Destructible containers for downhole material and chemical delivery

Abstract

A method of treating a downhole region penetrated by a wellbore with a treatment agent is given, including delivering the treatment agent to the wellsite enclosed in one or more destructible containers, inserting the one or more destructible containers into the fluid being pumped down the well, and mechanically breaking the one or more destructible containers in the wellbore or in the formation to release the treatment agent. A method is also given for treating a downhole region penetrated by a wellbore with a special solid diverting material, which includes special shapes such as fibers or flakes and/or blends of specially sized particles, including delivering the special solid diverting material to the wellsite enclosed in one or more containers, inserting the one or more containers into fluid being pumped down the well, and allowing the one or more containers to release the special solid diverting material in the wellbore.

1 . A method of treating a downhole region penetrated by a wellbore with a treatment agent, the method comprising:
 delivering the treatment agent to the wellsite enclosed in one or more destructible containers, each container comprising a shell;   inserting the one or more destructible containers into fluid being pumped down the well; and,   mechanically breaking the shell of the one or more destructible containers in the wellbore or in the formation to release the treatment agent.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more destructible containers comprise one or more materials. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein at least one of the materials comprising the one or more destructible containers is degradable. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the treatment agent is degradable. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein breaking of the destructible container is promoted by at least partial dissolution of the shell of the container in the wellbore fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the treatment agent is in the form of a slurry inside the one or more destructible containers. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more destructible containers comprises one or more fluid flow paths allowing entry of wellbore fluid into the container. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the wellbore is cased, the casing is perforated, and the smallest dimension of the one or more destructible containers is larger than the diameter of the perforations and the one or more destructible containers are mechanically destroyed by contact with one or more perforations. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a restriction is placed in the wellbore to break the one or more destructible containers at a desired location, said restriction having an opening smaller than the smallest dimension of the one or more destructible containers. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein more than one restriction is placed in the wellbore, said restrictions successively smaller the farther away from the surface. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the container breaks when a fracture or wormhole becomes smaller than the container. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more destructible containers are made by shrink wrapping one or more films around the treatment agent. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more destructible containers comprise a hollow shell into which the treatment agent is placed. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the shell of the one or more destructible containers is made of polyvinyl alcohol or gelatin. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of destructible containers is used and the destructible containers vary in one or more of size, composition, or contents. 
     
     
         16 . A method of treating a downhole region penetrated by a wellbore with a special solid diverting material, the method comprising:
 delivering the special solid diverting material to the wellsite enclosed in one or more containers, wherein each container comprises a shell;   inserting the one or more containers into fluid being pumped down the well; and,   allowing the one or more containers to release the special solid diverting material in the wellbore.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the one or more containers comprises one or more materials. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein at least one of the materials comprising the one or more containers is at least partially degradable. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein at least a portion of the special solid diverting material is degradable. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein at least a portion of the special solid diverting material comprises a blend of particles having at least three distinct sizes. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein at least a portion of the special solid diverting material comprises one or more of fibers, fiber flocks, fibrillated fibers, ribbons, flakes or platelets. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16  wherein at least a portion of the special solid diverting material comprises one or more of fibers, fiber flocks, fibrillated fibers, ribbons, flakes or platelets. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the special solid diverting material is in the form of a slurry inside the container. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the one or more containers comprise one or more fluid flow paths allowing entry of wellbore fluid into the container. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the release of the special solid diverting material is by mechanical destruction of the container. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the release of the special solid diverting material is promoted by a chemical that reacts with the container. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the release of the special solid diverting material is promoted by dissolution of the shell of the container in the wellbore fluid. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the one or more containers are made by shrink wrapping one or more films around the special solid diverting material. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the one or more containers comprise a hollow shell into which the special solid diverting material is placed. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the shell of the one or more containers is made of polyvinyl alcohol or gelatin. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 16  wherein a plurality of containers is used and the containers vary in one or more of size, composition, or contents. 
     
     
         32 . A system for delivery of a special solid diverting material to a downhole location without dilution or separation of special solid diverting material components, said system comprising the special solid diverting material enclosed in one or more destructible containers. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the one or more destructible containers comprises one or more materials. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33  wherein at least one of the materials comprising the one or more containers is degradable. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the one or more destructible containers comprise one or more fluid flow paths. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the special solid diverting material is in the form of a slurry inside the one or more destructible containers. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the one or more destructible containers is mechanically destructible 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 32  wherein at least a portion of the special solid diverting material is degradable. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the one or more destructible containers are made by shrink wrapping one or more films around the special solid diverting material. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the one or more destructible containers comprise a hollow shell into which the special solid diverting material is placed. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the one or more destructible containers comprises a shell made of polyvinyl alcohol or gelatin. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 32  wherein a plurality of destructible containers is used and the destructible containers vary in one or more of size, composition, or contents.