Methods, systems, and devices for sealing stage tool leaks with meltable alloy
Methods, systems, and devices for sealing stage tool leaks are disclosed. In one aspect a stage tool for wellbore cementing comprises an external stage tool body and a sliding sleeve within the external stage tool body configured to regulate cement flow through the stage tool. At least a portion of the sliding sleeve comprises a meltable alloy configured to seal a leak. The meltable alloy is configured to be melted by a heating source, flow into the leak, and resolidify as the melted alloy cools, thereby sealing the leak.
1. A stage tool for wellbore cementing, comprising:
an external stage tool body; and
a sliding sleeve within the external stage tool body configured to regulate cement flow through the stage tool;
wherein the external stage tool body comprises a body cement port; and the sliding sleeve comprises a sleeve cement port;
wherein the sliding sleeve is configured to have a closed configuration wherein the body cement port and the sleeve cement port are not aligned, and an open configuration wherein the body cement port and the sleeve cement port are aligned to allow cement flow to a wellbore;
wherein the sliding sleeve comprises a meltable alloy configured to seal a leak; and
wherein the meltable alloy is configured to be melted by a heating source, flow into the leak, and resolidify as the melted alloy cools, thereby sealing the leak.
2. The stage tool of claim 1 , wherein the meltable alloy is a bismuth-containing alloy.
3. The stage tool of claim 2 , wherein the bismuth-containing alloy comprises germanium.
4. The stage tool of claim 3 , wherein the bismuth-containing alloy further comprises copper, lead, tin, cadmium, indium, antimony, gallium, or silver.
5. The stage tool of claim 1 , wherein the meltable alloy is a solder.
6. The stage tool of claim 1 , wherein the meltable alloy is a eutectic alloy.
7. The stage tool of claim 1 , wherein the heating source is a thermite heater.
8. The stage tool of claim 1 , wherein the thermite heater comprises a damping agent.
9. The stage tool of claim 1 , wherein the sliding sleeve is configured for longitudinal sliding from said closed configuration to said open configuration.
10. The stage tool of claim 1 , wherein the external stage tool body comprises a backstop positioned to shield the body cement port and prevent cooled alloy from blowing out of the body cement port during pressure testing.
11. The stage tool of claim 1 , wherein the sliding sleeve has an aluminum backing on an inner side configured to restrain the melted alloy from flowing into an inside of the stage tool.
12. The stage tool of claim 11 , wherein the aluminum backing is configured to guide the melted alloy through the sleeve cement port and the body cement port to a backstop on the external stage tool body.
13. A method of sealing a leak in a stage tool, comprising:
delivering a heating source to the stage tool of claim 1 having a leak;
melting a portion of the sliding sleeve using the heating source to form melted alloy;
causing the melted alloy to flow into the leak; and
resolidifying the melted alloy thereby sealing the leak.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the meltable alloy is a bismuth-containing alloy.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the bismuth-containing alloy comprises germanium.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the heating source is a thermite heater.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the thermite heater comprises a damping agent.
18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising guiding the melted alloy to the location of the leak and confining the melted alloy at the location of the leak using a backing sleeve or a backstop fixture.