IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0353655
(2009-01-14)
|
등록번호 |
US-8127856
(2012-03-06)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Nish, Randall W.
- Jones, Randy A.
- Vogel, Jason Jon
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Thorpe North & Western LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
114 인용 특허 :
135 |
초록
▼
A downhole tool for use in completing a well includes a plug body selectively securable to a wellbore at a desired elevation and having a flowbore. A non-dissolvable flow restrictor is operably disposed in the flowbore and operates to restrict fluid flow through the flowbore, and a time-dissolvable
A downhole tool for use in completing a well includes a plug body selectively securable to a wellbore at a desired elevation and having a flowbore. A non-dissolvable flow restrictor is operably disposed in the flowbore and operates to restrict fluid flow through the flowbore, and a time-dissolvable retainer or spacer is operably coupled to the flow restrictor to retain the flow restrictor in a first position within the flowbore. The retainer is dissolvable within a predetermined passage of time to release the flow restrictor to move between the first position and a second position within the flowbore to control the flow of fluid through the downhole tool.
대표청구항
▼
1. A downhole tool system for completing a well, comprising: a) a plug body selectively securable to a wellbore at a desired depth and having a flowbore formed therein with an upper cavity;b) a flow valve assembled from a plurality of interchangeable components selectively disposable in the upper ca
1. A downhole tool system for completing a well, comprising: a) a plug body selectively securable to a wellbore at a desired depth and having a flowbore formed therein with an upper cavity;b) a flow valve assembled from a plurality of interchangeable components selectively disposable in the upper cavity of the flowbore to control fluid flow therethrough, the plurality of interchangeable components including: i) a permanent bridge plug securable in the upper cavity of the flowbore of the plug body by a permanent retainer to permanently restrict fluid flow through the flowbore;ii) a permanent frac ball movable in the upper cavity of the flowbore of the plug body between an open position that allows one-directional fluid flow through the flowbore and a closed position that restricts fluid flow through the flowbore; andiii) a degradable retainer including at least one biodegradable ball disposable in the upper cavity of the flowbore with the permanent frac ball or a movable flow restrictor to temporarily retain the permanent frac ball or the movable flow restrictor in a closed position or an open position, the degradable retainer being degradable or dissolvable within a predetermined passage of time inside a natural wellbore environment to release the permanent frac ball or the flow restrictor to move. 2. The downhole tool system of claim 1, wherein: the permanent frac ball or the movable flow restrictor is retained in the upper cavity of the flowbore of the plug body in the closed position by the degradable retainer to temporarily restrict fluid flow in either direction through the flowbore, the degradable retainer being degradable or dissolvable to release the permanent frac plug or the flow restrictor to move between the closed position and the open position to allow one-directional fluid flow through the flowbore. 3. The downhole tool system of claim 1, wherein the at least one biodegradable ball is selected from a set of different biodegradable balls, each biodegradable ball being configured to dissolve within a different predetermined passage of time. 4. The downhole tool system of claim 2, further comprising: a) an annulus positioned at an upper end of the flowbore such that the degradable retainer is disposed between the annulus and the frac ball or the flow restrictor; andb) the annulus is positionable in the flowbore to press against the degradable retainer to cause the degradable retainer to press against the frac ball or the flow restrictor, so as to retain the frac ball or the flow restrictor in the closed position until the degradable retainer dissolves. 5. The downhole tool system of claim 4, wherein the annulus has a through aperture to allow visibility of the degradable retainer, and wherein the degradable retainer is color coded according to the predetermined passage of time so as to allow a user to identify the predetermined passage of time by visually observing the color of the degradable retainer through the aperture. 6. The downhole tool system of claim 1, wherein the interchangeable components are secured within the flowbore with a non-dissolvable retainer allowing visibility of the degradable retainer, and wherein the degradable retainer is color coded according to the predetermined passage of time so as to allow a user to identify the predetermined passage of time by visually observing the color of the degradable retainer. 7. The downhole tool system of claim 1, wherein the degradable retainer is removable and replaceable with a permanent retainer to permanently close the valve and form a bridge plug. 8. The downhole tool system of claim 7, wherein the permanent retainer further comprises at least one metal ball. 9. The downhole tool system of claim 1, wherein: the permanent frac ball or the movable flow restrictor is retained in the upper cavity of the flowbore of the plug body in the open position by the degradable retainer to temporarily allow fluid flow in either direction through the flowbore, the degradable retainer being degradable or dissolvable to release the permanent frac ball or the flow restrictor to move between the open position and the closed position to allow one-directional fluid flow through the flowbore. 10. The downhole tool system of claim 9, further comprising: a) a retaining pin at an upper end of the flowbore such that the frac ball or the flow restrictor is disposed between the retaining pin and the degradable retainer; andb) the retaining pin positionable in the flowbore to press against the frac ball or the flow restrictor to cause the frac ball or the flow restrictor to press against the degradable retainer so as to retain the frac ball or the flow restrictor in the open position until the degradable retainer degrades or dissolves. 11. The downhole tool system of claim 10, wherein the retaining pin allows visibility of the degradable retainer, and wherein the degradable retainer is color coded according to the predetermined passage of time so as to allow a user to identify the predetermined passage of time by visually observing the color of the degradable retainer. 12. A method of forming a downhole well completion tool providing controllable fluid flow, comprising: a) obtaining a plug body having a flowbore with an upper cavity formed therein and means for securing the plug body in a wellbore of the well at a selected depth;b) selecting a flow valve assembled from a plurality of interchangeable valve components, the flow valve comprising: i) a bridge plug securable in the upper cavity of the flowbore between a retainer and a valve seat to restrict a flow of fluid through the plug body,ii) a frac ball movable in the upper cavity of the flowbore between the retainer and the valve seat to allow a one-directional upward flow of fluid through the plug body, oriii) a time-dissolvable spacer disposable in the upper cavity of the flowbore; andc) installing the flow valve into the upper cavity of the flowbore of the plug body to form a downhole tool comprising a bridge completion plug, a frac completion plug, a convertible bridge plug, a convertible frac plug, or a convertible open-to-frac plug; andd) installing the time-dissolvable spacer between the bridge plug and the retainer to retain the bridge plug in a first position within the flowbore, the spacer being dissolvable within a predetermined passage of time to release the bridge plug to move between the first position and a second position within the flowbore to form the downhole tool comprising the convertible bridge plug. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising selecting the flow valve based on a set of environmental conditions or operational requirements of the well. 14. A downhole tool system for completing a well, comprising: a) a plug body selectively securable to a wellbore at a desired depth and having a flowbore formed therein with an upper cavity;b) a flow valve assembled from a plurality of interchangeable components selectively disposable in the upper cavity of the flowbore to control fluid flow therethrough, the plurality of interchangeable components including: i) a permanent bridge plug securable in the upper cavity of the flowbore of the plug body by a permanent retainer to permanently restrict fluid flow through the flowbore;ii) a permanent frac ball movable in the upper cavity of the flowbore of the plug body between an open position that allows one-directional fluid flow through the flowbore and a closed position that restricts fluid flow through the flowbore; andiii) a degradable retainer disposable in the upper cavity of the flowbore with the permanent frac ball or a movable flow restrictor to temporarily retain the permanent frac ball or the movable flow restrictor in a closed position by the degradable retainer to temporarily restrict fluid flow in either direction through the flowbore, the degradable retainer being degradable or dissolvable to release the permanent frac ball or the flow restrictor to move between the closed position and an open position to allow one-directional fluid flow through the flowbore;c) an annulus positioned at an upper end of the flowbore such that the degradable retainer is disposed between the annulus and the frac ball or the flow restrictor; andd) the annulus is positionable in the flowbore to press against the degradable retainer to cause the degradable retainer to press against the frac ball or the flow restrictor, so as to retain the frac ball or the flow restrictor in the closed position until the degradable retainer dissolves. 15. The downhole tool system of claim 14, wherein the degradable retainer is configured to degrade or dissolve within a predetermined passage of time inside a natural wellbore environment. 16. The downhole tool system of claim 15, wherein the degradable retainer further comprises at least one biodegradable ball. 17. The downhole tool system of claim 16, wherein the at least one biodegradable ball is selected from a set of different biodegradable balls, each biodegradable ball being configured to dissolve within a different predetermined passage of time. 18. The downhole tool system of claim 14, wherein the annulus has a through aperture to allow visibility of the degradable retainer, and wherein the degradable retainer is color coded according to the predetermined passage of time so as to allow a user to identify the predetermined passage of time by visually observing the color of the degradable retainer through the aperture. 19. The downhole tool system of claim 14, wherein the degradable retainer is removable and replaceable with a permanent retainer to permanently close the valve and form a bridge plug. 20. A downhole tool system for completing a well, comprising: a) a plug body selectively securable to a wellbore at a desired depth and having a flowbore formed therein with an upper cavity;b) a flow valve assembled from a plurality of interchangeable components selectively disposable in the upper cavity of the flowbore to control fluid flow therethrough, the plurality of interchangeable components including: i) a permanent bridge plug securable in the upper cavity of the flowbore of the plug body by a permanent retainer to permanently restrict fluid flow through the flowbore;ii) a permanent frac ball movable in the upper cavity of the flowbore of the plug body between an open position that allows one-directional fluid flow through the flowbore and a closed position that restricts fluid flow through the flowbore; andiii) a degradable retainer disposable in the upper cavity of the flowbore with the permanent frac ball or a movable flow restrictor to temporarily retain the permanent frac ball or the movable flow restrictor in a closed position or an open position, the degradable retainer being degradable to release the permanent frac ball or the flow restrictor to move; andc) the interchangeable components being secured within the flowbore with a non-dissolvable retainer allowing visibility of the degradable retainer, and the degradable retainer being color coded according to the predetermined passage of time so as to allow a user to identify the predetermined passage of time by visually observing the color of the degradable retainer. 21. The downhole tool system of claim 20, wherein the degradable retainer is configured to degrade or dissolve within a predetermined passage of time inside a natural wellbore environment. 22. The downhole tool system of claim 21, wherein the degradable retainer further comprises at least one biodegradable ball. 23. The downhole tool system of claim 22, wherein the at least one biodegradable ball is selected from a set of different biodegradable balls, each biodegradable ball being configured to dissolve within a different predetermined passage of time. 24. The downhole tool system of claim 20, wherein: the permanent frac ball or the movable flow restrictor is retained in the upper cavity of the flowbore of the plug body in the closed position by the degradable retainer to temporarily restrict fluid flow in either direction through the flowbore, the degradable retainer being degradable or dissolvable to release the permanent frac plug or the flow restrictor to move between the closed position and the open position to allow one-directional fluid flow through the flowbore. 25. The downhole tool system of claim 24, further comprising: a) an annulus positioned at an upper end of the flowbore such that the degradable retainer is disposed between the annulus and the frac ball or the flow restrictor; andb) the annulus is positionable in the flowbore to press against the degradable retainer to cause the degradable retainer to press against the frac ball or the flow restrictor, so as to retain the frac ball or the flow restrictor in the closed position until the degradable retainer dissolves. 26. The downhole tool system of claim 20, wherein the degradable retainer is removable and replaceable with a permanent retainer to permanently close the valve and form a bridge plug. 27. The downhole tool system of claim 26, wherein the permanent retainer further comprises at least one metal ball. 28. The downhole tool system of claim 20, wherein: the permanent frac ball or the movable flow restrictor is retained in the upper cavity of the flowbore of the plug body in the open position by the degradable retainer to temporarily allow fluid flow in either direction through the flowbore, the degradable retainer being degradable or dissolvable to release the permanent frac ball or the flow restrictor to move between the open position and the closed position to allow one-directional fluid flow through the flowbore. 29. The downhole tool system of claim 28, further comprising: a) a retaining pin at an upper end of the flowbore such that the frac ball or the flow restrictor is disposed between the retaining pin and the degradable retainer; andb) the retaining pin positionable in the flowbore to press against the frac ball or the flow restrictor to cause the frac ball or the flow restrictor to press against the degradable retainer so as to retain the frac ball or the flow restrictor in the open position until the degradable retainer degrades or dissolves. 30. A downhole tool system for completing a well, comprising: a) a plug body selectively securable to a wellbore at a desired depth and having a flowbore formed therein with an upper cavity;b) a flow valve assembled from a plurality of interchangeable components selectively disposable in the upper cavity of the flowbore to control fluid flow therethrough, the plurality of interchangeable components including: i) a permanent bridge plug securable in the upper cavity of the flowbore of the plug body by a permanent retainer to permanently restrict fluid flow through the flowbore;ii) a permanent frac ball movable in the upper cavity of the flowbore of the plug body between an open position that allows one-directional fluid flow through the flowbore and a closed position that restricts fluid flow through the flowbore; andiii) a degradable retainer disposable in the upper cavity of the flowbore with the permanent frac ball or a movable flow restrictor to temporarily retain the permanent frac ball or the movable flow restrictor in a closed position or an open position, the degradable retainer being degradable to release the permanent frac ball or the flow restrictor to move; andc) the degradable retainer being removable and replaceable with a permanent retainer to permanently close the valve and form a bridge plug, the permanent retainer including at least one metal ball. 31. The downhole tool system of claim 30, wherein the degradable retainer is configured to degrade or dissolve within a predetermined passage of time inside a natural wellbore environment. 32. The downhole tool system of claim 31, wherein the degradable retainer further comprises at least one biodegradable ball. 33. The downhole tool system of claim 32, wherein the at least one biodegradable ball is selected from a set of different biodegradable balls, each biodegradable ball being configured to dissolve within a different predetermined passage of time. 34. The downhole tool system of claim 30, wherein: the permanent frac ball or the movable flow restrictor is retained in the upper cavity of the flowbore of the plug body in the closed position by the degradable retainer to temporarily restrict fluid flow in either direction through the flowbore, the degradable retainer being degradable or dissolvable to release the permanent frac plug or the flow restrictor to move between the closed position and the open position to allow one-directional fluid flow through the flowbore. 35. The downhole tool system of claim 34, further comprising: a) an annulus positioned at an upper end of the flowbore such that the degradable retainer is disposed between the annulus and the frac ball or the flow restrictor; andb) the annulus is positionable in the flowbore to press against the degradable retainer to cause the degradable retainer to press against the frac ball or the flow restrictor, so as to retain the frac ball or the flow restrictor in the closed position until the degradable retainer dissolves. 36. The downhole tool system of claim 30, wherein the interchangeable components are secured within the flowbore with a non-dissolvable retainer allowing visibility of the degradable retainer, and wherein the degradable retainer is color coded according to the predetermined passage of time so as to allow a user to identify the predetermined passage of time by visually observing the color of the degradable retainer. 37. The downhole tool system of claim 30, wherein: the permanent frac ball or the movable flow restrictor is retained in the upper cavity of the flowbore of the plug body in the open position by the degradable retainer to temporarily allow fluid flow in either direction through the flowbore, the degradable retainer being degradable or dissolvable to release the permanent frac ball or the flow restrictor to move between the open position and the closed position to allow one-directional fluid flow through the flowbore. 38. The downhole tool system of claim 37, further comprising: a) a retaining pin at an upper end of the flowbore such that the frac ball or the flow restrictor is disposed between the retaining pin and the degradable retainer; andb) the retaining pin positionable in the flowbore to press against the frac ball or the flow restrictor to cause the frac ball or the flow restrictor to press against the degradable retainer so as to retain the frac ball or the flow restrictor in the open position until the degradable retainer degrades or dissolves. 39. A downhole tool system for completing a well, comprising: a) a plug body selectively securable to a wellbore at a desired depth and having a flowbore formed therein with an upper cavity;b) a flow valve assembled from a plurality of interchangeable components selectively disposable in the upper cavity of the flowbore to control fluid flow therethrough, the plurality of interchangeable components including: i) a permanent bridge plug securable in the upper cavity of the flowbore of the plug body by a permanent retainer to permanently restrict fluid flow through the flowbore;ii) a permanent frac ball movable in the upper cavity of the flowbore of the plug body between an open position that allows one-directional fluid flow through the flowbore and a closed position that restricts fluid flow through the flowbore; andiii) a degradable retainer disposable in the upper cavity of the flowbore with the permanent frac ball or a movable flow restrictor to temporarily retain the permanent frac ball or the movable flow restrictor in an open position by the degradable retainer to temporarily allow fluid flow in either direction through the flowbore, the degradable retainer being degradable or dissolvable to release the permanent frac ball or the flow restrictor to move between the open position and a closed position to allow one-directional fluid flow through the flowbore;c) a retaining pin positioned at an upper end of the flowbore such that the frac ball or the flow restrictor is disposed between the retaining pin and the degradable retainer; andd) the retaining pin is positionable in the flowbore to press against the frac ball or the flow restrictor to cause the frac ball or the flow restrictor to press against the degradable retainer so as to retain the frac ball or the flow restrictor in the open position until the degradable retainer degrades or dissolves. 40. The downhole tool system of claim 39, wherein the degradable retainer is configured to degrade or dissolve within a predetermined passage of time inside a natural wellbore environment. 41. The downhole tool system of claim 40, wherein the degradable retainer further comprises at least one biodegradable ball. 42. The downhole tool system of claim 41, wherein the at least one biodegradable ball is selected from a set of different biodegradable balls, each biodegradable ball being configured to dissolve within a different predetermined passage of time. 43. The downhole tool system of claim 39, wherein the degradable retainer is removable and replaceable with a permanent retainer to permanently close the valve and form a bridge plug. 44. The downhole tool system of claim 39, wherein the retaining pin allows visibility of the degradable retainer, and wherein the degradable retainer is color coded according to the predetermined passage of time so as to allow a user to identify the predetermined passage of time by visually observing the color of the degradable retainer. 45. A method of forming a downhole well completion tool providing controllable fluid flow, comprising: a) obtaining a plug body having a flowbore with an upper cavity formed therein and means for securing the plug body in a wellbore of the well at a selected depth;b) selecting a flow valve assembled from a plurality of interchangeable valve components, the flow valve comprising: i) a non-movable bridge plug securable in the upper cavity of the flowbore between a retainer and a valve seat to permanently restrict a flow of fluid through the plug body,ii) a frac ball movable in the upper cavity of the flowbore between the retainer and the valve seat to allow a one-directional upward flow of fluid through the plug body, oriii) a time-dissolvable spacer disposable in the upper cavity of the flowbore; andc) installing the flow valve into the upper cavity of the flowbore of the plug body to form a downhole tool comprising a bridge completion plug, a frac completion plug, a convertible bridge plug, a convertible frac plug, or a convertible open-to-frac plug; andd) installing the time-dissolvable spacer between the frac ball and the retainer to retain the frac in a first position within the flowbore, the spacer being dissolvable within a predetermined passage of time to release the frac ball to move between the first position and a second position within the flowbore to form the downhole tool comprising the convertible frac plug or the convertible open-to-frac plug. 46. The method of claim 45, further comprising selecting the flow valve based on a set of environmental conditions or operational requirements of the well.
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