# US 11,898,438 B2 · Methods to monitor a metallic sealant deployed in a wellbore, methods to monitor fluid displacement, and downhole metallic sealant measurement systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,898,438 B2 - Document ID: US11898438B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/484,000 - Filed: 2019-07-31 - Published: 2021-02-04 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-31 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp; Stephen Michael Greci; John Todd Broome - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11898438B2 ## CPC - E21B 33/1208: {characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means (E21B33/1277 takes precedence)} - E21B 47/07: Temperature - E21B 23/0417: {Down-hole non-explosive gas generating means, e.g. by chemical reaction} - E21B 33/1212: {including a metal-to-metal seal element} - E21B 47/06: Measuring temperature or pressure - E21B 47/117: Detecting leaks, e.g. from tubing, by pressure testing - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract The disclosed embodiments include methods to monitor expansion of a metallic sealant deployed in a wellbore, methods to monitor downhole fluid displacement, and downhole metallic sealant measurement systems. The method to monitor expansion of a downhole metallic sealant includes deploying a metallic sealant deployed along a section of a wellbore. The method also includes exposing the metallic sealant to a reacting fluid to initiate a galvanic reaction. The method further includes measuring a change in temperature caused by the galvanic reaction. The method further includes determining an amount of expansion of the metallic sealant based on the change in the temperature. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method to monitor expansion of a metallic sealant, the method comprising: deploying the metallic sealant along a section of a wellbore; exposing the metallic sealant to a reacting fluid to initiate a first galvanic reaction, wherein the metallic sealant is configured to expand as a result of being exposed to the reacting fluid; measuring, with a downhole temperature sensor deployed in the wellbore, a change in temperature due to heat released by the metallic sealant as a result of the first galvanic reaction; determining an amount of expansion of the metallic sealant based on the change in the temperature and as a result of the first galvanic reaction; applying pressure to the metallic sealant to expose a previously unexposed section of the metallic sealant; exposing the previously unexposed section of the metallic sealant to the reacting fluid to initiate a second galvanic reaction; measuring a change in temperature caused by the second galvanic reaction; and determining an amount of a second expansion of the metallic sealant based on the change in the temperature caused by the second galvanic reaction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring an integrity of the metallic sealant based on the change in the temperature. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: detecting a differential pressure across two points of the metallic sealant; determining a partial loss of integrity of the metallic sealant in response to detecting the differential pressure; after detecting the differential pressure, detecting an increase in temperature proximate to the two points of the metallic sealant; and in response to detecting the increase in temperature proximate to the two points, determining whether the integrity of the metallic sealant has been restored. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a pressure test to determine the amount of expansion of the metallic sealant. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a rate of the galvanic reaction, wherein the rate of the galvanic reaction is based on an amount of dopant added to the metallic sealant. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: measuring displacement of a non-reacting fluid deposited in the wellbore, wherein the non-reacting fluid is displaced by the expansion of the metallic sealant; and determining the amount of expansion of the metallic sealant based on the displacement of the non-reacting fluid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a fiber optic cable is deployed proximate to the metallic sealant, and wherein measuring the change in temperature comprises utilizing the fiber optic cable to measure the change in temperature. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a thermometer is deployed proximate to the metallic sealant, and wherein measuring the change in temperature comprises utilizing the thermometer to measure the change in temperature. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a sealant capacity of the metallic sealant based on the amount of expansion of the metallic sealant. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising flowing the reacting fluid into the wellbore. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein metallic sealant is deployed at a section of the wellbore that contains the reacting fluid. ### Claim 12 A method to monitor downhole fluid displacement, the method comprising: flowing a non-reacting fluid into a wellbore having a metallic sealant deployed along a section of the wellbore; exposing the metallic sealant to a reacting fluid to initiate a galvanic reaction; measuring, with a downhole temperature sensor deployed in the wellbore, a change in temperature due to heat released by the metallic sealant as a result of the galvanic reaction; determining an amount of expansion of the metallic sealant based on the change in the temperature; and determining a displacement of the non-reacting fluid based on the amount of expansion of the metallic sealant and as a result of the galvanic reaction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: applying pressure to the metallic sealant to expose a previously unexposed section of the metallic sealant; exposing the previously unexposed section of the metallic sealant to the reacting fluid to initiate a second galvanic reaction; measuring a change in temperature caused by the second galvanic reaction; and determining an amount of a second expansion of the metallic sealant based on the change in the temperature caused by the second galvanic reaction; and determining a displacement of the non-reacting fluid based on the amount of the second expansion of the metallic sealant. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising monitoring an integrity of the metallic sealant based on the change in the temperature. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: detecting a differential pressure across two points of the metallic sealant; determining a partial loss of integrity of the metallic sealant in response to detecting the differential pressure; after detecting the differential pressure, detecting an increase in temperature proximate to the two points of the metallic sealant; and in response to detecting the increase in temperature proximate to the two points, determining whether the integrity of the metallic sealant has been restored. ### Claim 16 A downhole metallic sealant measurement system, comprising: a metallic sealant deployed along a section of a wellbore, wherein a first galvanic reaction is initiated when the metallic sealant is exposed to a reacting fluid, and wherein the first galvanic reaction causes an expansion of the metallic sealant to isolate a section of the wellbore, wherein the metallic sealant is configured to expand as a result of being exposed to the reacting fluid; wherein the metallic sealant is configured such that the application of pressure to the metallic sealant exposes a previously unexposed section of the metallic sealant; wherein the exposure of the previously unexposed section of the metallic sealant to the reacting fluid initiates a second galvanic reaction; a temperature sensor positioned proximate to the metallic sealant and operable to determine a temperature change due to heat released as a result of the first galvanic reaction; wherein the temperature sensor is further operable to determine a temperature change due to heat released as a result of the second galvanic reaction; and a logging tool configured to determine an amount of expansion of the metallic sealant based on the temperature change and as a result of the first galvanic reaction; wherein the logging tool is further operable to determine an amount of expansion of the metallic sealant based on the change in the temperature caused by the second galvanic reaction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The downhole metallic sealant measurement system of claim 16, wherein the temperature sensor is at least one of a fiber optic cable, a thermometer, and a component of the logging tool. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The downhole metallic sealant measurement system of claim 16, wherein the temperature sensor is operable to measure a difference in temperature at two different points proximate to the metallic sealant to determine the temperature change. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The downhole metallic sealant measurement system of claim 16, further comprising a pressure sensor operable to detect a differential pressure at two different points of the galvanically corrodible metallic sealant. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The downhole measurement system of claim 16; wherein the downhole measurement system is capable of monitoring the integrity of the metallic sealant based on the change in the temperature.