IP Library Granted Patent US 11,346,178
Granted Patent B2
US 11,346,178 · App. 16/960,240 · Granted May 31, 2022

Degradable downhole plug

Inventors: Shinya Takahashi (Tokyo, JP); Aki Shitsukawa (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Kureha Corporation
E21B33/129
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,346,178
App. No.
16/960,240
Granted
May 31, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A downhole plug for well completion is provided, which rapidly degrades after hydraulic fracturing, so that the flow path is recovered in a short time. A downhole plug ( 10 ) is provided, which includes: a mandrel ( 1 ) made of a degradable material; and a plurality of peripheral members ( 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 a, 6 b, 8 a, 8 b ) made of a degradable material and disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the mandrel ( 1 ), where at least one of the plurality of peripheral members ( 6 a, 6 b ) includes: a hollow portion ( 64 ) through which a fluid flowing along an axial direction of the mandrel ( 1 ) can pass; or a groove in at least a portion of, a surface serving as an outer surface of the downhole plug ( 10 ), or a surface in contact with the mandrel ( 1 ).

Claims (32)

1. A downhole plug, comprising:

a mandrel made of a degradable material; and

a plurality of peripheral members made of a degradable material and provided on an outer peripheral surface of the mandrel, wherein

at least one of the plurality of peripheral members includes a hollow portion, wherein the hollow portion is a through hole, and wherein the hollow portion is configured to pass a fluid flowing along an axial direction of the mandrel through the peripheral member provided with the hollow portion, and that the fluid degrades the degradable material of a wall defining the hollow portion of the peripheral member,

wherein the peripheral member provided with the hollow portion is a cone, and wherein the cone has a groove in a portion of a surface in contact with a slip.

2. The downhole plug according to claim 1 , wherein an opening is present on the surface of the peripheral member provided with the hollow portion of the downhole plug after setting of the downhole plug.

3. The downhole plug according to claim 1 , wherein

the hollow portion has a circular cross section.

4. The downhole plug according to claim 3 , wherein a diameter of the hollow portion is 1 mm or more and 10 mm or less.

5. The downhole plug according to claim 4 , wherein the degradable material of the peripheral member provided with the hollow portion is a metal alloy which contains magnesium, aluminum or calcium as a main component, and the diameter of the hollow portion is 3 mm or more.

6. The downhole plug according to claim 1 , wherein

the at least one of peripheral members is a slip or a cone.

7. The downhole plug according to claim 1 , wherein

the at least one of peripheral members has the hollow portion, and

the hollow portion is positioned in a cross section that is perpendicular to the axial direction of the mandrel, such that a maximum length of a continuous portion with respect to a thickness in a radial direction of the peripheral member is from 47% to 91%.

8. The downhole plug according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral member provided with the hollow portion is a slip, and wherein

the downhole plug further comprises a cone made of a degradable material and has a face contacting with the slip, wherein the face has a groove extending to a peripheral direction of the mandrel.

9. A downhole plug, comprising:

a mandrel made of a degradable material; and

a plurality of peripheral members made of a degradable material and provided on an outer peripheral surface of the mandrel, wherein

at least one of the plurality of peripheral members includes a hollow portion, wherein the hollow portion is a through hole, and wherein the hollow portion is configured to pass a fluid flowing along an axial direction of the mandrel through the peripheral member provided with the hollow portion, and that the fluid degrades the degradable material of a wall defining the hollow portion of the peripheral member,

wherein the peripheral member provided with the hollow portion is a cone, and wherein the cone has a groove radially extending along a direction from an axis of the mandrel to the outer peripheral of the cone.

10. The downhole plug according to claim 9 , wherein an opening is present on the surface of the peripheral member provided with the hollow portion of the downhole plug after setting of the downhole plug.

11. The downhole plug according to claim 9 , wherein

the hollow portion has a circular cross section.

12. The downhole plug according to claim 11 , wherein a diameter of the hollow portion is 1 mm or more and 10 mm or less.

13. The downhole plug according to claim 12 , wherein the degradable material of the peripheral member provided with the hollow portion is a metal alloy which contains magnesium, aluminum or calcium as a main component, and the diameter of the hollow portion is 3 mm or more.

14. The downhole plug according to claim 9 , wherein

the at least one of peripheral members is a slip or a cone.

15. The downhole plug according to claim 9 , wherein

the at least one of peripheral members has the hollow portion, and

the hollow portion is positioned in a cross section that is perpendicular to the axial direction of the mandrel, such that a maximum length of a continuous portion with respect to a thickness in a radial direction of the peripheral member is from 47% to 91%.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2020
From: TAKAHASHI, SHINYA; SHITSUKAWA, AKI
To: KUREHA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 053126/0931 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2018-012943 · Jan 29, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210062609A1 · Mar 4, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,305,769