Temporary blockage of fluid boundary between higher and lower fluid conductivity formations
AssigneeDpip, LLC
InventorNick Koster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed herein are compositions, processes, and systems for deploying and creating a temporary fluid barrier at an interface between a high fluid conductivity zone and a lower fluid conductivity zone. The disclosed compositions include mixtures of solvents and biodegradable non-spherical particles, wherein the particles include a coating that may slow or inhibit degradation, for example by hydrolysis, of the particle. The disclosed particles are designed to possess sufficient flexibility to traverse the high conductivity zone.
Claims20
A method for providing a temporary fluid barrier at the interface of a high conductivity area and a lower conductivity area, the method comprising;
- combining a biodegradable polymeric particle with a non-circular average volume, and a first density, with a solvent having a second density, wherein the first and second density are within ±20%, to form a mixture;
- introducing the mixture to a well bore comprising at least one of a high fluid conductivity area, a low conductivity area, and a deposit within the high conductivity area that dissolves in the solvent;
- allowing the polymeric particle to travel through the high conductivity area toward the lower conductivity area, and create a barrier at an interface between the high conductivity area and the low conductivity area, wherein the barrier reduces the amount of solvent entering the lower conductivity area;
- allowing the solvent to dissolve the deposit;
- allowing the solvent to dissolve the particle barrier, wherein the rate of particle dissolving is slower than the rate of deposit dissolving, and thereby
- providing a temporary fluid barrier at the interface of a high conductivity area and a lower conductivity area.
A composition for temporarily blocking fluid flow between conductivity zones comprising:
- a plurality of particles having at least one measurable dimension between 2 and 2,000 μm;
- and
- a solvent comprising one or more of toluene, xylene, hexane, benzene, and water.
Method of traversing a sand control completion or SCC comprising:
- passing a solvent through the SCC;
- passing a biodegradable polymeric particle through the SCC, wherein the particle traverses the SCC.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.