Port sub with delayed opening sequence

A method for selectively opening a plurality of flow ports in a port sub for establishing flow communication between a port sub inner passage and an environment external to the port sub, the plurality of flow ports comprising a standard flow port and a control flow port, the standard flow port having a low-pressure port assembly disposed therein, the control flow port having a high-pressure port assembly disposed therein, the low-pressure port assembly and the high-pressure port assembly each, independently, being disposed in a closed configuration and transitionable to an open configuration, wherein:

• while the low-pressure port assembly and the high-pressure port assembly are each, independently, disposed in the closed configuration, the low-pressure port assembly blocks fluid flow through the standard flow port and the high-pressure port assembly blocks fluid flow through the control flow port such that there is an absence of flow communication from the port sub inner passage to the environment external to the port sub via the standard flow port and the control flow port;
• and
• while the low-pressure port assembly and the high-pressure port assembly are each, independently, disposed in the open configuration, the low-pressure port assembly is defeated such that there is an absence of blocking of fluid flow through the standard flow port such that flow communication from the port sub inner passage to the environment external to the port sub, via the standard flow port, is established, and the high-pressure port assembly is defeated such that there is an absence of blocking of fluid flow through the control flow port such that flow communication from the port sub inner passage to the environment external to the port sub, via the control flow port, is established;
• the method comprising:
• (i) increasing a pressure inside the port sub to a first predetermined pressure to rupture a first portion of the low-pressure port assembly, leaving a remaining portion of the low-pressure port assembly disposed in a sealing configuration that is effective to continue to block the standard flow port such that there is an absence of fluid communication from the port sub inner passage to the environment external to the port sub through the standard flow port, and an absence of fluid communication from the port sub inner passage to the environment external to the port sub through the control flow port;
• (ii) increasing the pressure inside the port sub to a second predetermined pressure, wherein the second predetermined pressure is greater than the first predetermined pressure and is effective to defeat the high-pressure port assembly and unblock the control flow port such that the control flow port is disposed in the open configuration;
• and
• (iii) introducing a degradation-promoting agent into the port sub such that:
• (a) the degradation-promoting agent is emplaced within the port sub inner passage and is disposed in communication with the remaining portion of the low-pressure port assembly, via the port sub inner passage;
• and
• (b) the degradation-promoting agent is emplaced within the environment external to the port sub, via communication through the control flow port, and in communication with the remaining portion of the low-pressure port assembly;
• and
• emplacement of the degradation-promoting agent within the port sub inner passage and within the environment external to the port sub is with effect that degradation of the remaining portion of the low-pressure port assembly is effected by the degradation-promoting agent such that the low-pressure port assembly transitions to the open configuration.

A port sub comprising:

• a wall having defined therein a standard flow port and a control flow port;
• a low-pressure port assembly disposed in the standard flow port, the low-pressure port assembly comprising:
• a low-pressure inner layer having a first rupture pressure;
• and
• a low-pressure outer layer, at least a portion of the low-pressure outer layer being spaced apart from the low-pressure inner layer to define a first chamber therebetween, the low-pressure port assembly having an intact position, an interim position, and an open position, wherein in the intact position, both the low-pressure inner layer and low-pressure outer layer are intact;
• in the interim position, the low-pressure inner layer is ruptured and the low-pressure outer layer is intact;
• and in the open position, the low-pressure inner layer is ruptured and the low-pressure outer layer is broken through;
• a high-pressure port assembly disposed in the control flow port, the high-pressure port assembly comprising:
• a high-pressure inner layer having a second rupture pressure, the second rupture pressure being greater than the first rupture pressure;
• and
• a high-pressure outer layer configured to rupture immediately after rupturing of the high-pressure inner layer, at least a portion of the high-pressure outer layer being spaced apart from the high-pressure inner layer to define a second chamber therebetween, the high-pressure port assembly having an intact position and an open position, wherein in the intact position, both the high-pressure inner layer and high-pressure outer layer are intact;
• and in the open position, both the high-pressure inner layer and the high-pressure outer layer are ruptured,
• wherein each of the high-pressure inner layer and the high-pressure outer layer is a burst disk, and wherein the high-pressure port assembly is free of a dissolvable barrier.

A port sub comprising:

• a housing;
• a flow passage, defined within the housing;
• a standard flow port extending through the housing, from the flow passage to the environment external to the housing, for effecting fluid communication between the flow passage and the environment external to the housing;
• a control flow port extending through the housing, from the flow passage to the environment external to the housing, for effecting fluid communication between the flow passage and the environment external to the housing;
• a standard flow port sealing configuration including a first end sealing surface and a second end sealing surface, wherein the second end sealing surface is disposed at an opposite end of the standard flow port sealing configuration relative to the first end sealing surface;
• wherein:
• the standard flow port sealing configuration is co-operable with a degradation-promoting agent such that:
• degradation of the standard flow port sealing configuration is effected in response to emplacement of the degradation-promoting agent in a degradation-effective communication with the first end sealing surface;
• and
• degradation of the standard flow port sealing configuration is effected in response to emplacement of the degradation-promoting agent in a degradation-effective communication with the second end sealing surface;
• and
• a control flow port sealing configuration;
• wherein:
• the standard flow port and the standard flow port sealing configuration co-operate to define a standard flow port flow controller, wherein the standard flow port flow controller is disposed in a closed configuration and transitionable from the closed configuration to an open configuration, wherein:
• in the closed configuration, fluid communication, via the standard flow port, between the flow passage and the environment external to the housing, is sealed by the standard flow port sealing configuration;
• and
• in the open configuration, there is an absence of sealing of fluid communication, via the standard flow port, between the flow passage and the environment external to the housing, such that fluid communication, via the standard flow port, is established between the flow passage and the environment external to the housing;
• the control flow port and the control flow port sealing configuration co-operate to define a control flow port flow controller, wherein the control flow port flow controller is disposed in a closed configuration and is transitionable from the closed configuration to an open configuration, wherein:
• in the closed configuration, fluid communication, via the control flow port, between the flow passage and the environment external to the housing, is sealed by the control flow port sealing configuration;
• and
• in the open configuration, there is an absence of sealing of fluid communication, via the control flow port, between the flow passage and the environment external to the housing, such that fluid communication is established, via the control flow port, between the flow passage and the environment external to the housing;
• the standard flow port flow controller and the control flow port flow controller are co-operatively configured for transitioning from a co-operating sealed configuration to a co-operating opening-effective configuration, wherein:
• in the co-operating sealed configuration, the standard flow port flow controller is disposed in the closed configuration and the control flow port flow controller is disposed in the closed configuration;
• and
• in the co-operating opening-effective configuration, the standard flow port flow controller is disposed in the closed configuration and the control flow port flow controller is disposed in the open configuration;
• the standard flow port flow controller and the control flow port flow controller are co-operatively configured such that, while:
• (i) the port sub is emplaced within a wellbore, and (ii) the co-operating opening-effective configuration is established:
• degradation-promoting agent is emplaceable within the flow passage in the degradation-effective communication with the standard flow port sealing configuration via the first end sealing surface and also via the second end sealing surface, such that a degradation-effective configuration is established, with effect that the degradation-effective communication with the first end sealing surface and the degradation-effective communication with the second end sealing surface co-operate for effecting degradation of the standard flow port sealing configuration;
• the degradation-effective communication with the standard flow port sealing configuration, via the first end sealing surface, is established in the absence of communication via the environment external to the housing;
• and
• the degradation-effective communication with the standard flow port sealing configuration, via the second end sealing surface, is established via the control flow port and the environment external to the housing.