Degradable ball sealer
AssigneeParker-Hannifin Corporation
InventorsStephen W. JORDAN, Kenneth W. CORNETT, Paul A. DUDZINSKI
Life of this patent
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Abstract
High strength, degradable ball sealer for temporarily sealing off lower zones in a wellbore from the flow of a fluid injected into the well. The degradable ball sealer may also seal openings formed through slidable packers or sleeves received within a tubing string in the well, from the flow of a fluid injected into the well. The ball sealer includes an aluminum-based alloy matrix containing gallium, with graphitic carbon particulate and salt particulate homogeneously distributed within the aluminum-based alloy matrix.
Claims20
A degradable article constructed of a high strength material comprising:
- an aluminum-based alloy matrix containing gallium;
- and
- a plurality of carbon particles and a plurality of salt particles homogeneously distributed within the aluminum-based alloy matrix,
- wherein the concentration of gallium in the degradable article is highest at the outermost surface of the degradable article and the article is galvanically corrodible.
A method of forming a reversible downhole seal with a degradable ball sealer, comprising:
- seating the degradable ball sealer in a downhole article configured to accommodate a surface shape of the ball sealer, the ball sealer comprising a high strength material comprising:
- an aluminum-based alloy matrix containing gallium;
- and
- a plurality of carbon particles and a plurality of salt particles homogeneously distributed within the aluminum-based alloy matrix,
- wherein the concentration of gallium in the ball sealer is highest at the outermost surface of the ball sealer;
- wherein the degradable ball sealer prevents fluid flow when seated.
A method of making a high strength, degradable article, the method comprising:
- forming a compacted preform from a powder mixture comprising a plurality of carbon particles, a plurality of salt particles and a binding agent;
- heating the compacted preform to remove the binding agent and create a plurality of pores within the preform;
- infiltrating the pores of the preform with an aluminum-based alloy to form an article comprising an aluminum-based alloy matrix with carbon particulate and salt particulate distributed within the aluminum-based alloy matrix;
- and
- diffusing gallium into the aluminum-based alloy matrix,
- wherein the concentration of gallium in the article is highest at the outermost surface of the article and the article is galvanically corrodible.
A method of reversibly sealing an opening in a well from the flow of a fluid in the well, the fluid having a specific gravity, and the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) injecting into the well a ball sealer formed of a high-strength metallic material, the material comprising an aluminum-based alloy matrix containing gallium;
- and a plurality of carbon particles and a plurality of salt particules homogeneously distributed within the aluminum-based alloy matrix, wherein the concentration of gallium in the ball sealer is highest at the outermost surface of the ball sealer;
- and
- (b) galvanically corroding the material so as to dissolve the ball sealer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.