Restriction plug element and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016356137-A1
Application number	US-201615090953-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 5, 2016
Priority date	Aug 13, 2014
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A restriction plug element and method for positioning plugs to isolate fracture zones in a horizontal, vertical, or deviated wellbore is disclosed. The restriction plug element includes a partial hollow passage with an interior end. The partial passage enables the plug element to seat in a restriction sleeve member during treatment and subsequently degrade to form a complete hollow passage. The complete flow channel dissolves or degrades not only the outside but also the inside of the wall of the restriction plug element. Initially the flow is restricted by the closed end in the partial hollow passage and over time the flow channel opens up by degradation and allows fluid to pass through in either direction. During back flow in the well new fluid is circulated into the well and the restriction plug element continues to degrade.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A restriction plug element for use in a wellbore casing, said restriction plug element comprising a degradable material; said restriction plug element configured with a partial hollow passage extending from at least one interior end; said interior end configured to block fluid communication from upstream to downstream during fluid treatment; and said partial hollow passage configured to degrade and form a complete hollow passage to enable said fluid communication subsequent to said fluid treatment.

2 . The restriction plug element of claim 1 wherein said interior end is further configured with a terminus; said terminus configured to orient such that said restriction plug element seats in a restriction sleeve member and restricts substantial fluid bypass during said fluid treatment.

3 . The restriction plug element of claim 1 wherein said partial hollow passage substantially increases a surface area of contact of said restriction plug element with fluids expected in said wellbore casing.

4 . The restriction plug element of claim 1 wherein said partial hollow passage is capped at an open end with a degradable material; said open end and said interior end forming two ends of said partial hollow passage.

5 . The restriction plug element of claim 1 wherein said partial hollow passage extends from said interior end to another interior end.

6 . The restriction plug element of claim 1 wherein said partial hollow passage extends to a surface of said restriction plug element.

7 . The restriction plug element of claim 1 further comprises at least one of said partial hollow passages extending to said surface of said restriction plug element on both ends of a flow channel.

8 . The restriction plug element of claim 1 wherein said partial hollow passage passes through a center of said restriction plug element.

9 . The restriction plug element of claim 1 wherein at least one said partial hollow passage intersects with at least one other partial hollow passage.

10 . The restriction plug element of claim 1 wherein at least one said partial hollow passage does not intersect with any other said partial hollow passage.

11 . The restriction plug element of claim 1 wherein at least one said partial hollow passage comprises a plurality of interior ends; said plurality of interior ends are configured to be spread out.

12 . The restriction plug element of claim 1 whereby said complete hollow passage enables said restriction plug element to deform such that said restriction plug element passes through a restriction sleeve member in said wellbore casing.

13 . The restriction plug element of claim 1 wherein at least one of said partial hollow passage is aligned to another partial hollow passage.

14 . The restriction plug element of claim 1 wherein a shape of said restriction plug element is selected from a group comprising: circular, cylinder, sphere, oval or elongated.

15 . The restriction plug element of claim 1 wherein a shape of cross section of said hollow passage is selected from a group comprising: circle, square, oval or elongated.

16 . A restriction plug element degradation method, said method operating in conjunction with a restriction plug element (RPE) for use in a wellbore casing, said restriction plug element comprising a degradable material; said restriction plug element configured with at least one partial hollow passage that extends from an interior end;
wherein said method comprises the steps of: (1) deploying said restriction plug element into said wellbore casing and blocking fluid communication; (2) orienting said restriction plug element with said interior end to seat in a restriction sleeve member and isolating a stage; (3) treating said isolating stage with fracturing fluids; (4) degrading from said interior end in said partial hollow passage through contact with wellbore fluids; (5) creating a complete hollow passage from said partial hollow passage; and (6) unblocking said fluid communication.

17 . The restriction plug element degradation method of claim 16 wherein said orienting step (2) further seals said restriction plug element to restrict substantial fluid bypass in said treating step (3).

18 . The restriction plug element degradation method of claim 16 wherein said orienting step (2) orients said restriction plug element such that said hollow passage is unblocked by said restriction sleeve member.

19 . The restriction plug element degradation method of claim 16 wherein said orienting step (2) seats said restriction plug element but not orientated.

20 . The restriction plug element degradation method of claim 16 wherein said degrading step (4) occurs immediately after said treating step (3).

21 . The restriction plug element degradation method of claim 16 wherein said creating step (5) accelerates rate of degradation of said restriction plug element.

22 . The restriction plug element degradation method of claim 16 further comprises the step of degrading said restriction plug element to deform.

23 . The restriction plug element degradation method of claim 16 wherein a ratio of diameter of said restriction plug element to an inner diameter of said restriction sleeve member ranges from 0.5 to 0.99.

Assignees

• Geodynamics Inc

Inventors

• Hardesty John T
• Wroblicky Michael D

Classifications

• E21B34/063 Primary

  Valve or closure with destructible element, e.g. frangible disc (E21B34/103 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B43/14

  Obtaining from a multiple-zone well · CPC title

• E21B29/02

  by explosives or by thermal or chemical means {(freeing stuck objects by explosives E21B31/002)} · CPC title

• E21B33/12

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

• E21B43/116

  Gun or shaped-charge perforators · CPC title