Systems and methods for anchoring a sub-surface completion unit in a wellbore
A thru-tubing completion system includes a sub-surface completion unit (SCU) configured to pass through a production tubing disposed in a wellbore in at least an open holed portion of the wellbore and perform completion operations in the target zone. The SCU includes an expandable liner; and one or more SCU anchoring seals configured to be positioned in an un-deployed position and a deployed position. The un-deployed position of the one or more SCU anchoring seals enables the SCU to pass through the production tubing, and the deployed position of the one or more SCU anchoring seals provides a seal against a wall of the open holed portion of the wellbore to provide zonal isolation between regions in the wellbore. The one or more SCU anchoring seals includes a chemically active expandable metal configured to expand in the deployed position to provide the seal against the wall of the open holed portion of the wellbore.
1 . A thru-tubing completion system, comprising:
a sub-surface completion unit (SCU) configured to pass through a production tubing disposed in a wellbore in at least an open holed portion of the wellbore and perform completion operations in the target zone, the SCU comprising:
an expandable liner;
one or more SCU anchoring seals configured to be positioned in an un-deployed position and a deployed position, the un-deployed position of the one or more SCU anchoring seals enabling the SCU to pass through the production tubing, and the deployed position of the one or more SCU anchoring seals providing a seal against a wall of the open holed portion of the wellbore to provide zonal isolation between regions in the wellbore, the one or more SCU anchoring seals comprising a chemically active expandable metal configured to expand in the deployed position to provide the seal against the wall of the open holed portion of the wellbore; and
an enclosure configured to carry the chemically active expandable metal on the expandable liner in the un-deployed position, the enclosure comprising an elastic expandable mesh or porous bag configured to expand during a transition between the un-deployed positioned and the deployed position while enclosing the chemically active expandable metal, the elastic expandable mesh or porous bag configured to expand to accommodate a radial growth of the chemically active expandable metal, the chemically active expandable metal formed as a scroll mesh that is furled in the un-deployed position and unfurled in the deployed position.
2 . The thru-tubing completion system of claim 1 , wherein the expandable liner comprises a groove formed on an outer surface, and the enclosure is positioned in the groove in the undeployed positioned.
3 . The thru-tubing completion system of claim 1 , wherein the chemically active expandable metal comprises a metal alkaline, a transition metal, or a post-transition metal.
4 . The thru-tubing completion system of claim 1 , wherein the chemically active expandable metal is configured to expand in contact with one or more wellbore fluids in a hydration reaction in the wellbore.
5 . The thru-tubing completion system of claim 1 , wherein the SCU further comprises one or more swellable elements positioned on the expandable liner adjacent the one or more SCU anchoring seals.
6 . The thru-tubing completion system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more swellable elements is coupled to the expandable liner with breakable elastic member.
7 . The thru-tubing completion system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more swellable elements acts as a sealing ring at an axial end of the chemically active expandable metal.
8 . The thru-tubing completion system of claim 1 , wherein the scroll mesh comprises a plurality of layers that comprise the chemically reactive expandable metal.
9 . The thru-tubing completion system of claim 8 , wherein the elastic expandable mesh or porous bag comprises pores sized to physically retain the chemically reactive expandable metal before, during, and after the expansion of the chemically reactive expandable metal, and the chemically reactive expandable metal is configured to conform to a volume in the elastic expandable mesh or porous bag.
10 . The thru-tubing completion system of claim 1 , wherein the elastic expandable mesh or porous bag comprises pores sized to physically retain the chemically reactive expandable metal before, during, and after the expansion of the chemically reactive expandable metal.
11 . The thru-tubing completion system of claim 10 , wherein the chemically reactive expandable metal is configured to conform to a volume in the elastic expandable mesh or porous bag.
12 . A method of sealing a wellbore, comprising:
running a sub-surface completion unit (SCU) through a production tubing disposed in a wellbore to at least an open holed portion of the wellbore and perform completion operations in the target zone, the SCU comprising:
an expandable liner;
one or more SCU anchoring seals in an un-deployed position to enable the SCU to pass through the production tubing, the one or more SCU anchoring seals comprising a chemically active expandable metal; and
an enclosure configured to carry the chemically active expandable metal on the expandable liner in the un-deployed position, the enclosure comprising an elastic expandable mesh or porous bag;
activating the one or more SCU anchoring seals from the un-deployed position to a deployed position by expanding the chemically active expandable metal, wherein the chemically active expandable metal is formed as a scroll mesh that is furled in the un-deployed position and unfurled in the deployed position;
during expansion of the chemically active expandable metal, expanding the elastic expandable mesh or porous bag to accommodate a radial growth of the expandable liner from the un-deployed position to the deployed position; and
sealing the expandable liner against a wall of the open holed portion of the wellbore to provide zonal isolation between regions in the wellbore with the one or more SCU anchoring seals in the deployed position.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the expandable liner comprises a groove formed on an outer surface, and the enclosure is positioned in the groove in the undeployed positioned.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the chemically active expandable metal comprises a metal alkaline, a transition metal, or a post-transition metal.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the chemically active expandable metal expands in contact with one or more wellbore fluids in a hydration reaction in the wellbore.
16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the SCU further comprises one or more swellable elements positioned on the expandable liner adjacent the one or more SCU anchoring seals.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the one or more swellable elements is coupled to the expandable liner with breakable elastic member.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the one or more swellable elements acts as a sealing ring at an axial end of the chemically active expandable metal.
19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the scroll mesh comprises a plurality of layers that comprise the chemically reactive expandable metal.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the elastic expandable mesh or porous bag comprises pores sized to physically retain the chemically reactive expandable metal before, during, and after the expansion of the chemically reactive expandable metal, and the chemically reactive expandable metal is configured to conform to a volume in the elastic expandable mesh or porous bag.
21 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the elastic expandable mesh or porous bag comprises pores sized to physically retain the chemically reactive expandable metal before, during, and after the expansion of the chemically reactive expandable metal.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the chemically reactive expandable metal is configured to conform to a volume in the elastic expandable mesh or porous bag.