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US RE45,849 E1Granted
Application of degradable polymers in sand control
OwnerClaude E. Cooke, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Degradable polylactic or polyhydroxyalkanoate polymers may be used to viscosify aqueous fluids for use in wells, Sand control screen or liner can be coated with a solid degradable polymer during placement in a well. Mechanical changes or flow changes in a well can be caused by solid degradable polymer that changes physical properties after it is placed in a well. Parts of devices or entire devices can be made of solid degradable polymer that converts to a fluid after selected times in an aqueous environment in a well.
Claims8
A method for gravel packing a well, comprising:
- placing a screen or liner in the well, the screen or liner having a solid hydrolytically degradable polymeric coating, the polymer comprising a polyester, the coating covering the screen or liner to initially prevent entry of particles or fluid flow into or out of the screen or liner;
- gravel packing the well;
- and
- allowing the polymer to degrade to form a material that can be displaced from the well.
1 more element
A method for gravel packing a well, comprising:
- placing a sand control screen or liner in the well, the screen or liner having a base pipe or mandrel with apertures therein plugged with a solid hydrolytically degradable polymer, the polymer comprising a polyester.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.