Temporary well isolation device

Abstract

A temporary well isolation device which has an axial passage that comprises a temporary housing having an internal cavity containing a chemical material and a temporary barrier or plug member that can be actuated by an external mechanism to allow fluid to flow into the internal chamber and contact the chemical material in the internal chamber. When the chemical material is exposed to fluid, the chemical material causes the temporary housing to corrode, dissolve, and/or degrade.

Claims

1. A pipe system that includes a temporary well isolation device that is adapted to be positioned in a subterranean well; said pipe system comprises: a. a first pipe has a first end; b. a second pipe has a first end; and c. a temporary well isolation device positioned between said first end of said first pipe and said first end of said second pipe; said temporary well isolation device includes: i. an outer housing; said outer housing has a housing cavity; ii. a temporary housing that is at least partially positioned in said housing cavity when said temporary housing is connected to said outer housing; said temporary housing includes an interior passageway along a longitudinal axis of said temporary housing and an internal cavity connected to said interior passageway; said interior passageway has a passageway cross-sectional area at a location where said interior passageway terminates in said internal cavity; said passageway cross-sectional area is less than a cross-sectional area of said internal cavity at a location that is below said location that said interior passageway terminates in said internal cavity; said temporary housing is partially or fully formed of a structural material that can be degraded and/or dissolved; said internal cavity constitutes 55-90 vol. % of said temporary housing; iii. a chemical material located in said internal cavity; said chemical material formed of a material that when exposed to flowbore or wellbore fluid will cause said structural material to degrade and/or dissolve; and iv. a temporary barrier or plug member sealing said interior passageway, and wherein said temporary barrier or plug member is configured to be partially or fully removed or dislodged from said temporary housing to allow fluid to flow through said interior passageway and to contact said chemical material in said internal cavity; and wherein fluid is prevented from flowing from said first pipe, through said temporary well isolation device, and then into said second pipe when said temporary barrier or plug member is not removed or dislodged from said temporary housing; and wherein fluid is allowed to flow from said first end of said first pipe, through said temporary well isolation device, and then into said second pipe via said first end of said second pipe after said temporary barrier or plug member is partially or fully removed or dislodged from said temporary housing.

2. The pipe system as defined in claim 1, wherein said temporary housing includes an outer surface has a connection arrangement; said connection arrangement configured to temporarily or releasably connect said temporary housing to the outer housing.

3. The pipe system as defined in claim 1, wherein said structural material includes one or more of magnesium, magnesium alloy, zinc, zinc alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, and polymer.

4. The pipe system as defined in claim 1, wherein said chemical material includes one or more salts that can be formed into a base when exposed to flowbore or wellbore fluid, or one or more salts that can be formed into an acid when exposed to flowbore or wellbore fluid.

5. The pipe system as defined in claim 4, wherein said chemical material includes one or more of NaHSO.sub.4, AlCl.sub.3, FeCl.sub.3, NaCl, KCl, CaCl.sub.2, NaBr, AlBr.sub.3, BF.sub.3, AlF.sub.3, KI, NaI, ZnCl.sub.2, ZnBr.sub.2, and CuCl.sub.3, wherein the chemical material is a water-soluble acid, buffer compound, base, salt, and/or oxidizer.

6. The pipe system as defined in claim 1, wherein said temporary barrier or plug member is configured to be partially or fully removed or dislodged from said temporary housing by an activation/trigger mechanism; said activation/trigger mechanism includes one or more of: a) mechanically causing said temporary barrier or plug member to move to an open position; b) using a motor or other device to cause said temporary barrier or plug member to move to an open position; c) applying an external pressure pulse or pulses to said temporary barrier or plug member to cause said temporary barrier or plug member to move, disintegrate, dissolve, degrade, fracture, and/or be expelled; d) increasing or decreasing the temperature about said temporary barrier or plug member to cause the temporary barrier or plug member to move, disintegrate, dissolve, degrade, fracture, and/or be expelled, etc.; e) using a dissolvable or degradable component that partially or fully forms said temporary barrier or plug member, which dissolvable or degradable component is compromised by said wellbore/flowbore fluid so as to cause the temporary barrier or plug member to partially or fully disintegrate, dissolve, and/or degrade; f) using a dissolvable or degradable component that partially or fully forms said temporary barrier or plug member which dissolvable or degradable component that is compromised by changes in the composition, pH and/or acidity of the wellbore/flowbore fluid to cause said temporary barrier or plug member to partially or fully disintegrate, dissolve, and/or degrade; g) applying an electrical pulse or pulses to said temporary barrier or plug member to cause said temporary barrier or plug member to move, disintegrate, dissolve, degrade, fracture, and/or be expelled; h) including a mechanical device in said temporary barrier or plug member, which mechanical device can be activated downhole or at some location on the surface so as to cause said temporary barrier or plug member to open; i) using an explosive device that is positioned on and/or near said temporary barrier or plug member, which explosion device can be used to cause said temporary barrier or plug member to move, fracture, disintegrate, and/or be expelled; j) providing said temporary barrier or plug member that is partially or fully coated with a coating material that is formulated to controllably degrade, dissolve, or otherwise become compromised in a presence of said wellbore/flowbore fluid, wherein the degrading, dissolving, and/or compromising of said coating material allows said wellbore/flowbore fluid to I) flow through said temporary barrier or plug member and/or II) contact other materials that form said temporary barrier or plug member to cause such other materials to disintegrate, dissolve, and/or degrade when exposed to said wellbore/flowbore fluid; and/or k) applying an ultrasonic pulse or pulses to said temporary barrier or plug member to cause said temporary barrier or plug member to move, disintegrate, dissolve, degrade, fracture, and/or be expelled.

7. The pipe system as defined in claim 1, wherein said temporary barrier or plug member is coated by a material that delays and/or induces degradation of certain parts of said temporary barrier or plug member in a certain direction and/or region on said temporary barrier or plug member.

8. The pipe system as defined in claim 1, wherein said internal cavity in the temporary housing is the only cavity that includes said chemical material.

9. The pipe system as defined in claim 1, wherein said passageway cross-sectional area is less than a cross-sectional area of said internal cavity at any location that is below said location that said interior passageway terminates in said internal cavity.

10. A pipe system that includes a temporary well isolation device that is adapted to be positioned in a subterranean well; said pipe system comprises: a. a first pipe has a first end; b. a second pipe has a first end; and c. a temporary well isolation device positioned between said first end of said first pipe and said first end of said second pipe; said temporary well isolation device includes: i. an outer housing; said outer housing has a housing cavity; ii. a temporary housing that is at least partially positioned in said housing cavity when said temporary housing is connected to said outer housing; said temporary housing includes an interior passageway along a longitudinal axis of said temporary housing and an internal cavity connected to said interior passageway; said interior passageway has a passageway cross-sectional area at a location where said interior passageway terminates in said internal cavity; said passageway cross-sectional area is less than a cross-sectional area of said internal cavity at a location that is below said location that said interior passageway terminates in said internal cavity; said temporary housing is partially or fully formed of a structural material that can be degraded and/or dissolved; said temporary housing includes an outer surface has a connection arrangement; said connection arrangement configured to temporarily or releasably connect said temporary housing to the outer housing; said connection arrangement on said outer surface of said temporary housing includes a threaded surface that is configured to engage a threaded surface on the outer housing; iii. a chemical material located in said internal cavity; said chemical material formed of a material that when exposed to flowbore or wellbore fluid will cause said structural material to degrade and/or dissolve; and iv. a temporary barrier or plug member sealing said interior passageway, and wherein said temporary barrier or plug member is configured to be partially or fully removed or dislodged from said temporary housing to allow fluid to flow through said interior passageway and to contact said chemical material in said internal cavity.

11. A method of controlling fluid flow through a pipe system using a temporary well isolation device, said method comprises: a. providing a temporary well isolation device that is located between a first end of a first pipe and a first end of a second pipe; said temporary well isolation device includes: i. an outer housing; said outer housing has a housing cavity; ii. a temporary housing that is at least partially positioned in said housing cavity when said temporary housing is connected to said outer housing; said temporary housing includes an interior passageway along a longitudinal axis of said temporary housing and an internal cavity connected to said interior passageway; said interior passageway has a passageway cross-sectional area at a location where said interior passageway terminates in said internal cavity; said passageway cross-sectional area is less than a cross-sectional area of said internal cavity at a location that is below said location that said interior passageway terminates in said internal cavity; said temporary housing is partially or fully formed of a structural material that can be degraded and/or dissolved; said internal cavity constitutes 55-90 vol. % of said temporary housing; iii. a chemical material located in said internal cavity; said chemical material formed of a material that when exposed to flowbore or wellbore fluid will cause said structural material to degrade and/or dissolve; and iv. a temporary barrier or plug member sealing said interior passageway; b. positioning said temporary well isolation device and said first end of said first pipe and said first end of said second pipe within a subterranean well; said temporary well isolation device configured to block fluid flow between said first and second pipes when said temporary barrier or plug member is not removed or dislodged from said temporary housing, and c. causing corrosion, dissolution, and/or degradation of one or more components of said temporary well isolation device to cause partial or full removal or dislodgement of said temporary barrier or plug member from said temporary housing and to thereafter allow fluid flow between said first and second pipes.

12. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said temporary barrier or plug member is configured to be partially or fully removed or dislodged from said temporary housing to allow fluid to flow through said interior passageway and to contact said chemical material in said internal cavity.

13. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said step of causing corrosion, dissolution, and/or degradation includes causing fluid to contact said chemical material in said internal cavity of said temporary well isolation device to cause said chemical material to dissolve, degrade, and/or corrode one or more portions of said temporary well isolation device.

14. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said step of causing corrosion, dissolution, and/or degradation includes exposing a temporary barrier or plug member on said temporary well isolation device to a pressurized fluid source, wherein said pressurized fluid source causes movement of said temporary barrier or plug member which enables fluid to contact a chemical material in said temporary well isolation device, said fluid includes an aqueous solution.

15. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said temporary housing including an outer surface has a connection arrangement; said connection arrangement configured to temporarily or releasably connect said temporary housing to the outer housing.

16. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said structural material includes one or more of magnesium, magnesium alloy, zinc, zinc alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, and polymer.

17. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said chemical material includes one or more salts that can be formed into a base when exposed to flowbore or wellbore fluid, or one or more salts that can be formed into an acid when exposed to flowbore or wellbore fluid.

18. The method as defined in claim 17, wherein said chemical material includes one or more of NaHSO.sub.4, AlCl.sub.3, FeCl.sub.3, NaCl, KCl, CaCl.sub.2, NaBr, AlBr.sub.3, BF.sub.3, AlF.sub.3, KI, NaI, ZnCl.sub.2, ZnBr.sub.2, and CuCl.sub.3, wherein the chemical material is a water-soluble acid, buffer compound, base, salt, and/or oxidizer.

19. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said temporary barrier or plug member is coated by a material that delays and/or induces degradation of certain parts of said temporary barrier or plug member in a certain direction and/or region on said temporary barrier or plug member.

20. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said internal cavity in the temporary housing is the only cavity that includes said chemical material.

21. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said passageway cross-sectional area is less than a cross-sectional area of said internal cavity at any location that is below said location that said interior passageway terminates in said internal cavity.

22. A method of controlling fluid flow through a pipe system using a temporary well isolation device, said method comprises: a. providing a temporary well isolation device that is located between a first end of a first pipe and a first end of a second pipe; said temporary well isolation device includes: i. an outer housing; said outer housing has a housing cavity; ii. a temporary housing that is at least partially positioned in said housing cavity when said temporary housing is connected to said outer housing; said temporary housing includes an interior passageway along a longitudinal axis of said temporary housing and an internal cavity connected to said interior passageway; said interior passageway has a passageway cross-sectional area at a location where said interior passageway terminates in said internal cavity; said passageway cross-sectional area is less than a cross-sectional area of said internal cavity at a location that is below said location that said interior passageway terminates in said internal cavity; said temporary housing is partially or fully formed of a structural material that can be degraded and/or dissolved; said temporary housing includes an outer surface has a connection arrangement; said connection arrangement configured to temporarily or releasably connect said temporary housing to the outer housing; said connection arrangement on said outer surface of said temporary housing includes a threaded surface that is configured to engage a threaded surface on the outer housing; iii. a chemical material located in said internal cavity; said chemical material formed of a material that when exposed to flowbore or wellbore fluid will cause said structural material to degrade and/or dissolve; and iv. a temporary barrier or plug member sealing said interior passageway; b. positioning said temporary well isolation device and said first end of said first pipe and said first end of said second pipe within a subterranean well; said temporary well isolation device configured to block fluid flow between said first and second pipes when said temporary barrier or plug member is not removed or dislodged from said temporary housing, and c. causing corrosion, dissolution, and/or degradation of one or more components of said temporary well isolation device to cause partial or full removal or dislodgement of said temporary barrier or plug member from said temporary housing and to thereafter allow fluid flow between said first and second pipes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Reference may now be made to the drawings, which illustrate various embodiments that the disclosure may take in physical form and in certain parts and arrangements of parts wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a temporary well isolation device used in temporary wellbore isolation in accordance with the present disclosure.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates the temporary well isolation device immediately after the trigger arrangement/mechanism has been activated, thereby allowing wellbore/flowbore fluid to enter a cavity in the temporary well isolation device and allowing the wellbore/flowbore fluid to contact chemical material in the cavity.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates the reaction of the wellbore/flowbore fluid and the chemical material in the cavity of the temporary well isolation device.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates the remaining outer housing of the temporary well isolation device after the activation of the chemical material in the cavity has caused the temporary barrier housing of the temporary well isolation device to degrade and/or decompose.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a top elevation view of a non-limiting temporary well isolation device in accordance with the present disclosure.

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a top elevation view of a non-limiting temporary well isolation device of FIG. 5 wherein the central portion is punched-out or sheared from the outer rim portion.

(8) FIG. 7 is a cross-section view of a non-limiting temporary well isolation device that is located between two pipes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSURE

(9) A more complete understanding of the articles/devices, processes and components disclosed herein can be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings. These figures are merely schematic representations based on convenience and the ease of demonstrating the present disclosure, and are, therefore, not intended to indicate relative size and dimensions of the devices or components thereof and/or to define or limit the scope of the exemplary embodiments.

(10) Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the embodiments selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the present disclosure. In the drawings and the following description below, it is to be understood that like numeric designations refer to components of like function.

(11) The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

(12) As used in the specification and in the claims, the term “comprising” may include the embodiments “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of.” The terms “comprise(s),” “include(s),” “having,” “has,” “can,” “contain(s),” and variants thereof, as used herein, are intended to be open-ended transitional phrases, terms, or words that require the presence of the named ingredients/steps and permit the presence of other ingredients/steps. However, such description should be construed as also describing compositions or processes as “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” the enumerated ingredients/steps, which allows the presence of only the named ingredients/steps, along with any unavoidable impurities that might result therefrom, and excludes other ingredients/steps.

(13) Numerical values in the specification and claims of this application should be understood to include numerical values which are the same when reduced to the same number of significant figures and numerical values which differ from the stated value by less than the experimental error of conventional measurement technique of the type described in the present application to determine the value.

(14) All ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the recited endpoint and independently combinable (for example, the range of “from 2 grams to 10 grams” is inclusive of the endpoints, 2 grams and 10 grams, and all the intermediate values).

(15) The terms “about” and “approximately” can be used to include any numerical value that can vary without changing the basic function of that value. When used with a range, “about” and “approximately” also disclose the range defined by the absolute values of the two endpoints, e.g. “about 2 to about 4” also discloses the range “from 2 to 4.” Generally, the terms “about” and “approximately” may refer to plus or minus 10% of the indicated number.

(16) Percentages of elements should be assumed to be percent by weight of the stated element, unless expressly stated otherwise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

(17) Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, there is illustrated a non-limiting temporary well isolation device TWID that can be used in a temporary wellbore isolation application. The temporary well isolation device TWID includes a temporary housing 3 that is temporarily and/or releasably connected to an outer housing 1 by a connection arrangement 2. The outer housing 1 can be a component of the tubing P (e.g., work string tubing, drill pipe, wellbore pipe, etc.), or can optionally be a component of the TWID that is configured to be connected to, seated on, etc. the tubing P in the well.

(18) The connection arrangement 2 is illustrated as threading 2A and 2B on the outer housing 1 and temporary housing 3, respectively. As can be appreciated, the connection arrangement 2 can be other types of arrangements (e.g., adhesive connection, pin connection, friction connection, compression connection, slot and groove connection, expandable connection, paired shape connection arrangement, rim and seat connection, etc.).

(19) The temporary housing 3 includes an internal cavity 8 that includes a chemical material 4. The chemical material 4 is illustrated as only partially filling the internal cavity 8; however, this is not required. The chemical material 4 is selected to cause accelerated dissolving, degradation, dissolution, etc., of the temporary housing when the chemical material 4 is exposed to wellbore/flowbore fluid. The chemical material 4 can include one or more different chemical compounds.

(20) The temporary housing 3 also includes an internal passageway 7 that is temporarily closed or sealed by a temporary barrier or plug member 5. The temporary barrier or plug member 5 is configured to allow fluid to flow through the internal passageway 7 and contact the chemical material 4 in the internal cavity 8 when the temporary barrier or plug member 5 is partially or fully opened, dislodged, disintegrated, fractured, dissolved, degraded, etc., by a trigger arrangement/mechanism. Such trigger arrangement/mechanism can include: a) mechanically causing the temporary barrier or plug member 5 to move to an open position; b) using a motor or other device to cause the temporary barrier or plug member 5 to move to an open position; c) applying an external pressure pulse or pulses to the temporary barrier or plug member 5 to cause the temporary barrier or plug member 5 to move, disintegrate, dissolve, degrade, fracture, be expelled, etc.; d) increasing or decreasing the temperature about the temporary barrier or plug member 5 to cause the temporary barrier or plug member 5 to move, disintegrate, dissolve, degrade, fracture, be expelled, etc.; e) using a dissolvable or degradable component that partially or fully forms the temporary barrier or plug member 5 which dissolvable or degradable component is compromised by the wellbore/flowbore fluid to cause the temporary barrier or plug member 5 to partially or fully disintegrate, dissolve, degrade, etc.; f) using a dissolvable or degradable component that partially or fully forms the temporary barrier or plug member 5 which dissolvable or degradable component that is compromised by changes in the composition, pH, and/or acidity of the wellbore/flowbore fluid so as to cause the temporary barrier or plug member 5 to partially or fully disintegrate, dissolve, degrade, etc.; g) using of an electrical pulse or pulses that are applied to the temporary barrier or plug member 5 to cause the temporary barrier or plug member 5 to move, disintegrate, dissolve, degrade, fracture, be expelled, etc.; h) including a mechanical device (e.g., valve, flap, plug, movable door or plate, etc.) in the temporary barrier or plug member 5 which mechanical device can be activated (e.g., caused to open, caused to move, caused to fracture, caused to be expelled, etc.) downhole or at some location on the surface (e.g., well surface, area about the well surface, etc.) to cause the temporary barrier or plug member 5 to open; i) using an explosive device that is positioned on and/or near the temporary barrier or plug member 5, which explosion device can be used to cause the temporary barrier or plug member 5 to move, fracture, disintegrate, be expelled, etc.; j) providing a temporary barrier or plug member 5 that is partially or fully coated with a coating material that is formulated to controllably degrade, dissolve, or otherwise become compromised in the presence of the wellbore/flowbore fluid, wherein the degrading, dissolving, and/or compromising of the coating material allows the wellbore/flowbore fluid to I) flow through the temporary barrier or plug member 5 and/or II) contact other materials that form the temporary barrier or plug member 5 to cause such other materials to disintegrate, dissolve, degrade, etc., when exposed to the wellbore/flowbore fluid; and/or k) applying an ultrasonic pulse or pulses to the temporary barrier or plug member 5 to cause the temporary barrier or plug member 5 to move, disintegrate, dissolve, degrade, fracture, be expelled, etc.

(21) As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the outer housing 1 is positioned within a wellbore WB and is formed on an inner portion of pipe P. The outer housing 1 is generally connected to the wellbore WB or pipe P by a connection arrangement to remain in position relative to the wellbore WB or pipe P. The connection arrangement can include, but is not limited to, a cement connection, weld connection, solder connection, adhesive connection, pin connection, bolt and/or screw connection, friction connection, compression connection, slot and groove connection, expandable connection, and paired shape connection arrangement.

(22) As illustrated in FIG. 1, the temporary barrier or plug member 5 is fitted in the top wall of the temporary housing 3 such that fluid (e.g., air, wellbore/flowbore fluid) cannot enter the internal cavity 8 via internal passageway 7.

(23) FIG. 2 illustrates the temporary barrier or plug member 5 being dislodged from its position after a trigger arrangement/mechanism has caused the dislodgement of the temporary barrier or plug member 5. The dislodgement of the temporary barrier or plug member 5 allows the wellbore/flowbore fluid to flow through the internal passageway 7 and contact the chemical material 4 in the internal cavity 8.

(24) FIG. 3 illustrates the reaction 6 of the wellbore/flowbore fluid F and the chemical material 4 in the internal cavity 8 as the wellbore/flowbore fluid F flows into the internal cavity 8 as indicated by the arrow. The reaction 6 of the wellbore/flowbore fluid F and the chemical material 4 generally creates an acid or base that causes the temporary housing 3 to disintegrate, dissolve, degrade, etc.

(25) FIG. 4 illustrates the remaining outer housing 1 after the activation of the chemical material 4 has caused the temporary housing 3 to disintegrate, dissolve, degrade, etc. The removal of the temporary housing 3 from the temporary well isolation device TWID results in the free flow of fluid through the wellbore or pipe WB/P.

(26) The one or more chemical materials 4 that can be used include, but are not limited to, one or more acids, buffer compound, base, salt, and/or oxidizer. Non-limiting salts and acids include NaHSO.sub.4, AlCl.sub.3, FeCl.sub.3, NaCl, KCl, CaCl.sub.2), NaBr, AlBr.sub.3, BF.sub.3, Na.sub.2SO.sub.4, AlF.sub.3, KI, NaI, ZnCl.sub.2, ZnBr.sub.2, CuCl.sub.3, KBr, MgCl.sub.2, acids of carboxylic acids (steric acid, benzoic acid, maleic acid, malonic acid, etc.), solid acids such as phosphoric acid, sulfates such as sodium sulfate, sulfur oxide, and acid chloride such as ethonyl chloride, benzoic chloride, and/or other metal salts, and chemical materials disclosed in US 2018/0306027, which is incorporated herein by reference, and any acid, buffer compound, base, salt, or oxidizer. Non-limiting examples of chemical material 4 include sodium bisulfate, aluminum chloride, iron chloride, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium bromide, magnesium chloride, zinc chloride, copper chloride, etc. One or more of the chemical materials 4 can be partially or fully sealed within the internal cavity 8 (e.g., with optional pressure integrity in the tool body).

(27) Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, there is illustrated another non-limiting temporary well isolation device TWID that can be used in a temporary wellbore isolation application. The temporary well isolation device TWID includes a temporary housing 110 configured to be connected to, seated on, etc., the tubing P in the well. A lid 120 is connected to the top of the temporary housing 110. The type of connection used is non-limiting. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the temporary housing 110 can optionally include a housing seat 114 and a housing flange 116. The lid 120 includes a lid seat 128 and a lid flange 130. In one non-limiting arrangement, the lid 120 and temporary housing 110 are configured to be connected by a threaded connection; however, this is not required. Generally, the connection forms a fluid seal between the temporary housing 110 and the lid 120. As illustrated in FIG. 7, one or more seals 132, 134 can optionally be used to facilitate in forming a fluid seal between the lid 120 and the temporary housing 110.

(28) The temporary housing 110 includes an inner cavity 112 configured to contain a chemical material (not shown).

(29) The lid 120 includes an outer rim portion 122 and a central portion 124 located within the inner perimeter of the outer rim portion 122. The lid is illustrated as s single-piece component. The outer rim portion has a greater thickness than the central portion 124. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a downward-sloped transition region 126 is formed between the central portion and the outer rim portion 122. The downward-sloped transition region 126 creates a top recess cavity 136 in the top of the lid 120 (as illustrated in FIG. 7). The bottom region of the central portion can also be configured to create a bottom recess cavity 144; however, this is not required. The creation of the top and bottom recess cavities 136, 144 in the lid 120 can be by molding, machining, casting, and/or stamping. When the lid 120 includes a bottom recess cavity 144, the chemical material in the TWID is such that the chemical material is generally only located in the cavity 112 of the temporary housing 110, and is not contained in the bottom recess cavity 114 of the lid 120 when the lid 120 is inserted on the temporary housing 110. Such an arrangement facilitates in the punching-out or shearing of the central portion 124.

(30) Generally, the minimum thickness of the central portion 124 is at least 20% less than a maximum thickness of the outer rim portion 122, and typically the minimum thickness of the central portion 124 is about 20-98% less (and all values and ranges therebetween) than a maximum thickness of the outer rim portion 122, and more typically the minimum thickness of the central portion 124 is about 50-95% less than a maximum thickness of the outer rim portion 122. Generally, the minimum thickness of the central portion 124 is at least 20% less than a maximum thickness of the side walls and/or bottom wall of the temporary housing 110, and typically the minimum thickness of the central portion 124 is about 20-98% less (and all values and ranges therebetween) than a maximum thickness of the side walls and/or bottom wall of the temporary housing 110, and more typically the minimum thickness of the central portion 124 is about 30-95% less than a maximum thickness of the side walls and/or bottom wall of the temporary housing 110.

(31) As illustrated in FIG. 6, the central portion 124 is configured to be punched-out or sheared from the outer rim portion 122 or downward-sloped transition region 126 when the top surface of the central portion 124 is exposed to a fluid pressure that exceeds a certain pressure, or when the top surface of the central portion 124 is contacted with sufficient force by a lance or other similar puncturing device. Table 1 illustrates the burst pressure required to cause the central portion 124 that is formed of a magnesium alloy (e.g., 85+% magnesium, 0.05+% nickel) to be punched-out or sheared as illustrated in FIG. 6.

(32) TABLE-US-00001 Central Portion Sample Thickness (in.) Burst Pressure (psi) A 0.055 990 B 0.1245 1747 C 0.124 1698 D 0.123 1626 E 0.174 4559 F 0.174 4336 G 0.174 4342

(33) As illustrated in TABLE 1, the thickness of the central portion 124 of lid 120 can be fabricated (e.g., machined, molded, stamped, cast, etc.) to be punched-out or sheared above a predetermined pressure. Generally, the predetermined punched-out or shear pressure is less than 15,000 psi, typically 900-14000 psi (and all values and ranges therebetween), and more typically 1500-10,000 psi.

(34) The lid 120 can optionally include a sealing arrangement formed with the interior surface of pipe 300 such as, but not limited to, a sealing ring 140. As can be appreciated, a sealing arrangement can optionally be formed between the temporary housing 110 and the interior surface of pipe 200 (e.g., sealing ring, etc.).

(35) The outer peripheral region of the lid 120 can optionally include an outer seat 142 configured to engage a bottom edge of pipe 300 when pipe 300 is connected to pipe 200. Such an arrangement (when used) facilitates in locking the TWID in position with pipes 200, 300 when such pipes are connected.

(36) Referring now to FIG. 7 which is a more detailed view of the temporary well isolation device TWID located in pipes 200, 300. The TWID is configured to be seated in pipes 200, 300 prior to the pipes being inserted into the wellbore; however, this is not required.

(37) Pipe 200 includes a central cavity 210 that is generally cylindrical shaped. Pipe 200 includes a seat 220, a connection flange 230, and optionally a plug seat 240. Pipe 300 includes a central cavity 310 that is generally cylindrical shaped. Pipe 300 includes a seat 320, and a connection flange 330. Generally, pipes 200 and 300 are connected by a typically threaded connection via connection flanges 230, 330; however, other types of connection arrangement can be used.

(38) The TWID is first inserted into the central cavity 210 such that the bottom side portion of the temporary housing 110 is seated on plug seat 240. Thereafter, pipe 300 is connected to pipe 200 to lock the TWID in position relative to pipes 200, 300. Thereafter, the pipes 200, 300 and the TWID are inserted into a wellbore to temporarily seal the wellbore.

(39) When fluid flow through pipes 200, 300 is required, the TWID can be removed from the pipes 200, 300 by causing the central portion 124 of lid 120 to be punched-out or sheared by applying fluid pressure to the central portion or by some other means (dissolved, disintegrated, etc.).

(40) After the central portion 124 has been punched-out, sheared, or otherwise compromised to allow fluid flow into the internal cavity 112 of the temporary housing 110, the fluid can contact the chemical material in the internal cavity 112 to generally creates an acid or base that causes the temporary housing 110 and lid 120 to disintegrate, dissolve, degrade, etc., thereby resulting in the free flow of fluid through the pipes 200, 300.

Example 1

(41) A temporary well isolation device that is partially or fully formed of a degradable metal serves as a temporary seal in a wellbore. The temporary seal formed by the temporary well isolation device can be optionally designed or configured to allow a vertical casing section to be filled with fluid and/or gas (e.g., air, etc.) in a second section of the tool. Such fluid and/or air provides additional buoyancy to the temporary well isolation device; however, this is not required. The temporary seal can be designed or configured to form a seal between the gas- and water-filled sections until a differential pressure of 2,000 psi is applied to the surface of the temporary well isolation device, thereby causing a plug member in the temporary housing of the temporary well isolation device to burst and/or shear, which bursting and/or shearing of the plug member results in in the exposure of the chemical material contained in the temporary housing of the temporary well isolation device, thereby causing the dissolving and/or degradation of the temporary housing of the temporary well isolation device within a certain time period (e.g., 30 minutes, one hour, two hours, etc.).

Example 2

(42) A temporary well isolation device is partially or fully formed of aluminum and configured to serve as a temporary seal in a tool. The temporary well isolation device includes a cavity that includes aluminum chloride. The temporary well isolation device includes a vertical casing section designed and configured to be filled with fluid (e.g., water, brine, etc.) and gas (e.g. air, etc.) and a temporary seal to seal a second section so that it is more buoyant; however, this is not required. The temporary well isolation device creates a seal between the gas- and fluid-filled sections until a differential pressure of 5,000 psi is applied to a surface on the tool, thereby causing a plug member in the body of the tool to burst and/or shear, which bursting and/or shearing of the plug member results in exposure of the chemical material (e.g., aluminum chloride) contained in the body of the tool to fluid, thereby producing an acid (e.g., hydrochloric acid). The production of the acid results in the lowering of the pH about the body of the tool, thereby causing the dissolving and/or degradation of the body of the tool within a certain time period (e.g., 30 minutes, one hour, two hours, etc.).

Example 3

(43) A temporary well isolation device is partially or fully formed of a structural metal that serves as a temporary seal to allow a vertical casing section to be filled with fluid and gas (e.g., air) that is sealed in a second section so that it is more buoyant; however, this is not required. The temporary well isolation device creates a seal between the gas- and water-filled sections until a lance punctures the body of the plug member, which puncturing of the plug member results in the exposure of the material contained in the temporary housing of the temporary well isolation device, thereby causing the dissolving and/or degradation of the temporary housing of the temporary well isolation device within a certain time period (e.g., 30 minutes, one hour, two hours, etc.).

Example 4

(44) A temporary well isolation device that can be used in a tool, wherein the temporary well isolation device is at least partially made of magnesium. In one non-limiting configuration, the temporary well isolation device has a cavity. In one non-limiting configuration, the plug member of the temporary well isolation device has an outer diameter of 2.375 in. and is 4 in. in length, and plug member wall thickness of is ⅛ in. The cavity in the temporary well isolation device is partially or fully filled which a chemical material (e.g., sodium bisulfate, etc.). The plug member of the temporary well isolation device is design or configured to be pierced or ruptured by a lance, etc., thereby exposing the chemical material to wellbore/flowbore fluid, which creates a highly concentrated acid (e.g., sulfuric acid, etc.). The formed acid causes the rapid corrosion of the magnesium body of the temporary housing of the temporary well isolation device into soluble magnesium sulfate solution at a rate of not less than 0.050 in./hour. Such a corrosion rate can result in the temporary housing of the temporary well isolation device being fully corroded in less than three hours.

Example 5

(45) A temporary well isolation device that can be used in a tool, wherein the temporary well isolation device temporary well isolation device is at least partially made of magnesium. In one non-limiting configuration, the temporary well isolation device has a cavity. In one non-limiting configuration, the plug member has an outer diameter of 2.375 in., a length of 4 in., and the plug member wall a thickness of ⅛ in. The temporary well isolation device has a cavity that is partially or fully filled with a chemical material (e.g., sodium bisulfate, etc.). The plug member is designed or configured to rupture when exposed to a certain pressure threshold (e.g., 500-15,000 psi, etc.). The rupturing of the plug member exposes the chemical material to wellbore/flowbore fluid, which creates a highly concentrated acid (e.g., sulfuric acid, etc.). The formed acid causes the rapid corrosion of the magnesium body into soluble magnesium sulfate solution at a rate of not less than 0.25 in./hour. Such a corrosion rate can result in the temporary housing of the temporary well isolation device being fully corroded in less than 30-60 minutes.

Example 6

(46) A temporary well isolation device in the form of a knockout isolation sub that is designed or configured to isolate tubing from a wellbore. The knockout isolation sub is formed of temporary housing partially or fully made of aluminum and having a pressure-triggered plug member that seals off the cavity in the temporary housing that contains a chemical material. Once the plug member is exposed to a certain threshold pressure, the plug member shears or bursts into the cavity of the temporary housing, thereby causing the chemical material to be exposed to the wellbore/flowbore fluid, which in turn causes the temporary housing to be degraded and/or dissolved, thus opening fluid communication of the temporary well isolation device in the wellbore.

Example 7

(47) A temporary well isolation device in the form of a pump-out plug member that isolates tubing from the wellbore annulus. The pump-out plug member is partially or fully formed of a degradable magnesium or magnesium alloy. The pump-out plug member is designed or configured to begin degrading or dissolving when exposed to a certain temperature threshold, thereby causing the chemical material in the cavity of the pump-out plug member to be exposed to the flowbore fluid, which in turn causes the pump-out plug member to be degraded and/or dissolved, thus opening fluid communication of the tool in the wellbore.

Example 8

(48) A temporary well isolation device in the form of a pump-out plug member that is partially or fully formed of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The pump-out plug member is configured to be held in position relative to the tool by one or more shear pins. The pump-out plug member includes a cavity that partially or fully contains a chemical material (e.g., sodium bisulfate, etc.). Once the plug member of the pump-out plug member is exposed to a certain threshold pressure, the shear pins holding the plug member of the pump-out plug member in place will shear, thereby causing the chemical material to be exposed to the flowbore or wellbore fluids, thereby causing acid (e.g., sulfuric acid, etc.) to be formed, causing the remaining pump-out plug member body to degrade or dissolve.

Example 9

(49) A temporary well isolation device that is partially or fully formed of a structural metal that contains a chemical material. The temporary well isolation device is designed or configured to serve as a temporary seal to allow a vertical casing section with fluid (e.g., water, brine, etc.) and gas (e.g., air, etc.) to be sealed in a second section so that it is more buoyant; however, this is not required. The temporary well isolation device creates a seal between the gas- and fluid-filled sections until a wireline triggers an explosive charge on the plug member on the temporary well isolation device, thereby exposing a contained chemical material to dissolve or degrade the temporary housing of the temporary well isolation device within a certain time period (e.g., 10-60 minutes, etc.).

(50) It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, and since certain changes may be made in the constructions set forth without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The disclosure has been described with reference to preferred and alternate embodiments. Modifications and alterations will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the detailed discussion of the disclosure provided herein. This disclosure is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the present disclosure. It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the disclosure herein described and all statements of the scope of the disclosure, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between. The disclosure has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. These and other modifications of the preferred embodiments as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be obvious from the disclosure herein, whereby the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims.