- Step 3 — W-325 Exotherm Control: Proprietary W-325 additive modulated the curing exotherm for predictable performance at 50°F (10°C).
- Step 4 — Cured Barrier Formation: Upon cure, RiLOCK formed a rigid, chemically resistant, pressure-tight seal providing long-term zonal isolation.
Lab Testing Results
Well Parameters — Field Conditions
| MD |
TVD |
Mud Density |
| 131 ft |
131 ft |
8.4 ppg |
Lab Testing Parameters
| BHCT |
BHST |
Time to Temp. |
Start Pressure |
Final Pressure |
| 55–60°F |
55–60°F |
5 min |
0 psi |
350 psi |
Strength Results (Crush Cube)
| Cure Temp. |
Cure Time |
10% Deformation |
50% Deformation |
Pot Life (67°F Lab) |
| 55–65°F |
3 Days |
Too soft to crush |
7:45 min |
| 55–65°F |
1 Week |
4,425 psi |
6,624 psi |
— |
Exotherm — Large Paint Can (6.5" ID)
| Lab Room Temp. |
Max Temp. |
Max Temp. Time |
| 67°F |
232°F |
2:07 hrs |
Riteks' proprietary W-325 product helps lengthen and reduce exothermic reactions for safer, more predictable field placement.
Technical Highlights
- Micro-Annuli Penetration: RiLOCK's ultra-low viscosity allows deep penetration into micro-annuli and irregular voids formed during casing installation, ensuring complete barrier coverage.
- Optimized Low-Temperature Curing: Engineered for predictable performance at 50°F (10°C) using W-325 exotherm control technology in cold Canadian wellbore environments.
- High-Integrity Pressure Barrier: After one week of curing, crush strength reached 4,425 psi at 10% deformation and 6,624 psi at 50% deformation — robust for long-term well abandonment.
- Minimal Equipment Requirements: Deployed via gravity fall with no pump truck required, enabling operations in sensitive residential locations with minimal surface disruption.
- Single-Application Reliability: Long-term sealing achieved in a single treatment, eliminating the cost and burden of re-entry operations.
- Long-Term Chemical and Mechanical Stability: Upon curing, RiLOCK forms a rigid, chemically resistant barrier engineered for sustained performance under wellbore exposure conditions.
Result
Upon curing, the RiLOCK system formed a rigid, chemically resistant seal capable of long-term exposure to wellbore conditions. The treatment successfully eliminated gas migration and restored well integrity, ensuring a reliable and permanent barrier for abandonment.
Laboratory testing confirmed controlled exothermic behavior and predictable curing performance under low-temperature conditions, supporting reliable field application.
"A reliable and permanent barrier — restored in a single operation."
Request a RiLOCK Resin Sample
Talk to a Riteks engineer about your well remediation challenge.
- Phone: 281.569.3500
- Email: service@riteks.com
- Web: www.riteks.com
