Degradable material for downhole applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016145485-A1
Application number	US-201414551976-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 24, 2014
Priority date	Nov 24, 2014
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In one aspect, degradable material is disclosed, including: a polyurethane component with a first degradation rate in a downhole environment; and a corrosive additive component with a second degradation rate that is higher than a first degradation rate in the downhole environment. In another aspect, a method of temporarily sealing a downhole zone is disclosed, including: providing a polyurethane component with a first degradation rate in a downhole environment; providing a corrosive additive component with a second degradation rate that is higher than a first degradation rate in the downhole environment; mixing the polyurethane component and the corrosive additive component to form a degradable material; sealing the downhole zone with the degradable material; exposing the degradable material to the downhole environment; and degrading the degradable material.

First claim

1 . A degradable material, comprising:
a polyurethane component with a first degradation rate in a downhole environment; and a corrosive additive component with a second degradation rate that is higher than a first degradation rate in the downhole environment.

2 . The material of claim 1 , wherein the downhole environment has a temperature greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit and less than 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

3 . The material of claim 1 , wherein the downhole environment includes a salt water content.

4 . The material of claim 1 , wherein the polyurethane component and the corrosive additive component are homogenously mixed.

5 . The material of claim 1 , wherein the corrosive additive component is disposed in a mesh structure within the polyurethane component.

6 . The material of claim 1 , wherein the polyurethane component has a sealing characteristic.

7 . The material of claim 1 , wherein the polyurethane component includes: TDI, MDI, PPDI, polyether, polyesther, polycaprolactone, and polycarbonate.

8 . The material of claim 1 , wherein the corrosive additive component includes a controlled electrolytic metallic, adipic acid, and citric acid.

9 . A method of temporarily sealing a downhole zone, comprising:
providing a polyurethane component with a first degradation rate in a downhole environment; providing a corrosive additive component with a second degradation rate that is higher than a first degradation rate in the downhole environment; mixing the polyurethane component and the corrosive additive component to form a degradable material; sealing the downhole zone with the degradable material; exposing the degradable material to the downhole environment; and degrading the degradable material.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the downhole environment has a temperature of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit and no greater than 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the downhole environment includes a salt water content.

12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising mixing the polyurethane component and the corrosive additive component homogenously.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the corrosive additive component is disposed in a mesh structure within the polyurethane component.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the polyurethane component has a sealing characteristic.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the polyurethane component includes: TDI, MDI, PPDI, polyether, polyesther, polycaprolactone, and polycarbonate.

16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the corrosive additive component includes a controlled electrolytic metallic, adipic acid, and citric acid.

17 . A downhole system, comprising:
a casing string disposed in a wellbore; and a casing seal configured to seal against the casing string, including: a polyurethane component with a first degradation rate in a downhole environment; and a corrosive additive component with a second degradation rate that is higher than a first degradation rate in the downhole environment.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the downhole environment has a temperature of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit and no greater than 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the polyurethane component and the corrosive additive component are homogenously mixed.

20 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the corrosive additive component is disposed in a mesh structure within the polyurethane component.

Assignees

• Doane James
• Furlan Wayne
• Duan Ping
• Roy Sayantan
• Sadana Anil
• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Doane James
• Furlan Wayne
• Duan Ping
• Roy Sayantan
• Sadana Anil

Classifications

• E21B33/134

  Bridging plugs · CPC title

• C09K8/5086 Primary

  obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds · CPC title

• E21B33/1208

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

• C09K8/524

  organic depositions, e.g. paraffins or asphaltenes · CPC title

• E21B33/12

  Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16) · CPC title