# US 12,553,307 B2 · Expandable metal gas lift mandrel plug > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,553,307 B2 - Document ID: US12553307B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/906,345 - Filed: 2020-06-19 - Published: 2021-02-11 - Granted: 2026-02-17 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-19 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Inventors: Rutger Evers - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12553307B2 ## CPC - E21B 33/1208: {characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means (E21B33/1277 takes precedence)} - E21B 33/12: Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16) - E21B 33/1212: {including a metal-to-metal seal element} - E21B 33/13: Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like - E21B 43/122: {Gas lift} - E21B 43/123: {Gas lift valves} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract Disclosed herein are aspects of a gas lift mandrel plug for use in a wellbore. In one embodiment, a gas lift mandrel plug may comprise an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the elongate member comprises a metal sealant configured to expand in response to hydrolysis, and wherein the elongate member is configured to seal a side pocket of a wellbore tubular in response to hydrolysis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gas lift mandrel plug for use in a wellbore, comprising: an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end; wherein the elongate member comprises a body of monolithic metal sealant configured to expand in response to hydrolysis, the body of monolithic metal sealant having a length substantially greater than a width; and wherein the expanded metal elongate member is configured to seal against an internal diameter of a side pocket of a wellbore tubular in response to hydrolysis, and further wherein during the expansion, the body of monolithic metal sealant is configured to go from metal to micron-scale particles that are larger and lock together. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gas lift mandrel plug according to claim 1, wherein the distal end is tapered. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gas lift mandrel plug according to claim 1, wherein the proximal end includes an intervention tool connector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The gas lift mandrel plug according to claim 3, wherein the intervention tool connector is threadedly attached with the elongate member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The gas lift mandrel plug according to claim 3, wherein the intervention tool connector forms an integral part of the elongate member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gas lift mandrel plug according to claim 1, wherein the elongate member is a cylindrical member, and further wherein a ratio of a length (l) to width (w) of the cylindrical member ranges from 12 to 1 to 14 to 1. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The gas lift mandrel plug according to claim 1, wherein a length (l) of the elongate member is less than 700 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The gas lift mandrel plug according to claim 1, wherein the metal sealant is configured to expand in response to one of magnesium hydrolysis, aluminum hydrolysis, calcium hydrolysis, and calcium oxide hydrolysis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The gas lift mandrel plug according to claim 1, wherein the metal sealant is a magnesium alloy alloyed with at least one of Al, Zn, Mn, Zr, Y, Nd, Gd, Ag, Ca, Sn, and Re. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The gas lift mandrel plug according to claim 1, further comprising a swellable rubber element placed radially about the elongate member. ### Claim 11 A well system, comprising: a wellbore tubular; a side pocket located within the wellbore tubular; a gas lift mandrel plug positioned in and sealing the side pocket, the gas lift mandrel plug comprising: an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured to connect with an intervention tool; and wherein the elongate member comprises a body of monolithic metal sealant configured to expand in response to hydrolysis, the body of monolithic metal sealant having a length substantially greater than a width, and further wherein during the expansion, the body of monolithic metal sealant is configured to go from metal to micron-scale particles that are larger and lock together. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The well system according to claim 11, wherein the distal end of the elongate member is tapered. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The well system according to claim 11, wherein the proximal end includes an intervention tool connector comprising a material that does not expand in response to hydrolysis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The well system according to claim 11, further comprising a swellable rubber element placed radially about the elongate member. ### Claim 15 A method of using a gas lift mandrel plug in a well system, the method comprising: removing a gas lift valve from a side pocket located within a wellbore tubular; positioning a gas lift mandrel plug into the side pocket, the gas lift mandrel plug comprising an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured to connect with an intervention tool; wherein the elongate member comprises a body of monolithic metal sealant configured to expand in response to hydrolysis, the body of monolithic metal sealant having a length substantially greater than a width; and wherein the elongate member is configured to seal a side pocket of a downhole casing in response to hydrolysis, and further wherein during the expansion, the body of monolithic metal sealant is configured to go from metal to micron-scale particles that are larger and lock together. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as recited in claim 15, further including subjecting the gas lift mandrel plug to a hydrolysis fluid, the hydrolysis fluid expanding the elongate member to seal the side pocket. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the metal sealant is configured to expand in response to one of magnesium hydrolysis, aluminum hydrolysis, calcium hydrolysis, and calcium oxide hydrolysis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein hydrolysis forms a structure comprising one of a Brucite, Gibbsite, bayerite, and norstrandite. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the metal sealant is a magnesium alloy alloyed with at least one of Al, Zn, Mn, Zr, Y, Nd, Gd, Ag, Ca, Sn, and Re.