Swellable Member, Swell Controlling Arrangement and Method of Controlling Swelling of a Swellable Member

Abstract

A swell controlling arrangement includes a swellable member configured to swell upon exposure to a swell inducing fluid, and an acidic material that is configured to form an acidic environment. The swell controlling arrangement is configured to preferentially expose the swellable member to the acidic environment when the swellable member and the acidic material are exposed to the swell inducing fluid.

1 . A swell controlling arrangement, comprising:
 a swellable member configured to swell upon exposure to a swell inducing fluid; and   an acidic material being configured to form an acidic environment, the swell controlling arrangement being configured to preferentially expose the swellable member to the acidic environment when the swellable member and the acidic material are exposed to the swell inducing fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The swell controlling arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising a film in operable communication with the acidic material and the swellable member configured to delay dilution of the acidic environment. 
     
     
         3 . The swell controlling arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the film is permeable to the swell inducing fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The swell controlling arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the film is dissolvable in the swell inducing fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The swell controlling arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the film is protected from abrasion. 
     
     
         6 . The swell controlling arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the acidic material is an organic acidic material. 
     
     
         7 . The swell controlling arrangement of  claim 6 , wherein the organic acidic material is selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, citric acid, oxalic acid, uric acid and combinations of two or more of the foregoing. 
     
     
         8 . The swell controlling arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the swellable member is a polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The swell controlling arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the swellable member is an acrylate polymer. 
     
     
         10 . The swell controlling arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the acidic material is embedded within the swellable member. 
     
     
         11 . The swell controlling arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the acidic material is distributed in layers embedded within the swellable member. 
     
     
         12 . A swell controlling arrangement, comprising:
 a swellable member configured to swell in a swell inducing fluid; and   an acid forming material disposed at the swellable member configured to form acid that is preferentially exposed to the swellable member over the swell inducing fluid.   
     
     
         13 . The swell controlling arrangement of  claim 12 , wherein the acid forming material is embedded within the swellable member. 
     
     
         14 . The swell controlling arrangement of  claim 12  wherein the acid forming material is embedded within the swellable member in layers. 
     
     
         15 . The swell controlling arrangement of  claim 12 , further comprising a film in operable communication with the acid forming material and the swellable member configured to delay dilution of an acidic environment formed by the acid forming material. 
     
     
         16 . The swell controlling arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the film includes an acid forming material. 
     
     
         17 . A method of controlling swelling of a swellable member, comprising:
 forming an acidic environment;   exposing a swellable member to the acidic environment; and   positioning the swellable member and the acidic environment within a swell inducing fluid.   
     
     
         18 . The method of controlling swelling of a swellable member of  claim 17 , wherein the acidic environment has a pH between  3  and  6 . 
     
     
         19 . The method of controlling swelling of a swellable member of  claim 17 , further comprising diluting the acidic environment with the swell inducing fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The method of controlling swelling of a swellable member of  claim 17 , wherein the forming an acidic environment includes solutionizing acidic crystals. 
     
     
         21 . A swellable member comprising:
 a polymeric body configured to swell upon exposure to a swell inducing fluid; and   an acidic material disposed at the polymeric body configured to retard a rate of swelling when the polymeric body is exposed to the swell inducing fluid.   
     
     
         22 . The swellable member of  claim 21  wherein the acidic material is disposed in layers within the polymeric body. 
     
     
         23 . The swellable member of  claim 21  wherein the acidic material includes crystals dispersed throughout the polymeric body.