A DEVICE COMPRISING A DISSOLVABLE MATERIAL FOR USE IN A WELLBORE

Abstract

A device is for use in a wellbore. The device has a dissolvable material for being dissolved over a limited time period and an electrically insulating material covering a portion of the dissolvable material for keeping the dissolvable material out of contact with any more noble material when the device is in use. A tubing has the device for use of the device.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A device for temporarily blocking fluid flow through an opening in a radial surface of a tubing in a wellbore, the tubing having an inside and an outside, and the opening having a circumferential wall, the device having a first side and a second side, wherein, when the device is inserted in the opening, the first side faces the inside of the tubing and the second side faces the outside of the tubing, the device comprising: a plug made of a dissolvable material for being dissolved over a limited time period, and; an electrically insulating material arranged between the plug and the circumferential wall of the opening in the radial surface of the tubing to prevent electrical connection between the dissolvable material of the plug and any more noble material, such as the tubing; wherein the plug of dissolvable material is arranged so that when the device is in use, the dissolvable material is exposed to a fluid on the inside of the tubing and on the outside of the tubing.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the more noble material is a part of the device.

13. The device according to claim 11, further comprising a nozzle made of the more noble material, wherein the nozzle houses the plug and the electrically insulating material.

14. The device according to claim 11, wherein the more noble material is a part of a complementary tool connected to the device.

15. The device according to claim 11, wherein the electrically insulating material comprises a ceramic material.

16. The device according to claim 11, wherein the dissolvable material comprises magnesium.

17. The device according to claim 11, comprising a further electrically insulating material.

18. The device according to claim 11, wherein the further electrically insulating material comprises a ceramic material.

19. The device according to claim 17, wherein the further electrically insulating material is arranged on the first side of the device for increasing a distance between the dissolvable material and the more noble material measured through the fluid on the inside of the tubing.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the distance is longer than a predetermined value.

21. The device according to claim 19, wherein the further electrically insulating material is arranged so that a contact area between the dissolvable material and the fluid is selected to cause the dissolvable material to dissolve over a predetermined time period.

22. A tubing comprising a device for temporarily blocking fluid flow through an opening in a radial surface of a tubing in a wellbore, the tubing having an inside and an outside, and the opening having a circumferential wall, the device having a first side and a second side, wherein, when the device is inserted in the opening, the first side faces the inside of the tubing and the second side faces the outside of the tubing, the device comprising: a plug made of a dissolvable material for being dissolved over a limited time period, and; an electrically insulating material arranged between the plug and the circumferential wall of the opening in the radial surface of the tubing to prevent electrical connection between the dissolvable material of the plug and any more noble material, such as the tubing; wherein the plug of dissolvable material is arranged so that when the device is in use, the dissolvable material is exposed to a fluid on the inside of the tubing and on the outside of the tubing, and wherein the device is inserted into an opening in the radial surface of the tubing, the opening complementing the device.

23. A method comprising using a device to block fluid flow through an opening in a radial surface of a tubing in a wellbore for a limited time period, wherein the device is configured to temporarily blocking the fluid flow through the opening, the tubing having an inside and an outside, and the opening having a circumferential wall, the device having a first side and a second side, wherein, when the device is inserted in the opening, the first side faces the inside of the tubing and the second side faces the outside of the tubing, the device comprising: a plug made of a dissolvable material for being dissolved over a limited time period, and; an electrically insulating material arranged between the plug and the circumferential wall of the opening in the radial surface of the tubing to prevent electrical connection between the dissolvable material of the plug and any more noble material, such as the tubing; wherein the plug of dissolvable material is arranged so that when the device is in use, the dissolvable material is exposed to a fluid on the inside of the tubing and on the outside of the tubing.

24. The device according to claim 12, further comprising a nozzle made of the more noble material, wherein the nozzle houses the plug and the electrically insulating material.

25. The device according to claim 18, wherein the further electrically insulating material is arranged on the first side of the device for increasing a distance between the dissolvable material and the more noble material measured through the fluid on the inside of the tubing.

26. The device according to claim 20, wherein the further electrically insulating material is arranged so that a contact area between the dissolvable material and the fluid is selected to cause the dissolvable material to dissolve over a predetermined time period.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In the following is described an example of a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a sectioned view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention; and

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a wellbore comprising a production tubing with the devices installed in the radial surface of the tubing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates a device according to the invention. Identical reference numerals indicate identical or similar features in the drawings. The drawings are presented in a simplified and schematic manner, and the features therein are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a sectioned view of an embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention. The device 1 comprises a dissolvable material 3 in the form of a plug which blocks the flow of fluid until the dissolvable material 3 has dissolved. The device 1 also comprises a more noble material 5 in the form of a nozzle configured to restrict the flow of the fluid through an opening 7 after the dissolvable material 3 has dissolved. An electrically insulating material 9 covers a portion of the dissolvable material 3 to keep the dissolvable material 3 out of contact with the more noble material 5. The device 1 comprises a further electrically insulating material 11 to increase the distance between the dissolvable material 3 and the more noble material 5 measured through the fluid when the device 1 is in use in a wellbore. The device 1 has a first side 13 and a second side 15. When the device 1 is in use in the wellbore, the first side 13 will be in contact with the fluid which acts as an electrolyte. The dissolution of the dissolvable material 3 will therefore occur on the first side 13, and the distance between the dissolvable material 3 and the more noble material 5 is longer on the first side 13 than on the second side 15. The device 1 is configured to be positioned within an opening complementing the more noble material 5 so that there is no direct fluid communication between the first side 13 and the second side 15 when the device 1 is in use before the dissolvable material 3 has dissolved.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a wellbore 17 comprising a production tubing 19 installed within. The wellhead 21 and casing 23 is also indicated. The production tubing 19 comprises a plurality of the devices 1 in the radial surface of the production tubing 19. In this way fluid can initially be pumped through the tubing 19 along the longitudinal axis, but flow through the side of the tubing 19 via the devices 1 is prevented. This may for example be beneficial during the completion step as described above. After a period of a few days, the dissolvable material 3 has dissolved, and hydrocarbon flow from the reservoir 25 can be produced through the openings 7 of the devices 1.

[0022] It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb “comprise” and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.