Granted Patent B2

US 12,345,119 · App. 17/334,099 · Granted Jul 1, 2025

Inventors: Stephen Michael Greci (Carrollton, TX); Michael Linley Fripp (Carrollton, TX); Brandon T. Least (Carrollton, TX)

Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

E21B33/1212E21B33/129

Abstract

Claims (31)

1. A downhole tool, comprising:

a tubular;

a first wire of expandable metal placed about the tubular, the first wire of expandable metal comprising a first metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis and having a surface-area-to-volume ratio (SA:V) of at least 2 cm −1 ; and

a second different wire of expandable metal placed about the tubular, the second different wire of expandable metal comprising a second metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis.

2. The downhole tool as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first wire has a surface-area-to-volume ratio (SA:V) of at least 5 cm −1 .

3. The downhole tool as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first wire has a surface-area-to-volume ratio (SA:V) of less than 100 cm −1 .

4. The downhole tool as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first wire has a surface-area-to-volume ratio (SA:V) ranging from 5 cm −1 to 50 cm −1 .

5. The downhole tool as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first wire has a surface-area-to-volume ratio (SA:V) ranging from 10 cm −1 to 20 cm −1 .

6. The downhole tool as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first wire has a first reaction rate and the second different wire has a second different reaction rate.

7. The downhole tool as recited in claim 6 , wherein the first wire has the surface-area-to-volume ratio (SA:V) of at least 10 cm −1 and the second different wire has a second lesser surface-area-to-volume ratio (SA:V), the second lesser surface-area-to-volume ratio (SA:V) causing the second different reaction rate to be slower than the first reaction rate.

8. The downhole tool as recited in claim 6 , wherein the first wire comprises a first expandable metal having the first reaction rate and the second different wire comprises a second different expandable metal having a second lesser reaction rate.

9. The downhole tool as recited in claim 1 , further including a sleeve covering the first wire and the second different wire.

10. The downhole tool as recited in claim 9 , wherein the sleeve is a solid sleeve.

11. The downhole tool as recited in claim 9 , wherein the sleeve includes openings therein for allowing reactive fluid to contact the first wire and second different wire.

12. The downhole tool as recited in claim 9 , wherein the sleeve comprises a metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis.

13. The downhole tool as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first wire is configured such that voids exist between adjacent portions of the first wire.

14. The downhole tool as recited in claim 13 , further including a material configured to delay the hydrolysis at least partially filling the voids.

15. The downhole tool as recited in claim 13 , further including a material configured to expedite the hydrolysis at least partially filling the voids.

16. A method for sealing within a well system, comprising:

positioning a downhole tool within a wellbore extending toward a subterranean formation, the downhole tool including:

a tubular;

a first wire of expandable metal placed about the tubular, the first wire of expandable metal comprising a first metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis and having a surface-area-to-volume ratio (SA:V) of at least 2 cm −1 ; and

a second different wire of expandable metal placed about the tubular, the second different wire of expandable metal comprising a second metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis; and

subjecting the first wire and second different wire to reactive fluid to form one or more expanded metal seal elements.

17. A well system, comprising:

a wellbore extending toward a subterranean formation;

a conveyance positioned within the wellbore; and

a downhole tool coupled to the conveyance, the downhole tool including:

a tubular;

a first wire of expandable metal placed about the tubular, the first wire of expandable metal comprising a first metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis and having a surface-area-to-volume ratio (SA:V) of at least 2 cm −1 ; and

a second different wire of expandable metal placed about the tubular, the second different wire of expandable metal comprising a second metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (342)