# US 10,870,146 B2 · Self-actuating device for centralizing an object

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- Number: US 10,870,146 B2
- Document ID: US10870146B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/129,085
- Filed: 2018-09-12
- Published: 2019-02-07
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2014-02-21
- Assignees: Terves, LLC
- Applicants: Terves Inc.
- Inventors: Andrew J. Sherman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870146B2

## CPC

- B22D 23/06: Melting-down metal, e.g. metal particles, in the mould
- B22D 19/14: the objects being filamentary or particulate in form (making alloys containing fibres or filaments by contacting the fibres or filaments with molten metal C22C47/08)
- B22D 21/007: {with low melting point, e.g. Al 659 degrees C, Mg 650 degrees C}
- B22D 21/04: Casting aluminium or magnesium {(no material; see B22D21/007)}
- B22D 25/06: by its physical properties (B22D27/00 takes precedence)
- B22D 27/00: Treating the metal in the mould while it is molten or ductile (B22D7/12, B22D11/10, B22D43/00 take precedence); {Pressure or vacuum casting (B22D17/00 takes precedence)}
- B22D 27/02: Use of electric or magnetic effects {(for continuous casting B22D11/015, B22D11/11)}
- B22D 27/08: Shaking, vibrating, or turning of moulds
- B22D 27/11: making use of mechanical pressing devices
- B22F 1/062: Fibrous particles
- C22C 1/03: using master alloys
- C22C 23/00: Alloys based on magnesium
- C22C 23/02: with aluminium as the next major constituent
- C22C 47/08: by contacting the fibres or filaments with molten metal, e.g. by infiltrating the fibres or filaments placed in a mould {(C22C47/16 takes precedence)}
- C22C 49/04: Light metals
- C22C 49/14: characterised by the fibres or filaments
- E21B 17/1078: {Stabilisers or centralisers for casing, tubing or drill pipes (E21B17/1007 - E21B17/1064 take precedence)}
- E21B 43/267: reinforcing fractures by propping
- B22F 2202/01: Use of vibrations
- B22F 2301/35: Iron
- B22F 2304/05: Submicron size particles
- B22F 2999/00: Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy
- C22C 49/02: characterised by the matrix material
- E21B 2200/08: Down-hole devices using materials which decompose under well-bore conditions
- B22D: CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES (shaping of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29C; metallurgical processing, selection of substances to be added to metal C21, C22)
- B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- C22C: ALLOYS (treatment of alloys C21D, C22F)
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

The invention is directed to the interventionless activation of wellbore devices using dissolving and/or degrading and/or expanding structural materials. Engineered response materials, such as those that dissolve and/or degrade or expand upon exposure to specific environment, can be used to centralize a device in a wellbore.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A centralizing device configured to be placed on, attached to, or combinations thereof an outside surface of a bore member and to centralize the bore member in a wellbore, cavity, or tube, said centralizing device includes a body, an active material that includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of an expandable material and a degradable material, and a first and second well bore wall engagement members positioned in a non-deployed position, said first and second well bore wall engagement members including one or more structures selected from the group consisting of slat, wing, bow, leave, ribbon, extension and rib, said first well bore wall engagement members configured to move from said non-deployed position to a deployed position, said active material configured to cause or to enable said first and second well bore wall engagement members to move from said non-deployed position to said deployed position to thereby cause an outer surface of said first and second well bore wall engagement members to engage the wellbore, cavity, or tube and cause the bore member to be centralized in the wellbore, cavity, or tube, a maximum outer perimeter of said centralizing device is greater in size when said first and second well bore wall engagement members are in said deployed position as compared to when said first and second well bore wall engagement members are in said non-deployed position, at least a portion of said outer surface of said first and second well bore wall engagement members absent said active material, at least a portion of said first and second well bore wall engagement members formed of material that is non-expandable.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said active material includes said expandable material, said expandable material configured to increase in volume when activated, said increase in volume of said expandable material configured to provide a force that causes said one or more well bore wall engagement members to move or deform and thereby move from said non-deployed position to said deployed position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said active material includes said degradable material, said degradable material configured to degrade or dissolve when activated, said degradation or dissolving of said degradable material configured to cause or allow said one or more well bore wall engagement members to move from said non-deployed position to said deployed position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said first well bore wall engagement members is biased in said deployed position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said maximum outer perimeter of said centralizing device is at least 5% greater in size when said first well bore wall engagement members is in said deployed position as compared to when said one or more well bore wall engagement members are in said non-deployed position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said outer surface of said first well bore wall engagement members is absent said active material.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said first well bore wall engagement members is at least partially formed of said active material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said expandable material is configured to expand less than 1 vol. % in said well bore prior to being activated.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said degradable material is configured to degrade less than 1 vol. % in said well bore prior to being activated.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said first well bore wall engagement members is formed of a bendable metal material and said expandable material is connected to at least a portion of said bendable metal material, said expandable material is configured to cause said bendable metal material to bend when said expandable material is activated.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said expandable material is connected to a section of said bendable metal material and said expansion of said expandable material causes said bendable metal material to expand or bow radially outward.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said body of said centralizing device includes first and second body sections, said first well bore wall engagement members and a second well bore wall engagement member are connected to one or both of said first and second body sections and at least partially extending between said first and second body sections, said first and second body sections and said first and second well bore wall engagement members forming a cavity in said centralizing device that extends along a longitudinal length of said centralizing device, said first and second well bore wall engagement member are spaced from one another, said cavity configured to enable said bore member to be positioned in said cavity when said centralizing device is positioned on said bore member.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said first well bore wall engagement members lies flat when said first well bore wall engagement members is in said non-deployed position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said centralizing device includes a retaining member that is at least partially formed of said degradable material, said retaining member configured to maintain said first well bore wall engagement members in said non-deployed position.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said retaining member includes one or more devices selected from the group consisting of a sleeve, locking ring, wire, screw, and/or pin.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said first well bore wall engagement members is biased in said deployed position and a degradation or dissolving of said retaining member causes said retaining member to weaken or to be removed from said body of said centralizing device and thereby resulting in said first well bore wall engagement members to move to said deployed position.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said first well bore wall engagement member engages with or is partially formed of said degradable material, said first well bore wall engagement member is configured to move from said deployed position to a partially or fully non-deployed position when said degradable material partially of fully degrades or dissolves.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said active material is coated with a coating material that is formulated to delay activation of said active material.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 18, wherein said coating material includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyether, polyamine, polyamide, polyacetal, polyvinyl, polyureathane, epoxy, polysiloxane, polycarbosilane, polysilane, and polysulfone.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said expandable material includes reactive particles dispersed in a polymer matrix.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 20, wherein said reactive particles have a concentration of 20-60 vol. % in said polymer matrix, said reactive particles formulated to react with water to form oxides, hydroxides, or carbonates and to expand in volume at least 50 vol. % when reacted with said water.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 20, wherein said reactive particles include one or more materials selected from the group consisting of MgO, CaO, CaC, Mg, Ca, Li, Na, Fe, Al, Si, P, Zn, Ti, Li2O, K2O, Na2O, borates, aluminosilicates, and layered compounds.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 20, wherein said polymer matrix includes one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyurea, polyimide, silanes, carbosilanes, silicone, polyarylate, polyimide, PEEK, PEI, epoxy, PPS, PPSU, and phenolic compounds.

### Claim 24 (depends on 20)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 20, wherein said expandable material includes a catalyst that is formulated to accelerate reaction of said reactive particles.

### Claim 25 (depends on 20)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 20, wherein said expandable material includes strengthening fillers, diluting fillers, or combinations thereof that include one or more materials selected from the group consisting of fumed silica, silica, glass fibers, carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, and other finely divided inorganic material.

### Claim 26 (depends on 20)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 20, wherein said polymer matrix has a preselected creep rate to relax and remove loading on at least one of said well bore wall engagement members over a period of time such that a force that is used to cause said at least one of said well bore wall engagement member to move to said deployed position reduces over time.

### Claim 27 (depends on 1)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said degradable material includes a base metal material and a plurality of particles disbursed in said degradable material, said particles constitute about 0.1-40 wt. % of said degradable material, said particles have a different galvanic potential from said base metal material, said base metal material is a magnesium alloy or an aluminum alloy, said particles including one or more materials selected from the group consisting of iron, copper, titanium, zinc, tin, cadmium, calcium, lead, beryllium, nickel, carbon, iron alloy, copper alloy, titanium alloy, zinc alloy, tin alloy, cadmium alloy, lead alloy, beryllium alloy, and nickel alloy.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 27, wherein said base metal material includes a majority weight percent magnesium.

### Claim 29 (depends on 27)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 27, wherein said particles have a particle size of less than 1 μm.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 29, wherein said particles include one or more materials selected from the group consisting of iron, beryllium, copper, titanium, nickel, and carbon.

### Claim 31

A centralizing device configured to be placed on, attached to, or combinations thereof an outside surface of a bore member and to centralize the bore member in a wellbore, cavity, or tube, said centralizing device includes a body, an active material, and first and second well bore wall engagement members, said first and second well bore wall engagement members positioned in a non-deployed position, said first and second well bore wall engagement members configured to move from said non-deployed position to a deployed position, said active material configured to cause or enable said first and second well bore wall engagement members to move from said non-deployed position to said deployed position, a maximum outer perimeter of said centralizing device is greater in size when said first and second well bore wall engagement members are in said deployed position as compared to when said first and second well bore wall engagement members are in said non-deployed position, said body of said centralizing device includes first and second body sections and said first and second well bore wall engagement members connected between said first and second body sections, said first and second end portions spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal axis of said centralizing device, said first and second well bore wall engagement members spaced apart from one another, said first and second body sections and said first and second well bore wall engagement members forming a cavity in said centralizing device that extends along a longitudinal length of said centralizing device, said cavity is configured to enable said bore member to be positioned in said cavity when said centralizing device is positioned on said bore member, at least a portion of said outer surface of said first and second well bore wall engagement members absent said active material, at least a portion of said first and second well bore wall engagement members formed of material that is non-expandable.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 31, wherein said active material includes reactive particles dispersed in a polymer matrix, said reactive particles have a concentration of 20-60 vol. % in said polymer matrix, said reactive particles formulated to react with water to form oxides, hydroxides, or carbonates and to expand in volume at least 50 vol. % when reacted with said water.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 32, wherein said reactive particles include one or more material selected from the group consisting of MgO, CaO, CaC, Mg, Ca, Li, Na, Fe, Al, Si, P, Zn, Ti, Li2O, K2O, Na2O, borates, and aluminosilicates.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 33, wherein said polymer matrix includes one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyurea, polyimide, silanes, carbosilanes, silicone, polyarylate, polyimide, PEEK, PEI, epoxy, PPS, PPSU, and phenolic compounds.

### Claim 35 (depends on 31)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 31, wherein said first and second well bore wall engagement members each include a top and bottom surface, said top surface configured to engage an inner wall of the wellbore, a cavity, or a tube when said first and second well bore wall engagement members move to said deployed position, said bottom surface includes a recess, said recess includes said active material, said active material is absent from said top surface of said first and second well bore wall engagement members.

### Claim 36 (depends on 34)

The centralizing device as defined in claim 34, wherein said first and second well bore wall engagement members each include a top and bottom surface, said top surface configured to engage an inner wall of the wellbore, a cavity, or a tube when said first and second well bore wall engagement members move to said deployed position, said bottom surface includes a recess, said recess includes said active material, said active material is absent from said top surface of said first and second well bore wall engagement members.