Plugging device deployment in subterranean wells

• US 11,002,106 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2017
• Issued: 05/11/2021
• 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 H
• Application Number:
  US15/658,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20170335651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 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, and each of the plugging devices comprising at least one outwardly extending line;

then releasing the plugging devices from the container into the wellbore at the downhole location; and

then the plugging device lines degrading in the well,

wherein each of the plugging devices comprises a body, the at least one line extending outwardly from the body, and

wherein the body of each of the plugging devices comprises a knot.

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 the at least one line has a lateral dimension substantially less than a size of the body.

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

14. The method of claim 13, 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.

15. 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, each of the plugging devices comprising multiple lines extending outwardly from a body, and each of the bodies and the lines comprising a degradable material that degrades in the well; and

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

wherein the body of each of the plugging devices comprises a knot.

16. The dispensing system of claim 15, wherein the actuator comprises at least one detonator.

17. The dispensing system of claim 15, wherein the actuator comprises a motor.

18. The dispensing system of claim 15, wherein the actuator comprises an auger.

19. The dispensing system of claim 15, wherein the actuator is configured to displace a barrier through a chamber in the container.

20. The dispensing system of claim 15, wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator.

21. The dispensing system of claim 15, wherein the actuator comprises a propellant.

22. The dispensing system of claim 15, wherein the dispensing tool is connected between perforators.

23. The dispensing system of claim 15, wherein the dispensing tool is connected between a perforator and a conveyance.

24. The dispensing system of claim 15, wherein the lines each have a lateral dimension substantially less than a size of the respective body.

25. The dispensing system of claim 15, 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.