Back to results
US 10,502,017 B2Granted
Smart cellular structures for composite packer and mill-free bridgeplug seals having enhanced pressure rating
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorManuel P. Marya
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A smart device includes a scaffold that responds to an applied stimulation and an encapsulating structure that encapsulates the scaffold. The scaffold is formed from at least one smart material that responds to the applied stimulation. The encapsulating structure is formed from a material that yields to the response of the scaffold.
Claims20
A smart device comprising:
- a scaffold configured to respond to an applied stimulation;
- and
- an encapsulating structure that encapsulates the scaffold and is configured to yield to the response of the scaffold to form a well fluid seal,
- wherein the encapsulating structure surrounds an entirety of the scaffold,
- wherein the encapsulating structure fills any unoccupied space within the scaffold,
- wherein the scaffold comprises a degradable alloy, primarily composed of aluminum, that degrades the well fluid seal after a predetermined amount of time when exposed to well fluid,
- wherein the stimulation applied to the scaffold is one selected from the group consisting of:
- electric charge;
- electric current;
- electric flux;
- magnetic flux;
- temperature;
- chemical exposure;
- light exposure;
- and strain.
12 more elements
A method of operating a smart device, the method comprising:
- applying a stimulation to a scaffold of the smart device,
- wherein the stimulation causes a scaffold response,
- wherein the stimulation applied to the scaffold is one selected from the group consisting of:
- electric charge;
- electric current;
- electric flux;
- magnetic flux;
- temperature;
- chemical exposure;
- light exposure;
- and strain,
- wherein the smart device comprises an encapsulating structure that encapsulates the scaffold,
- wherein the encapsulating structure surrounds an entirety of the scaffold,
- wherein the encapsulating structure fills any unoccupied space within the scaffold, and
- wherein the scaffold of the smart device comprises a degradable alloy, primarily composed of aluminum, that degrades responsive to exposure to well fluid;
- yielding the encapsulating structure to the response of the scaffold to form a well fluid seal;
- and
- degrading the well fluid seal after a predetermined amount of time by exposing the degradable alloy of the scaffold of the smart device to well fluid.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.