FLOW CONTROL IN SUBTERRANEAN WELLS

• US 20160348465A1
• Filed: 04/26/2016
• Published: 12/01/2016
• 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 M., FUNKHOUSER, Gary P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,708,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 43/263 using explosives

Abstract

A flow conveyed plugging device for use in a well, the device can include a body, and one or more lines extending outwardly from the body, each of the lines having a lateral dimension that is substantially smaller than a size of the body. A method of plugging an opening in a well can include deploying at least one flow conveyed plugging device into the well, the flow conveyed plugging device including a body and, extending outwardly from the body, at least one of the group consisting of: a) one or more fibers and b) one or more lines, the flow conveyed plugging device being conveyed by flow in the well into sealing engagement with the opening. Another flow conveyed plugging device can include a body, and fibers extending outwardly from the body. The flow conveyed plugging device degrades and thereby permits flow through an opening in the well.

Claims

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

a body; and

one or more lines extending outwardly from the body, each of the lines having a lateral dimension that is substantially smaller than a size of the body.

2. The flow conveyed plugging device of claim 1, wherein a material of the one or more lines is selected from the group consisting of film, tube, filament, fabric and sheet material.

3. The flow conveyed plugging device of claim 1, wherein the body and one or more lines are enclosed within a retainer.

4. The flow conveyed plugging device of claim 3, wherein the retainer comprises a liquid retainer material within an outer coating.

5. The flow conveyed plugging device of claim 4, wherein the outer coating comprises a flexible material.

6. The flow conveyed plugging device of claim 4, wherein the outer coating is degradable in the well.

7. The flow conveyed plugging device of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a material selected from the group consisting of poly-vinyl alcohol, poly-vinyl acetate and poly-methacrylic acid.

8. The flow conveyed plugging device of claim 1, wherein the one or more lines comprises a material selected from the group consisting of poly-vinyl alcohol, poly-vinyl acetate and poly-methacrylic acid.

9. The flow conveyed plugging device of claim 1, wherein the body is degradable in the well.

10. The flow conveyed plugging device of claim 1, wherein the one or more lines are degradable in the well.

11. The flow conveyed plugging device of claim 1, wherein the body comprises at least one knot.

12. A method of plugging an opening in a subterranean well, the method comprising:

deploying at least one flow conveyed plugging device into the well, the flow conveyed plugging device including a body and, extending outwardly from the body, at least one of the group consisting of;

a) one or more fibers and b) one or more lines;

the flow conveyed plugging device being conveyed by flow in the well into sealing engagement with the opening.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising mechanically removing the plugging device from the opening in the well.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the plugging device degrading in the well.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the plugging device degrades in response to at least one of the group consisting of:

a) contact with a fluid in the well, b) passage of time in the well and c) exposure to heat in the well.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising a knot of the body blocking flow through the opening.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein a material of the lines is selected from the group consisting of film, tube, filament, fabric and sheet material.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein a material of the fibers is selected from the group consisting of film, tube, filament, fabric and sheet material.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising enclosing the body within a retainer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the retainer comprises a liquid retainer material.

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

a body; and

fibers extending outwardly from the body,

wherein the flow conveyed plugging device degrades and thereby permits flow through an opening in the well.

22. The flow conveyed plugging device of claim 21, wherein the fibers are joined into at least one line having a lateral dimension that is substantially smaller than a size of the body.

23. The flow conveyed plugging device of claim 21, wherein the fibers are included in a material selected from the group consisting of film, tube, filament, fabric and sheet material.

24. The flow conveyed plugging device of claim 21, wherein the body and the fibers are enclosed within a retainer.

25. The flow conveyed plugging device of claim 24, wherein the retainer comprises a liquid retainer material within an outer coating.

26. The flow conveyed plugging device of claim 25, wherein the outer coating comprises a flexible material.

27. The flow conveyed plugging device of claim 25, wherein the outer coating is degradable in the well.

28. The flow conveyed plugging device of claim 21, wherein at least one of the body and the fibers comprises a material selected from the group consisting of poly-vinyl alcohol, poly-vinyl acetate and poly-methacrylic acid.

29. The flow conveyed plugging device of claim 21, wherein at least one of the body and the fibers is degradable in the well.

30. The flow conveyed plugging device of claim 21, wherein the body comprises at least one knot.