Case Guard Substance for Temporary Wellbore Perforation Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The issue of 'frack-hit' or 'frack-bash' in adjacent wellbores due to nearby fracking activity, leading to wellbore access loss and production loss, is exacerbated by more efficient oil and gas extraction methods like pad well designs and clustered wellbore designs.
Innovation Solution
A temporary swelling elastomeric agent is applied to wellbore perforations, using alkali metal core particles encased in a degradable polymeric coating, which swells at ambient temperature and rapidly degrades with hot water exposure to seal off perforations during fracking, then decomposes for restoration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a permanent plug is used to seal perforation tunnels, then protection from frack-hit is achieved, but wellbore access is permanently lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by using a temperature-responsive material that dynamically changes its properties. The plug material remains solid and sealing at low temperatures (providing protection) but melts at high temperatures (restoring access). This dynamic phase change allows the same material to serve both protective and restorable functions, resolving the contradiction between permanent protection and temporary access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by altering the temperature parameter to control the state of the plug material. By introducing a temperature threshold (melting point), the system transitions between two states: sealed (below melting point) and open (above melting point). This parameter-based control enables reversible plugging, addressing the contradiction between maintaining protection and restoring access.
2Reliability
If swelling elastomeric material is used to seal perforations, then frack-hit prevention is achieved, but permanent plugging occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies phase transitions by using a material that undergoes a solid-liquid phase change at a specific temperature. The plug material is solid at operating temperatures, providing effective sealing and frack-hit prevention. When exposed to high-temperature fluid (above melting point), it transitions to liquid state, enabling easy removal and wellbore restoration. This phase transition mechanism resolves the contradiction between effective sealing and ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a temporary, sacrificial plug material designed to be discarded after serving its protective function. The material is intentionally made removable through melting, allowing it to be disposed of easily after preventing frack-hit. This approach treats the plug as a temporary, low-cost protective measure rather than a permanent component, resolving the contradiction between protection effectiveness and restoration ease.
3Reliability
If mechanical plugs are used to block perforation tunnels, then frack-hit protection is provided, but complex installation and removal procedures are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical plug systems with a chemical/thermal-based system. Instead of using mechanical devices that require complex installation and removal procedures, the invention uses a material whose state changes based on temperature. The plug is installed simply by introducing the material that swells and seals at low temperature, and removed by circulating hot fluid that melts the material. This substitution of mechanical systems with thermal-chemical systems dramatically simplifies both installation and removal procedures while maintaining protection reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents damage to adjacent wellbores during fracking by sealing perforations temporarily, allowing safe fracking without negative effects, and restores wellbore access by decomposing and removing the agent post-fracking.
Implementation Method 1
rapidly degrades with hot water exposure to seal off perforations during fracking, then decomposes for restoration
Implementation Method 2
swelling elastomeric material mixed with a reactive coated alkali metal particle
Implementation Method 3
chemically modified to undergo degradation by thermal effects, the introduction of the mixture or fibrous swelling elastomers forced into the perforation tunnels under pressure and at a temperature of 0-100 degrees Fahrenheit, after which removal of the mixture occurs by decomposition using hot water at up to 275 degrees Fahrenheit
Data Source
AI summary
A product and method for temporarily plugging wellbore conductivity using a fibrous swelling elastomeric material mixed with reactive coated alkali metal particles to seal perforated tunnels in a producing wellbore to prevent or minimize frac-hit or frac-bashing from adjacent intersecting wellbores and fracture networks, the product comprising a mixture of granulated particles and fibrous swelling elastomers which are chemically modified to undergo degradation by thermal effects.