Flow control in subterranean wells

• US 9,523,267 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2016
• Issued: 12/20/2016
• 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: Funkhouser, Gary P., Schultz, Roger L., Watson, Brock W., Ferguson, Andrew M.
• Primary Examiner(s): DiTrani, Angela M
• Application Number:
  US15/062,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20160319647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 166/192, 166/193, 166/284
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/11 Perforators; Permeators
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/267 reinforcing fractures by propping

Abstract

A method of controlling flow in a well can include a device introduced into the well being conveyed by flow in the well, and the device having a plurality of fibers extending outwardly from a body, the fibers being retained by a retainer. A well system can include a flow conveyed device conveyed through a tubular string by flow in the tubular string, and the flow conveyed device including a body with a plurality of fibers extending outwardly from the body. A retainer can at least partially enclose the device. A flow conveyed device for use in a well can include a body, and a plurality of fibers joined to the body, each of the fibers having a lateral dimension that is substantially smaller than a size of the body.

Claims

1. A method of controlling flow in a subterranean well, the method comprising:

introducing a device into the well,

the device comprising a plurality of fibers extending outwardly from a body, and a retainer retaining the fibers, the body comprising at least one knot that is too large to pass through an opening formed through a wall of a tubular string in the well;

conveying the device by flow in the well; and

then sealingly engaging the opening with the knot.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the retainer comprises a degradable material.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the material degrades between the introducing and the engaging.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a material of the retainer melts in the well.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a material of the retainer dissolves in the well.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the fibers are joined together and form one or more lines extending outwardly from the body.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the lines comprise one or more ropes.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a degradable material.

9. A system for use with a well, the system comprising:

a flow conveyed device conveyed through a tubular string by flow in the tubular string to an opening formed through a wall of the tubular string;

the flow conveyed device comprising a body with a plurality of fibers extending outwardly from the body, the body comprising at least one knot that is too large to pass through the opening, the knot being configured to engage but not pass through the opening; and

a retainer at least partially enclosing the flow conveyed device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the retainer releases the fibers in the well.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the retainer comprises a degradable material.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the retainer comprises a material that dissolves in the well.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the retainer comprises a material that melts in the well.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the fibers are conveyed into the opening by flow through the opening.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the body comprises a degradable material.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the fibers are joined together and form one or more lines extending outwardly from the body.