BACKGROUND

In hydrocarbon production, a wellbore is drilled into a hydrocarbon bearing geologic formation. The wellbore is completed and, in some instances, lined with a wellbore casing to complete a hydrocarbon well (for example, a low-pressure production or injection well). As the hydrocarbon well ages, the wellbore casing can begin to degrade and require repair.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure describes a casing welding safety tool for low-pressure hydrocarbon wells.

In an implementation, a wellbore tool includes a rod with a plurality of rod sections. The rod is configured to be placed within a wellbore casing of a low-pressure hydrocarbon well. A plurality of sealing elements are positioned at a downhole end of the rod. Each sealing element is configured to provide a gas-tight seal between the sealing element and an inner wall of the wellbore casing. A handle positioned at an uphole end of the rod provides a hand grip for a user of the wellbore tool.

Some functions or operations associated with described implementations are implementable using a computer-implemented method; a non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions to perform the computer-implemented method; and a computer-implemented system comprising a computer memory interoperably coupled with a hardware processor configured to perform the computer-implemented method/the instructions stored on the non-transitory, computer-readable medium.

The subject matter described in this specification can be implemented in particular implementations so as to realize one or more of the following advantages. First, described implementations of a wellbore tool permit safe repair of damaged wellbore casing of a low-pressure hydrocarbon well. The described wellbore tool isolates potentially toxic or flammable/combustible downhole gases/fluids from an uphole atmosphere. This isolation is necessary for personal safety as sparks or open flame produced or used in wellbore casing repair (for example, produced in cutting or welding) can cause a hazardous situation if present during repair operations. Second, the described wellbore tool is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble/disassemble in the field, can be quickly installed into/removed from a wellbore casing, and is easily transportable/storable. Third, the described wellbore tool can be easily configured to fit different diameters of wellbore casing. Fourth, sealing elements used in the described wellbore tool are user replaceable to permit routine/easy maintenance. Fifth, the described wellbore tool can be configured with various sensors for analysis of data related to a particular wellbore casing/hydrocarbon well (for example, temperature, pressure, chemical analysis, and the like). Other advantages will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.

The details of one or more implementations of the subject matter of this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

