FIBROUS BARRIERS AND DEPLOYMENT IN SUBTERRANEAN WELLS

• US 20170107784A1
• Filed: 12/27/2016
• Published: 04/20/2017
• 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: WATSON, Brock W., FUNKHOUSER, Gary P., SCHULTZ, Roger L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,738,564 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2208/08 Fiber-containing well treatment fluids
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/516 characterised by their form or by the form of their components, e.g. encapsulated material
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/13 Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/06 in wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/11 Perforators; Permeators
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/26 by forming crevices or fractures

Abstract

A fibrous plugging device for use in a subterranean well can include a body having fibers and a retainer material. The retainer material retains a shape of the body. A system for use with a well can include a fibrous plugging device conveyed by fluid flow in the well. The fibrous plugging device includes a body comprising multiple fibers. The fibrous plugging device engages an opening in the well, and thereby seals off the opening. A method for use with a well can include flowing a fluid through the well, thereby conveying at least one fibrous plugging device including a body having multiple fibers, and the fibrous plugging device sealingly engaging an opening in the well, thereby substantially preventing flow through the opening.

Claims

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

a body including fibers and a retainer material, wherein the retainer material retains a shape of the body.

2. The fibrous plugging device of claim 1, wherein the fibers comprise a material selected from the group consisting of metal wool, wire, nylon 6 and nylon 66.

3. The fibrous plugging device of claim 1, wherein a melting point of a poly-lactic acid resin in each of the fibers decreases in an outward direction.

4. The fibrous plugging device of claim 1, wherein the fibers comprise a material selected from the group consisting of poly-lactic acid and poly-glycolic acid, and wherein the fibers are in a form selected from the group consisting of a) a yarn, b) monofilament, c) multifilament and d) fabric.

5. The fibrous plugging device of claim 1, wherein the fibers are treated with a release agent that repels the retainer material.

6. The fibrous plugging device of claim 5, wherein the release agent comprises a water-wetting surfactant.

7. The fibrous plugging device of claim 6, wherein the water-wetting surfactant is selected from the group consisting of alkyl ether sulfate, relatively high hydrophilic-lipophilic balance nonionic surfactant, betaine, alkylarylsulfonate, alkyl-diphenyl ether sulfonate and alkyl sulfate.

8. The fibrous plugging device of claim 1, wherein the fibers extend outwardly from the body.

9-30. -30. (canceled)