1. Field of Invention
The present invention is directed to apparatuses for restricting fluid flow through a conduit or tubular member within oil and gas wells and, in particular, to apparatuses having one or both of a shape-memory seat or plug element that facilitate either passing the plug element through a seat or restriction disposed in the tubular member, or facilitate landing the plug element on the seat.
2. Description of Art
Ball seats are generally known in the art. For example, typical ball seats have a bore or passageway that is restricted by a seat. The ball or plug element is disposed on the seat, preventing or restricting fluid from flowing through the bore of the ball seat and, thus, isolating the tubing or conduit section in which the ball seat is disposed. As force is applied to the ball or plug element, the conduit can be pressurized for tubing testing or tool actuation or manipulation, such as in setting a packer. Ball seats are used in cased hole completions, liner hangers, flow diverters, frac systems, and flow control equipment and other systems.
Although the terms “ball seat” and “ball” are used herein, it is to be understood that a drop plug or other shaped plugging device or element may be used with the “ball seats” disclosed and discussed herein. For simplicity it is to be understood that the terms “ball” and “plug element” include and encompass all shapes and sizes of plugs, balls, darts, or drop plugs unless the specific shape or design of the “ball” is expressly discussed.
Broadly, the apparatuses disclosed herein comprise a housing, a seat, and a plug element wherein one or both of the seat or the plug element comprises at least one shape-memory material. Depending on the embodiment, the seat and/or plug element comprise a first shape and a second shape. Either the first shape or the second shape is the operational shape of the seat and/or plug element and the corresponding other shape is the non-operational shape of the seat and/or plug element. Either the operational shape or the non-operational shape is the “memorized” shape, i.e., the shape toward which the seat and/or plug element is biased due to the shape-memory material out of which the seat and/or plug element is formed. The term “operational shape” is defined herein to mean the shape in which the plug element can be landed on the seat to restrict fluid flow through the conduit or tubular member in which the seat is disposed.
In one specific embodiment, the plug element is formed of one or more shape-memory materials that provides a plug element that is soft or malleable/pliable such that the plug element can be pushed through one or more restrictions within the tubular member. Thus, in this particular embodiment, the plug element comprises an amorphous non-operational shape that can be changed by an outside stimulus, such as due to pressure acting on the plug element. After passing through one or more restrictions, the plug element can be triggered by another stimulus to change shape to its operational shape, such as into a hardened spherical shape or other desired or necessary shape to engage a seat to restrict fluid flow through the seat.
While the invention will be described in connection with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Referring now to
Seat member 40 comprises seat 42 and inner wall surface 43 defining seat member bore 44. In the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
In operation of the embodiment of
After the downhole tool has performed its intended function, additional fluid pressure or other stimulus, such as heat, acidity, electromagnetic pulse(s), light, etc., can be exerted on ball 50 to force ball 50 further into and, ultimately, through seat member 40 as illustrated in
Referring now to
Seat member 140 comprises seat 142 and inner wall surface 143 defining bore seat member bore 144. In the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
In operation of the embodiment of
After the downhole tool has performed its intended function, additional fluid pressure or other stimulus, such as heat, acidity, electromagnetic pulse(s), light, etc., can be exerted on ball 150 to force ball 150 further into and ultimately, through seat member 140 as illustrated in
Alternatively, the activation of the shape-memory material can transform the shape of ball 150 to the shape shown in
Referring now to
Seat member 240 comprises seat 242 and inner wall surface 243 defining bore seat member bore 244. In the embodiment of
Disposed with bore 234 above seat member 240 is restriction 248. Restriction 248 can be any structural component or device that can be found within a tubing string. For example, restriction 248 can be another seat, a bridge plug, a packer, or other downhole tool that has a narrow passageway through which fluid flow is permitted from above to below restriction 248.
Ball 250 is formed of a shape-memory material such as those identified above. Initially, ball 250 is transported through bore 234 in its non-operational shape which comprises a plurality of shapes. In other words, ball 250 has an amorphous shape. Due to its amorphous shape, ball 250 is able to pass through restriction 248.
As illustrated in
After passing restriction 248, ball 250 is contacted with a stimulus, such as an increase in temperature or an increase or decrease in the acidity of the fluid within upper bore 235. The stimulus causes ball 250 to retain its operational shape so that it can land on seat 242 as shown at the bottom of
In certain other embodiments, the seat member and/or plug element can be formed of a shape-memory material that can be manipulated by outside stimuli such as temperature or acidity. In such embodiments, an operator of the tubing string can manipulate the shape of the seat member and/or plug element depending on the temperature, acidity, or other outside stimuli acting on the seat member and/or plug element. Thus, the size of the opening through a seat member can be customized and/or the plug element can be allowed to pass through one or more restrictions within the tubing string until the operator desires the plug element to achieve its operational shape and land on a seat member.
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction, operation, exact materials, or embodiments shown and described, as modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art. For example, although the apparatuses described in greater detail with respect to
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