Self-assembling packer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9850733-B2
Application number	US-201314409351-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2013
Priority date	Dec 19, 2013
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

Certain aspects are directed to self-assembling packers that seal an annulus in a downhole wellbore. In one aspect, the packer is formed from a magnetorheological fluid, which may be a carrier fluid formed from a polymer precursor and magnetically responsive particles. The fluid is allowed to be shaped by a magnetic field provided by one or more magnets exerting a radially extending magnetic field from a tubing section used to place the packer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A self-assembling packer for use downhole in a wellbore, comprising:
a tubing section containing a carrier fluid comprising a polymer precursor and magnetically responsive particles;
one or more magnets positioned on or within the tubing section, the one or more magnets bordering a space and creating a radially extending magnetic field;
a component to cause deployment of the carrier fluid into the space to be filled;
wherein a magnetic field from the one or more magnets is operable for directing the carrier fluid to fill the space,
wherein the carrier fluid is delivered through a conduit and further comprising a shunt between the conduit and at least one of the one or more magnets.

2. The self-assembling packer of claim 1 , further comprising a component on the tubing section to contain the carrier fluid until deployment.

3. The self-assembling packer of claim 2 , wherein the component on the tubing section to contain the carrier fluid until deployment comprises a rupture disc.

4. The self-assembling packer of claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid creates a self-assembling packer upon cure of the polymer precursor.

5. The self-assembling packer of claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid is a sealant.

6. The self-assembling packer of claim 1 , wherein the polymer precursor of the carrier fluid comprises at least one of a plastic, adhesive, thermoplastic, thermosetting resin, elastomeric material, polymer, epoxy, silicone, sealant, gel, glue, acid, thixotropic fluid, dilatant fluid, or any combination thereof.

7. The self-assembling packer of claim 1 , wherein the magnetically responsive particles comprise nanoparticles.

8. The self-assembling packer of claim 1 , wherein the magnetically responsive particles comprise at least one of iron, nickel, cobalt, diamagnetic particles, paramagnetic particles, or any combination thereof.

9. The self-assembling packer of claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid comprises a silicone and wherein the magnetically responsive particles comprise iron nanoparticles.

10. The self-assembling packer of claim 1 , wherein the one or more magnets comprise ring magnets.

11. The self-assembling packer of claim 1 , wherein the one or more magnets comprise two series of bar magnets that are secured to or within the tubing section, one series of bar magnets adjacent to a first side of the component on the tubing section to contain the carrier fluid until deployment, and a second series of bar magnets adjacent to a second side of the component on the tubing section to contain the carrier fluid until deployment.

12. The packer of claim 3 , wherein the rupture disc comprises rupture disc comprises at least one of foil, metal, a dissolvable plug, a temperature sensitive plug, a shape memory plug, a plug that shrinks or enlarges at a certain environmental condition, or a combination thereof.

13. The packer of claim 1 , wherein the component to cause deployment comprises a pressure delivering component.

14. The packer of claim 13 , wherein the pressure delivering component comprises a piston.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Fripp Michael Linley
• Murphree Zachary Ryan
• Frosell Thomas Jules

Classifications

• E21B33/1208 Primary

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

• E21B33/10 Primary

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

• E21B33/12 Primary

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