Dissolvable Wellbore Plug with Tracer Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for hydrocarbon wells face challenges in determining the dissolution or obstruction of dissolvable plugs beyond the reach of coiled tubing, making it difficult to assess plug destruction or obstructions within the wellbore.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a tracer material into the plugs that is detectable in the produced fluid stream, allowing for the detection of plug destruction or obstructions using a tracer detection structure, enabling the identification of plug properties and potential obstructions within the wellbore.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dissolvable plugs are utilized beyond the reach of coiled tubing, then the ability to seal and isolate wellbore regions is improved, but the ability to detect plug dissolution and obstruction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A tracer material is introduced as an intermediary substance within the plug. When the plug dissolves, the tracer material is released into the wellbore fluid stream, serving as a detectable intermediary that indicates plug dissolution without requiring direct observation of the plug itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracer material is designed to have detectable properties (such as color, fluorescence, or other detectable characteristics) that change or become visible in the produced fluid stream when released from the plug, enabling visual or instrumental detection of plug dissolution status.
2Ease of operation
If conventional coiled tubing methods are used to remove plugs, then the ability to retrieve plugs is improved, but the reach and applicability to deep wellbore regions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is designed to dissolve automatically in response to wellbore conditions (such as fluid contact or chemical exposure), eliminating the need for mechanical retrieval operations. The plug serves itself by dissolving and releasing the tracer material, which then indicates its removal status without requiring coiled tubing intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical process of plug retrieval using coiled tubing is replaced by a chemical dissolution process. The plug material is substituted with a dissolvable composition that chemically breaks down in the wellbore environment, replacing the need for mechanical cutting or grinding operations.
3Device complexity
If dissolvable plugs are used without tracer materials, then the simplicity of the plug design is improved, but the ability to determine plug status and obstruction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is segmented into two functional components: the dissolvable plug material that provides the sealing function, and the tracer material that provides the detection function. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while working together to solve the overall problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracer material acts as an intermediary information carrier between the plug and the detection system. It translates the physical state of the plug (present, dissolved, obstructing) into detectable signals in the fluid stream, preventing loss of information about plug status.
Data Source
AI summary
Hydrocarbon wells and methods that utilize a plug with an included tracer material. The hydrocarbon wells include a wellbore that extends within a subsurface region and a downhole tubular that extends within the wellbore and defines a tubular conduit. The hydrocarbon wells also include a plug positioned within the wellbore and a tracer detection structure. The plug forms a fluid seal and includes a tracer material. The tracer detection structure is configured to detect the tracer material within a produced fluid stream that is produced from the hydrocarbon well. The methods include releasing the tracer material from the plug and producing the produced fluid stream. The methods also include detecting the tracer material within the produced fluid stream.