Pioneering Oil-Degradable Nano-Composites for Deepwater Sand-Control Tools: To Preclude Annular-To-Tubular Communication During Deployment in Brine, and Degradation-To-Removal in Oil, Ensuing Production

Abstract

Abstract In the energy industry many applications and embodiments are envisioned, for temporary sealing to dissolvables where deployed tools may remove themselves without any intervention, and on demand. Triggers for dissolution are often common downhole fluids of an aqueous nature. Metals designed to undergo accelerated corrosion via anodic dissolution or hydrolysable polymers triggered by brackish water, flowback or produced, facilitated by elevated downhole temperatures, are common. However, there is not a single formulation with tailored properties, engineered to degrade in presence of oil. Here we present, industry's first oil degradable, nano-composite formulations, for HPHT temporary sealing. An application, as a one-way port plug or ball valve for deploying a sand screen using this novel technology will be ideal. The ball would seal against the flow-ports or nozzles when running in hole and circulating fluid through the screen to the toe and back up the annulus. Once the screens are set, and the well put on production, the oil will produce through the flow ports or nozzles, better known as inflow control devices or ICDs’ and drive the ball away. The ball is to be retained in a cage to allow unrestricted production. In reality, this solution however presents challenges. Production of solids, waxes and asphaltenes often gum up the ball in the cage and restrict production, often needing costly intervention. The ideal scenario will be if the ball seals can dissolve in produced hydrocarbons aka oil of varying API gravities. This will ensure unrestricted production, reduce possibility of intervention and rig time savings, all in all a step towards lowering our carbon footprint. To augment the patented answer product, a step change in adding sensing and intelligence, nano-particulates and/or sensors as unique-identifiers are accommodated in the composite bulk, as tracers, control-released during degradation. As these nano-particulates, flow-back with production to the surface, these tracers with a unique fingerprint, are identified as they pass-through an in-line detector identifying the nano-crystal. The detector, comprising a remote computing system configured to store and relay information relating to these tracers is under development. This industry first is a paradigm shift in remote-monitoring, alerting any end user, anywhere in the world, of selected downhole event triggers, without running any device in the well.