IP Library Granted Patent US 10,947,809
Granted Patent B2
US 10,947,809 · App. 16/539,711 · Granted Mar 16, 2021

Dissolvable frac plug

Inventors: Ganesh Subbaraman (Houston, TX); Tyler Roberts (Houston, TX); Ian Beckett (Houston, TX)
Assignee: GRYPHON OILFIELD SOLUTIONS, LLC
E21B33/1208E21B34/063
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,947,809
App. No.
16/539,711
Granted
Mar 16, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A dissolvable frac plug is disclosed. The dissolvable frac plug has an internal chamber surrounded by an external wall with the chamber containing a dry powder component in an amount sufficient to combine with ground water or other wellbore fluids to form a solution or environment that enhances dissolution of the plug. The dry powder is released from the chamber as a portion or portions of the external wall dissolves due to contact with water or other wellbore fluids.

Claims (25)

1. A dissolvable frac plug comprising a mandrel having an axial flowbore running through a central axis of the dissolvable frac plug; a first wall structure forming a first chamber concentric to the mandrel, wherein the first wall structure comprises an external wall portion forming an external wall of the plug; wherein the first chamber contains a material in an amount sufficient to combine with at least one of a chemical compound, water, and a wellbore fluid to form a solution or environment that enhances dissolution of the plug, wherein the external wall portion includes an opening to allow filling or packing of the first chamber with the material and after filling or packing of the first chamber with the material, the opening is filled with a substance that minimally reacts with water and well bore fluids and blocks water and wellbore fluids, and wherein at least a portion of the external wall portion is configured to dissolve, prior to the material combining with the at least one of the chemical compound, the water, and the wellbore fluid, due to contact with at least one of water and a wellbore fluid present on a side of the external wall portion opposite the first chamber.

2. The dissolvable frac plug of claim 1 , wherein the external wall portion is made of a magnesium or alloy thereof.

3. The dissolvable frac plug of claim 1 further comprises a second wall structure forming a second chamber, wherein the second chamber comprises the chemical compound.

4. The dissolvable frac plug of claim 1 , wherein the material comprises sodium bisulfate, aluminum chloride, or a mixture thereof.

5. The dissolvable frac plug of claim 1 , wherein the material is present in the first chamber in an amount that provides a volume ratio of 1.25:1 to 6:1 with respect to a volume of external wall portion.

6. The dissolvable frac plug of claim 1 , wherein the external wall portion is configured to dissolve when in contact with water or a wellbore fluid such that, within eight hours to twelve hours, a hole is formed between the chamber and the side of the external wall portion opposite the chamber.

7. The dissolvable frac plug of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber comprises a plurality of sub-chambers.

8. The dissolvable frac plug of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber is located near or at the upper portion of the plug, near or at the bottom portion of the plug, or inside a bottom cap of the plug.

9. A method of enhancing dissolution of a dissolvable frac plug, which comprises:

providing a dissolvable frac plug comprising a first wall structure forming a first chamber, wherein the first wall structure comprises an external wall portion forming an external wall of the plug,

providing the first chamber with a material in an amount sufficient to combine with at least one of a chemical compound, water, and a wellbore fluid to form a solution or environment that enhances dissolution of the plug, wherein the external wall portion includes an opening to allow filling or packing of the first chamber with the material and after filling or packing of the first chamber with the material, the opening is filled with a substance that minimally reacts with water and well bore fluids and blocks water and wellbore fluids, and wherein at least a portion of the external wall portion is configured to dissolve, prior to the material combining with the at least one of the chemical compound, the water, and the well bore fluid, due to contact with at least one of water and a well bore fluid present on a side of the external wall portion opposite the first chamber;

delivering the dissolvable frac plug into a wellbore wherein water or other wellbore fluids are present downstream of the plug.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the external wall portion is made of a magnesium or alloy thereof.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plug further comprises a second wall structure forming a second chamber, wherein the second chamber comprises the chemical compound.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the material is sodium bisulfate, aluminum chloride, or a mixture thereof.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the material is present n the first chamber in an amount that provides a volume ratio of 1.25:1 to 6:1 with respect to a volume of the external wall portion.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the external wall portion is configured to dissolve when in contact with water or a wellbore fluid such that, within eight hours to twelve hours, a hole is formed between the chamber and the side of the external wall portion opposite the chamber.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first chamber comprises a plurality of sub-chambers.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first chamber is located near or at the upper portion of the plug, near or at the bottom portion of the plug, or inside a bottom cap of the plug.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein the dissolvable frac plug further comprises a mandrel having an axial flowbore running through a central axis of the dissolvable frac plug.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first chamber is concentric to the mandrel.

19. A dissolvable frac plug comprising:

a mandrel having an axial flowbore running through a central axis of the dissolvable frac plug;

a first wall structure forming a first chamber concentric to the mandrel, wherein the first wall structure comprises an external wall portion forming an external wall of the plug, wherein the first chamber contains a material in an amount sufficient to combine with at least one of a chemical compound, water, and a wellbore fluid to form a solution or environment that enhances dissolution of the plug, and wherein at least a portion of the external wall portion is configured to dissolve, prior to the material combining with the at least one of the chemical compound, the water, and the wellbore fluid, due to contact with at least one of water and a wellbore fluid present on a side of the external wall portion opposite the first chamber, and

a second wall structure forming a second chamber, wherein the second chamber comprises the chemical compound.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2021
From: GRYPHON OILFIELD SOLUTIONS, LLC
To: VERTICE OIL TOOLS INC.
Reel/Frame 057797/0722 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2019
From: SUBBARAMAN, GANESH; ROBERTS, TYLER; BECKETT, IAN
To: GRYPHON OILFIELD SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 050154/0594 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16214628 · Dec 10, 2018
Provisional Application 62728576 · Sep 7, 2018
Related Publication 20200080396A1 · Mar 12, 2020