Shaped memory polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) for downhole packer applications
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsJiaxiang Ren, David P. Gerrard, James E. Goodson, Li Guo, Ping Duan
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Abstract
A downhole element to isolate or complete a wellbore includes a shape memory material including polyphenylene sulfide. The polyphenylene sulfide is the cure product of being cured at a temperature of about 200° C. to about 400° C., for a total time of less than or equal to 200 hours. The shape memory material is thermally activated between an actuated and unactuated shape, and the polyphenylene sulfide in the shape memory material is a closed cell foam, open cell foam, or solid.
Claims21
A downhole element to isolate or complete a wellbore comprising:
- a shape memory material including polyphenylene sulfide,
- wherein the polyphenylene sulfide is cured at a temperature of about 200° C. to about 400° C., for a total time of less than or equal to 200 hours in the presence of oxygen, a crosslinker or a combination of both oxygen and a crosslinker,
- the shape memory material is thermally activated between an actuated and unactuated shape, and
- the polyphenylene sulfide in the shape memory material is a closed cell foam, open cell foam, or solid.
A method of preparing a downhole element for isolating or completing a wellbore comprising:
- compounding polyphenylene sulfide with a crosslinker, to form a mixture;
- forming a solid or foam of the mixture;
- heating and curing the solid or foam at a temperature of about 300° C. to about 400° C., for a heating time of less than or equal to about 72 hours to produce a cured solid or cured closed or open cell foam;
- compression molding the cured solid or cured closed or open cell foam;
- and
- de-molding at a temperature greater than or equal to about the glass transition temperature of the cured solid or cured closed or open cell foam to form the downhole element,
- wherein the downhole element is thermally activated between an actuated and unactuated shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.