US 12,031,400 B2
Fluid activated disintegrating metal system
Brian Doud, Euclid, OH (US); Andrew Sherman, Euclid, OH (US); Nicholas Farkas, Euclid, OH (US); and Brian Werry, Euclid, OH (US)
Assigned to Terves, LLC, Euclid, OH (US)
Filed by Terves, LLC, Euclid, OH (US)
Filed on Feb. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/110,183.
Application 18/110,183 is a continuation of application No. 17/124,723, filed on Dec. 17, 2020, granted, now 11,613,952.
Application 17/124,723 is a continuation of application No. 16/110,550, filed on Aug. 23, 2018, granted, now 11,365,164, issued on Jun. 21, 2022.
Application 16/110,550 is a continuation of application No. 14/627,189, filed on Feb. 20, 2015, granted, now 10,150,713, issued on Dec. 11, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/054,597, filed on Sep. 24, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/942,870, filed on Feb. 21, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2023/0193713 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E21B 29/02 (2006.01); C06B 45/18 (2006.01); C06B 45/32 (2006.01); E21B 31/00 (2006.01); E21B 33/12 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 29/02 (2013.01) [C06B 45/18 (2013.01); C06B 45/32 (2013.01); E21B 31/002 (2013.01); E21B 33/12 (2013.01); Y10T 428/12729 (2015.01); Y10T 428/31605 (2015.04); Y10T 428/31692 (2015.04)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for controlling the dissolving, degrading, reacting, and/or fracturing of a component for use in down-hole applications comprising:
a. providing a down-hole component for use in down-hole applications; said down-hole component is selected from the group consisting of a frac ball, a valve, a plug, a ball, a sleeve, a casing, a hydraulic actuating tool, a ball/ball seat assembly, a fracture plug, sealing elements, and a well drilling tool; said down-hole component at least partially formed of a reactive component; said reactive component includes:
i. a core; at least 70 wt. % of said core including a core material that includes a cast magnesium alloy; said cast magnesium all includes greater than 50 wt. % magnesium and one or more metals selected from the group consisting of aluminum, calcium, lithium, manganese, rare earth metal, silicon, SiC, yttrium, and zirconium; said cast metal alloy has a dissolution rate of 0.1-100 mm/hr. at 100-300° F. in water or salt water; and,
ii. a surface layer partially or fully encapsulatings said core; said surface layer having a different composition from said core; said surface layer includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of a) zinc, b) zinc alloy, and c) silicon-containing compound; said surface layer formulated to be insoluble in said down-hole fluid environment until exposed to a chemical modification agent, a certain pH and/or a certain temperature; said surface layer forming a protective layer about said core to inhibit or prevent said core from degrading, dissolving, and/or reacting when said down-hole component is exposed to said down-hole fluid environment in said down-hole applications;
b. inserting said down-hole component into a well; said surface layer of said reactive component not or substantially not dissolving, degrading, and/or reacting in said down-hole fluid environment in said well; and,
c. exposing said surface layer of said reactive component to said chemical modification agent, said certain pH and/or said certain temperature to cause said surface layer to degrade, dissolve, and/or react to thereby expose at least a portion of said core to said down-hole fluid environment; said down-hole component at least partially degrading, dissolving, reacting, and/or fracturing after said core is exposed to said down-hole fluid environment.