Device and system for well completion and control and method for completing and controlling a well

• US 7,784,543 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Johnson, Michael H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephenson; Daniel P
• Application Number:
  US12/171,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20090101357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 166/229, 166/278, 166/296, 166/373, 166/376, 166/205, 166/317, 166/55, 166/207, 166/212
• US Class Current: 166/296
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/08 Screens or liners expandable screens or liners E21B43/108
• 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

Abstract

A tubing component for use in a downhole environment including a tubular having a plurality of openings therein and a plurality of beaded matrixes disposed in the plurality of openings the beaded matrixes being configured to be pluggable in situ in the downhole environment. A method for controlling flow in a wellbore.

Claims

1. A tubing component for use in a downhole environment comprising:

a tubular having a plurality of openings therein;

a plurality of beaded matrixes, each having a plurality of beads of a rounded geometry sintered into a mass having interstitial spaces between the rounded beads, the plurality of matrixes each being disposed within a housing having a stepped inside surface that is itself disposed one each in the plurality of openings the beaded matrixes being configured to be selectively pluggable in situ in the downhole environment.

2. The component as claimed in claim 1 wherein one or more of the plurality of beaded matrixes is receptive to a material applied thereto in the downhole environment.

3. The component as claimed in claim 2 wherein the material is a chemical material.

4. The component as claimed in claim 2 wherein the material becomes resident in the beaded matrixes.

5. The component as claimed in claim 2 wherein the material is underminable to re-establish fluid flowability through one or more of the plurality of beaded matrixes.

6. The component as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stepped inside surface is configured to position a smaller dimension portion of the stepped inside surface at a larger radial distance from an axis of the tubular than a larger dimension portion of the stepped inside surface.

7. A tubing component for use in a downhole environment comprising:

a tubular having a plurality of openings therein;

a plurality of headed matrixes, each having a plurality of heads of a rounded geometry sintered into a mass having interstitial spaces between the rounded beads, the plurality of matrixes each being disposed within a discrete housing each discrete housing having a ball seat at a longitudinal end of the housing that is closer to an axis of the tubular than an opposite end of each discrete housing, each housing being itself disposed one each in the plurality of openings, the beaded matrixes being configured to be selectively pluggable in situ in the downhole environment.

8. The component as claimed in claim 7 wherein the ball seat in one or more of the discrete housings is receptive to a ball to restrict fluid flow therepast.

9. The component as claimed in claim 7 wherein the ball seat in one or more of the discrete housings is receptive to a ball to prevent fluid flow therepast.

10. A method for controlling flow in a wellbore comprising:

applying a plugging configuration to a tubular comprising;

a tubular having a plurality of openings therein;

a plurality of beaded matrixes, each having a plurality of beads of a rounded geometry sintered into a mass having interstitial spaces between the rounded beads, the plurality of matrixes each being disposed within a discrete housing that is itself disposed one each in the plurality of openings the beaded matrixes being configured to be selectively pluggable in situ in the downhole environment, the applying including releasing a plurality of balls sized to be received at one or more of the beaded matrixes; and

restricting fluid flow through one or more of the beaded matrixes with the plugging configuration.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the applying includes spot treating one or more of the plurality of beaded matrixes with a plugging material.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the plugging material is migrated into interstitial spaces within each treated beaded matrix.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the method further includes undermining the plugging configuration to re-establish fluid flow through the one or more beaded matrixes.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the undermining includes treating the plugging material with a property deleterious to the material.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the undermining includes heating the material.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the undermining includes dissolving the material.

17. A method for controlling flow in a wellbore comprising:

applying a plugging configuration to a tubular comprising;

a tubular having a plurality of openings therein;

a plurality of beaded matrixes, each having a plurality of beads of a rounded geometry sintered into a mass having interstitial spaces between the rounded beads, the plurality of matrixes each being disposed within a discrete housing that is itself disposed one each in the plurality of openings the headed matrixes being configured to be selectively pluggable in situ in the downhole environment;

restricting fluid flow through one or more of the beaded matrixes by seating one or more individual balls in each of one or more ball seats disposed at discrete housings of one or more of the beaded matrixes.