Bridge plug apparatuses containing a magnetorheological fluid and methods for use thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11242725-B2
Application number	US-201415308675-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2014
Priority date	Sep 8, 2014
Publication date	Feb 8, 2022
Grant date	Feb 8, 2022

Abstract

Magnetorheological fluids may regulate fluid flow downhole by forming a fluid seal using a bridge plug apparatus. Bridge plug apparatuses employing a magnetorheological fluid may be deployed in a wellbore in a retrievable configuration or in a substantially permanent configuration. Retrievable bridge plug apparatuses may comprise spaced apart magnets having a gap defined therebetween, and a reservoir of magnetorheological fluid housed within the gap. The magnets move laterally with respect to one another to expand or contract the gap and to displace the reservoir of magnetorheological fluid radially with respect to the magnets. Other bridge plug apparatuses may comprise a flow path extending between a reservoir of magnetorheological fluid and the exterior of a housing, where at least a portion of the flow path is located within a gap defined between spaced apart magnets.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bridge plug apparatus comprising:
spaced apart magnets having a gap defined therebetween;
a reservoir of magnetorheological fluid housed within the gap; wherein the magnets move laterally with respect to one another to expand or contract the gap and to displace the reservoir of magnetorheological fluid radially with respect to the magnets; wherein the magnets are laterally movable toward one another at least to a separation distance where the magnetorheological fluid has an increased viscosity outside the gap compared to its viscosity inside the gap; wherein the reservoir of magnetorheological fluid is housed in a deformable container within the gap; wherein the deformable container is configured to degrade away after viscosification of the magnetorheological fluid in the gap; wherein the magnetorheological fluid further comprises a cross-linkable polymer precursor configured to cure and set in the gap such that the bridge plug remains permanently deployed in a wellbore; wherein the cross-linkable polymer precursor is selected from the group consisting of plastics, adhesives, thermoplastic materials, thermosetting resins, elastomeric materials, and any combination thereof; and
a support structure comprising petal plates which unfurl to pivot radially outward away from the gap to accommodate outward displacement of the magnetorheological fluid and further restricts axial movement of the magnetorheological fluid as it is displaced from the gap; wherein at least a portion of the support structure is affixed directly to the magnets such that the support structure contacts the magnets.

2. The bridge plug apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the magnets have opposite poles facing each other.

3. The bridge plug apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein the support structure restrict axial movement of the deformable container as it is displaced from the gap.

4. The bridge plug apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the support structure pivots as the deformable container expands or contracts upon lateral movement of the magnets with respect to one another.

5. The bridge plug apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the magnets are permanent magnets.

6. The bridge plug apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the magnetorheological fluid comprises a magnetorheological adhesive.

7. The bridge plug apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein the support structure pivots upon lateral movement of the magnets with respect to one another.

8. A method comprising:
introducing a bridge plug apparatus into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the bridge plug apparatus comprising:
a housing,
spaced apart magnets having a gap defined therebetween, the magnets disposed circumferentially about the housing, the magnets providing a radially projecting magnetic field;
a support structure comprising petal plates which unfurl to pivot radially outward away from the gap to accommodate outward displacement of the magnetorheological fluid and further restricts axial movement of the magnetorheological fluid as it is displaced from the gap; wherein at least a portion of the support structure is affixed directly to the magnets such that the support structure contacts the magnets;

and
wherein the wellbore contains a tubing string and the bridge plug apparatus is introduced through the tubing string to a location in the wellbore downstream of the tubing string;
disposing a magnetorheological fluid into the radially projecting magnetic field to increase the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid from a first viscosity state to a second viscosity state; wherein the magnetorheological fluid is disposed in the gap between the magnets;
chemically reacting a component of the magnetorheological fluid to further increase the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid; wherein the magnetorheological fluid further comprises a cross-linkable polymer precursor configured to cure; wherein the cross-linkable polymer precursor is selected from the group consisting of plastics, adhesives, thermoplastic materials, thermosetting resins, elastomeric materials, and any combination thereof; and
curing the cross-linkable polymer precursor in the gap such that the bridge plug remains permanently deployed in the wellbore.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the magnetorheological fluid comprises a magnetorheological adhesive.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the magnetorheological fluid is carried in the housing and is disposed axially into the wellbore.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the magnetorheological fluid is pumped into the wellbore.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
disposing cement on an upper surface of the magnetorheological fluid after chemically reacting the component of the magnetorheological fluid to further increase its viscosity.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Fripp Michael Linley
• Clemens Jack Gammill
• Murphree Zachary Ryan

Classifications

• E21B33/134

  Bridging plugs · CPC title

• E21B23/06

  for setting packers · CPC title

• E21B33/1208 Primary

  characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means (E21B33/1277 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B23/00

  Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells (setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10) · CPC title

• E21B33/10

  in the borehole {(sealing the junction between main bore and laterals E21B41/0042)} · CPC title