# US 11,028,687 B2 · Tracers and trackers in a perf ball > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,028,687 B2 - Document ID: US11028687B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/613,075 - Filed: 2017-09-12 - Published: 2020-05-07 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-12 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp; Ronald Glen Dusterhoft - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028687B2 ## CPC - E21B 33/138: Plastering the borehole wall; Injecting into the formation - E21B 47/11: using tracers; using radioactivity - E21B 33/13: Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like - E21B 43/26: by forming crevices or fractures - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - 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 - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A perf ball includes a first dissolvable component, an electronic racer and/or a matrix of tracer particles in a wellbore environment. The electronic tracer and at least some tracer particles in the matrix of tracer particles are releasable from the perf ball upon dissolution of the first dissolvable component in a wellbore environment. Some tracer particles in the matrix of tracer particles are dissolvable in oil. Some tracer particles in the matrix of tracer particles are dissolvable in aqueous medium. The electronic tracer can include a sensor and memory for recording properties of the wellbore environment, including any of pressure, temperature, fluid composition, or other environmental, physical, or chemical parameters. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of determining a wellbore condition by introducing a plurality of the perf balls into the wellbore; each of the perf balls in the plurality comprising: a first dissolvable component that is dissolvable in a wellbore environment; and a matrix of tracer particles, wherein the matrix of tracer particles is releasable from the perf ball upon dissolution of the first dissolvable component; placing at least one perf ball of the plurality in a perforation in a wellbore casing; wherein at least two of the perf balls in the plurality individually differ from one another in at least one of the number, concentration, density, or type of tracer particles in each matrix of tracer particles; detecting the tracer particles to identify a fluid type surrounding at least one of the perf balls in the plurality as oil, aqueous medium, or a mixture of both. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least some tracer particles in any matrix of tracer particles rise to surface of the wellbore upon dissolution where they are detected by a detector to provide information. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the information is a rate of dissolution of the perf ball. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least some tracer particles in any matrix of tracer particles are dissolvable in oil in at least one perf ball in the plurality. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least some tracer particles in any matrix of tracer particles are dissolvable in aqueous medium in at least one perf ball in the plurality. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least some tracer particles in any matrix of tracer particles are bound by a dissolvable binder in at least one perf ball in the plurality. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein any matrix of tracer particles comprises about 0.001 vol. % to about 60 vol. % of at least one perf ball in the plurality. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one perf ball in the plurality further comprises a dissolvable shell. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least some tracer particles in any matrix of tracer particles are buoyant in a fracturing fluid for at least one perf ball in the plurality. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein any first dissolvable component for at least one perf ball in the plurality is any of a doped or undoped magnesium alloy or aluminum alloy, or a polyglycolic acid (PGA), polylactic acid (PLA), thiol, polyurethane, EPDM, nylon, or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein any matrix of tracer particles in at least one perf ball in the plurality is any of monodisperse polyether alcohol compounds, Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)/Polypropylene Glycol (PPG), their derivatives, or any compound having at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of a primary, secondary, tertiary and/or quaternary amine, a zwitterionic molecule, a hydroxyl, an amide, a carboxylic acid, a sulphonic acid or a phosphonic acid, or a salt thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one perf ball in the plurality comprises an electronic tracer enveloped in a protective non-dis solvable packaging, wherein the electronic tracer is releasable from the perf ball upon dissolution of the first dissolvable component. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the electronic tracer enveloped in the protective non-dis solvable packaging is buoyant in a fracturing fluid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one perf ball comprising an electronic tracer further comprise a dissolvable shell having a thickness of at least about 1 mm to about 10 mm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the electronic tracer is any of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) unit or a near field communication (NFC) unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the electronic tracer includes a sensor and memory for recording properties of the wellbore environment, including any of pressure, temperature, or fluid composition. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one perf ball comprising the electronic tracer further comprises an additional non-electronic tracer particle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one perf ball in the plurality further comprises any matrix of tracer particles disposed at a first location within the perf ball; and an electronic tracer disposed at a second location within the perf ball; the electronic tracer enveloped in a protective non-dissolvable packaging, wherein at least some tracer particles in the matrix tracer particles and the electronic tracer are releasable from the perf ball upon dissolution of the first dissolvable component. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the electronic tracer is any of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) unit or a near field communication (NFC) unit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein any matrix of tracer particles comprises at least one non-electronic tracer particle.