Nitinol Through Tubing Bridge Plug
A bridge plug assembly having a nickel titanium alloy flexible member that can be selectively radially expanded so its outer surface sealingly engages a surrounding tubular. The flexible member can comprise an annular membrane like member having coaxial rings on the opposing ends of the flexible member. The percentage of weight of nickel can range up to about 40 to about 58%, 55% or to about 60%.
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1. Field of Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of oil and gas production. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and method for plugging tubing within a borehole.
2. Description of Prior Art
Downhole plugs are used to block flow through a wellbore tubular and can be formed from an elastomeric membrane on a mandrel or coaxially stacked members. Downhole plugs can be selectively set into place by expanding the membrane or collapsing the stacked members to block the annular space within the mandrel. Plug or packer setting can occur by axially compressing the mandrel or by filling the membrane with a pressurized fluid. The tubulars can be casing or production tubing.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONDisclosed herein is an example embodiment of a bridge member. In an example embodiment, the bridge member is used with a bridge plug assembly and includes a pair of collars that both set around an axis and spaced apart from one another. Elongated ribs are included where each rib is made from a superelastic material and have ends coupled to the collars. A mid-portion of the ribs, between the collars, projects radially outward with respect to the ends of the ribs. Webs are included that connect between each adjacently rib; the webs are also formed from a superelastic material. Thus by rotating one of the collars with respect to the other collar, the mid-portions of the ribs are drawn radially inward which lengthens the bridge member and creates folds in the webs. In an optional embodiment, the ribs and webs include an alloy having nickel of about 55% to about 57% by weight and titanium of about 45% to about 43% by weight. In an example embodiment, a portion of one of the ribs or webs that deforms due to an applied load transforms from an austenite to a deformed martensite. In alternate embodiments, the rib thickness ranges from about one to three times the thickness of the web. An annular elastomeric seal can be included that circumscribes the mid-portion of the ribs and has an outer surface that seals against an inner surface of a tubular. In an example embodiment, the web can be elastically deformed at a value of up to about 8% along the folds and can be subjected to a stress of about 7.33×108 N/m2.
Also described herein is a method of blocking a tubular. In an example embodiment the method includes providing a bridge plug assembly that is made up of a mandrel, a bulbous membrane circumscribing the mandrel, and a pair of end collars coupled on each end of the bridge member and circumscribing the mandrel. The membrane can include a superelastic material. The method further includes configuring the membrane so it can be moved within a tubular, this can be accomplished by rotating one of the collars with respect to the other collar. This twists the membrane to elastically forming folds within the membrane and pulls the membrane radially inward toward the mandrel. In an example embodiment, the folds are oppositely facing. Energy is stored in the folds, thus to keep the membrane in the “insertion” configuration, a resistive force is kept on the collar that was rotated which elastically maintains stress in the membrane folds. The method can also include inserting the bridge plug assembly into the tubular and then removing the resistive force; this allows unloading of the elastically maintained stress and the inherent elasticity of the material reforms the membrane as it was before it was twisted so it can unfold and expand to block the tubular. Optionally, the membrane can be reloaded into the smaller diameter configuration and the bridge plug assembly removed from the tubular. In an alternative embodiment, the bridge plug assembly can also include ribs coupled with the membrane. The ribs can be substantially aligned with the mandrel when no stress is applied to the membrane, and oblique with the mandrel when the membrane is loaded. In an example embodiment, the membrane includes an alloy having nickel of about 55% to about 57% by weight and titanium of about 45% to about 43% by weight. Yet further optionally, the method can include injecting liquid into the membrane. In an example embodiment, the tubular is within a wellbore and undulations can be defined along outer circumference of the membrane.
Also described herein is a bridge plug assembly that includes a bulbous and substantially hollow member, where the member is made from a superelastic material. The member includes a membrane with a series of strategically located foldable regions. The bridge plug assembly can further include a mandrel circumscribed by the member and a pair of spaced apart and annularly shaped ends that also circumscribe the mandrel. The annularly shaped ends may be coupled to opposing ends of the member, so that when a rotational force is applied to one of the ends with respect to the other end, the outer diameter of the member reduces and folds form along the foldable regions that retain therein at least a portion of the force applied to said one of the ends. In an alternative example embodiment, the annularly shaped ends are made up of a first annularly shaped end and a second annularly shaped end, and the member further comprises elongated ribs coupled with the membrane that project from the first annularly shaped end into engagement with the second annularly shaped end. The ribs can be substantially parallel with the mandrel and moved into an oblique orientation with respect to the mandrel after the rotational force is applied to one of the ends. Optionally, the membrane may include a nickel titanium alloy. In an example embodiment, the member is made up of segments joined together, each segment having a raised mid portion aligned with the mandrel so that the outer circumference of the member defines an undulating surface.
Some of the features and benefits of the present invention having been stated, others will become apparent as the description proceeds when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
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.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTIONThe subject(s) of the present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which embodiments are shown. The subject(s) of the present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. For the convenience in referring to the accompanying figures, directional terms are used for reference and illustration only. For example, the directional terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “above”, “below”, and the like are being used to illustrate a relational location.
It is to be understood that the subject(s) of the present disclosure described herein are 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. In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed illustrative embodiments and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation.
Shown in
In the example embodiment of
In an example embodiment, the bridge member 28A is made at least in part by pseudoelastic or superelastic materials. Generally, superelastic describes materials that can elastically endure greater strain rates than non-superelastic materials. As schematically illustrated in
A stress-strain curve of an example superelastic material is graphically provided in
Shown in a side perspective in
The bridge member 28A may be formed by attaching together multiple segments 36 to form the bridge member 28A. An example method of attaching the segments 36 includes welding and/or other methods of adhesion. A line L is shown on the bridge member 28A to illustrate an example configuration of the segment 36. In this example, the segment 36 includes an angular portion of one of the base rings 30 about the axis AX that extends towards the other base ring 30 up to about the mid-portion of the bridge member 28A. In the example of
A sectional view of the bridge member 28A is provided in
Shown in side perspective view in
Deploying the bridge plug assembly 20 can include commanding the mechanism 44 to remove the torsional force applied to one or each of the base rings 30. The applied torsion force stores energy in the bridge member 28 since memory in the bridge member 28 material causes it to return to its convex shape (
Shown in side perspective views respectively in
In one non-limiting example, a proposed bridge member 28A was analyzed having the material properties shown in Table 1 and constituents as shown in Table 2.
A finite element analysis employing COSMOS® software yielded stress values for the prophetic bridge member 28A as specified in Tables 1 and 2. In an expanded configuration, stress values ranged from about 8.29×105 N/m2 to about 7.33×108 N/m2 and strain values ranging from about 1.61×10−5 about 5.20×10−2. Higher stress concentrations were identified in the web portion in a region between the mid-portion of a section 36 and where the bridge member 28A “necks down” transverse to the axis AX. Lower stress concentrations were estimated adjacent the collars 30.
In an example of use of the device described herein, a bridge plug assembly 20, as shown in
As shown in
The present invention described herein, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as others inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been given for purposes of disclosure, numerous changes exist in the details of procedures for accomplishing the desired results. These and other similar modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and are intended to be encompassed within the spirit of the present invention disclosed herein and the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A bridge member for use in a bridge plug assembly, the bridge member comprising:
- a pair of spaced apart and substantially coaxial annular collars;
- a plurality of elongated and superelastic ribs, each rib having opposing ends respectively coupled with the collars and a mid-portion projecting radially outward with respect to the ends of the ribs; and
- a plurality of superelastic webs spanning between each adjacently spaced rib, so that when one of the collars is rotated with respect to the other collar, the mid-portion of the ribs is drawn radially inward, the bridge member elongates, and folds are formed in the webs.
2. The bridge member of claim 1, wherein the ribs and webs comprise material that includes an alloy having nickel of about 55% to about 57% by weight and titanium of about 45% to about 43% by weight.
3. The bridge member of claim 1, wherein when at least a portion of one of the ribs or webs is deformed from an applied load, the deformed portion undergoes an elastic phase transformation from an austenite to a deformed martensite.
4. The bridge member of claim 1, wherein the rib thickness ranges from about one to three times the thickness of the web.
5. The bridge member of claim 1, further comprising an annular elastomeric seal circumscribing the mid-portion of the ribs and having an outer surface in sealing contact with a tubular.
6. The bridge member of claim 1, wherein the web elastically deforms at a value of up to about 8% along the folds.
7. The bridge member of claim 1, wherein the web is subjected to a stress of about 733×108 N/m2.
8. A method of blocking a tubular comprising:
- (a) providing a bridge plug assembly comprising: a mandrel, a bulbous membrane circumscribing the mandrel and formed from a superelastic material, a pair of end collars coupled on each end of the bridge member and circumscribing the mandrel
- (b) configuring the membrane for travel within a tubular by rotating one of the collars with respect to the other collar and elastically forming folds within the membrane thereby drawing the membrane radially inward toward the mandrel;
- (c) retaining a resistive force on the said one of the collars thereby elastically maintaining stress along the folds in the membrane;
- (d) inserting the bridge plug assembly into the tubular,
- (e) releasing the resistive force on the said one of the collars, so that the elastically maintained stress unfolds and expands the membrane to the configuration of step (a) to block the tubular.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising, repeating step (b) and removing the bridge plug assembly from the tubular.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the bridge plug assembly further comprises ribs coupled with the membrane that are substantially aligned with the mandrel in step (a) and oblique with the mandrel in one of steps (b)-(d).
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the membrane comprises material that includes an alloy having nickel of about 55% to about 57% by weight and titanium of about 45% to about 43% by weight.
12. The method of claim 8, further comprising injecting liquid into the membrane.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein step (b) further comprises preloading the bridge member.
14. The method of claim 8 wherein the tubular is within a wellbore.
15. The method of claim 8 wherein undulations are defined along outer circumference of the membrane.
16. The method of claim 8, wherein the folds in step (b) are alternatingly facing
17. A bridge plug assembly comprising:
- a bulbous and substantially hollow member that is formed from a superelastic material and comprising a membrane having a series of strategically located foldable regions;
- a mandrel circumscribed by the member; and
- a pair of spaced apart and annularly shaped ends that circumscribe the mandrel and are coupled to opposing ends of the member, so that when a rotational force is applied to one of the ends with respect to the other end, the outer diameter of the member reduces and folds form along the foldable regions that retain therein at least a portion of the force applied to said one of the ends
18. The bridge plug assembly of claim 17, wherein the annularly shaped ends comprise a first annularly shaped end and a second annularly shaped end and the member further comprises elongated ribs coupled with the membrane that project from the first annularly shaped end into engagement with the second annularly shaped end, wherein the ribs are substantially parallel with the mandrel and oblique with the mandrel after the rotational force is applied to one of the ends.
19. The bridge plug assembly of claim 17 wherein the membrane comprises material having a nickel titanium alloy.
20. The bridge plug assembly of claim 17, wherein the member comprises segments joined together, each segment having a raised mid, portion aligned with the mandrel so that the outer circumference of the member defines an undulating surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 27, 2010
Publication Date: Nov 1, 2012
Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATION (Houston, TX)
Inventors: Gary Cresswell (Spring, TX), Freeman Hill (Spring, TX), William Befeld (Richmond, TX), Gregory Rinberg (Haifa), Dan Raz (Haifa), Michael Goldstein (Bat Yam)
Application Number: 12/937,039
International Classification: E21B 33/128 (20060101); E21B 33/12 (20060101);