Degradable abrasive for erosive jet cutting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10975626-B2
Application number	US-201616067679-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2016
Priority date	Mar 24, 2016
Publication date	Apr 13, 2021
Grant date	Apr 13, 2021

Abstract

An erosive jet can propel degradable, abrasive grit conveyed in a carrier fluid to erode a downhole structure, such as a tubular (e.g., cutting through a tubular) or formation (e.g., perforation actions). The abrasive grit can be selected to degrade or dissolve in the wellbore fluid (e.g., in carrier fluid pumped into the wellbore or in fluid originating from the wellbore). The abrasive grit can provide increased cutting or erosion efficiency in the erosive jet during the cutting operation, then may degrade (e.g., dissolve) in the wellbore fluid to avoid certain complications, such as clogging or residue build-up in the wellbore formation or on downhole equipment. A degradation accelerator can be introduced (e.g., in carrier fluid) to accelerate degradation of the abrasive grit in the wellbore fluid. Degradation accelerators can be temperature-activated, pH-activated, or otherwise time-delayed so the abrasive grit remains sufficiently intact to perform the desired erosion operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
receiving, by a controller, sensor data from a sensor, the sensor data indicating a value of a downhole parameter;
automatically adjusting, by the controller, a composition of an erosion fluid based on the value of the downhole parameter measured by the sensor;
supplying the erosion fluid to a downhole tool having a nozzle, the erosion fluid having an abrasive grit carried in a carrier fluid, the abrasive grit having a metal component and being degradable within wellbore fluid;
outputting the erosion fluid through the nozzle at a pressure suitable for eroding a target material; and
exposing the erosion fluid to the wellbore fluid to allow the erosion fluid to degrade within the wellbore fluid.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically adjusting the composition of the erosion fluid includes mixing an additional carrier fluid component into the erosion fluid, wherein the additional carrier fluid component is selected to alter a susceptibility of the abrasive grit to degrade within the wellbore fluid.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically adjusting the composition of the erosion fluid involves mixing an additional grit component into the erosion fluid, wherein the additional grit component is selected to alter a susceptibility of the abrasive grit to degrade within the wellbore fluid.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically adjusting the composition of the erosion fluid involves adjusting a susceptibility of the abrasive grit to degrade within the wellbore fluid based on the value of the downhole parameter.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the erosion fluid includes a temperature-activated component for altering a susceptibility of the abrasive grit to degrade in the wellbore fluid upon activation of the temperature-activated component in a downhole environment.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising contacting the temperature-activated component with the wellbore fluid in the downhole environment to activate the temperature-activated component.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising increasing a specific gravity of the abrasive grit by introducing an additional component to the abrasive grit, wherein a specific gravity of the additional component is higher than a specific gravity of the metal component.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising increasing an erosive coefficient of the abrasive grit by introducing an additional component to the abrasive grit, wherein a hardness of the additional component is higher than a hardness of the metal component.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid is selected to resist degradation of the abrasive grit.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
outputting the erosion fluid in a wellbore; and
subsequent to outputting the erosion fluid in the wellbore, supplying a degradation accelerator into the wellbore, the degradation accelerator being separate from the erosion fluid and being configured to assist in degrading the abrasive grit.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wellbore fluid is separate from the erosion fluid, and wherein the wellbore fluid is a production fluid introduced into a wellbore separately from the erosion fluid being introduced into the wellbore.

12. A system for generating an erosion fluid that includes an abrasive grit carried in a carrier fluid, the system comprising:
an abrasive grit supply including the abrasive grit that is degradable in a well fluid;
a carrier fluid supply including the carrier fluid for conveying the abrasive grit; and
a controller coupled to the abrasive grit supply and the carrier fluid supply, the controller being configured to automatically adjust a composition of the erosion fluid based on a measured value of a downhole parameter received from a sensor, wherein the controller is configured to automatically adjust the composition of the erosion fluid by modifying an amount of the abrasive grit or the carrier fluid included in the erosion fluid.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a degradation accelerator source coupled to the controller, the degradation accelerator source including a degradation accelerator that is mixable with the abrasive grit to induce degradation of the abrasive grit in a downhole environment.

14. The erosion fluid system of claim 13 , wherein the degradation accelerator includes a temperature-activated component that is activatable by the downhole environment to induce degradation of the abrasive grit.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the abrasive grit further includes an additional component having a specific gravity that is higher than a specific gravity of a metal component in the abrasive grit.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the abrasive grit further includes an additional component having a hardness that is higher than a hardness of a metal component in the abrasive grit.

17. A downhole erosion jet system comprising:
an erosion fluid source for supplying an erosion fluid having an abrasive grit carried in a carrier fluid, the abrasive grit having a metal component and being degradable within a wellbore fluid;
a pump coupled to the erosion fluid source for pressurizing the erosion fluid;
a nozzle coupled to the pump to receive the pressurized erosion fluid and output the pressurized erosion fluid as an erosion jet suitable for exposing the erosion fluid to the wellbore fluid and allowing the abrasive grit to degrade within the wellbore fluid;
a sensor configured to measure a downhole parameter and transmit sensor data indicating a value of the downhole parameter; and
a controller coupled to the sensor and the erosion fluid source, the controller being configured to receive the sensor data and automatically adjust a composition of the erosion fluid based on the measured value of the downhole parameter.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a degradation accelerator source for supplying a degradation accelerator, wherein the degradation accelerator induces degradation of the abrasive grit in a downhole environment.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the erosion fluid source includes one or more carrier fluid pumps for pressurizing one or more carrier fluid components and a mixing chamber for combining the one or more carrier fluid components with one or more abrasive grit components.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the carrier fluid is selected to resist degradation of the abrasive grit.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Fripp Michael Linley
• Lanclos Brady
• Walton Zach
• Gano John Charles

Classifications

• E21B2200/08

  Down-hole devices using materials which decompose under well-bore conditions · CPC title

• B24C1/003

  using material which dissolves or changes phase after the treatment, e.g. ice, CO2 · CPC title

• B24C11/00

  Selection of abrasive materials {or additives} for abrasive blasts (polishing compositions C09G) · CPC title

• B24C11/005

  of additives, e.g. anti-corrosive or disinfecting agents in solid, liquid or gaseous form · CPC title

• B24C1/045

  for cutting (energy dissipating devices therefor B26F3/008) · CPC title