Polyglycolic Acid Composite Downhole Tool Collapse Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing downhole tools for hydrocarbon resource recovery lack accurate design of degradation characteristics due to difficulties in evaluating degradable polymer behavior, leading to inadequate mechanical strength and collapse time control.
Innovation Solution
A downhole tool member composed of a polyglycolic acid resin blended with inorganic or organic short fiber reinforcement materials, exhibiting a controlled thickness reduction rate, with an initial suppression period and a rapid terminal reduction rate, allowing for precise design of collapse characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If a degradable polymer is used for downhole tool members, then the tool can be disintegrated after use, but the mechanical strength and collapse time cannot be accurately controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by blending polyglycolic acid resin with inorganic or organic short fiber reinforcement materials. This composite structure provides both the degradable特性 of the polymer matrix and the mechanical strength and controlled degradation of the fiber reinforcement, enabling accurate control of collapse time while maintaining ease of disintegration after use.
2Reliability
If polyglycolic acid resin is used alone, then the degradation behavior is predictable, but the mechanical strength is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines polyglycolic acid resin with inorganic or organic short fiber reinforcement materials to create a composite material that maintains the predictable degradation behavior of the polymer while significantly improving mechanical strength through the reinforcing fibers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the aspect ratio (length-to-diameter ratio) of the short fiber reinforcement material to optimize the balance between mechanical strength and degradation characteristics. By adjusting this geometric parameter, the patent achieves both high strength and predictable degradation timing.
3Speed
If the initial thickness reduction rate is high, then the collapse occurs quickly, but the tool cannot maintain strength for required working hours
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic degradation profile where the thickness reduction rate changes over time. The controlled aspect ratio of reinforcement fibers causes the material to maintain high strength and low degradation rate during working hours, then rapidly collapse after the working period ends, achieving both strength maintenance and quick collapse.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the aspect ratio of short fiber reinforcement materials as a control parameter to regulate the degradation kinetics. By optimizing this geometric parameter, the material exhibits time-dependent degradation behavior that maintains strength during operation and enables rapid collapse afterward.
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 solution provides improved mechanical strength and controlled degradation, enabling accurate design of collapse time and performance for downhole tools, suitable for various applications including packing and sealing.
Implementation Method 1
a shaped body of a polyglycolic acid resin blended with an inorganic or organic short fiber reinforcement material, and has thickness reduction rate characteristics when held in water at 120° C.
Data Source
AI summary
A downhole tool member for hydrocarbon resource recovery, comprising a shaped body of a polyglycolic acid resin blended with an inorganic or organic short fiber reinforcement material, and having thickness reduction rate characteristics when held in water at 120° C., inclusive of: an initial thickness reduction rate (as an average for a holding period for 4 hours) which is at most 0.8 times that of a shaped body of the polyglycolic acid resin alone, and has a terminal thickness reduction rate (after the thickness decreases to 50% or less of an initial thickness) which is larger than 1.5 times the initial thickness reduction rate.