# US 10,370,930 B2 · Downhole tools comprising aqueous-degradable elastomer sealing elements with carbodiimide > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,370,930 B2 - Document ID: US10370930B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/781,925 - Filed: 2015-06-15 - Published: 2016-08-04 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-07 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp; Zachary William Walton; Charles Timothy Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370930B2 ## CPC - E21B 33/1208: {characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means (E21B33/1277 takes precedence)} - C08K 5/092: Polycarboxylic acids - E21B 29/02: by explosives or by thermal or chemical means {(freeing stuck objects by explosives E21B31/002)} - E21B 33/12: Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16) - E21B 33/128: with a member expanded radially by axial pressure (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence) - E21B 33/129: with mechanical slips for hooking into the casing (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence) - E21B 43/26: by forming crevices or fractures - E21B 2200/08: Down-hole devices using materials which decompose under well-bore conditions - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09) ## Abstract Downhole tools comprising a body, wherein at least a portion of the body is degradable when exposed to a wellbore environment; and at least one aqueous-degradable sealing element comprising an aqueous-degradable elastomer comprising in the range of 0.05 to 1 parts by weight per hundred parts of the elastomer (phr) carbodiimide, wherein at least a portion of the aqueous-degradable sealing element hydrolytically degrades when exposed to an aqueous fluid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A downhole tool comprising: a body, wherein at least a portion of the body is degradable when exposed to a wellbore environment; and at least one aqueous-degradable sealing element comprising an aqueous-degradable elastomer comprising in the range of 0.05 to 1 parts by weight per hundred parts of the elastomer (phr) of carbodiimide, wherein at least a portion of the aqueous-degradable sealing element hydrolytically degrades when exposed to an aqueous fluid, wherein the aqueous-degradable elastomer comprises a polyurethane and a second degradable elastomer, and wherein the aqueous-degradable sealing element is at least partially encapsulated in the second degradable elastomer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the aqueous-degradable elastomer comprises in the range of 0.05 to 0.5 phr of carbodiimide. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the second degradable elastomer comprises ester linkages. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the second degradable elastomer is selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane rubber, a polyester-based polyurethane rubber, a polyether-based polyurethane rubber, a polylactic acid polymer, a polybutylene succinate polymer, a polyhydroxy alkanoic acid polymer, a starch-based resin, a polyethylene terephthalate polymer, a polyester thermoplastic, a polybutylene terephthalate polymer, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the aqueous-degradable elastomer is a polyurethane rubber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the aqueous-degradable elastomer further comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of an organophilic clay, silica, a metal oxide, carbon black, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the downhole tool is a wellbore zonal isolation device selected from the group consisting of a frac plug, a bridge plug, a packer, a wiper plug, a cement plug, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the downhole tool is a frac plug. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the portion of the body that is degradable comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a polyepichlorohydrin, a terpolymer of epichlorohydrin/ethylene oxide/allyl glycidyl ether, a magnesium metal alloy, an aluminum metal alloy, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the second degradable elastomer degrades faster than the polyurethane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein at least about 50% of an outer surface of the at least one aqueous-degradable sealing element is encapsulated in the second degradable elastomer. ### Claim 12 A method comprising: installing a downhole tool in a wellbore, the downhole tool comprising a body and at least one aqueous-degradable sealing element comprising an aqueous-degradable elastomer comprising in the range of 0.05 to 1 parts by weight per hundred parts of the elastomer (phr) of carbodiimide, wherein at least a portion of the body is degradable when exposed to a wellbore environment; fluidly sealing two sections of the wellbore with the aqueous-degradable sealing element of the downhole tool, the aqueous-degradable sealing element capable of holding a differential pressure; performing a downhole operation; and hydrolytically degrading at least a portion of the aqueous-degradable sealing element by exposure to an aqueous fluid in the wellbore environment, such that the aqueous-degradable sealing element no longer is capable of holding the differential pressure, wherein the aqueous-degradable elastomer comprises polyurethane and a second degradable elastomer, and wherein at least about 50% of an outer surface of the at least one aqueous-degradable sealing element is encapsulated in the second degradable elastomer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising degrading at least a portion of the portion of the body that is degradable. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the aqueous-degradable elastomer comprises in the range of 0.05 to 0.5 phr of carbodiimide. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the second degradable elastomer comprises ester linkages. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the second degradable elastomer is selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane rubber, a polyester-based polyurethane rubber, a polyether-based polyurethane rubber, a polylactic acid polymer, a polybutylene succinate polymer, a polyhydroxy alkanoic acid polymer, a starch-based resin, a polyethylene terephthalate polymer, a polyester thermoplastic, a polybutylene terephthalate polymer, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the aqueous-degradable elastomer is a polyurethane rubber. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the downhole tool is a wellbore zonal isolation device selected from the group consisting of a frac plug, a bridge plug, a packer, a wiper plug, a cement plug, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the downhole tool is a frac plug. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the portion of the body that is degradable comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a polyepichlorohydrin, a terpolymer of epichlorohydrin/ethylene oxide/allyl glycidyl ether, a magnesium metal alloy, an aluminum metal alloy, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 21 A system comprising: a wellbore; and a downhole tool capable of being disposed in the wellbore to fluidly seal two sections thereof, the downhole tool comprising: a body, wherein at least a portion of the body is degradable when exposed to a wellbore environment; and at least one aqueous-degradable sealing element comprising an aqueous-degradable elastomer comprising in the range of 0.05 to 1 parts by weight per hundred parts of the elastomer (phr) of carbodiimide, wherein at least a portion of the aqueous-degradable sealing element hydrolytically degrades when exposed to an aqueous fluid, wherein the aqueous-degradable elastomer comprises polyurethane and a second degradable elastomer, and wherein the at least one aqueous-degradable sealing element is at least partially encapsulated in the second degradable elastomer. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the aqueous-degradable elastomer comprises in the range of 0.05 to 0.5 phr of carbodiimide. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the second degradable elastomer comprises ester linkages. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the second degradable elastomer is selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane rubber, a polyester-based polyurethane rubber, a polyether-based polyurethane rubber, a polylactic acid polymer, a polybutylene succinate polymer, a polyhydroxy alkanoic acid polymer, a starch-based resin, a polyethylene terephthalate polymer, a polyester thermoplastic, a polybutylene terephthalate polymer, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the aqueous-degradable elastomer is a polyurethane rubber. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the downhole tool is a wellbore zonal isolation device selected from the group consisting of a frac plug, a bridge plug, a packer, a wiper plug, a cement plug, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the downhole tool is a frac plug. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the portion of the body that is degradable comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a polyepichlorohydrin, a terpolymer of epichlorohydrin/ethylene oxide/allyl glycidyl ether, a magnesium metal alloy, an aluminum metal alloy, and any combination thereof.