Plugging device deployment in subterranean wells

• US 9,745,820 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2016
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• 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., Ferguson, Andrew M., Schultz, Roger L., Funkhouser, Gary P., Robertson, Jenna N.
• Primary Examiner(s): GAY, JENNIFER HAWKINS
• Application Number:
  US15/138,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20160348467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 27/02 Dump bailers, i.e. containers for depositing substances, e.g. cement or acids
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 27/04 where the collecting or depositing means include helical conveying means
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/13 Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/138 Plastering the borehole wall; Injecting into the formation
• 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 method of releasing plugging devices into a wellbore can include conveying a dispensing tool to a desired downhole location in the wellbore, the dispensing tool including a container, and then releasing the plugging devices from the container into the wellbore at the downhole location. A plugging device dispensing system for use with a subterranean well can include a dispensing tool having a container configured for containing multiple plugging devices, and an actuator operable to release the plugging devices from the container at a downhole location in the well.

Claims

1. A method of releasing plugging devices into a subterranean well, the method comprising:

conveying a dispensing tool to a desired downhole location in the well, the dispensing tool including a container which contains the plugging devices, wherein each of the plugging devices comprises a body, and wherein the body of each of the plugging devices comprises a knot which is configured to substantially block fluid from flowing outward through an opening in the well formed through a wall of a tubular string, the knot being too large to pass through the opening, whereby the knot can engage the opening but cannot pass through the opening; and

then releasing the plugging devices from the container into the well at the downhole location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the releasing comprises operating an actuator of the dispensing tool.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the operating comprises detonating at least one detonator.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the operating comprises operating a motor.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the operating comprises rotating an auger.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the operating comprises displacing a barrier through a chamber in the container.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the operating comprises operating a linear actuator.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the operating comprises igniting a propellant.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting the dispensing tool between perforators.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting the dispensing tool between a perforator and a conveyance.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting a perforator between a conveyance and the dispensing tool.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plugging devices comprises, extending outwardly from the body, at least one of the group consisting of lines and fibers.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one of the group consisting of lines and fibers has a lateral dimension substantially less than a size of the body.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plugging devices comprises a degradable material.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the degradable material is selected from the group consisting of poly-vinyl alcohol, poly-vinyl acetate, poly-methacrylic acid, poly-lactic acid and poly-glycolic acid.

16. A plugging device dispensing system for use with a subterranean well, the dispensing system comprising:

a dispensing tool including;

a) a container containing multiple plugging devices, wherein each of the plugging devices comprises a body, and wherein the body of each of the plugging devices comprises a knot which is configured to substantially block fluid from flowing outward through an opening in the well formed through a wall of a tubular string, the knot being too large to pass through the opening, whereby the knot can engage the opening but cannot pass through the opening; and

b) an actuator operable to release the plugging devices from the container at a downhole location in the well.

17. The dispensing system of claim 16, wherein the actuator comprises at least one detonator.

18. The dispensing system of claim 16, wherein the actuator comprises a motor.

19. The dispensing system of claim 16, wherein the actuator comprises an auger.

20. The dispensing system of claim 16, wherein the actuator is configured to displace a barrier through a chamber in the container.

21. The dispensing system of claim 16, wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator.

22. The dispensing system of claim 16, wherein the actuator comprises a propellant.

23. The dispensing system of claim 16, wherein the dispensing tool is connected between perforators.

24. The dispensing system of claim 16, wherein the dispensing tool is connected between a perforator and a conveyance.

25. The dispensing system of claim 16, wherein each of the plugging devices comprises, extending outwardly from the body, at least one of the group consisting of lines and fibers.

26. The dispensing system of claim 25, wherein the at least one of the group consisting of lines and fibers has a lateral dimension substantially less than a size of the body.

27. The dispensing system of claim 25, wherein each of the plugging devices comprises a degradable material.

28. The dispensing system of claim 27, wherein the degradable material is selected from the group consisting of poly-vinyl alcohol, poly-vinyl acetate, poly-methacrylic acid, poly-lactic acid and poly-glycolic acid.