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US 8,220,554 B2Granted
Degradable whipstock apparatus and method of use
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsAnthony L. Jordan, Raghuram Kamath, Vance E. Nixon, Manuel P. Marya
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Whipstocks and deflectors comprising a degradable composition, and methods of using same are described. A degradable composition may consist essentially of one or more reactive metals in major proportion, and one or more alloying elements in minor proportion, with the provisos that the composition is high-strength, controllably reactive, and degradable under defined conditions. Methods of using degradable whipstocks in oilfield operations are also described. This abstract allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure. It will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).
Claims34
A whipstock apparatus comprising:
- a first body portion for securing the whipstock in a primary wellbore, and
- a second body portion for deflecting a tool into a lateral wellbore intersecting the primary wellbore, the second body portion comprising a surface positioned at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the primary wellbore,
- wherein the first and second body portions each comprise a controllably degradable composition, and wherein the composition comprises a partially-to-entirely crystalline or amorphous structure with structural features of micron or submicron size.
A whipstock apparatus comprising:
- a first body portion for securing the whipstock in a primary wellbore, and
- a second body portion for deflecting a tool into a lateral wellbore intersecting the primary wellbore, the second body portion comprising a surface positioned at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the primary wellbore,
- wherein the first and second body portions each comprise a controllably degradable composition, and wherein the composition comprises aluminum, gallium, zinc, bismuth, and tin.
A whipstock apparatus comprising:
- a first body portion for securing the whipstock in a primary wellbore, and
- a second body portion for deflecting a tool into a lateral wellbore intersecting the primary wellbore, the second body portion comprising a surface positioned at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the primary wellbore,
- wherein the first and second body portions each comprise a controllably degradable composition, and wherein the composition comprises one or more reactive metals combined with one or more other alloying elements that are not reactive or of relatively low reactivity in a water-containing environment when taken individually, but when combined with the reactive metals develop galvanic cells in the water-containing environment, and
- wherein the composition has a structure developed by pressing, compacting, sintering, or a combination thereof.
1 more element
A whipstock apparatus comprising:
- a first body portion for securing the whipstock in a primary wellbore, and
- a second body portion for deflecting a tool into a lateral wellbore intersecting the primary wellbore, the second body portion comprising a surface positioned at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the primary wellbore,
- wherein the first and second body portions each comprise a controllably degradable composition, and wherein the second body portion is solid, hollow, or partially hollow and comprises one or more degradable coatings disposed on all or only selected surfaces thereof, and wherein the degradable coating varies from surface to surface in thickness, composition, number of layers, or any combination thereof.
A whipstock apparatus comprising:
- a first body portion for securing the whipstock in a primary wellbore, and
- a second body portion for deflecting a tool into a lateral wellbore intersecting the primary wellbore, the second body portion comprising a surface positioned at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the primary wellbore,
- wherein the first and second body portions each comprise a controllably degradable composition, and wherein the composition comprises one or more alloys selected from the group consisting of calcium-magnesium (Ca—Mg) alloys, calcium-aluminum (Ca—Al) alloys, calcium-zinc (Ca—Zn) alloys, magnesium-lithium (Mg—Li) alloys, aluminum-gallium (Al—Ga) alloys, aluminum-indium (Al—In) alloys, and aluminum-gallium-indium alloys (Al—Ga—In).
A whipstock apparatus comprising:
- a first body portion for securing the whipstock in a primary wellbore, and
- a second body portion for deflecting a tool into a lateral wellbore intersecting the primary wellbore, the second body portion comprising a surface positioned at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the primary wellbore,
- wherein the first and second body portions each comprise a degradable composition that consists essentially of one or more reactive metals in major proportion and at least one alloying element in minor proportion, and wherein the composition is controllably degradable in a wellbore.
A method for completing a wellbore, comprising:
- deploying a degradable whipstock or deflector in a primary wellbore just below a point of intersection of the primary wellbore with a lateral wellbore;
- deploying a tool into the primary wellbore until it contacts the degradable whipstock or deflector;
- directing the tool into the lateral wellbore using the degradable whipstock or deflector;
- and
- degrading the degradable whipstock or deflector or a portion thereof prior to or during production from the lateral wellbore,
- wherein degrading the degradable whipstock or deflector or portion thereof comprises applying an acid, heat, or some other degradation trigger in a user defined, controlled fashion, resulting in increased flow area in the lateral wellbore.
3 more elements
A whipstock apparatus comprising:
- a first body portion for securing the whipstock in a primary wellbore, and
- a second body portion for deflecting a tool into a lateral wellbore intersecting the primary wellbore, the second body portion comprising a surface positioned at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the primary wellbore,
- wherein the first and second body portions each comprise a controllably degradable composition, and wherein the composition comprises a calcium alloy.
A whipstock apparatus comprising:
- a first body portion in fluid communication with a primary wellbore, and
- a second body portion for deflecting a tool into a lateral wellbore intersecting the primary wellbore, the second body portion comprising a surface positioned at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the primary wellbore,
- wherein the first and second body portions each comprise a degradable composition that consists essentially of one or more reactive metals in major proportion and at least one alloying element in minor proportion, and
- wherein a coating is disposed on at least a portion of an outer surface of the second body portion.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.