Flow control in subterranean wells

• US 9,567,826 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2016
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• 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: Schultz, Roger L., Watson, Brock W., Ferguson, Andrew M., Funkhouser, Gary P.
• Primary Examiner(s): DiTrani, Angela M
• Application Number:
  US15/138,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20160319632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 294 Days
• Field of Search: 166/192, 166/193, 166/284
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/13 Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/11 Perforators; Permeators
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/114 Perforators using direct fluid action on the wall to be perforated, e.g. abrasive jets
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/26 by forming crevices or fractures

Abstract

A flow conveyed device for use in a well can include a body and a plurality of lines joined to the body, each of the lines having a lateral dimension that is substantially smaller than a size of the body, and each of the lines including fibers. 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 including a plurality of lines extending outwardly from a body. Each of the lines may include fibers. A system for use with a well can include a flow conveyed device conveyed through a tubular string by flow in the tubular string, the flow conveyed device including a body with a plurality of lines extending outwardly from the body, the body including at least one knot.

Claims

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

introducing a plugging device into the well, the plugging device comprising a plurality of lines extending outwardly from a body, and the body comprising a knot;

conveying the device by flow in the well; and

sealingly engaging the knot with an opening formed through a wall of a tubular string in the well, thereby preventing flow through the opening, the knot being too large to pass through the opening.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a retainer retaining the lines.

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

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

5. The method of claim 2, wherein a material of the retainer melts or dissolves in the well.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the lines comprises fibers.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the lines comprise one or more ropes.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the lines has a lateral dimension that is substantially smaller than a size of the body.

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 lines extending outwardly from the body, the body comprising at least one knot, the knot being configured to sealingly engage but not pass through the opening.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the flow conveyed device further comprises a retainer at least partially enclosing the flow conveyed device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the retainer releases the lines in the well.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the retainer comprises a degradable material.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the retainer comprises a material that dissolves in the well.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the retainer comprises a material that melts in the well.

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

16. The system of claim 9, wherein each of the lines comprises fibers.