FLOW CONTROL IN SUBTERRANEAN WELLS

• US 20170275965A1
• Filed: 06/06/2017
• Published: 09/28/2017
• 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., FERGUSON, Andrew M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,774,612 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/01 Sealings characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/138 Plastering the borehole wall; Injecting into the formation
• 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 plugging device, well system and method. In one example, a wrap, band or other type of binding is utilized to secure together multiple fibers, tubes, filaments, films, fabrics or lines of the plugging device. In another example, fibers, tubes, filaments, films, fabrics or lines are fused, adhered or bonded to an outer surface of a body of the plugging device. In other examples, a material of the plugging device may become more rigid or swell in a well. A plugging device may comprise a body loosely enclosed in a bag, wrapper or other enclosure.

Claims

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

a body configured to engage and substantially block flow through a passageway in the well; and

an enclosure containing the body, relative motion being permitted between the body and the enclosure.

3. The plugging device of claim 1, in which shear stress is substantially unsupported in sliding contact between the body and the enclosure.

4. The plugging device of claim 1, in which the enclosure is not attached to the body.

6. The plugging device of claim 1, in which the relative motion between the body and the enclosure is limited.

9. The plugging device of claim 1, in which the body comprises a material that degrades in the well.

10. The plugging device of claim 1, in which the enclosure comprises a material that degrades in the well.

12. The plugging device of claim 1, in which the enclosure comprises a material in sheet form rolled about the body.

13. The plugging device of claim 1, in which the enclosure comprises a material in tubular form, the body being received in the tubular form.

14. The plugging device of claim 1, in which the enclosure comprises a material with the body enclosed therein by stitching.

15. The plugging device of claim 1, in which the body is more rigid and more dense relative to the enclosure.

2. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

7-8. -8. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

16. A method of plugging a passageway, the method comprising:

releasing a plugging device into a fluid flow, thereby causing the plugging device to be carried by the fluid flow to the passageway, the plugging device comprising a body enclosed by an enclosure, and relative motion being permitted between the body and the enclosure; and

the plugging device engaging the passageway and thereby blocking the passageway.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming the body relatively more rigid and more dense compared to the enclosure.

21. The method of claim 16, in which the relative motion includes at least one of the group consisting of rotation and translation.

22. The method of claim 16, in which shear stress is substantially unsupported in sliding contact between the body and the enclosure.

23. The method of claim 16, in which the enclosure is not attached to the body.

25. The method of claim 16, in which the relative motion between the body and the enclosure is limited.

28. The method of claim 16, further comprising a material of the body degrading in the well.

29. The method of claim 16, further comprising a material of the enclosure degrading in the well.

30. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming the enclosure by wrapping a material in sheet form about the body.

32. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming the enclosure of a material in tubular form, the body being received in the tubular form.

17-19. -19. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

26-27. -27. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

34. A well system, comprising:

a plugging device conveyed through a tubular string by fluid flow in the well, the plugging device comprising a body contained within an enclosure, the body being configured to engage and resist extrusion through a passageway in the well, the enclosure being configured to block the fluid flow between the plugging device and the passageway, and sliding contact being permitted between the body and the enclosure.

35. The well system of claim 34, wherein shear stress is substantially unsupported by the sliding contact between the body and the enclosure.

38. The well system of claim 34, wherein relative motion is permitted between the body and the enclosure.

43. The well system of claim 34, in which the body comprises a material that degrades in the well.

44. The well system of claim 34, in which the enclosure comprises a material that degrades in the well.

45. The well system of claim 34, in which the enclosure comprises a material in sheet form wrapped about the body.

46. The well system of claim 34, in which the enclosure comprises a material in sheet form rolled about the body.

47. The well system of claim 34, in which the enclosure comprises a material in tubular form, the body being received in the tubular form.

48. The well system of claim 34, in which the enclosure comprises a material with the body enclosed therein by stitching.

49. The well system of claim 34, in which the body is more rigid and more dense relative to the enclosure.

36-37. -37. (canceled)

39-42. -42. (canceled)

50-88. -88. (canceled)