Mixer for producing and solidifying an alloy in a subterranean reservoir
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorManuel Marya
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A downhole tool includes a housing configured to be placed into a subterranean environment and a mixer disposed in the housing. The mixer includes a first inlet configured to receive a fusible metal or alloy component and a second inlet configured to receive a solid metal or semi-metal component. Additionally, the mixer includes a mixing chamber configured to mix the fusible metal or alloy component and the solid metal or semi-metal component to form a liquid or partially liquid alloy. Further, the mixer includes an outlet configured to discharge the liquid or partially liquid alloy into the subterranean environment. The liquid or partially liquid alloy is configured to harden into a solid alloy over time.
Claims19
A downhole tool comprising:
- a housing configured to be placed into a subterranean environment;
- and
- a mixer disposed in the housing, wherein the mixer comprises:
- a first inlet configured to receive a fusible metal or alloy component;
- a second inlet configured to receive a solid metal or semi-metal component;
- a mixing chamber configured to mix the fusible metal or alloy component and the solid metal or semi-metal component to form a liquid or partially liquid alloy;
- a shaft having an impeller configured to mix the fusible metal or alloy component and the solid metal or semi-metal component in the mixing chamber;
- and
- an outlet configured to discharge the liquid or partially liquid alloy into the subterranean environment, wherein the liquid or partially liquid alloy is configured to harden into a solid alloy over time.
A method comprising:
- placing a downhole tool into a subterranean environment;
- producing a liquid or partially liquid alloy via a mixer of the downhole tool by:
- contacting a liquid fusible metal or alloy component with a solid metal or semi-metal component within the mixer;
- mixing the liquid fusible metal or alloy component and the solid metal or semi-metal component to form the liquid or partially liquid alloy, wherein the liquid fusible metal or alloy component and the solid metal or semi-metal component react via metallurgical reactions that produce the liquid or partially liquid alloy;
- and
- discharging the liquid or partially liquid alloy into the subterranean environment, wherein the liquid or partially liquid alloy is configured to harden into a solid alloy over time.
A downhole tool comprising:
- a housing configured to be placed into a subterranean environment;
- and
- a mixer disposed in the housing, wherein the mixer comprises:
- a first inlet configured to receive a fusible metal or alloy component, wherein the fusible metal or alloy component comprises an onset of melting temperature that is within a threshold range of a temperature of the subterranean environment;
- a second inlet configured to receive a solid metal or semi-metal component, wherein the solid metal or semi-metal component comprises a particle size that is within a particle size threshold;
- a mixing chamber configured to mix the fusible metal or alloy component and the solid metal or semi-metal component to form a liquid or partially liquid alloy, wherein the liquid or partially liquid alloy is a product of intermetallic reactions between a mixture of the fusible metal or alloy component and the solid metal or semi-metal component, and wherein a specific gravity of the fusible metal or alloy component and the solid metal or semi-metal component are within 20% from one another;
- and
- an outlet configured to discharge the liquid or partially liquid alloy into the subterranean environment, wherein the liquid or partially liquid alloy is configured to harden into a solid alloy over time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.