# US 2017/0247977 A1 · Degradable material time delay system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0247977 A1 - Document ID: US20170247977A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/053,534 - Filed: 2016-02-25 - Published: 2017-08-31 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-25 - Assignees: Geodynamics, Inc. - Applicants: GEODynamics, Inc. - Inventors: John T. Hardesty; Dennis Roessler; Kevin R. George - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170247977A1 ## CPC - E21B 43/119: Details, e.g. for locating perforating place or direction - E21B 33/12: Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16) - E21B 34/06: in wells - E21B 34/063: {Valve or closure with destructible element, e.g. frangible disc (E21B34/103 takes precedence)} - E21B 43/1185: Ignition systems - E21B 43/11852: {hydraulically actuated} - E21B 2200/08: Down-hole devices using materials which decompose under well-bore conditions - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A time delay tool and method includes a mechanical restraining element, a reservoir for containing a reactive fluid, an actuating device and a wellbore device. When a stored energy is applied on the wellbore device, the actuation device is actuated and enables the reactive fluid in the reservoir to come in contact with the mechanical restraining element. While the mechanical restraining element undergoes a change in shape due to a chemical reaction, a stored energy applied on the wellbore device is delayed by a pre-determined time delay. The amount of the pre-determined time delay is determined by factors that include the reactive fluids, concentration of the reactive fluids, geometry and size of the mechanical restraining element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A time delay method, said method operating in conjunction with a downhole wellbore time delay tool and a wellbore device, said tool comprising: (a) a mechanical restraining element; (b) a reactive liquid, said reactive liquid configured to react with said mechanical restraining element; said reactive liquid contained in a reservoir; said reservoir deployed along with said delay tool; (c) an actuating device configured to enable fluid communication between said reactive liquid and said mechanical restraining element; wherein said method comprises the steps of: (1) positioning said wellbore tool at a desired wellbore location; (2) applying stored energy on said wellbore device; (3) after positioning said wellbore tool in said wellbore casino in step (1), actuating said actuating device and enabling fluid communication between said mechanical restraining element and said reactive liquid; (4) initiating a chemical reaction between said mechanical restraining element and said reactive liquid; (5) progressing said chemical reaction for a pre-determined time delay and changing a physical property of said mechanical restraining element; (6) releasing restraint by said mechanical restraining element; and (7) triggering said wellbore device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The time delay method of claim 1 wherein said actuating device is a rupture disk; said rupture disk actuated by pressure in a wellbore casing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The time delay method of claim 1 wherein said triggering step (7) moves a piston in said wellbore device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The time delay method of claim 1 wherein said triggering step (7) moves opens a port in said wellbore device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The time delay method of claim 1 wherein said triggering step (7) unplugs said wellbore device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The time delay method of claim 1 wherein said triggering step (7) enables a rotational movement in said wellbore device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The time delay method of claim 1 wherein said pre-determined time delay is determined by composition of said reactive liquid. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The time delay method of claim 1 wherein said pre-determined time delay is determined by reaction rate of said reactive liquid with said mechanical restraining element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The time delay method of claim 1 wherein said pre-determined time delay is determined by reaction time of said reactive liquid with said mechanical restraining element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The time delay method of claim 1 wherein said pre-determined time delay is determined by masking a contact area of said mechanical restraining element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The time delay method of claim 1 wherein said pre-determined time delay is determined by masking a portion of said mechanical restraining element in contact with said reactive liquid. ### Claim 12 A time delay firing method, said method operating in conjunction with a downhole wellbore time delay tool; said downhole wellbore time delay tool integrated into an energetic device used in TCP operation; wherein said method comprises the steps of: (1) positioning said wellbore tool at desired wellbore location; (2) increasing pressure to actuate an actuating device; (3) initiating a chemical reaction between a mechanical restraining element and a reactive fluid in said wellbore time delay tool; (4) progressing said chemical reaction for a pre-determined time delay and changing a physical property of said mechanical restraining element; (5) bleeding pressure until optimal conditions for perforation is reached; and (6) firing said wellbore device when said change in said physical property in said mechanical restraining element releases a firing pin in said energetic device, ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The time delay firing method of claim 12 wherein said optimal condition is a balanced condition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The time delay firing method of claim 12 wherein said optimal condition is an underbalanced condition. ### Claim 15 A predictable downhole time delay tool for determining time delay in a wellbore; said downhole time delay tool comprising a known liquid and a known mechanical restraining element; said reactive liquid contained in a reservoir; said reservoir deployed along with said delay tool; wherein said known liquid is configured to react with said mechanical restraining element after positioning said tool at a desired location in said wellbore; and said time delay determined based upon a condition encountered in said wellbore when said known liquid reacts with said mechanical restraining element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The predictable downhole time delay tool of claim 15 wherein said time delay is further based on a pre-determined reaction curve between said known liquid and said known mechanical restraining element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The predictable downhole time delay tool of claim 15 wherein said wellbore condition is wellbore temperature. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The predictable downhole time delay tool of claim 17 wherein said wellbore temperature is determined by distributed temperature sensing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The predictable downhole time delay tool of claim 15 wherein said known liquid is contained in a reservoir. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The predictable downhole time delay tool of claim 15 wherein said tool is conveyed with a wellbore casing. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The predictable downhole time delay tool of claim 15 wherein said tool is deployed with a wireline tool, ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The predictable downhole time delay tool of claim 15 wherein said tool is deployed with TCP. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The predictable downhole time delay tool of claim 15 wherein said tool is pumped down with a pump down tool. ### Claim 24 A predictable time delay method, said method operating in conjunction with a predictable downhole time delay tool comprising a known liquid and a known mechanical restraining element; said reactive liquid contained in a reservoir; said reservoir deployed along with said delay tool; said known liquid is configured to react with said mechanical restraining element after positioning and actuating said tool at a desired location in said wellbore; wherein said method comprises the steps of: (1) positioning said predictable downhole time delay tool at a desired wellbore location; (2) determining a wellbore condition at said wellbore location; and (3) after positioning said wellbore tool in said wellbore casing in step (1), actuating and calculating a time delay based on said wellbore condition. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The predictable time delay method of claim 24 wherein said calculation step is based on a pre-determined reaction curve between said known liquid and said known mechanical restraining element. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The predictable time delay method of claim 24 wherein said wellbore condition is a wellbore temperature at said wellbore location. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The predictable time delay method of claim 26 wherein said wellbore temperature is determined by distributed temperature sensing. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The predictable time delay method of claim 24 further comprises triggering an event in a wellbore device in a wellbore after elapse of said time delay. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The predictable time delay method of claim 24 wherein said tool is conveyed with a wellbore casing. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) The predictable time delay method of claim 24 wherein said tool is pumped down as a pump down tool.