Plugging device deployment in subterranean wells
AssigneeThru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
InventorsBrock W. Watson, Andrew M. Ferguson, Roger L. Schultz, Gary P. Funkhouser, Jenna N. Robertson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of releasing plugging devices into a wellbore can include conveying a dispensing tool to a desired downhole location in the wellbore, the dispensing tool including a container, and then releasing the plugging devices from the container into the wellbore at the downhole location. A plugging device dispensing system for use with a subterranean well can include a dispensing tool having a container configured for containing multiple plugging devices, and an actuator operable to release the plugging devices from the container at a downhole location in the well.
Claims28
A method of releasing plugging devices into a subterranean well, the method comprising:
- conveying a dispensing tool to a desired downhole location in the well, the dispensing tool including a container which contains the plugging devices, wherein each of the plugging devices comprises a body, and wherein the body of each of the plugging devices comprises a knot which is configured to substantially block fluid from flowing outward through an opening in the well formed through a wall of a tubular string, the knot being too large to pass through the opening, whereby the knot can engage the opening but cannot pass through the opening;
- and
- then releasing the plugging devices from the container into the well at the downhole location.
A plugging device dispensing system for use with a subterranean well, the dispensing system comprising:
- a dispensing tool including:
- a) a container containing multiple plugging devices, wherein each of the plugging devices comprises a body, and wherein the body of each of the plugging devices comprises a knot which is configured to substantially block fluid from flowing outward through an opening in the well formed through a wall of a tubular string, the knot being too large to pass through the opening, whereby the knot can engage the opening but cannot pass through the opening;
- and
- b) an actuator operable to release the plugging devices from the container at a downhole location in the well.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.