# US 8,540,015 B2 · Apparatus and method for treating a subterranean formation using diversion

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,540,015 B2
- Document ID: US8540015B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/625,670
- Filed: 2012-09-24
- Published: 2013-01-24
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2009-11-30
- Assignees: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
- Applicants: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
- Inventors: Murat Ocalan; Francois M. Auzerais; Partha Ganguly; Agathe Robisson; Jahir Pabon
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540015B2

## CPC

- E21B 33/138: Plastering the borehole wall; Injecting into the formation
- E21B 43/12: Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells (E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00)
- E21B 43/14: Obtaining from a multiple-zone well
- E21B 43/26: by forming crevices or fractures
- H01F 1/447: {characterised by magnetoviscosity, e.g. magnetorheological, magnetothixotropic, magnetodilatant liquids (electrorheological fluids C10M171/001)}
- H01F 1/055: and magnetic transition metals, e.g. SmCo5
- H01F 1/057: and IIIa elements, e.g. Nd2Fe14B
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- H01F: MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES

## Abstract

Apparatus and method comprising a plurality of particles which are magnetically attracted to one another in response to exposure to a magnetic field, and which maintain attraction to one another after removal of the magnetic field, the attraction being disabled when the particles are demagnetized, whereby the particles operate to alter the rheological properties of a fluid in which the particles are mixed when the attraction is enabled or disabled is disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A downhole apparatus for use in a wellbore comprising:
a plurality of particles which are magnetically attracted to one another in response to exposure to a magnetic field and which maintain attraction to one another after removal of the magnetic field, wherein the plurality of particles alter one or more rheological properties of a fluid in which the particles are mixed when the attraction is enabled or disabled.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more rheological properties of the fluid being altered is a viscosity of a fluid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 where the downhole apparatus is a flow diverter configured to selectively divert fluid flow thorough a particular wellbore zone.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the wellbore zone is one of a fracture zone, perforation zone, porous media, annular gap, orifice or flow channel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a magnetic gate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the magnetic gate supplies the magnetic field.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of particles comprises hard magnetic material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the hard magnetic material is selected from the group consisting of samarium cobalt, neodymium iron boron and aluminium nickel cobalt.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein demagnetization disables the attraction.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a demagnetization tool.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of particles have a multi-modal size distribution.