Method and apparatus for delayed flow or pressure change in wells
OwnerClaude Cookeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Degradable polylactic or polyhydroxyalkanoate polymers may be used to viscosify aqueous fluids for use in wells, Sand control screen or liner can be coated with a solid degradable polymer during placement in a well. Mechanical changes or flow changes in a well can be caused by solid degradable polymer that changes physical properties after it is placed in a well. Parts of devices or entire devices can be made of solid degradable polymer that converts to a fluid after selected times in an aqueous environment in a well.
Claims18
A method for changing a flow pattern in a well comprising placing a solid degradable polymer piece in a device or flow channel such that decrease of a strength of the degradable polymer after a selected range of time causes changing of the flow pattern in the well.
A method for changing a pressure in a well comprising placing a solid degradable polymer piece in a device or flow channel such that decrease of a strength of the degradable polymer after a selected range of time causes changing of the pressure in the well.
A solid piece comprising a degradable polymer that loses a mechanical strength at a predictable rate in the presence of an aqueous liquid, the piece being adapted to be placed in a well to allow change of flow pattern in the well after a selected range of time.
A method for selecting a degradable polymer piece for use in a well to open a port after a selected range of time, comprising performing tests with different degradable polymer compositions to select the degradable polymer providing the opening of the port in the selected time range and at a pressure differential existing across the port when in the well.
A method for selecting a degradable polymer piece for use in a well comprising performing measurements of a mechanical property of a selected degradable polymer as a function of time and at selected temperatures in an aqueous environment to predict the time of opening of a selected port under selected conditions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.