IP Library Granted Patent US 11,613,688
Granted Patent B2
US 11,613,688 · App. 16/248,595 · Granted Mar 28, 2023

Wellbore isolation devices with degradable non-metallic components

Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp (Carrollton, TX); Zachary William Walton (Duncan, OK)
Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SEVICES, INC.
C09K8/426C09K8/428C22C21/00C22C23/02C22C23/04E21B33/12E21B33/128E21B33/1208E21B33/1293E21B33/1294E21B33/134E21B34/06E21B43/11E21B43/26
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,613,688
App. No.
16/248,595
Granted
Mar 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Wellbore isolation devices, methods of use, and downhole tools and systems comprising the wellbore isolation devices. A wellbore isolation device comprises a component selected from the group consisting of a mandrel, a packer element, a sealing ball, a wedge, a slip, a mule shoe, a wiper element, a wiper body, and any combination thereof; wherein the component comprises a degradable non-metallic material that degrades upon exposure to a wellbore environment; and wherein the degradable non-metallic material is a composite material comprising a non-epoxy matrix material and a reinforcing material.

Claims (29)

1. A wellbore isolation device comprising:

a component selected from the group consisting of a mandrel, a packer element, a wedge, a slip, a mule shoe, a wiper element, a wiper body, and any combination thereof; wherein the component comprises a degradable non-metallic material that degrades upon exposure to a wellbore environment; and wherein the degradable non-metallic material is a composite material comprising a non-epoxy matrix material and a reinforcing material; wherein the non-epoxy matrix material is selected from the group consisting of: a thiol-based polymer; a hyaluronic acid rubber; a polyethylene terephthalate polymer; a polybutylene succinate polymer; a polyhydroxy alkanoic acid polymer; a polybutylene terephthalate polymer; a polyepichlorohydrin; a copolymer of ethylene oxide/polyepichlorohydrin; a terpolymer of epichlorohydrin/ethylene oxide/allyl glycidyl ether; copolymers thereof; terpolymers thereof; and any combination thereof; wherein the reinforcing material is a fiber material selected from the group consisting of carbon black, graphene, fullerene, silica fibers, natural fibers, and any combination thereof; wherein the fiber material is treated with a silane-, siloxane-, or amine-based coupling agent.

2. The wellbore isolation device of claim 1 , wherein the matrix material is an elastomer.

3. The wellbore isolation device of claim 1 , further comprising a second reinforcing material that is a particulate material selected from the group consisting of organophilic clay, silica flour, metal oxide, silicates, aluminosilicates, carbon, sand, bauxite, ceramic materials, silicon carbide, alumina, glass materials, polymer materials, polytetrafluoroethylene materials, nut shell pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising nut shell pieces, seed shell pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising seed shell pieces, fruit pit pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising fruit pit pieces, wood, minerals, composite particulates, and any combination thereof.

4. The wellbore isolation device of claim 1 , wherein the fiber has a length-to-diameter ratio in excess of 5:1.

5. The wellbore isolation device of claim 1 , wherein the component is a first component and wherein the wellbore isolation device comprises a second component selected from the group consisting of a mandrel, a packer element, a sealing ball, a wedge, a slip, a mule shoe, a wiper element, a wiper body, and any combination thereof; wherein the second component comprises a degradable metal material.

6. The wellbore isolation device of claim 1 , wherein the component is a first component and wherein the wellbore isolation device comprises a second component selected from the group consisting of a mandrel, a packer element, a sealing ball, a wedge, a slip, a mule shoe, a wiper element, a wiper body, and any combination thereof; wherein the second component comprises a degradable metal material; wherein the wellbore isolation device comprises a third component selected from the group consisting of a mandrel, a packer element, a sealing ball, a wedge, a slip, a mule shoe, a wiper element, a wiper body, and any combination thereof; wherein the third component comprises a degradable elastomer.

7. The wellbore isolation device of claim 1 , wherein the component is a first component and wherein the wellbore isolation device comprises a second component selected from the group consisting of a mandrel, a packer element, a sealing ball, a wedge, a slip, a mule shoe, a wiper element, a wiper body, and any combination thereof; wherein the degradable non-metallic material is a first degradable non-metallic material; wherein the second component comprises a second degradable non-metallic material; wherein the second degradable non-metallic material is a non-composite material.

8. The wellbore isolation device of claim 1 , wherein the component is a first component and wherein the wellbore isolation device comprises a second component selected from the group consisting of a mandrel, a packer element, a sealing ball, a wedge, a slip, a mule shoe, a wiper element, a wiper body, and any combination thereof; wherein the second component comprises a degradable glass material.

9. The wellbore isolation device of claim 1 , wherein the non-epoxy matrix material comprises a polyethylene terephthalate polymer; and wherein the reinforcing material comprises a glass fiber having a length of about two inches or less.

10. A method comprising:

introducing a downhole tool into a wellbore, wherein the downhole tool is a wellbore isolation device comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of a mandrel, a packer element, a wedge, a slip, a mule shoe, a wiper element, a wiper body, and any combination thereof; wherein the component comprises a degradable non-metallic material that degrades upon exposure to a wellbore environment; and wherein the degradable non-metallic material is a composite material comprising a non-epoxy matrix material and a reinforcing material; wherein the non-epoxy matrix material is selected from the group consisting of: a thiol-based polymer; a hyaluronic acid rubber; a polyethylene terephthalate polymer; a polybutylene succinate polymer; a polyhydroxy alkanoic acid polymer; a polybutylene terephthalate polymer; a polyepichlorohydrin; a copolymer of ethylene oxide/polyepichlorohydrin; a terpolymer of epichlorohydrin/ethylene oxide/allyl glycidyl ether; copolymers thereof; terpolymers thereof; and

any combination thereof; wherein the reinforcing material is a fiber material selected from the group consisting of carbon black, graphene, fullerene, a silica fibers, natural fibers, and any combination thereof; wherein the fiber material is treated with a silane-, siloxane-, or amine-based coupling agent;

anchoring the downhole tool within the wellbore at a target location;

performing at least one downhole operation; and

degrading the degradable non-metallic material upon exposure to a wellbore environment.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising a second reinforcing material that is a particulate material selected from the group consisting of organophilic clay, silica flour, metal oxide, silicates, aluminosilicates, carbon, sand, bauxite, ceramic materials, silicon carbide, alumina, glass materials, polymer materials, polytetrafluoroethylene materials, nut shell pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising nut shell pieces, seed shell pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising seed shell pieces, fruit pit pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising fruit pit pieces, wood, minerals, composite particulates, and any combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the component is a first component and wherein the wellbore isolation device comprises a second component selected from the group consisting of a mandrel, a packer element, a sealing ball, a wedge, a slip, a mule shoe, a wiper element, a wiper body, and any combination thereof; wherein the second component comprises a degradable metal material.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the component is a first component and wherein the wellbore isolation device comprises a second component selected from the group consisting of a mandrel, a packer element, a sealing ball, a wedge, a slip, a mule shoe, a wiper element, a wiper body, and any combination thereof; wherein the degradable non-metallic material is a first degradable non-metallic material; wherein the second component comprises a second degradable non-metallic material; wherein the second degradable non-metallic material is a non-composite material.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the component is a first component and wherein the wellbore isolation device comprises a second component selected from the group consisting of a mandrel, a packer element, a sealing ball, a wedge, a slip, a mule shoe, a wiper element, a wiper body, and any combination thereof; wherein the second component comprises a degradable glass material.

15. A system comprising:

a conveyance connected to a service rig and extending through a surface into a wellbore in a subterranean formation; and

a downhole tool connected to the conveyance and placed in the wellbore, wherein the downhole tool is a wellbore isolation device comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of a mandrel, a packer element, a wedge, a slip, a mule shoe, a wiper element, a wiper body, and any combination thereof; wherein the component comprises a degradable non-metallic material that degrades upon exposure to a wellbore environment; and wherein the degradable non-metallic material is a composite material comprising a non-epoxy matrix material and a reinforcing material; wherein the non-epoxy matrix material is selected from the group consisting of: a thiol-based polymer; a hyaluronic acid rubber; a polyethylene terephthalate polymer; a polybutylene succinate polymer; a polyhydroxy alkanoic acid polymer; a polybutylene terephthalate polymer; a polyepichlorohydrin; a copolymer of ethylene oxide/polyepichlorohydrin; a terpolymer of epichlorohydrin/ethylene oxide/allyl glycidyl ether;

copolymers thereof; terpolymers thereof; and any combination thereof; wherein the reinforcing material is a fiber material selected from the group consisting of carbon black, graphene, fullerene, a silica fibers, natural fibers, and any combination thereof; wherein the fiber material is treated with a silane-, siloxane-, or amine-based coupling agent.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the component is a first component and wherein the wellbore isolation device comprises a second component selected from the group consisting of a mandrel, a packer element, a sealing ball, a wedge, a slip, a mule shoe, a wiper element, a wiper body, and any combination thereof; wherein the second component comprises a degradable metal material.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the component is a first component and wherein the wellbore isolation device comprises a second component selected from the group consisting of a mandrel, a packer element, a sealing ball, a wedge, a slip, a mule shoe, a wiper element, a wiper body, and any combination thereof; wherein the degradable non-metallic material is a first degradable non-metallic material; wherein the second component comprises a second degradable non-metallic material; wherein the second degradable non-metallic material is a non-composite material.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the matrix material is an elastomer.

19. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a second reinforcing material that is a particulate material selected from the group consisting of organophilic clay, silica flour, metal oxide, silicates, aluminosilicates, carbon, sand, bauxite, ceramic materials, silicon carbide, alumina, glass materials, polymer materials, polytetrafluoroethylene materials, nut shell pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising nut shell pieces, seed shell pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising seed shell pieces, fruit pit pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising fruit pit pieces, wood, minerals, composite particulates, and any combination thereof.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the fiber has a length-to-diameter ratio in excess of 5:1.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2019
From: FRIPP, MICHAEL LINLEY; WALTON, ZACHARY WILLIAM
To: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 048217/0048 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 14784829
Continuation PCTUS2014053212 · Aug 28, 2014
Related Publication 20190144733A1 · May 16, 2019