초록 ▼

The present invention generally provides a pressure isolation plug for managing a wellbore with multiple zones. The pressure isolation plug generally includes a body with a bore extending therethrough, a first disintegratable ball sized and positioned to restrict upward fluid flow through the bore,

The present invention generally provides a pressure isolation plug for managing a wellbore with multiple zones. The pressure isolation plug generally includes a body with a bore extending therethrough, a first disintegratable ball sized and positioned to restrict upward fluid flow through the bore, wherein the disintegratable ball disintegrates when exposed to wellbore conditions for a first amount of time. The plug also includes a second ball sized and positioned to restrict downward fluid flow through the bore.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A method of operating a downhole tool comprising: providing the tool having an object seatable in the tool to block a flow path of fluid therethrough, in a first direction and the tool having a dissolvable flapper to block the flow path of fluid in a second direction at

The invention claimed is: 1. A method of operating a downhole tool comprising: providing the tool having an object seatable in the tool to block a flow path of fluid therethrough, in a first direction and the tool having a dissolvable flapper to block the flow path of fluid in a second direction at the same time as the flow path of fluid in the first direction is blocked and the tool having a dissolvable mandrel; and causing the dissolvable flapper to dissolve, thereby opening the flow path of fluid in the second direction. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow path is a bore extending substantially longitudinally through the tool. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is a ball. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising sealing an annular area between the tool and an inner wall of a tubular string with a packing element in the tool. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing a portion of the dissolvable mandrel to dissolve. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising isolating a higher pressure in a wellbore from a lower pressure by utilizing the dissolvable flapper. 7. An apparatus for isolating one section of a wellbore from another, comprising: a body with a bore extending therethrough, wherein the body is made from soluble material and wherein a portion of the body dissolves when exposed to wellbore conditions for a given amount of time; an object sized and positioned to restrict fluid flow through the bore in a first direction; and a soluble flapper configured to block fluid flow through the bore in a second direction at the same time as the flow path of fluid in the first direction is restricted, wherein the flapper dissolves when exposed to wellbore conditions for a given amount of time. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the soluble flapper is configured to isolate a higher pressure from a lower pressure in the wellbore. 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the object is a ball. 10. An apparatus for isolating one section of a wellbore from another, comprising: a body with a bore extending therethrough, the body having a portion made from a soluble material that is configured to dissolve when exposed to wellbore conditions for a given amount of time; a ball seat formed in the body, the ball seat configured to receive an object sized and positioned to restrict fluid flow through the bore in a first direction; and a soluble flapper attached to the body, the flapper movable between an open position and a closed position, the flapper in the closed position is configured to block fluid flow through the bore in a second direction, wherein the flapper is configured to dissolve when exposed to wellbore conditions for a given amount of time. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the body includes a second portion made from a composite material. 12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a seal member disposed on an outer surface of the body, whereupon activation of the seal member, the seal member is capable of creating a seal with a surrounding tubular string. 13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the soluble flapper configured to block fluid flow through the bore in the second direction at substantially the same time as the flow path of fluid in the first direction is restricted by the object. 14. A method of operating a downhole tool, the method comprising: providing the tool, the tool comprising a mandrel having a dissolvable portion, a ball seat formed in the mandrel and a dissolvable flapper attached to the mandrel; locating an object in the ball seat to block a flow path of fluid through the tool in a first direction; moving the dissolvable flapper from an opened position to a closed position to block the flow path of fluid through the tool in a second direction; and exposing the dissolvable flapper to wellbore conditions for a given amount of time thereby causing the dissolvable flapper to dissolve which results in opening the flow path of fluid in the second direction. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising exposing the mandrel to wellbore conditions for a given amount of time thereby causing the dissolvable portion of the mandrel to dissolve. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the tool further comprises a seal member disposed on an outer surface of the mandrel. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising activating the seal member thereby sealing an annular area between the tool and an inner wall of a tubular string. 18. The method of claim 14, wherein the dissolvable flapper is configured to block the flow path of fluid in the second direction at substantially the same time as the flow path of fluid in the first direction is blocked by the object.