FLOW CONTROL IN SUBTERRANEAN WELLS

• US 20160319628A1
• Filed: 04/28/2015
• Published: 11/03/2016
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,641,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. 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 flow conveyed device for use in a well can include a degradable 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 method of controlling flow in a subterranean well, the method comprising:

a device introduced into the well being conveyed by flow in the well; and

the device comprising a plurality of fibers extending outwardly from a body.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the body engaging an opening in the well.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the opening comprises a perforation.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the body prevents flow through the opening.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fibers are joined together and form one or more lines extending outwardly from the body.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the lines comprise one or more ropes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the body comprises at least one knot.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a degradable material.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the material degrading in response to at least one of the group consisting of:

passage of a predetermined period of time in the well, exposure to a predetermined temperature in the well, exposure to a predetermined fluid in the well, exposure to radiation in the well and exposure to a predetermined chemical composition in the well.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising deploying the device into the well after fracturing a formation zone.

11. A system for use with a well, the system comprising:

a flow conveyed device conveyed through a tubular string by flow in the tubular string; and

the flow conveyed device comprising a body with a plurality of fibers extending outwardly from the body.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the flow conveyed device engages an opening in a sidewall of the tubular string.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the fibers are conveyed into the opening by flow through the opening.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the body extends across and seals off the opening.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the opening comprises a perforation.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the body comprises a degradable material.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the material degrades in response to at least one of the group consisting of:

passage of a predetermined period of time in the well, exposure to a predetermined temperature in the well, exposure to a predetermined fluid in the well, exposure to radiation in the well and exposure to a predetermined chemical composition in the well.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the body comprises at least one knot.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the fibers are joined together and form one or more lines extending outwardly from the body.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the lines comprise ropes.

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

a degradable body, the body including a knot formed in one or more lines; 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.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the body degrades in response to passage of a predetermined period of time.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the body degrades in response to exposure to a predetermined fluid.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein the body degrades in response to exposure to a predetermined chemical composition.

25. The device of claim 21, wherein the body degrades in response to exposure to a predetermined temperature.

26. The device of claim 21, wherein the body degrades in response to exposure to radiation.

27. The device of claim 21, wherein the fibers are joined together and form the one or more lines extending outwardly from the body.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the lines comprise ropes.

29. The device of claim 21, wherein the fibers comprise a nylon material.

30. The device of claim 21, wherein the body is degradable by exposure to an acid.