Consumable Downhole Tools

• US 20100101803A1
• Filed: 12/30/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company), MCR Oil Tools, LLC (MCR Oil Tools Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: CLAYTON, Robert, BERSCHEIDT, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 8,056,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/376
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 29/02 by explosives or by thermal or chemical means freeing stuck objects by explosives E21B31/002

Abstract

A method of removing a downhole tool from a wellbore comprising contacting the tool with a heat source wherein the tool comprises at least one load-bearing component comprising a thermally degradable material. A method of reducing the structural integrity of a downhole tool comprising fabricating the load-bearing components of the tool from a thermally degradable material. A method of removing a downhole tool comprising mechanically milling and/or drilling the tool from a wellbore wherein the tool comprises at least one load bearing component comprising a phenolic resin wherein the phenolic resin comprises a rosole, a novalac or combinations thereof.

Claims

1. A method of removing a downhole tool from a wellbore comprising contacting the tool with a heat source wherein the tool comprises at least one load-bearing component comprising a thermally degradable material comprising a thermoplastic material, a phenolic material, a composite material, or combinations thereof, and wherein the heat source comprises a torch comprising a torch body comprising a plurality of nozzles distributed along its length.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic material comprises polyalphaolefins, polyaryletherketones, polybutenes, nylons or polyamides, polycarbonates, thermoplastic polyesters, styrenic copolymers, thermoplastic elastomers, aromatic polyamides, cellulosics, ethylene vinyl acetate, fluoroplastics, polyacetals, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polymethylpentene, polyphenylene oxide, polystyrene or combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the load-bearing components are acid-resistant.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the torch further comprises a fuel load that produces heat and oxygen when burned.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the fuel load comprises a flammable, non-explosive solid.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the fuel load comprises thermite.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the torch further comprises a firing mechanism with a heat source to ignite the fuel load.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the firing mechanism further comprises a device to activate the heat source.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the firing mechanism is an electronic igniter.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the tool is a frac plug.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the tool is a bridge plug.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the tool is a packer.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the load-bearing components comprise a plurality of slips, a plurality of mechanical slip elements, and a packer element assembly.

13. A method of reducing the structural integrity of a downhole tool comprising fabricating the load-bearing components of the tool from a thermally degradable material comprising a thermoplastic material, a phenolic material, a composite material, or combinations thereof, and wherein the tool comprises a torch comprising a fuel load that produces heat and oxygen when burned.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the thermoplastic material comprises polyalphaolefins, polyaryletherketones, polybutenes, nylons or polyamides, polycarbonates, thermoplastic polyesters, styrenic copolymers, thermoplastic elastomers, aromatic polyamides, cellulosics, ethylene vinyl acetate, fluoroplastics, polyacetals, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polymethylpentene, polyphenylene oxide, polystyrene or combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising contacting the load bearing components with a heat source.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the tool comprises a frac plug, a bridge plug or a packer.

18. A method of removing a downhole tool from a wellbore comprising contacting the tool with a heat source, wherein the tool comprises at least one load-bearing component comprising a thermally degradable material comprising a thermoplastic material, a phenolic material, a composite material, or combinations thereof, and wherein the thermally degradable material is acid-resistant.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the heat source comprises a torch comprising a torch body comprising a plurality of nozzles distributed along its length.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the load-bearing components comprise a plurality of slips, a plurality of mechanical slip elements, and a packer element assembly.