Wellbore tool with disintegratable components and method of controlling flow
AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.
InventorsW. John McKeachnie, Michael McKeachnie, Scott Williamson, Rocky A. Turley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention generally provides a pressure isolation plug for managing a wellbore with multiple zones. The pressure isolation plug generally includes a body with a bore extending therethrough, a first disintegratable ball sized and positioned to restrict upward fluid flow through the bore, wherein the disintegratable ball disintegrates when exposed to wellbore conditions for a first amount of time. The plug also includes a second ball sized and positioned to restrict downward fluid flow through the bore.
Claims15
A method of operating a downhole tool, comprising:
- providing the tool having at least one dissolvable ball seatable in the tool to block a flow of fluid therethrough in at least one direction;
- causing the ball to seat and block the fluid;
- permitting the ball to dissolve after a predetermined time period, thereby reopening the tool to the flow of fluid;
- and
- providing a second ball seatable in the tool to block the flow of fluid therethrough in a second direction.
A method of isolating one section of a wellbore from another, comprising:
- providing a pressure isolation plug;
- utilizing a first soluble ball to restrict upward flow and isolate pressure below the pressure isolation plug;
- utilizing a second soluble ball to restrict downward flow and isolate pressure above the pressure isolation plug;
- exposing the first soluble ball and the second soluble ball to wellbore conditions for a first amount of time, causing the first soluble ball to dissolve;
- and
- allowing upward flow to resume through the pressure isolation plug.
A method of isolating one section of a wellbore from another, comprising:
- providing a pressure isolation plug;
- utilizing a dissolvable ball to restrict upward fluid flow and isolate pressure below the pressure isolation plug;
- exposing the ball to wellbore conditions including water and heat, thereby allowing the ball to dissolve;
- and
- allowing upward fluid flow to resume through the pressure isolation plug.
An apparatus for isolating one section of a wellbore from another, comprising:
- a body with a bore extending therethrough;
- a first dissolvable ball sized and positioned to restrict upward fluid flow through the bore, wherein the dissolvable ball dissolves when exposed to wellbore conditions for a first amount of time;
- and
- a second ball sized and positioned to restrict downward fluid flow through the bore.
An apparatus for use in a wellbore comprising:
- a body;
- and
- a slip assembly for fixing the body at a predetermined location in a wellbore the slip assembly arranged to frictionally contact the wellbore walls:
- whereby at least one portion of the slip assembly is made of a dissolvable material constructed and arranged to lose its structural integrity after a predetermined amount of time.
A method of isolating one section of a wellbore from another, comprising:
- providing a pressure isolation plug;
- utilizing a first disintegratable ball to restrict upward flow and isolate pressure below the pressure isolation plug;
- utilizing a second disintegratable ball to restrict downward flow and isolate pressure above the pressure isolation plug;
- exposing the first disintegratable ball and the second disintegratable ball to wellbore conditions for a first amount of time, causing the first disintegratable ball to disintegrate;
- exposing the second disintegratable ball to wellbore conditions for a second amount of time, causing the second disintegratable ball to disintegrate;
- and
- allowing upward flow to resume through the pressure isolation plug.
An apparatus for isolating one section of a wellbore from another, comprising:
- a body with a bore extending therethrough;
- a first disintegratable ball sized and positioned to restrict upward fluid flow through the bore, wherein the disintegratable ball disintegrates when exposed to wellbore conditions for a first amount of time;
- and
- a second ball sized and positioned to restrict downward fluid flow through the bore, wherein the second ball is disintegratable and is configured to disintegrate when exposed to wellbore conditions for a second amount of time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.