Disintegrable centralizer
View Patent ↗A system including a first component, a second component disposed radially adjacent to the first component, and a centralizer disposed between the first component and the second component for at least partially filling a radial clearance between the first component and the second component. The centralizer is formed at least partially from a disintegrable material responsive to a selected fluid. A method of completing a borehole is also included.
1. A system comprising:
a mill;
an outer casing disposed radially adjacent to the mill; and
a centralizer disposed between the mill and the outer casing, the centralizer comprising one or more deformable elements that radially extend under axial compression, the centralizer formed at least partially from a disintegrable material responsive to a selected fluid; wherein the centralizer is operatively arranged to transition from a first set of dimensions suitable for running the centralizer into a desired location to a second set of dimensions that is radially expanded with respect to the first set, and wherein the mill is operatively arranged to assist in transitioning the centralizer from the first set of dimensions to the second set of dimensions.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more deformable elements are spring-like and the centralizer resiliently transition between the first and second set of dimensions.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the centralizer is axially compressed by an actuator.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the actuator includes a pressurizable chamber.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the centralizer is axially compressed against a shoulder of the mill while transitioning between the first and second set of dimensions.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the degradable material is a metal composite including:
a cellular nanomatrix comprising a metallic nanomatrix material;
a metal matrix disposed in the cellular nanomatrix; and
a disintegration agent.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the centralizer has a disintegration rate tailorable between about 1 mg/cm 2 /hr to about 10,000 mg/cm 2 /hr.
8. A method of completing a borehole comprising:
disposing a centralizer between a mill and an outer casing, the centralizer comprising one or more deformable elements that radially extend under axial compression;
axially compressing the centralizer to reduce a radial gap between the mill and the outer casing;
milling the outer casing with the mill and stabilizing the mill with the centralizer; and,
disintegrating the centralizer by exposure to a selected fluid.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising transitioning the centralizer from a first set of dimensions to a second set of dimensions that are radially expanded with respect to the first set.