Flow control in subterranean wells

• US 10,641,070 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: THRU Tubing Solutions Incorporated (Estate of R Randall Rollins)
• Original Assignee: THRU Tubing Solutions Incorporated (Estate of R Randall Rollins)
• Inventors: Schultz, Roger L., Watson, Brock W., Ferguson, Andrew M., Funkhouser, Gary P.
• Primary Examiner(s): DiTrani Leff, Angela M
• Application Number:
  US15/347,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20170058650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 166192, 166193, 166284
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2208/08 Fiber-containing well treatment fluids
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/20 Flexible or articulated drilling pipes , e.g. flexible or articulated rods, pipes or cables
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/06 Sleeve valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/13 Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/138 Plastering the borehole wall; Injecting into the formation
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/11 Perforators; Permeators
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/12 Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/14 Obtaining from a multiple-zone well
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/26 by forming crevices or fractures
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/261 Separate steps of (1) cementing, plugging or consolidating and (2) fracturing or attacking the formation

Abstract

A method of controlling flow in a well can include a device introduced into the well being conveyed by flow in the well, and the device having a plurality of fibers extending outwardly from a body, the fibers being retained by a retainer. A well system can include a flow conveyed device conveyed through a tubular string by flow in the tubular string, and the flow conveyed device including a body with a plurality of fibers extending outwardly from the body. A retainer can at least partially enclose the device. A flow conveyed device for use in a well can include a body, and a plurality of fibers joined to the body, each of the fibers having a lateral dimension that is substantially smaller than a size of the body.

Claims

1. A flow conveyed device for use in a subterranean well, the device comprising:

a body; and

a plurality of fibers joined to the body, each of the fibers having a lateral dimension that is substantially smaller than a size of the body,

wherein the fibers are joined together and form one or more lines extending outwardly from the body,

wherein the body and the plurality of fibers are degradable in the well, and

wherein the fibers are retained by a retainer.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the retainer degrades in response to passage of a predetermined period of time.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the retainer degrades in response to exposure to a predetermined fluid.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the retainer degrades in response to exposure to a predetermined chemical composition.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the retainer degrades in response to exposure to a predetermined temperature.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the retainer degrades in response to exposure to radiation.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the lines comprise ropes.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the fibers comprise a nylon material.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the body is degradable by exposure to an acid.