Bridge Plug Apparatuses Containing A Magnetorheological Fluid And Methods For Use Thereof

• US 20170191341A1
• Filed: 09/08/2014
• Published: 07/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Clemens, Jack Gammill, Murphree, Zachary Ryan, Fripp, Michael Linley
• Granted Patent: US 11,242,725 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/00 Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/06 for setting packers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/10 in the borehole sealing the junction between main bore and laterals E21B41/0042
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/12 Packers; Plugs used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1208 characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means E21B33/1277 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/134 Bridging plugs

Abstract

Magnetorheological fluids may regulate fluid flow downhole by forming a fluid seal using a bridge plug apparatus. Bridge plug apparatuses employing a magnetorheological fluid may be deployed in a wellbore in a retrievable configuration or in a substantially permanent configuration. Retrievable bridge plug apparatuses may comprise spaced apart magnets having a gap defined therebetween, and a reservoir of magnetorheological fluid housed within the gap. The magnets move laterally with respect to one another to expand or contract the gap and to displace the reservoir of magnetorheological fluid radially with respect to the magnets. Other bridge plug apparatuses may comprise a flow path extending between a reservoir of magnetorheological fluid and the exterior of a housing, where at least a portion of the flow path is located within a gap defined between spaced apart magnets.

Claims

1. A bridge plug apparatus comprising:

spaced apart magnets having a gap defined therebetween; and

a reservoir of magnetorheological fluid housed within the gap;

wherein the magnets move laterally with respect to one another to expand or contract the gap and to displace the reservoir of magnetorheological fluid radially with respect to the magnets.

2. The bridge plug apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnets have opposite poles facing each other.

3. The bridge plug apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reservoir of magnetorheological fluid is housed in a deformable container within the gap.

4. The bridge plug apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a support structure affixed to at least one of the magnets, the support structure restricting axial movement of the deformable container as it is displaced from the gap.

5. The bridge plug apparatus of claim 4, wherein the support structure pivots as the deformable container expands or contracts upon lateral movement of the magnets with respect to one another.

6. The bridge plug apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnets are laterally movable toward one another at least to a separation distance where the magnetorheological fluid has an increased viscosity outside the gap compared to its viscosity inside the gap.

7. The bridge plug apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnets are permanent magnets.

8. The bridge plug apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnetorheological fluid comprises a magnetorheological adhesive.

9. The bridge plug apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a support structure affixed to at least one of the magnets, the support structure restricting axial movement of the magnetorheological fluid as it is displaced from the gap;

wherein the support structure pivots upon lateral movement of the magnets with respect to one another.

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23. A bridge plug apparatus comprising:

a housing containing a reservoir of magnetorheological fluid;

a flow path extending between the reservoir and an exterior surface of the housing, the flow path fluidly connecting the reservoir to the exterior surface;

a barrier located within the flow path that temporarily blocks the flow path; and

spaced apart magnets disposed within the housing and having a gap defined therebetween, at least a portion of the flow path being located within the gap defined between the magnets;

wherein the bridge plug apparatus is configured to pass through the interior of a tubing string within a wellbore.

24. The bridge plug apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

a structure within the housing that applies a compression force to the magnetorheological fluid.

25. The bridge plug apparatus of claim 24, wherein the structure comprises a spring-driven piston or a hydraulically-driven piston.

26. The bridge plug apparatus of claim 23, wherein the barrier comprises a hydraulic piston or a rupture disk.

27. The bridge plug apparatus of claim 23, wherein the magnetorheological fluid comprises a magnetorheological adhesive.

28. The bridge plug apparatus of claim 23, wherein the magnets are permanent magnets.

29. The bridge plug apparatus of claim 23, wherein the magnets have opposite poles facing each other.

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41. A method comprising:

introducing a bridge plug apparatus into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the bridge plug apparatus comprising;

a housing, and

a magnet disposed circumferentially about the housing, the magnet providing a radially projecting magnetic field;

wherein the wellbore contains a tubing string and the bridge plug apparatus is introduced through the tubing string to a location in the wellbore downstream of the tubing string;

disposing a magnetorheological fluid into the radially projecting magnetic field to increase the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid from a first viscosity state to a second viscosity state; and

chemically reacting a component of the magnetorheological fluid to further increase the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the magnetorheological fluid comprises a magnetorheological adhesive.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the magnetorheological fluid is carried in the housing and is disposed axially into the wellbore.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the magnetorheological fluid is pumped into the wellbore.

45. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

disposing cement on an upper surface of the magnetorheological fluid after chemically reacting the component of the magnetorheological fluid to further increase its viscosity.