Degradable plugs
A downhole apparatus for use in a tubular can include: a mandrel having a first end shoulder; a first slip disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first end shoulder and abutting against a mule shoe; a cone disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first slip and movable relative to the first end shoulder to engage the first slip toward the tubular; a seal element disposed on the mandrel adjacent the cone and being expandable outward from the mandrel; and wherein at least one component selected from the group consisting of the mandrel, the first slip, the cone, the seal element, and the mule shoe is a filler-doped degradable component that comprise a degradable material and a filler.
1. A downhole apparatus for use in a tubular, the downhole apparatus comprising:
a mandrel having a first end shoulder;
a first slip disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first end shoulder and abutting against a mule shoe;
a cone disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first slip and movable relative to the first end shoulder to engage the first slip toward the tubular;
a seal element disposed on the mandrel adjacent the cone and being expandable outward from the mandrel; and
wherein at least one component selected from the group consisting of the mandrel, the first slip, the cone, the seal element, and the mule shoe is a first filler-doped degradable component that comprise a degradable material and a filler, and
wherein the apparatus further comprises a ball for actuating the downhole apparatus, and wherein the ball is a second filler-doped degradable component.
2. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the filler is dispersed in the degradable material.
3. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the filler is a preform encased with the degradable material.
4. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the filler is at 10 vol % to 80 vol % of the filler-doped degradable component.
5. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the filler is at 50 vol % to 80 vol % of the filler-doped degradable component.
6. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the filler comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of: glass beads, hollow glass beads, sand, aluminum oxide particles, aluminum oxide particles, silicon carbide particles, tungsten carbide particles, and a combination thereof.
7. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the filler comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of: calcium carbonate, benzoic acid, magnesium oxide, sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, ammonium sulfate, and a combination thereof.
8. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the filler comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of: titanium particles, platinum particles, rhodium particles, gold particles, gold-platinum alloy particles, silver particles, and a combination thereof.
9. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the filler comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of: low-density polyethlyene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethlyene oxide, polypropylene oxide, polytetrafluoroethylene, phenolic resins, polyether ether ketone, nylon, and a combination thereof.
10. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the degradable material comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of: polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), lactic acid/glycolic acid copolymer (PLGA), polyvinyl alcohol, polysaccharides, starches, polyanhydrides, polyorthoesters, polycaprolactones, and a combination thereof.
11. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the degradable material comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of: nickel, nickel-copper alloys, nickel-chromium alloys, aluminum, aluminum alloys, copper, copper alloys, chromium, tin, tin alloys, iron, iron alloys, zinc, zinc alloys, magnesium, magnesium alloys, beryllium, beryllium alloys, calcium alloys, and a combination thereof.
12. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one component is at least two components and the at least two components have different fillers.
13. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one component is at least two components and the at least two components have different volume percents of fillers.
14. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one component is at least two components and the at least two components have different degradable materials.
15. A method comprising:
placing a downhole apparatus in a tubular downhole of a desired fracturing zone, wherein the downhole apparatus comprises:
a mandrel having a first end shoulder;
a first slip disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first end shoulder and abutting against a mule shoe;
a cone disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first slip and movable relative to the first end shoulder to engage the first slip toward the tubular;
a seal element disposed on the mandrel adjacent the cone and being expandable outward from the mandrel; and
wherein at least one component selected from the group consisting of the mandrel, the first slip, the cone, the seal element, and the mule shoe is a first filler-doped degradable component that comprise a degradable material and a filler, and
wherein the apparatus further comprises a ball for actuating the downhole apparatus, and wherein the ball is a second filler-doped degradable component;
supplying a signal to the downhole apparatus causing the seal element to expand outward from the mandrel;
performing a fracturing operation in the desired fracturing zone; and,
allowing the filler-doped degradable component to degrade.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the filler is dispersed in the degradable material.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the filler is a preform encased with the degradable material.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the filler is at 10 vol % to 80 vol % of the filler-doped degradable component.
19. A downhole apparatus for use in a tubular, the downhole apparatus comprising:
a mandrel having a first end shoulder;
a first slip disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first end shoulder and abutting against a mule shoe;
a cone disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first slip and movable relative to the first end shoulder to engage the first slip toward the tubular;
a seal element disposed on the mandrel adjacent the cone and being expandable outward from the mandrel; and
wherein at least one component selected from the group consisting of the mandrel, the first slip, the cone, the seal element, and the mule shoe is a filler-doped degradable component that comprise a degradable material and a filler, and
wherein the filler is a preform encased with the degradable material.
20. A method comprising:
placing a downhole apparatus in a tubular downhole of a desired fracturing zone, wherein the downhole apparatus comprises:
a mandrel having a first end shoulder;
a first slip disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first end shoulder and abutting against a mule shoe;
a cone disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first slip and movable relative to the first end shoulder to engage the first slip toward the tubular;
a seal element disposed on the mandrel adjacent the cone and being expandable outward from the mandrel; and
wherein at least one component selected from the group consisting of the mandrel, the first slip, the cone, the seal element, and the mule shoe is a filler-doped degradable component that comprise a degradable material and a filler, and
wherein the filler is a preform encased with the degradable material;
supplying a signal to the downhole apparatus causing the seal element to expand outward from the mandrel;
performing a fracturing operation in the desired fracturing zone; and,
allowing the filler-doped degradable component to degrade.