Degradable and/or Deformable Diverters and Seals

Abstract

A variable stiffness engineered degradable ball or seal having a degradable phase and a stiffener material. The variable stiffness engineered degradable ball or seal can optionally be in the form of a degradable diverter ball or sealing element which can be made neutrally buoyant.

Description

[0001]The present disclosure claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 967,864 filed Jan. 30, 2020, which are all incorporated herein by reference.[0002]The present disclosure is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16 / 654,099 filed Oct. 16, 2019, which in turn claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 747,358 filed Oct. 18, 2018, which are all incorporated herein by reference.[0003]The present disclosure claims priority on U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15 / 728,813 filed Oct. 10, 2017, which in turn is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15 / 294,957 filed Oct. 17, 2016 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,625,336 issued Apr. 21, 2020), which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 627,236 filed Feb. 20, 2015, (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,757,796 issued Sep. 17, 2018), which in turn claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 942,879 filed Feb. 21, 2014, which are all incorporated herein by reference.[0004]The present disclosure claim...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a degradable ball or seal that can be used in oil and gas operations to restore circulation, divert fluid, seal perforations, and limit entry holes for workover or other operations. The degradable ball has a unique structure made of a thermoplastic elastomer or metallic composite that can be designed to have variable stiffness. This helps to ensure the ball can perform its duties effectively while reducing or preventing mud or fluid loss, diverting flow during fracturing, and temporarily sealing perforations. The degradable ball can also be filled with voids or pores to aid in its degradation. Overall, this invention provides an efficient and effective solution for oil and gas operations.

Problems solved by technology

The commercially available degradable perforation balls and diverter systems are not acceptable because of their limited temperature range which can result in the balls softening and transforming to a different shape, thereby resulting in the ball being unable to hold pressure, the formation of byproducts which effect formation permeability (e.g., cannot be removed completely), or contain organic or other functional byproducts.

Also, the remainders of these prior perforation balls may be forced into the flair path and may not degrade completely, thereby causing problems in proper fluid flow in the well or other later well operations.

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