Wellbore delivery apparatus
AssigneeSwellfix B.V.
InventorJohn Dewar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for delivering a material into a wellbore comprises a body adapted to be translated along a conduit within a wellbore, with a cavity formed in the body for containing a material to be delivered. The body defines an outlet adapted to be selectively opened to permit the material to be released from the cavity at the required location within the wellbore. In one arrangement the material includes swellable particles which expand upon contact with an activator.
Claims32
An apparatus for delivering a swellable material into a wellbore, said apparatus comprising:
- a body adapted to be driven along a conduit within a wellbore by a driving fluid;
- a swellable material having a first form in which the material occupies a first volume and a swollen second form in which the material occupies a larger second volume;
- a cavity in the body containing the swellable material in the first form;
- an outlet adapted to be selectively opened to permit the swellable material to be released from the cavity and subsequently swell to the second form:
- and
- an inlet to permit access into the cavity wherein the inlet is adapted to be selectively opened to permit access to the cavity and wherein the inlet is adapted to permit fluid from a wellbore to enter the cavity to displace the material from the cavity through the outlet.
A method of delivering a material into a wellbore, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing an apparatus having a body and defining a cavity;
- loading a swellable material into the cavity, the material being in a first form and occupying a first volume;
- locating the apparatus in a wellbore conduit and driving said apparatus through the wellbore conduit using a driving fluid to a required location within the conduit;
- releasing the material from the cavity, whereby the material may subsequently swell to a second form and occupy a larger second volume;
- and
- exposing the material to a swelling activator.
A method of sealing a conduit within a wellbore, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing an apparatus having a body and a cavity in the body;
- loading a swellable sealing material in the cavity, the material being in a first form occupying a first volume;
- locating the apparatus within a conduit in a wellbore and translating said apparatus to a required location within the conduit;
- and
- releasing the sealing material from the cavity and displacing the material into an annulus formed between the conduit and the wellbore where the material swells to a second form occupying a larger second volume.
An apparatus for delivering a swellable material into a wellbore, said apparatus comprising:
- a body adapted to be driven along a conduit within a wellbore by a driving fluid;
- a swellable material having a first form in which the material occupies a first volume and a swollen second form in which the material occupies a larger second volume wherein the swellable material comprises a water-swellable rubber;
- a cavity in the body containing the swellable material in the first form;
- and
- an outlet adapted to be selectively opened to permit the swellable material to be released from the cavity and subsequently swell to the second form.
An apparatus for delivering a swellable material into a wellbore, said apparatus comprising:
- a body adapted to be driven along a conduit within a wellbore by a driving fluid;
- a swellable material having a first form in which the material occupies a first volume and a swollen second form in which the material occupies a larger second volume wherein the swellable material comprises swellable particles of different sizes;
- a cavity in the body containing the swellable material in the first form;
- and
- an outlet adapted to be selectively opened to permit the swellable material to be released from the cavity and subsequently swell to the second form.
An apparatus for delivering a swellable material into a wellbore, said apparatus comprising:
- a body adapted to be driven along a conduit within a wellbore by a driving fluid;
- a swellable material having a first form in which the material occupies a first volume and a swollen second form in which the material occupies a larger second volume;
- a cavity in the body containing the swellable material in the first form;
- an outlet adapted to be selectively opened to permit the swellable material to be released from the cavity and subsequently swell to the second form;
- and
- wherein the apparatus is adapted to be translated through a wellbore conduit in conjunction with a volume of cement which is displaced through the wellbore conduit and into a wellbore annulus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.