Dissolvable Bridge Plug for Oil Wellbore Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bridge plugs for oil and gas wells require drilling and milling, leading to high costs and risks, and restrict secondary stimulation due to their inner diameter limitations, while dissolvable options are needed to avoid these issues.
Innovation Solution
A dissolvable bridge plug comprising a mandrel, rubber tube, conical sleeve, slip, and lower sub, made of dissolvable materials, with an anti-preset mechanism and one-way locking mechanism to ensure reliable placement and dissolution without drilling or milling, allowing for a full-bore accessed wellbore.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If composite bridge plugs are used for staged fracturing, then a full-bore accessed wellbore can be formed after drilling and milling, but the drilling and milling cost and relevant risks are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dissolvable bridge plugs made from materials that can dissolve under specific downhole conditions (such as exposure to certain temperatures, pressures, or chemical environments). This disposable approach eliminates the need for expensive and risky drilling and milling operations to remove the bridge plugs, while still achieving full-bore access after dissolution. The bridge plug serves its temporary function and then disappears, leaving the wellbore fully accessible.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical removal process (drilling and milling) with a chemical dissolution process. Instead of using mechanical tools to cut and remove the bridge plug, the plug is designed to dissolve chemically or thermally under controlled conditions, substituting a potentially risky mechanical operation with a more reliable chemical or thermal process.
2Reliability
If big-bore cast iron bridge plugs are used for staged fracturing, then drilling and milling costs and risks are eliminated, but a restriction in casing inner diameter is formed, limiting secondary stimulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dissolvable bridge plugs that temporarily occlude the wellbore during fracturing operations and then dissolve under predetermined conditions. This temporary occlusion allows for effective fracturing stimulation, while the subsequent dissolution restores full bore diameter, enabling versatile secondary stimulation methods without the permanent diameter restriction imposed by permanent bridge plugs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in downhole parameters (temperature, pressure, chemical composition) to trigger the dissolution of the bridge plug material. By designing the plug material to respond to specific parameter changes, the system transitions from a restrictive state (plug in place) to an open state (plug dissolved), thereby adapting the wellbore configuration to enable secondary stimulation methods.
3Productivity
If composite bridge plugs are used for staged fracturing, then quick drilling and milling is achieved, but drilling and milling becomes more difficult and relevant risks become higher as the drilling and milling depth is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical drilling and milling system with a chemical or thermal dissolution system. Instead of mechanically cutting through the bridge plug material at increasing depths, the plug dissolves in response to environmental conditions, eliminating the complexity and risk associated with deep-hole mechanical removal operations while maintaining productivity.
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
The dissolvable bridge plug effectively avoids drilling and milling costs and risks, ensuring a smooth wellbore diameter for enhanced secondary stimulation by dissolving upon temperature recovery, improving reliability and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the mandrel, rubber tube, conical sleeve, slip, and lower sub are made of a dissolvable material... the dissolvable bridge plug contacts with the fluids in the oil and gas well and has a dissolution reaction with the fluids, and finally is dissolved completely
Data Source
AI summary
The dissolvable bridge plug is designed for temporarily plugging an oil and gas wellbore, and includes a mandrel, a rubber tube, a conical sleeve, a slip, and a lower sub, wherein, the mandrel, rubber tube, conical sleeve, slip, and lower sub are made of a dissolvable material. The inner surface of one end of the lower sub is arranged with an anti-preset mechanism that contacts with the other end of the mandrel. As the temperature in the wellbore is recovered and meets the condition under which the components in the bridge plug can be dissolved after the setting and fracturing operation is completed. The dissolvable bridge plug contacts with the fluids in the oil and gas well and has a dissolution reaction with the fluids, and finally is dissolved into fine particles completely.