Method and apparatus for delivering and setting a eutectic alloy plug to cure loss-of-circulation in drilling applications
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorsMsalli Alotaibi, Amjad Alshaarawi, Saeed Abdullah Al-Dossary
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A downhole assembly is disclosed that includes a basket having a base, a connection end opposite the base, and a side extending between the base and the connection end. A heater extends centrally through the basket from the base, where the heater has an electrical connection at an end of the heater opposite the base. A volume of eutectic pellets is provided in the basket, and the downhole assembly is used to plug a downhole location by using the heater to melt the eutectic pellets at the downhole location.
Claims19
A downhole assembly, comprising:
- a basket, comprising:
- a base;
- a connection end opposite the base;
- and
- a side extending between the base and the connection end;
- and
- a heater extending centrally through the basket from the base, the heater comprising an electrical connection at an end of the heater opposite the base,
- wherein the base and the side are made of a eutectic alloy.
A method for sealing a section of a well, comprising:
- providing a downhole plugging assembly connected to an end of a pipe string, the downhole plugging assembly comprising:
- a basket, comprising:
- a base and a connection end at opposite axial ends of the basket;
- and
- a side extending between the base and the connection end,
- wherein the basket is made of a eutectic alloy;
- a heater extending centrally through the basket from the base, the heater comprising an electrical connection at an end of the heater opposite the base;
- running the downhole plugging assembly through the well to a downhole location;
- dropping a volume of eutectic pellets into the basket at the downhole location, wherein the eutectic pellets are made of the eutectic alloy;
- connecting the electrical connection of the heater to a power source via a wireline;
- activating the heater to melt the volume of eutectic pellets and the basket to fill the downhole location with the melted eutectic alloy of the eutectic pellets and the basket;
- and
- allowing the melted eutectic alloy to cool to form a eutectic plug plugging the downhole location.
A method for sealing a section of a well, comprising:
- providing a downhole plugging assembly connected to an end of a pipe string, the downhole plugging assembly comprising:
- a basket, comprising:
- a base and a connection end at opposite axial ends of the basket;
- and
- a side extending between the base and the connection end,
- wherein the basket is made of a eutectic alloy;
- a heater extending centrally through the basket from the base, the heater comprising an electrical connection at an end of the heater opposite the base;
- providing a volume of eutectic pellets into the basket, wherein the eutectic pellets are made of the eutectic alloy;
- running the downhole plugging assembly through the well to a downhole location;
- connecting the electrical connection of the heater to a power source;
- activating the heater to melt the volume of eutectic pellets and the basket to fill the downhole location with the melted eutectic alloy of the eutectic pellets and the basket;
- and
- allowing the melted eutectic alloy to cool to form a eutectic plug plugging the downhole location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.