Polyglycolic Acid Plug with Carbodiimide for High-Temp Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing downhole plugs fail to maintain isolation in high-temperature wells and low salt concentration fluids, leading to unreliable isolation periods due to high hydrolysis rates of polyglycolic acid and slow corrosion rates of metal components.
Innovation Solution
A plug composed of a polyglycolic acid resin composition with a cyclic carbodiimide compound, ensuring a carbodiimide group concentration of 15 eq/t or greater, which maintains isolation in high-temperature environments and degrades reliably in low salt concentration fluids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a polyglycolic acid plug is used to maintain isolation in high-temperature wells, then the isolation can be maintained for a sufficient period, but the hydrolysis reaction rate increases at higher temperatures causing premature degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the polyglycolic acid resin by incorporating cyclic carbodiimide compounds at specific concentrations (15 eq/t or greater). This chemical parameter change reduces the hydrolysis reaction rate, allowing the plug to maintain isolation reliability in high-temperature wells for the required duration without premature degradation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite resin material by combining polyglycolic acid with cyclic carbodiimide compounds. This composite structure leverages the biodegradability of polyglycolic acid for controlled dissolution while the cyclic carbodiimide compound suppresses hydrolysis, achieving both sufficient isolation duration and reliability in high-temperature environments
2Productivity
If a corrosive metal component is used to eliminate isolation after the target period, then the isolation can be removed, but the corrosion rate is slow in low salt concentration fluids or water causing delayed elimination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a biodegradable polyglycolic acid resin that is designed to dissolve completely after serving its isolation function. This disposable approach eliminates the need for metal components that require corrosion, ensuring reliable isolation elimination in low salt concentration fluids through natural biodegradation rather than slow corrosion processes
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 plug effectively maintains isolation in high-temperature wells for a predetermined period while ensuring reliable degradation in low salt concentration fluids, preventing clogging and ensuring efficient fluid circulation.
Implementation Method 1
a polyglycolic acid has a higher hydrolysis reaction rate at a higher ambient temperature
Implementation Method 2
degradation of a resin is promoted when concentration of acidic groups of the resin is high
Data Source
AI summary
A plug that can maintain isolation also in a high-temperature and low salt concentration fluid or water only for a predetermined period of time is provided. A plug for temporarily preventing circulation of a fluid in a well includes or composed of a resin molded article, the resin molded article being formed from a polyglycolic acid resin composition containing a polyglycolic acid and a cyclic carbodiimide compound and having a carbodiimide group concentration of 15 eq/t or greater.