Downhole tool including a sacrificial conductive protection layer positioned about a material to be protected

A downhole tool, comprising:

• a protective housing;
• a sacrificial conductive protection layer sealing against the protective housing, the protective housing and sacrificial conductive protection layer forming a sealed chamber;
• material to be protected disposed within the sealed chamber;
• and
• a trigger device positioned proximate the sacrificial conductive protection layer, the trigger device including a positive electrode coupled to the sacrificial conductive protection layer and a negative electrode coupled to a separate downhole conductive layer, the trigger device configured to apply a voltage to the sacrificial conductive protection layer to trigger a corrosion thereof based upon a triggering event.

A method, comprising:

• positioning a downhole tool within a wellbore extending through one or more subterranean formations, the downhole tool including:
• material to be protected;
• a sacrificial conductive protection layer positioned about the material to be protected, the sacrificial conductive protection layer configured to isolate the material to be protected from an undesirable material;
• and
• a positive electrode and a negative electrode, the positive electrode coupled to the sacrificial conductive protection layer and the negative electrode coupled to a separate conductive feature;
• and
• applying a voltage to the sacrificial conductive protection layer via the positive electrode to trigger a corrosion of the sacrificial conductive protection layer and expose the material to be protected.