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US 12,480,373 B2Granted
Actuating a downhole device with a reactive metal
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsStephen Michael Greci, Michael Linley Fripp
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods for actuating a downhole device in a wellbore. An example of the method is positioning a downhole device in a wellbore, the downhole device comprising a reactive metal and a reaction-inducing fluid; wherein the reaction-inducing fluid is isolated from the reactive metal. The method further includes removing the isolation of the reactive metal such that it reacts with the reaction-inducing fluid to generate a hydrogen gas, and actuating the downhole device with the hydrogen gas.
Claims20
A method for actuating a downhole device, the method comprising:
- positioning a downhole device in a wellbore comprising a wellbore fluid, the downhole device comprising a reactive metal and a reaction-inducing fluid;
- wherein the reactive metal is alloyed with a dopant metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, iron, carbon, titanium, gallium, mercury, cobalt, iridium, gold, palladium, or any combination thereof;
- wherein the reaction-inducing fluid is isolated from the reactive metal by an isolation barrier;
- wherein the reaction-inducing fluid is present in the downhole device as the downhole device is brought downhole;
- wherein the reaction-inducing fluid is isolated from the wellbore fluid;
- wherein the downhole device is a setting tool, an inflow control device, a gravel pack bypass, a sliding sleeve, a packer, an annular casing packer, a frac plug, a bridge plug, or a tubing anchor;
- applying pressure to a moveable barrier separating the reaction-inducing fluid from the applied pressure;
- compressing the reaction-inducing fluid;
- wherein the compressed reaction-inducing fluid applies pressure to the isolation barrier;
- wherein the moveable barrier and isolation barrier are distinct barriers separated by the reaction-inducing fluid;
- removing the isolation provided by the isolation barrier with the compressed reaction-inducing fluid such that the reaction-inducing fluid flows past the open isolation barrier and then contacts the reactive metal to induce a reaction with the reaction-inducing fluid thereby generating a hydrogen gas,
- then actuating the downhole device with the hydrogen gas.
9 more elements
A downhole device for a wellbore, the downhole device comprising:
- a reactive metal, wherein the reactive metal is alloyed with a dopant metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, iron, carbon, titanium, gallium, mercury, cobalt, iridium, gold, palladium, or any combination thereof;
- a reaction-inducing fluid stored in a chamber of the downhole device;
- wherein the reaction-inducing fluid is isolated from the reactive metal by an isolation barrier, wherein the reaction-inducing fluid is isolated from a wellbore fluid after the downhole device is introduced into the wellbore;
- an actuating mechanism comprising a setting piston, hydraulic fluid, and a setting chamber;
- wherein reaction of the reaction-inducing fluid and the reactive metal releases hydrogen gas which translates the setting piston thereby forcing the hydraulic fluid into the setting chamber;
- and
- a check valve;
- a moveable barrier separating the reaction-inducing fluid from a pressure source;
- wherein pressure from the pressure source is applied to the moveable barrier to move the moveable barrier to compress the reaction-inducing fluid;
- wherein the compressed reaction-inducing fluid applies pressure to the isolation barrier to remove the isolation provided by isolation barrier with the compressed reaction-inducing fluid such that the reaction-inducing fluid flows past the open isolation barrier and then contacts the reactive metal to generate the hydrogen gas;
- wherein the moveable barrier and isolation barrier are distinct barriers separated by the reaction-inducing fluid;
- wherein after actuation, the hydrogen gas is released through shearing shear pins of the check valve or the pressurized opening of a port in the chamber;
- and
- wherein the downhole device is a setting tool, an inflow control device, a gravel pack bypass, a sliding sleeve, a packer, an annular casing packer, a frac plug, a bridge plug, or a tubing anchor.
11 more elements
A system for isolating flow in a wellbore, the system comprising:
- a downhole device comprising:
- a reactive metal, wherein the reactive metal is alloyed with a dopant metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, iron, carbon, titanium, gallium, mercury, cobalt, iridium, gold, palladium, or any combination thereof;
- a reaction-inducing fluid stored in a chamber of the downhole device;
- wherein the reaction-inducing fluid is isolated from the reactive metal by an isolation barrier, wherein the reaction-inducing fluid is isolated from a wellbore fluid after the downhole device is introduced into the wellbore;
- the isolation barrier;
- an actuating mechanism comprising a setting piston, hydraulic fluid, and a setting chamber;
- wherein reaction of the reaction-inducing fluid and the reactive metal releases hydrogen gas which translates the setting piston thereby forcing the hydraulic fluid into the setting chamber;
- wherein after actuation, the hydrogen gas is released through shearing shear pins of a check valve or the pressurized opening of a port in the chamber;
- wherein the downhole device is a setting tool, an inflow control device, a gravel pack bypass, a sliding sleeve, a packer, an annular casing packer, a frac plug, a bridge plug, or a tubing anchor;
- and a conduit disposed in the wellbore;
- wherein the downhole device is configured to control flow into and out of the conduit;
- and
- a moveable barrier separating the reaction-inducing fluid from a pressure source;
- wherein pressure from the pressure source is applied to the moveable barrier to move the moveable barrier to compress the reaction-inducing fluid;
- wherein the compressed reaction-inducing fluid applies pressure to the isolation barrier to remove the isolation provided by the isolation barrier with the compressed reaction-inducing fluid such that the reaction-inducing fluid flows past the open isolation barrier and then contacts the reactive metal to generate the hydrogen gas;
- wherein the moveable barrier and isolation barrier are distinct barriers separated by the reaction-inducing fluid.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.