# US 10,871,049 B2 · Well operations with grouped particle diverter plug > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,049 B2 - Document ID: US10871049B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/267,565 - Filed: 2019-02-05 - Published: 2020-08-06 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-05 - Assignees: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc. - Inventors: Brock W. Watson; Gary P. Funkhouser; Roger L. Schultz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871049B2 ## CPC - E21B 33/1208: {characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means (E21B33/1277 takes precedence)} - C09K 8/426: {for plugging} - E21B 33/1204: {permanent; drillable} - E21B 33/13: Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like - E21B 33/138: Plastering the borehole wall; Injecting into the formation - E21B 33/05: Cementing-heads, e.g. having provision for introducing cementing plugs - 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 - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## Abstract A method can include deploying a diverter plug into a well, the diverter plug comprising a group of particles that are prevented from dispersing, flowing fluid, thereby conveying the diverter plug into engagement with a fluid passageway, the particles conforming to a shape of the fluid passageway as the diverter plug blocks fluid flow through the fluid passageway, and the particles being prevented from dispersing while the diverter plug blocks the fluid flow through the fluid passageway. The diverter plug can include a group of particles disposed within an outer enclosure. The particles in the enclosure can conform to a shape of the fluid passageway as the diverter plug blocks fluid flow through the fluid passageway. In another method, the enclosure can sealingly engage the fluid passageway while the particles remain disposed within the enclosure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: deploying at least one diverter plug into a well, the diverter plug comprising a group of particles, and the diverter plug further comprising multiple enlarged bodies, in which the enlarged bodies are secured to each other; flowing fluid in the well, thereby conveying the diverter plug into engagement with a fluid passageway in the well, in which each enlarged body is too large to pass through the fluid passageway; and the particles conforming to a shape of the fluid passageway as the diverter plug blocks fluid flow through the fluid passageway, and the particles being prevented from dispersing while the diverter plug blocks the fluid flow through the fluid passageway, in which the particles are grouped together magnetically. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the particles degrading in the well. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, in which the conveying further comprises producing fluid drag on material extending outwardly from the diverter plug. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, in which the material is selected from the group consisting of fiber, line, fabric, sheet and ribbon. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, in which the particles and the enlarged bodies are disposed within an outer enclosure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, in which the particles are disposed in the enclosure while the particles are conforming to the shape of the fluid passageway. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising the enclosure degrading in the well. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, in which, during the deploying, the particles are loose within the enclosure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising the enclosure sealingly engaging the fluid passageway. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, in which the particles and the enlarged bodies are enclosed in the enclosure while the enclosure sealingly engages the fluid passageway. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, in which the enclosure comprises at least one fabric sheet, and further comprising stitching the particles into the fabric sheet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, in which the enclosure comprises a flexible sheet material, and further comprising retaining the particles in the flexible sheet material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, in which the conforming comprises the particles occupying a space between the enclosure and the enlarged bodies. ### Claim 14 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, in which each enlarged body comprises a knot formed in a line. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, in which at least one of the group consisting of the line and fibers of the line extends outwardly from the enclosure. ### Claim 16 A method, comprising: deploying at least one diverter plug into a well, the diverter plug comprising a group of particles, and the diverter plug further comprising multiple enlarged bodies, in which the enlarged bodies are secured to each other; flowing fluid in the well, thereby conveying the diverter plug into engagement with a fluid passageway in the well, in which each enlarged body is too large to pass through the fluid passageway; and the particles conforming to a shape of the fluid passageway as the diverter plug blocks fluid flow through the fluid passageway, and the particles being prevented from dispersing while the diverter plug blocks the fluid flow through the fluid passageway, in which the particles are adhesively grouped together. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising the particles degrading in the well. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, in which the conveying further comprises producing fluid drag on material extending outwardly from the diverter plug. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, in which the material is selected from the group consisting of fiber, line, fabric, sheet and ribbon. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, in which the particles and the enlarged bodies are disposed within an outer enclosure. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, in which the particles are disposed in the enclosure while the particles are conforming to the shape of the fluid passageway. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising the enclosure degrading in the well. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, in which, during the deploying, the particles are loose within the enclosure. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising the enclosure sealingly engaging the fluid passageway. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, in which the particles and the enlarged bodies are enclosed in the enclosure while the enclosure sealingly engages the fluid passageway. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, in which the enclosure comprises at least one fabric sheet, and further comprising stitching the particles into the fabric sheet. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, in which the enclosure comprises a flexible sheet material, and further comprising retaining the particles in the flexible sheet material. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, in which the conforming comprises the particles occupying a space between the enclosure and the enlarged bodies. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, in which each enlarged body comprises a knot formed in a line. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, in which at least one of the group consisting of the line and fibers of the line extends outwardly from the enclosure. ### Claim 31 A method, comprising: deploying at least one diverter plug into a well, the diverter plug comprising a group of particles, and the diverter plug further comprising multiple enlarged bodies, in which the enlarged bodies are secured to each other; flowing fluid in the well, thereby conveying the diverter plug into engagement with a fluid passageway in the well, in which each enlarged body is too large to pass through the fluid passageway; and the particles conforming to a shape of the fluid passageway as the diverter plug blocks fluid flow through the fluid passageway, and the particles being prevented from dispersing while the diverter plug blocks the fluid flow through the fluid passageway, in which the particles are mechanically grouped together. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, further comprising the particles degrading in the well. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, in which the conveying further comprises producing fluid drag on material extending outwardly from the diverter plug. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, in which the material is selected from the group consisting of fiber, line, fabric, sheet and ribbon. ### Claim 35 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, in which the particles and the enlarged bodies are disposed within an outer enclosure. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35, in which the particles are disposed in the enclosure while the particles are conforming to the shape of the fluid passageway. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35, further comprising the enclosure degrading in the well. ### Claim 38 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35, in which, during the deploying, the particles are loose within the enclosure. ### Claim 39 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35, further comprising the enclosure sealingly engaging the fluid passageway. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, in which the particles and the enlarged bodies are enclosed in the enclosure while the enclosure sealingly engages the fluid passageway. ### Claim 41 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35, in which the enclosure comprises at least one fabric sheet, and further comprising stitching the particles into the fabric sheet. ### Claim 42 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35, in which the enclosure comprises a flexible sheet material, and further comprising retaining the particles in the flexible sheet material. ### Claim 43 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35, in which the conforming comprises the particles occupying a space between the enclosure and the enlarged bodies. ### Claim 44 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35, in which each enlarged body comprises a knot formed in a line. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The method of claim 44, in which at least one of the group consisting of the line and fibers of the line extends outwardly from the enclosure. ### Claim 46 A method, comprising: deploying at least one diverter plug into a well, the diverter plug comprising a group of particles, the particles being prevented from dispersing; flowing fluid in the well, thereby conveying the diverter plug into engagement with a fluid passageway in the well; and the particles conforming to a shape of the fluid passageway as the diverter plug blocks fluid flow through the fluid passageway, and the particles being prevented from dispersing while the diverter plug blocks the fluid flow through the fluid passageway, in which the particles are adhered to a sheet of material. ### Claim 47 A method, comprising: deploying at least one diverter plug into a well, the diverter plug comprising a group of particles, and the diverter plug further comprising multiple enlarged bodies, in which the enlarged bodies are secured to each other; flowing fluid in the well, thereby conveying the diverter plug into engagement with a fluid passageway in the well, in which each enlarged body is too large to pass through the fluid passageway; and the particles conforming to a shape of the fluid passageway as the diverter plug blocks fluid flow through the fluid passageway, and the particles being prevented from dispersing while the diverter plug blocks the fluid flow through the fluid passageway, in which the particles are embedded in a deformable material. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47, further comprising the particles degrading in the well. ### Claim 49 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47, in which the conveying further comprises producing fluid drag on material extending outwardly from the diverter plug. ### Claim 50 (depends on 49) The method of claim 49, in which the material is selected from the group consisting of fiber, line, fabric, sheet and ribbon. ### Claim 51 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47, in which the particles and the enlarged bodies are disposed within an outer enclosure. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51, in which the particles are disposed in the enclosure while the particles are conforming to the shape of the fluid passageway. ### Claim 53 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51, further comprising the enclosure degrading in the well. ### Claim 54 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51, in which, during the deploying, the particles are loose within the enclosure. ### Claim 55 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51, further comprising the enclosure sealingly engaging the fluid passageway. ### Claim 56 (depends on 55) The method of claim 55, in which the particles and the enlarged bodies are enclosed in the enclosure while the enclosure sealingly engages the fluid passageway. ### Claim 57 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51, in which the enclosure comprises at least one fabric sheet, and further comprising stitching the particles into the fabric sheet. ### Claim 58 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51, in which the enclosure comprises a flexible sheet material, and further comprising retaining the particles in the flexible sheet material. ### Claim 59 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51, in which the conforming comprises the particles occupying a space between the enclosure and the enlarged bodies. ### Claim 60 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51, in which each enlarged body comprises a knot formed in a line. ### Claim 61 (depends on 60) The method of claim 60, in which at least one of the group consisting of the line and fibers of the line extends outwardly from the enclosure.