Apparatus and methods for closing flow paths in wellbores

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10337281-B2
Application number	US-201715838995-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2017
Priority date	Nov 25, 2014
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

A method of closing a fluid flow path in a wellbore is disclosed that in one non-limiting embodiment includes: supplying a flexible structure having a selected shape sufficient to seat on an opening of the fluid flow path, the flexible structure including pores of selected dimensions; determining seating of the flexible structure on the opening of the fluid flow path from a sensor measurement; and supplying a slurry containing a sealant to the flexible structure seated on the opening of the fluid flow path to plug the pores with the sealant to close the fluid flow path.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of closing a fluid flow path in a wellbore, the method comprising:
supplying a flexible structure having a selected shape sufficient to seat on an opening of the fluid flow path, the flexible structure including pores of selected dimensions; and
supplying a slurry including a sealant including solid particles and an additive into the wellbore, wherein the sealant closes the pores of the flexible structure seated on the opening of the fluid flow path to close the fluid flow path and the additive causes the solid particles to adhere to the pores in the flexible structure.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a parameter of interest relating to sealing of the fluid flow path, and closing the pores of the flexible structure in response to the determined parameter of interest.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the parameter of interest is selected from a group consisting of: a pressure measurement taken in the wellbore; a pressure measurement taken at a surface location; a flow rate measurement taken in the wellbore; and a flow rate measurement taken at the surface location.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flexible structure comprises a foam material.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sealant includes solid particles that plug the pores in the flexible structure.

6. A wellbore system comprising:
a member in the wellbore containing a flow path;
a flexible structure having pores therein placed on an opening of the flow path; and
a slurry conveyed to the flexible structure after placement of the flexible structure on the opening, the slurry including a sealant to close the pores in the flexible structure to close the flow path and an additive that causes the sealant to adhere to the pores in the flexible structure.

7. The wellbore system of claim 6 , wherein the flexible structure comprises a foam material.

8. The wellbore system of claim 6 , wherein the sealant includes solid particles that plug the pores in the flexible structure.

9. The wellbore system of claim 8 , wherein the additive causes the solid particles to adhere to the pores in the flexible structure.

Assignees

• Omalley Edward
• Wright Beau R
• Flores Juan C
• Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc

Inventors

• O'Malley Edward
• Wright Beau R
• Flores Juan C

Classifications

• E21B33/13 Primary

  Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like · CPC title