Back to results
US 9,260,935 B2Granted
Degradable balls for use in subterranean applications
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsZachary Ryan Murphree, Michael Linley Fripp, Zachary William Walton, Feng Liang, Dwight Fulton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Degradable balls for downhole use may include an incompliant degradable polymer and a compliant filler material, the incompliant degradable polymer having an elastic modulus of about 2 GPa or greater, and the compliant filler material having an elastic modulus of less than about 2 GPa. Such degradable balls may be useful in sealing segments of a wellbore and actuating wellbore tools.
Claims16
A method comprising:
- introducing a degradable ball into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, wherein the degradable ball comprises an incompliant degradable polymer and a compliant filler material, the incompliant degradable polymer having an elastic modulus of about 2 GPa or greater, and the compliant filler material having an elastic modulus of less than about 2 GPa;
- seating the degradable ball in a baffle arranged within the wellbore, and thereby reducing a fluid flow through the baffle and defining an upper segment of the wellbore and a lower segment of the wellbore;
- treating the upper segment of the wellbore;
- and
- degrading the degradable ball and thereby returning fluid connectivity between the upper segment of the wellbore and the lower segment of the wellbore.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- introducing a degradable ball into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation and having a wellbore tool arranged therein, wherein the wellbore tool is configured to receive the degradable ball, wherein the degradable ball comprises an incompliant degradable polymer and a compliant filler material, the incompliant degradable polymer having an elastic modulus of about 2 GPa or greater, and the compliant filler material having an elastic modulus of less than about 2 GPa;
- seating the degradable ball on the wellbore tool and thereby reducing the fluid flow through at least a portion of the wellbore tool;
- applying a differential pressure across the degradable ball seated on the wellbore tool and thereby actuating the wellbore tool;
- and
- degrading the degradable ball.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.