18989597. DISSOLVABLE BALLAST FOR UNTETHERED DOWNHOLE TOOLS (Saudi Arabian Oil Company)
DISSOLVABLE BALLAST FOR UNTETHERED DOWNHOLE TOOLS
Organization Name
Inventor(s)
Huseyin Rahmi Seren of Houston TX US
Max Deffenbaugh of Fulshear TX US
Mohamed Larbi Zeghlache of Al Khobar SA
DISSOLVABLE BALLAST FOR UNTETHERED DOWNHOLE TOOLS
This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18989597 titled 'DISSOLVABLE BALLAST FOR UNTETHERED DOWNHOLE TOOLS
Original Abstract Submitted
A method involves mixing metallic particles and a liquefied polymer to form a mixture, placing the mixture within a mold, placing a magnet in the vicinity of the mixture within the mold, thereby causing the metallic particles to position themselves in a self-assembly formation within the mixture in response to a magnetic field generated by the magnet, and solidifying the liquefied polymer, such that a polymer matrix is formed. The metallic particles are distributed and secured in the self-assembly formation throughout the polymer matrix, thereby forming a ballast for an untethered downhole tool configured to be lowered into a well formed in a subterranean formation. The polymer matrix is configured to dissolve in response to being exposed to downhole fluid within the well at specified downhole conditions.