Dissolvable object with a cavity and a fluid entry point
A dissolvable untethered object for use inside a well fluid includes an internal cavity and a fluid entry point. The internal cavity contains a gas. The fluid entry point is closed and selectively openable so that the internal cavity can be filled with the well fluid flowing through the fluid entry point. A dissolving rate of the dissolvable untethered object is modified after contact of the well fluid inside the internal cavity with the dissolvable untethered object.
1. A method comprising:
placing a dissolvable untethered object, comprising an internal cavity and a fluid entry point inside a well fluid,
wherein the fluid entry point includes one or more capillarity holes, having each an average hole diameter,
wherein the fluid entry point is closed and is selectively openable, and wherein the internal cavity contains a gas;
causing the fluid entry point to open;
filling the internal cavity of the dissolvable untethered object with well fluid flowing through the one or more capillarity holes and through the fluid entry point, wherein each of the average hole diameter of the one or more capillarity holes is not modified by the filling of the internal cavity of the dissolvable untethered object; and
modifying a dissolving rate of the dissolvable untethered object.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the dissolving rate of the dissolvable untethered object comprises dissolving the dissolvable untethered object at a faster dissolving rate after contact of the well fluid inside the internal cavity with the dissolvable untethered object.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein causing the fluid entry point to open comprises:
increasing pressure of the well fluid surrounding the dissolvable untethered object; and
opening the fluid entry point upon the fluid pressure exceeding a fluid pressure rating of the fluid entry point.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein opening the fluid entry point includes applying the well fluid pressure on a pressure rated thin section and rupturing the pressure rated thin section using the well fluid pressure.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein opening the fluid entry point includes applying the well fluid pressure on a pressure relief valve and displacing a plunger of the pressure relief valve using the well fluid pressure.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein increasing the well fluid pressure occurs through hydrostatic pressure increasing due to depth of the untethered dissolving object within a wellbore, or through pump usage.
7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the dissolvable untethered object includes a material dissolvable by well fluid.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the gas is air or inert gas.
9. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
preparing, at surface, the dissolvable untethered object, by placing a selected quantity and type of catalyst particles inside the internal cavity; and
reacting the catalyst particles and the well fluid chemically upon the internal cavity of the dissolvable untethered object filling with well fluid,
wherein the dissolvable untethered object includes a material dissolvable by the product of the reaction of the catalyst particles and the well fluid.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using the dissolvable untethered object to perform a downhole operation.
11. An apparatus, for use inside a well fluid, comprising:
a dissolvable untethered object including:
an internal cavity; and
a fluid entry point;
wherein the fluid entry point includes one or more capillarity holes, having each an average hole diameter,
wherein each of the average hole diameter of the one or more capillarity holes is not modified by the filling of the internal cavity of the dissolvable untethered object,
wherein the fluid entry point is closed and selectively openable so that the internal cavity can be filled with the well fluid flowing through the fluid entry point and a dissolving rate of the dissolvable untethered object is modified after contact of the well fluid inside the internal cavity with the dissolvable untethered object, and
wherein the internal cavity contains a gas.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the dissolvable untethered object includes dissolvable material reacting with well fluid.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the gas does not dissolve the dissolvable untethered object.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the well fluid includes water, brine, acid solution, gel solution, produced fluid such as produced water and hydrocarbons.
15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the fluid entry point is configured for opening upon the fluid pressure surrounding the dissolvable untethered object exceeding a fluid pressure rating of the fluid entry point.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , whereby the fluid entry point activated by fluid pressure includes a thin section, such as rupture disc or a pressure relief valve.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the fluid pressure rating is within a pressure interval ranging from 1 psi to 30,000 psi [0.007 MPa to 200 MPa].
18. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the dissolvable untethered object is a sphere, a dart, a pill, or a polyhedron.
19. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a selected quantity and type of catalyst particles,
wherein the catalyst particles are capable of reacting with the well fluid upon the internal cavity being filled with the well fluid flowing through the fluid entry point; and
wherein the dissolvable untethered object includes a material dissolvable by the product of the reaction of the catalyst particles and the well fluid.
20. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the average hole diameter of the one or more capillarity holes of the fluid entry point is within 0.1 mm to 5 mm [0.004 in to 0.2 in].