Methods of delivering material downhole

• US 7,891,424 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2005
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Crook, Ronald J., Venditto, James J., Abdulkadir, Ramzi I., Creel, Prentice G., Dalrymple, Eldon D., Reddy, B. Raghava
• Primary Examiner(s): Bates; Zakiya W.
• Application Number:
  US11/090,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20060213662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,160 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 166/286
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 27/02 Dump bailers, i.e. containers for depositing substances, e.g. cement or acids

Abstract

A package and methods for treating a wellbore using the same. In one embodiment, the method comprises servicing a wellbore in contact with a subterranean formation by placing a material in the wellbore, wherein the material is disposed within a closed container. The material is suitable for use in a wellbore and is capable of plugging a flow pathway. The method further comprises releasing the material from the container. In an embodiment, the material is a swelling agent, which may plug a permeable zone.

Claims

1. A method of servicing a wellbore in contact with a subterranean formation, comprising:

placing a closed container in the wellbore, wherein the closed container comprises a material effective to plugging a flow pathway in the wellbore; and

releasing the material from the container, wherein the material comprises a swelling agent, wherein the swelling agent comprises a superabsorber, and wherein the superabsorber comprises a dehydrated, crystalline polymer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the material further comprises a silicate solution disposed within the container.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the closed container provides for dry transport of the material in the wellbore.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising a sealing agent, a weighting material, or combinations thereof disposed within the container.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the container is porous, semi-porous, osmotically permeable, osmotically semi-permeable, or impermeable.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a polymer.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the polymer comprises a polyethylene, a polypropylene, a polyvinylchloride, a polyvinylidenechloride, an ethylene-vinylacetate copolymer, a poly ether, a poly ketone, a styrene-butadiene based latex, or combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein releasing the material comprises dissolving at least a portion of the container.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the polymer comprises a water soluble or water degradable polymer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the water soluble or water degradable polymer comprises a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyvinyl acetate, a hydroxyethyl cellulose, a carboxymethyl cellulose, a sodium carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, a methyl hydroxy propyl cellulose, a derivative of polyethylene glycol, a starch, a cellulose triester, a polyethylene oxide, a polyester, or combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein releasing the material comprises dissolving at least a portion of the container and wherein the superabsorber'"'"'s physical size increases by about 10 to about 800 times when released from the container.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein releasing the material comprises dissolving at least a portion of the container, puncturing the container, bursting the container with pressure in the wellbore, bursting the container by swelling the material, or combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the superabsorber'"'"'s physical size increases by about 10 to about 800 times when released from the container.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the superabsorber has a particle size of less than or equal to about 14 millimeters.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the container is osmotically permeable, or osmotically semi-permeable and wherein the container comprises a pig membrane, a cellulose acetate, a cellulose triacetate, a polyamide, a polyamide resin, a polyimide resin, a polyether sulfone, a polysulfone, a polyphenyl sulfone, a polyvinylidene fluoride, or combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein releasing the material comprises bursting the container by swelling the material.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein placing the container comprises lowering the container into the wellbore by a tether and cutting the tether.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a thickness of from about 2 ply to about 10 ply.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein placing the container comprises dropping the container through the drill string.

20. A method of servicing a wellbore in contact with a subterranean formation, comprising:

placing a closed container in the wellbore, wherein the closed container comprises a material effective to plugging a flow pathway in the wellbore; and

releasing the material from the container, wherein the container comprises a pig membrane, a cellulose acetate, a cellulose triacetate, a polyamide, a polyamide resin, a polyimide resin, a polyether sulfone, a polysulfone, a polyphenyl sulfone, a polyvinylidene fluoride, or combinations thereof.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the material comprises crosslinked polyacrylamide;

crosslinked polyacrylate;

crosslinked hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile;

salts of carboxyalkyl starch;

salts of carboxyalkyl cellulose;

salts of crosslinked carboxyalkyl polysaccharide;

crosslinked copolymers of acrylamide and acrylate monomers;

starch grafted with acrylonitrile and acrylate monomers;

crosslinked polymers of two or more of allylsulfonate, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid, 3-allyloxy-2-hydroxy-1-propane-sulfonic acid, acrylamide, and acrylic acid monomers;

or combinations thereof.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the material'"'"'s physical size increases by about 10 to about 800 times when released from the container.

23. A method of servicing a wellbore in contact with a subterranean formation, comprising:

placing a closed container in the wellbore, wherein the closed container comprises a material effective to plugging a flow pathway in the wellbore; and

releasing the material from the container, wherein the material comprises a swelling agent, wherein the swelling agent comprises a superabsorber, and wherein placing the container comprises lowering the container into the wellbore by a tether and cutting the tether.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the superabsorber comprises at least one sodium acrylate-based polymer having a three dimensional, network-like molecular structure.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the superabsorber comprises crosslinked polyacrylamide;

crosslinked polyacrylate;

crosslinked hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile;

salts of carboxyalkyl starch;

salts of carboxyalkyl cellulose;

salts of crosslinked carboxyalkyl polysaccharide;

crosslinked copolymers of acrylamide and acrylate monomers;

starch grafted with acrylonitrile and acrylate monomers;

crosslinked polymers of two or more of allylsulfonate, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid, 3-allyloxy-2-hydroxy-1-propane-sulfonic acid, acrylamide, and acrylic acid monomers;

or combinations thereof.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the superabsorber'"'"'s physical size increases by about 10 to about 800 times when released from the container.

27. A package for plugging a flow pathway in a wellbore, comprising:

a swelling agent disposed within a closed container, wherein the swelling agent comprises a superabsorber, wherein the superabsorber comprises a dehydrated, crystalline polymer.

28. The package of claim 27, further comprising a silicate solution disposed within the container.

29. The package of claim 27, further comprising a sealing agent, a weighting material, or combinations thereof disposed within the container.

30. The package of claim 27, wherein the container is porous, semi-porous, osmotically permeable, osmotically semi-permeable, or impermeable.

31. The package of claim 27, wherein the container comprises a polymer.

32. The package of claim 31, wherein the polymer comprises a water soluble or water degradable polymer.

33. The package of claim 32, wherein the water soluble or water degradable polymer comprises a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyvinyl acetate, a hydroxyethyl cellulose, a carboxymethyl cellulose, a sodium carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, a methyl hydroxy propyl cellulose, a derivative of polyethylene glycol, a starch, a cellulose triester, a polyethylene oxide, a polyester, or combinations thereof.

34. The package of claim 31, wherein the polymer comprises a polyethylene, a polypropylene, a polyvinylchloride, a polyvinylidenechloride, an ethylene-vinylacetate copolymer, a poly ether, a poly ketone, a styrene-butadiene based latex, or combinations thereof.

35. The package of claim 27, wherein the superabsorber has a particle size of less than or equal to about 14 millimeters.

36. The package of claim 27, wherein the container is osmotically permeable, or osmotically semi-permeable and wherein the container comprises a pig membrane, a cellulose acetate, a cellulose triacetate, a polyamide, a polyamide resin, a polyimide resin, a polyether sulfone, a polysulfone, a polyphenyl sulfone, a polyvinylidene fluoride, or combinations thereof.

37. A method of servicing a wellbore in contact with a subterranean formation, comprising:

placing a closed container in the wellbore, wherein the closed container comprises a material effective to plugging a flow pathway in the wellbore; and

releasing the material from the container, wherein the material comprises a swelling agent, wherein the swelling agent comprises a superabsorber, wherein the container comprises a water soluble or water degradable polymer, wherein the superabsorber comprises at least one sodium acrylate-based polymer having a three dimensional, network-like molecular structure, and wherein placing the container comprises lowering the container into the wellbore by a tether and cutting the tether.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the water soluble or water degradable polymer comprises a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyvinyl acetate, a hydroxyethyl cellulose, a carboxymethyl cellulose, a sodium carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, a methyl hydroxy propyl cellulose, a derivative of polyethylene glycol, a starch, a cellulose triester, a polyethylene oxide, a polyester, or combinations thereof.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein releasing the material comprises dissolving at least a portion of the container and wherein the superabsorber'"'"'s physical size increases by about 10 to about 800 times when released from the container.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein placing the container comprises lowering the container into the wellbore by a tether and cutting the tether.

41. A method of servicing a wellbore in contact with a subterranean formation, comprising:

placing a closed container in the wellbore, wherein the closed container comprises a material effective to plugging a flow pathway in the wellbore; and

releasing the material from the container, wherein the material comprises a swelling agent, wherein the swelling agent comprises a superabsorber, wherein the container comprises a water soluble or water degradable polymer, wherein the superabsorber comprises crosslinked polyacrylamide;

crosslinked polyacrylate;

crosslinked hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile;

salts of carboxyalkyl starch;

salts of carboxyalkyl cellulose;

salts of crosslinked carboxyalkyl polysaccharide;

crosslinked copolymers of acrylamide and acrylate monomers;

starch grafted with acrylonitrile and acrylate monomers;

crosslinked polymers of two or more of allylsulfonate, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid, 3-allyloxy-2-hydroxy-1-propane-sulfonic acid, acrylamide, and acrylic acid monomers;

or combinations thereof, and wherein placing the container comprises lowering the container into the wellbore by a tether and cutting the tether.