Downhole Tool Degradation via Timer-Triggered Energetic Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing downhole tools face challenges with uncontrolled disintegration due to corrosion reactions, leading to uncertainties in service life and operational difficulties, which can delay well production and complicate well operations.
Innovation Solution
The development of downhole assemblies using degradable-on-demand materials comprising a matrix material and an energetic material, along with a triggering system that includes an igniter and a pre-set timer, allowing for controlled disintegration upon activation, enabling tools to maintain mechanical integrity during service and rapidly disintegrate on command.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If self-disintegrating materials are used to remove downhole tools, then disposal time and cost are reduced, but disintegration control becomes unpredictable
Solution Approach 1:
A timer mechanism is installed in advance within the downhole tool, pre-configured to trigger the disintegration process after a predetermined service period. This preliminary action ensures that disintegration occurs at the exact desired time rather than relying on unpredictable corrosion rates, thereby reducing disposal time while maintaining reliable control over when disintegration happens.
2Strength
If disintegrable material with high mechanical strength is used, then tool integrity during service is maintained, but disintegration speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The material composition is engineered with specific parameters that allow it to exhibit high mechanical strength under downhole service conditions (temperature, pressure, chemical environment) while containing embedded triggers or reactive components that, when activated by the timer, dramatically change the material's structural parameters to enable rapid disintegration. This parameter change approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining strength during service then enabling fast disintegration on demand.
3Ease of manufacture
If uncontrolled disintegration occurs, then tool removal is achieved, but well production is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a timer mechanism that provides temporal feedback control, monitoring the service life of the downhole tool and automatically triggering disintegration at the optimal moment when the tool has completed its function. This feedback-based timing ensures that disintegration occurs precisely when needed, facilitating easy tool removal while minimizing delays to well production by avoiding premature or delayed disintegration.
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
This solution allows for controlled and timely disintegration of downhole tools, minimizing disruptions to well operations and enabling efficient well production by ensuring tools disintegrate only when necessary, thus maintaining tool functionality and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an energetic material configured to generate energy upon activation to facilitate the degradation of the downhole tool
Implementation Method 2
an igniter arranged to ignite the downhole tool
Data Source
AI summary
A downhole assembly includes a downhole tool including a degradable-on-demand material and a triggering system. The degradable-on-demand material includes a matrix material and an energetic material configured to generate energy upon activation to facilitate the degradation of the downhole tool. The triggering system includes an igniter arranged to ignite the downhole tool, an electrical circuit, and a pre-set timer. In an open condition of the circuit the igniter is not activated, and in a closed condition of the circuit the igniter is activated. The pre-set timer is operable to close the electrical circuit after a pre-set time period.