IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,859,449
Granted Patent B2
US 11,859,449 · App. 17/643,657 · Granted Jan 2, 2024

Systems for a dissolvable material based downhole tool

Inventors: Bodong Li (Dhahran, SA); Jianhui Xu (Dhahran, SA); Abrar Alshaikh (Saihat, SA); Chinthaka P. Gooneratne (Dhahran, SA); Guodong Zhan (Dhahran, SA)
Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
E21B47/138E21B34/063E21B2200/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,859,449
App. No.
17/643,657
Granted
Jan 2, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A downhole sub has a body defined by a wall extending in an axial direction from a first end to a second end. An inner surface of the wall defines a flow path through the downhole sub and an outer surface of the wall defines an outer diameter of the downhole sub. A compartment extends from the outer surface into the wall to having a depth less than a thickness of the wall. A housing may be removably fixed in the compartment. One or more mobile devices may be disposed in the housing. Each of the one or more mobile devices includes a sensor encapsulated in a protective material. A control element may block an opening of the housing, the control element is made of a dissolvable material configured to dissolve at a predetermined depth in a wellbore and release the one or more mobile devices into the wellbore.

Claims (39)

1. A downhole sub comprising:

a body defined by a wall extending in an axial direction from a first end to a second end, wherein an inner surface of the wall defines a flow path through the downhole sub and an outer surface of the wall defines an outer diameter of the downhole sub;

a compartment extending from the outer surface into the wall to having a depth less than a thickness of the wall;

a housing removably fixed in the compartment;

one or more mobile devices disposed in the housing, wherein each of the one or more mobile devices comprises a sensor encapsulated in a protective material;

a plug blocking an opening of the housing, wherein the plug is made of a dissolvable material configured to dissolve at a predetermined depth in a wellbore and release the one or more mobile devices into the wellbore

wherein the housing comprises a storage compartment to store the one or more mobile devices, and

wherein the opening extends a length from a top surface of the housing to the storage compartment, and the plug is coupled into the opening, and

a back lid removably fixed in a slot of the housing to close a bottom of the storage compartment.

2. The downhole sub of claim 1 , wherein the dissolvable material is a metallic material having a magnesium based alloy or an aluminum based alloy.

3. The downhole sub of claim 1 , wherein the dissolvable material is a non-metallic material having a polyglycolic acid (PGA), polylactic acid (PLA), or polyurethane (PU).

4. The downhole sub of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the storage compartment.

5. The downhole sub of claim 4 , wherein the housing comprises a ledge configured to guide fluids into the fluid inlet.

6. A downhole sub comprising:

a body defined by a wall extending in an axial direction from a first end to a second end, wherein an inner surface of the wall defines a flow path through the downhole sub and an outer surface of the wall defines an outer diameter of the downhole sub;

a compartment extending from the outer surface into the wall to having a depth less than a thickness of the wall;

a housing removably fixed in the compartment;

one or more mobile devices disposed in the housing, wherein each of the one or more mobile devices comprises a sensor encapsulated in a protective material; and

a plug blocking an opening of the housing, wherein the plug is made of a dissolvable material configured to dissolve at a predetermined depth in a wellbore and release the one or more mobile devices into the wellbore,

wherein the housing comprises a storage compartment to store the one or more mobile devices,

wherein the opening extends a length from a top surface of the housing to the storage compartment, and the plug is coupled into the opening, and

wherein the housing comprises a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the storage compartment.

7. The downhole sub of claim 6 , further comprising a back lid removably fixed in a slot of the housing to close a bottom of the storage compartment.

8. The downhole sub of claim 6 , wherein the housing comprises a ledge configured to guide fluids into the fluid inlet.

9. The downhole sub of claim 6 , wherein the dissolvable material is a metallic material having a magnesium based alloy or an aluminum based alloy.

10. The downhole sub of claim 6 , wherein the dissolvable material is a non-metallic material having a polyglycolic acid (PGA), polylactic acid (PLA), or polyurethane (PU).

11. A downhole sub comprising:

a body defined by a wall extending in an axial direction from a first end to a second end, wherein an inner surface of the wall defines a flow path through the downhole sub and an outer surface of the wall defines an outer diameter of the downhole sub;

a compartment extending from the outer surface into the wall to having a depth less than a thickness of the wall;

a housing removably fixed in the compartment;

one or more mobile devices disposed in the housing, wherein each of the one or more mobile devices comprises a sensor encapsulated in a protective material; and

a plug blocking an opening of the housing, wherein the plug is made of a dissolvable material configured to dissolve at a predetermined depth in a wellbore and release the one or more mobile devices into the wellbore,

wherein the housing comprises a storage compartment to store the one or more mobile devices,

wherein the opening extends a length from a top surface of the housing to the storage compartment, and the plug is coupled into the opening,

wherein the housing comprises a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the storage compartment, and

wherein the housing comprises a ledge configured to guide fluids into the fluid inlet.

12. The downhole sub of claim 11 , further comprising a back lid removably fixed in a slot of the housing to close a bottom of the storage compartment.

13. The downhole sub of claim 11 , wherein the dissolvable material is a metallic material having a magnesium based alloy or an aluminum based alloy.

14. The downhole sub of claim 11 , wherein the dissolvable material is a non-metallic material having a polyglycolic acid (PGA), polylactic acid (PLA), or polyurethane (PU).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2022
From: LI, BODONG; XU, JIANHUI; ALSHAIKH, ABRAR; GOONERATNE, CHINTHAKA P.; ZHAN, GUODONG
To: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
Reel/Frame 058672/0204 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230184103A1 · Jun 15, 2023
Cited By (1)
US 12,655,712